Jul 20 – Jul 26
India's First Dengue Vaccine Qdenga: Approval and Its Safety Caveat
India's drug regulator has approved Qdenga (TAK-003), the country's first dengue vaccine, for use in people aged 4 to 60 years, administered...
Assam's Citizenship Verification: How Foreigners Tribunals Decide Who Belongs
Across Assam, individuals and families are being required to defend their citizenship before Foreigners Tribunals and the Gauhati High Court...
CPCB Flags Banned Chemical in New 'Green' Firecracker Formulations
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has red-flagged newly introduced 'green' firecracker formulations for containing a chemical previ...
Three Great Indian Bustard Chicks Enter Rewilding Tunnel in Jaisalmer
Three captive-bred Great Indian Bustard (GIB) chicks were placed in a newly built rewilding tunnel at a conservation breeding facility in Ja...
RBI Flags Rupee as Undervalued as FCNR(B) Inflows Cross $32 Billion
The Reserve Bank of India's Governor stated that the rupee, following recent depreciation, may now be undervalued rather than overvalued. In...
Iran Pauses Retaliatory Strikes Amid Strait of Hormuz Mine Incidents
Iran paused further retaliatory strikes following a lull in military action, even as state media reported a vessel struck a naval mine while...
CBDT Aligns India with OECD's Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework (CARF)
The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) issued a compliance framework requiring crypto exchanges and other digital asset intermediaries to ...
India Permits 5 Million Tonnes of Wheat Exports, Ending a Four-Year Ban
The government approved wheat exports of up to 5 million tonnes, effectively lifting the export ban first imposed in May 2022 The decision f...
Ken-Betwa Link Project: Tribal Protests in Bundelkhand Spotlight Displacement and Forest Rights
Tribal and farming communities in Madhya Pradesh's Chhatarpur and Panna districts have sustained a prolonged agitation against the Ken-Betwa...
Committee Formed to Overhaul India's Examination System
A high-powered task force has been constituted to recommend structural reforms to India's national-level public examination system, chaired ...
How India Recaptured the Kargil Heights: Terrain, Climate and Post-War Reform
Kargil Vijay Diwas commemorates India's recapture of high-altitude posts in the Dras-Kargil-Batalik sector of Ladakh, seized by infiltrating...
Sarnath Inscribed as India's 45th UNESCO World Heritage Site
The Ancient Buddhist Site of Sarnath, near Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List during the 48th sessio...
India-US Trade Pact Pace Now Tied to Pending Section 301 Excess-Capacity Findings
The outcome of a US Section 301 investigation into forced-labour import enforcement has been settled, with India placed in a lower tariff ti...
Government Constitutes Nilekani-Led Task Force for NTA Examination Reforms
The government constituted a high-powered task force to recommend reforms to examinations conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). Th...
Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026: New Powers Over Lapsed NGO Assets
The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 was introduced in the Lok Sabha on 25 March 2026, proposing a new framework for m...
US Section 301 Forced-Labour Tariffs: 45% of India's Exports Stay Exempt, Textile Mechanism Still Pending
The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) finalised action under Section 301 of the US Trade Act, 1974, imposing additiona...
Kargil Vijay Diwas 2026: India Restates No-Talks-Except-PoK Stance on Pakistan
At the 27th Kargil Vijay Diwas commemoration held at the Kargil War Memorial in Dras on 26 July 2026, the Union Defence Ministry reiterated ...
Tenth Schedule in Action: Ex-MLAs Summoned in Anti-Defection Disqualification Proceedings
The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Speaker has summoned four former MLAs — Maragatham Kumaravel, P. Sathyabama, S. Jeyakumar, and Esakki Su...
Iran War Risks Wider Escalation as a Second Red Sea Front Opens
Iran's military stated that renewed US airstrikes could cause the ongoing conflict to expand geographically further than its current scope. ...
Indus Waters Treaty: One Year in Abeyance and India's Next Steps
The Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), 1960 has completed roughly a year in 'abeyance,' a status that began on April 23, 2025, in the aftermath of a...
US-Iran Conflict: Naval Blockade Persists Despite Pause in Airstrikes
Airstrikes between the United States and Iran have paused after a prolonged period of intensified bombing, described by regional observers a...
India-Australia Push for Resilient Critical Minerals and Energy Supply Chains
A call has been made for India and Australia to move decisively toward building resilient energy supply chains as a foundation for regional ...
Sarnath on the World Heritage List: Ashokan Legacy and Buddhist Diplomacy
Sarnath, near Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List at the 48th session of the World Heritage Committee...
Sarnath's 28-Year Wait: From Tentative List to World Heritage Status
The Ancient Buddhist Site of Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh, was formally inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List at the 48th session of the Wor...
Public Examinations Amendment Bill Sets Three-Month Deadline for High Court Appeals in Paper Leak Cases
The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 proposes that High Courts dispose of appeals against fast-track co...
Ken-Betwa Link Project: Why Displaced Communities Are Protesting
Communities affected by the Ken-Betwa Link Project's Daudhan Dam, being built on the Ken river in Madhya Pradesh, have renewed protests over...
ONGC Spuds India's Deepwater Well in Mahanadi Basin Under Samudra Manthan Mission
The Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) commenced drilling its first deepwater exploratory well, designated MN-DW18-1-H-D, in the Mahanad...
Keeladi Excavation's 11th Phase Uncovers Continuous Brick Structures Across the Site
The 11th phase of excavation at the Keeladi archaeological site in Sivaganga district, Tamil Nadu, which began on 18 March 2026, has uncover...
Tamil Nadu Renews Demand to Move Education Back to the State List Amid the NEET Row
The Tamil Nadu state government renewed its demand for education to be moved from the Concurrent List back to the State List of the Constitu...
Anti-Paper Leak Law Amendment: Institutional and Constitutional Dimensions
The government proposed amendments to the existing anti-paper-leak law, aimed at faster investigation and trial of examination-malpractice o...
Sarnath Inscribed on UNESCO World Heritage List: India's 45th Site
UNESCO's World Heritage Committee, meeting in its 48th session in Busan, South Korea (19–29 July 2026), inscribed the ancient Buddhist site ...
Integrated Farming Systems Help Diversify Farm Incomes in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh
Villages in Nagaon and Tamulpur districts of Assam and Namisai (Namsai) district of Arunachal Pradesh have adopted Integrated Farming System...
Great Nicobar Project's "Commercial vs Strategic" Classification Debate: CRZ, PVTG and NGT Questions
Public correspondence exchanged between a Rajya Sabha member and the Ministry of Defence renewed debate over whether the Great Nicobar Islan...
US Section 301 Forced-Labour Tariff on India: 45% of Exports Exempted
The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) finalised Section 301 tariffs on 60 economies following an investigation into fa...
India's Engagement With USTR Secures Lower 10% Tier in Forced-Labour Section 301 Action
The Government of India stated that it remained closely engaged with the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) throughout ...
CAG Flags Irregularities in Cyclone Amphan Relief Disbursal in West Bengal
A compliance audit report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) on post-Cyclone Amphan relief and restoration works was tabled in the...
Pellet Guns and Crowd Control: The Law on Dispersing an Unlawful Assembly
Allegations emerged that pellet guns were used against a student march heading toward Parliament, prompting a preliminary verification by th...
US Section 301 Forced-Labour Tariff: 45% of India's US-Bound Exports Stay Outside the 10% Duty
The Government of India confirmed that approximately 45% of India's exports to the United States fall outside the additional 10% duty impose...
Great Nicobar Project: Environmental Clearance and Regulatory Concerns
In Parliament, the Great Nicobar Island Development Project (GNIDP) was described from an alternative position as primarily a commercial tra...
ICMR Licenses Indigenous Cervical Pre-Cancer and Vaccine Technologies to Pharma Firms
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has licensed three indigenously developed biomedical technologies to Indian pharmaceutical and...
Vizhinjam Seaport Cleared for Full EXIM Operations from August 18
The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has granted final customs approval for Vizhinjam International Seaport in Kerala to b...
Great Nicobar Project: The Strategic and Indo-Pacific Case
In Parliament, the Ministry of Defence set out the strategic rationale for the ₹81,000 crore Great Nicobar Island Development Project (GNIDP...
Kavach 4.0 Automatic Train Protection Expanded to 2,490 Route Km on Delhi–Mumbai, Delhi–Howrah Corridors
Indian Railways has commissioned Kavach Version 4.0, the indigenous Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system, across 2,490 route km on the hi...
National Investment Policy for Urea (NIPU-2026): India's Push for Fertiliser Self-Reliance
The Union Cabinet approved the National Investment Policy for Urea-2026 (NIPU-2026), replacing the New Investment Policy of 2012, to attract...
Grain-Based Ethanol's Growing Share in India's Fuel Blending Programme
Grain-based feedstocks, particularly maize and surplus rice, are accounting for a growing share of ethanol supplied under India's fuel blend...
Airport-Airline Cross-Ownership Cap: Centre Weighs Easing a 2006 Safeguard
The government is reported to be examining a proposal to relax the rule restricting airport operators from holding a significant stake in sc...
US Section 301 Tariff Regime Pressures India's Gems and Jewellery Exports
The United States has moved from a temporary tariff surcharge to a Section 301 tariff regime with no automatic expiry, maintaining an additi...
Anti-Cheating Law Amendment: Steeper Penalties for Exam Malpractice
A Bill to amend the existing anti-cheating law governing public examinations has been proposed, raising maximum prison terms for both indivi...
Special Intensive Revision Flags Nearly a Third of Gurugram Voters for Possible Removal
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Haryana flagged nearly 4.6 lakh voters (29.3%) in Gurugram as absent, shifted, de...
US Sets 10% Tariff on Indian Exports Under Section 301 Forced-Labour Action
The United States implemented new tariff slabs of 10% and 12.5% on imports from roughly 60 economies under a Section 301 enforcement action ...
Public Examinations Amendment Bill: Fast-Track Courts and Tighter Timelines for Anti-Cheating Law
The government proposed the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill to strengthen the existing anti-cheating law The...
US-Saudi Arabia Civil Nuclear Agreement Departs From Non-Proliferation "Gold Standard"
The United States and Saudi Arabia signed a civil nuclear cooperation agreement (a '123 Agreement') permitting the transfer of US nuclear ma...
Delhi High Court's OpenAI-ANI Order: Fair Dealing and AI Training Under Copyright Law
The Delhi High Court declined to grant an interim injunction sought by news agency ANI against OpenAI, holding that using ANI's content to t...
Chhattisgarh to Table Uniform Civil Code Bill in Winter Session
The Chhattisgarh government announced that a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill will be tabled in the winter session of the state assembly The an...
Tiger Reintroduction Planned at Buxa Tiger Reserve: Project Tiger Translocation Framework
The West Bengal Forest Department has planned to introduce tigers into Buxa Tiger Reserve, with a target date around October 2. Senior fores...
Public Examinations Act Amendment: Stricter Penalties for Paper Leaks Cleared by Cabinet
The Union Cabinet approved a draft bill to amend the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, raising penalties for quest...
India-U.K. CETA: What the Trade Deal Leaves Unresolved
The India-U.K. Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), signed in London on 24 July 2025 and in force from 15 July 2026, eases tar...
Parliament Watch: India's FTA-Partner Exports and Trade Agreement Architecture
The government informed Parliament that India's merchandise exports to countries with which it has Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) rose to $43....
SEBI's Proposed Overhaul of Portfolio Management Services Regulations
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has released a consultation paper proposing a comprehensive overhaul of the regulatory fra...
Who Guards the Constitution: Judicial Review, Protest Rights, and Police Accountability
Amid continuing nationwide student protests over alleged irregularities in a national-level entrance examination, the Supreme Court has agre...
FCI's Open Market Rice Sales and India's Ethanol Blending Push
The Central government's Open Market Sale Scheme–Domestic (OMSS-D) policy for 2026-27 (effective July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027) allows Food ...
Tougher Punishment Proposed for Examination Paper Leaks
The Union Cabinet cleared amendments to the anti-paper-leak law, proposing a maximum jail term of 10 years and a maximum fine of ₹10 crore f...
Cabinet Clears Amendments to Toughen the Anti-Paper-Leak Law
The Union Cabinet approved amendments to India's anti-paper-leak law, raising the maximum prison term to 10 years and the maximum fine to ₹1...
Cabinet Clears BHAVYA-Rasayan Scheme for Three Chemical Parks
The Union Cabinet approved the Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojana–Rasayan (BHAVYA-Rasayan) scheme with a total outlay of ₹3,030 crore to set up th...
India Placed in Lower 10% US Tariff Band After Forced-Labour Policy Change
The United States, acting under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, imposed fresh tariffs of 10% or 12.5% on 60 economies over their alleg...
India Diversifies Fertiliser Import Sources to Secure Urea and DAP Supply
India imported 25.08 lakh tonnes of urea and 7.11 lakh tonnes of Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) during the first quarter (April–June) of the cu...
The 2024 Anti-Paper-Leak Law: What It Already Provides
With a new Bill proposing tougher penalties for examination malpractice under discussion, attention has returned to the existing Public Exam...
PLI Scheme Payouts Cross ₹35,354 Crore: Pharma Sector Deep Dive
The government has disbursed a cumulative ₹35,354 crore in incentives under the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes till March 2026, a...
Vande Mataram Bill: Extending Statutory Protection to a National Symbol
A Bill to amend the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971 was introduced in the Rajya Sabha, proposing to make obstruction of, ...
India and Israel Conclude Second Round of FTA Negotiations
India and Israel concluded the second round of negotiations for a proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA), held in New Delhi. Technical experts ...
The Saudi-U.S. Nuclear Agreement: Enrichment, Non-Proliferation and the 123 Framework
The United States and Saudi Arabia have advanced a civil nuclear cooperation agreement, structured as a '123 Agreement' under Section 123 of...
China's Infrastructure Projects in J&K/Ladakh: India's Protest and the Boundary Dispute
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that China has been in illegal occupation of Indian territories in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladak...
Section 301 Tariff Tiers: India's Relative Position Against Competing Exporters
Following the US Section 301 forced-labour action, India was placed in the 10% additional-duty tier, a lower rate than the 12.5% tier applie...
IEA: Global Power Demand to Grow 3.6% in 2026 as Renewables Overtake Coal
The International Energy Agency (IEA) projects global electricity demand will grow 3.6% in 2026 and a further 3.8% in 2027, pushing global c...
Wanted Khalistan-Linked Suspect and US National Intercepted at India-Nepal Border
Security forces intercepted five individuals attempting to cross into India from Nepal at the Rupaidiha border post in Bahraich district, Ut...
Supreme Court Proposes Special Courts, Directs CBI and SIT to Expedite Manipur Violence Investigations
The Supreme Court tentatively proposed constituting special courts for the day-to-day trial of cases arising from the 2023 Manipur ethnic vi...
Telecommunications (Authorisation) Rules, 2026 Mandate Data Localisation for Network Infrastructure Providers
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) notified the Telecommunications (Authorisation for Telecommunication Network) Rules, 2026, on 20 ...
Global Study Finds Near-Universal Antibiotic Overuse, Fuelling Drug Resistance
A global analysis published in a peer-reviewed public health journal found that most countries are overusing antibiotics relative to their a...
US-Iran Conflict Escalates to Strikes on Bahrain as Gulf Shipping Routes Come Under Threat
Exchanges of strikes between the United States and Iran continued for a further night, with Bahrain issuing alerts warning residents to shel...
India Invites Bangladesh as Special Guest to 2026 BRICS Summit, Reviving BIMSTEC Outreach
India extended an invitation to Bangladesh's Prime Minister to attend the BRICS leaders' summit scheduled for September 2026 in New Delhi, w...
Conservation Agriculture with Drip Irrigation Boosts Wheat Protein and Resource Efficiency
A study found that combining conservation agriculture practices with drip irrigation increased wheat grain protein content by up to 12%. The...
US Section 301 Tariffs: Limited Impact on India, but Textile Sector Faces TRQ Disadvantage
New US Section 301 tariffs of 10% and 12.5%, tied to forced-labour-import enforcement, took effect on select economies, with India placed in...
Supreme Court Proposes Special Courts for Manipur Violence Trials
The Supreme Court, hearing a batch of petitions related to the 2023 Manipur ethnic violence, proposed setting up Special Courts to conduct d...
Zoopharmacognosy: How Animals Self-Medicate Using Nature
Researchers have documented widespread evidence of wild animals deliberately selecting plants, soils and even insects with medicinal propert...
India Defends Tariff and Quality-Control Regime at WTO's Eighth Trade Policy Review
India's Eighth Trade Policy Review (TPR) at the World Trade Organization was held in Geneva on 21 and 23 July 2026, with 68 member countries...
Odisha's Electric Bus Rollout and India's Urban E-Mobility Push
Odisha's public bus fleet has expanded to 450 electric buses on road (as of August 2025), making the state the fifth-largest adopter of e-bu...
US Tariffs Spare Most Indian Exports but Textiles Remain the Watch Sector
Trade body assessment indicated the new US forced-labour tariff is unlikely to materially affect the bulk of India's exports to the US, sinc...
Central KYC 2.0: Unified Customer Verification for Banks, Insurers and Mutual Funds
Indian banks and insurers are set to roll out a unified Central Know-Your-Customer (Central KYC / CKYC) 2.0 system from August 2026, allowin...
Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024: Provisions and Proposed Amendment
The Union Cabinet is considering amendments to the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, aimed at strengthening penalt...
How the US Determines "Forced Labour" Risk: The TVPRA List and Tariff Tiering Process
The United States restructured its tariff treatment of 60 trading partners under a Section 301 forced-labour compliance review, replacing an...
US Forced-Labour Tariffs: How Stacked Duties and Trade Diversion Reshape Global Sourcing
New United States tariffs tied to a forced-labour compliance review took effect covering the top 60 US trading partners, together accounting...
US-Iran Strikes Continue: Nuclear Non-Proliferation Backdrop and India's Energy Security Response
United States forces carried out a fresh round of air strikes on Iranian territory, continuing an extended run of nightly strikes tied to th...
Think Tank Flags Slippery-Slope Risk in New E-Commerce FDI Export Carve-Out
The government has permitted the inventory-based model of e-commerce to receive foreign direct investment (FDI), but strictly limited to the...
US Section 301 Forced-Labour Tariff Regime Takes Effect, India Faces 10% Rate but Loses Textile Quota Relief
The United States Trade Representative announced new tariffs under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 on around 60 trading partners, citin...
India-Romania Ties: Trade Target Doubled, Defence and ITEC Cooperation Expanded
India and Romania have set a target to double bilateral trade within the next three years, during a State visit to Bucharest by the Presiden...
Houthi Naval Blockade on Saudi Shipping: Why the Bab el-Mandeb Chokepoint Matters for India
Yemen's Houthi movement declared a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia, announcing it would target Saudi-, Israeli-, and US-linked tankers t...
US Section 301 "Forced Labour" Tariff on India: Basis Questioned
A trade policy research body has questioned a 10% US tariff imposed on Indian exports under a Section 301 investigation into forced-labour p...
Supreme Court Judges Strength Bill and National Honour Amendment on Monsoon Session Agenda
The Lok Sabha is scheduled to consider and pass the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026, which replaces an ordinance that ...
India Amends Foreign Trade Policy on Forced Labour to Secure Lower US Tariff Tier
The United States imposed a 10% additional tariff on goods imported from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the United Kingdom, and roughly a doze...
FDI Now Allowed in Inventory-Based E-Commerce: But Only for Exports
The FDI policy on e-commerce has been amended to permit the inventory-based model exclusively for the export of goods manufactured or produc...
Project Kusha Completes Maiden Test Flight: India's Indigenous Long-Range Air Defence System
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted the maiden flight test of the Long-Range Surface-to-Air Missile under Pro...
DRDO Conducts Maiden Flight Test of 'Kusha' Long-Range Air Defence Missile
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted the maiden flight test of the indigenous long-range surface-to-air missil...
US Forced-Labour Tariff Action on 60 Economies: Trade Remedy Mechanics and the ILO Framework
The United States imposed additional tariffs of 10% to 12.5% on imports from about 60 trading partners, effective July 24, 2026, following a...
US Rebuilds Tariff Architecture on 60 Trade Partners After Court Setback
New US tariffs of 10% to 12.5% took effect from July 24, 2026, on imports from 60 trading partners, including China, India, and the European...
US Imposes 10% Additional Tariff on Indian Goods Over Forced-Labour Enforcement Gaps
The United States imposed an additional 10% tariff on goods imported from India, effective from July 24, 2026, under a Section 301 investiga...
India Reaffirms Freedom of Navigation at East Asia Summit, Rejects Claims on Kashmir and Indus Waters Treaty
At the 21st East Asia Summit (EAS) in Manila, India stated that international waterways must remain safe and unimpeded, in accordance with i...
Private Investment in India's Space Sector Crosses $618 Million
Cumulative private investment in India's space sector has crossed $618.5 million as of 31 March 2026, according to a written reply presented...
India Rejects Pakistan's Remarks at ASEAN Forum, Reaffirms Indus Waters Treaty Abeyance
At a Regional Forum meeting held under the ASEAN framework, India's delegation rejected remarks made by Pakistan's representative on Kashmir...
Centre Monitors Himalayan Glacial Lakes for GLOF Risk: 56 Flagged as Very High Risk
The Centre reported that it is monitoring approximately 2,485 glacial lakes and water bodies across the Himalayan region using satellite rem...
PM Surya Ghar Nears 50 Lakh Rooftop Solar Households: Non-Fossil Capacity Push
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) stated that the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana is set to cross 50 lakh beneficiary househo...
India Plans Phase-2 Strategic Petroleum Reserves under PPP Model
The government announced plans for Phase-2 of India's Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) programme to be developed under a Public-Private Par...
Government Eases FDI Rules for Export-Focused E-Commerce Entities
The government amended India's Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy to permit FDI in the inventory-based model of e-commerce, exclusively ...
WTO Trade Policy Review Questions India's PLI, QCO and Import-Substitution Measures
India's 8th Trade Policy Review (TPR) at the World Trade Organization was held on 21 and 23 July 2026, covering the trade policy period from...
India's Eighth WTO Trade Policy Review: Tariffs, MSP and QCOs Under the Scanner
India underwent its eighth Trade Policy Review (TPR) at the World Trade Organization in Geneva, held over two sessions on 21 and 23 July 202...
FDI Now Allowed in Inventory-Based E-Commerce: But Only for Exports of Indian Goods
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) reviewed the consolidated FDI policy and inserted a new provision allowi...
India Calls for Maritime Security and South China Sea Code of Conduct at East Asia Summit
At the East Asia Summit in Manila, India's external affairs minister stated that attacks on civilian shipping, seafarers, and maritime infra...
US-Saudi Civil Nuclear Deal Signed: Regional Proliferation Stakes in West Asia
The United States and Saudi Arabia have signed a civil nuclear cooperation agreement (a '123 Agreement' under US law) that opens a possible ...
US-Saudi Civil Nuclear Deal and Non-Proliferation Concerns in West Asia
The United States and Saudi Arabia announced a civil nuclear cooperation agreement on 22 July 2026, intended to help Saudi Arabia develop a ...
Food Processing PLI Scheme Crosses Investment and Jobs Targets
The government reported that the Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industry (PLISFPI) has attracted ₹9,207 crore in inv...
India's Response to Pakistan at the UN Security Council on Kashmir and Terrorism
At a High-Level Open Debate of the UN Security Council on July 22, 2026, India exercised its right of reply after Pakistan raised Kashmir du...
UNCTAD's Q1 2026 Global Trade Update: AI, EVs and Critical Minerals Driving Growth
The UN Trade and Development body (UNCTAD) reported that global trade grew about 4% in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the previous qu...
Scientific Mine Closure Push: ₹40,000 Crore Corpus and India's Mine Closure Framework
The government has earmarked a corpus of about ₹40,000 crore (roughly $5 billion) for the scientific and progressive closure of coal mines T...
US Strikes on Iran Widen West Asia Conflict: Use-of-Force Law and Protection of Civilian Infrastructure
The US military carried out strikes on Iranian targets as part of an escalating conflict in West Asia, with both sides reported to have thre...
Iran Halts Tankers in the Strait of Hormuz: Chokepoint Geography and the Law of Transit Passage
Iranian forces stopped three oil tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz; one vessel caught fire and the other two turned back The interdict...
US Announces Phased Tariff Plan on Generic Drugs, Raising Stakes for Indian Pharma Exports
The US announced a phased tariff schedule on imported generic drugs: zero tariff for two years starting August 1, 2026, rising to 100% for a...
Migratory Bird Decline: Full Annual-Cycle Conservation and the Central Asian Flyway
A global assessment finds that more than half of the world's 3,380 migratory bird species are in decline, driven by habitat loss, invasive s...
US Announces Phased Tariffs on Generic Drug Imports: Implications for India's Pharma Exports
The United States announced a phased tariff schedule for generic drug imports: zero tariff for a two-year grace period from 1 August 2026, r...
FCRA Amendments: Government Defends Foreign Funding Curbs as Global Norm
Ahead of a bill to amend the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, the government defended the proposed changes, arguing that unregulated i...
Quad Ministers Push Back on Chinese Assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific
Quad foreign ministers reiterated calls for a 'free and open Indo-Pacific' while explicitly pushing back against increased Chinese assertive...
US Threatens Retaliatory Strikes on Iranian Infrastructure Over Hormuz Attacks
The US President stated that the United States would strike an Iranian bridge or power plant in retaliation for every Iranian attack linked ...
India Engages China, Russia and QUAD Partners on ASEAN Sidelines
On the sidelines of the ASEAN-linked meetings in Manila, India's external affairs minister held separate bilateral discussions with China's ...
Houthi Threat to Red Sea Shipping Renews India's Energy Security Concerns
Yemen's Houthi movement has threatened to target Saudi-linked shipping transiting the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, prompting at least two Saudi cru...
US Generic Drug Tariff Schedule and India's Pharmaceutical Export Exposure
The US administration announced a phased tariff schedule for generic pharmaceutical imports: zero tariff from August 1, 2026 for two years, ...
FAO's SOFI Report: India's Falling Undernourishment, Rising Diet Costs
A newly released UN report shows India's share of undernourished people has more than halved over roughly two decades, falling from about 21...
Supreme Court Declines to Stay Speaker's Recognition of Shiv Sena MPs' Merger: Tenth Schedule Questions
The Supreme Court declined to grant an interim stay on the Lok Sabha Speaker's decision recognising the merger of six Shiv Sena (UBT) Member...
India-China Foreign Ministers Meet in Manila: Market Access and Supply Chain Reliability
India's External Affairs Minister met the Chinese Foreign Minister on the sidelines of an ASEAN-centred ministerial gathering in Manila The ...
US Tariff Threat on Generic Drugs: What It Means for India's Pharma and API Policy
A phased tariff schedule on generic pharmaceutical imports into the US has been outlined, with a two-year duty-free window followed by escal...
US Warns Iran's Hormuz Control Claims Set Precedent for Asian Waterways
The US Secretary of State told counterparts at a regional ministerial meeting in Manila that Iran's demand to control transit through the St...
Quad Reaffirms Free and Open Indo-Pacific, Backs ASEAN Centrality
The Quad grouping issued a joint statement reaffirming commitment to a 'free and open Indo-Pacific' and extending 'unwavering support' for A...
Centre's PVTG Welfare Scheme Shows Uneven Progress on Hostels, Roads, and LPG Connections
Progress data on the Centre's flagship convergence scheme for Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) shows sharply uneven implementat...
Andhra Pradesh Launches Blockchain-Based Land Records Pilot in Seven Districts
The Andhra Pradesh government launched a pilot blockchain-based land records system, 'Mee Bhoomi-Blockchain,' on July 23, developed jointly ...
Killai Becomes Tamil Nadu's First Fully Operational Climate-Resilient Village
Killai, a coastal town panchayat in Cuddalore district, Tamil Nadu, has become the first fully operational site under the state's Climate Re...
India's Hunger Paradox: Falling Undernourishment, Persistent Malnutrition
The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) 2026 report, released jointly by UN agencies including the Food and Agriculture...
US-India Trade Deal Nears Completion: Pending US Section 301 Investigations
A bilateral trade agreement between India and the United States is reported to be nearing completion, with signing expected within three to ...
Supreme Court Notice on Speaker's Merger Ruling: Tenth Schedule Questions Revisited
The Supreme Court issued notice to the Lok Sabha Speaker's office on a petition challenging his decision recognising the merger of a group o...
India-China Relations: Normalisation Since the Kazan Meeting
The Ministry of External Affairs has stated that India-China relations are gradually normalising following the October 2024 meeting between ...
Mobile Phone Manufacturing Scheme (MPMS) Cleared: Shift from Assembly to Components and R&D
The Union Cabinet approved the Mobile Phone Manufacturing Scheme (MPMS) with a budgetary outlay of ₹62,500 crore, to run for five years from...
Quad Foreign Ministers Reaffirm Indo-Pacific Vision at Manila Meeting
Foreign ministers of the Quad countries met in Manila, Philippines, reaffirming commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific The meeting was h...
Jaishankar-Wang Yi Meeting in Manila: Border Peace and Trade Imbalance on the Agenda
The Indian and Chinese foreign ministers met on the sidelines of a regional ministerial gathering in Manila, Philippines Discussions covered...
Bab el-Mandeb Strait Under Threat: Houthi Naval Blockade of Saudi Arabia Explained
Yemen's Houthi movement declared a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia on July 20, 2026, threatening shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb Stra...
Super El Nino, Fodder Shortages and India's Dairy Inflation Risk
The 2026 southwest monsoon has brought delayed onset and prolonged dry spells in several regions, even as national rainfall averages mask sh...
Hunger Strikes in Indian Political History: Satyagraha as a Method of Protest
A recent report traced the history of fasts undertaken by individuals across independent India to press specific political or policy demands...
Pickaxe Mountain and the Iran Nuclear Standoff: Stakes for India
Tensions between the United States and Iran have escalated further, with the US administration threatening to strike Pickaxe Mountain, an un...
US Phased Tariffs on Generic Drugs: Section 232 and India's Pharma Exports
A phased tariff structure has been outlined for generic pharmaceutical imports into the US, providing a two-year duty-free window before esc...
India Hosts Maiden Operation Southern Readiness: Multinational Maritime Training in Kochi
The Indian Navy's Southern Naval Command hosted the first edition of Operation Southern Readiness (26-2) in Kochi, a four-day multinational ...
50% Reservation for Ex-Agniveers in CAPFs and Assam Rifles: Recruitment Policy Shift
The Ministry of Home Affairs is framing recruitment rules to reserve 50% of constable-level vacancies across Central Armed Police Forces (CA...
Skyroot's Vikram-1 Orbital Launch: India's Private Space Sector Comes of Age
Skyroot Aerospace's Vikram-1 rocket reached orbit on July 18, 2026, launching from Sriharikota, making it the first privately developed Indi...
US 10% Global Tariff Nears Expiry: Section 122 Trade Powers and the Post-IEEPA Tariff Landscape
The United States' current 10% global tariff, imposed under Section 122 of the Trade Act, 1974, is approaching its statutory 150-day expiry ...
US-Iran Conflict Enters Eleventh Night of Strikes: War Costs and Command Structure
The US-Iran conflict reached its eleventh consecutive night of strikes, with the US administration stating that military operations against ...
US-Saudi Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement: Enrichment and Non-Proliferation Framework
A civil nuclear cooperation agreement between the United States and Saudi Arabia has been approved, reportedly permitting Saudi Arabia to en...
Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026: Sanctioned Strength Raised to 37
On Day 3 of the Monsoon Session, the Lok Sabha took up the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026, which raises the sanctione...
India's Coking Coal Import Bill Falls 39%: Sourcing Shift from Australia to Russia and the US
India's coking coal import bill fell from $19.2 billion in fiscal 2023 to $11.76 billion in fiscal 2026, a decline of about 39% The fall ref...
India's AI Governance Push: Agent Autonomy, Deepfakes, and the Missing Comprehensive AI Law
Indian policymakers are reportedly considering provisions on AI 'agent autonomy' and deepfakes as part of a prospective AI-specific legal fr...
Census 2027 Caste Enumeration: Methodology Choices Six Months Before Fieldwork
With months to go before the population enumeration phase of Census 2027, officials are finalising the method to be used for recording caste...
Madhya Pradesh Assembly Passes Uniform Civil Code Bill 2026: Constitutional and Legal Analysis
The Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly passed the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill, 2026 during the Monsoon Session, after the bill was tabled...
Pakistan's Mediation Push in the US-Iran Conflict: Diplomacy Mechanisms and India's Balancing Act
Iran's Interior Minister held talks in Islamabad with Pakistan's military and political leadership as diplomats sought to revive a collapsed...
India-UK CETA: Structural Impact on Trade and Investment
The India-United Kingdom Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), signed on 24 July 2025, formally entered into force on 15 July 2...
UN Climate Chief Hails India's Clean Energy Transition as a Model for Global Climate Action
Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary of UN Climate Change (UNFCCC), during a visit to India, described the country as a 'solar superpower' and ...
Pakistan's Appeal to Canada on the Indus Waters Treaty
Pakistan sought Canada's public support for the restoration of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) with India, framing India's suspension as 'weap...
UN Report: Africa Overtakes Asia as Region with Highest Number of Hungry People
The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) 2026 report found that Africa now has the highest absolute number of hungry peo...
WTO's 8th Trade Policy Review of India and the Non-Tariff Barriers Debate
The World Trade Organization (WTO) Secretariat, ahead of India's 8th Trade Policy Review, urged India to improve its business environment an...
India-UK FTA: Investor Predictability and Financial Services Access
The India-UK trade deal (Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, CETA) came into effect on 15 July 2026. In a written interview, the Pol...
Madhya Pradesh Passes Uniform Civil Code Bill: Fourth State to Legislate on Article 44
The Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly passed the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill, 2026 by voice vote during the Monsoon Session The bill ban...
Farmer Protests Renew Demand for MSP Legal Guarantee Amid India-US Trade Deal Concerns
Farmers from Punjab were stopped at the Shambhu border while attempting to march toward Delhi, renewing protests linked to the India-US trad...
Speaker's Merger Approval Under the Tenth Schedule Challenged in Supreme Court
A group of Lok Sabha members from a legislature party challenged before the Supreme Court the Lok Sabha Speaker's decision approving the mer...
Supreme Court Aravalli Committee Opens Public Feedback Window: Defining a Contested Range
A Supreme Court-constituted high-powered committee on the Aravalli hills opened a 21-day window for public suggestions and representations o...
Chabahar Port: US-Iran Tensions and India's Connectivity Dilemma
The US sanctions waiver that had allowed India to operate at Iran's Chabahar port lapsed in late April 2026, following the revocation of Ira...
CDSCO Approves India's First Dengue Vaccine: Regulatory and Public Health Context
The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) approved India's first dengue vaccine, a tetravalent live-attenuated vaccine develop...
India Opens Tariff-Rate Quota Applications for UK Car Imports Under CETA
The government began accepting applications for a tariff-rate quota (TRQ) allowing concessional-duty import of vehicles from the United King...
PLI Schemes Cross ₹2.40 Lakh Crore in Investments: Solar PV Leads Sectoral Uptake
Cumulative actual investment under the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes crossed ₹2.40 lakh crore as of March 2026 The high efficien...
DGFT Proposes RCMC Waiver for Micro Exports Under Foreign Trade Policy 2023
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) issued a trade notice proposing to exempt export consignments with a free-on-board (FOB) val...
CDSCO Clears India's First Dengue Vaccine for Ages 4-60
The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) granted marketing authorisation to a recombinant, live-attenuated tetravalent dengue...
Supreme Court Sets Aside Bureaucratic Supervision of Kerala Waqf Board
A three-judge Bench of the Supreme Court, headed by the Chief Justice of India, set aside a Kerala High Court direction that had placed the ...
Index of Core Industries Gets a Revised Series with New Base Year
The Central Government has released a revised series of the Index of Core Industries (ICI), updating its base year from 2011-12 to 2022-23. ...
Rs 1.72 Lakh Crore Ethanol Procurement Spend Highlights Scale of the EBP Programme
Public sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) have collectively spent over Rs 1.72 lakh crore on ethanol procurement across the three most re...
NSA-Level India-Saudi Talks on Energy Security Amid Bab el-Mandeb Blockade Threat
India's National Security Advisor held talks with Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister in Riyadh, reviewing bilateral relations, energy cooperati...
Speaker's Approval of MPs' Merger Challenged: Tenth Schedule Merger Clause Under Scrutiny
The Lok Sabha Speaker approved the merger of six Members of Parliament belonging to one faction of a regional party with another faction of ...
PLI Schemes Cross ₹2.4 Lakh Crore in Investment, 14+ Lakh Jobs by FY26
Government data show Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes have attracted more than ₹2.40 lakh crore in investment and created over 14 l...
Producer Price Index to Gradually Replace the Wholesale Price Index
India has begun phasing out the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) in favour of a new Producer Price Index (PPI), aligning the country's price-stat...
Speaker's Approval of an MP Merger Challenged in Supreme Court: Tenth Schedule Merger Clause in Focus
The Lok Sabha Speaker, on 18 July, approved the merger of six Lok Sabha members (elected on one party's ticket) into another party's parliam...
IMF Flags Oil Prices and Monsoon as Key Risks to India's FY27 Growth
The International Monetary Fund, in its July 2026 World Economic Outlook update, revised India's growth forecast for FY27 (2026-27), citing ...
RBI Drafts Rules to Replace the FEMA Non-Debt Instruments Framework
The Reserve Bank of India placed draft Foreign Exchange Management (Foreign Investment) Rules, 2026 in the public domain for comments, propo...
EPFO 3.0: Extending Pension and Social Security to Gig and Unorganised Workers
The Ministry of Labour and Employment is working on a set of reforms, referred to as 'EPFO 3.0,' aimed at widening pension and social securi...
US Imposes 50% Tariffs on Canadian Goods: Trade Remedy Law and WTO Discipline
The United States ordered an additional 50% tariff on a range of Canadian goods, including wine, cement, hockey equipment, dairy products, f...
Iran-US Escalation in the Gulf: Strait of Hormuz, Regional Security and India's Energy Exposure
The United States carried out a ninth consecutive night of strikes on Iranian military infrastructure, including missile facilities, command...
Right to Protest in India: Constitutional Basis, Statutory Limits and Supreme Court Doctrine
A protest march directed toward Parliament coincided with the opening of the Monsoon Session and led to clashes between demonstrators and th...
Change of UK Government: Continuity of the India-UK Strategic Partnership
A change of leadership took place within the United Kingdom's ruling party, resulting in a new Prime Minister assuming office without a gene...
Why Is India's Retail Inflation Rising: Food, Fuel and the Cost-Push Story
India's retail inflation has been trending upward, driven mainly by food price pressures and higher fuel costs rather than a surge in consum...
Indus Waters Treaty: India Presses Ahead on Chenab Basin Projects Amid Push for Renegotiation
The Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) remains in abeyance, with the government continuing hydropower and water-infrastructure works on the Chenab ri...
Indus Waters Treaty Abeyance: The India-Pakistan Security Dimension
India reiterated its position that the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in its earlier form no longer holds, linking this to Pakistan's continued s...
NHA De-empanels Over 2,000 Hospitals in AB PM-JAY Fraud Crackdown
The National Health Authority's National Anti-Fraud Unit (NAFU) penalised 2,842 hospitals under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yo...
Indus Waters Treaty Abeyance: Treaty Mechanics and the Suspension Question
An official statement reiterated that the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), 1960 will not return to its earlier, fully operational form under prese...
Philippines-China Confrontation at Second Thomas Shoal Reignites South China Sea Tensions
A confrontation occurred between Chinese coast guard personnel and Philippine navy personnel near Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea...
RBI's Concessional Swap Facility Draws $20.7 Billion in Forex Inflows Since June
The Reserve Bank of India's concessional swap facility has attracted $20.72 billion in foreign exchange inflows as of July 17, translating t...
India-UK CETA Car Import Quota: Tariff-Rate Quota Mechanics for Vehicle Trade
India has opened the application process for the first round of 2026 import quotas for cars from the United Kingdom under the India-UK Compr...
India Opens First Car Import Quota Window Under India-UK Trade Pact
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) invited applications for the first 2026 round of import quotas for fully-built passenger car...
India Deposits Instrument of Acceptance for WTO Fisheries Subsidies Agreement; 8th Trade Policy Review Begins
India formally joined the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, becoming the 123rd member to deposit its Instrument of Acceptance, handed ov...
Digital Crop Survey Scale-Up in Kharif Season: Building India's AgriStack
The government plans to scale up the Digital Crop Survey to cover about 45 crore agricultural plots across 5.53 lakh villages during the cur...
India and the WTO Fisheries Subsidies Agreement: Scope, Exclusions and the Shrimp Export Sector
India has joined the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, bringing its marine fisheries subsidy regime under the agreement's disciplines Th...
Supreme Court Judge Strength Raised to 38: Bill Replaces May 2026 Ordinance
The Union government introduced the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026 in Parliament to raise the sanctioned strength of ...
India Approves Its First Dengue Vaccine, QDENGA, for Ages 4-60
The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), through the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI), granted marketing authorisatio...
Kerala HC Strikes Down Minerals Vesting Act: Property Rights and Legislative Competence
The Kerala High Court declared the Kerala Minerals (Vesting of Rights) Act, 2021 unconstitutional The 2021 law had vested all mineral rights...
India Approves QDENGA: First Dengue Vaccine, Vaccine Science and Regulatory Pathway
India's drug regulator granted marketing authorisation for QDENGA (TAK-003), the country's first approved dengue vaccine, for use in individ...
WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies: India's Acceptance and Its Provisions
India formally deposited its instrument of acceptance for the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies The Agreement prohibits government subsid...
UPI's Decade of Growth: Domestic Surge and Global Adoption
The Unified Payments Interface (UPI), which completed a decade of operation in 2026, has recorded a sharp multi-year rise in transaction vol...
Hormuz Disruption Reshapes India's Crude Oil and Gas Import Basket
India's crude oil imports rose sharply in the April–June quarter, with reported growth of around 60% year-on-year, and combined net oil and ...
Right to Protest in India: Constitutional Basis and Legal Restrictions
Questions around the legal boundaries of staging public protests in India periodically draw attention to the constitutional and statutory fr...
Ken-Betwa River Linking Project: Ecosystem, Community and Clearance Trade-offs
Protests linked to the Ken-Betwa river-linking project and related infrastructure works have highlighted concerns over biodiversity loss and...
Centre to Release Onion Buffer Stock from September to Curb Festive Price Spike
The Centre plans a phased release of onion buffer stock starting September to bridge the seasonal supply gap ahead of the festive and weddin...
Madhya Pradesh Uniform Civil Code Bill, 2026 Introduced in State Assembly
The Madhya Pradesh Government introduced the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill, 2026 in the State Legislative Assembly during the Monsoon Sessio...
Iran-US Confrontation Widens to Gulf States as Oil Prices Hit One-Month High
Hostilities between the United States and Iran continued for a third consecutive day, extending into strikes affecting Gulf states Iranian f...
Supreme Court to Direct CBSE to Add Opt-Out Option in APAAR Consent Forms
The Supreme Court indicated it will direct the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to implement, on a pan-India basis, an Orissa Hig...
India's First Dengue Vaccine QDENGA Gets DCGI Approval
The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) granted market authorisation to QDENGA, making it India's first approved dengue vaccine. The vac...
India's Net FDI Inflows Projected to Rebound to $15 Billion in FY27
India's net Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows are projected to rebound to around $15 billion in FY27, according to a ratings agency re...
Vande Mataram Bill Seeks Parity with National Anthem Under National Honour Law
A Bill was listed for introduction in the Rajya Sabha during the Monsoon Session to amend the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, ...
China Launches World AI Cooperation Organization, Contesting Western-Led AI Governance
Twenty-nine nations formally established the World AI Cooperation Organization (WAICO), headquartered in Shanghai, around the opening of the...
BSF's Proposed Sundarbans Border Fence Puts Security and Mangrove Ecology in Tension
The Border Security Force (BSF) is conducting a feasibility and technical study to erect fencing along a roughly 90-km stretch of the India-...
Strait of Hormuz Tensions: Chokepoint Geography and India's Energy Exposure
Escalating hostilities in West Asia have heightened concerns over the safety of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's mo...
NaBFID-IIFCL Merger Plan Revived: Consolidating India's Infrastructure DFIs
A long-pending proposal to merge the National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development (NaBFID) with the India Infrastructure Finan...