- India's coal imports declined by 12.95% in April 2026 due to higher domestic coal production and improved supply. The decline reduces import dependence, saves foreign exchange, and strengthens India's energy security.
- Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched the nationwide 'Viksit Bharat – G-Ram G Act' campaign from Andhra Pradesh to strengthen rural governance, improve public service delivery, and support the vision of Viksit Bharat.
- NITI Aayog released the Roadmap for Globalisation of Ayurveda 2047 to establish Ayurveda as a globally accepted healthcare system by promoting research, standardisation, innovation, and international collaboration.
- The Government has asked Meta to pause the rollout of WhatsApp's Username feature over concerns related to privacy, security, identity verification, and compliance with Indian laws.
- The Government of India launched the MANAS Helpline to provide drug reporting, counselling, de-addiction, and rehabilitation support, strengthening efforts to combat drug abuse.
- The Gujarat Government has established the SAMARTH Semiconductor Training Hub at IIT Gandhinagar to develop skilled manpower and promote research in the semiconductor sector.
- The Government has directed the removal of the BAT-BMS App over concerns related to national security and data privacy, reinforcing its focus on digital security.
- Five Amazing Animal Fathers That Redefine Parenting: Recent feature highlighted unique parenting behaviours in the animal kingdom, showcasing species where male animals play a major role in protecting, caring for, and even carrying their young.
- India and Japan have agreed to strengthen cooperation in Artificial Intelligence, clean energy, defence, digital technologies, and economic security, further enhancing their strategic partnership.
- The World Health Organization (WHO) has granted Emergency Use Listing (EUL) to the first diagnostic test for the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, enabling faster disease detection during outbreaks.
- The International Booker Prize has been renamed the Bukhman Prize following a new partnership with the Bukhman Foundation. Announced in July 2026, the prize money has been increased to £100,000, making it one of the world's highest-valued literary awards. The award continues its original purpose of recognising the best work of translated fiction published in English, with the prize shared between the author and the translator, highlighting the important role of translation in bringing world literature to English-speaking readers.
- On 2 July 2026, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) appointed IAS officer Prashant Sitaram as the Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). As an Additional Secretary, he will assist the ministry in policy formulation, administrative coordination, and implementation of key internal security and governance initiatives, thereby strengthening the ministry's administrative and policy framework.
- India approved its first Private Point-in-Space (PinS) Instrument Approach for helicopter operations, enabling safer satellite-based landings in remote areas and adverse weather conditions.
- Skyroot Aerospace is preparing to launch Vikram-1 under Mission Aagaman, its first orbital mission. Vikram-1 is a privately developed launch vehicle designed to place small satellites into Low Earth Orbit (LEO). The mission marks a major milestone for India's private space sector and aims to boost the country's commercial space capabilities.
- The Vera C. Rubin Observatory has started the 10-year Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) to map the southern sky. The survey will use the world's largest digital camera to study dark matter, dark energy, asteroids, and other astronomical phenomena, helping scientists better understand the universe.
- Indian para-athlete Hokato Hotozhe Sema from Nagaland climbed to World No. 1 in the Men's Shot Put F57 category in the latest World Para Athletics Rankings on 2 July 2026. Sema had earlier won the bronze medal in the Men's Shot Put F57 event at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games with a personal best throw of 14.65 metres. His rise to the top of the world rankings reflects his consistent performances on the international stage and marks a major achievement for Indian para-athletics.
- On 2 July 2026, Cristiano Ronaldo became the oldest player to score in a FIFA World Cup knockout match after scoring for Portugal in a 2–1 victory over Croatia in the Round of 32 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. At 41 years of age, he set a new tournament record, adding another milestone to his illustrious international football career.
Questions:
Q1.NITI Aayog's 'Roadmap for Globalisation of Ayurveda 2047' primarily aims to:a) Promote medical tourism in India only
b) Establish Ayurveda as a globally accepted healthcare system
c) Increase exports of pharmaceutical products only
d) Develop new vaccines for infectious diseases
Answer: b) The roadmap aims to globalise Ayurveda through research, standardisation, innovation, and international collaboration.
Q2. The WHO recently granted Emergency Use Listing (EUL) to a diagnostic test for which disease?
a) Nipah Virus Disease
b) Marburg Virus Disease
c) Ebola Bundibugyo Virus Disease
d) Monkeypox
Answer: c) WHO approved the first diagnostic test for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola virus under its Emergency Use Listing.
