Daily Current Affairs – 03-07-2026

States’ News

7th National Water Awards Launched

The Ministry of Jal Shakti, through the Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation (DoWR, RD & GR), has launched the 7th National Water Awards on the Rashtriya Puraskar Portal. Applications will be accepted online until 28 August 2026. The awards recognize outstanding work in water conservation and water resource management by States, Districts, Urban Local Bodies, Dam Owning Agencies, and Industries. The theme for the Best Implemented Project in Water Sector category is Dam Safety. Winners will receive a Trophy and Citation, and the awards will be presented by the President of India or the Vice President of India. The National Water Awards were first introduced in 2018 to promote the vision of Jal Samridh Bharat.

National News

UIDAI Enables Free Email Updates Through Aadhaar App

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has enabled free email updates in Aadhaar directly through the Aadhaar App for a six-month period starting from July 1. According to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), more than 2.5 lakh users updated their email addresses within two days of the service launch. Linking an email with Aadhaar enables users to receive real-time email notifications whenever an Aadhaar authentication request is made, thereby improving transparency and security. So far, over 4 million users have updated their mobile numbers, and around 1 million users have updated their addresses through the new Aadhaar App.

Government Removes Three E-Vehicle Apps Over Security Concerns

The Government of India has ordered the removal of the BAT-BMS, Epoch-i-ion, and Lossigy applications from the Google Play Store and Apple App Store due to security concerns. The action was taken following allegations that these applications were being used to remotely disable electric vehicles (e-vehicles), including e-rickshaws. According to sources in the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), the decision was taken because of security concerns and the possibility of misuse. The matter is currently under investigation and is being closely monitored.

Third Batch of DAKSH Leadership Programme Launched

Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurated the third batch of DAKSH (Development of Aspiration, Knowledge, Succession and Harmony) in New Delhi. DAKSH is a one-year leadership development programme for senior executives of Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) and is jointly organised by the Capacity Building Commission (CBC) and the Standing Conference of Public Enterprises (SCOPE). The programme aims to strengthen leadership and institutional capacity to support the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. Dr. Jitendra Singh highlighted the increasing participation of women officers in the current batch. S. Radha Chauhan, Chairperson of the Capacity Building Commission, stated that the Commission is integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI), emerging technologies, and institutional adaptability into its capacity-building framework.

Amaravati to Host India’s First IBM Quantum System

Amaravati has been selected to host one of the first two IBM Quantum Systems to be installed in India, with commissioning expected by September. IBM Chairman and CEO Arvind Krishna announced that IBM has signed an agreement with the Andhra Pradesh State Government and the Government of India for the project. The company is also in discussions to install another IBM Quantum System in India. The IBM Quantum System will provide advanced quantum computing infrastructure to researchers, startups, academic institutions, and enterprises. IBM selected Amaravati due to India’s strong talent pool in mathematics and physics and its potential to develop quantum computing applications. The initiative supports Andhra Pradesh’s efforts to emerge as India’s quantum technology hub.

Skyroot Aerospace to Test-Launch Vikram-1 Rocket

Skyroot Aerospace, a private aerospace company based in Hyderabad, has developed Vikram-1, the first launch vehicle manufactured by a private company in India. The rocket is designed to place satellites into Earth's orbit. The test launch of Vikram-1 is planned between July 12 and August 4 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. The launch date will be finalised based on the completion of rocket integration and testing, weather conditions, security, and launch pad clearance.

Supreme Court Bars Citation of AI-Generated Judgments

The Supreme Court of India has directed that courts must not permit the citation of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-generated judgments during legal proceedings. A Bench comprising Justice P.S. Narasimha and Justice Alok Aradhe issued the direction while hearing a case involving Pooja Ramesh Singh, Jammu & Kashmir Bank, and Essel Infraprojects Limited related to insolvency proceedings. The Court found that non-existent AI-generated judgments had been cited before the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), Mumbai. The Court stated that AI should be used only as an assistive tool with human oversight in judicial proceedings and directed the Bar Council of India (BCI) to frame appropriate guidelines and disciplinary measures to prevent advocates from citing fake AI-generated precedents in courts.

Nationwide Launch of VB-G RAM G Scheme

The Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar Ajeevika Mission Grameen (VB-G RAM G) scheme was launched nationwide from Mukkavaripalli village in Tirupati district, Andhra Pradesh by Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan. The leaders inaugurated the scheme by laying the foundation stone for a farm pond and also launched the VB-G RAM G portal. The scheme replaces the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. Under the scheme, 125 work days have been provided for rural development works, including the creation of assets such as roads, drainage systems and canals. The scheme will be implemented using geo-tagging and biometrics to ensure transparency. The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana aims to construct 74,212 houses in Andhra Pradesh, while funds have also been sanctioned for 146 rural roads and ₹422 crore has been earmarked for road and housing development in the State. The scheme will be implemented with an outlay of ₹7,700 crore from the Central Government and ₹4,000 crore from the Andhra Pradesh Government.

NIMHANS Launches iSLEEPS Sleep Disorder Database

Researchers from NIMHANS, Bengaluru, and the International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), Hyderabad, have developed the first open-access Asian database of overnight sleep studies in patients with ischemic stroke. The dataset, named iSLEEPS (Polysomnography Dataset for Sleep Analysis in Ischemic Stroke Patients), has been published in the Nature Portfolio journal Scientific Data. It contains 100 overnight Polysomnography (PSG) recordings collected at NIMHANS between September 2018 and December 2021. The recordings include manually scored sleep stages, respiratory events, oxygen desaturation episodes, periodic limb movements and clinical information, annotated according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) 2017 Guidelines. The database has been made publicly available to support research on sleep disorders in ischemic stroke patients and improve post-stroke care.

47 Breeding Bird Species Recorded at Nemmeli Wetland

A field survey conducted by the volunteer conservation collective Suzhal Arivom documented 47 breeding bird species in the Kovalam–Nemmeli Coastal Wetland Complex while the proposed Mamallan Freshwater Reservoir project at Nemmeli is under legal scrutiny before the Southern Bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT). The survey covered about 35% of the accessible wetland and recorded 22 species breeding in the open saltpans and mudflats around Nemmeli and 25 species breeding in the Kelambakkam wetland margins and mangrove areas. Breeding species recorded include Red-wattled Lapwing, Kentish Plover, Black-winged Stilt, Grey Francolin, Oriental Pratincole, Red-necked Falcon and Indian Pied Starling. The survey also recorded the Great Thick-knee, listed as Near Threatened in the IUCN Red List. The Tamil Nadu Coastal Zone Management Authority (TNSCZMA) informed the NGT that mitigation measures proposed by the Water Resources Department (WRD) include the creation of six artificial islands, rejuvenation of the Buckingham Canal, and development of shallow peripheral wetlands to support local flora, fauna and wading birds.

Umesh Waghmare Appointed as DST Secretary

Umesh Waghmare, a Professor in the Theoretical Sciences Department at the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Bengaluru, has been appointed as the Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DST). A renowned material science expert, he is an alumnus of IIT Bombay and Yale University (USA), where he completed his PhD. He has received the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award and the Infosys Prize. He succeeds Abhay Karandikar, who was appointed as a Member of NITI Aayog in April 2026. Following Karandikar’s appointment, Rajesh Gokhale, Secretary of the Department of Biotechnology, had been holding the additional charge of DST.

International News

PM Modi’s Official Visit to Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will undertake a six-day official visit to Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand from July 6 to July 11. During his visit to Indonesia (July 6–8), he will hold bilateral talks with President Prabowo Subianto and review the India–Indonesia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, established in May 2018. He will visit Jakarta and Yogyakarta, including the Prambanan Temple Complex, where India and Indonesia will collaborate on conservation work. Indonesia plays an important role in the security of the Malacca Strait, a strategically significant maritime route for India. In Australia (July 8–10), Prime Minister Narendra Modi will participate in the Third India–Australia Annual Summit in Melbourne with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. The discussions will focus on critical minerals, cybersecurity, supply chain resilience, and emerging technologies, and he will also attend the India–Australia CEOs Forum. In the final leg, New Zealand (July 10–11), he will hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to review cooperation in trade, commerce and defence. This will be the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to New Zealand in 40 years.

India Reiterates Suspension of Indus Waters Treaty

The Government of India has reiterated that the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) remains in abeyance due to Pakistan’s continued support for cross-border terrorism. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that Pakistan must credibly and irrevocably renounce support for cross-border terrorism. Regarding the Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project, he said that India’s development assistance to Bangladesh is based on a mutually agreed roadmap that is reviewed regularly, and that India’s views on the project have already been conveyed to the Bangladeshi side. He also stated that India has taken up with Venezuelan authorities the case of an Indian seafarer whose body was brought back from Venezuela, requesting an urgent investigation into reports regarding the removal of vital organs.

World Bank Upgrades Sri Lanka, Vietnam and Philippines

The World Bank has upgraded Sri Lanka, Vietnam, and the Philippines to the Upper-Middle Income category. Vietnam had been classified as a Lower-Middle Income country since 2009, while the Philippines had remained in the same category since the late 1980s. Jordan and Micronesia have also been upgraded to the Upper-Middle Income category, while Togo has been reclassified from Low Income to Lower-Middle Income. According to the World Bank, the share of Low-Income economies has declined from 30% in 1987 to 11%. In 2025, the Gross National Income (GNI) per capita of Vietnam and the Philippines reached US$4,970 and US$4,850, respectively, exceeding the World Bank's Upper-Middle Income threshold of US$4,636.

India–Japan Sign Agreements on Biogas and Defence Cooperation

India and Japan decided to establish 1,000 biogas and organic fertilizer production plants in India with Japanese cooperation during the 16th India–Japan Annual Summit held in New Delhi between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. The two countries also signed their first joint defence production agreement for the co-production of naval radio antennas. Key agreements were signed to expand cooperation in economic security, clean energy, critical technologies, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment manufacturing, biotechnology, artificial intelligence (AI), shipbuilding, aviation, and cargo handling. India and Japan also launched a joint action plan to strengthen supply chains in semiconductors, quantum technology, and advanced technology products, and agreed to expand cooperation in batteries, green hydrogen, and clean energy. India–Japan diplomatic relations will complete 75 years next year, and both countries have agreed to organise commemorative events.

I-2SEA Submarine Cable Project Announced

A consortium comprising Microsoft, Singtel, Tata Communications, and Lightstorm will build the I-2SEA submarine cable system connecting India, Malaysia, and Singapore. The cable system will connect India’s east coast with Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and will have dual landing stations in India at Machilipatnam and South Chennai. NEC Corporation has been appointed as the system supplier, while ASEAN Cableship (ACPL) will serve as the marine installation partner. The I-2SEA project is targeted to be ready for service in the fourth quarter of 2029 (Q4 2029). The submarine cable will have an estimated length of 3,600 km from Singapore to Machilipatnam, with onward connectivity to Hyderabad.

Visa Launches OTP-Less Payment Authentication

Visa, a global payment technology company, has introduced Visa Payment Passkey (VPP), an OTP-less payment authentication method for credit card users. Under VPP, users can authenticate transactions using the same method used to unlock their mobile phones, eliminating the need for a One Time Password (OTP). The authentication methods supported include fingerprint, facial recognition, PIN, password, and pattern. The system also enables users to register biometric authentication for use during future transactions across merchant applications.

Maruti Suzuki’s Fourth Manufacturing Plant Inaugurated Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi inaugurated Maruti Suzuki’s fourth vehicle manufacturing plant at Kharkhoda, Haryana, during the India-Japan Joint Economic Forum. According to the Prime Minister, two-thirds of Suzuki’s cars are manufactured in India and exported to more than 100 countries. The Kharkhoda plant will be expanded from 5 lakh units to 10 lakh units of annual production, making it one of the largest car manufacturing plants. Suzuki Motor Corporation has planned a total investment of ₹35,000 crore for the facility.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi inaugurated Maruti Suzuki’s fourth vehicle manufacturing plant at Kharkhoda, Haryana, during the India-Japan Joint Economic Forum. According to the Prime Minister, two-thirds of Suzuki’s cars are manufactured in India and exported to more than 100 countries. The Kharkhoda plant will be expanded from 5 lakh units to 10 lakh units of annual production, making it one of the largest car manufacturing plants. Suzuki Motor Corporation has planned a total investment of ₹35,000 crore for the facility.

Personalities, Awards and Events

Umesh Waghmare Appointed as DST Secretary

Umesh Waghmare, a Professor in the Theoretical Sciences Department at the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Bengaluru, has been appointed as the Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DST). A noted Materials Science expert, he is an alumnus of IIT Bombay and Yale University, USA, where he completed his PhD. He is a recipient of the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award and the Infosys Prize. Umesh Waghmare succeeds Abhay Karandikar, who was appointed as a Member of NITI Aayog in April, while Rajesh Gokhale, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology (DBT), had been holding additional charge of DST.

Economy News

HDFC Bank Develops AI Platform and Fraud Monitoring System

HDFC Bank has developed an in-house Generative AI platform named Neev and a real-time fraud monitoring system to strengthen banking operations and fraud detection. Neev was developed by a dedicated AI team at the bank's Gurgaon Engineering Centre, which also develops Small Language Models (SLMs). The bank has also created an in-house platform that analyses transactions in real time, identifies suspicious activities such as money mule accounts within microseconds, and automatically blocks suspicious credits. To prevent fraud, HDFC Bank has strengthened Know Your Customer (KYC) procedures by introducing bureau checks, Aadhaar validation, fingerprint verification, and integration with the Ministry of Home Affairs registry and the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) database for identifying known fraudsters.

Tamil Nadu News

Sanoj Kumar Jha Takes Additional Charge as NLC India Chairman

Sanoj Kumar Jha, Additional Secretary in the Union Ministry of Coal and an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, has assumed additional charge as the Chairman of NLC India Limited on July 2. He succeeds Prasanna Kumar Motupalli, whose tenure as Chairman of NLC India Limited ended on June 30. Sanoj Kumar Jha will hold the post on an interim basis until a permanent Chairman is appointed.