Daily Current Affairs – 05-07-2026

National News

Assam Releases Booklet on Butterfly Diversity in Bodoland Forests

The Assam Forest Department released a special booklet on the butterfly diversity of the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR). The booklet was released by Hagrama Mohilary, Chief Executive Member of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), at Kokrajhar. Spread across 3,653 sq. km., the BTR forest landscape lies at the confluence of the Indo-Malayan and Indo-Gangetic biogeographic zones and supports 346 of Assam’s 620 recorded butterfly species, including several rare, endemic and threatened species. The Ultapani-Manas landscape in BTR is home to notable butterfly species such as Yellow-crested Spangle (Papilio elephenor), Swinhoe’s Flat (Celaenorhinus zea), Great Windmill (Byasa dasarada), Moore’s Cupid (Shijimia moorei), Mussoorie Bush Bob (Pedesta masuriensis), Green Awlet (Burara vasutana), Witch (Araotes lapithis), Indian Cupid (Everes lacturnus assamica) and White-line Bushbrown (Mycalesis malsara).

ISRO Successfully Conducts Gaganyaan Integrated Parachute Tests

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully conducted the Integrated Parachute Tests for the Gaganyaan Mission to validate the deceleration system used during the Crew Module splashdown at sea. The tests were conducted on 3 July at Sriharikota. During the tests, around 10 parachutes were deployed to reduce the speed of the Crew Module before its landing in the sea. ISRO is also developing the Sub-Orbital Launch Vehicle for Experiments (SOLVE), a solid motor-based test rocket designed to conduct multiple experiments. In these tests, the Crew Module is separated from the launch vehicle at an altitude of 10 to 17 km.

CG Semiconductor ISAT Facility Begins Commercial Production

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the commercial production of the CG Semi Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (ISAT) Facility at Sanand, Gujarat. He stated that India is expected to have five functional semiconductor factories in 2026, with production already beginning in three facilities during the past six months. The CG Semiconductor ISAT Facility is a collaboration between India, Japan, Thailand, and other partners. The facility is expected to manufacture 20 crore semiconductor chips annually, with a long-term target of 500 crore chips per year. The OSAT Facility was established in less than two and a half years.

Modified UDAN Scheme Launched with ₹29,000 Crore Outlay

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the next phase of the Modified UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik) Scheme and inaugurated the New Terminal Building (NTB) at Jodhpur Airport. Launched in October 2016, the UDAN Scheme has operationalised 669 routes and 95 airports, heliports, and water aerodromes, benefiting over 1.66 crore passengers. In March, the Union Cabinet approved the Modified UDAN Scheme with an outlay of ₹29,000 crore for the next 10 years. The scheme aims to develop 100 aerodromes, establish 200 modern helipads, provide Viability Gap Funding (VGF) for regional airlines, and promote the use of indigenous aircraft such as HAL Dhruv and Dornier. The new Jodhpur Airport Terminal, developed by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) at a cost of ₹480 crore, has an annual passenger handling capacity of 20 lakh.

Election Commission Directs Kavitha to Change Party Name

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has directed Kalvakuntla Kavitha to change the name of her political party, Telangana Rakshana Sena (TRS), following objections over its acronym. The party had received provisional approval for registration, after which objections were invited from the public. Several political parties, including the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), formerly known as Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), objected to the proposed name. Around 1,000 objections were submitted to the ECI, and on 23 June, the Commission asked Kalvakuntla Kavitha to submit alternative party names. Earlier, she had also applied for party registration under the name Telangana Praja Jagruthi.

India Becomes World’s Second-Largest Mobile Phone Manufacturing Country

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the CG Semiconductor Manufacturing and Testing (OSAT) Facility at Sanand, Gujarat, on July 4. During the event, he stated that India has become the world's second-largest country in mobile phone manufacturing and exports. He said that the growth of India's semiconductor industry is the next phase of the country's electronics development over the past decade. The Central Government aims to establish a complete semiconductor ecosystem in India, covering activities from chip design to packaging, and is promoting the Make in India initiative and the Semicon India programme to strengthen the electronics and semiconductor sectors.

International News

Egypt Discovers Well-Preserved Byzantine-Era City

Egypt has announced the discovery of a well-preserved Byzantine-era residential city at Dakhla Oasis in the New Valley region of the Western Desert. The discovery dates to the 4th century CE, when Egypt was part of the Byzantine Empire, and includes a basilica church, two watchtowers, fortified structures, residential houses, bread ovens, kitchens, stone grinding tools, bronze coins bearing Byzantine emperors, gold coins from the reign of Roman Emperor Constantius II (337–361 CE), and about 200 ostraca (inscribed pottery fragments) containing records of commercial transactions and daily life. The Dakhla Oasis is included in UNESCO’s Tentative List for World Heritage status. Separately, archaeologists discovered 18 ancient tombs at the Marina el-Alamein archaeological site near Alexandria, increasing the total number of tombs at the site to 48. The discoveries include 11 rock-cut tombs, 7 limestone-built tombs, a 2.5-metre granite sarcophagus, a plaster Sphinx statue, pottery, amphorae, and golden tongue burial ornaments.

India–Israel Bilateral Investment Agreement Comes into Force

The India–Israel Bilateral Investment Agreement (BIA) came into force on 5 July to promote a secure and predictable investment environment between the two countries. The agreement was signed on 8 September 2025 and aims to protect two-way investments and promote cross-border investment. Under the agreement, India has reduced the local remedies exhaustion period for Israeli investors from five years to three years before seeking international arbitration. The agreement also includes portfolio investments, unlike India's earlier investment treaties. Israel is the first OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) member to sign this agreement with India. During April 2000 to March 2026, India received US$371.35 million in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) from Israel.

UN Medals Awarded to 651 Indian Peacekeepers

651 Indian soldiers were awarded United Nations (UN) medals for their peacekeeping service in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo). The medal ceremony was held at the Permanent Operating Base, Sake, in North Kivu Province, under the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO). Indian troops have been serving in the mission for more than two decades.

India Participates in RIMPAC 2026 Naval Exercise

India has deployed its P-8I long-range maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare aircraft to Hawaii to participate in RIMPAC 2026 (Rim of the Pacific), the world's largest multinational naval exercise hosted by the United States Navy. The month-long exercise includes participation from 30 countries, 30+ warships, 5 submarines, 200+ aircraft, and around 30,000 personnel. India is participating along with the Quad partners—United States, Japan, and Australia. India first participated in RIMPAC in 2014 and has taken part in every edition since. Earlier this year, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) approved the procurement of six additional P-8I aircraft to strengthen maritime surveillance and anti-submarine operations in the Indian Ocean.

Sports News

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Becomes Youngest Male Cricketer to Represent India

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi became the youngest male cricketer to represent India in T20 International (T20I) cricket at the age of 15 years and 99 days, receiving T20I Cap No. 122. He surpassed the record of Sachin Tendulkar, who made his international debut at the age of 16 years and 205 days against Pakistan in 1989. The Bihar cricketer had earlier become the youngest player to achieve milestones such as Ranji Trophy debut, IPL debut, and IPL century. In his T20I debut, he scored 14 runs off 10 balls, including a six against Jofra Archer.

Tamil Nadu News

SB Selvakumaran Appointed Director of Madras Atomic Power Station

S.B. Selvakumaran has been appointed as the Director of the Madras Atomic Power Station (MAPS) at Kalpakkam, succeeding M. Seshaiah. Before this appointment, he served as the Chief Superintendent of MAPS. Madras Atomic Power Station, located at Kalpakkam, functions under the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) and operates two Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs), each with an installed capacity of 220 MW. S.B. Selvakumaran graduated in Mechanical Engineering (Honours) from NIT Tiruchirappalli in 1988 and joined NPCIL through its first In-plant Training batch in 1989.

States’ News

Andhra Pradesh to Explore Gold Deposits in Kuppam

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu announced that the Andhra Pradesh Government will undertake gold exploration in Kuppam using modern technology based on the Jonnagiri Gold Project. The project aims to identify and develop potential gold deposits through advanced exploration and mining technologies. As part of the plan, the government intends to develop Kuppam as "Swarna Kuppam", an industrial and employment hub. The government also plans to establish a Heritage Granite Cluster to promote value addition and exports of blue granite, which is an important mineral resource of the region, while attracting manufacturing and mineral-based investments.

7th World Thirukkural Conference in Bengaluru

The 7th World Thirukkural Conference is being held on 5 July at St. Joseph's University, Langford Road, Bengaluru, organised by the Bengaluru Thiruvalluvar Sangam, Mother Tongue Federation (Thaimozhi Kootamaippu) and St. Joseph's University. The conference is inaugurated by Tamil Nadu Non-Resident Tamils Welfare Minister K. Thennarasu. Former ISRO Director Mylswamy Annadurai and Karnataka Rakshana Vedike President T.A. Narayana Gowda are participating as special guests. A Kannada Thirukkural children's book and a research volume titled "World Peace and Humanitarian Virtues Taught by Thirukkural" are being released during the conference. A resolution seeking to declare the Thirukkural as the National Book is proposed. Around 1,000 scholars and students from various Indian states and countries including Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and France are participating.