Daily Current Affairs – 15-07-2026

National News

India Introduces Framework to Ban Imports Made with Forced Labour

The Government of India has introduced a new framework to prohibit the import of goods manufactured using forced labour. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has notified detailed procedures to determine whether imported goods are produced through forced labour and can initiate investigations suo motu or based on complaints supported by credible evidence. Under the new framework, the government may examine importers, exporters and manufacturers, seek technical inputs from domestic and international organisations, consult other government agencies and collect additional information during investigations. If goods are found to have been produced using forced labour, their import may be prohibited under the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act. The notification also introduces a legal definition of forced labour into the Foreign Trade Policy, defining it as work or service extracted under the threat of penalty and performed involuntarily. The policy aligns India's trade framework with international standards under the ILO Forced Labour Convention.

Amphibious Combat Boats for Sir Creek and Andaman & Nicobar Command

The Ministry of Defence has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) under the Buy (Indian) category with a minimum 60% indigenous content for the procurement of nearly a dozen high-speed amphibious combat boats capable of operating across sea, marshes and land. Most of these boats will be deployed by the Indian Army in the Sir Creek sector of Kutch, Gujarat, while the remaining boats will be allotted to the Indian Navy at Mumbai and Port Blair to strengthen the Andaman and Nicobar Command. The boats will be operated by the Army Corps of Engineers to improve mobility in tidal marshes where conventional boats and vehicles face operational limitations. Sir Creek is a 96-km tidal estuary between Gujarat's Kutch and Pakistan's Sindh Province, and the unresolved boundary dispute also affects the delimitation of the maritime boundary and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The area, including Harami Nala, has been vulnerable to smuggling, infiltration and illegal activities, making the new amphibious platforms important for border security.

Centre Proposes Ban on Paraquat Dichloride Herbicide

The Central Government has issued a draft notification proposing a nationwide ban on Paraquat Dichloride due to its severe health risks to humans and animals. The draft proposes to prohibit the manufacture, import, sale, distribution, transport and use of the herbicide, with 30 days provided for stakeholders to submit feedback before the final notification. Paraquat Dichloride is already banned in more than 70 countries and has been linked to fatal poisoning, kidney failure, lung fibrosis and Parkinson’s disease. The Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare constituted an Expert Committee in January, which submitted its report on June 12, recommending a nationwide ban. Based on its recommendations, the Registration Committee, headed by Agriculture Commissioner P.K. Singh, recommended a complete ban under the Insecticides Act, 1968. The Registration Committee will cancel the registration certificates of all manufacturers once the final notification is published in the Official Gazette.

Indian Grey Hornbill Reintroduced Successfully in Gir Forest

The Indian Grey Hornbill has been successfully reintroduced into Gir Forest, Gujarat, after disappearing from the region about 60 years ago. A peer-reviewed study published in the international journal Birds found that the birds reintroduced in 2021 have survived, established territories, adapted to the habitat, and bred successfully for four consecutive years. The Gujarat Forest Department carried out the reintroduction programme by releasing 40 Indian Grey Hornbills, including 28 birds during 2021–2022 and 12 birds in 2023, after translocating them from the Aravalli forests of Gujarat. Researchers fitted 11 male hornbills with satellite transmitters to monitor their movement, habitat use, and breeding behaviour. The Indian Grey Hornbill is ecologically significant as it is an important long-distance seed disperser, contributing to the natural regeneration of forests.

International News

India Supports Palestine’s UN Membership Bid

India has supported Palestine’s bid for membership in the United Nations (UN) and reaffirmed its support for a Two-State Solution to achieve lasting peace in the region. At the Palestine Donor Group ministerial meeting held in Brussels, Sripriya Ranganathan, Secretary (CPV), Ministry of External Affairs, highlighted India’s continued developmental and humanitarian assistance to Palestine in the fields of healthcare, education, capacity building, and vocational training. In New York, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar announced fresh humanitarian assistance for Palestine and support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). India also committed to establishing a specialty hospital, an artificial limb fitment centre, and a vocational training institute in Palestine.

MPEDA Begins Fresh Chilled Fish Exports to the UK

The Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), Sub-Regional Division, Thoothukudi, will commence exports of fresh chilled fish to the United Kingdom (UK) from Thiruvananthapuram International Airport to mark the implementation of the India–UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). The first consignment, weighing about 2,000 kg, will be exported by Gladson Exporters and Jude Foods India Pvt. Ltd. During 2025–26, India's seafood exports to the UK reached 18,898 tonnes, with an export value of US$128.20 million.

India Welcomes 2016 South China Sea Tribunal Ruling

India has welcomed the 2016 ruling of the United Nations maritime tribunal, which held that China cannot claim rights over the South China Sea. Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, reaffirmed India's position supporting freedom of navigation, unhindered maritime trade, and the peaceful resolution of disputes under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). He also stated that passports are issued under the Passports Act, 1967 by the Government of India as a travel document after due verification, and that less than 8% of Indian citizens currently possess a passport.

Soyuz MS-29 Carries Indian-Origin Astronaut Anil Menon to ISS

Russia successfully launched the Soyuz MS-29 spacecraft carrying Indian-origin NASA astronaut Anil Menon and Russian cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina to the International Space Station (ISS) from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan. The ISS is a joint project of the United States, Russia, the European Union, Japan, and Canada. The space station is served by SpaceX Dragon spacecraft of the United States and Soyuz spacecraft of Russia, and astronauts are generally rotated every six months. The mission marks the first spaceflight of Anil Menon, who will participate in NASA Expedition 74/75 during an 8-month mission aboard the ISS.

Reports and Indices

Adani Family Tops Hurun Real Estate Rich List 2026

According to the GROHE-Hurun India 2026 Report, Gautam Adani and family have become India’s wealthiest real estate entrepreneurs with a real estate wealth of ₹90,400 crore, following a 73% increase in wealth. Rajiv Singh, Chairman of DLF, ranked second with a wealth of ₹90,200 crore after a 29% decline. The Top 5 also includes Mangal Prabhat Lodha and family (Lodha Developers), Vikas Oberoi (Oberoi Realty), and Chandru Raheja and family (K Raheja Group). The report states that DLF remains India’s most valuable listed real estate company by market capitalisation, while the Adani Group is the most valuable unlisted real estate company. According to Hurun Research, the combined value of India's real estate developers increased by 2% to ₹16.5 lakh crore, while the BSE Realty Index declined by 20% in FY 2026.

MRF Ranked India’s Most Valuable Tyre Brand

MRF Tyres, a Chennai-based tyre manufacturer, has been ranked as India’s Most Valuable and Strongest Tyre Brand in the Brand Finance India 100 – 2026 report. The company has also been recognised as the world’s third strongest tyre brand and is among the Top 50 Most Valuable Brands in India across all industries, including automobiles. According to the report, the combined value of the Top 100 Indian brands has crossed US$236.5 billion. In the Brand Finance Tyres 25 – 2026 report, MRF secured a Brand Strength Index (BSI) score of 87.7 out of 100.

Index of Services Production Released for the First Time

The Central Government has released the Index of Services Production (ISP) for the first time to measure the monthly growth of the services sector. The index is based on GST and other administrative data, with 2024–25 as the base year. According to the experimental release, 14 out of 19 major service sectors recorded double-digit growth in April. Accommodation and Food Services recorded the highest growth at 37.2%, followed by Retail Trade (30.8%), Administrative and Support Services (28.7%), and Real Estate (27.7%). The index covers about 60% of India's formal services sector, excluding the Central Government's primary activities, non-market activities, and the informal services sector. The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has announced that the Index of Services Production (ISP) will be officially released on the 29th of every month.

Tamil Nadu News

Tamil Nadu Launches ‘Nalam TN’ Website for Government Hospital Development

The Government of Tamil Nadu launched the 'Nalam TN' website through the Tamil Nadu Health Foundation to facilitate donations and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds for the development of government hospitals across the State. Chief Minister Vijay launched the website at Presidency College Campus, Chennai. The initiative aims to improve infrastructure and modern medical equipment in government hospitals across 38 districts of Tamil Nadu. During the event, Caplin Point Laboratories and the Apollo Hospitals Group contributed ₹1 crore each, while Titan Engineering and Automation Limited, Hosur, contributed ₹60 lakh through CSR funds. The Chief Minister also inaugurated medical buildings worth ₹139.47 crore, launched the use of modern medical equipment, and distributed appointment orders to 751 Assistant Surgeons and 1,393 Health Inspectors (Grade II) selected by the Medical Services Recruitment Board (MRB).

Biotechnology MoU between Tamil Nadu Government and TICEL Bio Park

The Tamil Nadu State Council for Science and Technology (TNSCST) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with TICEL Bio Park Limited in Chennai to promote biotechnology innovation, research, and entrepreneurship aimed at improving the socio-economic development of Tamil Nadu. The MoU was signed by P. Poongumaran, Managing Director of TICEL Bio Park Limited, and S. Vincent, Member Secretary of the Tamil Nadu State Council for Science and Technology. Under the agreement, skill development training will be provided to improve the employability of students, while technology transfer, startups, and research will be promoted. The two organisations will also conduct seminars, workshops, and conferences, share research infrastructure, and the MoU will remain valid for 2 years.

Important Days

Kamarajar Birth Anniversary – Education Development Day

July 15, the birth anniversary of K. Kamaraj, is observed as Education Development Day in Tamil Nadu. K. Kamaraj served as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu from 1954 to 1963 and introduced several educational reforms. During his tenure, the number of primary schools increased from 14,000 in 1954 to 15,800 in 1957, while the number of high schools increased from 637 in 1951 to 1,995 in 1962. Student enrolment rose from 3.33 lakh in 1952 to 9 lakh in 1962. He implemented compulsory free education based on the recommendations of a committee, introduced the School Development Scheme, launched the Free Midday Meal Scheme, encouraged both government and private schools, and established arts colleges, polytechnics, and engineering colleges across Tamil Nadu. July 15 was declared Education Development Day in 2006, and 2026 marks the 20th year of its observance.