Daily Current Affairs – 16-07-2026

Important Days

World Snake Day - July 16

July 16 is observed as World Snake Day every year. The day is observed to create awareness about snakes, their ecological importance, conservation, and the need to protect snake species. Snakes play an important role in maintaining ecological balance by controlling pest populations.

Personalities, Awards and Events

New Chairperson of TNRERA

The Tamil Nadu Government has appointed retired IAS officer K. Phanindra Reddy as the Chairperson of the Tamil Nadu Real Estate Regulatory Authority (TNRERA). Retired District Judge A. Nazir Ahamed and retired IAS officer Reeta Harish Thakkar have been appointed as members of TNRERA. The Housing and Urban Development Department issued the Government Order on July 14. Under Section 82 of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016, the Tamil Nadu Government has superseded TNRERA for six months or until the reconstitution of the Authority, whichever is earlier. These appointments were made following the resignation of former TNRERA Chairperson retired IAS officer Shiv Das Meena and members L. Subramanian, D. Jagannathan, M. Krishnamoorthy and Sukumar Chittibabu.

S. Somanath Joins AgniKul Cosmos

Former ISRO Chairman Dr. S. Somanath has joined the Board of Directors of AgniKul Cosmos, a Chennai-based space technology start-up, as an Observer. The appointment comes as AgniKul Cosmos is preparing for Mission 02, which aims to demonstrate the recovery of an orbital-class rocket booster and the conversion of a rocket’s upper stage into an on-orbit platform for the first time in India. The mission will use the two-stage Agnibaan configuration, in which the first-stage booster will attempt controlled descent and ocean recovery after separation. AgniKul Cosmos has obtained patents in India, the United States and Europe for its convertible upper-stage architecture, which enables rocket hardware used for satellite launch to function as an in-orbit platform.

National News

NIIF Investment in Ather Energy

The India-Japan Fund, supported by the Government of India and operated through the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF), will invest ₹200 crore in Ather Energy, an electric two-wheeler company headquartered in Bengaluru. The company’s board approved fundraising of up to ₹1,200 crore through a preferential issue consisting of equity shares and convertible warrants. Hero MotoCorp, the largest shareholder of Ather Energy, will invest ₹960 crore, while founders Tarun Mehta and Swapnil Jain will invest ₹20 crore each. The funds will be used for expansion, Research and Development (R&D), new products and manufacturing capacity. In H1CY26 (first half of 2026), Ather Energy’s electric vehicle registrations increased by 91% year-on-year to 1,69,020 units, and its market share rose from 14% to 17.4%.

Climate Change Linked Sleep Loss in Indian Cities

A study by Climate Central, a US-based climate advocacy group, has revealed that rising night-time temperatures due to climate change are causing sleep loss among people in major Indian cities. The study analysed sleep loss in more than 1,300 cities worldwide and included over 100 Indian cities. During 2020–2025, people in major Indian cities lost between 65 and 93 hours of sleep annually due to unusually high night-time temperatures. Chennai recorded the highest overall sleep loss in India, with residents losing an average of 93 hours per year, including 5 hours directly linked to climate change. Mumbai and Kolkata recorded annual sleep losses of 84 hours and 80 hours respectively. The study noted that night-time temperatures are increasing faster than day-time temperatures globally due to climate change. Among Indian cities, Bengaluru recorded the highest climate change impact, with around 12% of its annual sleep loss attributed to climate change.

MoU Signed for Compressed Biogas Plants in Delhi

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), under the Union Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish Compressed Biogas (CBG) plants in Delhi for the scientific utilisation of cattle dung. The agreement was signed in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, and Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh. The project aims to prevent cattle dung from entering the Yamuna River, promote Compressed Biogas (CBG) production, and support organic farming. Under the agreement, cattle dung will be processed at plants in Nangli, Ghoga-Goyla, and Ghazipur, and livestock farmers will receive ₹1 per kg of cattle dung supplied.

Biji S.S. Appointed Executive Director of Karnataka Bank

Biji Sreekrishnavilas Sankaranarayanan (Biji S.S.) has been appointed as the Executive Director (ED) of Karnataka Bank for a three-year term with effect from July 15, 2026, and assumed charge on the same day. She holds a postgraduate degree in Mathematics, an MBA in Human Resource Management (HR), and a Professional Certification in Management of Social Initiatives from the Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode (IIM-K).

Rajiv Kumar Appointed as HDFC Bank Chairman

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved the appointment of Rajiv Kumar as the Part-time Chairman of HDFC Bank, India's largest private sector bank. His appointment is effective immediately for a three-year term. He succeeds Atanu Chakraborty, while Keki Mistry will continue as a Non-Executive Director of the bank. Rajiv Kumar previously served as the 25th Chief Election Commissioner of India and as the Union Finance Secretary. During 2017–2020, he introduced major reforms in public sector banks, including the consolidation of 27 public sector banks into 12 banks.

Bharat Tex 2026 International Textile Exhibition

The Bharat Tex 2026 International Textile Exhibition and Conference is being held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, from July 14 to 17, under the Union Ministry of Textiles and organized by the Bharat Tex Trade Consortium (BTTC). The event was inaugurated by Union Minister of Textiles Giriraj Singh. More than 6,000 buyers from over 130 countries, 1.3 lakh trade visitors, and over 20,000 textile products are part of the exhibition. Tamil Nadu is one of the eight Partner States participating in the event. Tamil Nadu Minister for Handlooms, Textiles and Khadi M. Vijay Balaji, Minister for Industries and Investment Promotion S. Keerthana, and Principal Secretary T.N. Venkatesh participated in the event and visited the Tamil Nadu pavilions. An investment interaction session was also conducted to showcase Tamil Nadu's textile and apparel sector, investment opportunities, industrial infrastructure, export promotion, skill development, and policy initiatives to attract investors.

Union Cabinet Approves Semicon 2.0 and Mobile Manufacturing Scheme 2.0

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved about ₹1.9 lakh crore for the second phase of schemes to promote semiconductor and mobile phone manufacturing in India. The Cabinet approved ₹1.27 lakh crore for the Semicon 2.0 Scheme and ₹62,500 crore for the Mobile Phone Manufacturing Scheme 2.0 under the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme. According to Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw, Semicon 2.0 will focus on chip design, semiconductor equipment and raw materials, manufacturing facilities, advanced packaging and testing, research and development, and skill development. The scheme is expected to attract ₹4 lakh crore in investments over 6 years and facilitate semiconductor production worth ₹2 lakh crore, with the first semiconductor manufacturing plants already progressing under the earlier phase. The Mobile Phone Manufacturing Scheme 2.0 will be implemented from 2026–27 to 2030–31, providing incentives of 2.25% to 5% to manufacturers. During the scheme period, mobile phones worth ₹39 lakh crore are expected to be produced, creating direct employment for 60,000 people. India has become the world's second-largest mobile phone manufacturer, with 99% of mobile phones used in the country manufactured domestically. Mobile phone production increased from ₹2.14 lakh crore in 2019–20 to ₹5.5 lakh crore in 2024–25, while exports reached ₹2.62 lakh crore. The Cabinet also approved the National Investment Policy–2026 to achieve self-reliance in urea production, under which 8–9 gas-based urea plants will be established, along with two highway projects worth ₹25,500 crore in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, and two multi-tracking railway projects worth ₹3,907 crore in Odisha and Jharkhand.

Passport Is Not Proof of Citizenship

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has reiterated that an Indian Passport is a travel document and should not be treated as proof of Indian citizenship. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that passports are issued after due verification under the provisions of the Passports Act, 1967 and the Passports Rules, 1980. The primary purpose of an Indian passport is to facilitate international travel and establish the holder's identity abroad. The Ministry also stated that less than 8% of Indians currently possess a passport. A 2013 judgment of the Mumbai High Court observed that possession of a passport alone cannot be considered conclusive proof of Indian citizenship.

Union Cabinet Approves Semicon 2.0 Scheme

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the Semicon 2.0 Scheme with an outlay of ₹1,27,500 crore to strengthen semiconductor design and manufacturing in India. The scheme builds on Semicon 1.0 and aims to promote chip design, manufacturing, and the overall semiconductor ecosystem. It will provide incentives to companies engaged in the production, research, and development of semiconductor manufacturing equipment, raw materials, chemicals, and industrial gases. The scheme also aims to attract investments for establishing silicon fabs, compound semiconductor plants, discrete semiconductor manufacturing units, and display manufacturing facilities. The first semiconductor manufacturing plant is expected to become operational in 2028. The Cabinet also approved the Indian Brand Mobile Phone Manufacturing Scheme (MPMS) under the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme with an outlay of ₹62,500 crore. According to Union Minister for Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw, the scheme aims to promote Indian-brand mobile phone manufacturing, attract investments, increase exports, and generate employment. India's mobile phone manufacturing reached ₹5.5 lakh crore and mobile phone exports reached ₹2 lakh crore during the 2024–25 financial year.

Swiggy Instamart Partners with HPCL for LPG Cylinder Delivery

Swiggy Instamart has partnered with Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) to deliver cooking gas cylinders through its mobile application. The service has been launched in the first phase in Bengaluru and is planned to be expanded to major cities including Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata, and Mumbai. Initially, customers can order the 10 kg HP Navya LPG cylinder and the 5 kg regular metal LPG cylinder. A prior LPG connection is not mandatory to avail of this service, and customers purchasing a cylinder for the first time are not required to return an empty cylinder, while empty cylinders can be exchanged during subsequent refills.

International News

BRICS Labour Declaration Adopted Under India’s Leadership

The 12th BRICS Labour and Employment Ministers’ Meeting held in Hyderabad adopted a progressive Labour Declaration under India’s leadership. Union Minister for Labour and Employment Mansukh Mandaviya participated in the meeting. The meeting also reached a consensus on BRICS CONNECT, an initiative proposed by India to create a collaborative platform for knowledge sharing and strengthen cooperation among BRICS countries.

India–UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement Comes into Force

The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and the Social Security Agreement between India and the United Kingdom (UK) have officially come into force. Under the agreement, various Indian domestic products will receive zero-tariff (duty-free) access to the UK market. Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that the agreements will strengthen economic relations between the two countries. Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal announced that nearly 99% of India's export goods will receive duty-free market access under the agreement, and it covers almost 100% of the total bilateral trade value between India and the United Kingdom. The agreement is also expected to benefit farmers, entrepreneurs, and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and support cooperation in technology, professional services, and innovation.

Tamil Nadu News

Tamil Nadu Introduces WhatsApp Number for Bribery Complaints

The Government of Tamil Nadu has introduced a WhatsApp complaint number – 94981 80936 to enable the public to report bribery demands by government officials. This initiative has been introduced to strengthen anti-corruption measures. Chief Secretary M. Saikumar has issued a circular to the Secretaries of all departments, Directors, and District Collectors directing that anti-corruption awareness notice boards be compulsorily displayed in all government offices and public gathering places across the State. The notice boards must prominently display the message “Giving and receiving bribes is a crime” and provide complaint procedures in Tamil and English. Government department websites must also display the WhatsApp complaint number and the website details of the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC). Complaints can also be submitted through the email dvac@nic.in, by telephone at 044-22321090, 044-22321085, 044-22321089, and 044-22342142, or in writing to the Director, Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption, 293, MKN Road, Alandur, Chennai–16.