National

India launched the Cell Broadcast Alert System (CBS) on 2 May 2026 to send instant disaster warnings to mobile phones in affected areas. The system is operated by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) through the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) and was developed by C-DOT under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). It sends quick, location-based alerts to help people take timely action and reduce loss of life during disasters.

Important Points:

• Launch Date: 2 May 2026
• Developed by: C-DOT under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT)
• Implemented by: National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)
• Based on: Common Alerting Protocol (CAP)
• Integrated with: SACHET (India’s CAP-based alert platform)
• Coverage: All 36 States and Union Territories
• Five Warning Agencies:
  • India Meteorological Department (IMD)
  • Central Water Commission (CWC)
  • Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS)
  • Defence Geoinformatics Research Establishment (DGRE)
  • Forest Survey of India (FSI)
• State Role: State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs) issue and send alerts in regional languages.
• Key Features:
  • Sends geo-targeted alerts to people in the affected area.
  • Works even when mobile networks are busy.
  • Can play a loud alert tone even if the phone is on silent mode.
  • Supports English, Hindi, and regional languages.
• Disasters Covered: Cyclones, tsunamis, floods, heavy rainfall, lightning, thunderstorms, hailstorms, avalanches, cloudbursts, earthquakes, industrial/man-made disasters, and other emergencies.
• Purpose: To give early warnings, improve disaster preparedness, and reduce disaster-related casualties.

On 26 July 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the formation of a high-powered task force on examination reforms to restore credibility, transparency, and technological robustness in India’s examination system. The committee has been constituted in the wake of the NEET-UG paper leak controversy and aims to revamp the National Testing Agency (NTA) by introducing leak-proof, technology-driven examination processes and recommending long-term structural and legal reforms.

Leadership & Members

Chairperson:

• Nandan Nilekani – Co-founder of Infosys, architect of Aadhaar, and former UIDAI chief.

Panel Members:

• S. Somanath – Former ISRO Chairman
• Tapan Deka – Former Intelligence Bureau Director
• V. Kamakoti – Director, IIT Madras
• Anita Karwal – Former School Education Secretary
• Amrit Lal Meena – Logistics expert

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) officially withdrew its 36‑day protest on 25 July 2026 after the Union government accepted all its key demands, including the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, withdrawal of FIRs against protesters, and compensation for families affected by the NEET paper leak suicides.

📌 Background of the Protest

• Cause: The agitation began on 20 June 2026 at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, over the NEET‑UG 2026 paper leak and irregularities in CBSE’s on‑screen marking system.
• Demands:
  1. Resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
  2. Withdrawal of all FIRs against protesters nationwide.
  3. Compensation for families of students who died by suicide due to exam irregularities.
  4. Assurance of no future cases against protesters.
  5. Consideration of a five‑point education reform charter.

🏛️ Government Response

• Resignation: Dharmendra Pradhan resigned on 25 July 2026, taking responsibility for the NEET paper leak.
• Legal Relief: The Centre assured withdrawal of all FIRs filed against protesters and promised no future cases.
• Compensation: Families of NEET‑related suicide victims will receive ₹1 crore compensation (maximum possible under rules).
• Reforms: The government agreed to consider CJP’s five‑point charter on exam reforms, with follow‑up talks scheduled in four weeks.

Environmental and education reform activist Sonam Wangchuk ended his 26‑day hunger strike at a private hospital in Gurugram in the presence of Union Ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh, his wife Gitanjali Angmo, and senior leaders of the Apex Body of Leh‑Ladakh.

✊ Reason for the Protest

• Began on 28 June 2026, demanding education reforms and accountability over paper leaks in national and state‑level exams.
• Called for transparency in recruitment processes and stronger anti‑corruption mechanisms.
• Urged the government to protect students’ rights and restore public trust in examinations.

🕊️ End of the Fast

• Wangchuk said the decision came after prolonged negotiations and assurances from the Centre.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged him to follow doctors’ advice and regain his health soon, posting a message praying for his recovery.
• Over 65 Members of Parliament had earlier appealed to him to end the fast peacefully.
• Wangchuk thanked supporters and urged everyone to remain vigilant and non‑violent.

Operation Southern Readiness 26-2 is a four-day multinational maritime security training exercise that began in Kochi on 20 July 2026. Hosted by the Indian Navy’s Southern Naval Command, it brings together participants from 26 countries to enhance maritime cooperation, interoperability, and professional readiness.

The exercise is being conducted under the Indian Navy-led Combined Task Force 154 (CTF 154) in partnership with the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF). It is the first time that Operation Southern Readiness is being hosted in India.

A total of 254 participants from 26 countries, along with 74 facilitators and representatives from four international organisations, are taking part in the training. The programme includes sessions on ship management, navigation, maritime security, firefighting, damage control, and simulator-based practical training.

The exercise aims to strengthen regional maritime security, promote professional exchanges among partner nations, and reinforce India’s role as a key maritime security and training partner.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has deployed four Rafale fighter aircraft, two C-17 Globemaster transport aircraft, and over 120 Air Warriors to Australia to participate in Exercise Pitch Black 2026, the Royal Australian Air Force’s premier multinational air combat exercise.

The exercise will be held from 20 July to 7 August 2026 at RAAF bases in Darwin, Tindal, and Amberley in northern Australia. During the three-week exercise, the IAF will train with air forces from the Indo-Pacific and Europe, participating in complex air combat missions.

The deployment highlights the growing India–Australia defence cooperation and aims to improve interoperability, combat flying skills, operational coordination, and long-term defence partnerships.

The third edition of Bharat Tex 2026, the world’s largest global textile event, is being held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, from 14 to 17 July 2026. The four-day event was inaugurated by Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh on 14 July 2026.

Organised by the Bharat Tex Trade Federation with support from the Ministry of Textiles, the event aims to establish India as a global hub for textiles, fashion, sustainability, innovation, and investment. It is inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 5F vision – Farm to Fibre to Factory to Fashion to Foreign.

Bharat Tex 2026 is expected to host over 7,000 buyers, 1.3 lakh trade visitors, and 1,600 exhibitors from India and 14 countries, showcasing more than 20,000 products across the entire textile value chain. The event will facilitate 4,000+ B2B meetings, 100+ B2G meetings, and the signing of 30+ MoUs related to trade, investment, technology, and sustainability.

The event features participation from eight partner states, more than 100 knowledge sessions, and 350+ speakers from over 20 countries. It also includes discussions on Industry 5.0, technical textiles, sustainability, MSMEs, PM MITRA textile parks, and international textile partnerships. Bharat Tex 2026 is expected to strengthen India’s position as a trusted global textile sourcing destination through enhanced trade, investment, and international collaboration.

On 10 July 2026, Union Home Minister Amit Shah reaffirmed the government’s commitment to making India’s coastal security unbreachable while reviewing the establishment of the Bureau of Port Security (BoPS) with Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal.

The Bureau of Port Security (BoPS) is being established as a statutory body under Section 13 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 2025. It will function under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and will be headed by a Director General. The Bureau will regulate and inspect the security of ships and port facilities, facilitate the collection and sharing of security-related information, and strengthen cybersecurity through a dedicated IT security division.

Amit Shah directed that only CISF-trained personnel from licensed private security agencies should be deployed at ports. He also ordered the early start of training at the Port Security Training Institute, creation of a comprehensive database of security personnel, installation of container-scanning facilities at BoPS-covered ports, and trial security runs at Visakhapatnam Port, Jawaharlal Nehru Port, and Mundra Port.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a state visit to Indonesia from 6–8 July 2026, his first bilateral visit since India and Indonesia elevated their ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2018. During the visit, both countries signed several agreements to strengthen cooperation in trade, digital technology, defence, healthcare, critical minerals, and maritime security.

Major Outcomes

• Digital Cooperation: Indonesia launched the Indonesia Open Network (ION) based on India’s Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) framework. Integration of India’s UPI with Indonesia’s QRIS payment system is also being finalized.
• Healthcare: Both countries agreed to establish a government-to-government framework for supplying affordable Indian medicines, inspired by India’s Jan Aushadhi scheme.
• Critical Minerals: MoUs were signed to strengthen supply chains for nickel, copper, and bauxite, supporting manufacturing in both countries.
• Defense & Maritime Security: Building on the sale of BrahMos missile systems to Indonesia, the two leaders elevated defense cooperation by signing an Air-to-Air Missile Cooperation Agreement. India will also provide dedicated training slots for Indonesian defense personnel at the National Defence Academy (NDA).
• Cultural Ties: The leaders inaugurated conservation work at the Prambanan Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Indonesia. They also declared 2027 as the “Tagore–Dewantara Year” to commemorate the centenary of Rabindranath Tagore’s 1927 visit to Indonesia.
• Geopolitical Cooperation: Both nations reaffirmed their commitment to a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific. Indonesia also expressed support for India’s BRICS Presidency in 2026.

Economic Significance

Indonesia is India’s second-largest trading partner in ASEAN, with bilateral trade reaching USD 24.78 billion in 2025–26.

On 6 July 2026, the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust accepted the resignations of General Secretary Champat Rai and Trust member Dr. Anil Mishra. The resignations came after their names surfaced in the alleged Ram Temple donation embezzlement case.

Krishna Mohan was appointed as the Interim General Secretary. Krishna Mohan’s complaint led to the FIR in the alleged donation irregularities case, in which eight people were arrested.

The Trust decided to create the post of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and formed a three-member committee to recommend suitable candidates.

Gopal Nagar Kote was removed from the list of the Trust’s special invitees.

The Trust stated that all donated ornaments and valuables are safe, properly accounted for, and open to public verification. The Trust also said that devotees’ faith remains strong and pilgrim numbers have not declined despite the controversy.