Current affairs relevant to GS3.
A study led by ARIES, an autonomous DST institute, has found that the Sun's slow poleward plasma flow continues nearly 3,000 km above its visible surface, in the upper chromosphere. Using 27 years of radio images from Japan's Nobeyama Radioheliograph, the team measured speeds of about 5 to 15 metres per second, supporting the "magnetic tree" hypothesis.
17 Jul 2026
A PIB Backgrounder of 16 July 2026 traces how India's rural credit moved from moneylenders to banks, RRBs, cooperatives and NABARD. NABARD's May 2026 survey found about 51% of rural households rely only on formal credit. The agriculture credit target for FY 2025-26 was ₹32.50 lakh crore, up from ₹8 lakh crore in FY 2014-15.
16 Jul 2026
The Codex Alimentarius Commission adopted three global standards, for large cardamom, coriander and vanilla, at its 49th session (CAC49) in Geneva from 6 to 10 July 2026, the Commerce Ministry said on 16 July. They were finalised by the India-hosted Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs. India will also co-chair a new working group.
16 Jul 2026
The Ministry of Power circulated the draft Corporate Average Fuel Economy 2027 Norms (CAFE-III) for stakeholder consultation on 16 July 2026. They cover M1 passenger vehicles made or imported for sale in India from 2027-28 to 2031-32. Comments were due by 6 August 2026. The final norms were notified on 30 September 2026.
16 Jul 2026
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research marked its 98th Foundation Day on 16 July 2026. The Agriculture Minister said ICAR developed 386 improved varieties across 44 crops in the past year: 94% climate-resilient and 29 biofortified. 43 varieties, 17 technologies and 14 publications were released, and 72 MoUs were signed with 51 industry partners.
16 Jul 2026
Indian Railways is set to flag off India's first Hydrogen Fuel Cell Trainset, the Railway Ministry said on 16 July 2026. The 10-coach train carries about 2,600 passengers and will run on the 89 km Jind-Sonipat section at 75 kmph. It makes electricity onboard from hydrogen and oxygen, leaving only water vapour and heat.
16 Jul 2026
NITI Aayog launched a ten-year "Roadmap for Building India as a Leading Bioeconomy Powerhouse by 2035" on 16 July 2026. India's bioeconomy grew from $10 billion in 2014 to $195.3 billion in 2025, or 4.8% of GDP. The roadmap aims for $691 billion by 2035 and $2.6 trillion by 2047, through six National BioMissions.
16 Jul 2026
Self-sufficiency in urea.
15 Jul 2026
Transparent coal trading.
15 Jul 2026
The Union Minister of Coal and Mines launched an online portal for applications to register coal exchanges on 15 July 2026. Exchanges were enabled by the MMDR Amendment Act, 2025 and the Coal Exchange Rules, 2026. The Coal Controller Organisation (CCO) is the regulator. Registrations will be valid for 25 years.
15 Jul 2026