Current affairs relevant to GS3.
Researchers at the Indian Institute of Geomagnetism have reconstructed the topside ionosphere over India for the first time by combining COSMIC radio-occultation scale-height data with ground ionosonde bottomside profiles. The method targets better electron-density estimates up to about 1,000 km for LEO satellites, HF links and NAVIC/GPS.
8 Jul 2026
The National Rainfed Area Authority held a one-day national consultation at the NASC Complex, PUSA, New Delhi, on quality data generation and dissemination for rainfed-area projects. Research agencies presented datasets; States including Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Punjab, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar flagged access bottlenecks.
8 Jul 2026
DRDO successfully flight-tested the Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket (LRGR) at the Integrated Test Range, Chandipur, on 8 July 2026. The rocket flew a user-defined minimum range of 60 km and hit the target as planned. It was launched from the in-service Pinaka launcher, showing multi-variant launch from the same system.
8 Jul 2026
ECLGS 5.0, approved by the Union Cabinet on 5 May 2026 for businesses hit by the West Asia situation, has issued 4,11,497 guarantees amounting to ₹1,55,229 crore. MSMEs get 100% guarantee cover on additional loans; other segments get 90%. By number, 98% of guarantees and 82% of guaranteed amount went to MSMEs.
7 Jul 2026
Kamarajar Port Limited finished Capital Dredging Phase VI at about ₹440 crore. Operational draft is now 18.0 metres, so the port can take fully laden Capesize vessels up to 1,70,000 DWT. It is India's second Major Port after Visakhapatnam with an 18-metre draft.
7 Jul 2026
MoEFCC designated the Natural History Museum, Mizoram University, Aizawl, as a Designated Repository under Section 39 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002. The 19 June 2026 notification makes it India's 21st such repository. It will hold voucher and type specimens from the Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspot.
7 Jul 2026
A PIB backgrounder maps India's toy push from craft heritage to manufacturing and exports. Combined toy exports under HSN 9503, 9504 and 9505 rose from US$152.7 million in 2017-18 to US$384.7 million in 2025-26. India moved from a US$213.01 million deficit to a US$152 million surplus. Policy hooks include NAPT 2020 and the Toys QCO 2020.
7 Jul 2026
MoSPI released the report of the Expert Committee on Energy Statistics on 6 July 2026. Chaired by the Director of IIT-Delhi, the committee reviewed Energy Statistics India and data gaps across ministries. Key asks include biofuel accounting, captive/off-grid power, EV electricity use, and uniform international classifications.
6 Jul 2026
High-resolution radio work on 280 nearby galaxies from the Palomar sample found compact central radio emission in nearly one-quarter of them. Using the e-MERLIN array and Chandra X-ray checks, astronomers including an IIA faculty member argue these are weakly accreting supermassive black holes often missed in ordinary surveys.
6 Jul 2026
From 4 July 2026 the Government raised the price at which it buys onions for the Price Stabilisation Buffer by 13%, from ₹1,875 to ₹2,125 per quintal. NAFED and NCCF are procuring. Production for 2025-26 is estimated at 307.37 lakh tonnes, so supply is not a worry, but traders are buying on monsoon fears.
4 Jul 2026