Daily notes mapped to syllabus topics, with “Asked before” PYQs and original practice MCQs.
The Ministry of Mines launched the eighth tranche of critical and strategic mineral block auctions on 15 July 2026, it announced a day earlier. The tranche has 20 blocks in nine States: 13 new and 7 offered a second time. Across seven earlier tranches, 56 of 88 blocks were auctioned, a success rate of over 63%.
UPSC angle: Prelims: critical minerals list.
14 Jul 2026
MeitY, with CERT-In, CSIRT-Fin and SISA, released the second Digital Threat Report 2025-26 for India's BFSI and payments ecosystem on 13 July 2026. Six of last year's seven forward-looking predictions have already materialised. The report flags AI asymmetry and sets out an 18-month security roadmap for the sector.
UPSC angle: Prelims: CERT-In.
13 Jul 2026
As on 10 July 2026, total kharif area sown was 531.25 lakh hectares against 632.69 lakh hectares a year earlier, the Agriculture Ministry said on 13 July. Rice stood at 114.69 lakh ha versus 125.53 lakh ha. Pulses, oilseeds and cotton were also behind last year; sugarcane and jute were slightly ahead.
UPSC angle: Prelims: kharif crops.
13 Jul 2026
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence seized over 440 endangered or protected wild animals and about 15 kg of ivory articles and elephant ivory in coordinated pan-India operations, the Finance Ministry said on 13 July 2026. Thirty-three persons were arrested. Operations ran with CBI, WCCB, Customs and State Forest Departments.
UPSC angle: Prelims: CITES.
13 Jul 2026
India's retail inflation (CPI, base 2024) rose to 4.38% in June 2026 from 3.93% in May, MoSPI said on 13 July. Food inflation was 5.32%. Rural inflation was 4.74% and urban 3.92%. Housing inflation was 2.10%. The July CPI is due on 12 August 2026.
UPSC angle: Prelims: CPI.
13 Jul 2026
The Competition Commission of India, by an order dated 13 July 2026 under Section 27 of the Competition Act, 2002, fined HP India ₹11.98 crore and sixteen resellers a combined penalty of about ₹2.30 crore. The case concerned cartelisation in toners, cartridges and other printer consumables. HP India and the resellers were told to cease and desist.
UPSC angle: Prelims: CCI powers.
13 Jul 2026
A PIB backgrounder on 13 July 2026 profiles three indigenous naval classes: Nilgiri-class stealth frigates (Project 17A), Sandhayak-class survey vessels, and Arnala-class anti-submarine shallow water craft. Recent commissions include INS Dunagiri, INS Sanshodhak, INS Agray (21 June 2026) and INS Mahendragiri (11 July 2026).
UPSC angle: Prelims: ship classes.
13 Jul 2026
On 12 July 2026 the Steel Minister inaugurated an 84,000 cubic metre RCC water reservoir at SAIL's IISCO Steel Plant, Burnpur. It will serve Coke Oven Battery-10 and support a planned 4.08 MTPA expansion. In FY 2025-26 the plant made 2.9 million tonnes of hot metal and spent ₹1,860 crore on capital works.
UPSC angle: Prelims: steel plant locations.
12 Jul 2026
The Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme has sanctioned loans to more than two lakh micro food processing enterprises, MoFPI said on 11 July 2026. Project investment exceeds ₹20,300 crore. Nearly 90% of beneficiaries are first-generation entrepreneurs and 44% are women; the scheme has created nearly 11 lakh jobs.
UPSC angle: Prelims: PMFME.
11 Jul 2026
The Indian Navy commissioned INS Mahendragiri, the sixth Project 17A stealth frigate, at Visakhapatnam on 11 July 2026. Built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited with over 75% indigenous content, the 6,670-tonne ship can reach 28 knots and joins the Eastern Fleet. Launch-to-delivery time fell from about 63 months to 31 months.
UPSC angle: Prelims: P-17A.
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