NEW Firstpost Sun 26 Jul 2026 06:39:22 AM

Centre to introduce Public Examinations Amendment Bill in Lok Sabha amid exam reform push

SUMMARY
Amid nationwide concerns over paper leaks, the Centre is set to introduce the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 in the Lok Sabha. The legislation proposes significantly tougher penalties for exam fraud—including up to 10 years in prison and fines reaching ₹10 crore for organized crime. It also mandates a Special Task Force, 60-day investigation deadlines, and Special Fast-Track Courts to complete trials within three months.
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Relevant For: Mains GS - II Polity & Governance
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Centre to introduce Public Examinations Amendment Bill in Lok Sabha amid exam reform push

Centre to introduce Public Examinations Amendment Bill in Lok Sabha amid exam reform push

Centre to introduce Public Examinations Amendment Bill in Lok Sabha amid exam reform push

Concept not available.
NEW The Indian Express Sun 26 Jul 2026 06:36:06 AM

UK cabinet reshuffle: 3 Indian-origin Labour MPs get front-bench roles under Burnham

SUMMARY
In a major cabinet reshuffle under UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, three Indian-origin Labour MPs from the 2024 intake have been appointed to front-bench roles. Bihar-born Kanishka Narayan retained his post, elevated as Britain's first Cabinet-level AI minister. Meanwhile, Satvir Kaur was appointed Minister for Equalities and Safeguarding, and Harpreet Uppal took charge as Assistant Whip, strengthening Indian-origin representation in government.
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Relevant For: Mains GS - II International Relations
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MCQs Mains Question Basic Concepts

UK cabinet reshuffle: 3 Indian-origin Labour MPs get front-bench roles under Burnham

UK cabinet reshuffle: 3 Indian-origin Labour MPs get front-bench roles under Burnham

UK cabinet reshuffle: 3 Indian-origin Labour MPs get front-bench roles under Burnham

Concept not available.
NEW News 18 Hindi Sun 26 Jul 2026 06:33:12 AM

‘Eating Chicken Biryani On Ganga No Crime’: SC Justice Bhuyan Slams Criminalisation Of Dissent

SUMMARY
Speaking at the 4th Justice G. P. Singh Memorial Lecture in Bhopal, Supreme Court Justice Ujjal Bhuyan strongly criticized the increasing criminalisation of dissent in democracy. Highlighting the arrest of youth jailed for three months for eating chicken biryani on a boat in the Ganga during Iftar, he asserted that consuming biryani is no crime as no law prohibits it. He emphasized that peaceful protest and debate remain fundamental rights.
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Relevant For: Mains GS - II Polity & Governance
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‘Eating Chicken Biryani On Ganga No Crime’: SC Justice Bhuyan Slams Criminalisation Of Dissent

‘Eating Chicken Biryani On Ganga No Crime’: SC Justice Bhuyan Slams Criminalisation Of Dissent

‘Eating Chicken Biryani On Ganga No Crime’: SC Justice Bhuyan Slams Criminalisation Of Dissent

Concept not available.
NEW The Indian Express Sun 26 Jul 2026 06:23:17 AM

28 years on tentative list, Sarnath now a UNESCO World Heritage Site

SUMMARY
After a 28-year wait since joining the tentative list in 1998, Sarnath in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, has been officially inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List during the 48th session in Busan. It becomes India's 45th and UP's 4th World Heritage Site. Revered as the place where Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon (Dharmachakra Pravartan) and founded the Sangha, the tag covers key remains like Chaukhandi Stupa and the Ashokan Pillar.
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Relevant For: Prelims + Mains GS - I Art & Culture
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28 years on tentative list, Sarnath now a UNESCO World Heritage Site

28 years on tentative list, Sarnath now a UNESCO World Heritage Site

28 years on tentative list, Sarnath now a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Concept not available.
NEW The Indian Express Sat 25 Jul 2026 05:47:35 AM

Bill criminalising insult to Vande Mataram introduced in House

SUMMARY
Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai introduced 'The Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026' in the Rajya Sabha. The bill seeks to grant 'Vande Mataram' equal statutory protection as the national anthem, flag, and Constitution. Intentionally preventing or disturbing its singing will become a criminal offence punishable by up to three years in prison, a fine, or both, amid Opposition concerns over free speech.
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Relevant For: Mains GS - II Polity & Governance
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Bill criminalising insult to Vande Mataram introduced in House

Bill criminalising insult to Vande Mataram introduced in House

Bill criminalising insult to Vande Mataram introduced in House

Concept not available.
NEW News 18 Hindi Fri 24 Jul 2026 06:53:47 PM

India-Israel Conclude Second Round Of Negotiations For FTA, Goods, Services, And Trade Barriers Discussed

SUMMARY
India and Israel concluded the second round of negotiations for a proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in New Delhi from July 20 to 23, 2026. Held under the Terms of Reference signed in November 2025, technical discussions covered trade in goods and services, rules of origin, technical barriers to trade, intellectual property rights, and customs procedures. With bilateral trade reaching $3.93 billion in FY 2025–26, both nations aim for an early, balanced pact.
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Relevant For: Mains GS - II International Relations
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India-Israel Conclude Second Round Of Negotiations For FTA, Goods, Services, And Trade Barriers Discussed

India-Israel Conclude Second Round Of Negotiations For FTA, Goods, Services, And Trade Barriers Discussed

India-Israel Conclude Second Round Of Negotiations For FTA, Goods, Services, And Trade Barriers Discussed

Concept not available.
NEW The Times Of India Sun 19 Jul 2026 06:43:01 PM

Archaeologists in Iraq unearthed a rare 2,600-year-old Assyrian stele of King Ashurbanipal at Nineveh’s Shamash Gate, nearly a decade after ISIS damaged the ancient city

SUMMARY
A joint Iraqi-American mission unearthed a rare, 2,600-year-old Assyrian stele of King Ashurbanipal at Nineveh’s Shamash Gate. Standing two meters high, the monument features a large relief of the king on the front and two smaller royal carvings on the back, alongside cuneiform inscriptions documenting his vast building projects. Discovered during post-ISIS restoration efforts, the find marks a major milestone for Iraq’s cultural recovery.
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Relevant For: Prelims + Mains GS - I Art & Culture
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Archaeologists in Iraq unearthed a rare 2,600-year-old Assyrian stele of King Ashurbanipal at Nineveh’s Shamash Gate, nearly a decade after ISIS damaged the ancient city

Archaeologists in Iraq unearthed a rare 2,600-year-old Assyrian stele of King Ashurbanipal at Nineveh’s Shamash Gate, nearly a decade after ISIS damaged the ancient city

Archaeologists in Iraq unearthed a rare 2,600-year-old Assyrian stele of King Ashurbanipal at Nineveh’s Shamash Gate, nearly a decade after ISIS damaged the ancient city

Concept not available.
NEW The Times Of India Sun 19 Jul 2026 03:48:59 PM

Mount Olympus, mythological home of Greek gods, may get UNESCO status

SUMMARY
Greece is pushing for Mount Olympus, the legendary 9,573-foot home of the 12 Olympian gods, to join UNESCO’s World Heritage List as a mixed cultural and natural site. The proposal is being evaluated at the World Heritage Committee meeting in Busan, South Korea. While local officials hope the status will enforce ecosystem protections against rising tourism, approval is uncertain, as a draft agenda suggests the committee may request more details from Greece.
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Relevant For: Prelims + Mains GS - I Art & Culture
Focus Area unesco
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Mount Olympus, mythological home of Greek gods, may get UNESCO status

Mount Olympus, mythological home of Greek gods, may get UNESCO status

Mount Olympus, mythological home of Greek gods, may get UNESCO status

Concept not available.
NEW The Indian Express Sat 18 Jul 2026 04:23:35 PM

Knowledge Nugget: What is the RBI’s new Specified Non-Financial Assets (SNFAs) and SARFAESI Act?

SUMMARY
RBI has introduced a new prudential framework for Specified Non-Financial Assets (SNFAs) under its stressed assets directions. SNFAs are immovable properties (like buildings or land) acquired by banks from defaulting borrowers to settle Non-Performing Assets (NPAs). To ensure transparency, the RBI mandated that these assets must be disposed of within seven years primarily through public auctions following SARFAESI Act principles.
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Relevant For: Prelims + Mains GS - III Economy
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Knowledge Nugget: What is the RBI’s new Specified Non-Financial Assets (SNFAs) and SARFAESI Act?

Knowledge Nugget: What is the RBI’s new Specified Non-Financial Assets (SNFAs) and SARFAESI Act?

Knowledge Nugget: What is the RBI’s new Specified Non-Financial Assets (SNFAs) and SARFAESI Act?

Concept not available.
NEW Prabhat Khabar Thu 16 Jul 2026 09:18:13 PM

हॉर्मुज स्ट्रेट से गुजरने वाले जहाजों पर भारतीय नाविकों की तैनाती पर रोक, अमेरिका-ईरान तनाव के बीच भारत का फैसला

SUMMARY
अमेरिका-ईरान तनाव के बीच भारत सरकार ने हॉर्मुज जलडमरूमध्य (Strait of Hormuz) से गुजरने वाले वाणिज्यिक जहाजों पर भारतीय नाविकों (Seafarers) की तैनाती पर तत्काल प्रभाव से रोक लगा दी है। यह आपातकालीन फैसला हाल ही में इस समुद्री मार्ग पर हुए घातक हमलों में दो भारतीय नाविकों की मौत और कई अन्य के घायल होने के बाद लिया गया है। जहाजरानी महानिदेशालय (DGMA) ने सभी जहाज मालिकों, प्रबंधकों और भर्ती एजेंसियों (RPSL) को अगले आदेश तक इस प्रतिबंधित क्षेत्र में भारतीय क्रू को न भेजने का कड़ा निर्देश जारी किया है।
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Relevant For: Prelims + Mains GS - II International Relations
Focus Area US-IRAN WAR
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MCQs Mains Question Basic Concepts

हॉर्मुज स्ट्रेट से गुजरने वाले जहाजों पर भारतीय नाविकों की तैनाती पर रोक, अमेरिका-ईरान तनाव के बीच भारत का फैसला

हॉर्मुज स्ट्रेट से गुजरने वाले जहाजों पर भारतीय नाविकों की तैनाती पर रोक, अमेरिका-ईरान तनाव के बीच भारत का फैसला

हॉर्मुज स्ट्रेट से गुजरने वाले जहाजों पर भारतीय नाविकों की तैनाती पर रोक, अमेरिका-ईरान तनाव के बीच भारत का फैसला

Concept not available.
NEW The Hindu Thu 16 Jul 2026 06:24:59 PM

PM Modi to flag off India’s first hydrogen-powered train in Haryana

SUMMARY
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off India’s first hydrogen-powered fuel cell train on July 17, 2026, from Haryana's Jind station. Operating on the Jind-Sonipat route, the indigenously built 10-coach trainset marks a clean mobility milestone. Generating electricity on board via hydrogen and oxygen, its only by-products are water vapor and heat, ensuring entirely zero-emission operations.
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Relevant For: Prelims GS - III Science & Technology
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PM Modi to flag off India’s first hydrogen-powered train in Haryana

PM Modi to flag off India’s first hydrogen-powered train in Haryana

PM Modi to flag off India’s first hydrogen-powered train in Haryana

Concept not available.
NEW News 18 Hindi Thu 16 Jul 2026 03:35:37 PM

Skyroot’s Vikram-1: India’s First Private Orbital Rocket To Launch On July 18

SUMMARY
India’s first privately developed orbital rocket, Vikram-1 by Skyroot Aerospace, is set for its maiden test flight on July 18, 2026, at 11:30 AM IST. Named "Mission Aagaman," the 7-story carbon-composite vehicle will lift off from ISRO's Sriharikota spaceport to deliver small satellites into Low Earth Orbit. This milestone transitions India’s private space sector into active global commercial deployment.
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Relevant For: Prelims + Mains GS - III Science & Technology
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Skyroot’s Vikram-1: India’s First Private Orbital Rocket To Launch On July 18

Skyroot’s Vikram-1: India’s First Private Orbital Rocket To Launch On July 18

Skyroot’s Vikram-1: India’s First Private Orbital Rocket To Launch On July 18

Concept not available.
NEW The Indian Express Wed 15 Jul 2026 10:01:37 PM

UPSC Essentials | Daily subject-wise quiz : Science and Technology MCQs on Geostationary orbit, Soyuz MS-29 mission and more (Week 171)

SUMMARY
UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative of subject-wise quizzes. These quizzes are designed to help you revise some of the most important topics from the static part of the syllabus. Attempt today’s subject quiz on Science and Technology to check your progress 1. It is an orbit where satellites match the planet’s rotation and remain fixed over the same location.
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Relevant For: Prelims + Mains GS - III Science & Technology
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MCQs Mains Question Basic Concepts

UPSC Essentials | Daily subject-wise quiz : Science and Technology MCQs on Geostationary orbit, Soyuz MS-29 mission and more (Week 171)

UPSC Essentials | Daily subject-wise quiz : Science and Technology MCQs on Geostationary orbit, Soyuz MS-29 mission and more (Week 171)

UPSC Essentials | Daily subject-wise quiz : Science and Technology MCQs on Geostationary orbit, Soyuz MS-29 mission and more (Week 171)

Concept not available.
NEW Firstpost Wed 15 Jul 2026 04:16:24 PM

Modi govt approves Rs 1.28-trillion for semiconductor sector, Rs 625 bn for making phones in India

SUMMARY
Building on the foundation of ISM 1.0 (which had a ₹76,000 crore outlay), Semicon 2.0 expands the government's strategy from basic chip packaging to the entire upstream and downstream global supply chain. The government expects this phase to trigger ₹4 trillion in total investments, generate ₹2 trillion in production, and yield ₹1 trillion in exports. It is structured around six strategic pillars. Details below
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Relevant For: Prelims + Mains GS - III Economy
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Modi govt approves Rs 1.28-trillion for semiconductor sector, Rs 625 bn for making phones in India

Modi govt approves Rs 1.28-trillion for semiconductor sector, Rs 625 bn for making phones in India

Modi govt approves Rs 1.28-trillion for semiconductor sector, Rs 625 bn for making phones in India

Concept not available.
NEW News 18 Hindi Wed 15 Jul 2026 02:00:22 PM

35 Failures Later, He Cracked UPSC — Twice — To Go From IPS Officer To IAS

SUMMARY
The journey to becoming an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer is rarely easy, but for Vijay Vardhan from Sirsa district in Haryana, it involved overcoming an extraordinary series of setbacks.

Before achieving success in the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Examination, Vijay Vardhan failed 35 government recruitment and competitive examinations, including the Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC), Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPCS) and Staff Selection Commission (SSC) examinations.
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35 Failures Later, He Cracked UPSC — Twice — To Go From IPS Officer To IAS

35 Failures Later, He Cracked UPSC — Twice — To Go From IPS Officer To IAS

35 Failures Later, He Cracked UPSC — Twice — To Go From IPS Officer To IAS

Concept not available.