Houthi rebels in Yemen attacked two Saudi Arabia-flagged tankers in the Red Sea, escalating West Asia conflict and driving Brent crude prices over $100 a barrel. The attacks on the Encelia and Layla, confirmed by Saudi Arabia for Encelia, are part of a blockade on Saudi shipping. This comes amidst rising tensions in crucial oil import regions, including constraints on the Strait of Hormuz and recent Ukrainian attacks on Russian merchant ships in the Black Sea. The escalation poses challenges for India's oil imports, potentially rerouting cargoes via the Suez Canal and around Africa, leading to higher freight costs.
Houthi rebels in Yemen attacked two Saudi Arabia-flagged tankers in the Red Sea, leading to a significant surge in Brent crude prices.
The attacks are part of a Houthi blockade on Saudi shipping, escalating the conflict in West Asia.
This incident follows other regional tensions, including constraints on the Strait of Hormuz and Ukrainian attacks on Russian ships in the Black Sea.
Exam Points
Brent crude rates surged past $100 a barrel, a 7% jump over the previous day's close of around $94.
The attacks on the Encelia and Layla took place early on July 23.
Saudi Arabia had been piping some 4 million barrels of crude across the country to Yanbu port city on the Red Sea coast.
All 25 workers trapped inside an under-construction tunnel of the 500 MW Teesta Stage-VI Hydropower Project in Sikkim's Namchi district have been recovered. The search and rescue operation concluded on Thursday evening. The accident occurred on July 20 at 1:04 p.m. due to a "sudden explosive release of suspected methane gas" about 1.5 km inside the tunnel. Both NHPC and the State government have announced separate investigations into the cause, with officials suggesting sparks from drilling might have ignited methane-embedded rocks.
All 25 workers trapped in the Teesta Stage-VI Hydropower Project tunnel in Sikkim have been recovered.
The accident was caused by a "sudden explosive release of suspected methane gas" during construction.
Separate investigations by NHPC and the State government are underway to determine the exact cause.
Exam Points
The accident occurred at the 500 MW Teesta Stage-VI Hydropower Project in Sikkim's Namchi district.
The explosion happened on July 20 at 1:04 p.m.
NHPC announced ex gratia of ₹5 lakh each to the kin of the deceased.
Maharashtra's "Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana," launched before the 2024 Assembly election, initially provided a vital ₹1,500 monthly financial lifeline to vulnerable women, especially farm widows in the rain-starved Marathwada region. However, post-election, the State government has deleted over 92 lakh beneficiaries based on new exclusion criteria (government employees, taxpayers, existing welfare scheme beneficiaries), turning initial security into deep anxiety. This mass deletion has reduced the original beneficiary base by nearly 38%, raising critical questions about the scheme's future and prompting women to consider older, more stable welfare programs.
The "Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana" provided a ₹1,500 monthly aid to vulnerable women in Maharashtra, particularly farm widows.
Post-election, the State government deleted over 92 lakh beneficiaries based on new exclusion criteria.
This mass deletion has caused anxiety among beneficiaries and reduced the scheme's original base by 38%.
Exam Points
The scheme was launched in 2024 ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly election.
Over 92 lakh women have been removed from the beneficiary list so far.
The scheme was modelled on a similar one in Madhya Pradesh.
The Index of Core Industries (ICI) has been updated, aligning it with other economic metrics like CPI and WPI. This welcome upgrade includes a new base year, an additional sector (iron ore), and revised weights and methodologies. The ICI now covers nine sectors, with electricity's weight significantly increasing to over 30%, reflecting renewables' growth. The June 2026 data showed a 5% growth, but this was partly due to a statistical base effect. The update highlights persistent contractions in crude oil and natural gas sectors, indicating a serious shortcoming if resources exist but are not economically extracted. A broader statistical reorganisation, moving ICI and WPI to the Ministry of Statistics, is suggested.
The Index of Core Industries (ICI) has been updated with a new base year, an additional sector, and revised weights.
The updated ICI now covers nine sectors, with electricity's weight increasing significantly to over 30%.
June 2026 data showed a 5% growth, partly influenced by a statistical base effect.
Exam Points
The ICI now includes nine sectors, with iron ore being the additional sector.
Electricity sector's weight now makes up more than 30% of the index.
Coal and natural gas sectors' weights nearly halved to about 5.6% and 3.8% respectively.
NATO's Ankara Summit (July 7-8, 2026) saw 32 member countries commit to collective defense, allocate 5% of GDP to defense by 2035, support Ukraine, and build a high-tech Europe-wide defense industrial base (DIB). This reflects NATO's adaptation to a new era of superpower confrontation involving Russia and China. The revitalisation of Europe's DIB, however, faces challenges like ammunition shortages, as seen in the U.S.-Israel bombing campaign against Iran. For India, this global shift means increased competition in the international arms market, potentially delaying access to critical weaponry and underscoring the urgent need for self-reliance in defense technologies like drones, AI, and cyber warfare.
NATO members committed to increasing defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2035 and building a robust Europe-wide defense industrial base.
The summit signals NATO's adaptation to a new geopolitical landscape marked by superpower confrontation.
Challenges in scaling up defense production and potential weapon shortages are evident, impacting global arms supply.
Exam Points
NATO's Ankara Summit took place on July 7-8, 2026.
NATO members pledged to allocate at least five per cent of their respective GDPs on defense by 2035.
The U.S. has fired more than 850 Tomahawk cruise missiles at Iran during Operation Epic Fury.
A discussion between Shailesh Gandhi and Anjali Bhardwaj highlights that corruption remains a significant threat to India, impacting basic rights and accountability. Digitalisation, while pushed as a solution, has not eliminated petty corruption and has created new barriers for the unlettered. The Right to Information (RTI) Act, once a powerful tool for transparency, has been weakened by Supreme Court judgments and the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023, which allows denial of information related to corruption. Weak institutions like CBI, ED, and Lokpal further exacerbate the problem, making corruption a "all-profit, negligible-risk" activity.
Corruption persists as a major threat in India, affecting citizens' basic rights and institutional accountability.
Digitalisation has not eradicated corruption and has created new challenges for marginalized communities.
The RTI Act, a crucial transparency tool, has been significantly weakened by judicial interpretations and the DPDP Act, 2023.
Exam Points
The Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023, is cited for undermining the RTI Act.
Section 17A, introduced in 2018, requires government permission to investigate corruption charges against public servants.
Anjali Bhardwaj states that about six million RTI requests are filed annually in India.
Bengaluru's "Safe Footpath" drive, removing street vendors, has sparked debate over compliance with the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014. This Act aims to balance pedestrians' right to safe footpaths with vendors' right to livelihood, preventing arbitrary evictions. It mandates a step-by-step process: first, constituting a Town Vending Committee (TVC) with vendor representation; second, conducting a survey of all street vendors; and third, issuing Certificates of Vending. Crucially, vendors cannot be evicted or relocated until the survey is complete and certificates issued. Bengaluru's drive is scrutinized for removing vendors before establishing a TVC and identifying vending zones.
The Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014, balances pedestrians' rights with vendors' livelihoods.
The Act mandates a specific process for regulating street vending, including forming a Town Vending Committee (TVC).
Vendors cannot be evicted or relocated until a survey is completed and Certificates of Vending are issued.
Exam Points
The Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act was enacted in 2014.
Article 19 of the Constitution protects street vending as a 'legitimate' occupation.
Town Vending Committees (TVCs) must have at least 40% street vendor representation.
Recent clashes during a "Chalo Sansad" march in Delhi, where police used tear gas and lathi charges, have reignited discussions on the right to protest and police power. The Constitution guarantees the right to assemble peacefully under Article 19(1)(b), subject to "reasonable restrictions" for public order. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) defines unlawful assembly and permits dispersal by force if non-compliant. Police action must adhere to principles of lawfulness, necessity, and proportionality, as per the National Human Rights Commission's Manual and UN Basic Principles. The incident also raised questions about police accountability, with personnel allegedly lacking visible name tags, and the Supreme Court has previously emphasized reasonable police action and the constitutional right to dissent.
The right to protest peacefully is a constitutional right under Article 19(1)(b), subject to reasonable restrictions for public order.
The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) defines unlawful assembly and permits the use of force for dispersal if non-compliant.
Police action must be lawful, necessary, and proportionate, adhering to human rights principles.
Exam Points
The right to assemble peacefully is guaranteed under Article 19(1)(b) of the Constitution.
The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) governs unlawful assembly and use of force.
Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) allows for prohibitory orders.
On-device AI, processing machine learning and generative AI models directly on smartphone hardware, marks a significant shift in the industry. Unlike cloud-based AI, on-device AI leverages dedicated Neural Processing Units (NPUs) for local computation, offering faster response times, enhanced privacy, and offline functionality. This approach resolves the tension between personalization and privacy by keeping personal data on the device. While current on-device AI features are impressive, they are often seen as "nice-to-have" rather than essential. The industry is converging on a hybrid model, where heavy lifting remains in the cloud, and sensitive, time-critical tasks migrate to the edge, aiming to make smartphones truly indispensable intelligent companions.
On-device AI processes machine learning and generative AI models locally on smartphone hardware using NPUs.
This shift enhances privacy, offers faster response times, and enables offline functionality by keeping personal data on the device.
The industry is moving towards a hybrid AI model, combining cloud processing for heavy tasks with on-device processing for sensitive ones.
Exam Points
On-device AI leverages Neural Processing Units (NPUs) for computation.
The transition to on-device AI is considered the most significant shift since the inception of the app ecosystem.
Generative AI features like live voice-to-voice translation and generative photo editing are now running natively on mobile phones.
Former High Court judge Justice K. Chandru advocated for the immediate implementation of the Women's Reservation Bill (Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam) without waiting for delimitation. He argued that delaying the quota until after the 2026 census and subsequent delimitation would postpone women's representation for decades, potentially until 2049. Justice Chandru highlighted that the Bill's objective is to enhance women's participation, not to adjust constituency boundaries. He suggested that the quota could be implemented by increasing the total number of seats in the Lok Sabha or by reserving seats through a rotation system, similar to local body elections.
Former High Court judge Justice K. Chandru advocates for immediate implementation of the Women's Reservation Bill.
He argues that linking the quota to delimitation, post-2026 census, would delay women's representation for decades.
The Bill's primary goal is to increase women's participation, not to redraw constituency boundaries.
Exam Points
The Women's Reservation Bill is officially known as the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam.
Article 329(a) of the Constitution prohibits courts from interfering in delimitation matters.
The Bill reserves one-third of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies.
The Ministry of Minority Affairs announced that over 6.17 lakh Waqf properties have been approved and uploaded onto the new Central Portal 2025, significantly streamlining their management. This initiative aims to enhance transparency and efficiency in the administration of Waqf properties nationwide. The portal facilitates online registration, lease management, and grievance redressal, and integrates with other government platforms like PM Gati Shakti. The Ministry emphasized that the portal is designed to prevent encroachments, ensure proper utilization of properties, and improve financial management through online audit and related services.
Over 6.17 lakh Waqf properties have been approved and uploaded onto the Central Portal 2025.
The initiative aims to streamline Waqf property management, enhancing transparency and efficiency.
The portal offers online registration, lease management, grievance redressal, and integrates with other government platforms.
Exam Points
Central Portal 2025 is the new platform for Waqf property management.
Over 6.17 lakh Waqf properties have been approved and uploaded.
The portal integrates with PM Gati Shakti and Public Financial Management System (PFMS).
The Supreme Court has permitted the Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ) Authority to process around 400 pending applications for the establishment of non-polluting Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) within the ecologically sensitive area surrounding the Taj Mahal. This decision lifts a moratorium imposed in October 2024 on new industrial units and expansion of existing ones without the court's prior approval. The TTZ, established to protect the mausoleum from environmental pollution, spans nearly 10,400 sq. km across districts in Uttar Pradesh and Bharatpur in Rajasthan.
The Supreme Court has allowed the TTZ Authority to process MSME applications in the Taj Trapezium Zone.
This decision lifts a moratorium on new industrial units and expansion in the ecologically sensitive area.
The TTZ was created to protect the Taj Mahal from environmental pollution.
Exam Points
The Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ) spans nearly 10,400 sq. km.
The TTZ covers districts in Uttar Pradesh and Bharatpur in Rajasthan.
The Supreme Court had imposed a moratorium in October 2024.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, at the 21st East Asia Summit in Manila, emphasized that global maritime channels must remain safe and unimpeded, fully compliant with international law. He condemned attacks on seafarers and civilian shipping, describing the global order as "uncertain and volatile." Jaishankar also called for dialogue to resolve the West Asia/Gulf conflict and a political solution for Myanmar's civil conflict. He reiterated India's stance on the South China Sea, supporting a legally binding Code of Conduct, and emphasized "zero tolerance for terrorism," advocating collective action against cyber-scam centers and a two-state solution for the Israel-Palestine crisis.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar stressed the importance of safe and unimpeded global maritime channels at the East Asia Summit.
He condemned attacks on seafarers and civilian shipping and called for dialogue to resolve conflicts in West Asia/Gulf and Myanmar.
India supports a legally binding Code of Conduct for the South China Sea, compliant with UNCLOS 1982.
Exam Points
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar participated in the 21st East Asia Summit (EAS) in Manila.
India supports the conclusion of a substantive, effective and legally binding Code of Conduct (CoC) for the South China Sea, fully compliant with UNCLOS 1982.
India will host the seventh EAS conference on maritime security cooperation in Kochi and an EAS Maritime Heritage Festival in Lothal.
Floods of "unimaginable scale" in Assam have claimed six more lives, raising the death toll to 47, and affected over 7.21 lakh people. Eastern Assam districts like Sivasagar, Charaideo, and Jorhat, historically less prone to high floods, have borne the brunt of the devastation. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma attributed the "unprecedented devastation" to cloudbursts upstream in Nagaland and localized heavy rainfall, which was 436% above normal. Various agencies, including the Indian Air Force and NDRF, are conducting rescue operations as thousands of livestock have been washed away and 883 villages remain submerged.
Assam floods have resulted in 47 deaths and affected over 7.21 lakh people.
Eastern Assam districts, including Sivasagar, Charaideo, and Jorhat, are most severely impacted.
The devastation is attributed to upstream cloudbursts in Nagaland and exceptionally heavy local rainfall.
Following the shooting death of a policeman on Amarnath Yatra duty, security forces in Anantnag, south Kashmir, demolished the houses of two Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists, Adil Ahmad Thoker and Haroon Rashid Ganai. The operation, launched around 3 a.m., involved using explosives to demolish a three-storey building and a single-storey structure after occupants were asked to vacate. Local residents reported damage to a mosque and a vehicle. While the J&K Lieutenant-Governor chaired a security review meeting, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah criticized the mass arrests and demolitions, stating they would not restore peace and go against Supreme Court directions.
Security forces demolished the houses of two LeT terrorists in Anantnag following a policeman's killing.
The demolition operation involved using explosives after occupants were evacuated.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah criticized the mass arrests and demolitions, stating they are counterproductive for peace.
Exam Points
The incident occurred in Anantnag, south Kashmir.
The demolished houses belonged to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists Adil Ahmad Thoker and Haroon Rashid Ganai.
IndiGo and Air India have voiced strong opposition to Adani Group's reported interest in entering the airline business, citing concerns over potential conflicts of interest and erosion of competition. Adani Group, which already has a significant presence in eight airports and other aviation-related businesses, is reportedly seeking to relax cross-ownership restrictions that limit airline ownership in airports and vice versa. Both airlines argue that such vertical consolidation would create an unfair advantage, squeeze other players, and ultimately harm consumers by reducing competition and jobs.
IndiGo and Air India oppose Adani Group's potential entry into the airline business.
Concerns are raised over conflicts of interest and the potential for reduced competition due to vertical consolidation.
Adani Group reportedly seeks relaxation of cross-ownership restrictions between airports and airlines.
Exam Points
Adani Group has a presence in eight airports.
Noida International Airport (Jewar) and Navi Mumbai airport agreements prohibit entities with more than 26% stake in an airline from owning an airport.
Delhi and Mumbai airport agreements impose a stricter 10% cap on such ownership.
In a significant policy shift, the Indian government has eased Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) rules for e-commerce companies. Previously, FDI was allowed only in business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce and for marketplace models that did not hold inventory. The new relaxation permits FDI in inventory-based e-commerce companies, provided their inventory is used exclusively for exports. This move aims to facilitate greater exports by Indian sellers, increase their access to global markets, and marks the first major relaxation in e-commerce FDI policy in years, moving away from strict regulations designed to protect small traders and uphold the ban on multi-brand retail FDI.
The government has relaxed FDI rules for e-commerce companies, allowing FDI in inventory-based models for exports.
Previously, FDI was restricted to B2B and marketplace models without inventory holding.
The policy change aims to boost Indian exports and provide sellers greater access to global markets.
Exam Points
The relaxation is for inventory-based e-commerce companies whose inventory is used for exports.
FDI was previously allowed only in business to business (B2B) e-commerce.
The commerce ministry announced the relaxation on Thursday.
India's bank credit-deposit (CD) ratio reached a 62-year high of 82.6% in the first quarter of fiscal 2027, driven by loans growing significantly faster than deposits. Loans expanded by 18.6% year-on-year (YoY) to ₹219.3 lakh crore, while deposits grew by 13.3% to ₹265.4 lakh crore. This 5-percentage point variance between loan and deposit growth is the widest since Q1 FY24. Analysts attribute this high CD ratio partly to banks redeploying excess investments from their balance sheets into loans and robust capital levels.
India's bank credit-deposit (CD) ratio reached a 62-year high of 82.6% in Q1 FY27.
Loan growth significantly outpaced deposit growth, with loans at 18.6% YoY and deposits at 13.3% YoY.
The variance between loan and deposit growth was 5 percentage points, the widest since Q1 FY24.
SEBI has proposed a revamp of rules for portfolio managers, aiming to expand their investment avenues. The proposal includes allowing portfolio managers to invest in 'to-be-listed' securities and overseas listed equity and debt. This move is intended to broaden the investment universe, provide investors with access to wider market opportunities, and enhance flexibility for portfolio management services. Additionally, SEBI proposes that portfolio managers offering discretionary services can invest up to 10% of a client's assets under management in investment-grade unlisted debt.
SEBI proposes to expand investment avenues for portfolio managers.
The revamp includes allowing investments in 'to-be-listed' securities and overseas listed equity and debt.
The aim is to broaden the investment universe and provide wider market opportunities for investors.
Exam Points
SEBI is the markets regulator.
Portfolio managers may invest up to 10% of client's assets under management in investment-grade unlisted debt.
The United States and Saudi Arabia announced a landmark deal for a civilian nuclear programme in the kingdom, which President Trump stated is contingent on Riyadh normalising relations with Israel. This agreement, potentially worth billions for U.S. companies, is seen as a major win for Saudi Arabia but raises concerns among critics about a nuclear arms race in the Gulf. Reports suggest the deal might include a uranium enrichment facility in Saudi Arabia, a possibility Trump denied. The deal will be submitted to Congress for review, but its implementation is expected. Critics, including Senator Bernie Sanders, expressed strong opposition, fearing it could enable Saudi Arabia to develop nuclear weapons.
The U.S. and Saudi Arabia announced a deal for a civilian nuclear programme, conditional on Saudi Arabia normalising relations with Israel.
The agreement is seen as a strategic win for Saudi Arabia but raises concerns about nuclear proliferation in the Gulf.
Reports suggest the deal might involve a uranium enrichment facility in Saudi Arabia, which President Trump denied.
Exam Points
The deal was announced on Wednesday.
President Donald Trump linked the deal to Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham Accords.
Saudi Arabia signed a mutual defense pact with nuclear-armed Pakistan last year.
China's Coast Guard announced it tracked and drove away two Philippine vessels from waters near the disputed Scarborough Shoal, accusing them of "intruding." This marks the second incident in a week involving both nations in the South China Sea. China, which claims Scarborough Shoal as "Huangyan Dao," urged the Philippines to cease "infringing and provocative actions." This incident follows recent clashes near the Second Thomas Shoal, and occurred on the sidelines of an ASEAN meeting where both countries exchanged protests. China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned Manila of "bitter consequences" if it continued to provoke Beijing with external support.
China's Coast Guard drove away two Philippine vessels from the disputed Scarborough Shoal.
This is the second incident in a week involving China and the Philippines in the South China Sea.
China urged the Philippines to cease "infringing and provocative actions" in the disputed waters.
Exam Points
Scarborough Shoal is claimed by both the Philippines and China (which calls it "Huangyan Dao").
The incident is the second in a week involving both nations in the South China Sea.
A HelpAge India study highlights that senior citizens are particularly vulnerable to climate change, experiencing both sudden shocks and slow-onset stresses. Factors like financial capacity, living alone, gender, age, poor health, and insecure housing exacerbate their risk. The study emphasizes an "Intersectional Place Perspective" to understand how these factors interact, making uneducated, poor, widowed elderly women most vulnerable. Recommendations include layered responses at household and community levels, such as storing food/water, improving shelter, and community support networks. Policy suggestions include climate-resilient healthcare, expanded social protection, better disaster preparedness, and targeted support for high-risk groups, advocating a shift from 'hazard-centred' to 'people-centred' systems.
Senior citizens are highly vulnerable to climate change impacts, including both sudden shocks and slow-onset stresses.
Vulnerability is exacerbated by factors like financial dependence, living alone, poor health, and insecure housing.
The study advocates for a "people-centred" approach, shifting from 'hazard-centred' to 'people-centred' systems to address the specific needs of the elderly.
Exam Points
The study was conducted by HelpAge India.
The older population in India is projected to rise to about 347 million by 2050 (from 149 million in 2022).
Anupama Datta, Head, Policy Research & Advocacy, HelpAge India, led the research.
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