1 Durga Squad launched in West Bengal for the safety of women
Durga Squads have been launched in West Bengal for the safety of women in municipal and commissionerate areas , cyber help desks in 500 police stations, and 24/7 women’s help desks in all police stations. Addressing the inaugural function, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said the current state government is modernizing the police force in West Bengal.
2 India achieves major milestone with approval of country’s first private Point-in-Space Instrument Approach procedure for copter operations
The Ministry of Civil Aviation is pleased to announce a significant milestone in India’s aviation sector : the country’s first private Point-in-Space (PinS) instrument approach procedure has been approved for helicopter operations at Undavalli Heliport . Developed by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and approved by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the Point-in-Space procedure is in accordance with DGCA regulations and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards and recommended practices. The Point-in-Space (PinS) procedure utilizes advanced satellite-based navigation technology , enabling helicopters to perform safe and precise instrument approaches to heliports where conventional instrument landing infrastructure is not available . This system is particularly beneficial in adverse weather conditions and in areas where ground-based navigation aids are unavailable. Civil Aviation Minister Shri Ram Mohan Naidu is actively leading and closely monitoring the initiative to implement India’s first private Point-in-Space (PinS) instrument approach procedure.
The national launch of the ” Vikasit Bharat-Ji Ram Ji Yojana ” took place in Mukkavaripalli village in Tirupati district , Andhra Pradesh , where Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Rural Development Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Shri Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister Shri Pawan Kalyan, Union Ministers of State Dr. Chandrashekhar Pemmasani and Shri Kamlesh Paswan, MPs and MLAs, and thousands of people were present. Shivraj Singh Chouhan stated that while the MNREGA previously guaranteed 100 days of employment, this has been increased to 125 days under the Vikasit Bharat-Ji Ram Ji Yojana. The Union Minister stated that the central government’s share in the first year of the scheme will be over ₹95,000 crore. With state contributions, the total annual expenditure will be approximately ₹1.51 lakh crore. The target is to spend ₹7.5 lakh crore on the scheme over the next five years. This will provide an average of over ₹2 crore annually to 2.86 lakh panchayats across the country for development work.
Shri Anupam Mishra has assumed charge as the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Hindustan Copper Limited (HCL) . Prior to joining HCL, Shri Mishra served as Director (Marketing) at Fertilizers and Chemicals Travancore Limited (FACT) from July 2020 to June 2026 and also held the additional charge of Chairman and Managing Director of FACT.
The central government approved road projects worth ₹14,115 crore for Delhi and Uttar Pradesh on July 1, 2026. The central government has approved several national highway projects worth approximately ₹14,115 crore to strengthen road connectivity in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh . These projects include the Dwarka Expressway Tunnel, new flyovers, interchanges, and widening and upgrading of national highways. . The Dwarka Tunnel project aims to reduce traffic congestion in Delhi’s congested areas and increase direct access to Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI Airport). Completion of the projects will facilitate easier travel between Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram, and Western Uttar Pradesh. These projects are part of the government’s strategy to develop multi-modal connectivity and fast, safe, and modern road infrastructure. The aim is to reduce traffic congestion, enhance connectivity, increase logistics capacity, and enhance regional development. This includes the construction of the Dwarka Tunnel, which will be a six-lane road. This tunnel will connect the Dwarka Expressway to Vasant Kunj (Nelson Mandela Marg). The total cost of this tunnel project is ₹6,969 crore, and the tunnel will be 8.1 kilometers long. The Kanpur-Kabrai corridor has also been approved. Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnav announced this. The Delhi tunnel project is targeted to be completed in 52 months.
On July 2 , the Indian Army formed five Integrated Battle Groups (IBGs) for future wars . A Fire Support Group (FSG) was also created to ensure long-range, accurate, and rapid engagement against the enemy. The Integrated Battle Group (IBG) is an independent, joint, and mission-oriented structure within the Army. The IBG combines units such as infantry, armored tanks, artillery, air defense, engineers, signals, drones, and logistics . The IBG’s objective is to quickly deploy troops and conduct effective military operations within a limited timeframe. The newly formed Fire Support Group (FSG) incorporates long-range rockets, missiles, and modern artillery systems. This new structure has been developed to meet the needs of multi-domain warfare on the border. It is being led by the new Army Chief, General Dheeraj Seth .
7. Assam’s wild rice conservation achieves major success, with Borjuli becoming a biodiversity heritage site.
The National Rainfed Area Authority, under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, has achieved a major breakthrough in conserving the genetic wealth of wild rice (Oryza rufipogon) in India . This achievement was achieved under the project ” Natural Conservation and Management of Wild Rice (Oryza rufipogon) in Sonitpur District, Assam . ” This project is being implemented by the National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR), New Delhi, under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, in collaboration with the Assam State Biodiversity Board , starting in 2022. Scientists reported that the Borjuli area in Sonitpur District, Assam, identified under this project, has now been officially declared a Biodiversity Heritage Site by the National Biodiversity Authority . This achievement is considered a major step towards conserving wild rice diversity in India and strengthening climate-resilient agricultural systems. Dr. Chandrashekhar Kumar, while commending the scientists’ efforts, stated that wild rice species are crucial for developing future rice varieties that can withstand climate change, produce higher yields, and have better nutritional value.
8 Flying Whales to set up manufacturing hub in India
French aerospace logistics company Flying Whales will establish its manufacturing ecosystem in India. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman met with the company’s President , Sebastien Bogon, in Paris on Thursday to discuss investment and potential collaborations. The Finance Ministry shared this information on the social media platform X. It is worth noting that Flying Whales and India’s BLP Group announced the first phase of a strategic partnership on April 2, 2026. This initiative aims to develop a robust manufacturing ecosystem for the production of heavy-duty cargo airships in India. The two companies also presented plans to assemble the LCA60T airship in India for the Asian and Middle Eastern markets. The LCA60T airship, approximately 200 meters long and powered by helium gas, is capable of carrying up to 60 tons of cargo at a time. It can be used to transport wind turbine blades for wind power projects, power transmission towers, aerospace equipment, and other heavy cargo to inaccessible areas. Apart from this, it can also prove useful in supplying relief material, medical equipment and military material during natural disasters.
9 Durand Cup to begin on July 25, teams to participate in five host cities announced
The 135th edition of the Durand Cup football tournament begins in Kolkata on July 25 and ends on August 23. Matches will be played in Ranchi, Imphal, Shillong, and Guwahati . Kolkata will host two quarter-finals, a semi-final, and the final. This is the first time Durand Cup matches have been held in Ranchi, the capital of Jharkhand. The tournament features Indian Super League clubs, I-League teams, Army teams, emerging domestic teams, and foreign teams. For the first time, Sri Lanka Armed Forces Defenders FC and Meghalaya Premier League champions Nongkseh Sports, Social, and Cultural Club are also participating.