1 Indigenous warship ‘Mahendragiri’ to be inducted into Indian Navy fleet
The Indian Navy will soon receive another state-of-the-art indigenous warship. The sixth stealth frigate of the Project 17A series , Mahendragiri (F-38) , will be formally inducted into the Navy’s fleet at a ceremony in Visakhapatnam on July 11. Mahendragiri was designed by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau and built by Mumbai- based Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited . Equipped with surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missiles, advanced electronic warfare systems, modern sensors, anti-submarine weapons, and an integrated combat management system, the ship was developed to meet the Navy’s multi-faceted warfare requirements. The ship is named after the iconic Mahendragiri mountain range in the Eastern Ghats , considered a symbol of strength, fortitude, and unwavering resolve. This is the first time in the history of the Indian Navy that a warship has been named “Mahendragiri.” Mahendragiri features a modern Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) propulsion system.
2. 13th century inscription found in Andhra Pradesh
On July 6th , a rare 13th-century stone inscription was discovered in Prakasam district , Andhra Pradesh . It is written in the ancient Telugu language and contains information about the kings and local administration of the time. It contains historical evidence related to temple land and donations. This stone inscription is an important archaeological evidence of medieval South Indian history. It is believed to date back to the Kakatiya dynasty or its contemporary rulers. It relates to the social, religious, and administrative history of medieval Andhra Pradesh. Experts have been called in to study the language and script of the stone inscription.
3 MANAS becomes India’s digital security shield against 3 drugs
The central government ‘s digital platform, MANAS ( Narcotics Control Information Centre ), has emerged as a vital tool for citizens to combat the drug problem and drug trafficking in the country . This platform allows people to report drug-related activities confidentially, receive counseling, and access rehabilitation support. MANAS was launched on July 18, 2024, by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) under the Ministry of Home Affairs, in collaboration with the Digital India Corporation (DIC) . Its objective is to empower people to actively participate in the fight against drug abuse through digital technology. Through this platform, citizens can access assistance through the national helpline number 1933 , the official portal, email, and the UMANG app . People can report drug trafficking, sales, illegal cultivation, and other suspicious activities without revealing their identity.
4 For the first time, two non-Muslims have been included in the Waqf Board.
On July 6 , Madhya Pradesh , for the first time in the country, added two Hindu (non-Muslim) members to its Waqf Board . This amendment was made under the Waqf Board (Amendment) Act, 2025, which allows for the inclusion of non-Muslim members on the board . Under this amendment, the Madhya Pradesh Waqf Board appointed for the first time Hindu members: Manoj Malpani (Indore) and Animesh Bhargava (Guna) . Sanwar Patel was appointed as the board’s chairman. Madhya Pradesh is the first state in the country to do so . Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav approved the 10-member board, which aims to bring greater transparency to the management of Waqf properties. The Waqf Board Act was enacted in 1995. The Waqf Board (Amendment) Act, 2025, makes several changes. It made several important amendments, including the prohibition of “waqf by user,” which means that the practice of declaring a property as waqf based solely on long-term religious use, was abolished. Pre-registered properties were protected, subject to conditions. Section 40, which allowed unilateral declaration of a property as waqf, was removed.
5 The oldest and most accurately dated banyan tree found in Bihar
Scientists have determined the age of a nearly 700-year-old banyan tree in Munger, Bihar, using radiocarbon dating, declaring it the most scientifically accurate age-determined banyan tree (Ficus benghalensis) to date . This achievement is considered a significant breakthrough in the scientific age-determining process of tropical heritage trees. The study was led by Dr. Trina Bose , an associate of the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences, an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India . The researchers extracted alpha-cellulose from wood samples obtained near the pith of the tree and used accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) -based radiocarbon dating to determine its age . The results were calibrated using the IntCal20 calibration curve and OxCal software , allowing for an accurate determination of the tree’s age. Scientific analysis determined the tree’s age to be approximately 700 years. Banyan trees don’t form annual rings like normal trees, so modern carbon dating technology was used to determine its age.
6 BRICS Women’s Working Group meeting begins in Kochi
The two-day meeting of the BRICS Women’s Working Group (WWG) began on Monday in Kochi, Kerala, under India’s BRICS Chairmanship 2026. Senior officials from 11 BRICS member countries are participating in the meeting and are discussing issues such as women’s empowerment, women-led development, and enhancing cooperation in areas of shared interest. The meeting is being held under the theme of India’s BRICS Chairmanship, ” Building Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainable Development ,” which reflects a people-centered and humanity-first approach. The Working Group meeting will be followed by a two-day BRICS Ministerial Meeting, which will conclude on July 9, 2026.
7 BRICS Anti-Drug Conference begins in Guwahati
India, under its BRICS presidency, is hosting the Meeting of Heads of Anti-Narcotics Agencies of BRICS Countries in Guwahati on July 6-7 . Heads and senior officials of anti-narcotics agencies from BRICS member countries are participating.
8 Brazil’s Neymar Jr. announces retirement from international football
Brazilian football legend Neymar Jr. has announced his retirement from international football after Brazil’s 2-1 loss to Norway in the Round of 16 of the FIFA World Cup . Neymar Jr. has always been Brazil’s leading scorer. Despite scoring Brazil’s only goal in the match, Neymar could not save his team from defeat. Neymar made his international debut for Brazil in 2010 at the MetLife Stadium . Neymar retired at the same stadium. Neymar has played 130 international matches in his career and only Cafu (142) has played more matches for Brazil than him.
9 World Chocolate Day
World Chocolate Day is celebrated every year on July 7th . It is believed that chocolate first arrived in Europe on a large scale on this day in 1550. Chocolate gradually gained popularity throughout Europe and then the rest of the world. Keeping this historical significance in mind, July 7th is celebrated as World Chocolate Day. Although national chocolate days are celebrated on different dates in different countries, the World Chocolate Day celebrated on July 7th is considered the most popular.
10 World Zoonotic Disease Day
The celebration of this special day is rooted in a deeply moving and revolutionary story from the history of medical science . It was July 6, 1885 , when the great French scientist Louis Pasteur gave the world a new lease on life. A nine-year-old boy named Joseph Meister was severely bitten by a rabid dog . In those days, contracting rabies meant a painful death. Louis Pasteur had developed a new vaccine in his lab, but it hadn’t been tested on humans. To save the child’s life, he took a huge risk and administered the first successful rabies vaccine to the child . Miraculously, the child recovered completely! Thus, humans took the first step toward defeating the most dangerous disease spread by animals . In honor of this historic achievement , World Zoonotic Disease Day is celebrated every year on July 6 .