1 PM Narendra Modi was awarded Indonesia’s highest civilian honour ‘Bintang Adipurna Republic of Indonesia’
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has conferred the Bintang Adipurna of the Republic of Indonesia ‘s highest civilian award, the Medal of Honor, on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi . Earlier, during his visit to Seychelles , Prime Minister Modi was awarded the country’s highest national honor, the ” Guardian of the Blue Horizon .” Furthermore, more than 25 countries have conferred their highest national honors on Prime Minister Modi. Since 2016, Prime Minister Modi has received 35 international honors from various countries in Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas. Among Prime Minister Modi’s major international honors is Bhutan’s Order of the Druk Gyalpo , Bhutan’s highest civilian honor. He became the first foreign head of state to receive this honor . Furthermore, Nigeria honored him with the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger, making him the second foreign leader to receive this honor after Queen Elizabeth II. Israel awarded Prime Minister Modi the Medal of the Knesset, making him the first person to receive this honor. Egypt awarded him the country’s highest state honor, the Order of the Nile, presented by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. The United States awarded him the Legion of Merit for his contributions to strengthening the India-US strategic partnership. This honor was presented by then-US President Donald Trump.
India and Indonesia on Tuesday signed a significant agreement for the supply of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile . This agreement will strengthen defense and strategic cooperation between the two countries and boost India’s domestic defense manufacturing industry. This agreement was reached during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Indonesia , the first leg of his three-nation tour . Indonesia also agreed to purchase the Indian-developed Astra air -to-air missile . Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Astra is a beyond-visual-range missile designed to track and destroy rapidly changing enemy aircraft. India is also expected to provide Indonesia with additional batteries for the BrahMos missile. India will also collaborate in developing specialized electronic voting machines (EVMs) for Indonesia and share its experience in the field of electoral technology. The following 14 MoUs were exchanged between India and Indonesia:
1. Extension of the Framework Agreement on Cooperation in the Exploration and Uses of Outer Space for Peaceful Purposes
2. MoU between CDSCO and BPOM on Cooperation in the Field of Medical Products Regulation
3. MoU on Cooperation in the Field of Minerals and Steel Supply Chain Technology, MoU on Cooperation in the Field of Agriculture and Allied Sectors, Extension and Implementation Agreement of the MoU on Maritime Defence and Security Cooperation
4. MoU on Cooperation in the Field of Telecommunication Technology and Services, MoU on Research, Technology and Innovation Cooperation, Implementation Agreement on Health Workforce Cooperation
5. MoU between the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the General Election Commission of Indonesia (KPU), Cooperation on the BrahMos Missile System, Air-to-Air Missile Cooperation Agreement
6. Agreement to Build a Stainless-Steel Slab Manufacturing Facility in Indonesia Strategic Joint Venture between Steel Authority of India (SAIL) and Pt. Krakatau Steel
7. MoU between Non-Ferrous Materials Technology Development Centre (NFTDC), Midwest Limited and PT PERMINAS on development of rare earth magnets
Announcements
– India’s assistance for conservation and restoration of Prambanan Temple Complex in Yogyakarta, Deployment of Indonesian Liaison Officer at IFC-IOR, Supply of 100 tonnes of high-quality DWR 162 wheat seeds to Indonesia, Commemoration of Tagore-Devantara Year of Cultural and Educational Diplomacy, Establishment of Branch Campus of Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore in Singhasari SEZ, Indonesia, Launch of Indonesia Open Network (ION) based on Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) architecture in India.
On July 7 , President Draupadi Murmu the Durand Cup 2026 trophies in New Delhi . Chief of Defence Staff General NS Raja Subramani , Army Chief Dheeraj Seth , and Navy Chief Admiral Krishna Swaminathan were also present on the occasion. The Durand Cup is one of Asia’s oldest football championships and is in its 135th edition . The Durand Cup will be played from July 25 to August 23 in five cities: Kolkata, Ranchi, Imphal, Shillong, and Guwahati, starting in Kolkata. The six group winners and two best runners-up will qualify for the quarter-finals, which begin on August 16. The semi-finals will be played on August 19 and 20, while the final is scheduled for August 23 in Kolkata.
4 Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan inaugurated the Pragati project.
Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched the Pragati project which aims to help over 20,000 agri-entrepreneurs and , which aims to empower 2 million farmers . The initiative will be implemented in the country’s key agricultural states : Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Assam, and Jharkhand. Agripreneurs trained under the program will provide village-level advisories, soil testing, machinery services, financial linkages, market connections, and alternative income opportunities . The initiative will promote the adoption of regenerative agricultural practices among at least 20% of participating farmers . It also aims to increase farmer incomes by at least 30% and increase yields of key crops like rice, maize, and potatoes by 15-20%.
5 Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Shri Jual Oram launched ‘TribeX’, a digital learning platform on tribal art, culture and traditional knowledge
In a major initiative to digitise tribal education and preserve India’s rich traditional heritage, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs has launched the ‘ launched TribeX .” This is the first-of-its-kind digital learning platform dedicated to tribal art, culture, traditional knowledge, and skill development . The platform was launched by Shri Jual Oram, Minister of Tribal Affairs, during the National Workshop on ” Strengthening Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs) ” in Bhubaneswar, Odisha . Addressing the gathering, Shri Jual Oram said that “TribeX” reflects the Government’s commitment, under the leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, to preserve and promote India’s rich tribal heritage, showcase it globally, and make authentic tribal knowledge accessible to learners everywhere.
Adani Defence and Aerospace on July 5, 2026, inaugurated work on a ₹2,500 crore defence manufacturing facility in Shivpuri, Madhya Pradesh . Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav the foundation stone at Pali village on National Highway 27. The Shivpuri facility will be the first of its kind in India’s private sector , combining the production of composite propellants, the manufacture of trinitrotoluene (TNT), and the integration of missile systems at a single location . The plant will manufacture ammunition, high-tech weapons, and mission-ready missiles, directly supporting the Indian Armed Forces. It will also accelerate the transition from successful trials to mass production of missile systems developed by DRDO. NGARM, RUDRAM-II, NASM-SR, the long-range glide bomb ‘Gaurav’, and the TARA system are under development. This investment is expected to immediately create 5,000 direct and indirect skilled jobs, as well as open up new opportunities for MSMEs across the region.
India has taken a significant step towards promoting biodiversity conservation and scientific research . The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has declared the Natural History Museum (NHM) of Mizoram University , Aizawl , as the 21st Designated Repository in the country . The Central Government, after reviewing the proposal and recommendation of the National Biodiversity Authority, has designated it as such on June 19, 2026, under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002. as a Designated Repository under Section 39 of Designated Repositories are a vital part of India’s biodiversity ecosystem, where certified biological specimens are preserved . This facilitates scientific study, species identification, and long-term conservation. Mizoram’s NHM will preserve several important specimens of flora and fauna, including species such as pteridophytes, macrofungi, reptiles, amphibians, fishes, moths, beetles, and butterflies . In addition, the museum will serve as a center for preserving type specimens of new species discovered in the region. This will promote future scientific research and conservation of biological resources. Established in 2022, the NHM operates under the aegis of Mizoram University. Its location in the Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspot region gives it special significance.
The Ministry of Textiles has informed that the National Jute Board has developed special garments made from a blend of jute and viscose . These will be used for the Commonwealth Games 2026. . According to the ministry, the initiative aims to promote sustainable textiles and showcase India’s innovation capabilities in the field of natural fibers. The ministry stated that this fabric, made from a blend of jute and viscose, is completely biodegradable and offers new possibilities as a sustainable textile, while being environmentally friendly. The unveiling and farewell ceremony of the official uniform of the Indian contingent for the 2026 Commonwealth Games was held in New Delhi. The 2026 Commonwealth Games will be held from July 23 to August 2 at four different venues in Glasgow, Scotland.
9 Ronaldo bids farewell to the World Cup
Portuguese football legend Cristiano Ronaldo has made it clear that his FIFA World Cup journey has ended with the defeat against Spain in the Round of 16. The 41-year-old Ronaldo stated that this was the last World Cup of his career and that he has no regrets, as he always gave his best. Ronaldo played 27 matches in his World Cup career, scoring 11 goals . He became the first player to score in six different editions of the World Cup . He scored three goals in this World Cup, including two in a 5-0 win against Uzbekistan. He also scored in a World Cup knockout match for the first time. His penalty against Croatia proved crucial in Portugal’s progress to the Round of 16. Cristiano Ronaldo played his first World Cup in Germany in 2006. In that same tournament, he scored his first World Cup goal against Iran, playing a key role in Portugal’s semi-final victory after 40 years. He subsequently participated in the 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, and 2026 World Cups, scoring at least one goal in each edition. Ronaldo played a key role in Portugal’s 2016 European Championship win. His team also won the UEFA Nations League twice. However, his dream of winning the World Cup remained unfulfilled. Ronaldo won his first Ballon d’Or award in 2008 and has won five Ballon d’Or awards to date. till now . From 2011 to 2018, Ronaldo became the highest goal scorer in the history of Real Madrid. Ronaldo won 4 UEFA Championship titles.
10 Padma Shri Girish Bhardwaj passes away
Dr. Girish Bhardwaj, known as the Bridge Man of India , passed away on July 7. He was 76 years old. Girish was a professional mechanical engineer and a pioneer of social innovation. In 1989, Girish built the first suspension footbridge over the Payaswini River in Karnataka . Over nearly three decades, Girish built more than 140 low-cost suspension footbridges in several states across India . Girish’s bridges made life easier for thousands of people by connecting remote rural areas to schools, hospitals, and markets. Girish was awarded the Padma Shri in 2017 for his contributions to rural connectivity and social service .