Part 1: Current Affairs (Today's News)
International Diplomacy & Bilateral Trade
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever visits India; Bilateral Trade Target set at $26 Billion
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever arrived on an official state visit to India, marking the first visit by a Belgian Prime Minister in two decades.
| Parameter | Bilateral Detail |
| Visiting Dignitary | Bart De Wever, Prime Minister of Belgium |
| Historical Precedent | First visit to India by a Belgian Prime Minister in 20 years |
| Trade Doubling Target | Target set to double annual bilateral trade within the next 5 years |
| Baseline Trade | Bilateral trade stood at approximately $13.01 Billion in Financial Year 2025–26 |
| Targeted Trade Volume | Aiming for roughly $26 Billion annually within five years |
Good to know — Kingdom of Belgium:
- Geographic Region: Country located in Northwestern Europe.
- Capital: Brussels
- Currency: Euro (€)
Biotechnology, Innovation & Startups
Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh launches 'BIO-NIVESH' in New Delhi
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh, launched the BIO-NIVESH platform in New Delhi to connect innovative enterprises with growth capital.
| Initiative Feature | Details |
| Platform Name | BIO-NIVESH |
| Core Objective | Connect biotechnology and deep-tech startups with institutional and angel investors |
| Primary Mandate | Accelerate private equity and venture investment into biotech innovations transitioning from Scale-up → Commercialisation → Market Launch |
| Inaugural Cohort | Brought together 20 high-potential biotechnology and deep-tech startups and approximately 50 venture investors |
Circular Economy & Green Public Procurement
GeM and Textiles Committee sign MoU to promote recycled and upcycled textiles
The Government e-Marketplace (GeM) and the Textiles Committee (TC) entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formalize public procurement channels for circular textiles.
| Agreement Aspect | Operational Scope |
| Participating Bodies | Government e-Marketplace (GeM) and the Textiles Committee (TC) |
| Parent Ministries | GeM functions under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry; Textiles Committee functions under the Ministry of Textiles |
| Occasion | Signed during the 62nd Foundation Day celebrations of the Textiles Committee in Mumbai, Maharashtra |
| Core Concept | Establishes a commercial framework: "Waste → Value-added Product → Government Market" |
| Product Scope | Promotes government agency procurement of upcycled products made from textile waste, industrial fabric scrap, and post-consumer apparel |
Wildlife Conservation & Multilateral Finance
International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) and ADB sign MoU for Big Cat Landscape Conservation
The International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) signed an MoU with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to strengthen conservation partnerships across regional habitats.
| Partnership Pillar | Operational Focus |
| Institutional Signatories | International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) and Asian Development Bank (ADB) |
| ADB Role | Convenes big cat range nations, facilitates knowledge sharing of India's conservation models, and explores sustainable blended-finance mechanisms |
| Partnership Milestone | Year 2026 marks 40 years of ADB's development partnership with India |
| IBCA Foundation | Launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2023 as an India-led global coalition |
| Protected Big Cat Species (7) | Focuses on international conservation of: Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar, and Puma |
Payments, Postal Banking & Financial Inclusion
India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) celebrates 9th Foundation Day; rolls out three digital services
India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) marked its 9th Foundation Day by launching three citizen-centric digital platforms to expand financial inclusion.
| Newly Launched Initiative | Operational Functionality |
| 1. DakPay Sound Box for Merchants | Provides instant multi-lingual audio confirmation of UPI digital payments, simplifying transaction acceptance for micro-merchants |
| 2. Digital Insurance Technology Platform | Directly connects retail customers with Life, Health, and General Insurance products |
| 3. Digital Mutual Fund Platform | Offers retail and rural customers accessible, low-ticket digital investment and wealth creation products |
Good to know — India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) Profile:
- Launch Date: September 1, 2018
- Administrative Department: Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications
- Equity Ownership: 100% owned by the Government of India
- Managing Director & CEO: R. Viswesvaran
- Distribution Network: Operating across ~1.65 Lakh Post Offices, including approximately 1.40 Lakh rural postal access points
Strategic Defence Diplomacy & National Security
Defence Minister releases 'RAKSHA' — India's 10-Year Defence Diplomacy Roadmap
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh released a comprehensive policy document titled 'RAKSHA' in New Delhi, setting out India's international military engagement strategy for the next decade.
- Strategic Vision: 10-year comprehensive roadmap guiding international defense partnerships, defense industrial cooperation, and regional stability.
- Four Foundational Pillars of RAKSHA:
- Strategic Partnerships
- Capacity Building
- Indigenous Defence Exports
- Maritime Security
Defence Technology, Guided Munitions & Space Missions
Indian Air Force successfully tests Indigenous Long-Range Glide Bomb 'Khagantak-243'
The Indian Air Force (IAF) carried out successful drop trials of the indigenously designed precision-guided glide weapon Khagantak-243.
| Weapon Specification | Technical Parameter |
| Munition Designation | Khagantak-243 |
| Classification | Long-Range Glide Bomb (LRGB) / Stand-off precision-guided glide bomb |
| Weight Class | 300-kg class air-launched munition |
| Development Partners | Jointly designed and developed by Nagpur-based JSR Dynamics and Defence PSU Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) |
ISRO launches Earth Observation Satellite EOS-05 aboard GSLV-F17
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched EOS-05, India's first state-of-the-art imaging satellite intended for geosynchronous orbit.
| Mission Parameter | Specifications |
| Spacecraft | EOS-05 (Earth Observation Satellite) |
| Launch Vehicle | GSLV-F17 (19th flight of India's Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle) |
| Launch Base | Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC SHAR), Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh |
| Payload Mass | 2,367 kg |
| Operational Altitude | Designed to operate in a geosynchronous orbit at roughly 36,000 km above Earth |
| Mission Capabilities | High-cadence, near real-time imaging for disaster management, agricultural monitoring, meteorology, and territorial surveillance |
Media Self-Regulation & Brand Ambassadors
Mohit Jain elected Chairman of Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) for 2026–27
The Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) unanimously elected senior media executive Mohit Jain as Chairman of its Council of Management for the 2026–27 term.
| Leadership Role | Appointed Executive | Professional Designation |
| Chairman | Mohit Jain | Chief Operating Officer (COO), Publisher, and Board Member, Bennett, Coleman & Company Limited (BCCL) |
| Deputy Chairman | Vikram Sakhuja | Veteran Media Industry Leader |
Good to know — Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC):
- Nature: Voluntary, non-profit industry self-regulatory body that audits and certifies circulation figures of newspapers and periodicals in India.
- Founded: 1948
- Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra
Vodafone Idea (Vi) onboards Shah Rukh Khan as Brand Ambassador
Telecom operator Vodafone Idea Limited (Vi) appointed Bollywood icon Shah Rukh Khan as its corporate brand ambassador.
- National Campaign: Serves as the official face of Vi's brand transformation campaign titled "Vi badal raha hai... taiyaar rahiye".
- Brand Identity: Accompanied by the unveiling of a refreshed visual identity and corporate logo.
Part 2: Revision (Static GK & State Policy Frameworks)
Revision 1: Gujarat State Projects & Infrastructure Highlights
- Statehood & Leadership: Formed on 1 May 1960; Capital: Gandhinagar; Chief Minister: Bhupendra Patel; Governor: Acharya Devvrat.
- Vastrakala Setu Yojana: Flagship state initiative to support traditional weavers, handlooms, and handicrafts.
- Clean Energy & AI Infrastructure: Meta and Reliance Industries collaborated to construct a 168 MW AI Data Centre Hub in Jamnagar.
- National Parks of Gujarat: Gir National Park, Marine National Park (Gulf of Kutch), Vansda National Park, and Velavadar Blackbuck National Park.
- Highway Toll Technology: National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) introduced the Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) electronic tolling system at Choryasi Toll Plaza (Kamrej) on the NH-48 Surat–Bharuch corridor.
- PM Family Care Tracker (PM-FCT): Dedicated digital health and family tracking system launched as a pilot initiative in Gujarat by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
- Space Manufacturing Ecosystem: Gujarat State Government partnered with IN-SPACe (Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre) to set up a dedicated Space Manufacturing Hub at Khoraj near Ahmedabad.
- Sports Fixtures: Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad hosted the Indian Premier League (IPL) encounter between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Gujarat Titans (GT).
Revision 2: Telangana State Governance, Bilateral Ties & Wildlife
- State Formation: Telangana was established on 2 June 2014 as the 29th State of the Union (celebrating its 12th State Formation Day in 2026).
- Leadership: Chief Minister: A. Revanth Reddy; Governor: Shiv Pratap Shukla.
- Welfare Schemes: Implemented the state-wide Chief Minister's Breakfast and Milk Scheme for school children.
- International State Partnership: State Government of Telangana entered into an institutional economic partnership with the Federal State of Thuringia, Germany.
- Protected Wildlife Sanctuaries:
- Tiger Reserves: Amrabad Tiger Reserve and Kawal Tiger Reserve.
- National Parks: Kasu Brahmananda Reddy (KBR) National Park, Mahavir Harina Vanasthali National Park, and Mrugavani National Park.
Revision 3: Uttar Pradesh Welfare Schemes & Energy Projects
- Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY):
- Originally launched in May 2016 from Ballia, Uttar Pradesh, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
- Provides targeted LPG cylinders (14.2 kg) to underprivileged households, with an active ₹300 central subsidy per refill.
- Weather Infrastructure: Inauguration of India's 8th Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) in Lucknow by the India Meteorological Department.
- Civil Aviation Milestones: Noida International Airport (NIA) in Jewar completed validation trials, with IndiGo operating the maiden test flight.
- Renewable Storage Projects: Ministry of Defence cleared the installation of a 250 MW Solar Power Project equipped with a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in Sitapur, Uttar Pradesh.
Revision 4: Key Statutory & Financial Regulatory Authorities
- Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI):
- Headquartered in Hyderabad, Telangana.
- Governed under the Ministry of Finance; Chairman: Ajay Seth.
- International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA):
- Headquartered at GIFT City, Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
- Oversees international banking units; Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) operationalized its specialized IBU offshore banking branch at GIFT City.
Revision 5: Prominent Brand Ambassadors Master Directory
- MS Dhoni: Pune Grand Tour 2026, Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM) UPI App, and Droom (DRIV)
- Shah Rukh Khan: Visa and Vodafone Idea (Vi)
- Shikhar Dhawan: Delhi Khel Mahakumbh
- Sachin Tendulkar: United Nations Global Road Safety Campaign
- Sania Mirza: The Derma Co.
- Ravindra Jadeja: City Union Bank
- Jasprit Bumrah: Uniqlo India
- Carlos Alcaraz: Infosys
- Shreyas Iyer: Formula 1 (F1) Simulation Racing Program
- Sourav Ganguly: InsuranceDekho
- Leander Paes: Asian Tennis Federation (ATF)
- Amitabh Bachchan: PolicyBazaar and Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH)
- Pankaj Tripathi: SBI Card
- Sudarshan Pattnaik: Census 2027