Current Affairs 29 July 2026

EconomyMediumquizQuiz

Electronics Production Grows Seven-Fold to ₹13 Lakh Crore Under PLI Push

•India's electronics production grew seven-fold in 12 years — from ~₹1.9 lakh crore (2014-15) to ~₹13.11 lakh crore (2025-26); exports grew eleven-fold to ~₹4.24 lakh crore.
•Mobile phone production rose 33-fold and exports 165-fold over the same period; smartphones are now India's top exported commodity, surpassing petroleum and gems & jewellery.
•The PLI Scheme for Large Scale Electronics Manufacturing (launched 2020) has drawn ₹20,587 crore investment — 294% of its 5-year target — and ₹11,61,581 crore production, till March 2026.

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Schemes & CommitteesMediumquizQuiz

Cooperative Grain Storage Plan: 313 of 1,015 Approved Godowns Completed So Far

•The World's Largest Grain Storage Plan in Cooperative Sector, approved 31 May 2023, builds warehouses, custom hiring centres, processing units and Fair Price Shops at the level of individual PACS.
•1,015 storage projects have been approved nationally; 313 godowns are fully constructed and 203 more are under construction.
•Gujarat leads with 275 projects approved, followed by Rajasthan (201) and Andhra Pradesh (117, all completed).

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Science & TechHighquizQuiz

144 Crore Aadhaar IDs, 55 Crore UPI Users Power India's Digital Public Infrastructure

•India's Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) now spans 144+ crore Aadhaar IDs, 55.49 crore UPI users across 731 banks, and 71.66 crore DigiLocker users with 936.03 crore documents issued.
•Common Service Centres have grown from 83,950 (May 2014) to 5.01 lakh (May 2026), covering 2.56 lakh Gram Panchayats and handling 4,854 lakh transactions in 2025-26 alone.
•BharatNet has made 2.21 lakh Gram Panchayats service-ready, and Aadhaar-linked Direct Benefit Transfer has moved over ₹52 lakh crore across 318 schemes of 56 Ministries.

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Science & TechMediumquizQuiz

Pollen Study Links Harappan Civilization's Shrinkage to the Global '4.2 ka Event'

•A pollen-based study by the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences (BSIP) links the Harappan Civilization's shrinkage to the global '4.2 ka event' — an abrupt dry-climate shift around 4,200 years before present.
•A weak Indian Summer Monsoon (ISM) between roughly 5,100 and 4,000 years BP disrupted seasonal flooding along the Indus and Ghaggar-Hakra rivers, driving population migration to the east Ganga plains.
•The study analysed a radiocarbon-dated sediment core from Deoria Tal, a Garhwal Himalaya lake, and links the weak ISM to a southward-shifted ITCZ, a strong El Niño phase and a negative Indian Ocean Dipole.

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Schemes & CommitteesMediumquizQuiz

White Revolution 2.0 Forms 24,097 New Dairy Cooperatives Against a 75,000 Target

•White Revolution 2.0, launched by the Ministry of Cooperation on 19 September 2024, aims to raise dairy-cooperative milk procurement by 50% over five years, reaching 1,007 lakh kg/day by 2028-29.
•It envisages 75,000 new Dairy Cooperative Societies (DCSs) and strengthening of 46,422 existing ones; 24,097 new DCS have been formed and 31,394 existing ones strengthened so far.
•Financial assistance flows through the revised National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD): ₹6,695.22 lakh released of ₹9,877.63 lakh sanctioned Central share (as on 15.07.2026).

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Schemes & CommitteesMediumquizQuiz

PACS Digital Automation Framework Expanded to Cover 79,630 Societies, ₹2,925 Crore Outlay

•The Centrally Sponsored PACS Computerisation Project, initially approved for 63,000 Primary Agricultural Credit Societies, has been expanded to cover 79,630 PACS with a total outlay of ₹2,925.39 crore.
•65,875 PACS have received hardware and 63,686 have been onboarded onto the common ERP-based National Software.
•Under the related World's Largest Grain Storage Plan in Cooperative Sector, 1,015 PACS have been identified for godowns, with construction completed at 313, creating 1.80 LMT capacity.

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Science & TechMediumquizQuiz

IndiaAI Mission Identifies 762 AI Use Cases, Approves 58 Centres of Excellence

•The IndiaAI Mission, launched 7 March 2024 with an outlay of ₹10,371.92 crore, operates under seven pillars — Compute, Foundation Models, Application Development (IADI), FutureSkills, AIKosh, Safe & Trusted AI, and Startup Financing.
•762 AI use cases were identified across 62 Ministries/Departments following the India-AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi (16-21 February 2026).
•Government has approved 58 AI Centres of Excellence and 543 Data & AI Labs across States/UTs, and awarded 686 IndiaAI Fellowships nationally.

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EconomyMediumquizQuiz

MoSPI Revises CPI Base Year from 2012=100 to 2024=100, Expands Item Basket to 358

•MoSPI revised the Consumer Price Index (CPI) base year from 2012=100 to 2024=100, with the new series released on 12 February 2026.
•Price collection now covers 1,465 rural and 1,395 urban markets across 434 towns, plus 12 online markets in large cities to capture e-commerce prices — and the weighted item basket has grown from 299 to 358 items.
•The new basket and weights are based on the Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) 2023-24; provisional Combined inflation for June 2026 stood at 4.38%.

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NationalMediumquizQuiz

Government Data Shows 4,626 kg ATS, 2,652 kg Heroin Seized on NE Border Since 2021

•A total of 4,626 kg of Amphetamine Type Stimulants (ATS) and 2,652 kg of Heroin were seized in India's North-East between 2021 and 2025, as reported by Drug Law Enforcement Agencies to the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB).
•The North-Eastern States remain vulnerable due to their proximity to the 'Death Triangle'/Golden Triangle and porous, Free Movement Regime borders with Myanmar; trafficking has shifted markedly towards synthetic drugs like methamphetamine.
•Government has released a Vision Document on Narcotics Control (2026-2029), set up a 4-tier NCORD coordination mechanism, and approved 6 new NCB Zonal offices, 4 of them in North-Eastern States.

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NationalHighquizQuiz

India Reports Zero Left Wing Extremism-Affected Districts After Decades of Insurgency

•No district in India is currently categorised as LWE-affected; the count fell from 126 districts to 90 (April 2018), 70 (July 2021), 38 (April 2024), 8 (December 2025) and to zero (March/April 2026).
•37 districts are now classed 'Legacy & Thrust' districts requiring continued support, and 1 remains a 'District of Concern'.
•The decline is attributed to the 'National Policy and Action Plan to Address LWE' (2015) and the SAMADHAN doctrine (2017), combining security, development and community-rights measures.

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Polity & GovernanceMediumquizQuiz

POCSO Act Strengthened with Death Penalty, Fast-Track Courts and Forensic Upgrades

•The POCSO Act, 2012 gives India a gender-neutral legal framework protecting all children below 18 from sexual offences and pornography, strengthened by the POCSO (Amendment) Act, 2019 which added the death penalty for certain aggravated offences.
•POCSO Rules, 2020 provide for Support Persons, Special Relief and compensation payable within 30 days of a court order.
•In Tamil Nadu, 20 Exclusive POCSO Courts under the Fast Track Special Courts scheme (Nirbhaya Fund) have disposed of 12,184 cases, with 9,065 pending; the scheme is extended up to 30 September 2026.

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Science & TechHighquizQuiz

Kavach 4.0 Commissioned on 2,569 Route Km as Train Accidents Fall to Record Low

•Indian Railways reported only 2 consequential train accidents in 2026-27 (up to June), against 135 in 2014-15 — a steep decline aided by technology, infrastructure and maintenance upgrades.
•Kavach Version 4.0, the SIL-4 certified indigenous Automatic Train Protection system, has been commissioned on 2,569 route km, covering the high-density Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Howrah corridors as on 20 July 2026.
•Railway safety expenditure has risen more than three-fold, from ₹39,200 crore in 2013-14 to a budgeted ₹1,20,389 crore in 2026-27.

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Schemes & CommitteesLowquizQuiz

100-Week Youth Anti-Drug Movement to Launch 2 August, Led by MY Bharat

•PM Modi will launch the 'Nasha Mukta Yuva for Viksit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyaan' on 2 August 2026 — a 100-week youth-led Jan Bhagidari movement against substance abuse, led by MY Bharat
•Over 1 crore youth are expected to take the Nasha Mukti Pledge simultaneously at nearly 10,000 locations across the country
•The campaign complements the existing Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan (launched 2020, now covering all districts) and runs through MY Bharat, the autonomous youth-development body launched in October 2023

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DefenceLowquizQuiz

India's First Department of Military Medicine Inaugurated at Command Hospital, Lucknow

•Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh virtually inaugurated India's first dedicated Department of Military Medicine at Command Hospital (Central Command), Lucknow, on 29 July 2026
•Established under the Directorate General of Medical Services (Army), it will run postgraduate programmes in combat medicine/surgery/trauma care and build Centres of Excellence in HADR and CBRNe medicine
•It complements the proposed Global Military Medicine Centre under the Raksha Strategy Vision 2026-30, and sits alongside existing DRDO life-sciences labs (DIPAS, INMAS) that already research soldier physiology and CBRN medicine

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EnvironmentLowquizQuiz

Global Tiger Day: NTCA Launches Eco-Tourism Webpage, India at 3,682 Tigers

•India's tiger count stands at 3,682 across 58 Tiger Reserves; NTCA launched a new Eco-tourism webpage integrating booking links for all reserves on Global Tiger Day 2026
•The Prime Minister noted India is home to almost 70% of the world's wild tiger population
•Global Tiger Day (29 July) marks the 2010 St Petersburg Tiger Summit's TX2 goal to double the world's wild tiger population

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Schemes & CommitteesHighquizQuiz

RDI Scheme: ₹2,000cr Sanctioned to TDB & BIRAC, 30 Projects Approved So Far

•The ₹1-lakh-crore Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme, Cabinet-approved 1 July 2025 and launched by the PM on 3 November 2025, has sanctioned ₹1,000 crore each to TDB and BIRAC (₹2,000 crore total); ₹500 crore has been disbursed to TDB
•TDB has approved 22 projects worth ₹4,744 crore (₹2,192 crore RDI support); BIRAC has shortlisted 8 projects worth ₹390.35 crore
•The Scheme gives long-term, low-interest loans and equity — not grants — evaluated on innovation and commercialisation potential rather than collateral, and is pan-India with no state-wise earmarking

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EconomyMediumquizQuiz

India's GERD Hits 0.84% of GDP; Private Sector Overtakes Government in R&D Spend

•India's GERD rose from ₹1,32,567 crore (2019-20, 0.66% of GDP) to ₹2,44,768 crore (2023-24, 0.84% of GDP), per DST's 'Research & Development Statistics 2025-26' report
•The private sector's share of total R&D spending overtook the government's for the first time in 2023-24 — 51.8% private vs 48.2% government
•The government cites the ₹1-lakh-crore RDI Scheme, ANRF's ₹14,000-crore budgetary provision and missions like the National Quantum Mission and the India Semiconductor Mission as levers to push R&D spending higher

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Science & TechMediumquizQuiz

ANRF/SERB Funding: ₹2,000cr Sanctioned in 2026-27, Gates Foundation Among Private Backers

•SERB/ANRF combined research funding: SERB allocation fell from ₹1,004.5 cr (2023-24) to ₹543.25 cr (2026-27, up to 21 July), even as ANRF's own allocation rose to ₹2,000 cr in the same year
•ANRF has mobilised private-sector Letters of Intent from the Gates Foundation (~₹450 cr), Wadhwani Foundation (₹100 cr), Qualcomm (~₹90 cr), NVIDIA (in-kind, ~$22.5 mn) and Google (~₹54 cr)
•ANRF runs 15+ named programmes — from the PM Early Career Research Grant to the J.C. Bose Grant — alongside sister missions like Vigyan Dhara, the National Quantum Mission and Bio-RIDE

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Science & TechHighquizQuiz

Nuclear Energy Mission: 100 GW by 2047 Target, 8,780 MW Installed, SHANTI Act in Force

•India's installed nuclear capacity stands at 8,780 MW across 24 reactors — 3.1% of electricity generation in 2025-26 — with a Nuclear Energy Mission target of 100 GW by 2047
•The roadmap projects ~22 GW by 2031-32 under NPCIL, a further 32 GW under NPCIL post-2032 (PHWR/LWR), and the balance ~45 GW via other PSEs, private players and joint ventures
•The SHANTI Act, 2025 (in force since 21 December 2025) repealed the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010, gave AERB full statutory status, and caps private/foreign equity in civilian nuclear projects at 49%

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Science & TechMediumquizQuiz

Gaganyaan: HLVM3 Ground-Tested, CES Qualified, G1 Uncrewed Mission Nears

•All HLVM3 propulsion stages and structures for Gaganyaan are ground-tested and complete; the Crew Escape System's 5 motor types are developed and static-tested
•The uncrewed TV-D1 test flight already validated the Crew Escape System; two Integrated Air Drop Tests (IADT-01, IADT-02) validated the deceleration system; the G1 uncrewed orbital mission, carrying the robot Vyommitra, is in advanced preparation
•Gaganyatris have completed generic training in Russia and are now in mission-specific training at the Astronaut Training Facility, Bengaluru

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Science & TechLowquizQuiz

NavIC Can't Provide Standalone Positioning: Only 3 of 4 Needed Satellites Operational

•Only 3 NavIC satellites (IRNSS-1B, IRNSS-1I, NVS-01) are currently operational after IRNSS-1F completed its 10-year mission life; standalone positioning needs a minimum of 4
•Timing service remains functional even though standalone positioning is not currently available
•NVS-03 is ready for launch; NVS-04 and NVS-05 are in advanced stages of realisation to restore the constellation

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Science & TechMediumquizQuiz

Private Space Sector: $187 Million Invested in 2026, 108 IN-SPACe Authorisations

•$187 million was invested in India's private space sector in 2026 so far, per IN-SPACe data placed before Lok Sabha
•108 authorisations have been granted to Non-Government Entities (NGEs) by IN-SPACe to date, including 17 to start-ups
•The government has set up a ₹1,000-crore VC Fund and a ₹500-crore Technology Adoption Fund (TAF) to support the sector

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Science & TechLowquizQuiz

Parliament Told: Nuclear Waste Managed Under 1987 Rules, AERB Authorisation

•Radioactive solid waste from nuclear power plants stays within 0.15 cubic metres/year/MW; no incident of radioactivity release from disposed waste has been recorded to date
•Waste handling is governed by the Atomic Energy (Safe Disposal of Radioactive Wastes) Rules, 1987 — every facility needs AERB authorisation to discharge effluents
•High-level waste from spent fuel is vitrified into glass and interim-stored per IAEA guidelines; partitioning technology recovers isotopes such as Cs-137 for healthcare use

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Science & TechLowquizQuiz

IMD's Multi-Model Ensemble Cuts Monsoon Forecast Error to 2.2% of LPA

•Since adopting the Multi-Model Ensemble (MME) approach in 2021, IMD's mean absolute long-range monsoon forecast error has fallen from 7.8% of the LPA (2016-2020) to 2.2% (2021-2025)
•In the last ten years, forecast error crossed 10% of the LPA only once — in 2019, when it hit 14%
•The government cites Mission Mausam's radar, AWS and AI/ML expansion as the next lever for further accuracy gains

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EnvironmentMediumquizQuiz

12 Pilot Projects to Deploy 70 Hydrogen Vehicles Across 21 Routes Under NGHM

•Under the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM), 12 pilot projects have been awarded to deploy 70 hydrogen-powered vehicles (27 buses, 43 trucks) and 16 Hydrogen Refuelling Stations across 21 routes in multiple states.
•Total financial assistance allocated is ~₹410.77 crore, of which ₹41.582 crore has been released so far.
•NGHM was approved by the Union Cabinet on 4 January 2023 with a ₹19,744 crore outlay, targeting 5 MMT/year green hydrogen production by 2030.

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Science & TechMediumquizQuiz

IMC 2026 Theme 'Scale Without Boundaries' Unveiled Alongside Gwalior Telecom Manufacturing Zone

•Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia unveiled 'Scale without boundaries' as the theme for the 10th India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2026, to be held 7-10 October 2026 at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi.
•IMC 2026 is built around four pillars — Srishti, Suraksha, Sashakt and Samvardhan; IMC, launched in 2017, is jointly organised by DoT and COAI, and its 2025 edition drew 1.4 lakh+ visitors from 101 countries.
•Separately, DoT and the Madhya Pradesh Government will sign an MoU on 30 July 2026 to establish India's first Telecom Manufacturing Zone (TMZ), Phase-I, at Gwalior.

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Schemes & CommitteesLowquizQuiz

DAANVEER Platform Launched for Citizens to Donate Computers to Gram Panchayats

•DAANVEER, launched 29 July 2026 by MoPR Secretary Vivek Bharadwaj, lets citizens and organisations voluntarily donate verified computer bundles to Gram Panchayats through the Meri Panchayat app.
•Developed by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj with the National Informatics Centre (NIC) and integrated with the DigiHaat marketplace, it offers end-to-end digital tracking from dispatch to installation.
•It builds on MoPR's existing digital ecosystem — e-GramSwaraj, Meri Panchayat, Sabha Saar, AuditOnline, Gram Manchitra — to bridge the computer gap across India's nearly 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats.

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Polity & GovernanceMediumquizQuiz

Lok Sabha Doubles Exam-Cheating Punishments in Public Examinations Amendment Bill

•The Lok Sabha passed the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 by voice vote, sharply raising punishments under the 2024 Act.
•Individual offender punishment rises from 3-5 years/₹10 lakh fine to 5-10 years/₹50 lakh fine; service-provider fines rise to ₹5 crore and debarment doubles to 8 years; organised-crime punishment rises to 7-10 years/₹10 crore fine.
•The Bill creates Special Fast Track Courts (2-month investigation, 3-month trial), Special Public Prosecutors and a Special Task Force; 52 FIRs have already been registered under the 2024 Act.

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DefenceLowquizQuiz

Machilipatnam, Seventh Mahe-Class Anti-Submarine Warship, Launched by Cochin Shipyard

•Machilipatnam (BY 529), the seventh of eight Mahe-class Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC) being built by Cochin Shipyard Limited for the Indian Navy, was launched on 29 July 2026.
•Named after the historic Andhra Pradesh port city, the ship is fitted for underwater surveillance, ASW operations, Low Intensity Maritime Operations and mine warfare, with indigenous content exceeding 80%.
•It is part of a 16-ship ASW SWC programme contracted in April 2019 — 8 Mahe-class by CSL and 8 Arnala-class by GRSE — whose lead ship, INS Mahe, was commissioned in November 2025.

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EconomyMediumquizQuiz

Coal Exchange Rules 2026 Create Regulated Online Trading Platform for Coal

•The Coal Exchange Rules, 2026, notified on 4 June 2026 under Section 18B of the MMDR Act, 1957, create an online, regulated platform for transparent coal, lignite and processed-coal trading.
•The Coal Controller Organisation (CCO) is the designated Authority to register and regulate Coal Exchanges, with powers over market oversight, inspection and dispute resolution.
•Every Coal Exchange must run a Settlement Guarantee Fund with at least 50% in safe/liquid instruments, and the online registration platform opened on 15 July 2026, with operationalisation expected within 12 months.

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Science & TechMediumquizQuiz

India Expands Ocean Observation Network: 302 Argo Floats, Tsunami Alerts in 10 Minutes

•Government data shows India's ocean observation network now has 19 subsurface moorings, an Indian Tsunami Early Warning System (ITEWS) with 17 seismic stations, 7 deep-ocean buoys and 36 tide gauges, plus INCOIS's own buoy/ADCP/AWS network
•302 Argo profiling floats deployed between 2014 and 2025, alongside 12 deep-sea gliders, 45 drifting buoys and 64 wave drifters — feeding models that have improved wave-forecast accuracy by about 43% since 2014
•Tsunami advisories are now issued within a 10-minute window of a tsunamigenic earthquake, meeting international standards; a new buoy off Mauritius improves prediction of Southern Ocean swells reaching the Indian coast

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EnvironmentLowquizQuiz

NCCR Study: Thoothukudi–Gulf of Mannar Coast 'Moderately Clean' on Microplastics

•NCCR monitoring finds synthetic filaments the predominant microplastic type off Thoothukudi and the Gulf of Mannar; riverine discharge and Abandoned, Lost or Discarded Fishing Gear (ALDFG) are the major pollution sources
•NCCR's Clean Coast Index rates the stretch 'moderately clean', with no major microplastic pollution hotspot identified (28-60 particles/50g of sediment)
•Since the 2022 Single-Use Plastic ban and EPR rules, about 232 lakh tonnes of plastic packaging waste have been processed; a draft National Marine Litter Policy has been shared with MoEFCC

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Schemes & CommitteesHighquizQuiz

PM Vidyalaxmi Scheme: Collateral-Free Education Loans for QHEI Admissions

•PM Vidyalaxmi Scheme, approved by the Union Cabinet on 6 November 2024, provides collateral-free, guarantor-free education loans to meritorious students admitted to 1,425 designated Quality Higher Education Institutions (QHEIs), selected by NIRF ranking
•3% interest subvention on loans up to ₹10 lakh for families earning up to ₹8 lakh/year, plus a 75% Government credit guarantee on loans up to ₹7.5 lakh; budget of ₹3,600 crore for 2024-25 to 2030-31, targeting 7 lakh students
•In FY 2025-26, 1,10,667 of 6,45,514 total loan applications on the portal were for PM-Vidyalaxmi; 70,852 loans sanctioned and 67,728 disbursed; subvention now paid via a Digital Rupee (CBDC) wallet — 35,777 active wallets, ₹57.66 crore disbursed as of 22 July 2026

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EnvironmentLowquizQuiz

Kenya Investigates Deaths of 15 Elephants in the Amboseli Ecosystem

•The Kenya Wildlife Service is investigating the deaths of 15 elephants in the Amboseli ecosystem recorded between 24 June and 24 July 2026.
•The deaths occurred across Amboseli National Park, Kimana Sanctuary and the Kuku Ranch area.
•Ten elephants developed partial paralysis and were unable to stand before dying within one to two days; five were found already dead.

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EconomyMediumquizQuiz

India Exports Value-Added Bihar Makhana to Canada from Darbhanga

•India exported 7 metric tonnes of value-added flavoured makhana from Darbhanga in Bihar to Canada on 29 July 2026.
•The consignment moved in two containers through Mundra Port in Gujarat.
•It was processed and packaged by Nutrivin Agro Private Limited for ZKV Foods in Canada.

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State NewsLowquizQuiz

Assam's Directorate of Sainik Welfare Contributes ₹25 Lakh to CM's Relief Fund for Flood Victims

•The Directorate of Sainik Welfare, Assam contributed ₹25 lakh to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund on 29 July 2026 for flood relief in Upper Assam.
•The cheque was presented to Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma by a delegation led by Brigadier Polash Chowdhury (Retd).
•The delegation included Air Marshal Anjan Kumar Gogoi (Retd) and Lieutenant General Rana Pratap Kalita (Retd).

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Polity & GovernanceMediumquizQuiz

Anti Paper Leak Bill 2026 Passed by Lok Sabha

•The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 — the 'Anti Paper Leak Bill' — was passed by the Lok Sabha on 29 July 2026.
•It amends the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, introducing stricter penalties, fast-track courts, and enhanced accountability against question paper leaks and organised cheating.
•Key features include fast-track courts for speedy trials, tougher punishments for organised syndicates, enhanced digital security/encryption for question papers, and fixed institutional accountability.

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Schemes & CommitteesMediumquizQuiz

Ministry of Panchayati Raj Launches DAANVEER Platform for Gram Panchayat Digital Infrastructure

•The Ministry of Panchayati Raj launched DAANVEER on 29 July 2026 in New Delhi — a citizen-participation platform letting individuals, organisations, and the diaspora donate computer hardware to Gram Panchayats.
•Carrying the tagline 'Give Back to Your Village,' the platform integrates the 'Meri Panchayat' app with the DigiHaat marketplace, letting donors pick pre-approved, state-specific computer bundles.
•Developed with the National Informatics Centre and DigiHaat, it aims to bridge digital gaps across India's nearly 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats, with real-time tracking and a digital certificate of appreciation for donors.

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EconomyMediumquizQuiz

Rupee Turns More Undervalued Than Yuan, Boosting Export Competitiveness

•The rupee's Real Effective Exchange Rate (REER) fell from 108.03 in November 2024 (8% overvalued) to 91.26 by June 2026 (8.7% undervalued).
•By the Real Broad Effective Exchange Rate (RBEER) measure, the rupee (90.15) is now more undervalued than the Chinese yuan (92.24) as of June 2026.
•RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra noted the rupee has become undervalued and could appreciate once the West Asia situation stabilises.

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Important DaysLowquizQuiz

Guru Purnima 2026 Observed on 29 July, Dedicated to Maharishi Ved Vyasa

•Guru Purnima 2026 was observed on Wednesday, 29 July, the full moon day of the Hindu month of Ashadha.
•The festival honours teachers, mentors, and spiritual guides through the ancient Guru-Shishya tradition.
•It is also known as Vyasa Purnima, traditionally believed to mark the birth anniversary of Maharishi Ved Vyasa, compiler of the four Vedas and author of the Mahabharata.

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Schemes & CommitteesLowquizQuiz

Government Updates Lok Sabha on National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme-2 (NAPS-2)

•The Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, informed the Lok Sabha about the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme-2 (NAPS-2).
•NAPS-2 has been implemented across India from 2022-23, succeeding the original NAPS launched in August 2016.
•The scheme provides partial stipend support to apprentices via Direct Benefit Transfer under the Apprentices Act, 1961.

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State NewsMediumquizQuiz

Kerala Cabinet Clears Five Digital Governance Reforms Including SAMPATH, PlanSpace 2.0

•The Kerala Cabinet approved five governance reforms to improve transparency and reduce revenue leakages from project delays.
•SAMPATH is a centralised digital platform for tracking government-owned land, buildings, and infrastructure assets.
•PlanSpace 2.0 is an expanded GIS-enabled registry tracking the location, funding, and construction stage of capital projects.

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Schemes & CommitteesLowquizQuiz

ESIC Extends Atal Beemit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana (ABVKY) Till June 2027

•The Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) approved extending the Atal Beemit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana (ABVKY) from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027.
•ABVKY provides unemployment relief to workers covered under the ESI Act, introduced on 1 July 2018.
•Eligible insured persons can receive relief equal to 50% of average daily earnings, for up to 90 days of unemployment, once in a lifetime.

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Science & TechLowquizQuiz

Hubble Study Maps 500-Million-Year Decline in Andromeda Galaxy's Star Formation

•A new study using Hubble Space Telescope data mapped the last 500 million years of star formation in the Andromeda Galaxy (M31), finding a sharp recent decline, especially over the last 40 million years.
•Andromeda, the nearest major spiral galaxy to the Milky Way, is about 2.5 million light-years away and contains an estimated 1 trillion stars.
•Gravitational interaction with its satellite galaxy M32 has disrupted Andromeda's stellar disk, creating a dead zone with no recent star birth.

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Polity & GovernanceMediumquizQuiz

e-Zero FIR System for Cyber Financial Crimes Now Live Across 18 States and UTs

•The Union Minister of State for Home Affairs informed Parliament that the e-Zero FIR system for cybercrime is now operational across 18 States and UTs, with over 12,000 e-Zero FIRs registered.
•The system, developed by the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C), automatically generates an FIR for financial cyber-fraud complaints crossing a specified threshold reported via the 1930 helpline or NCRP.
•It is enabled under Section 173(1) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023.

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InternationalMediumquizQuiz

EU Introduces AI Transparency Code to Label AI-Generated Content

•The EU introduced the Code of Practice on Transparency of AI-Generated Content to help providers comply with Article 50 of the EU AI Act.
•It mandates machine-readable watermarks (by providers) and human-visible labels (by deployers) for AI-generated or AI-modified content.
•Non-compliance with the underlying legal mandate can attract penalties of up to €15 million or 3% of global annual turnover.

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Schemes & CommitteesLowquizQuiz

100-Week 'Nasha Mukta Yuva for Viksit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyaan' to Launch on 2 August

•The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, through MY Bharat, will launch the 100-week 'Nasha Mukta Yuva for Viksit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyaan' on 2 August 2026.
•More than 1 crore youth are expected to take the Nasha Mukti Pledge at nearly 10,000 locations during the launch.
•The campaign involves MY Bharat Volunteers, NSS, youth clubs, schools, colleges, NGOs, and over 125 spiritual organisations.

SSCUPSC

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DefenceMediumquizQuiz

Rajnath Singh Inaugurates India's First Department of Military Medicine in Lucknow

•Defence Minister Rajnath Singh virtually inaugurated India's first dedicated Department of Military Medicine at Command Hospital (Central Command), Lucknow, on 29 July 2026.
•The department functions under the Directorate General of Medical Services (Army) as a centre of excellence for the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS).
•It will focus on Military Trauma and Damage Control, Combat Psychiatry, CBRNe Medical Response, and Disaster Medicine.

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Science & TechLowquizQuiz

IIT Roorkee Advances Solid-State Battery and Lithium-Ion Technology Research

•IIT Roorkee has advanced research on garnet-type solid electrolytes for all-solid-state batteries, led by Prof. Swastika Banerjee, published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.
•On 23 May 2026, IIT Roorkee transferred two lithium-ion battery technologies developed by Prof. Anjan Sil to Cathion Energy Private Limited for commercial use.
•IIT Roorkee signed an MoU with WRI India on 27 June 2026 on sustainable battery ecosystems and critical minerals.

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Science & TechMediumquizQuiz

ICMR Validates SHetA2, an Oral Therapy Targeting HPV-Related Cervical Disease

•ICMR-National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research (NICPR) validated SHetA2, an oral small-molecule therapy, for further development in India.
•SHetA2 targets the HPV E6 and E7 oncoproteins, which interfere with tumour-suppressor proteins p53 and Rb.
•It is designed for pre-cancerous and cancerous cervical lesions, not for preventing initial HPV infection, and has been transferred to Emcure Pharmaceuticals for larger human trials in India.

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InternationalMediumquizQuiz

Iran Reportedly to Receive Chinese Shoulder-Launched Air Defence Missiles

•Iran is reportedly set to receive its first shipment of Chinese-made shoulder-fired air-defence missiles (MANPADS) within weeks in 2026.
•The reported deal covers 300-400 QW-12 and FN-16 systems, valued at about US$60-70 million, via Hong Kong-based intermediary Zhongqing Baoshang International Investment.
•China's Foreign Ministry denied the reports on 29 July 2026; Pakistan has denied involvement in any transfer route through its territory.

UPSCDefence

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Polity & GovernanceLowquizQuiz

Centre Enforces 'One Entitled Officer, One Official Car' Policy

•The Union Government implemented the 'One Entitled Officer, One Official Car' policy on 28-29 July 2026.
•The Department of Expenditure (Ministry of Finance) issued the Office Memorandum to all Union ministries and departments.
•Officers holding additional charge in another ministry/department/PSU cannot be allotted a second official vehicle.

SSCUPSC

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SportsMediumquizQuiz

CWG 2026: Gulveer Singh, Harjinder Kaur Win Silver; India's Tally Reaches 12

•Gulveer Singh became the first Indian to win a Commonwealth Games medal in the men's 10,000m, taking silver in 27:49.78.
•Harjinder Kaur won silver in women's 69kg weightlifting with a combined lift of 227kg — her second consecutive CWG medal after Birmingham 2022 bronze.
•India's medal tally at Glasgow 2026 reached 12 (2 gold, 7 silver, 3 bronze), with India 9th on the table as of 29 July 2026.

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State NewsMediumquizQuiz

Delhi Government Approves Lakshmi Yojana: ₹2,500 Monthly Aid for Eligible Women

•The Delhi Government approved the Delhi Lakshmi Yojana, providing eligible women ₹2,500 per month via Direct Benefit Transfer.
•The Delhi Cabinet, chaired by CM Rekha Gupta, allocated ₹5,110 crore for the scheme in the 2026-27 Budget.
•Online registration opens 1 August 2026; the scheme is expected to benefit over 17 lakh women.

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Schemes & CommitteesMediumquizQuiz

Government Allocates Record ₹95,692 Crore for Rural Employment Under VB-G RAM G Act, 2025

•The Government allocated a record ₹95,692 crore for rural employment under the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Aajeevika Mission (Gramin) [VB-G RAM G] Act, 2025 for FY 2026-27.
•This is the highest-ever Budget Estimate allocation for any rural employment programme in India's history.
•The Act, which replaced MGNREGS, guarantees 125 days of wage employment per year, up from 100 days under the earlier scheme.

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InternationalMediumquizQuiz

India's First Direct Commercial Freight Train Reaches Nepal Carrying Canola

•India's first-ever direct commercial container freight train reached Nepal carrying a consignment of canola.
•The train, comprising 40 wagons, moved directly from Kolkata Port to Biratnagar under the revised India-Nepal Rail Transit Protocol.
•The route eliminates transshipment at the border, cutting transit time and logistics costs.

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Banking & FinanceHighquizQuiz

RBI to Wind Up Paytm Payments Bank; Girikumar Nair Named Official Liquidator

•RBI ordered the winding up of Paytm Payments Bank Limited (PPBL) following a Delhi High Court order, after having earlier cancelled its banking licence.
•Girikumar Nair, former Chief General Manager of SBI, has been appointed Official Liquidator to oversee the process.
•The winding-up is being carried out under the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 and the Companies Act, 2013.

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Banking & FinanceLowquizQuiz

Axis Finance Launches 'Drishti' Digital Credit Decision Platform

•Axis Finance Limited (AFL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Axis Bank, launched 'Axis Finance Drishti', an in-house Business Rules Engine for credit decision-making.
•Phase-I rollout covers Personal Loans, Business Loans, Loan Against Property, and Disha Home Loans.
•The platform automates credit assessment using statistical scorecards and supports real-time, Straight-Through Processing.

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Banking & FinanceMediumquizQuiz

SBI to Become First Indian Bank to Issue Basel III AT-1 Perpetual Bonds in 2026

•SBI is set to become the first Indian bank in 2026 to issue Basel III-compliant Additional Tier-I (AT-1) Perpetual Bonds, raising ₹5,000 crore.
•The bonds carry a five-year call option, subject to RBI approval, and are part of SBI's Board-approved ₹60,000 crore capital-raising plan for FY 2026-27.
•Canara Bank was the last Indian bank to issue AT-1 bonds, raising ₹3,500 crore in November 2025 at a 7.55% coupon.

BankingSSCUPSC

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State NewsMediumquizQuiz

Assam Bill Proposes Protected Zones Around Heritage Vaishnavite Satras

•Assam has proposed the Assam Land and Revenue Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2026 to protect centuries-old Vaishnavite satras.
•It provides for a five-kilometre protected zone around select heritage institutions such as Barpeta, Batadrava and Majuli.
•Within these zones, land transactions would be allowed only for local residents, and encroachments could be evicted.

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Schemes & CommitteesMediumquizQuiz

Centre Approves 111 Road Projects for Border Villages Under Vibrant Villages Programme

•The Centre approved 111 road projects for all-weather connectivity to previously unconnected villages along the northern (India-China) border.
•The projects aim to connect 134 border villages and are part of the Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP).
•The VVP is implemented by the Ministry of Home Affairs for the comprehensive development of border villages.

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Science & TechMediumquizQuiz

India Mobile Congress 2026 Theme Unveiled; First Telecom Manufacturing Zone Announced in Gwalior

•Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia unveiled 'Scale Without Boundaries' as the theme for the 10th edition of the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2026.
•IMC 2026 will be held from 7-10 October 2026 at the Yashobhoomi Convention Centre, New Delhi.
•Scindia announced India's first Telecom Manufacturing Zone, to be set up in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh.

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ObituariesMediumquizQuiz

Brigadier B.K. Ponwar, Architect of India's Modern Jungle Warfare Training, Dies at 77

•Brigadier Basant Kumar Ponwar (Retd), a 1971 war veteran and pioneer of India's modern jungle-warfare training, died on 29 July 2026 at the age of 77.
•He founded the Counter Terrorism and Jungle Warfare College (CTJWC) at Kanker in North Bastar, Chhattisgarh, in 2005.
•He directed the college for about 18 years and trained over 37,000 personnel from state police and central paramilitary forces.

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SportsHighquizQuiz

CWG 2026: Dilip Gavit Wins Para Gold in Historic 1-2 Finish; Sreeshankar Takes Long Jump Silver

•On Day 6 of the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, Dilip Gavit won gold in the men's 100m T47 with a new Games record of 10.71 seconds.
•India sealed a historic 1-2 finish in the event, with Mohammed Basil Morssinganakath winning silver.
•Long jumper Murali Sreeshankar added another silver, his second straight Commonwealth Games long jump silver.

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DefenceMediumquizQuiz

Indian Navy Launches 'Machilipatnam', Seventh Mahe-Class Anti-Submarine Warfare Craft

•The Indian Navy launched 'Machilipatnam', the seventh of eight Mahe-class Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC), on 29 July 2026.
•The vessel was built by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) and has over 80% indigenous content.
•It is designed for underwater surveillance, anti-submarine warfare and mine-laying operations in coastal waters.

DefenceSSCUPSC

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EnvironmentHighquizQuiz

Supreme Court Bars Ex-Post Facto Environmental Clearances Through Executive Orders

•The Supreme Court on 29 July 2026 quashed the Centre's 2021 Office Memorandum that allowed ex-post facto (retrospective) environmental clearances.
•It held that such clearances cannot be granted through an executive Office Memorandum.
•The Court allowed that the government may permit them in exceptional cases and public interest, but only through a statutory notification under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

UPSCSSC

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Polity & GovernanceHighquizQuiz

Rajya Sabha Passes Bill Making Insult to Vande Mataram a Criminal Offence

•The Rajya Sabha on 29 July 2026 passed the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
•The Bill makes insult to Vande Mataram, the national song, a criminal offence, placing it on the same statutory footing as the national anthem.
•It proposes punishment of up to three years' imprisonment for desecration of or disrespect towards national symbols.

UPSCSSC

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Polity & GovernanceMediumquizQuiz

Lok Sabha Extends Tenure of Joint Committee on 'One Nation, One Election' Bills

•The Lok Sabha on 29 July 2026 extended the tenure of the Joint Committee of Parliament examining the 'One Nation, One Election' legislation.
•The panel may now submit its report by the first day of the last week of the upcoming Winter Session.
•The 41-member committee is chaired by P.P. Chaudhary and is examining the Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, 2024.

UPSCSSC

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Polity & GovernanceMediumquizQuiz

Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2026 Introduced in Lok Sabha

•The Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2026 was introduced in the Lok Sabha on 29 July 2026 by Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai.
•It amends Section 13(3) of the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969 (last amended in 2023) to make delayed registration more stringent.
•Delayed registration made between one and two years will need approval of an Executive/Sub-Divisional/District Magistrate.

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Science & TechMediumquizQuiz

Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS) Completes 150 Years

•The Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS), Kolkata, completed 150 years, having been founded on 29 July 1876.
•It was established by physician and educationist Dr. Mahendra Lal Sircar as the first research institute in Asia set up by Indians for the cultivation of modern science.
•Sir C.V. Raman carried out his work on the Raman Effect at IACS, which won India its first science Nobel Prize in 1930.

UPSCSSC

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Ranks & ReportsMediumquizQuiz

India Becomes World's Second-Largest Supplier of Seafarers: BIMCO-ICS Report 2026

•India has become the world's second-largest supplier of seafarers, according to the BIMCO-ICS Seafarer Workforce Report 2026.
•India now supplies 311,936 seafarers, making up 12.16% of the global maritime workforce.
•India ranks behind only the Philippines and ahead of China; its share was just 5.2% in 2015 (5th place).

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InternationalMediumquizQuiz

Russia Charges Telegram Founder Pavel Durov with Aiding Terrorism

•Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) charged Telegram co-founder Pavel Durov with aiding terrorism and placed him on the international wanted list.
•The FSB accused Telegram of failing to remove channels, chats and bots allegedly used by Ukrainian intelligence and extremist groups.
•If convicted in Russia, Durov, 41, could face up to life imprisonment.

UPSCSSC

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Important DaysHighquizQuiz

International Tiger Day 2026 Observed; India Hosts Over 70% of Wild Tigers

•International (Global) Tiger Day is observed every year on 29 July to raise awareness about tiger conservation and habitat protection.
•India is home to more than 70% of the world's wild tigers, with a population of 3,682 as per the latest All India Tiger Estimation (2022).
•India now has 58 notified tiger reserves managed under Project Tiger and the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).

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