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We are here for you to provide the important Recent and Latest Current Affairs July 9 2026, which have unique updates of Latest Current Affairs 2026 events from all newspapers such as The Hindu, The Economic Times, PIB, Times of India, PTI, Indian Express, Business Standard and all Government official websites.

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NATIONAL AFFAIRS

GoI Approves expansion of PM-SETU Across 200 ITI Clusters Worth Rs 1,237.58 Crore
In July 2026, the Government of India (GoI) approved the nationwide expansion of PM-SETU (Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs (Industrial Training Institute)) across all 200 identified ITI clusters.

• The Centre has approved strategic investment plans worth Rs 1,237.58 Cr under the programme.

Expansion of ITI Clusters
Committee: The 4th National Steering Committee (NSC), held under the chairpersonship of Debashree Mukherjee, Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) approved this expansion.
Members: The meeting was also attended by Dilip Kumar, DG-DGT (Director General – Directorate General of Training), and Manasi Sahay Thakur, JS (Joint Secretary), along with senior representatives from state governments.
ITI Clusters: The committee approved five ITI clusters across Odisha, Gujarat, and Telangana, with private sector firms selected as anchor industry partners to implement the projects.

MoE Releases the Report on UDISE+ 2025-26 on School Education in India
On July 7 2026, the Ministry of Education (MoE) released the ‘Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) 2025-26’ report, providing comprehensive data on school education, including enrolment, teachers, infrastructure, retention, transition and gender parity.

• According to the report, the number of teachers rose by 8.3% to 1,02,73,020 in 2025–26, from 94,83,294 in 2022–23.

Highlights of UDISE+ 2025-26 Report:
 PTR: Reported Pupil-Teacher Ratio (PTRs) are Foundational 10, Preparatory 12, Middle 17, and Secondary 21, better than the National Education Policy’s recommended 30:1, enabling individualized learning.
Dropout Rates: Dropout rates declined across levels: Preparatory 1.8% (from 2.3%), Middle 3.6% (from 3.5%), Secondary 7.0% (from 8.2%), reflecting improved student retention.
GER: Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) at Secondary increased to 71.7% (from 68.5% in 2024-25), indicating greater access and student participation at higher levels.

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan Launches PRAGATI Initiative to Support 20 Lakh Farmers 
In July 2026, Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare (MoA&FW) & Rural Development (MoRD) Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched the PRAGATI (Promoting Regenerative Agriculture Through Agri-Entrepreneurship Initiative) programme in New Delhi, Delhi.

• The initiative aims to empower 20,000 agri-entrepreneurs and directly support 20 lakh smallholder farmers across India by promoting sustainable and climate-resilient agriculture.

Highlights of the PRAGATI Initiative:  
Objective:  PRAGATI aims to strengthen rural livelihoods through regenerative agriculture, technology-driven farming and improved market access.
Implementation:  The programme will be implemented in Madhya Pradesh (MP), Bihar, Uttar Pradesh (UP), Assam, West Bengal (WB), Jharkhand, Maharashtra (MH), and Rajasthan, building on the existing network of 26,000+ agri-entrepreneurs supporting 26 lakh farmers.

• Agri-entrepreneurs will provide soil testing, mechanisation, advisory services, financial linkages and market access at the village level.

Targets:   PRAGATI aims to increase farmers’ income by at least 30%, improve yields of major crops by 15–20%, promote regenerative agriculture among 20% of participating farmers and enable financial inclusion for 50% of associated farmers.

MoEFCC Notifies Mizoram’s Natural History Museum as India’s 21st Designated Repository
In July 2026, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Government of India (GoI) notified the Natural History Museum (NHM), Mizoram University, Aizawl,Mizoram as India’s 21st Designated Repository (DR) under Section 39 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, following the recommendation of National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) and after due examination of the proposal.
About Mizoram’s Natural History Museum:
Establishment: NHM was established in 2022 under Mizoram University Act (No. 8 of 2000) and is strategically located in the Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspot and recognised for its specialised taxonomic expertise.
Collections and Expertise: NHM has preserved over 500 specimens, including herbarium sheets and wet collections. It specialises in pteridophytes, macrofungi, fishes, moths, beetles and butterflies through a multidisciplinary team covering seven taxonomic groups
Conservation and Collaboration: The repository will document endemic species and collaborate with the Mizoram State Biodiversity Board, regional institutions, the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) and the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI).

• It supports Target 4 of India’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) 2024–2030 on ex situ conservation and genetic diversity, in line with the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

Union Minister Jual Oram launched ‘TribeX‘, Digital Learning Platform dedicated for Tribal Arts
In July 2026, Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Jual Oram, Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) launched “TribeX” a first-of-its-kind digital learning platform dedicated to tribal arts, culture, traditional knowledge and skill development, during the National Workshop on Strengthening Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs) held  in Bhubaneshwar, Odisha.

• TribeX will offer structured learning opportunities through free certificate courses and University Grants Commission (UGC)-recognized Post Graduate (PG) diploma programmes in tribal languages, art forms, crafts and traditional knowledge, enabling the learners to directly connect with tribal knowledge holders and master artisans.

About TribeX:
Digital Repository: It will serve as a digital repository to document, preserve and promote tribal languages, oral traditions, performing arts, cultural practices and indigenous knowledge systems for future generations.
Free Certificate Courses: At present, the new digital platform hosts 20 free certificate courses across a wide range of tribal art forms which include paintings, handicrafts, handloom, artefacts and traditional musical instruments. The Government of India (GoI) further plans to expand to over 100 certificate courses.
MoU for PG Diploma Course: In addition, the MoTA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Sampurnanand Sanskrit University (Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, UP) to jointly develop UGC-recognised PG diploma courses.

• As per the Mou, the platform will offer 05 UGC-recognized hybrid diploma programmes for  a period of one year namely, Santali (Ol Chiki) (tribal language); sustainable tribal culture based livelihood practices, museology and tribal museum management; tribal Arts and crafts of India and tribal textiles.

Bisleri International Partners with ICG for Cleaner Coastlines and a Sustainable Future 
In July 2026, Bisleri International Private Limited, one of India’s largest premium beverage businesses, signed a Letter of Association (LoA) with the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) (Kerala and Mahe) through its flagship initiative Bottles for Change (BFC), to promote plastic waste management and support environmental sustainability across coastal regions.

• The collaboration expands the reach of Bottles for Change (BFC) to coastal and marine ecosystems, reinforcing Bisleri International’s commitment to environmental sustainability.

Key Details of Agreement:
Signatories: The agreement, aligned with the ICG mission of ‘Plastic Free Oceans’, was formally signed by Dr. Angelo George, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Bisleri International; and Ashish Mehrotra, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of ICG.
Plastic Waste Management: Under the collaboration, Bisleri’s led BFC and ICG will jointly work to bolster plastic waste management systems by promoting responsible collection, segregation, and recycling of post-consumer plastic.
Key Objectives: In addition, the collaboration seeks to raise awareness, encourage behavioural change, and foster sustainable practices to prevent plastic waste from entering the marine ecosystems.
About Bisleri International:Established in 1969, Bisleri International is headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra, and is best known for its Bisleri bottled water brand.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

UNCTAD’s World Investment Report 2026: India Ranks 11th in Global FDI Inflows with USD 38.89 Billion in 2025
In July 2026, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) released its latest report titled “2026 World Investment Report: International Investment in a Turbulent Era”. As per the report, India emerged as the world’s 11th largest recipient of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), moving up two places compared to 2024, with total inflows surging by approximately 44% to USD 38.89 billion in 2025.

• The United States of America (USA) continued to be the world’s largest FDI destination with inflows of USD 277 billion, followed by Singapore (USD 151 billion), Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China (USD 116 billion) ranked at 2nd and 3rd positions, respectively.
•  As per UNCTAD’s report, India moved up 2 places to 18th among the world’s top home economies for FDI as its overall FDI outflow increased 47% i.e. from USD 24.26 billion (in 2024) to USD 35.66 billion (in 2025).

Key Findings:
Global FDI Inflow: The report revealed that global FDI increased 6% to USD 1.6 trillion in 2025, after witnessing two consecutive years of decline.
World’s Top 5 Source Economies: The USA also emerged as the world’s largest source of FDI with its total outflow of USD 263 billion in 2025.

• It is followed by Japan (2nd), China (3rd), Luxembourg (4th) and Hong Kong, SAR of China (5th).

Sectors: The report noted that worldwide investment is becoming more concentrated in strategic sectors such as: semiconductors, digital infrastructure, Artificial Intelligence (AI), advanced manufacturing and energy transition technologies, accounting for 44% of global greenfield investment project value in 2025 (over 16% registered in 2024).

Union Minister Kirti Vardhan Singh Leads Indian Delegation to UN Global Dialogue on AI Governance in Geneva, Switzerland 
Union Minister of State (MoS) Kirti Vardhan Singh, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), led the Indian delegation at the inaugural United Nations (UN) Global Dialogue on Artificial Intelligence (AI) Governance, held in Geneva, Switzerland, from July 6-7, 2026.

• India reaffirmed its ‘AI for All’ vision, promoting responsible, inclusive and human-centric AI through oversight, human-rights protection and safeguards against misuse.

About UN Global Dialogue on AI Governance 2026: 
Overview: It is a universal, multi-stakeholder forum established under United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution 79/325 following the Global Digital Compact adopted under the Pact of the Future in September 2024.
Purpose: To promote consensus-based, human-centric AI governance, strengthen AI capacity in developing countries, and ensure inclusive and sustainable technological development.
2026 Leadership: The Dialogue was co-chaired by Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda and Marc Benioff, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Salesforce, with Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), serving as Vice-Chair
Outcome: The inaugural session received the first annual report of the IISPA on AI capabilities, opportunities, and risks.

BANKING & FINANCE

GIFT City & Vietnam’s Da Nang Financial Hub Signed MoU to Enhance Cross-Border Investment
In July 2026, Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City), India’s International Financial Services Centre (IFSC), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Vietnam International Financial Center–Da Nang (VIFC-DN), in New Delhi, Delhi.

• The MoU aims to support the development of Vietnam’s international financial centre, promote cross-border investments, and strengthen financial and business linkages between India and Vietnam.

Key Details of MoU:
Focus: The partnership covers financial services, financial technology (fintech), digital innovation, capacity building, financial sector development, and the exchange of institutional knowledge and best practices.
Collaboration: Both institutions will undertake joint research and publications, professional exchanges, conferences, seminars, outreach initiatives, and regular institutional engagement in areas of mutual interest.
Other MoUs: GIFT City also signed MoUs with Tata Communications Limited to promote Global Capability Centres (GCCs) and technology businesses, and with CEPT University(Gujarat) for research, knowledge exchange and capacity building.

ECONOMY & BUSINESS

AEL’s KCL Secured LME Certification for “Adani Copper”
In July 2026, Kutch Copper Limited (KCL), a subsidiary of Adani Enterprises Limited (AEL), secured London Metal Exchange (LME) certification for its  “Adani Copper” Grade A cathodes.

• The approval will enable Adani Copper cathodes to be delivered with warrants eligible for issuance against LME Copper futures contracts from July 10, 2026.

Key Details:
Global Significance: The LME listing of Adani Copper places the brand among the world’s leading copper brands, conferring global recognition and market credibility on the Group’s entry into the metals sector.
LME Cathodes as Collateral: Also, LME-listed cathodes can be stored on warrant in approved warehouses and used as collateral, thereby enhancing the financing flexibility and global tradability.
Certification Process: It involves superior quality assurances which cover chemical composition, shape and weight, alongside strict responsible sourcing protocol.
About London Metal Exchange (LME): The LME is the world’s largest exchange for trading industrial metals, including copper, aluminium, zinc, lead, nickel, and tin, and it provides global benchmark prices while facilitating the trading, hedging, and physical delivery of non-ferrous metals; it is headquartered in London, United Kingdom(UK), and was established in 1877.

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

Sirsa Kinnow Gets GI Recognition as Haryana’s First Exclusive GI Product
In July 2026, the Geographical Indication Registry (GIR) under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoC&I), granted Geographical Indication (GI) tag to Haryana’s Sirsa Kinnow, becoming the state’s 1st fruit to receive such recognition.
Key Details:
Certification Granted to: Kharisureran Farmer Producer Company Limited in Sirsa district, Haryana, received  the GI tag for Sirsa Kinnow.
Sirsa Kinnow Emblem:  In addition to the GI tag, Sirsa Kinnow has secured its own logo featuring an orange kinnow with a green leaf inside a circular “Sirsa Kinnow” emblem.
Sirsa Kinnow: Kinnow is not a native fruit to Haryana, or even to India. Its origin traces back to the early 20th Century in California, the United States of America (USA), where it was developed by renowned Horticulturist Howard B. Frost.

• It is a hybrid citrus fruit developed by crossing the King Mandarin(Citrus nobilis) and the Willow Leaf Mandarin (Citrus x deliciosa).
• It has a unique sweet and sour taste, and is rich in Vitamin C and minerals like: Calcium (Ca) and Potassium (K).

Total GI Products: At present, the total number of GI-tagged products in India stands at 822, of which, 125 were alone registered between April 2025 to March 2026.

Eastern Indian Dominance: Out of 125 GIs registered over the last one year, 26 were from Madhya Pradesh (MP), followed by West Bengal (WB) (24); and Jharkhand (11).

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

RBI Appoints Muralidhar Pai as MD & CEO of South Indian Bank
In July 2026, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved the appointment of Mahesh Muralidhar Pai as the Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of South Indian Bank (SIB) for a 3-year term beginning on 1 October 2026.

• He succeeds P.R. Seshadri, who will step down as MD & CEO of SIB and remain in office until September 30, 2026.

About Muralidhar Pai:
Profile: Pai is recognized for his strategic leadership and execution capabilities, with nearly three decades of experience across governance, strategy, treasury, foreign exchange, retail banking, agriculture, and MSME (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises) credit.
Previous Role: He currently serves as Chief General Manager (CGM) at Canara Bank (public-sector bank, PBS), Served as Director on the Boards of Karnataka State Financial Corporation (KSFC) and Canara Bank Securities Limited (CBSL).
Other Appointments: RBI approved the re-appointment of Nurani Subramanian (N. S.) Vishwanathan as Non-Executive (Part-time) Chairman of Axis Bank Limited for three years, effective from October 27, 2026, to October 26, 2029.

InsuranceDekho Appoints Sourav Ganguly as Brand Ambassador; Launches ‘Khul Kar Khelo‘ Campaign   
In July 2026, InsuranceDekho, an Insurtech platform, appointed former India cricket captain Sourav Ganguly as its brand ambassador and launched the ‘Khul Kar Khelo’ campaign to empower insurance advisors across India.
About ‘Khul Kar Khelo’ Campaign:
Theme: The campaign reflects Sourav Ganguly’s image as a fearless captain who supported his team and developed a generation of successful players.
Aim: The campaign aims to help insurance advisors grow their businesses, increase earnings and expand their reach. It also seeks to strengthen their role as micro-entrepreneurs and enhance financial protection for families across India.

• The campaign will be promoted through television, digital and broadcast platforms.

About Sourav Ganguly: He was India’s 39th Test captain and led the team to the 2003 ICC Cricket World Cup final. He also served as President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) from 2019 to 2022.
About InsuranceDekho: Founded in 2016, InsuranceDekho is headquartered in Gurugram, Haryana, and operates under the legal name Girnar Insurance Brokers Private Limited.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

ISRO Successfully Conducts Flight Acceptance Hot Test of CE20 Cryogenic Engine for LVM3-M7 Mission
On July 6 2026, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully conducted the flight acceptance hot test of the CE20 cryogenic engine for the seventh operational mission of the Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3-M7) at the Main Engine & stage Test facility (MET) in ISRO Propulsion Complex (IPRC), Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu (TN).

• During the test, the engine operated at 19.5 tonnes (t) of thrust for 45 seconds and 22 t for 25 seconds, verifying its performance for the LVM3-M7 mission.

Highlight of the Test:
Nozzle Protection System (NPS): The CE20 cryogenic engine was tested with the NPS) for the first time, and the test confirmed the satisfactory performance of both the engine systems and the NPS.

• The NPS simplifies high-altitude engine testing, requires fewer resources and enables longer test duration.

Integration: The engine will be refurbished and integrated with the C32 cryogenic stage for the LVM3-M7 vehicle.
About CE20 Engine:  The indigenously developed CE20 cryogenic engine powers the upper stage of LVM3 and operates at 19–22 tonnes of thrust. It has successfully powered 8 consecutive LVM3 missions, including Chandrayaan-2, Chandrayaan-3, and three commercial missions, and is qualified for the Gaganyaan mission.

OBITUARY

Former Afghanistan Fast Bowler Shapoor Zadran Passed Away at 38
On July 7 2026, Shapoor Zadran, former Afghanistan fast bowler and one of the pioneers of Afghanistan’s rise in international cricket, passed away at the age of 38 in New Delhi, Delhi.

• He was born on 8 July 1987 in Paktia Province, Afghanistan.

About Shapoor Zadran:  
Profile: Known for his left-arm pace, Shapoor Zadran played a key role in Afghanistan’s early cricketing journey and represented the country in One Day Internationals (ODIs) and Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is).
Career:  He represented Afghanistan in 44 ODIs and 36 T20Is between 2009 and 2020, claiming 80 international wickets.
Major Achievements:  He registered career-best figures of 4/24 on his ODI debut against the Netherlands in 2009.

• He took 10 wickets at the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup and scored the winning runs against Scotland to secure Afghanistan’s first World Cup victory.

Contribution: He played an important role in Afghanistan’s rise as a regular participant in the ICC Cricket World Cup and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

STATE NEWS

UP Cabinet Approves Renaming of Jalalabad Town as Parashurampuri 
On 6 July 2026, the Uttar Pradesh (UP) Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister (CM) Yogi Adityanath, approved the proposal to rename Jalalabad town in Shahjahanpur district, UP, as Parashurampuri.

• The town’s municipal body will also be renamed Parashurampuri Nagar Palika Parishad.

Renaming of Jalalabad Town:
Reason: The renaming highlights the town’s historical and religious significance as it is believed to be the birthplace of Lord Parashuram.

• The previous name Jalalabad was linked to Jalal-ud-din Muhammad Akbar during the Mughal period.

 Process: The proposal was supported by the Nagar Palika Parishad through resolutions passed in 2018 and 2023. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued a No Objection Certificate (NOC) on 19 August 2025 after receiving the State government’s proposal.
Implementation:  The new name will take effect after the completion of the required administrative and legal formalities.
Other Approvals: The UP Cabinet also approved 28 proposals, including the establishment of the Startup Mission Directorate, the UP Startup Policy, and the Data Centre Policy to promote innovation and digital infrastructure.

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