Current Affairs - July 7, 2026 Current Affairs

Rajasthan is home to India's first greenfield integrated refinery-cum-petrochemical complex, the Pachpadra Refinery, developed as a joint venture between Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) and the Rajasthan government in Balotra. Built at a cost of over ₹79,450 crore, the refinery has a capacity of 9 MMTPA for refining and 2.4 MMTPA for petrochemicals. The project is a major milestone in India's energy and petrochemical sector and is expected to strengthen industrial development, employment generation, and economic growth in the region.

Gujarat is constructing its first air-filled rubber dams using advanced technology from South Korea to modernise water resource management. The two projects are being developed on the Heran River in Chhota Udepur district and the Ambika River in Tapi district. These innovative dams are designed to improve irrigation, enhance groundwater recharge, store water efficiently, and help in flood management. Equipped with automated SCADA systems, the projects are expected to provide reliable irrigation to thousands of hectares of agricultural land while ensuring sustainable and efficient use of water resources.

Sanjeev Jain, a 2008-batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer, has been appointed as India's new Ambassador to North Korea by the Ministry of External Affairs. Before this appointment, he served as India's Ambassador to the Republic of Cabo Verde, an island nation off the western coast of Africa. With extensive diplomatic experience, he has contributed to strengthening India's bilateral relations with several countries. He is expected to assume his new responsibilities after completing the required diplomatic formalities, further enhancing India's diplomatic engagement with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

Haryana became the first state to have Sirsa Kinnow recognised as its first fruit with a Geographical Indication (GI) tag. The GI registration was granted by the Geographical Indications Registry in Chennai, recognising the unique quality and characteristics of kinnow grown in the Sirsa district. The region's favourable climatic and geographical conditions produce kinnow with a sweet taste, high juice content, large size, and attractive colour. The GI tag provides legal protection against imitation, enhances market value, promotes exports, and improves income opportunities for farmers while strengthening Haryana's horticultural brand identity.

West Bengal approved the implementation strategy for the Pradhan Mantri Cha Shramik Protsahan Yojana (PMCSPY) with a special assistance package of ₹313.3 crore to improve the lives of tea garden workers and their families. The scheme focuses on enhancing education, healthcare, and worker welfare infrastructure in the tea-growing regions of North Bengal. It is expected to benefit more than three lakh tea plantation workers. The funds have been allocated for educational improvements, strengthening healthcare facilities, and constructing worker rest sheds, ensuring comprehensive social and economic development in the tea garden communities.

Keiko Fujimori was officially declared the winner of Peru's presidential runoff election by the country's electoral authority after defeating Roberto Sanchez, the leftist candidate and former Foreign Trade and Tourism Minister. She secured the presidency, with the official swearing-in ceremony scheduled for July 28, 2026. Peru is a country located in western South America, with Lima as its capital and the Sol as its national currency. It is also renowned for Machu Picchu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

Indonesia conferred its highest civilian honour, Bintang Adipurna, on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in recognition of his contribution to strengthening bilateral relations and promoting international cooperation between the two countries. The honour was presented by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto during the Prime Minister's official visit to Jakarta. The award reflects the deep and growing Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between India and Indonesia, covering areas such as trade, investment, digital cooperation, maritime security, critical minerals, and cultural ties. It also symbolises the strong friendship and mutual respect shared by the two nations.

Parashurampuri is the new name approved for Jalalabad town in Uttar Pradesh by the state Cabinet led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The renaming was carried out after the Central Government raised no objections to the proposal. The decision was taken in response to the demand of local residents and aims to recognise the town's historical, religious, and cultural significance. The government considers the town to be associated with Lord Parashuram, who is regarded as the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu, and the new name reflects this traditional identity.

Punjab opened the online application process for the Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme for Scheduled Caste (SC) students for the 2026–27 academic session. The scheme is managed by the Punjab Department of Social Justice, Empowerment and Minorities and aims to provide financial assistance for higher education to students from economically weaker SC families. Applications are processed through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) to ensure transparency and direct benefit transfer. The initiative also includes awareness camps and inter-departmental coordination to improve access to educational opportunities and encourage local career development.

Guwahati, Assam, hosted the high-level BRICS Heads of Anti-Drug Agencies meeting, organised by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) under the Ministry of Home Affairs. The meeting focused on strengthening cooperation among BRICS nations to combat transnational drug trafficking, synthetic drugs, precursor diversion, and emerging New Psychoactive Substances (NPS). Discussions also emphasised intelligence sharing, operational coordination, and the use of digital technologies to tackle darknet and cryptocurrency-based drug trafficking. The meeting aligned with India's Vision Document on Narcotics Control (2026–2029) and concluded with the adoption of a Joint Declaration to enhance collective action.