Current Affairs - July 12, 2026 Current Affairs

Australia announced the return of three stolen 11th and 12th-century antiquities to India, marking an important step in preserving India's cultural heritage. The artefacts include a ceremonial Bronze Trident of Goddess Bhadrakali, a Granite Nandi idol, and a Basalt sculpture of the six-headed Karthikeya (Shanmukha). These objects originated from historic temples built during the reign of Rajendra Chola I under the Chola dynasty and had been illegally trafficked before being housed in the National Gallery of Australia. Their repatriation reflects international cooperation in combating the illegal trade of cultural property and protecting historical artefacts.

Uttarakhand became India's sixth fully literate state on 8 July 2026 after fulfilling the literacy benchmarks under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the ULLAS (Understanding of Lifelong Learning for All in Society) – New India Literacy Programme. The centrally sponsored scheme focuses on improving adult literacy, digital literacy, financial literacy, and critical life skills among non-literate citizens aged 15 years and above. Implemented through volunteer participation and the ULLAS Mobile App, the programme aims to promote lifelong learning and inclusive education. Uttarakhand joined Mizoram, Goa, Tripura, Himachal Pradesh, and Sikkim in achieving this milestone.

The foundation stone for the ICMR Centre for High Altitude Medicine and Public Health Research was laid in Keylong, Himachal Pradesh, by Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda. The project will upgrade the existing ICMR field station into a multidisciplinary research hub focused on high-altitude physiology, acclimatisation, maternal and child health, disaster medicine, and tribal health. The centre will also integrate telemedicine, digital health platforms, and drone-enabled healthcare logistics to improve medical services in remote Himalayan regions. It will work in collaboration with the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS), DRDO, and the Himachal Pradesh Government to advance high-altitude public health research.

The World Bank Group approved a USD 890 million financing package on 10 July 2026 to accelerate India's national residential solar rooftop programme under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana. The package includes a USD 820 million IBRD loan, a USD 60 million concessional loan from the Clean Technology Fund, and a USD 10 million grant from the IBRD’s Livable Planet Fund. The initiative is expected to mobilise USD 4.2 billion in private investment, support solar installations for 10 million households, create around 1.7 million jobs, and contribute to India's goals of achieving 60% non-fossil-fuel-based electricity capacity by 2035 and Net Zero emissions by 2070.

Nagpur, Maharashtra, is hosting the 3rd BRICS Transport Ministers’ Meeting on July 11–12, 2026, under India’s BRICS Chairship. Chaired by Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, the meeting follows the Transport Working Group session and focuses on the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability (BRICS).” Key discussions include the adoption of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), transport decarbonisation, AI-based technologies, resilient logistics and supply chains, urban mobility, circular economy practices, and the development of multi-modal infrastructure. The meeting marks the third edition of the BRICS Transport Ministers’ forum after previous sessions hosted by Russia and Brazil.

New Delhi secured the 120th position in the Global Liveability Index 2026 published by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), which assessed 173 cities worldwide. The rankings were based on five key parameters: stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure. Copenhagen was ranked as the world's most liveable city, followed by Vienna and Melbourne. Among Indian cities, Mumbai ranked 121st, Chennai 123rd, and Bengaluru 127th. The index provides a comprehensive assessment of urban living conditions and helps compare the quality of life across cities around the world.

Andhra Pradesh launched the ‘Mee Bhoomi-Mee Hakku’ programme under the leadership of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu to improve land record management and ownership transparency. The initiative aims to distribute 29.04 lakh new Pattadar Passbooks across 6,887 villages by the end of July 2026. It also includes the removal of 2,074 acres of land from the prohibited list under Section 22-A, benefiting hundreds of farmers. Additionally, 101 acres were removed from the ‘dotted lands’ category to resolve ownership issues, making the programme a significant step toward efficient land administration and farmer welfare.