Current Affairs - August 2, 2026 Current Affairs

Rajasthan became the first state in India to issue an exploration licence for a Rare Earth Elements (REE) block on July 30, 2026. The licence was awarded to the Central Mine Planning and Design Institute Ltd (CMPDI) for a 207.6 sq km area in the Nawatala-Devigarh region covering Balotra and Jodhpur districts. Geological surveys identified valuable rare earth elements such as lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, and neodymium. These strategic minerals are crucial for electric vehicles, semiconductors, aerospace, and telecommunications, supporting India's goal of reducing dependence on imported critical minerals through domestic exploration.

India has set a target of connecting 100 crore people to 5G services by 2030, as announced by Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia during the theme launch of India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2026. The country has already connected 50 crore users within 2.5 years through nearly 5 lakh telecom towers, supported by an investment of around ₹4.5 lakh crore. India also launched its first Telecom Manufacturing Zone (TMZ) to strengthen domestic telecom production. With 1.33 billion mobile subscribers and affordable data prices of about ₹8 per GB, the initiative supports India's digital transformation and expansion of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI).

The Ladakh Administration declared 23 heritage sites as Protected Monuments to preserve the region's rich cultural and historical legacy. The notification was issued under the provisions of the J&K Ancient Monuments Preservation Act, Samvat 1977. The protected sites, located across Leh and Kargil, include ancient forts, caves, monasteries, and petroglyphs of archaeological significance. The initiative is intended to safeguard these monuments from encroachment, unauthorised alterations, and deterioration while encouraging sustainable cultural tourism and promoting awareness about Ladakh's unique heritage for future generations.

"Scale without boundaries" is the official theme of the 10th India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2026, unveiled by Union Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia on July 31, 2026. The event will be held from October 7 to 10, 2026, at Yashobhoomi in New Delhi and is organised by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) along with the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI). The congress is built around four strategic pillars—Srishti, Suraksha, Sashakt, and Samvardhan—and will showcase advancements in 5G, 6G, Artificial Intelligence, Quantum technologies, satellite communications, and startup innovation through the ASPIRE initiative.

Nipun, the Indian Navy's second indigenous Diving Support Vessel, was built by Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) in Visakhapatnam. Constructed with nearly 75% indigenous content, the vessel supports the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative by promoting self-reliance in defence manufacturing. It serves as a mothership for Deep Submergence Rescue Vessels during underwater rescue missions and is equipped with advanced saturation diving systems and Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) for deep-sea salvage and underwater operations. The induction of Nipun significantly strengthens the Indian Navy's underwater rescue and maritime support capabilities.

Maharashtra banned the sale, distribution, and advertisement of HFSS (High in Fat, Trans-fat, Sugar, and Salt) foods within school campuses and a 50-metre radius around them. The restriction covers government and private schools, benefiting nearly 2 crore students aged 22 months to 17 years. School canteens must obtain FDA food safety licenses and comply with the Food Safety and Standards Regulations, 2021. The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA), headquartered in Mumbai, will monitor compliance through inspections conducted at least twice a year under the legal framework of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

Ngulkham Jathom Gangte, a 1994-batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer, was appointed as India's next Ambassador to Mexico on July 30, 2026. Before this appointment, he served as Special Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). He previously served as India's Ambassador to Tunisia with concurrent accreditation to Libya and as the High Commissioner to Zambia from 2017 to 2021. A graduate of Hansraj College with a background in Chemistry, Gangte brings extensive diplomatic experience to strengthen India–Mexico bilateral relations.