Current Affairs - National

"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.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting mandated that all operational private FM radio channels in India must broadcast at least 20% of their daily content in the local language of the city they serve. The initiative aims to promote regional languages, preserve local culture, traditions, and folk music, and strengthen community engagement. Announced on July 24, 2026, the policy applies to 386 operational private FM channels. It is part of the Phase-III FM expansion policy, which also encourages broadcasting in aspirational districts and Left Wing Extremism (LWE)-affected areas while supporting faster infrastructure rollout through the use of Prasar Bharati towers.

Norway partnered with the Government of Arunachal Pradesh to establish India's first 500-kW River Kinetic Energy Demonstration Project under the India–Norway Green Partnership. The Memorandum of Understanding was signed on July 14, 2026, between the Centre for Earth Sciences & Himalayan Studies (CES&HS) and Norway's Tidal Sail AS. The project is supported by India's Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) and Innovation Norway. It aims to harness the kinetic energy of Himalayan rivers to generate clean electricity, strengthen renewable energy research, and promote sustainable infrastructure through international collaboration.

Amul is establishing the world's largest curd manufacturing plant at the Howrah Food Park in West Bengal under the Amul Bengal Dairy Project. The project involves an investment of ₹700 crore and will have a final milk processing capacity of 30 lakh litres per day, along with a daily curd and cultured dairy production capacity of 10 lakh kilograms. The initiative is expected to directly benefit around 1.20 lakh dairy farmers and promote the White Revolution 2.0. It also includes modern infrastructure, cooperative development initiatives, and advanced livestock breeding facilities to strengthen the dairy sector in the state.

Alliance Air launched the first direct flight connecting NAMO Airport in Daman with Delhi, significantly reducing travel time from 8–10 hours by road to about 2.5 hours by air. As a government-owned regional airline operating under the UDAN scheme, Alliance Air plays a key role in improving regional connectivity across India. The new route benefits the industrial corridor extending from Palghar in Maharashtra to Valsad in Gujarat. The initiative also supports the government's objective of expanding regional aviation infrastructure by developing new airports and improving air connectivity to underserved regions.