Current Affairs - National

Mumbai Port celebrated its 154th Foundation Day by announcing 63 infrastructure projects worth ₹5,028.17 crore aimed at modernising port facilities and strengthening India's maritime sector. The event included the inauguration of new projects, foundation stone laying for major initiatives, and the signing of strategic agreements to improve port operations and waterfront development. Held under the theme "Together We Can," the celebrations emphasised promoting cruise tourism, enhancing coastal shipping, and improving logistics efficiency. These initiatives support the broader vision of developing world-class maritime infrastructure in line with the goals of Viksit Bharat 2047.

President Droupadi Murmu presented 65 Padma Awards during the second Civil Investiture Ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi, on June 23, 2026. The awards included 2 Padma Vibhushan, 7 Padma Bhushan, and 56 Padma Shri honours. For the year 2026, a total of 131 Padma Awards were announced. Instituted in 1954, the Padma Awards are among India's highest civilian honours and are announced annually on the eve of Republic Day. They recognise outstanding contributions in fields such as art, literature, science, social work, sports, public affairs, and education.

The Gujarat government announced a 20% reservation for former Agniveers in direct recruitment to Class-3 posts across the police, jail, and forest departments. Along with the reservation, former Agniveers will receive age relaxation of up to three years, while candidates from the first batch of the Agnipath Scheme will be eligible for up to five years of age relaxation. They are also exempt from the Physical Efficiency Test (PET) for these recruitments. The initiative aims to support former Agniveers in securing government employment by recognising their military training, discipline, and service experience after completing their four-year tenure under the Agnipath Scheme.

India secured the 70th position in the World Economic Forum's Energy Transition Index (ETI) 2026 with an overall score of 54.9. The country improved by two places compared to the previous year, reflecting progress in energy transition readiness and infrastructure development. India's score increased by 1.9%, supported by growth in low-carbon employment and expansion of renewable energy initiatives. Renewable energy jobs reached 1.3 million, with hydropower contributing the largest share of employment within the sector. The ETI evaluates 120 countries on energy security, equity, and sustainability, providing a comprehensive assessment of global energy transition performance.

France partnered with India to launch the India-France ATL Bridge, a pioneering initiative designed to connect school innovation ecosystems and encourage collaboration among young innovators from both countries. Announced during the India-France Year of Innovation 2026, the program promotes creativity, entrepreneurship, and technological learning through innovation labs inspired by India's Atal Tinkering Labs model. A significant outcome of the partnership is the establishment of the first School Innovation Lab in France based on the ATL framework. The initiative also supports student exchanges, joint innovation projects, and cross-cultural learning, strengthening bilateral cooperation in education, technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship between the two nations.