Current Affairs - Places

New Delhi hosted the All India Water Secretaries’ Conference organised by the Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation under the Ministry of Jal Shakti. Chaired by the Union Minister of Jal Shakti, Shri C. R. Patil, the conference focused on scientific water resource management, groundwater conservation, dam safety, and evidence-based policymaking. Key discussions included the nationwide #CatchTheRain 2026 campaign, progress of irrigation and water bodies censuses, reuse of treated water, groundwater conservation measures, and implementation of the State Water Reforms Framework across all States and Union Territories.

The 84,000 cubic metre Reinforced Cement Concrete (RCC) water reservoir was inaugurated at the IISCO Steel Plant in Burnpur by Union Minister for Steel and Heavy Industries H.D. Kumaraswamy. The reservoir is designed to meet the water requirements of COB-10 and the future 4.08 MTPA expansion project through a closed-loop water circulation system supported by a newly constructed Booster Pump House. The plant also achieved significant production milestones during FY 2025–26, increased capital expenditure, and introduced measures to enhance procurement transparency, digital technology adoption, and workforce safety.

The unveiling of the statue of renowned social reformer Mannathu Padmanabhan and the inauguration of the Mannam Smrithi Mandapam took place in New Delhi at the Mannam International Centre in Dwarka. The event was organised by the Nair Service Society (NSS), Delhi, and attended by Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan, along with other dignitaries. The memorial honours Padmanabhan's lifelong efforts toward social justice, equality, and reform. The ceremony also included a tree plantation drive under the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign, highlighting the importance of environmental conservation alongside commemorating his legacy.

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.

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.