Current Affairs - Places

The Delhi government has made the Pink Saheli Smart Card mandatory for women to continue enjoying free travel on Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and DIMTS (Cluster) buses from 1 August 2026. The initiative replaces the existing paper-based pink ticket system with a digital smart card to improve transparency, reduce paper usage, simplify ticket verification, and prevent misuse of the scheme. Eligible women must apply for the card, carry it while travelling, and tap it on the card reader when boarding the bus. The government has also established multiple registration centres and launched awareness campaigns to ensure smooth implementation of the new digital system.

Geneva has been selected as the host city for the Global AI Summit, which will be held alongside the ITU AI for Good Global Summit. The event aims to bring together world leaders, policymakers, researchers, technology companies, and international organisations to discuss artificial intelligence governance, innovation, ethics, and responsible development. Geneva was chosen because of its long-standing role as a global diplomatic hub and its concentration of United Nations agencies, humanitarian organisations, research institutions, and international conferences. The summit is expected to strengthen global cooperation and promote the responsible use of AI technologies worldwide.

Kochi, Kerala, hosted the BRICS Women Ministerial Meeting on 8–9 July 2026 under India’s BRICS Chairship. The meeting focused on the theme "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability," reflecting the four pillars of India's chairship. Discussions covered women's leadership, entrepreneurship, financial inclusion, digital empowerment, climate action, food security, and nutrition. The programme also featured plenary sessions, thematic panel discussions, and exhibitions highlighting women-led initiatives in STEM, education, and rural development, reinforcing collaboration among BRICS member countries on gender-inclusive growth and sustainable development.

The foundation stone for the Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Smart Industrial Park was laid in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, by Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav. Spread across approximately 173 acres, the industrial park is designed to promote advanced manufacturing through modern IT and AI-based infrastructure. Developed under the ‘work-live-grow’ model, it will support sectors such as garments, toys, information technology, and artificial intelligence. The project is expected to generate more than 15,000 direct and indirect jobs and includes a large convention centre to host investor summits and industrial exhibitions, strengthening Bhopal's industrial ecosystem.

Parashurampuri is the new name approved for Jalalabad town in Uttar Pradesh by the state Cabinet led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The renaming was carried out after the Central Government raised no objections to the proposal. The decision was taken in response to the demand of local residents and aims to recognise the town's historical, religious, and cultural significance. The government considers the town to be associated with Lord Parashuram, who is regarded as the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu, and the new name reflects this traditional identity.