Current Affairs - Places

The 12th India-Malaysia Sub Committee Meeting on Military Cooperation (SCMC) was held in New Delhi on 1st July 2026. The meeting was co-chaired by Amitabh Prasad from India's Ministry of Defence and Major General Amer Mahmud Bin Abdul Rahman of the Malaysian Armed Forces. Discussions focused on cyber security, defence technology, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR), capacity building, and enhanced military training cooperation. The SCMC serves as the principal military-to-military consultative mechanism between India and Malaysia and plays a key role in strengthening bilateral defence cooperation and regional security collaboration under the ADMM-Plus framework.

Four advanced research and development facilities were inaugurated at the CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (CSIR-IICT) in Hyderabad by Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh on 30th June 2026. The initiatives included an Advanced R&D Facility for Fluorochemicals, a Sustainable Engineering Complex, a Continuous Processing Platform for industrial chemicals, and a Decentralised Effluent Treatment Plant. The foundation stone for a new hostel complex was also laid to support young researchers. These projects aim to strengthen indigenous technologies, promote sustainable industrial development, improve waste management, and transform scientific research into a driver of economic growth and innovation.

ISRO successfully conducted the eighth hot test of the Semi-Cryogenic Engine Power Head Test Article (PHTA) on June 24, 2026, at the ISRO Propulsion Complex (IPRC) in Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu. During the test, the engine achieved an 88% thrust level of 175 tonnes, exceeding the performance of earlier tests. The engine uses Liquid Oxygen (LOX) and Isrosene as cleaner and more efficient propellants. The test is an important milestone in the development of the indigenous SE2000 semi-cryogenic engine, which is intended to replace the L110 core stage of the LVM3 launch vehicle, thereby enhancing payload capacity and mission efficiency.

The world's first hydrogen production facility based on the Copper–Chlorine (Cu–Cl) thermochemical cycle was inaugurated by the Department of Atomic Energy on June 26, 2026, at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR) in Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu. The facility utilises heat from the Fast Breeder Test Reactor (FBTR) to produce carbon-free hydrogen with improved thermodynamic efficiency at lower operating temperatures. The technology was indigenously developed by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai, and supports India's three-stage nuclear programme by extending the use of nuclear energy beyond electricity generation into clean hydrogen production.

The President of India sanctioned the use of 83.814 acres of defence land in Hyderabad for the Gandhi Sarovar Project as part of the larger Musi Riverfront Development Project. Developed by the Musi Riverfront Development Corporation Limited (MRDCL), the initiative aims to restore and rejuvenate the Musi River while creating a major cultural and ecological landmark. The project includes the construction of a Statue of Peace, a Gandhi Museum, a National Museum, an Education Hub, a Handloom Training Centre, a Relics and Research Centre, and a riverfront viewing platform. It also commemorates the historic Gandhi Sarovar site, where Mahatma Gandhi's ashes were immersed in 1948.