01Economy·2 min read
Union Cabinet Approves Rs 2.19 Lakh Crore Package: Semicon 2.0, Mobile Manufacturing
Union Cabinet cleared 7 projects worth Rs 2,19,353 crore including Semicon 2.0 (Rs 1,27,500 crore) and a Mobile Phone Manufacturing Scheme. Relevant for UPSC, UPPSC, and state PSC aspirants in GS Paper 3 under Industrial Policy and Infrastructure.
- Union Cabinet approved 7 decisions/projects worth Rs 2,19,353 crore on July 15, 2026, briefed by IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.
- Semicon 2.0: Rs 1,27,500 crore (~USD 13.17 billion) outlay for chip design, manufacturing, advanced packaging, R&D, and talent development.
- Foreign investment commitments under Semicon 2.0: Applied Materials $400M, AMD $400M, Microchip Technology $300M, Lam Research $1.1 billion, KLA $400M.
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02Environment·2 min read
Assam-Arunachal Floods Affect 22,124 as Simen River Rail Bridge Collapses
First 2026 monsoon flood wave hit Assam-Arunachal, affecting 22,124 people across six districts and collapsing a rail bridge over the Simen River. Relevant for UPSC, UPPSC, MPSC aspirants in GS Paper 3 under Disaster Management.
- 22,124 people affected across six Assam districts per ASDMA: Dhemaji (15,483), Nalbari, Dibrugarh, Chirang, Lakhimpur, Kokrajhar
- 96 villages submerged and nearly 1,690 hectares of agricultural land damaged
- Railway bridge over the Simen River (built 1965, later broad-gauge converted) partially collapsed after riverbank erosion destabilised a pier
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03International Relations·2 min read
India, Belgium Hold Inaugural Strategic Dialogue in Brussels
India and Belgium launched their first-ever Strategic Dialogue on July 15, 2026, co-chaired by Jaishankar and Prevot, covering trade, defence, and clean energy. Relevant for UPSC, UPPSC, MPSC, TNPSC, WBCS, RPSC, BPSC, CGPSC aspirants in GS Paper 2 under India's Foreign Policy and Bilateral Relations.
- India and Belgium held their inaugural Strategic Dialogue on July 15, 2026, in Brussels, co-chaired by S. Jaishankar and Maxime Prevot.
- The dialogue is anchored within the broader India-EU Strategic Partnership, which dates back to 2004.
- Cooperation areas span trade, investment, green energy, technology, connectivity, defence, security, and people-to-people exchanges.
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04Polity & Governance·2 min read
131st Constitutional Amendment Bill 2026: Women's Reservation, Delimitation Explained
Lok Sabha's April 2026 vote on the 131st Amendment Bill (women's reservation + delimitation) failed 298-230, short of Article 368's special majority. Relevant for UPSC, UPPSC, MPSC, TNPSC, WBCS, RPSC, BPSC, CGPSC aspirants in GS Paper 2 under Polity and Constitutional Amendments.
- Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 introduced in Lok Sabha on 16 April 2026 to enable one-third women's reservation in Lok Sabha and State Assemblies.
- Bundled with the Delimitation Bill, 2026 and Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026; proposes basing delimitation on the 2011 census instead of 1971.
- Proposes raising maximum Lok Sabha strength from 550 to 850 seats.
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05Internal Security·2 min read
CDS to Present Integrated Theatre Commands Plan to Defence Minister by July-End
CDS Gen. N.S. Raja Subramani will present India's Theatre Commands plan to Rajnath Singh by July-end, before CCS clearance. Relevant for UPSC and state PSC aspirants in GS Paper 3 under Internal Security, Defence Reforms.
- CDS Gen. N.S. Raja Subramani to present the Integrated Theatre Commands plan to Rajnath Singh by end of July 2026.
- Plan will then go to the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) for final clearance.
- Three proposed commands: Northern (China-focused), Western (Pakistan-focused), and Maritime (incorporating Andaman & Nicobar Command).
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