Current affairs — 5 July 2026

Prelims pointers

• Suzhal Arivom documented breeding activity of 47 bird species in the Kovalam-Nemmeli Coastal Wetland Complex.
• The survey found 22 breeding species in open saltpans and mudflats around Nemmeli and 25 in wetland edges and mangrove patches near Kelambakkam.
• The great thick-knee, listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List, has bred at Nemmeli for at least five consecutive years.
• The group surveyed about 35% of the accessible wetland and said the project’s Rapid EIA did not adequately reflect breeding importance.
• The article says many resident bird species breed between February and June, while the project avifaunal survey was conducted between July and November 2025.

Prelims pointers

• E20 refers to petrol blended with one-fifth ethanol, or 20% ethanol content.
• Petrol containing 20% ethanol was formally launched in February 2023, according to the article.
• Ethanol blending of 19.99% was achieved in December 2025.
• Maruti Suzuki said it tested E10 cars, prevalent before 2023, on E20 fuel and found nothing of concern.
• Maruti Suzuki’s Rahul Bharti said E20’s lower calorific value can reduce mileage by about 3-3.5% compared with E10.

Prelims pointers

• Jirang Organic Agro Farmers Producer Company Limited was formed in 2017 under the centrally-aided Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region.
• The Jirang FPC covers 433 members across 18 villages, cultivates approximately 500 acres, and has about 75% women members.
• The FPC’s collective income rose from ₹1.5 lakh during 2017-2021 to more than ₹1.17 crore in 2025.
• A ₹2.46-crore aseptic pulp processing unit set up in September 2025 can process 10 metric tonnes of fresh fruits per day.
• Meghalaya State Organic Mission, initiated in 2024 with ₹295 crore, aims to bring 1 lakh hectares under certified organic cultivation by 2028.

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• Using the Webb telescope, scientists found an atmosphere around WD 1856 b, a Jupiter-sized planet orbiting a white dwarf.
• The atmosphere of WD 1856 b is reported to contain hydrocarbons and clouds of aerosols.
• Researchers identified GPNMB as a protein consistently expressed on certain rare solid tumour cells.
• One patient with advanced alveolar soft-part sarcoma had disease stabilise for three months while several smaller tumours disappeared.
• A Thai shelter-dog study found that more space and enrichment were linked with lower stress hormone levels and healthier gut bacteria.

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• Iran's ambassador to China said new fees would be charged to ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
• The ambassador said friendly countries that stood by Iran during hard times would receive special treatment.
• The initial Iran-U.S. deal stipulated that commercial ships would transit the strait free of charge for 60 days.
• Iran said it was working with Oman on new arrangements for the vital waterway.
• The Strait of Hormuz normally carries one-fifth of the world's crude oil and liquefied natural gas.

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• Dolly is described as the first mammal to have been cloned from an adult cell, a result then thought to be impossible.
• John Gurdon produced tadpoles from adult frog cells in the early 1960s, before Dolly's mammalian cloning milestone.
• A sheep cloned from an embryo cell was born in Cambridge, U.K., in 1984, before Dolly was created.
• Ian Wilmut and colleagues used a nucleus from an adult Finn Dorset sheep's udder cell and an emptied egg cell from a Scottish Blackface sheep.
• Scientists needed 276 attempts before a surrogate gave birth to Dolly on July 5, 1996, after 148 days of gestation.

Prelims pointers

• The study assessed Haryana dairy data from 2004 to 2019 across 1,148 villages and three bovine categories.
• High temperatures above 38°C with humidity above 70% during July and August significantly reduce milk production.
• A unit increase in potential evapotranspiration can reduce milk yield by around 1.4 litres per buffalo per day.
• The paper estimates India loses 3.2 million tonnes of milk worth ₹2,661 crore due to such climate stressors.
• Indigenous breeds such as Sahiwal and Hariana were described as more adapted to heat stress than cross-bred cattle.

Prelims pointers

• Researchers from the University of Minnesota developed a synthetic cell that can grow and divide.
• The team started with a liposome containing a PURE protein-making system and DNA consisting of 90,000 base pairs.
• The synthetic cells ate by fusing with smaller feeder liposomes that supplied lipids and nutrients for expansion.
• The cell's DNA instructed production of alpha-hemolysin, which acted like a hook on the cell surface to grab feeder bubbles.
• The cells used the enzyme Phi29 to copy their genome before division into daughter cells.

Prelims pointers

• A cargo ship came under attack on July 5, 2026, off the coast of Yemen in the Red Sea, according to the British military.
• The UKMTO reported the incident 30 nautical miles, or 55 kilometres, southwest of Hodeida.
• Hodeida is described as a coastal city under the control of the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels.
• No group immediately claimed the attack, and a Houthi spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
• Earlier Houthi attacks during the Gaza war forced shipping companies to reroute around southern Africa instead of through the Suez Canal.

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• Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh will lead the Indian delegation to the UN Global Dialogue on AI Governance in Geneva.
• The first session of the Global Dialogue on AI Governance will be held on July 6 and July 7 in Geneva.
• The Global Dialogue is a universal, multi-stakeholder UN forum established under General Assembly Resolution 79/325.
• The Dialogue follows the Global Digital Compact adopted as part of the Pact of the Future in September 2024.
• The Geneva Dialogue will receive the annual report of the Independent International Scientific Panel on AI.

Prelims pointers

• An estimated 2.3 billion people worldwide consume alcohol, according to the article’s summary of global drinking patterns.
• The World Health Organization estimates that 2.6 million deaths each year are attributable to alcohol consumption.
• WHO classifies alcohol as a Group 1 carcinogen, the same risk evidence category as tobacco and asbestos.
• A 2025 U.S. Surgeon General advisory linked alcohol to at least seven cancers and called for updated warning labels.
• The article says U.S. smoking declined from 42.4% in 1965 to 11.6% in 2022 after multiple public-health measures.

Prelims pointers

• Climate Central found that India now experiences six additional pregnancy heat-risk days each year because of climate change.
• The article says climate change added 26 pregnancy heat-risk days in Mumbai over a five-year period.
• A 2024 Nature Medicine review covering 198 studies across 66 countries found heatwaves increase preterm-birth risk by 26%.
• More than a million ASHAs work across India, often walking long distances in extreme heat to monitor pregnancies and support immunisation.
• The article recommends Heat Action Plans identify pregnant women, newborns and frontline health workers as priority groups.

Prelims pointers

• ISRO carried out the first ground test of the SOLVE solid motor at the Static Test Facility, Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.
• The SOLVE solid motor is described as a key component for conducting Gaganyaan Test Missions, with the first ground test held on July 3.
• ISRO is developing SOLVE as a platform for Integrated Parachute Tests to validate the Crew Module deceleration system under varied conditions.
• During these test missions, the Crew Module will be carried to an altitude of 10-17 km and separated from the vehicle.
• A series of 10 parachutes will be deployed to reduce the Crew Module's velocity before splashdown in the sea.

Prelims pointers

• Teejan Bai died at AIIMS Raipur on July 5, 2026, after a prolonged illness, according to the report.
• She was born on April 24, 1956, in Ganiyari village of Durg district in Chhattisgarh.
• Pandavani is described in the article as a Chhattisgarhi folk tradition of musical narration of the Mahabharata.
• She challenged convention by performing standing in the Kapalika style rather than the seated Vedamati style for women.
• Teejan Bai was conferred the Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan during her career.

Prelims pointers

• S. Jaishankar met Qatar’s Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani on Sunday, July 5, 2026.
• The Gulf visit covers Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman from July 5 to July 10.
• Jaishankar reviewed cooperation in energy, trade, investments, connectivity, security and people-to-people ties.
• The article says he discussed West Asia conflict assessments and impact with Qatar’s Prime Minister.
• After the Gulf visit, Jaishankar is scheduled to travel to New York on July 13 for India’s UNSC campaign launch.

Prelims pointers

• The foundation stone was laid in Shivpuri district of Madhya Pradesh on Sunday, July 5, 2026.
• The plant is being set up by Adani Defence and Aerospace, a subsidiary of the Adani Group.
• The article describes the unit as a missile and propellant manufacturing facility costing ₹2,500 crore.
• Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said the unit would provide employment to more than 4,000 people in the region.
• An official statement linked the project to Atmanirbhar Bharat, Make in India and MSME supply-chain opportunities.

Prelims pointers

• The high-level meeting reviewed illegal coal mining and coal theft, with concern expressed about Dhanbad and nearby areas.
• Officials said CISF and Coal India Limited personnel had been authorised to act under the MMDR Act, 1957.
• The Home Minister directed adoption of a Zero Coal Leakage Plan for a time-bound response to illegal mining and unauthorised coal transportation.
• GST authorities are to be involved through a mechanism to verify e-way bills for all coal being transported.
• CISF was directed to form Quick Response Teams and establish multi-layered security arrangements in vulnerable areas.

Prelims pointers

• MSDE extended the registration deadline for Navachar Mantra to 15 July 2026.
• Navachar Mantra is described as the Ministry's flagship national innovation platform.
• The programme is being implemented by the National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development.
• FITT, IIT Delhi is serving as the Knowledge Partner for Navachar Mantra.
• The platform offers support such as mentoring, incubation support, industry partnerships, investor connect and institutional handholding.

Prelims pointers

• The first installment or Mother Sanction of ₹25,863 crore was released to States for implementation of VB-G-RAM-G.
• The Government resolved to implement VB-G-RAM-G across the country without disruption from 1 July 2026.
• The release says the transition from MGNREGA to VB-G-RAM-G has been smooth and no technical or operational issues were reported so far.
• Wage rates under VB-G-RAM-G have been increased by around 10 percent on average, with no state below ₹300 per day.
• Face Authentication, geo-tagging and other technological measures are to be implemented for transparency and accountability.

Prelims pointers

• India will host the BRICS Women Working Group Meeting on 6-7 July 2026 in Kochi, Kerala.
• The meeting is being held under India's BRICS Chairship in 2026.
• The BRICS Women Track priorities include governance and leadership, digital and financial inclusion, entrepreneurship and skill development, and climate/food/nutrition roles.
• The release states that BRICS comprises 11 countries and represents about 49.5 percent of the global population.
• Three virtual preparatory meetings were held on 30 April 2026, 22 May 2026 and 29 June 2026.

Prelims pointers

• The 5th Foundation Day Ceremony of the Ministry of Cooperation is scheduled at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, on 6 July 2026.
• The programme includes transfer of 135 godowns, inauguration of 85 godowns and foundation stone laying for 47 grain storage godowns.
• The release says 50,000 Primary Agricultural Credit Societies are to be transformed into e-PACS.
• NUCFDC's proposed digital initiatives include Sahakar CBS, a centralised core banking platform, and Sahakar Sahyogi, an AI-powered conversational platform for Urban Cooperative Banks.
• A Memorandum of Understanding is to be signed between BBSSL and ICAR for strengthening seed systems.

Prelims pointers

• UNCTAD will organise the Ninth Session of the Intergovernmental Group of Experts on Consumer Protection Law and Policy at Palais des Nations, Geneva.
• The session is scheduled from 6 to 8 July 2026 and will bring together member states, international organisations, authorities, academia and stakeholders.
• Smt. Nidhi Khare, Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs, has been invited by UNCTAD to chair the Ninth Session.
• The National Consumer Helpline facilitated refunds of more than ₹91.77 crore across 36 sectors in the last fourteen months, according to the release.
• e-Jagriti is described as an AI-enabled digital platform supporting online complaints, virtual hearings, electronic case management and digital access to proceedings.

Prelims pointers

• A total of 15 vessels carrying fertilizers and fertilizer raw materials for India safely crossed the Strait of Hormuz.
• The 15 vessels include 8 carrying 3.32 LMT of urea, 4 carrying 2.57 LMT of DAP and 3 carrying 1.11 LMT of sulphur.
• The release says 28 Indian Missions abroad helped facilitate contacts with potential fertilizer producers and suppliers.
• Natural gas supply to fertilizer plants, which had temporarily fallen to nearly 65 percent, was restored to 100 percent.
• During April-June FY 2026-27, India produced 71.55 LMT of urea against the target of 67.86 LMT.

Prelims pointers

• Ethanol blending increased from less than 1.5 percent in 2013-14 to 20 percent in 2025-26, according to the backgrounder.
• India achieved the 20 percent ethanol blending target five years ahead of schedule.
• Ethanol procurement rose from about 38 crore litres in ESY 2013-14 to over 1,200 crore litres projected in 2025-26.
• Production capacity expanded nearly fivefold from 421 crore litres in 2014 to about 2,000 crore litres in 2026.
• Since ESY 2014-15 up to May 2026, the programme is stated to have saved over ₹1.90 lakh crore in foreign exchange.

Prelims pointers

• ICMR-MINDS received the Gold Award under Category 2 at the National Awards for e-Governance 2026.
• Category 2 recognises innovation by use of AI and other new-age technologies for providing citizen-centric services.
• The award was presented during the 29th National Conference on e-Governance 2026 in Jaipur on 1-2 July 2026.
• ICMR-MINDS integrates screening and management of mental and substance use disorders with other non-communicable diseases.
• The initiative is being implemented across seven states through seven collaborating institutions listed in the release.

Prelims pointers

• The Reforms Utsav & Chintan Shivir 2026 was jointly organised by the Department of Legal Affairs and Legislative Department.
• The two-day event concluded at Gyan Sarovar, Mount Abu, with adoption of the Mount Abu Declaration.
• The Mount Abu Declaration is described as the Ministry's Sankalp Patra for a future-ready legal ecosystem.
• The reform roadmap includes legislative modernisation, digital transformation, technology adoption and effective litigation management.
• The agenda also mentions promotion of alternative dispute resolution, capacity building and greater inter-departmental convergence.

Prelims pointers

• India will host the BRICS Heads of Anti-Drug Agencies Meeting on 6-7 July 2026 in Guwahati, Assam.
• The meeting is hosted by the Narcotics Control Bureau, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.
• Priority areas include synthetic drugs and precursor diversion, intelligence sharing and operational coordination, and capacity building.
• The two-day meeting will include six thematic sessions on emerging global drug-control challenges.
• The meeting is expected to culminate with adoption of a Joint Declaration.

Prelims pointers

• MY Bharat, or Mera Yuva Bharat, was launched in October 2023 under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
• The platform had over 1.52 lakh volunteer opportunities as of June 2026, according to the backgrounder.
• As of July 2026, the platform offered over 24,900 experiential learning programmes.
• MY Bharat earned a Guinness World Record title on 4 June 2026 for most users taking an online quiz in one week.
• The MY Bharat mobile application is available in 22 Indian languages and had recorded over 1 lakh downloads as of 2 July 2026.

Prelims pointers

• Taiwan ended formal anti-communist patriotic education in 2002, renaming it patriotic education.
• Taiwan restored the classes for military academy graduates citing rising military and infiltration danger from China.
• Lecturers will include officials from the Mainland Affairs Council, National Security Council, Ministry of Justice and Academia Sinica.
• Joseph Wu said Taiwan was tracking more than 110 Chinese military and Coast Guard ships along the first island chain as of July 3, 2026.
• The first island chain is described as stretching from Japan to Taiwan, the Philippines and Borneo.

Prelims pointers

• The U.S. and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding on June 18 aimed at restoring peace in West Asia.
• Technical-level U.S.-Iran talks were held in Switzerland on June 21 with Pakistan and Qatar as mediators.
• The next technical talks are expected on July 11, with Islamabad reported as the leading venue.
• The negotiations are expected to cover Iran’s nuclear programme, sanctions relief and frozen Iranian assets.
• The Islamabad MoU gave both sides 60 days to negotiate a comprehensive agreement on Iran’s nuclear programme and related issues.

Prelims pointers

• Joint Sea-2026 is being held off Qingdao, a major military port and seaside resort in eastern China.
• Russia said the exercises would take place from July 6 to July 13 in the Yellow Sea.
• The Yellow Sea is described as the body of water separating China from the Korean peninsula.
• Chinese participating forces include two destroyers, a frigate, a submarine, a supply ship and a rescue vessel.
• China and Russia have held Joint Sea naval exercises since 2012, according to the article.