Daily Current Affairs 31 July
Delhi Leads Nation in Registration of e-Zero FIRs for Cyber Financial Crimes in 2025
- Top Position: According to the Union Home Ministry's report to the Lok Sabha, Delhi recorded the highest number of e-Zero FIRs in the country, registering **6,115 cases** since the system was implemented in May 2025.
- National Deployment: The system, facilitated by the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Union Home Ministry, has been implemented across 18 states and Union Territories, generating a total of over 12,000 e-Zero FIRs.
- Key UT Rankings: Chandigarh followed Delhi at the second spot with **4,174 cases** (since November 2025), while Uttarakhand (552) and Goa (446) also recorded significant registrations.
- System Workflow: Cyber financial fraud cases reported via the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP) or the 1930 helpline automatically trigger an e-Zero FIR. Victims must visit their territorial police station within **3 days** to convert it into a regular FIR.
- Legal Foundation: Operates under **Section 173(1) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023**, enabling electronic registration of cognizable offenses regardless of territorial jurisdiction where the crime occurred.
Chhattisgarh Launches 'DWEEPTI Yojana' to Promote Women-Led Solar Entrepreneurship
- Pioneering Policy: Chhattisgarh government launched the **DWEEPTI Yojana** (Decentralised Women Empowerment on Energy and Policy for Transformative Inclusion), recognized as India's first women-led distributed renewable energy policy.
- Scheme Targets: Aims to establish **5,000 women-led solar enterprises** and generate **50,000 green jobs** over the next 5 years, empowering rural Self-Help Groups (SHGs).
- Energy Reach: Program targets delivering solar energy assets (like solar pumps and mills) to **5 lakh families** and **10,000 public institutions** (like schools and health centers).
- Solar Didis: SHG members will be trained as "Solar Didis" for system installation, maintenance, and are registered as authorized vendors under the central government's *PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana*.
International Day Against Trafficking in Persons 2026 Observed on July 30
- Observance Day: World Day Against Trafficking in Persons was observed globally on July 30, 2026.
- 2026 Focus Theme: The theme for 2026 is **"Trapped Behind the Scam,"** emphasizing human trafficking in online scam operations.
- Cybercrime Compounds: Highlights the rising threat of deceptive online job recruitment leading to forced criminality in illegal scam compounds.
- Global Campaign: Aims to raise awareness about cyber-enabled financial fraud, romance scams, and crypto investment fraud run by trafficking networks.
Ministry of Panchayati Raj Launches 'DAANVEER' Initiative to Empower Local Self-Governance
- Initiative Launch: The Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) launched the **DAANVEER** initiative, a dedicated citizen-participation platform to strengthen digital infrastructure at the grassroots level.
- App Integration: The initiative is integrated into the National Informatics Centre (NIC)-developed **'Meri Panchayat'** mobile application.
- ONDC Collaboration: Enables donors (including the Indian diaspora and corporate sponsors) to purchase standardized, quality-verified computer bundles for Gram Panchayats via ONDC-enabled **DigiHaat**.
- Transparency & Tracking: Offers end-to-end digital tracking from donation payment to physical installation, culminating in the issuance of a **Certificate of Gratitude** by the beneficiary Gram Panchayat.
India's First Telecom Manufacturing Zone to be Established in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh
- Pioneering Zone: India's first dedicated **Telecom Manufacturing Zone (TMZ)** is being set up in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, following a landmark MoU signed between the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the MP Government.
- Integrated Infrastructure: Spanning a **350-acre plug-and-play cluster**, the state has allocated approximately 170 acres in the Gwalior SADA region and Gwalior IT Park to house the complete manufacturing ecosystem.
- Investment Commitments: The zone has already attracted **Rs. 5,500 crore** in investment commitments from leading telecom component manufacturers to establish their plants.
- Strategic Structure: The project is governed by a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) with **51% equity from the Government of Madhya Pradesh** and **49% from the Central Government's DoT**.
- Employment Generation: Expected to create over **18,000 direct and indirect jobs**, supporting indigenous production of 5G/6G equipment, semiconductor chips, and optical fibers.
India Ranks 57th in Competere Foundation's 'India's Next Growth Frontier' Report
- Rank Improvement: India climbed 25 spots to rank **57th globally** in 2023, up from 82nd position in 2010, as per the Competere Foundation's report.
- Performance Index: The evaluation is based on the **Market Distortions Performance Index (MDPI)**, which tracks structural efforts to reduce anti-competitive market barriers.
- Three Evaluation Pillars: Gauges performance across property rights protection, domestic market competition, and international trade openness.
- Reform Drivers: The report credits India's rise to landmark structural reforms, notably the **Goods and Services Tax (GST)** and the **Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC)**.
India's Index of Industrial Production (IIP) Grows by 7.3% in June 2026
- Accelerated Growth: India's Index of Industrial Production (IIP) grew by **7.3 percent** in June 2026, marking a 23-month high.
- Standing Index: The index stood at **123.1** in June 2026, compared to 114.7 in June 2025, showing acceleration from the revised 5.0% in May 2026.
- Sectoral Highlights: Driven by Manufacturing (expanded by 7.8%) and Electricity & Gas Supply (recorded 10.6% growth).
- Use-Based Classification: Capital goods led the growth at 14.2%, followed by intermediate goods (9.3%) and consumer durables (7.7%).
Rajasthan Becomes First State to Issue Exploration Licenses for Rare Earth Elements
- Historic Licensing: Rajasthan officially executed India's first Exploration Licence (EL) for a Rare Earth Elements (REE) block.
- Area Details: The block covers **207.63 sq. km** in the Nawatala-Devigarh region across Balotra and Jodhpur districts.
- Licence Awardee: The exploration licence was granted to the public sector undertaking, **Central Mine Planning & Design Institute Limited (CMPDI)**.
- Target Elements: Focuses on detecting high-value critical minerals like lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, and neodymium.
Maharashtra Becomes First State to Qualify for Second Installment under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY)
- Funding Milestone: Maharashtra has officially qualified as the first state in India to receive the second installment of funds under the **Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY)** for the fiscal year.
- Performance Benchmark: The state utilized approximately **Rs. 260 crore** out of the Rs. 335 crore first installment, comfortably exceeding the mandatory 75% expenditure threshold set by the Union Government.
- Second Installment: Following a review by Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the release of the second installment of **Rs. 335 crore** was approved.
- Digital Achievements: Maharashtra was commended for its rapid creation of unique **Farmer IDs** and its efficient crop loss compensation transfer (Rs. 14,000 crore in 5 days).
Shatmanyu Shrivastava Appointed as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of LIC
- New CFO Appointment: The Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) appointed senior veteran Shatmanyu Shrivastava as its new Executive Director (Finance & Accounts) and Chief Financial Officer (CFO).
- Prior Leadership Roles: Previously served as LIC's Executive Director (Enterprise Risk Management) and Chief Risk Officer (CRO).
- Organizational Tenure: A veteran with over three decades of service, Shrivastava joined LIC as an Assistant Administrative Officer (AAO) in 1990.
- Predecessor Details: Succeeds Sunil Agrawal, who resigned from the CFO position effective July 14, 2026.
Indian Navy Launches Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft 'INS Machilipatnam'
- Vessel Launch: The Indian Navy launched **INS Machilipatnam (BY 529)**, the seventh of eight Mahe-class Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC), at Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) in Kochi.
- Ceremony Details: The launch ceremony was presided over by Vice Admiral Atul Anand (Additional Secretary, Department of Military Affairs), and the vessel was formally launched by Mrs. Goolrukh Anand.
- Operational Role: Built to replace the aging Abhay-class corvettes, the ship is optimized for coastal/littoral operations, underwater surveillance, anti-submarine warfare (ASW), and mine laying.
- Indigenous Technology: Built under the Make in India initiative, the vessel features over **80% indigenous content**, driving self-reliance in naval shipbuilding.
- Name Legacy: Named after the historic port town of Machilipatnam in Andhra Pradesh to honor its deep-rooted maritime heritage.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Inaugurates India's First Military Medicine Department in Lucknow
- Department Launch: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh virtually inaugurated India's first dedicated Department of Military Medicine at the Command Hospital (Central Command) in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.
- Academic Hub: Developed under the Directorate General of Medical Services (Army) to act as a core research, academic, and doctrinal hub for the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS).
- Operational Mandate: Specialized in addressing battle trauma, combat psychiatry, environmental medicine, and Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosive (CBRNe) medical responses.
- Technology Integration: Focuses on incorporating modern tools like **Artificial Intelligence (AI)**, health tracking wearables, and predictive analytics to monitor soldier health.
Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia Launches Theme for 10th India Mobile Congress 2026
- Theme Launch: Communications Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia officially unveiled the theme for the 10th India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2026 as **"Scale without Boundaries"**.
- Strategic Vision: The theme highlights India's objective to expand its homegrown telecom technology, software solutions, and standards (like 5G/6G) globally.
- Event Details: Scheduled to be held from **October 7 to 10, 2026** at the state-of-the-art Yashobhoomi (India International Convention & Expo Centre) in New Delhi.
- Four Pillars: Anchored around four strategic pillars: **Srishti** (Future-building), **Suraksha** (Security & Trust), **Sashakt** (Opportunities), and **Samvardhan** (Growth).
Ngulkham Jathom Gangte Appointed as India's Next Ambassador to Mexico
- Diplomatic Posting: Senior diplomat Ngulkham Jathom Gangte (IFS: 1994 batch) has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to Mexico.
- Career Background: Prior to this posting, he served as a Special Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), New Delhi.
- Strategic Bilateral Ties: Relates to strengthening India-Mexico economic partnerships, cultural exchanges, and trade under strategic global agreements.
China Builds World's Largest Superconducting Magnet for 'Artificial Sun' Fusion Program
- Fusion Breakthrough: China successfully completed and tested the world's largest superconducting fusion magnet for its national fusion demonstration reactor.
- Toroidal-Field Magnet: The D-shaped magnet measures **21 meters in length and 12 meters in width**, weighing **582 tonnes**.
- Strategic Capacity: Designed to generate a magnetic field of 6.5 tesla to confine plasma heated to approximately 100 million degrees Celsius.
- Program Roadmap: Serves as a major engineering milestone for the China Fusion Engineering Demonstration Reactor (CFEDR) aiming for fusion electricity by 2030.
India Ranked 176th in the Global Environmental Performance Index (EPI) 2026
- India's Ranking: India ranked **176th out of 177 countries** in the 2026 Environmental Performance Index (EPI), positioning it at the second-lowest spot globally.
- EPI Score: India obtained an overall score of **22.46**, ahead of only Laos (ranked 177th), reflecting critical challenges in air quality, waste management, and biodiversity protection.
- Global Leaders: Estonia secured the **1st rank** with a top score of 74.79, followed by other European nations dominating the upper tier of the index.
- EPI Framework: Published biennially by researchers at Yale and Columbia Universities in collaboration with the World Economic Forum, assessing 47 indicators across 12 issue categories.
- Core Policy Objectives: Evaluates nations under three primary objectives: **Environmental Health**, **Ecosystem Vitality**, and **Climate Change**.
Former Indian Captain Ajinkya Rahane Announces Retirement from International Cricket
- Career End: Former Indian Test captain and veteran batsman Ajinkya Rahane announced his retirement from all formats of international cricket at the age of 38.
- Statistical Record: Represented India in **85 Test matches** (scoring 5,077 runs with 12 centuries), **90 ODIs** (2,962 runs), and **20 T20Is** since making his international debut in 2011.
- Captaincy Success: Led India in 6 Tests as captain with an undefeated record (4 wins, 2 draws), most famously captaining the team to the historic **2-1 Border-Gavaskar Trophy win in Australia (2020-21)** after the Adelaide collapse.
- T20 Future: Signed as a marquee player for the Amsterdam Flames in the newly launched European T20 Premier League (ETPL) set to begin on August 26, 2026.
Para-Athlete Dilip Gavit Wins Gold Medal in Men's 100m T47 at 2026 Commonwealth Games
- Gold Medal Victory: Indian para-athlete Dilip Mahadu Gavit won the gold medal in the men's 100-meter T47 sprint event at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
- Record-Breaking Sprint: Clocked a record-breaking time of **10.71 seconds**, setting a new Commonwealth Games record for the category.
- Historical Milestone: Gavit became the **first-ever Indian male para-athlete** to win a Commonwealth Games gold medal in athletics.
- Podium Finish: Teammate Mohammed Basil Morssinganakath won the silver medal, securing a historic one-two finish for India.
- Athlete Profile: Hailing from Nashik, Maharashtra, Gavit has previously won gold in the 400m T47 event at the 2022 Asian Para Games.
World Ranger Day 2026 Observed Globally on July 31
- Observance Day: World Ranger Day is celebrated annually on July 31 to honor the dedication of rangers and remember those fallen in the line of duty.
- 2026 Focus Theme: The theme for 2026 is **"Rangers: Guardians of a Changing Planet"**, focusing on shifting climatic and operational hazards.
- 20th Anniversary: The 2026 observance marks the 20th anniversary of World Ranger Day since its inception in **2007**.
- Frontline Conservation: Highlights the role of rangers in combating wildlife crime, climate extremes, and managing human-wildlife conflict.
Jaipur Hosts Commonwealth Peace Mediation Conference 2026
- International Summit: The three-day Commonwealth Peace Mediation Conference (CPMC) 2026 was held in Jaipur, Rajasthan under the theme **"Peace, Mediation and the Rule of Law."**
- Event Organizers: Jointly organized by the Rajasthan State Legal Services Authority (RSLSA) and the Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA) to promote mediation as a dispute resolution tool.
- Key Declaration: Concluded with the adoption of the **"Jaipur Declaration on Peace Mediation 2026,"** outlining strategies for community and international dispute mediation.
- Digital Courts: Announcing a shift toward paperless judicial functioning, the Rajasthan High Court launched a new digital judicial initiative called **'Nyayan'** for paperless court administration.
Pankaj Tripathi to be Honored with 'Artist of Distinction' at Melbourne Film Festival 2026
- Prestigious Award: Acclaimed Indian actor Pankaj Tripathi has been named the recipient of the inaugural **Artist of Distinction** award by the State Government of Victoria, Australia.
- Festival Context: The award will be presented during the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) 2026, scheduled from August 13 to August 23, 2026.
- Career Recognition: Celebrated for his versatility and outstanding contributions to Indian cinema, representing the growth and global reach of Indian performers.
- Previous Honors: Tripathi previously won the "Diversity in Cinema" award at the 2021 edition of the Melbourne Film Festival.
West Indies' Justin Greaves Sets World Record with Five Consecutive Wicket-Maiden Overs in Test Cricket
- Historic Test Record: West Indies all-rounder Justin Greaves became the first bowler in Test cricket history to bowl a wicket-maiden in **five consecutive overs** without conceding a run.
- Match Performance: Achieved this feat during the first Test match between West Indies and Pakistan at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad, ending with career-best figures of **5/27**.
- Wickets Taken: The five consecutive dismissals included Shan Masood, Mohammad Rizwan, Aamer Jamal, Ali Usman, and Mohammad Abbas.
- Record Eclipsed: Surpassed the previous record of four consecutive wicket-maidens set by former England fast bowler Stuart Broad against South Africa in 2016.
โก ONE-LINER QUICK REVISION POINTERS (31 JULY 2026)
- EPI 2026 Rank: India ranked 176th out of 177 countries with a score of 22.46, with Estonia topping and Laos coming last.
- e-Zero FIRs Leader: Delhi registered the highest number of e-Zero FIRs (6,115 cases) for cyber financial fraud in the country.
- DWEEPTI Scheme: Chhattisgarh launched its flag renewable policy to establish 5,000 women-led solar enterprises.
- DAANVEER Initiative: Launched by MoPR via the 'Meri Panchayat' app and DigiHaat (ONDC) to strengthen Gram Panchayat digital infrastructure.
- Gwalior Telecom Zone: India's first TMZ (350 acres) will be established in Gwalior, MP, with an initial investment of Rs. 5,500 crore.
- Competere Foundation: India ranked 57th in the Market Distortions Performance Index, climbing 25 ranks since 2010.
- IIP June 2026: Grows by 7.3 percent, driven by a 7.8% expansion in the manufacturing sector.
- Rajasthan critical minerals: Becomes the first state to issue an exploration licence for REE blocks in Balotra and Jodhpur.
- Maharashtra RKVY: Becomes the first state to qualify for the 2nd installment under RKVY by utilizing over 75% of the first grant (utilizing Rs. 260 cr).
- Shatmanyu Shrivastava: Appointed as the new Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of LIC, succeeding Sunil Agrawal.
- INS Machilipatnam: Indian Navy launched its 7th Mahe-class ASW Shallow Water Craft built by Cochin Shipyard Limited.
- Military Medicine Department: India's first dedicated department inaugurated at Lucknow Command Hospital.
- India Mobile Congress: Communication Minister launched theme 'Scale without Boundaries' for the 10th IMC 2026 in October.
- Ngulkham Jathom Gangte: Appointed as the next Indian Ambassador to Mexico.
- China Superconducting Magnet: Successfully tested the world's largest magnet (582 tonnes, 21m long) for its fusion demo reactor.
- Ajinkya Rahane: Announced his retirement from all formats of international cricket after representing India in 85 Tests.
- Dilip Gavit: Won gold in CWG 2026 Men's 100m T47 sprint, setting a Games record of 10.71 seconds.
- Trafficking Day: Observed on July 30 with the global theme 'Trapped Behind the Scam'.
- World Ranger Day: Observed on July 31 with the theme 'Rangers: Guardians of a Changing Planet'.
- Peace Mediation Conference: Held in Jaipur, adoption of the 'Jaipur Declaration on Peace Mediation 2026' and launch of 'Nyayan' portal.
- Pankaj Tripathi: Named recipient of the inaugural 'Artist of Distinction' award at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne 2026.
- Justin Greaves: West Indies all-rounder sets Test record by taking a wicket in five consecutive maiden overs (spell of 5/27 vs Pakistan).
Appendix: Indian States & UTs Reference Table (Latest 2026)
| State / UT Name | Capital | Governor / Lt. Governor / Administrator | Chief Minister |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andhra Pradesh | Amaravati | Justice (Retd.) S. Abdul Nazeer | N. Chandrababu Naidu |
| Arunachal Pradesh | Itanagar | Lt. General Kaiwalya Trivikram Parnaik | Pema Khandu |
| Assam | Dispur | Gulab Chand Kataria | Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma |
| Bihar | Patna | Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar | Nitish Kumar |
| Chhattisgarh | Raipur | Biswabhusan Harichandan | Vishnu Deo Sai |
| Goa | Panaji | P. S. Sreedharan Pillai | Pramod Sawant |
| Gujarat | Gandhinagar | Acharya Devvrat | Bhupendra Patel |
| Haryana | Chandigarh | Bandaru Dattatreya | Nayab Singh Saini |
| Himachal Pradesh | Shimla | Shiv Pratap Shukla | Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu |
| Jharkhand | Ranchi | C. P. Radhakrishnan | Hemant Soren |
| Karnataka | Bengaluru | Thaawarchand Gehlot | Siddaramaiah |
| Kerala | Thiruvananthapuram | Arif Mohammad Khan | Pinarayi Vijayan |
| Madhya Pradesh | Bhopal | Mangubhai C. Patel | Dr. Mohan Yadav |
| Maharashtra | Mumbai | Ramesh Bais | Eknath Shinde |
| Manipur | Imphal | Anusuiya Uikey | N. Biren Singh |
| Meghalaya | Shillong | Phagu Chauhan | Conrad Sangma |
| Mizoram | Aizawl | Dr. Kambhampati Hari Babu | Lalduhoma |
| Nagaland | Kohima | La. Ganesan | Neiphiu Rio |
| Odisha | Bhubaneswar | Raghubar Das | Mohan Charan Majhi |
| Punjab | Chandigarh | Banwarilal Purohit | Bhagwant Mann |
| Rajasthan | Jaipur | Kalraj Mishra | Bhajan Lal Sharma |
| Sikkim | Gangtok | Lakshman Prasad Acharya | Prem Singh Tamang |
| Tamil Nadu | Chennai | R. N. Ravi | M. K. Stalin |
| Telangana | Hyderabad | C. P. Radharmakrishnan (Addl. Charge) | A. Revanth Reddy |
| Tripura | Agartala | Indrasena Reddy Nallu | Dr. Manik Saha |
| Uttar Pradesh | Lucknow | Anandiben Patel | Yogi Adityanath |
| Uttarakhand | Dehradun | Lt. General Gurmit Singh | Pushkar Singh Dhami |
| West Bengal | Kolkata | Dr. C. V. Ananda Bose | Mamata Banerjee |
| Andaman and Nicobar Islands (UT) | Port Blair | Admiral Devendra Kumar Joshi (Lt. Governor) | - |
| Chandigarh (UT) | Chandigarh | Banwarilal Purohit (Administrator) | - |
| Dadra and Nagar Haveli & Daman and Diu (UT) | Daman | Praful Patel (Administrator) | - |
| Delhi (NCT) | New Delhi | Vinai Kumar Saxena (Lt. Governor) | Atishi |
| Jammu and Kashmir (UT) | Srinagar/Jammu | Manoj Sinha (Lt. Governor) | - |
| Lakshadweep (UT) | Kavaratti | Praful Patel (Administrator) | - |
| Puducherry (UT) | Puducherry | C. P. Radharmakrishnan (Addl. Lt. Governor) | N. Rangasamy |
| Ladakh (UT) | Leh | Brigadier (Retd.) Dr. B. D. Mishra (Lt. Governor) | - |