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RAS News Digest — Today's News — 1 July 2026
Newspaper-based news digest for the RPSC RAS exam, dated Today's News — 1 July 2026.
EconomyRBI holds repo rate at 5.25%; trims growth, raises inflation forecast
- The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) kept the policy repo rate unchanged at 5.25% and retained a neutral stance.
- It LOWERED the FY27 GDP growth forecast to 6.6% (from 6.9%) and RAISED the inflation projection to 5.1% (from 4.6%).
- The decision cited risks from the West Asia conflict and elevated energy prices.
- A neutral stance keeps room to move rates either way as data evolves.
Source: The Hindu / Indian Express, 1 Jul 2026
Polity & GovernanceSupreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026 to raise judges' strength
- The Bill seeks to increase the sanctioned strength of Supreme Court judges to ease pendency.
- The number of SC judges is fixed by Parliament under the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956 — Article 124 leaves it to Parliament.
- The strength has earlier been raised by amendments in 1977, 1986, 2008 and 2019.
- It is ordinary legislation, not a constitutional amendment.
Source: The Hindu, 1 Jul 2026
Governance / TechnologyDigital India marks 11 years: DBT, fibre and services milestones
- Digital India (launched 1 July 2015) completed 11 years; over ₹51 lakh crore has been transferred via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
- About 42 lakh route km of optical fibre has been laid, connecting nearly 2.2 lakh villages.
- 70+ crore DigiLocker users; Poshan Tracker monitors 8.9+ crore mothers and children; 2,500+ government services are on mobile.
- Startup India and the Atal Innovation Mission drive deep-tech, with 12 semiconductor plants taking shape.
Source: Indian Express (Digital India), 1 Jul 2026
DefenceGen Upendra Dwivedi retires as Army Chief; Gen Dhiraj Seth takes over
- Gen Upendra Dwivedi demitted office as the 30th Chief of the Army Staff; Gen Dhiraj Seth took over.
- He said future wars will be more 'joint, integrated and theatre-oriented'.
- The remark revives the push for Integrated Theatre Commands, driven by the CDS and the Department of Military Affairs.
- India today has 17 single-service commands and only two tri-service commands.
Source: Indian Express, 1 Jul 2026
International RelationsIndia joins G7 2026 outreach at Évian; India–EU FTA talks concluded
- The G7 Summit 2026 was hosted by France at Évian-les-Bains; India attended as an invited partner in the Outreach Session (not a G7 member).
- India and the European Union announced the conclusion of negotiations for their Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
- The India–EU FTA is among India's most significant trade deals, covering a large market.
- The G7 comprises the US, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Canada.
Source: The Hindu, 1 Jul 2026
Environment & EcologyIndia crosses 100 Ramsar sites — the most in Asia
- India now has 100 Ramsar (wetland) sites — the highest in Asia.
- Tamil Nadu leads all states with 20 Ramsar sites.
- The Sundarbans holds all five designations: Ramsar site, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Tiger Reserve, National Park and Biosphere Reserve.
- Ramsar recognition supports wetland conservation and 'wise use'.
Source: The Hindu, 1 Jul 2026
Science & TechnologyISRO sets up panel to review PSLV anomaly; launches 3rd Space Hackathon
- ISRO constituted a national-level expert committee to review an anomaly observed in the PSLV.
- It also launched the third edition of the Indian Space Hackathon.
- The PSLV uses solid and liquid stages and mainly places satellites in polar / sun-synchronous orbits.
- Heavier communication satellites to GEO are launched by the GSLV / LVM3 with cryogenic upper stages.
Source: The Hindu, 1 Jul 2026
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