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RAS News Digest — Today's News — 3 July 2026

Newspaper-based news digest for the RPSC RAS exam, dated Today's News — 3 July 2026.

International Relations

PM Modi and Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi called a free, rules-based Indo-Pacific (FOIP) a shared priority.
The two sides signed 129 MoUs spanning technology, investment and artificial intelligence.
Japan pledged to work toward about $1 trillion (₹5.92 lakh crore) of investment in India over the coming decade.
Key deliverables: a first defence co-development pact, an AI-ecosystem partnership and a bio-manufacturing pact.

Source: The Hindu / Indian Express, 3 Jul 2026

Polity & Governance

The Supreme Court set aside an NCLT order that had relied on fictitious, AI-generated legal precedents.
A Bench of Justices P.S. Narasimha and Alok Aradhe demanded a 'zero-tolerance' approach.
It asked the Bar Council of India to frame guidelines against citing AI-fabricated judgments.
The court is publishing Draft Regulations for Use of AI in Courts, 2026 for public consultation.

Source: The Hindu / Indian Express, 3 Jul 2026

Governance / Economy

The Delhi government sought a CAG audit of BSES Rajdhani, BSES Yamuna and Tata Power Delhi.
The focus is about ₹38,500 crore of accumulated 'regulatory assets' (deferred costs) recoverable from consumers.
Delhi's power tariffs have not been revised since 2014-15.
The order cites an August 2025 Supreme Court direction on scrutiny of regulatory assets.

Source: The Hindu, 3 Jul 2026

Environment & Ecology

The Environment Ministry cleared the Kente Extension coal block in the Hasdeo-Arand forests on 24 June.
Hasdeo — 'Central India's green lungs' — hosts about 640 plant species and roughly 400 elephants.
About 60,000 trees are to be felled; the coal is earmarked for Rajasthan (Chhabra) and Surat power plants.
The WII and ICFRE flagged ecological impacts and local communities oppose the diversion.

Source: Indian Express, 3 Jul 2026

Defence

The Navy's stealth frigate INS Trikand intervened during a piracy attack on the bulk carrier MV Golden Arsenal.
The incident occurred about 100 nautical miles north-east of Djibouti.
The ship's 100-member crew, including one Indian, was kept safe.
It reinforces India's sustained anti-piracy presence in the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea.

Source: Indian Express, 3 Jul 2026

Geography / Environment

The IMD declared monsoon onset over Delhi and Rajasthan, about five days later than normal, covering the whole country.
Heavy rain lashed Mumbai and Gujarat as the system advanced.
Very heavy rain was forecast for many States over 3-6 July, with red and orange alerts.
Konkan, Madhya Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Odisha were among the alert zones.

Source: Rajasthan Patrika / The Hindu, 3 Jul 2026

Internal Security (Rajasthan)

The Rajasthan ATS arrested four alleged operatives with cross-border handler links accused of reconnaissance of sites in Delhi and Punjab.
Weapons, including a pistol, were recovered.
Separately, the ATS arrested Babita Dhakad (38) of Jaipur under the UAPA for online contact with Jaish-e-Mohammed.
She was allegedly cultivated through social media.

Source: Rajasthan Patrika / Indian Express, 3 Jul 2026