Newspaper-based news digest for the RPSC RAS exam, dated Today's News — 6 July 2026.
Rajasthan / Governance
PM Modi dedicates projects worth over Rs 1.05 lakh crore to Rajasthan; 53,977 appointment letters given
On 5 July 2026 PM Narendra Modi dedicated/laid foundation for projects worth over Rs 1,05,000 crore in Rajasthan from Pachpadra (Balotra/Barmer).
Key items: the Rajasthan Refinery (HPCL Rajasthan Refinery Ltd, cost over Rs 79,000 crore) dedicated; foundation of Jaipur Metro Phase-2 (over Rs 13,000 crore); new terminal at Jodhpur Airport; and an MoA on the Yamuna Water (Kishau dam) project.
Seven energy, road and railway projects worth Rs 13,443 crore were also part of the package.
A simultaneous state-wide 'District-Level Employment Festival' distributed government appointment letters to 53,977 youth (e.g., Jaipur 5,852; Sikar 2,505; Dausa 2,405).
Source: Times of India / Dainik Navjyoti, 6 July 2026
Economy / Energy
OPEC+ clears 188,000 bpd output hike for August; India moves to diversify oil and gas sourcing
OPEC+ approved a production increase of 188,000 barrels per day (bpd) for August 2026 — the fifth such hike since the recent West Asia conflict.
India imports nearly 90% of its crude oil; state oil firms plan to double LPG imports from the US and are exploring new suppliers such as Algeria.
Brent crude eased near $72 a barrel while the Indian basket softened to about $67-68 a barrel.
Lower prices could let oil marketing companies break even on petrol and diesel within about ten days if the trend holds.
Source: Times of India, 6 July 2026
Economy / Financial Regulation
RBI Financial Stability Report flags rising early exits from life insurance, points to mis-selling
The RBI's Financial Stability Report (FSR) flagged a rise in early surrenders and withdrawals from life-insurance policies, signalling mis-selling risk.
Total benefits paid by life insurers rose from about Rs 5 lakh crore (2021-22) to Rs 7.3 lakh crore (2025-26), a 16.1% jump over FY25.
Private insurers' commission ratio has nearly doubled in four years; surrenders/withdrawals now form about 38.3% of total pay-outs.
The RBI publishes the FSR twice a year; it also carries the Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC) sub-committee's assessment of systemic risks.
Source: Times of India, 6 July 2026
Polity / Elections
Special Intensive Revision removes over 20 lakh names from Odisha electoral rolls
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Odisha removed over 20 lakh names from a pre-revision base of about 3.3 crore electors.
Of these, roughly 8 lakh were deceased, about 10 lakh had shifted, about 1 lakh (0.5%) were enrolled at multiple places, and around 14,000 were removed for other reasons.
The revision drive was conducted between 30 May and 28 June 2026, followed by publication of the draft roll.
The exercise triggered political friction, with the ruling and opposition parties differing over its accuracy; the Supreme Court has broadly endorsed the SIR process.
Source: Times of India, 6 July 2026
Science & Technology
Japan's Hayabusa2 probe skims near-Earth asteroid Torifune in planetary-defence test
Japan's space probe Hayabusa2 (of JAXA, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) flew past a near-Earth asteroid named Torifune in a planetary-defence technology test.
The probe passed within about 860 metres of the roughly 160-metre-wide asteroid while travelling at about 18,000 km/h.
It builds on JAXA's earlier work and on NASA's 2022 DART mission, which deliberately struck the asteroid Dimorphos to alter its orbit — the first demonstration of asteroid deflection.
Planetary defence aims to detect and deflect asteroids that could threaten Earth, using techniques such as the kinetic impactor.
Source: Times of India, 6 July 2026
International Relations
Next round of US-Iran nuclear talks likely in Islamabad; focus on Strait of Hormuz
Islamabad is emerging as the likely venue for the next round of US-Iran negotiations, expected around 11 July 2026.
The two sides signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 18 June 2026 to restore peace in West Asia; earlier technical talks were held in Switzerland with Pakistan and Qatar as mediators.
Talks are to cover Iran's nuclear programme, sanctions relief, frozen Iranian assets and the stability of the Strait of Hormuz.
The Strait of Hormuz, between Iran and Oman, is the world's most important oil chokepoint, carrying a large share of seaborne crude and LNG.
Source: Times of India, 6 July 2026
Governance / IT & Child Safety
MeitY issues 'zero tolerance' notice to Meta over child-abuse ads on Instagram
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) issued a notice to Meta to immediately disable paid advertisements and content on Instagram promoting access to child sexual exploitation and abuse material (CSEAM).
Meta was given seven days to explain how such advertisements were allowed and what pre-publication checks were carried out.
The government stressed a 'zero tolerance' stance; reports said the ads misused leaked personal data such as names, phone numbers and identity details.
The action falls under the intermediary due-diligence framework of the IT Act and IT Rules, which require platforms to remove such unlawful content promptly.