Newspaper-based news digest for the RPSC RAS exam, dated 07 July 2026.
Awards & Recognition
President confers Padma Awards 2026; Dharmendra (posthumous) & N. Rajam get Padma Vibhushan
The President conferred the Padma Awards 2026 at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi — 2 Padma Vibhushan, 6 Padma Bhushan and 58 Padma Shri, taking the list to 66.
Actor and former MP Dharmendra Singh Deol (posthumous) and violin maestro Dr. (Smt.) N. Rajam — famed for the 'Singing Violin' — received the Padma Vibhushan.
Rajasthan figured prominently in the Padma Shri list: Algoza folk musician Taga Ram Bheel (Jaisalmer), Swami Brahamdev (Sri Ganganagar) and Bhapang exponent Gafaruddin Mewati Jogi (Deeg/Bharatpur).
INS Mahendragiri, sixth indigenous Project 17A stealth frigate, to be commissioned on July 11
The Indian Navy will commission INS Mahendragiri (F38), the sixth Project 17A stealth frigate, at Visakhapatnam on 11 July.
Designed by the Navy's Warship Design Bureau and built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd, Mumbai, it has over 75% indigenous content.
Named after a peak in the Eastern Ghats, it carries advanced stealth features and surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missile systems.
Source: The Indian Express, 7 July 2026
Economy & Environment
E20 becomes the standard petrol nationwide, five years ahead of the 2030 target
India has transitioned to 20% ethanol-blended petrol (E20 — 80% petrol, 20% ethanol) as the standard fuel nationwide, five years ahead of the 2030 target.
The government plans to move towards E25 and introduce E85 fuel for flex-fuel vehicles; the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) studied E20's impact on engine materials.
Higher ethanol lowers carbon emissions but has a lower calorific value, causing a mileage drop that consumers ultimately bear.
Source: The Indian Express, 7 July 2026
International Relations
Questions over Quad's future as US reverses Indo-Pacific Command to Pacific Command
Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi visited New Delhi for the 16th India-Japan Annual Summit, reaffirming a free and open Indo-Pacific.
On 16 June, the Pentagon renamed the Indo-Pacific Command back to the U.S. Pacific Command, reversing a change made in 2018.
Analysts debate the Quad's relevance; its cooperation spans security, supply-chain resilience, critical minerals and health.
Source: The Hindu, 7 July 2026
Modern History
Nation marks 125th birth anniversary of Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee
Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee's birth anniversary is observed on 6 July; he was born in 1901 in Kolkata.
An educationist, he became the youngest Vice-Chancellor of Calcutta University at the age of 33 and was independent India's first Minister for Industry and Supply.
He founded the Bharatiya Jana Sangh in 1951 and opposed separate provisions for Jammu & Kashmir with the slogan 'Ek desh mein do vidhan, do nishan, do pradhan nahi chalenge.'
Source: Dainik Bhaskar, 7 July 2026
Sports
Australia win Women's T20 World Cup for 7th time, beat England in final
Australia won the Women's T20 World Cup, defeating England by 7 wickets in the final.
It is Australia's 7th Women's T20 World Cup title, extending their long-standing dominance in the format.
The victory underlines Australia's status as the most successful side in Women's T20 World Cup history.
Source: Dainik Bhaskar, 7 July 2026
National / Internal Security
Two Assam Rifles personnel killed in militant ambush in Manipur's Ukhrul
Two Assam Rifles personnel were killed in an ambush by suspected militants in Ukhrul district, Manipur.
They were part of a 40 Assam Rifles convoy attacked on National Highway-202 near Nungshong Kong village.
It is the fourth fatal ambush so far this year in the conflict-hit state.