Newspaper-based news digest for the RPSC RAS exam, dated 13 July 2026.
International Relations
Iran strikes West Asian states after U.S. attack; declares Strait of Hormuz closed
After the U.S. struck Iran early on Sunday — a strike on a container ship in the Strait of Hormuz left one Indian sailor missing — Iran retaliated with attacks on several West Asian states hosting U.S. forces: Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan and Oman.
Iran declared the Strait of Hormuz 'closed'; the U.S. and its Central Command (CENTCOM) insisted traffic was still flowing and that it alone must control the strait.
The Strait of Hormuz — between Iran and Oman, linking the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman — is the world's most important oil chokepoint, carrying about a fifth of global petroleum-liquids trade.
Source: Ministry of External Affairs / press, July 2026
International Relations / Agriculture
Taliban administration seeks deeper farm ties with India
The Taliban administration of Afghanistan expressed a desire to deepen agricultural cooperation with India — covering agri-trade, infrastructure, irrigation, food processing and climate-resilient, bio-fortified crops — during a six-day visit by its Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock Minister.
The Afghan delegation met Union Ministers (Agriculture, Food Processing) and institutions including NABARD, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI).
Afghanistan is a landlocked country; India accesses it via the Chabahar port route in Iran, and has long supported its agriculture and development.
Source: Ministry of External Affairs, July 2026
Economy / Strategic Resources
China temporarily bans helium exports, spotlighting a strategic resource
On July 10, China's Ministry of Commerce and customs administration temporarily banned helium exports — a resource on which China depends heavily (it imports over 80% of its needs and produces only about 1.6% of the world's helium).
Helium is a non-renewable, non-manufacturable noble gas; the U.S. is the largest producer (about 43% of supply), followed by Qatar, Russia, Canada and Algeria.
With the lowest boiling point of any element (about -269°C), helium is a critical coolant for MRI machines and semiconductor fabrication, and is used to pressurise rocket fuel tanks (by ISRO, NASA, SpaceX).
Source: General Administration of Customs, China / press, July 2026
Governance / Urban
Delhi seeks Rs 100 crore to speed up PM-UDAY ownership rights for unauthorised colonies
The Delhi Chief Minister sought Rs 100 crore from the Centre to accelerate the PM-UDAY scheme, which provides property/ownership rights to residents of 1,511 unauthorised colonies in the national capital.
PM-UDAY (Pradhan Mantri Unauthorised Colonies in Delhi Awas Adhikar Yojana), launched in 2019, is implemented through the Delhi Development Authority (DDA).
It aims to regularise long-standing unauthorised colonies and give residents a recognised legal title to their homes.
Source: Delhi Development Authority / PM-UDAY, July 2026
Polity / Local Governance
Debate over District Development Councils and local democracy in J&K
The District Development Councils (DDCs) — a directly elected tier introduced in Jammu & Kashmir in 2020 — completed their five-year term in February 2026 with no fresh elections held, reviving debate on their role.
Critics argue the DDCs function as a parallel administrative authority that bypasses the panchayat/municipal system envisaged by the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments.
The 73rd and 74th Amendments (1992) created a three-tier rural Panchayati Raj and urban local bodies; the District Planning Committee under Article 243ZD is meant to coordinate their plans.
Source: The Hindu explainer / static polity, July 2026
Polity / Judiciary
CJI stresses the need for women-centric infrastructure in judicial buildings
The Chief Justice of India stressed the need for women-centric infrastructure — such as safe, accessible facilities for women litigants, lawyers and staff — in court buildings across the country.
The push aligns with wider efforts to make courts more accessible and inclusive, including for women's participation in the legal profession.
It also connects to concerns over judicial infrastructure and case pendency, with over 5 crore cases pending across Indian courts.
Source: Supreme Court of India, July 2026
Science & Technology / Space
ISRO successfully carries out tests of Gaganyaan systems
ISRO successfully carried out tests of systems for the Gaganyaan mission — India's first human spaceflight programme — moving it closer to a crewed launch.
Gaganyaan aims to send a crew of astronauts ('gaganyatris') to a low-Earth orbit of about 400 km for up to three days and bring them back safely.
It uses the human-rated LVM3 launch vehicle and an Orbital Module comprising a Crew Module and a Service Module, with a series of abort and recovery tests preceding the crewed flight.