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RAS News Digest — 16 July 2026

Newspaper-based news digest for the RPSC RAS exam, dated 16 July 2026.

International Relations

Weeks after an interim peace understanding, the US and Iran launched fresh strikes across West Asia over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards threatened to halt all oil and gas exports from the region — "for everyone or for no one".
Brent crude traded near $85 a barrel, more than 15% above the pre-war level but below the near-$120 conflict peak.
India, dependent on Gulf energy and trade corridors, has urged restraint; it had co-sponsored UN Security Council Resolution 2817 (2026) condemning attacks on Gulf shipping.

Source: Ministry of External Affairs / UN Security Council, July 2026

Economy & Technology

The Union Cabinet approved a package of key projects worth about Rs 2.19 lakh crore to boost manufacturing and self-reliance.
The centrepiece is 'Semicon 2.0', a roughly Rs 1.27 lakh crore push to deepen India's semiconductor ecosystem under the India Semiconductor Mission.
A new urea policy aims at self-sufficiency in the fertilizer, alongside a scheme to expand mobile-phone component manufacturing.
The moves extend the government's Make-in-India and Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) strategy in strategic, import-heavy sectors.

Source: Union Cabinet / PIB, July 2026

Economy

India's June trade deficit widened sharply, driven mainly by higher-value imports of crude oil, gold, fertilizers and electronic goods.
Crude oil import value rose about 40% and fertilizer imports over 200% by value, reflecting the West Asia crisis and a squeeze on gas supplies.
Merchandise exports still grew 15.5% in June (16% in the first quarter), with non-petroleum exports up a robust 16.5%.
Services exports grew more slowly; the Chief Economic Adviser warned against complacency in areas like Global Capability Centres.

Source: Ministry of Commerce & Industry, July 2026

Polity & Governance

The ruling alliance has renewed efforts to secure the two-thirds majority needed to advance a Bill linked to delimitation.
Delimitation is the redrawing of Lok Sabha and Assembly constituency boundaries based on the latest census population.
It is overseen by an independent Delimitation Commission, and Articles 82 and 170 of the Constitution govern the exercise.
The number of Lok Sabha seats was frozen by the 84th Amendment until the first census after 2026, making the issue politically sensitive between States.

Source: Government of India / Parliament, July 2026

Science, Tech & Security

A ransomware group reportedly accessed thousands of files from a contractor's server linked to the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP).
The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) said the information relates to "conventional balance-of-plant" facilities and not to any nuclear safety or security systems.
KKNPP runs two 1,000 MWe VVER reactors built with Russian collaboration and is constructing four more units.
The Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) and NPCIL are investigating, underscoring cyber risks to critical infrastructure.

Source: NPCIL / Department of Atomic Energy, July 2026

Rajasthan — Education

Plaster from the ceiling of a dilapidated classroom fell during class at a government senior secondary school in Heerawala, Bassi block (Jaipur district).
A boy and a girl were injured and taken to the community health centre; the building had reportedly been flagged as unsafe earlier.
The incident revives concern over ageing, unsafe government-school buildings and the state of school infrastructure.
Safety audits, timely repair of condemned buildings and adequate maintenance funds are the recurring demands after such accidents.

Source: Rajasthan School Education Department, July 2026