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Daily Current Affairs 8th July 2026 Daily GK Update
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National News
Project SAMARTH Launched at IIT Gandhinagar to Boost India’s Semiconductor Talent and R&D
- Project SAMARTH (Silicon and Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing Research and Training Hub) is being established at IIT Gandhinagar, Gujarat with a total budget of ₹190 crore to strengthen India’s semiconductor manufacturing, research, and skill development ecosystem.
- The project is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), the Department of Science and Technology, Government of Gujarat, and IIT Gandhinagar, with construction work beginning on 2 March 2026.
- The centre aims to train 10,000 people over five years, including students, technicians, and engineers, while making engineering graduates fab-ready through hands-on training and supporting indigenous semiconductor R&D.
- L&T Semiconductor Technologies, which partnered with IIT Gandhinagar in August 2024, is collaborating on research, development, and capacity building under the SAMARTH initiative, with training to be offered at nominal cost.
Tamil Nadu Becomes India’s Fastest-Growing Merchandise Exporting State in FY26
- Tamil Nadu emerged as India’s fastest-growing merchandise exporting state in FY26, recording total exports of $59.3 billion, a 13.7% year-on-year (YoY) increase despite global trade tensions and geopolitical challenges.
- The state became India’s largest exporter of electronic goods, with electronics exports worth $19.9 billion, registering an impressive 36% YoY growth.
- Strong growth in smartphone and telecom equipment exports, particularly to the United States, played a key role in boosting Tamil Nadu’s overall export performance.
- With nearly $20 billion in electronics exports, Tamil Nadu accounted for 42% of India’s total electronic goods exports in FY26, reinforcing its position as the country’s leading electronics manufacturing and export hub.
MoSPI Report: Prayagraj and Patna Record Highest Unemployment Among India’s Million-Plus Cities
- The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released the report “Labour Market Dynamics in Million-plus Cities”, based on the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2025, covering 46 cities with a population of over 10 lakh, using data from more than 19,000 households and around 60,000 persons (aged 15 years and above).
- Prayagraj and Patna recorded the highest unemployment rates (above 20%), whereas Ahmedabad and Kolkata reported the lowest unemployment rates (below 2.5%). The average unemployment rate across all 46 million-plus cities stood at 6.8%, broadly matching India’s overall urban unemployment rate.
- Female unemployment was significantly higher than male unemployment in the worst-performing cities. In Prayagraj, female unemployment exceeded 31% compared to around 23% for males, while in Patna, female unemployment was over 36% against around 18% for males under the Current Weekly Status (CWS) approach.
- Employment patterns showed that regular wage/salaried employment was much higher in million-plus cities (58.5%) than the urban India average (47.6%), while casual employment was considerably lower (6.3% vs. 12%). Female participation in regular salaried jobs was also higher in million-plus cities (65.1%) than in urban India (50.9%).
- Labour force participation data revealed that male LFPR in million-plus cities stood at 75.3%, while female LFPR was 25.8%. Among women outside the labour force, 68.7% cited childcare and homemaking responsibilities as the primary reason for non-participation, whereas 53.5% of men outside the labour force were pursuing education.
Government to Sell Up to 5.04% Stake in Cochin Shipyard Through Offer for Sale (OFS)
- The Government of India has announced an Offer for Sale (OFS) to divest up to 5.04% stake in Cochin Shipyard Ltd as part of its disinvestment programme.
- Under the base offer, the government will initially sell 2.52% of Cochin Shipyard’s paid-up equity share capital.
- The OFS also includes a green-shoe option of an additional 2.52% stake, allowing the government to increase the size of the sale if investor demand is strong.
Adani Enterprises and Abu Dhabi’s IRH to Invest ₹1.08 Lakh Crore in Odisha’s Greenfield Aluminium Project
- Adani Enterprises Ltd (AEL) and International Resources Holding (IRH), Abu Dhabi, have signed an MoU with the Government of Odisha to develop an integrated greenfield aluminium project with an investment of $11.5 billion (₹1.08 lakh crore) through a 50:50 joint venture.
- The project, which marks the Adani Group’s entry into the aluminium sector, is expected to become Odisha’s largest Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) proposal and India’s largest FDI in the metallurgy sector.
- The project includes a 4 MMTPA alumina refinery in Rayagada, a 2 MMTPA aluminium smelter, a 4,000 MW captive power plant, and a 1 MMTPA downstream manufacturing park in Sundargarh, with bauxite sourced from Odisha Mining Corporation and Adani-owned mines.
Banking And Financial News
Government Keeps Interest Rates on Small Savings Schemes Unchanged for July–September 2026 Quarter
- The Finance Ministry has kept interest rates unchanged on all government-backed small savings schemes for the July–September 2026 quarter (Q2 of FY2026–27), providing stability for millions of investors.
- This is the ninth consecutive quarter in which the government has not revised the interest rates, with the same rates continuing from the April–June 2026 quarter.
- The decision covers major small savings schemes, including the Public Provident Fund (PPF), National Savings Certificate (NSC), Senior Citizen Savings Scheme (SCSS), Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY), Kisan Vikas Patra (KVP), Post Office Monthly Income Scheme (POMIS), Post Office Time Deposits, and Post Office Recurring Deposit (RD).
- These government-backed schemes remain popular for offering safe, secure, and guaranteed returns, making them a preferred investment option for long-term and risk-averse investors.
Saving Schemes Interest rates for July 2026 – September 2026
- Post Office Savings Deposit- 4 per cent
- Post Office Monthly Income Account- 7.4 percent
- 1-Year Post Office Time Deposits- 6.9 percent
- 2-Year Post Office Time Deposits- 7.0 percent
- 3-Year Post Office Time Deposits- 7.1 percent
- 5-Year Post Office Time Deposits- 7.5 percent
- 5-Year Recurring Deposits- 6.7 percent
- Senior Citizens Savings Scheme- 8.2 per cent
- Sukanya Samriddhi Account- 8.2 per cent
- National Saving Certificates (NSC)- 7.7 percent
- Kisan Vikas Patra- 7.5 percent (will mature in 115 months)
- Public Provident Fund- 7.1 per cent
ADB Approves USD 230 Million Loan to Modernise Chennai’s Water Supply and Sanitation System
- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a USD 230 million loan to modernise and expand water supply and sanitation infrastructure in Chennai, benefiting approximately 4.5 million residents in the Greater Chennai area.
- The project aims to improve access to safe and reliable drinking water, strengthen sanitation services, enhance climate resilience, improve public health, and create a more efficient and financially sustainable urban water system.
- The initiative supports the Government of India’s urban development programmes, including Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) 2.0 and the Urban Challenge Fund, while building on ADB’s earlier investments in Chennai.
About Asian Development Bank (ADB)
- Founded – 19 December 1966
- Headquarters – Mandaluyong, Metro Manila, Philippines
- President – Masato Kanda (replace Masatsugu Asakawa)
- Member Countries – 69 (Israel)
Awards News
ICMR-MINDS Wins Gold Award at National Awards for e-Governance 2026 for AI-Powered Mental Healthcare
- ICMR-MINDS, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) flagship AI-powered digital mental healthcare initiative, received the Gold Award in the “Innovation by Use of AI and Other New Age Technologies for Providing Citizen-Centric Services” category at the National Awards for e-Governance 2026.
- The award, instituted by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), was presented by Jitendra Singh during the 29th National Conference on e-Governance (NCeG) 2026 held in Jaipur.
- ICMR-MINDS uses an Artificial Intelligence-enabled Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS) to assist frontline healthcare workers in screening, assessing, and managing mental and substance use disorders, while integrating mental healthcare with the treatment of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
Nita Ambani Honoured with AAPI Humanitarian Award in the US for Contributions to Healthcare and Social Impact
- Nita Ambani received the AAPI Humanitarian Award in Tampa, Florida, USA, for her contributions to healthcare, education, sports, culture, and community development through humanitarian initiatives.
- The honour was presented by the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin, recognising her long-term commitment towards social impact, compassion, and dignity-based service.
- Jane Castor also presented Nita Ambani with the Key to the City of Tampa, one of the highest civic honours in the United States, acknowledging her meaningful contributions to society.
Science and Tech News
Skyroot’s Vikram-1 to Carry Mission Embrace for World’s First Soft Robotic Space Debris Capture Demonstration
- Skyroot Aerospace’s Vikram-1, India’s first privately developed orbital-class rocket, will carry Mission Embrace, the first orbital technology demonstration mission by Indian startup Cosmoserve Space, during Mission Aagaman.
- Mission Embrace aims to demonstrate the world’s first soft robotic capture in orbit, a breakthrough technology for Active Debris Removal (ADR) to tackle the growing problem of space debris.
- Cosmoserve Space is developing a dual-spacecraft robotic servicing system capable of capturing and removing defunct satellites at around one-tenth the cost of comparable solutions, supporting the long-term sustainability of Earth’s orbital environment.
Neymar Jr Announces International Retirement After Ending Career as Brazil’s All-Time Top Scorer
- Neymar Jr. announced his retirement from international football after Brazil’s 2–1 defeat against Norway in the Round of 16 of the FIFA World Cup 2026.
- Neymar concluded his international career as Brazil’s all-time leading goal scorer, scoring 80 goals in 130 appearances for the national team.
Defence News
Indian Navy to Commission Indigenous Stealth Frigate INS Mahendragiri Under Project 17A
- The Indian Navy will commission INS Mahendragiri (F38), the sixth indigenous stealth frigate under Project 17A, at Visakhapatnam on 11 July, further strengthening India’s naval capabilities.
- Designed by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau and built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai, the warship features a Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) propulsion system and has over 75% indigenous content, reflecting the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
- Named after the Mahendragiri mountain range in the Eastern Ghats, the stealth frigate will act as a force multiplier for the Indian Navy, enhancing maritime security and supporting India’s strategic role in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and the Indo-Pacific.
India and Japan Sign First-Ever Defence Co-Development Agreement for UNICORN Communication Mast
- India and Japan have signed their first-ever Defence Co-Development Agreement, marking a major milestone in bilateral defence cooperation and indigenous defence manufacturing.
- The first project under the agreement involves the joint development and licensed production of the UNICORN (Unified Complex Radio Antenna), an advanced shipborne integrated communication mast developed by Japan.
- Under the agreement, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) will manufacture the UNICORN communication mast in India in collaboration with Japanese partners, strengthening the Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiatives in the defence sector.
Important Days
7 July- World Kiswahili Language Day
- World Kiswahili Language Day is observed every year on 7 July to celebrate the importance and global contribution of the Kiswahili (Swahili) language.
- The day was established by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to promote linguistic diversity, multilingualism, and the cultural heritage associated with Kiswahili.
- Kiswahili is one of the most widely spoken African languages and serves as an official language in several countries, including Tanzania, Kenya, and other parts of East Africa.
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