“SPORTS”

Tamil Nadu’s Aswath Becomes India’s 98th Grandmaster

S. Aswath, a 17-year-old chess player from Nagercoil in Tamil Nadu, became India’s 98th Grandmaster on 8 July 2026. He earned his third and final Grandmaster norm at the Pune International GM tournament in July 2026. The Grandmaster title is awarded by the International Chess Federation, also known as FIDE. A player must secure three Grandmaster norms and cross a FIDE rating of 2500 to receive the title.

“SCIENCE”

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.

DRDO Tests 60-km Pinaka Long-Range Guided Rocket

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted a flight test of the Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket (LRGR) on 8 July 2026 at the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur, Odisha. The rocket was tested for a user-defined minimum strike range of 60 km and completed all planned in-flight manoeuvres before hitting the designated target. Pinaka is an indigenous multi-barrel rocket launcher system developed for the Indian Army. The system uses a launcher platform that can fire different variants of the Pinaka rocket family, which allows common launcher compatibility across multiple rocket types.

“AWARDS”

Acharya Ranchhodlal Goswami Wins Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar 2025

Acharya Ranchhodlal Goswami from Ahmedabad was selected for the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar 2025, it was announced by the Sangeet Natak Akademi under the Union Ministry of Culture for the 2024–25 awards. This recognition celebrates his outstanding contribution to preserving and promoting Haveli Sangeet.

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.

“NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL NEWS”

IIM Bangalore to establish first overseas campus in Indonesia

During his state visit to Jakarta, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 7 announced that IIM Bangalore will establish its first overseas campus at the Singhasari Special Economic Zone in Malang, Indonesia. Aligned with India’s NEP 2020 to internationalize higher education, the project strengthens the India-Indonesia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and serves the broader ASEAN region. Implemented via an MoU with PT Intelegensia Grahatama, the campus will roll out in two phases, starting with executive education followed by full-fledged degree programs.

Geneva to Host Global AI Summit in 2027

Switzerland will host a global AI summit in Geneva on June 21-22, 2027. The summit is linked to international discussions on artificial intelligence governance, trustworthy AI, and multilateral cooperation among governments, international organisations, scientists, businesses, and civil society. The Geneva summit is planned as a platform for stable and effective processes for global discussions on AI governance. Its stated themes include the responsible, safe, and human-centred use of artificial intelligence, along with broader questions on prosperity, progress, and public welfare.

India Launches World’s First Once-Weekly Insulin Awiqli

India launched Awiqli, the world’s first once-weekly basal insulin, on 9 July 2026. The drug contains insulin icodec and is marketed by Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk. In India, Awiqli is approved for adults with Type 1 diabetes and Type 2 diabetes. Basal insulin is a long-acting insulin used to maintain blood glucose levels between meals and during sleep. Daily basal insulin regimens usually require 365 injections in a year, while once-weekly insulin reduces this number to 52 injections annually. Awiqli is designed for patients who need long-term insulin therapy and use injectable treatment for diabetes management.