LEGAL NEWS
MHA Designates 23 Pakistan-Based Operatives as Terrorists Under UAPA
• On 4 July 2026, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) designated 23 Pakistan-based operatives as terrorists under Section 35 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA).
• Section 35 empowers the Central Government to include individuals in the Fourth Schedule of the UAPA, which contains the list of designated individual terrorists.
• The newly listed individuals are associated with Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), two Pakistan-based terrorist organisations active in Jammu and Kashmir.
• The designated operatives are accused of terror recruitment, infiltration, training, drone-based arms supply, terror financing, logistical support, and planning terrorist attacks.
• The designation authorises agencies to freeze assets, block financial networks, restrict arms access, and initiate seizure of properties under the legal framework.
• Among those designated are Masood Ilyas Kashmiri, Mohammad Mussadiq alias Doctor, Mufti Muhammad Asghar Khan alias Abu Saad, Abdul Rauf, Hafiz Khalid Waleed, and Rana Iftikhar.
• With this notification, the total number of designated individual terrorists under the UAPA has increased to 80.
• Of the 23 newly designated persons, 11 are originally from Jammu and Kashmir (including those based in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir), while the remaining individuals are Pakistani nationals.
MIB Issues Notice to Telegram Over Pirated Content
• On 4 July 2026, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) issued a notice to Telegram over the circulation of pirated films and OTT content on the platform.
• Telegram has been directed to submit an Action Taken Report (ATR) within 15 days and strengthen measures to detect and remove copyright-infringing content.
• The notice seeks proactive monitoring, faster reporting mechanisms, blocking of access to illegal content, and action against repeat offenders.
• Copyright infringement is punishable under the Copyright Act, 1957, while film-related offences are also governed by the Cinematograph Act, 1952.
• The Ministry cited due diligence obligations under the Information Technology Act, 2000 and the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.
• The action covers channels, groups, bots, user accounts, administrators, and other entities involved in the unauthorised distribution of copyrighted content.
• The Ministry stated that reactive, channel-by-channel takedowns alone are insufficient, expecting platforms to adopt proactive compliance mechanisms.
• Earlier, on 11 March 2026, the Ministry had directed the removal of over 3,100 piracy-linked channels within three hours, and Telegram’s latest compliance will be assessed under the applicable legal framework.
APPOINTMENT
Lokhande Prashant Sitaram Appointed Additional Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs
• Lokhande Prashant Sitaram, a 2001-batch IAS officer of the AGMUT cadre, was appointed Additional Secretary, Department of Home, Ministry of Home Affairs on 2 July 2026.
• The appointment was approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), and the order was issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT).
• The Indian Administrative Service (IAS) is an All India Service constituted under Article 312 of the Constitution.
• The AGMUT cadre comprises officers serving Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram, and Union Territories.
• Additional Secretary is a senior administrative position, ranking below Secretary and above Joint Secretary in the Central Government.
• He will continue to hold the additional charge of Chairperson, CBSE until a regular appointment is made or further orders are issued.
• CBSE is the national school education board under the Ministry of Education, responsible for school affiliation and board examinations.
• In June 2026, he was appointed full-time CBSE Chairperson, but the revised order redesignated it as an additional charge alongside his MHA posting.
SPORTS
Hokato Hotozhe Sema Becomes World No. 1 in Men’s Shot Put F57
• Hokato Hotozhe Sema, a Subedar in the 9 Assam Regiment, became World No. 1 in the Men’s Shot Put F57 rankings on 2 July 2026.
• He won bronze at the Paris 2024 Paralympics with a personal best throw of 14.65 metres in the F57 event.
• F57 is a para-athletics classification for athletes with lower-limb impairments competing in seated throwing events.
• Sema started his shot put career after losing his left leg in a landmine blast during a military operation in 2002.
• His major achievements include bronze at the 2022 Asian Para Games and silver at the 2022 Morocco Grand Prix.
• He is the first Paralympian to receive the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and is also an Arjuna Award recipient.
• At the Paris 2024 Paralympics, Yasin Khosravi (Iran) won gold, while Thiago Paulino dos Santos (Brazil) secured silver in the F57 event.
• Sema’s rise to the top highlights India’s growing success in para-athletics and the increasing international recognition of Indian para-sport achievements.
NATIONAL NEWS
CCRAS Launches Three New Ayurveda Research Initiatives
• The Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) launched three research initiatives on 3 July 2026 during its 5th Executive Committee meeting in New Delhi.
• The meeting was chaired by Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, focusing on strengthening evidence-based Ayurveda research.
• CCRAS is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Ayush and serves as the apex organisation for Ayurveda research in India.
• A Research Methodology textbook under the Ayurved Prabodhini Granthamala series was released to support postgraduate and doctoral Ayurveda education.
• The textbook was prepared by 50 research scientists and faculty members in line with the Outcome-Based Dynamic Curriculum (OBDC) of the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM).
• CCRAS PRAYATNA 2026–27 was launched through an Expression of Interest (EOI) to promote research among postgraduate and Ph.D. Ayurveda scholars.
• The CCRAS Digital Ecosystem Dashboard was introduced to provide digital access to research resources, institutional data, and knowledge management.
• The initiatives aim to enhance scientific writing, research quality, digital integration, and evidence-based documentation in Ayurveda.
UNESCO Raises Concerns Over Restoration Work at Pakistan’s Taxila Heritage Site
• UNESCO issued a warning to Pakistan on 2 July 2026 over restoration work at Mohra Moradu and Sirkap, both part of the Taxila World Heritage Complex.
• UNESCO sought the reversal of reported reconstructions and requested detailed conservation records and supporting documentation.
• Taxila, located in Punjab, Pakistan, was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1980 and is renowned for its Gandhara civilisation remains.
• Mohra Moradu is an ancient Buddhist monastery, while Sirkap is a planned ancient city reflecting Indo-Greek and Kushan influences.
• UNESCO’s conservation principles emphasise minimum intervention, preservation of original fabric, and the use of compatible restoration materials.
• The organisation requested Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) reports along with before-and-after photographic evidence of the restoration work.
• A joint technical inspection involving UNESCO, Pakistan’s Department of Archaeology and Museums, and the Ministry of National Heritage and Cultural Division was conducted in June 2026.
• Pakistan has 6 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including Taxila, Mohenjo-daro, and the Fort and Shalamar Gardens, Lahore, with additional sites on its Tentative List for future nomination.
National Narcotics Helpline MANAS Strengthens Drug Reporting and Counselling
• MANAS (Madak Padarth Nishedh Asoochna Kendra) was launched on 18 July 2024 by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) under the Ministry of Home Affairs, with support from the Digital India Corporation.
• The platform enables citizens to report drug trafficking, peddling, illegal cultivation, and substance abuse through a unified national mechanism.
• MANAS is accessible via the 1933 national helpline, official web portal, email, and the UMANG mobile application.
• The platform is integrated with 30 NCB Zonal Units and 36 State/UT Anti-Narcotics Task Forces (ANTFs) for coordinated action.
• By June 2026, MANAS had received over 9.94 lakh connection attempts and 2.65 lakh drug-related reports, generating more than 16,200 actionable intelligence inputs.
• By July 2026, the 1933 helpline had connected over 47,500 callers with professional counselling services.
• Since its launch, the platform has assisted over 32,900 individuals facing substance abuse issues and handled more than 12,800 rehabilitation requests.
• MANAS combines digital reporting, intelligence generation, counselling, and rehabilitation support, strengthening India's integrated approach to drug control and de-addiction.
STATE NEWS
Bihar’s Banyan Tree Identified as the World’s Oldest Scientifically Dated Banyan
• A banyan tree (Ficus benghalensis) in Munger, Bihar, has been identified as the world’s oldest accurately dated banyan tree, with an estimated age of about 700 years.
• Scientists determined its age using high-precision radiocarbon dating of alpha-cellulose extracted from wood samples, a reliable method for dating long-lived tropical trees.
• The research was led by Dr. Trina Bose of the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences (BSIP), Lucknow, with contributions from Dr. Mayank Shekhar and Dr. Akhilesh K. Yadava.
• The findings were published in the peer-reviewed journal Quaternary Research in April 2026.
• Since banyan trees do not produce distinct annual growth rings, conventional dendrochronology is unsuitable, making radiocarbon analysis the preferred dating technique.
• The study indicates that the tree predates the nearby Burra Bunglow and is likely a surviving remnant of an ancient natural forest.
• Ficus benghalensis, the national tree of India, belongs to the Moraceae family and is distinguished by its aerial roots, which develop into prop roots supporting extensive growth.
• Radiocarbon dating estimates age by measuring the decay of carbon-14 in organic material, while alpha-cellulose, a stable component of wood, provides highly accurate dating results.
Maharashtra Bans Sale of Energy Drinks Near Schools
• On 3 July 2026, the Maharashtra Government prohibited the sale of Sting energy drinks and other intoxicating substances within a 500-metre radius of schools across the state.
• The announcement was made in the Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha by Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Minister Narhari Zirwal during the Monsoon Session.
• The Food and Drug Administration has been directed to take strict enforcement action against anyone violating the restriction.
• Schools have been instructed to organise awareness programmes highlighting the health risks associated with beverages containing high levels of caffeine and sugar.
• The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued notices to companies such as Sting, Red Bull, and Monster Energy over the use of the term “energy drink” and related claims.
• Under Indian food safety regulations, “energy drink” is not a notified standard food category, and manufacturers have been asked to stop using misleading labels.
• FDA Commissioner Tukaram Munde stated that manufacturers have been instructed to correct product labelling in accordance with regulatory requirements.
• The state will also launch a statewide drive against harmful beverages, flavoured tobacco products, and food adulteration, supported by the establishment of new food testing laboratories.
