Staying updated with today's current affairs is essential for competitive exam aspirants preparing for SSC, UPSC, Banking, State PSCs, and Railway exams. The 9 July 2026 current affairs cover PM Modi's landmark Indonesia state visit, major national policy launches, international affairs, economy & banking updates, science & technology breakthroughs, appointments, and important days that frequently appear in the General Awareness section of government exams.
India – National Current Affairs
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- PM Modi Conferred Indonesia's Highest National Honour; India-Indonesia Sign 20 Landmark Outcomes Including BrahMos Defence Deal and Prambanan Restoration – Prime Minister Narendra Modi undertook a landmark State Visit to Indonesia from 6–8 July 2026, at the invitation of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto. The visit produced 20 major outcomes - 14 MoUs and 6 major announcements - across defence, space, critical minerals, agriculture, digital technology, medical products regulation, disaster management, and culture. PM Modi was conferred Indonesia's highest national honour by President Prabowo Subianto at Istana Merdeka (Presidential Palace), Jakarta. On 8 July, PM Modi and President Prabowo jointly inaugurated India's conservation and restoration project at the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Prambanan Temple Complex in Yogyakarta - a 9th-century Hindu temple complex primarily dedicated to Lord Shiva and the largest Hindu temple complex in Indonesia. Exam importance: Key outcomes: (1) Indonesia signed a BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system defence agreement and agreed to expand Astra air-to-air missile cooperation; (2) India-Indonesia MoU on Minerals and Technology of Steel Supply Chain for critical minerals access; (3) MoU between NFTDC, Midwest Ltd, and PT PERMINAS for rare earth magnet development; (4) India-Indonesia MoU on Agriculture and Allied Sectors; (5) CDSCO–BPOM MoU on medical products regulation; (6) NDMA–Indonesia BNPB MoU on disaster management; (7) IIM Bangalore branch campus to be set up at Singhasari SEZ, Indonesia; (8) India to support development of Indonesia's Sabang Port (located at the Strait of Malacca entrance, 100 miles from India's Great Nicobar project); (9) India to assist development of Indonesia-specific Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs); (10) Tagore-Dewantara Year of Cultural & Educational Diplomacy declared to commemorate Rabindranath Tagore's centenary visit to Indonesia; PM Modi described the visit outcomes as "comprehensive, substantive and futuristic"; Indonesia is India's largest trading partner in ASEAN and the 4th largest economy in Asia; Indonesia's capital: Jakarta; President: Prabowo Subianto; India-Indonesia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership was established in 2018; India-ASEAN bilateral trade: USD 128 billion in FY26; Prambanan was constructed in the 9th century CE and is 47 metres tall at its central Shiva temple.
- Cabinet Approves PM-SETU (PM Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs) – The Union Cabinet approved the nationwide rollout of the Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs (PM-SETU) scheme on 7 July 2026. Exam importance: PM-SETU aims to upgrade India's Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) into world-class vocational training hubs with industry-aligned curriculum, modern equipment, digital labs, and PPP-based governance; India has over 14,000 ITIs with approximately 24 lakh seats annually; PM-SETU is part of the Skill India Mission (launched in July 2015); the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) administers the scheme; MSDE MoS: Jayant Chaudhary; this complements the Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (APS) and the PMKVY (Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana); PM-SETU follows the model of the earlier Skill India Infrastructure Development Project (SIDP) recommendations.
- Ministry of Tribal Affairs Launches TribeX Digital Platform – Union Minister Jual Oram (Ministry of Tribal Affairs) launched the TribeX Digital Platform in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, to preserve and promote India's tribal heritage through digital means. Exam importance: TribeX offers 20 free online courses on tribal culture, languages, arts, crafts, traditional knowledge systems, and governance, along with 5 UGC-recognised PG diploma programmes; the platform is accessible via SWAYAM; this aligns with the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN) - launched 15 November 2023 on Jharkhand Foundation Day; India has 705 recognised Scheduled Tribes as per Census 2011; tribal population: approximately 10.45 crore (8.6% of India's total); Ministry of Tribal Affairs: Jual Oram.
- 13th AITIGA Joint Committee Meeting Held in New Delhi (6–10 July 2026) – The 13th ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) Joint Committee meeting was held in New Delhi from 6–10 July 2026 to review and renegotiate the trade agreement for enhanced bilateral economic ties. Exam importance: India-ASEAN bilateral trade reached USD 128 billion in FY2025-26 (approximately 11% of India's global trade); AITIGA was signed in August 2009 and came into force in January 2010; it has long faced criticism from Indian industry for India's trade deficit with ASEAN; the renegotiation aims to address non-tariff barriers, rules of origin norms, and expand services and investment chapters; ASEAN has 10 members: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam; ASEAN Secretariat: Jakarta, Indonesia.
- India Emerges as World's Largest Hub for Retail and FMCG Global Capability Centres – India emerged as the world's largest hub for retail and FMCG (Fast-Moving Consumer Goods) Global Capability Centres (GCCs), with 180 such centres and over 272,000 professionals as of 8 July 2026, according to a report released jointly by McKinsey & Company and FICCI. Exam importance: India's GCC ecosystem spans over 1,750 centres employing nearly 19.5 lakh professionals across sectors including technology, financial services, retail, FMCG, healthcare, and engineering; GCCs (formerly known as Global In-house Centres or GICs) are captive offshore units of global multinationals serving as offshore delivery hubs; India's GCC sector is a USD 64 billion industry (FY25) expected to reach USD 100+ billion by FY30; key GCC hubs in India: Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, Chennai, Mumbai, and Delhi-NCR; the finding was highlighted at the 13th India Retail & FMCG Summit 2026.
- Tripura Makes Vande Mataram and Jana Gana Mana Compulsory in All Schools – The Tripura state government made the full version of the National Song (Vande Mataram) and the National Anthem (Jana Gana Mana) compulsory in all government and private schools across the state, effective from 7 July 2026. Exam importance: Jana Gana Mana was written by Rabindranath Tagore and adopted as India's National Anthem on 24 January 1950; Vande Mataram was composed by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay and adopted as the National Song on 24 January 1950; the National Anthem is played/sung at the beginning of school assemblies under the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971; Tripura CM: Dr. Manik Saha; Tripura became the 4th state (after Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan) to make the full version of Vande Mataram compulsory in schools.
- Navi Mumbai Airport Notified as Authorised Port for Drug Import – The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare notified Navi Mumbai Airport (CSIA-2 / Navi Mumbai International Airport, Maharashtra) as an authorised port of entry for the import of drugs on 8 July 2026. Exam importance: Currently, drugs can be imported only through designated airports and seaports specified under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940; Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) - also referred to as Navi Mumbai Airport - is being developed by City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) in Ulwe, Navi Mumbai; the project developer is NIAL (Navi Mumbai International Airport Pvt Ltd), a JV between CIDCO and Adani Airports Holdings; the notification allows pharmaceutical importers to use NMIA as an import point, reducing dependence on Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA).
Daily Current Affairs 09 July 2026: Download Free PDF Now
Economy & Banking
- India's Energy Storage Capacity to Reach 888 GWh by 2035–36 – India's energy storage capacity is projected to reach 888 gigawatt-hours (GWh) by 2035–36, according to a report released by CEA (Central Electricity Authority) and NITI Aayog in July 2026, reflecting the country's rapid deployment of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) to support India's renewable energy transition. Exam importance: India's renewable energy capacity crossed 250 GW in 2026 (wind + solar combined); BESS is critical for grid balancing and peak load management as the share of intermittent solar and wind energy rises; India's National Energy Storage Mission (NESM) was launched in 2021; the government mandates RE developers to integrate BESS with new solar and wind projects under the ISTS waiver; Central Electricity Authority (CEA) is under the Ministry of Power; the projection aligns with India's National Electricity Plan (NEP) and the target of 500 GW non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030.
- India-Costa Rica First JETCO Meeting Held Virtually (6–7 July 2026) – The first Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO) meeting between India and Costa Rica was held virtually on 6–7 July 2026, reviewing bilateral merchandise trade (USD 391 million in FY2025-26) and exploring cooperation in pharmaceuticals, digital technology, and food safety standards. Exam importance: Costa Rica is a Central American nation; capital: San José; Costa Rica runs 99%+ of its electricity on renewable energy (primarily hydro, geothermal, and wind); India's key exports to Costa Rica include pharmaceutical products, machinery, and textiles; JETCO is a standard bilateral economic cooperation mechanism used by India with multiple countries to review trade and investment relations.
- Saudi Arabia Launches All-in-One Package Visa for Indian Travellers – Saudi Arabia launched a pilot All-in-One Package Visa programme bundling flights, hotels, and visa into a single digital booking, targeting India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and four other nations, with packages starting at SAR 4,000 for a minimum 2-day stay, supporting up to 14 travellers per booking. Exam importance: Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 aims to increase non-oil GDP and attract 150 million tourists annually; this targets India's large outbound tourism market (~30 million international departures in 2025); India-Saudi Arabia bilateral relations are underpinned by ~2.2 million Indian diaspora; Saudi Arabia is among India's top 5 crude oil suppliers; Saudi King: Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud; Crown Prince and PM: Mohammed bin Salman (MBS).
Science & Technology
- DeepSeek Linked to Development of Custom AI Chip for Inference Workloads – Chinese AI startup DeepSeek (based in Hangzhou) was linked to the development of a custom AI chip designed specifically for AI inference workloads in July 2026, marking a significant step in China's push for semiconductor self-sufficiency amid US export controls on advanced chips. Exam importance: DeepSeek gained global attention in January 2025 when it released DeepSeek-R1 - a large language model that reportedly outperformed several US frontier models at a fraction of the training cost; inference chips process AI model outputs (vs. training chips which train models); Huawei's Ascend 910C chip is China's leading domestic alternative to NVIDIA's H100 GPU; US export controls on advanced semiconductors (NVIDIA H100/A100) to China were imposed under the Biden administration in 2022 and tightened further in 2023; this development is relevant to India's semiconductor policy given the global chip race.
- FDA Approves Vepdegestrant (Veppanu) for ER+ HER2- Breast Cancer – The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved vepdegestrant (brand name: Veppanu, by Arvinas and Pfizer) for the treatment of adults with estrogen receptor-positive (ER+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2-) locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer, as reported in July 2026. Exam importance: Vepdegestrant is a PROTAC (Proteolysis-Targeting Chimera) protein degrader - a novel class of drugs that degrade disease-causing proteins rather than blocking them; it is the first PROTAC drug approved for breast cancer; this represents a new frontier in oncology drug development; breast cancer is the most common cancer among women globally and in India; ER+/HER2- breast cancer constitutes approximately 70% of all breast cancer cases.
Awards & Recognitions
- India Sets Record with 7 Schools Shortlisted for World's Best School Prizes 2026 – India set a record by having 7 schools shortlisted for the World's Best School Prizes 2026, the highest number for any country in a single edition. The prizes cover 5 categories: Community Collaboration, Environmental Action, Innovation, Overcoming Adversity, and Supporting Healthy Lives. Exam importance: The World's Best School Prizes were established in 2021 by T4 Education (a global education platform) in partnership with multiple international organisations; prize winners receive USD 10,000 each; India's 7 shortlisted schools reflect the growing global recognition of India's innovative and community-driven educational practices under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020; India has the world's 2nd largest schooling system (after China), with over 14.5 lakh schools and 25 crore students.
- India's Sustainable Jute Apparel to Be Worn by Contingent at 2026 Commonwealth Games, Glasgow – The Indian contingent's kits for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland (23 July – 2 August 2026), have been developed by the National Jute Board (NJB) using jute-viscose blended fabric designed by NIFT (National Institute of Fashion Technology), marking the first use of jute apparel at a global sports event. Exam importance: The 2026 Commonwealth Games are the 23rd edition, hosted by Glasgow, Scotland, UK; CWG 2026 features 19 sports across 8 competition venues; India has traditionally been among the top medal-winning nations at the CWG; the National Jute Board (NJB) functions under the Ministry of Textiles; NIFT is an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Textiles; this initiative aligns with India's push for sustainable textiles and the promotion of jute - the "Golden Fibre of India."
Important Days
- 7 July - World Kiswah Day (First Observance, 2026) – World Kiswah Day is observed on 7 July, coinciding with the 1st Muharram in the Islamic calendar, to celebrate the annual ritual of draping the Kaaba (the holiest site in Islam) with the Kiswah - a black silk and gold-embroidered cloth. Exam importance: The Kiswah is replaced annually on 9th Dhul Hijjah; the current Kiswah weighing 670 kg is made at the King Abdulaziz Complex for the Holy Kaaba Kiswah in Mecca, Saudi Arabia; the Kaaba is located within the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca; the ritual dates back to ancient Arabia.
- 9 July - International Day of Friendship 2026 (14th Observance) – The International Day of Friendship (IDF) is observed annually on 30 July (some sources cite 9 July as the 'Friendship Day' observed in South America), with the UN's official IDF falling on 30 July; the popular celebration in South America and parts of Asia falls on 9 July. Exam importance: The UN's International Day of Friendship was established through UNGA Resolution A/RES/65/275 on 27 April 2011; first observed on 30 July 2011; the 2026 theme is "Sharing the Spirit of Friendship"; the Friendship Day concept was proposed in 1958 by Dr. Ramon Artemio Bracho (Paraguay); 30 July is the official UN date; India and many South Asian countries celebrate Friendship Day on the first Sunday of August.
