World Nature Conservation Day is being observed today globally. This day raises awareness about protecting nature and conserving natural resources to save the earth from the dangers of adverse impacts of climate change.

In 1997, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) declared July 28th as World Nature Conservation Day. The purpose was to emphasize the significance of nature conservation and sustainable practices for the well-being of the planet.

The Centre has tightened norms governing the use of official vehicles by introducing a "One Officer, One Official Car" policy, barring senior bureaucrats from being allotted multiple government vehicles even if they hold additional charge of another ministry, department, public sector undertaking (PSU) or autonomous body. The move is aimed at curbing misuse of official vehicles, eliminating duplication and ensuring prudent use of public resources.

In a recent Office Memorandum (OM), the Department of Expenditure under the Ministry of Finance directed all Union ministries and departments to strictly enforce the revised guidelines on the use of staff cars. The order supplements and reinforces the comprehensive instructions first issued in September 2022, which consolidated rules governing the use of official vehicles across the Central government.

Iran is expected to receive deliveries of Chinese shoulder-launched missile systems within weeks, according to sources familiar with the matter, as Beijing and Tehran deepen their military cooperation amid heightened regional tensions, a Reuters report said.

The delivery of the missile systems would mark a significant escalation in military support from China to Iran, which has been engaged in a prolonged conflict with the United States and Israel. The systems are believed to be portable surface-to-air missiles capable of targeting aircraft and drones, potentially bolstering Iran's air defence capabilities.

The sources did not specify the exact type or quantity of the missile systems, but said the delivery was part of a broader military cooperation agreement between Beijing and Tehran. China has not publicly commented on the reported delivery.

Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai introduced the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2026 in the Lok Sabha. The Bill seeks to amend the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969. The Bill provides that if a birth or death is reported to the Registrar more than one year but within two years after its occurrence, it may be registered only with the approval of the District Magistrate, Sub-Divisional Magistrate or an Executive Magistrate authorised by the District Magistrate, following verification of the authenticity of the birth or death.

The Bill further states that if a birth or death is reported to the Registrar after more than two years, it will be registered only on the order of a Judicial Magistrate of the First Class. As per the existing Act, registration of births and deaths is mandatory, and the certificate issued under the Act provides legal identity to an individual. The new Bill has been brought to make provisions for delayed registration more stringent and to encourage timely reporting of births and deaths.

At the ongoing Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, Gulveer Singh scripted history by becoming the first Indian athlete to win a medal in the men’s 10,000-metre race after claiming a silver medal. The reigning Asian champion clocked 27:49.78 at the Scotstoun Stadium to finish behind Australia’s Ky Robinson.

Harjinder Kaur also added a silver to India’s medal tally in the women’s 69-kilogramme weightlifting event. The 29-year-old Indian weightlifter finished with a combined lift of 227 kilograms to secure India’s seventh medal from eight weightlifting events in Glasgow. This was Harjinder Kaur’s second successive Commonwealth Games medal, after she won bronze at Birmingham in 2022. With this, India’s total medal count at the Glasgow Games rose to 12, including two gold, seven silver and three bronze medals.

President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan congratulated Gulveer Singh and Harjinder Kaur on their silver medal wins at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2026.

Dairy farmers across North East India are set to gain new income opportunities and have greater access to international markets, Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said as Assam's Purabi ice cream made its entry into Bhutan.

Taking to his official X account, Goyal added, this achievement will likely generate new income opportunities while expanding access to international markets and strengthen the livelihoods of dairy farmers across the North Eastern region.

"Facilitated by @APEDADOC , this achievement reflects the growing strength and global competitiveness of India's dairy sector while opening new avenues for our dairy farmers. The initiative will create new income opportunities, expand access to international markets and strengthen the livelihoods of our dairy farmers across the North Eastern region," Goyal said.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh virtually inaugurated the Department of Military Medicine at Command Hospital, Central Command, in Lucknow on Wednesday.

Addressing the event, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that the inauguration of the Department of Military Medicine at the Command Hospital marks a new chapter in military medicine and research in Lucknow, adding that it will further strengthen the Indian armed forces and bolster the resolve of a developed India.

"Lucknow has always been a witness to our military traditions. Today, with the inauguration of the Department of Military Medicine at Command Hospital, this city is becoming a witness to a new chapter in military medicine and research. This will further strengthen our resolve for a developed India and empowered armed forces," said Singh.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch Nasha Mukta Yuva for Viksit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyaan, a nationwide 100-week Jan Bhagidari movement against substance abuse on 2nd of next month. The campaign will be led by MY Bharat Platform, an online Youth Leadership and Social Engagement Platform that aims to empower and engage youth to become leaders.

The initiative seeks to unite young citizens in a collective national mission to build a drug-free India by promoting awareness, community engagement and sustained public participation. The Youth Affairs and Sports Ministry informed that the campaign will witness unprecedented participation from MY Bharat Volunteers, Bharat National Service Scheme (NSS) volunteers, Youth Clubs, schools, colleges, universities and over 125 spiritual organisations. This makes it one of the largest youth-led public movements against substance abuse in the country. The Ministry said that every Sunday over the next 100 weeks, youth-led activities will be organised across the country to encourage healthy lifestyles, strengthen community engagement and channel the energy of young people towards constructive nation-building.

In Shooting, India’s Esha Singh grabbed the gold medal in the women’s 25 metre pistol event of the ISSF World Cup (Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun) in Hangzhou, China today. She upstaged Olympic-medallist Manu Bhaker, who took the bronze to complete a double-podium finish for India. The 21-year-old Esha produced a commanding display in the final, registering 40 hits to seal the gold medal, while Paris 2024 double Olympic-medallist Manu fought through a tense, highly-competitive field, winning a crucial shoot-off before finishing with 28 hits to secure bronze.

The government has approved the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI’s) proposal to introduce polymer banknotes in the denominations of 10 and 20 rupees. In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary informed that RBI had sent a proposal to the government for the introduction of one billion pieces each of ten and twenty rupee polymer banknotes for field trials. He said regular issuance of polymer banknotes in these two denominations will be done after successful completion of field trials.

The minister said the RBI had informed that, as per international studies, the life span of polymer banknotes is significantly higher than that of paper banknotes. Mr Chaudhary added that the introduction of polymer banknotes is currently in a preliminary phase and the impact on digital payments could be ascertained only after regular issuance of these notes. He said, as per the RBI, polymer banknotes are proposed to be issued along with paper substrate-based banknotes, and there is no proposal to replace paper currency with polymer substrate-based banknotes.