India is at an inflection point where technology is creating opportunities for every citizen and driving transformation, Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said on Wednesday, adding that the country is on track to connect 100 crore people to 5G by 2030 after having connected nearly 50 crore users in just two-and-a-half years.

The minister also said that India’s first telecom manufacturing zone (TMZ) will come up in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh.

“You all heard about SEZs...now the world will hear about a TMZ - an ecosystem only for the telecom sector, for data centres, for chip manufacturers, where we are putting in place a full plug-and-play system between the government of Madhya Pradesh and the government of India,” Scindia said at an event on India Mobile Congress 2026 theme launch.

The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) has issued fresh rules for the planned re-entry of space objects into the Earth’s atmosphere. IN-SPACe, which is the single-window agency that clears private space-sector activities in India, has said that risk to individuals from space objects making re-entry must be one in ten thousand.

The guidelines, released on July 23, are titled ‘Norms, Guidelines and Procedures for Implementation of Indian Space Policy-2023 in Respect of Authorisation for Undertaking Planned Re-entry of Space Objects’.

The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday passed a Bill that criminalises intentional disruption or prevention of the singing of the national song, Vande Mataram, thereby according it legal sanctity at par with the national anthem, Jana Gana Mana.

The Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, seeks to amend a 1971 law by the same name, which makes insults towards the national anthem, national flag and the Constitution a criminal offence.

The Bill was passed through a voice vote following a walkout by nearly all opposition members. When the upper House proceedings resumed at 2pm, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh invited members to begin a discussion on the Bill.

Brigadier Basant Kumar Ponwar (Retd), a decorated veteran of the 1971 Indo-Pak War and the architect of the country’s modern jungle warfare against Maoist insurgency, died here, his family said on Wednesday.

Ponwar, 77, is survived by his mother, Devika Ponwar, and two sons, both currently serving in the Army, they said.

A young officer who was part of cross-border operations during the 1971 war, leading ambushes alongside Mukti Bahini fighters and playing a vital role in the advance toward Dhaka, Ponwar dedicated over five decades to national defence across both the Indian Army and the police forces in Mizoram and Chhattisgarh. IndiaNews Portal

India has emerged as the world’s second-largest supplier of seafarers, contributing 311,936 maritime professionals to the global shipping industry. According to the BIMCO-ICS Seafarer Workforce Report 2026, India now accounts for 12.16 per cent of the global seafaring workforce, ranking behind only the Philippines and ahead of China, the Russian Federation and Indonesia.

The achievement marks one of the most remarkable transformations in the history of India’s maritime sector. In 2015, India contributed only 5.2 per cent of the world’s seafarers and ranked fifth globally, behind China, the Philippines, Indonesia and the Russian Federation. Six years later, in 2021, India’s share had grown modestly to 6 per cent, though it continued to remain in fifth position. The latest BIMCO-ICS report, however, records a decisive breakthrough.

The 16th Hockey India Junior Men National Championship 2026 began this morning in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. The tournament features country’s finest junior men’s hockey teams who compete over 12 days till 8th of August to decide the national champions. Action on the opening day began with Assam taking on Mizoram in a Division ‘C’ Pool A match.

A total of 30 teams are participating across Division ‘A’, ‘B’, and ‘C’, with promotion and relegation adding further significance to every fixture. While Division ‘A’ teams will compete for the championship title, teams in Divisions ‘B’ and ‘C’ will battle for promotion to the next division.

Speaking ahead of the championship, Hockey India President Dr. Dilip Tirkey said, the tournament continues to play a crucial role in strengthening India’s hockey ecosystem by providing young players with a highly competitive platform to showcase their abilities.

In Ladakh, the 6th Lieutenant Governor’s Cup Horse Polo Tournament concluded today at the Goshan International Polo Stadium in Drass. Eighteen teams, including three women’s teams, participated in the tournament, highlighting the growing popularity of the sport across the region.

The Ladakh Scouts Regimental Centre of the Indian Army emerged as champions, defeating the Animal Husbandry Department team 2-0 in the final to lift the coveted trophy. Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta, who attended the closing ceremony, praised the participation of players and announced enhanced prize money for the tournament. He said, the winning prize money has been increased from 50,000 to 1 lakh rupees for this year’s tournament. From next year, the winning team will receive 2 lakh rupees, while the runners-up will be awarded 1 lakh rupees.

Speaking on the occasion, the Lieutenant Governor described the increasing participation of youth, especially women, in the tournament as highly encouraging. He said efforts are being made to promote horse polo as part of Ladakh’s cultural heritage and adventure tourism while providing players with greater national and international exposure. The Lieutenant Governor said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for sports through initiatives like Fit India and Khelo India has brought a significant change in the country’s sporting culture. He added that this vision is guiding efforts to strengthen sports infrastructure in Ladakh and promote indigenous games like horse polo to preserve the region’s rich cultural heritage.

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.