Current Affairs — 3 July 2026

16th India-Japan Annual Summit

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi paid an Official Visit to India from July 1–3, 2026, for the 16th India-Japan Annual Summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This was her first official visit to India, and the summit marked a significant deepening of the “Special Strategic and Global Partnership” between the two nations.

The two sides announced 16 outcome documents spanning a wide range of sectors.

**Defence and Security:** An agreement in principle was reached on the Unified Complex Radio Antenna (UNICORN) project. Both nations agreed to hold the 4th India-Japan 2+2 Foreign and Defence Ministers’ Meeting in Tokyo before the end of 2026. Naval cooperation is being strengthened through the JAIMEX (Japan-India Maritime Exercise) exercises.

**Infrastructure:** Leaders reaffirmed the Mumbai–Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR) project as the flagship bilateral initiative, with Japan backing India’s target to commence commercial operations on priority sections by 2027.

**Energy and Clean Technology:** Both countries adopted a Joint Statement on Energy Resilience. A large-scale green ammonia project in Odisha has been agreed upon, along with cooperation in biogas, strategic petroleum reserves, and the POWERR Asia regional resilience framework.

**Economic Security:** A Joint Declaration on Economic Security Cooperation was adopted, focusing on semiconductors, critical minerals, ICT, clean energy, and pharmaceuticals, with both countries committed to building resilient and diversified supply chains.

**Space Cooperation:** ISRO and JAXA are jointly developing the Lunar Polar Exploration (LUPEX) Mission to explore the Moon’s south pole, targeted for 2026–27.

**Indo-Pacific:** Both nations aligned on promoting a Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) vision.

UPSC Prelims Perspective

India-Japan diplomatic relations were established in 1952. The two countries share a “Special Strategic and Global Partnership” since 2014. Japan is funding the MAHSR through Official Development Assistance (ODA) at concessional interest rates. LUPEX is a joint lunar mission by JAXA and ISRO to study water ice at the lunar south pole. The India-Japan 2+2 format involves both Foreign and Defence Ministers meeting together. Japan is a member of the Quad alongside India, the USA, and Australia. The bilateral relationship is also underwritten by Japan’s Long-Term ODA commitment, which has been central to India’s infrastructure expansion.

EPF Scheme 2026: A New Provident Fund Framework

The Ministry of Labour and Employment notified the Employees’ Provident Funds (EPF) Scheme, 2026, effective June 29, 2026. This new scheme replaces the EPF Scheme, 1952, which had been in operation for over seven decades.

The new framework has been formulated under the Code on Social Security, 2020 — one of the four Labour Codes that consolidate 29 central labour laws. The Code aims to provide universal social security coverage to all workers, including those in the informal sector.

Key Changes in EPF Scheme 2026:

• **Digital-First Approach:** The scheme mandates electronic filings, online claim settlements, e-passbooks, and full integration with the Universal Account Number (UAN) to improve transparency and efficiency.

• **Employer Compliance:** Employers are required to submit prescribed returns within 15 days. Organisations operating exempted provident fund trusts must seek continuation of their exemption during the transition period.

• **Contribution Rates Unchanged:** Both employees and employers continue to contribute 12% of wages each towards the provident fund, keeping the core benefit structure intact.

UPSC Prelims Perspective

The Code on Social Security, 2020 subsumes nine earlier laws, including the EPF Act, 1952, Maternity Benefit Act, 1961, and Employees’ State Insurance Act, 1948. The Universal Account Number (UAN) enables seamless portability of PF accounts across employers. The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) is the statutory body that administers the EPF scheme, functioning under the Ministry of Labour and Employment. India’s four Labour Codes are: the Code on Wages (2019), the Industrial Relations Code (2020), the Code on Social Security (2020), and the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code (2020).

Bundibugyo Virus Disease: A New Ebola Outbreak

On May 15, 2026, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda declared outbreaks of Bundibugyo Virus Disease (BVD), a type of Ebola disease caused by species Orthoebolavirus bundibugyoense. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared it a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on May 16, 2026 — one of the most serious public health designations under international law.

As of early July 2026, 915 confirmed cases have been reported — 896 from DRC and 19 from Uganda — with 234 deaths.

Why This Outbreak Is Different:

Unlike the more common Zaire ebolavirus, for which vaccines (rVSV-ZEBOV / Ervebo) and treatments exist, the Bundibugyo virus has no approved vaccine or specific medication. The estimated case fatality rate (CFR) is between 25–40%. This has complicated the international response, as existing Ebola countermeasures are not directly applicable here.

Additionally, ongoing armed conflict in eastern DRC is severely hampering detection, treatment, and prevention efforts. Without intervention, projections suggest a 65% likelihood that the outbreak could exceed 20,000 cases within three months.

UPSC Prelims Perspective

There are six known species of Orthoebolavirus (Ebola virus): Zaire, Sudan, Bundibugyo, Taï Forest, Reston, and Bombali. A Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) is a formal declaration under the International Health Regulations (IHR), 2005, issued by WHO when there is an extraordinary event posing a public health risk through international spread. India’s nodal agency for international health emergency coordination is the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The DRC has been the epicentre of multiple Ebola outbreaks since the virus was first discovered near the Ebola River in 1976.

Borjuli Wetland Notified as Biodiversity Heritage Site

The Borjuli wetland in Sonitpur district of Assam has been officially notified as a Biodiversity Heritage Site (BHS), making it India’s 55th such site. The notification recognises its role as a critical habitat for Oryza rufipogon, a wild rice species of immense genetic significance.

Why Borjuli Matters:

Oryza rufipogon is the wild progenitor (ancestor) of Oryza sativa — the cultivated rice that feeds over half of humanity. This wild rice variety is naturally resistant to pests and diseases and can tolerate flooding and saline conditions, making it a precious genetic reservoir for developing climate-resilient rice varieties in the future.

The wetland, spread across just 0.41 hectares in the Brahmaputra valley floodplains, is a freshwater swamp and marshy ecosystem. The project “In-situ Conservation and Management of Wild Rice (Oryza rufipogon) in Sonitpur District of Assam” has been underway since 2022, funded by the National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, and executed by ICAR–National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (ICAR-NBPGR) in collaboration with the Assam State Biodiversity Board (ASBB).

UPSC Prelims Perspective

Biodiversity Heritage Sites (BHS) are notified under Section 37 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, by State Governments in consultation with local bodies. The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), headquartered in Chennai, is the apex regulatory body at the national level. Crop Wild Relatives (CWR) are wild plant species genetically related to cultivated crops; their conservation is crucial for food security under climate change. ICAR-NBPGR, headquartered in New Delhi, is India’s premier institution for plant genetic resources conservation. India is one of the 12 mega-biodiversity countries in the world and a signatory to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), 1992.

Vikram-1: India’s First Private Orbital Rocket

Skyroot Aerospace, a Hyderabad-based private aerospace startup, has announced a launch window of July 12 to August 4, 2026 for the maiden test flight of Vikram-1 — India’s first privately developed orbital-class launch vehicle. The launch is scheduled from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota.

About Vikram-1:

Vikram-1 is a multi-stage rocket with an all-carbon composite structure, standing seven storeys tall. It is powered by in-house developed propulsion systems, including 3D-printed engines and high-thrust solid-fuel boosters, and is designed to carry payloads of up to 350 kg to Low Earth Orbit (LEO).

Significance:

If successful, this will mark India’s first privately executed orbital launch — a historic milestone for the country’s emerging commercial space sector. Skyroot’s earlier Vikram-S rocket had made history in November 2022 as India’s first privately built rocket to reach suborbital space.

Skyroot Aerospace was founded by Pawan Kumar Chandana and Naga Bharath Daka, both former ISRO scientists, and operates under the IN-SPACe (Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre) framework established in 2020.

UPSC Prelims Perspective

IN-SPACe was established under the Department of Space to regulate, promote, and enable private sector participation in India’s space activities. Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota, is India’s primary spaceport located on a barrier island in Andhra Pradesh along the Bay of Bengal. LEO is typically defined as an orbit between 160–2,000 km altitude above Earth. The Vikram rocket series is named after Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, the father of India’s space programme. India’s Space Policy 2023 further liberalised the sector for private players. Other private space startups in India include Agnikul Cosmos (printed rocket engines) and Pixxel (Earth observation satellites).

Updated Crèche Guidelines 2026

In the wake of the Bengaluru “Little Buds Day Care” abuse case that shook public conscience, the Ministry of Labour and Employment issued updated National Minimum Standards for Crèches, reinforcing childcare safety norms for all workplace-run childcare facilities across India.

Under the Code on Social Security, 2020, any establishment employing 50 or more workers is mandated to provide crèche facilities to employees.

Key Provisions of Updated Guidelines:

• Crèches must install CCTV cameras with remote parental access to enable continuous monitoring of children.

• All caregivers must undergo police verification and submit character and medical fitness certificates. Preference must be given to trained childcare or nursing professionals.

• Every crèche must form an Administrative Committee comprising administrators and parent representatives for regular quality monitoring.

• Infrastructure standards include placement preferably on the ground floor, secure windows, child-friendly toilets, and uninterrupted water supply.

UPSC Prelims Perspective

The crèche provision was originally introduced under the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017, requiring establishments with 50+ employees to provide crèche facilities. This has now been incorporated into the Code on Social Security, 2020. The Factories Act, 1948 had earlier provisions for crèches in factories employing 30+ women workers. The Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD) oversees the Palna scheme (National Crèche Scheme) for providing free crèche services for children of working mothers. The scheme was revamped in 2022 as “Palna” under Mission Shakti.

Gulf of Aden: Strategic Significance for Global Trade

The Gulf of Aden has regained global attention amidst ongoing disruptions to maritime trade in the Red Sea region. It is one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints, connecting the Red Sea (and by extension, the Suez Canal) to the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean.

Key Geographic Facts:

• The Gulf of Aden carries approximately 12% of global trade, with over 21,000 ships transiting annually.

• It is bounded by Yemen to the north, Somalia to the south, and Djibouti to the west.

• The Bab el-Mandeb Strait, where the Red Sea narrows before entering the Gulf, is the most sensitive chokepoint. Its name translates to “Gate of Grief” in Arabic.

• The Gulf connects to the Indian Ocean, making it crucial for India’s trade routes to Europe, West Asia, and East Africa.

Security Challenges:

Piracy near the Somali coast and Houthi drone/missile attacks on merchant vessels in the Red Sea–Gulf of Aden corridor have forced many shipping companies to reroute ships around the Cape of Good Hope, significantly increasing voyage times and costs.

India has deployed Indian Navy warships under Operation Sankalp and has cooperated with international naval task forces to protect merchant shipping in the region.

UPSC Prelims Perspective

The Bab el-Mandeb Strait is located between Yemen (on the Arabian Peninsula) and Djibouti/Eritrea (on the Horn of Africa). Other major global maritime chokepoints include: Strait of Hormuz (Persian Gulf, 20% of global oil trade), Strait of Malacca (Southeast Asia), Strait of Gibraltar (Mediterranean to Atlantic), and the Suez Canal. India’s Operation Sankalp (2019, reactivated) ensures the safety of Indian-flagged ships in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman. Combined Task Force 150 (CTF-150) is a multinational naval force operating in the Gulf of Aden and surrounding waters. The Houthis are a Yemeni armed movement (also known as Ansar Allah) that have attacked commercial shipping in support of Gaza solidarity since late 2023.

ICC Post-Pregnancy Return-to-Play Guidelines for Women Cricketers

The International Cricket Council (ICC) released its “Return to Play Post-Pregnancy Guidelines” on June 22, 2026, during a rest day at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup being hosted in England.

The guidelines provide a structured, medically grounded framework for players, Member Boards, medical professionals, and coaches to support female cricketers in returning to the sport after pregnancy.

The ‘6 Rs’ Framework:

• Ready — Assessing early readiness post-childbirth

• Review — Medical and wellbeing assessments

• Restore — Gradual return to structured training

• Recondition — Cricket-specific physical conditioning

• Return — Competitive play

• Refine — Ongoing monitoring and adjustments

The ICC also recommends that Member Boards provide childcare and travel assistance for mothers and their babies, and ensure stadiums have suitable spaces for nursing and infant care.

UPSC Prelims Perspective

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is the global governing body for cricket, headquartered in Dubai, UAE. India is represented in the ICC by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Such guidelines reflect the growing emphasis on gender equity and player welfare in international sports governance. Similar frameworks have been developed by FIFA, World Athletics, and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for pregnant and postpartum athletes. The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 is being hosted in England.