Daily Current Affairs- 10th July 2026

Daily Current Affairs- 10th July 2026

India Launches LoA Regime for High-Seas Fishing to Boost Seafood Exports and Strengthen the Blue Economy

In the News: India launched the Letter of Authorisation regime for the sustainable use of high-seas fisheries on 9 July 2026 in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan issued the first authorisations to fisheries cooperatives and vessel owners. He also launched the Odisha Deep Sea Fishing Mission Document during the programme.

Key Pointers:

• Background of the Initiative: The Union Budget 2025–26 announced a framework for the sustainable use of fisheries resources in India’s Exclusive Economic Zone and the high seas. The initiative has been implemented through the EEZ Rules, 2025 and the Guidelines for Sustainable Harnessing of Fisheries in the High Seas by Indian-Flagged Fishing Vessels, 2025.
• Nature of the LoA: A Letter of Authorisation is compulsory for an Indian-flagged vessel undertaking fishing or fishing-related activities in the high seas. It is vessel-specific, non-transferable and integrated with the ReALCraft Fishing Vessel Registration Portal for improved monitoring and traceability.
• Conservation Requirements: Authorised vessels must follow the conservation and management measures prescribed by the relevant Regional Fisheries Management Organisations. These include catch limits, gear regulations, bycatch reduction, management of fish-aggregating devices and voyage reporting.
• Benefits for Fishing Communities: Fisheries cooperatives and Fish Farmer Producer Organisations have been given importance under the framework. Access to high-value marine resources such as tuna and tuna-like species is expected to improve fisher incomes, create employment and strengthen the seafood value chain.
• Odisha Deep Sea Fishing Mission: The Odisha Deep Sea Fishing Mission will operate from 2026 to 2036. It seeks to develop fishing infrastructure, processing facilities, scientific fisheries management and export linkages, with the objective of establishing Odisha as an important deep-sea fishing and marine export centre.

AISHE Report 2023-24: India’s Higher Education Enrolment Hits Record 4.5 Crore

In the News: The Union Ministry of Education released the All India Survey on Higher Education reports for 2022–23 and 2023–24 on 8 July 2026. Total enrolment in higher education reached a record 4.50 crore in 2023–24, compared with 4.46 crore in 2022–23. The report also recorded improvements in female participation, Gross Enrolment Ratio and STEM enrolment.

Key Pointers:

• About AISHE: AISHE is conducted by the Department of Higher Education under the Ministry of Education. It collects information from higher education institutions on student enrolment, teachers, infrastructure, courses, examination results and other institutional indicators through a web-based Data Capture Format.
• Growth in Enrolment: Higher education enrolment increased from 3.42 crore in 2014–15 to 4.50 crore in 2023–24, representing a growth of 31.5%. Female enrolment increased from 1.57 crore to 2.24 crore during the same period, recording a rise of 42.2%.
• Gross Enrolment Ratio: Gross Enrolment Ratio measures higher education enrolment as a proportion of the population in the 18–23 age group. India’s GER increased from 23.7 in 2014–15 to 30 in 2023–24, while female GER reached 31.2.
• Gender and Social Inclusion: The Gender Parity Index stood at 1.08 and remained above 1 for the seventh consecutive year, indicating greater female participation. Enrolment reached 69.72 lakh among Scheduled Castes, 28.83 lakh among Scheduled Tribes and 1.80 crore among Other Backward Classes.
• STEM and Faculty Strength: Enrolment in science, technology, engineering and mathematics increased from 91.5 lakh in 2014–15 to 1.02 crore in 2023–24. Women constituted 44% of STEM enrolment, while the total number of faculty members in higher education institutions reached 17.32 lakh.

India and Kyrgyzstan Launch International Centre for Civilizational Studies ‘Manas and Mahabharata’

In the News: The International Centre for Civilizational Studies, named “Manas and Mahabharata”, was inaugurated in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on 6 July 2026. The programme also included the release of the first Hindi translation of the Kyrgyz epic Manas. The centre seeks to promote academic cooperation and the comparative study of Indian and Kyrgyz civilizational traditions.

Key Pointers:

• Participating Institutions: The centre has been established by Kyrgyzstan’s Manas National Academy in cooperation with the Centre for Studies of International Relations, New Delhi. Cooperation agreements were also signed with seven universities in Kyrgyzstan to expand academic and institutional participation.
• Academic Activities: The centre will support research in comparative civilizational studies, epic traditions, history, culture and intercultural dialogue. It will also promote academic exchanges, joint research projects, conferences, translations and the training of researchers.
• Hindi Translation of Manas: The first Hindi translation covers the three parts of the Kyrgyz epic tradition—Manas, Semetey and Seitek. The publication is intended to introduce Indian readers to Kyrgyz literature and strengthen cooperation in epic and civilizational studies.
• Importance of Manas: Manas is closely associated with the identity, history and oral traditions of the Kyrgyz people. The manuscripts of the epic narrated by Sagymbay Orozbakov were included in UNESCO’s Memory of the World International Register in 2023.
• Bilateral Relations: India and Kyrgyzstan elevated their bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership in June 2019. The relationship covers political cooperation, defence, security, trade, education and cultural exchanges, while both countries are also members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.

India and Australia Launch PACTS to Strengthen Cyber, Critical Technology and Supply Chain Partnership

In the News: India and Australia announced the Australia–India Partnership on Cyber, Critical Technologies and Supply Chains, known as PACTS, on 9 July 2026. The announcement was made during the third India–Australia Annual Summit in Melbourne. The framework expands bilateral cooperation in cybersecurity, emerging technologies, supply chains, digital systems and defence research.

Key Pointers:

• Replacement of the 2020 Framework: PACTS succeeds and replaces the 2020 Framework Arrangement on Cyber and Cyber-Enabled Critical Technology Cooperation. It operates under the India–Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and brings different areas of technology cooperation under a common strategic framework.
• Five Pillars of Cooperation: The partnership is organised around supply-chain resilience and diversification, critical technologies, cybersecurity, digital resilience and defence research collaboration. Projects may involve government agencies, private companies, universities, research institutions and start-ups.
• Critical Technologies: India and Australia will cooperate in artificial intelligence, space technology, telecommunications, biotechnology and advanced materials. The framework also covers semiconductor supply chains, trusted vendors, undersea cables and secure critical-mineral supply chains.
•  Cybersecurity and Digital Resilience: The two countries will work together against cybercrime and malicious cyber activity and improve the protection of critical infrastructure. They will also support the expansion of affordable and adaptable Digital Public Infrastructure solutions across the Indo-Pacific.
• Defence Research and Governance: PACTS will strengthen cooperation between India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation and Australia’s Defence Science and Technology Group. It will be jointly overseen by India’s Deputy National Security Adviser and Australia’s Deputy Secretary for the International and Security Group.

World Population Day 2026

In the News: World Population Day was observed globally on 11 July 2026. The theme for the year was “Realizing the hopes and aspirations of young people – today and for the future.” The observance highlighted the conditions required for young people to make informed decisions regarding education, employment, relationships, health and family life.

Key Points:

• Date and Purpose: World Population Day is observed every year on 11 July to draw attention to population trends and their connection with health, development and human rights. The observance also promotes informed reproductive choices, gender equality and access to essential services.
• Theme for 2026: The 2026 theme places young people’s aspirations at the centre of demographic policy. It recognises that economic insecurity, unequal access to education, inadequate healthcare and gender discrimination can prevent young people from shaping their preferred futures.
• Demographic Futures Survey: The theme was based on findings from the UNFPA Demographic Futures Survey. The survey covered more than 100,000 internet-connected people aged 18 to 39 across 73 countries and examined their partnership, reproductive and broader life aspirations.
• Historical Background: The observance developed from the “Day of Five Billion”, marked on 11 July 1987 when the world population was estimated to have reached five billion. In 1989, the Governing Council of the United Nations Development Programme recommended the annual observance of World Population Day.
• UNFPA and Population Outlook: The United Nations Population Fund is the UN agency concerned with sexual and reproductive health and population matters. UN projections indicate that the world population may rise from 8.2 billion in 2024 to about 10.3 billion in the mid-2080s before declining slightly to around 10.2 billion by 2100.

Sourav Ganguly Joins ICC Hall of Fame: Complete List of Indian Cricketers Inducted Till 2026

In the News: Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame on 8 July 2026, his 54th birthday. The decision was taken during the ICC Annual Conference held in Edinburgh. Ganguly became the 12th Indian cricketer and the tenth Indian male cricketer to receive the honour.

Key Points:

• Induction Details: Ganguly joined the Hall of Fame after a career that significantly influenced Indian cricket as a batter and captain. His inclusion increased India’s representation in the Hall of Fame to 12 cricketers, including ten men and two women.
• International Career: Ganguly represented India in 113 Tests and scored 7,212 runs. He also played 311 One-Day Internationals and accumulated 11,363 runs, establishing himself as one of India’s leading ODI batters and most influential captains.
• ICC Hall of Fame: The ICC Cricket Hall of Fame was launched on 2 January 2009 in association with the Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations during the ICC’s centenary year. Its original intake consisted of 55 players previously recognised by the FICA Hall of Fame.
• Indian Inductees Till 2026: Bishan Singh Bedi, Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev were inducted in 2009; Anil Kumble in 2015; Rahul Dravid in 2018; Sachin Tendulkar in 2019; Vinoo Mankad in 2021; Diana Edulji and Virender Sehwag in 2023; Neetu David in 2024; MS Dhoni in 2025; and Sourav Ganguly in 2026.
• Women and Eligibility Rule: Diana Edulji became the first Indian woman inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2023, followed by Neetu David in 2024. Under the prevailing eligibility rule, a player can ordinarily be considered only after completing five years since their final international appearance.