News of The Day –  22nd July 2026

The Hindu, Indian Express, Live Mint, Business Standard, Economic Times, PIB and AIR, etc

(with Syllabus Relevance)

(GS-2: Polity & Governance)

• Need of Atmanirbhar philanthropy ecosystem
  • Promotes greater domestic philanthropic funding for social development.
  • Encourages collaboration among government, CSR, foundations and civil society
• About Foreign Contribution and related Challenges.
• Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA)  

(GS-2: Polity & Governance)

• Vande Mataram was composed by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay and featured in Anandamath.
  • Played an important role in India’s freedom struggle.
  • The Constituent Assembly accorded it the same honour as the National Anthem.
• About the National Anthem and its recognition.
• Key Provisions of Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026.

(GS-2: Polity & Governance)

• About the National Road Safety Board. 
• Aims to strengthen institutional road-safety governance.
• Focuses on accident prevention, safety standards and technical guidance..

(GS-2: Polity & Governance)

• SMILE: Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise.
• Implemented by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
• Focuses on rehabilitation, dignity and social reintegration
• SMILE Scheme Rehabilitates Over 10,200 Beggars Across 216 Cities

(GS-2: International Relations)

• About ECOWAS: Economic Community of West African States.
• Promotes regional economic integration, peace and political stability.
• Faces challenges from military coups and political instability in West Africa.
• Leadership change is significant for regional democratic governance.

(GS-2: International Relations)

• Pickaxe Mountain is associated with sensitive underground facilities in Iran.
• Reflects tensions surrounding Iran’s nuclear programme.
• Any military escalation could destabilise West Asia.
• Could affect global oil prices, energy security and maritime trade.

(GS-2: International Relations)

• Criminal networks increasingly exploit digital technologies and encrypted platforms.
• Technology facilitates cyber fraud, trafficking, drug trade and money laundering.
• Cryptocurrencies and digital platforms can enable illicit financial flows.
• Requires stronger international intelligence-sharing and cybercrime cooperation.

(GS-3: Economy)

• About Index of Core Industries
• Key Changes in Index of Core Industries
  • Base year updated to 2022-23. 
  • Number of sectors covered increased to nine from the previous eight
• Indicates trends in industrial activity and infrastructure demand.
• Important indicator of overall economic performance.

(GS 3: Economy)

• About ‘Mission Golden Spice’
• Integrated Lakadong Turmeric Value Chain Enhancement Project
• Focuses on improving productivity, quality and post-harvest management.

(GS-3: Science & Technology)

• Key Findings of The Lancet Public Health on  use of antibiotics in India
• Highlights the growing threat of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR).
• Excessive use of broad-spectrum antibiotics accelerates drug resistance.
• Calls for surveillance and a One Health approach.

(GS-3: Science & Technology)

• New planet discovered around Beta Pictoris region
• The planet is slightly bigger than Jupiter and takes 91 years to orbit its star.
• Planets outside the Solar System are called exoplanets.
• Detected through methods such as transit and radial-velocity techniques.

(GS-3: Environment)

• About White-Bellied Heron (Ardea insignis)
  • One of the world’s rarest heron species.
• Classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
• Threatened by habitat loss, river degradation and disturbance.