Today Headlines

 

🇮🇳 1. National Affairs

Civil-Defence Drill “Operation Abhyaas” Report Released

The Home Ministry and NDMA have released findings from Operation Abhyaas, a nationwide emergency preparedness drill conducted on May 7 across 244 districts. Key highlights include blackout simulations, public evacuation drills, mass siren activations, and training sessions aimed at boosting civilian readiness for potential crises. The exercise—India’s most extensive since 1971—served both as a strategic drill and public awareness initiative  .

---

🌐 2. International Affairs

China Cautions India on Dalai Lama Comments

Following remarks by Indian officials suggesting the Tibetan leadership should decide the Dalai Lama’s succession, China issued a stern warning, urging India to “choose its words carefully.” India clarified its position, emphasizing it has no official stance. The exchange could derail efforts to mend strained India-China relations  .

---

📈 3. Economy & Business

India Proposes WTO Retaliatory Tariffs on U.S. Auto Imports

India has formally notified the WTO of plans to impose retaliatory tariffs (~$725 million) on U.S. auto and parts imports, in response to Washington’s proposed 25% auto tariffs. Meanwhile, discussions continue to reach a trade settlement before a looming July 9 deadline  .

---

🌱 4. Environment & Ecology

Monsoon Forecast: Above-Normal Rain, Regional Deficits Expected

IMD’s July report anticipates overall monsoon rainfall above the long-term average. However, some northeastern, eastern, southern, and northwestern regions could experience seasonal deficits—implications that could affect cropping and water planning  .

---

🔬 5. Science & Technology

PSA Releases Zero-Emission Trucking Report

The Principal Scientific Adviser to the government released a comprehensive June 2025 report called “ZET Adoption in India and Its Impact on Emission and Energy.” It projects a substantial shift to battery-electric trucks in the medium and heavy-duty freight sector, highlighting policy measures needed to cut emissions and achieve net‑zero targets  .

---

🛡 6. Defence & Security

Civil-Defence Drill “Operation Abhyaas” (Cont’d)

Beyond its national awareness role, the civil-defence drill simulated potential wartime scenarios—testing blackout protocols, evacuation efficiency, and inter-agency coordination. It marks a significant enhancement in India’s disaster-response and readiness posture  .

---

🏅 7. Sports

Five Athletes Tragically Lost on July 3

The global sports community mourned multiple tragedies:

Brijesh Solanki (kabaddi, India) died of rabies after rescuing a puppy.

Portuguese footballer Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva were killed in a car crash.

Moto2 racer Borja Gomez was killed during practice.

Palestinian footballer Muhannad Al-Laili died in a Gaza airstrike.

These incidents sparked an outpouring of grief across sporting communities  .

---

🌀 8. Miscellaneous

Reverse Repo Auction by RBI to Soak Up Liquidity

The RBI announced a ₹1 trillion, seven-day variable rate reverse repo auction starting July 4 to absorb ₹3.75 trillion in excess liquidity—the highest in three years—aiming to stabilize money-market rates  .