🔆 CURRENT AFFAIRS – 3 JULY 2026
🔆 ECONOMY
📍 Employees’ Provident Fund Scheme, 2026 Notified
✅ Effective from 29 June 2026
✅ Replaces EPF Scheme, 1952
✅ Implemented under Code on Social Security, 2020
✅ Employee and employer contribution remains 12%
✅ Greater emphasis on e-filings, online claims, e-passbooks and UAN linkage
🔆 STATES
📍 Himachal Pradesh Gets 8 New GI Tags
✅ Total GI-tagged products increase from 9 to 17
✅ New GI products include Kinnauri Apple, Kinnauri Topi, Chamba Metal Art, Seabuckthorn and Salooni Safed Makka
✅ Strengthens protection of traditional products and local artisans
🔆 NATIONAL
📍 MECON Granted Miniratna Category-I Status
✅ Granted by Ministry of Steel
✅ Achieved after consistent profits and ₹535.42 crore net worth
✅ Receives greater financial and operational autonomy
📍 Second National Skill Olympiad on Seafood Value Addition Concludes
✅ Organised by MPEDA
✅ Held during Seafood Expo Bharat 2026 at Kochi
✅ Promotes skill development in seafood processing sector
📍 India Expands Green Hydrogen Export Partnerships
✅ ACME Group signs Green Ammonia agreement with IHI Corporation (Japan)
✅ Signs Green Methanol supply agreement with Mitsubishi Gas Chemical
✅ Supports National Green Hydrogen Mission
✅ Green Ammonia capacity: 405 kTPA
✅ Green Methanol supply: 100 kTPA for 10 years
📍 MANAS Strengthens Anti-Drug Reporting
✅ MANAS (Madak Padarth Nishedh Asoochna Kendra) operates under NCB
✅ Enables confidential reporting through 1933, UMANG App and Portal
✅ Connected to 30 NCB Zonal Units and 36 State/UT ANTFs
✅ Supports counselling and rehabilitation services
📍 3rd Global Conclave on Plastic Recycling Begins
✅ Held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi
✅ Focus on plastic recycling, circular economy and sustainability
✅ Aligns with UN Global Plastics Treaty
✅ Indian recycled plastics market projected to reach US$3.81 billion by 2032
📍 Akashvani Inaugurates ‘Swar Prerna Veethika’
✅ Launched during 90th anniversary celebrations
✅ India to celebrate 100 years of radio broadcasting in 2027
✅ Parent organisation: Prasar Bharati
🔆 AGREEMENTS & MoUs
📍 India–Japan Strengthen Strategic Partnership
✅ 16th India–Japan Annual Summit held in New Delhi
✅ Adopted Joint Declaration on Economic Security Cooperation
✅ Adopted Joint Statement on AI Cooperation
✅ Adopted Joint Statement on Energy Resilience
✅ Launched India–Japan Cooperative Biogas for Growth (CBG) Initiative
🔆 AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
📍 Sunil Bharti Mittal Receives USISPF Leadership Award 2026
✅ Honoured by US-India Strategic Partnership Forum
✅ Recognised for strengthening India–North America economic ties
📍 Nominations Invited for PM Rashtriya Bal Puraskar 2026
✅ Open for children aged 5–18 years
✅ Categories include Sports, Science & Technology, Environment, Bravery, Art & Culture and Social Service
🔆 SPORTS
📍 135th Durand Cup Schedule Announced
✅ Tournament from 25 July–23 August 2026
✅ Opening match and final in Kolkata
✅ Ranchi added as a new host city
✅ Oldest football tournament in Asia
🔆 SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
📍 India–Southeast Asia Submarine Cable Project Announced
✅ I-2SEA cable to connect India, Malaysia and Singapore
✅ Length: 3,600 km
✅ Completion target: Q4 2029
✅ Consortium includes Microsoft, Tata Communications and Singtel
✅ Landing station in India: Machilipatnam, Andhra Pradesh
🔆 DEFENCE
📍 Indian Army Launches VIJAY Roadmap
✅ Launched by Chief of Army Staff General Dhiraj Seth
✅ Vision to build a technology-driven future-ready Army
✅ Based on Decade of Transformation (2023–2032)
✅ Five pillars: Vigilance, Innovation, Jointness, Atmanirbharta and Yodha First
#CurrentAffairs