{"id":80340,"date":"2026-07-29T18:09:26","date_gmt":"2026-07-29T12:39:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=80340"},"modified":"2026-07-29T18:13:55","modified_gmt":"2026-07-29T12:43:55","slug":"news-in-short-29-07-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/29-07-2026\/news-in-short-29-07-2026","title":{"rendered":"News In Short 29-07-2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Guru Ravidas<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS1\/History<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The 650th birth anniversary year of Sant Guru Ravidas commenced on Guru Purnima.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Guru Ravidas was a <strong>15th\u201316th century Bhakti saint, poet and social reformer<\/strong>, known for his message of equality, devotion and social justice.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>He is considered the founder of the <strong>Ravidassia religion.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Life and Teachings<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>He strongly opposed <strong>caste-based discrimination<\/strong> and worked for the upliftment of marginalised communities.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>He envisioned a society called &#8216;<strong>Beghumpura&#8217;<\/strong> (a city without sorrow), where there is no suffering, no fear, and no discrimination.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>He gave a very broad message of <strong>\u2018karma\u2019<\/strong> to society by coining in the popular Hindi saying <strong>\u2018Mann Changa to Kathauti Mein Ganga\u2019<\/strong> (If your mind is pure, the Ganges is in your tub).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Legacy<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>His devotional verses are included in the <strong>Guru Granth Sahib<\/strong>, the holy scripture of Sikhism.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The Panch Vani text<\/strong> of the <strong>Dadu Panthi tradition<\/strong> within Hinduism also includes numerous poems of Saint Ravidas.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Chief Architect of Constitution,<strong> Dr. B.R. Ambedkar<\/strong> embodied the Constitutional principles around the values expressed by Guru Ravidasji.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/newsonair.gov.in\/bjp-announces-seven-month-nationwide-campaign-to-commemorate-sant-guru-ravidas-650th-birth-anniversary\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>AIR<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>E-Zero FIR System<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/ Indian Polit<\/strong><strong>y<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The government has introduced the system of registering e-Zero FIRs in cybercrime cases across eighteen states and Union Territories.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The e-Zero FIR system is a digital law enforcement framework designed to automatically generate a <strong>First Information Report (e-Zero FIR)<\/strong> for reported cyber financial crimes regardless of territorial police jurisdiction.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The <strong>Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C)<\/strong> under the Ministry of Home Affairs developed the system.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Runs on <strong>Section 173(1) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023<\/strong> \u2014 the law that replaced the old CrPC \u2014 which clearly says information about a cognisable offence can be given electronically, no matter where the crime happened.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How It Actually Plays Out?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>You report a fraud on NCRP or call 1930.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If the loss crosses the state&#8217;s set threshold, an e-Zero FIR is generated automatically at the state&#8217;s e-Crime Police Station, no visit needed at this stage.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>This FIR is instantly forwarded to whichever police station actually has territorial jurisdiction over the case.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You&#8217;re expected to visit that local station within <strong>3 days<\/strong> to get it converted into a regular, fully investigated FIR.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Significance<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Federal structure tension:<\/strong> Police and Public Order are State subjects under the Seventh Schedule. This system works by getting states to voluntarily adopt a Centre-built platform.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>BNSS as an enabler: <\/strong>This is a concrete, real-world example of how the new criminal law reforms (BNSS replacing CrPC) are being used to modernise policing, not just relabel old provisions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Digital governance as crime-fighting infrastructure:<\/strong> NCRP, CCTNS, and I4C linking up shows how India is trying to build integrated digital backbones for law enforcement.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Source: TH<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>DWEEPTI Yojana (Decentralised Women Empowerment on\u00a0 Energy and Policy for Transformative Inclusion)\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/Governance<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Chhattisgarh has launched the DWEEPTI Yojana (Decentralised Women Empowerment on Energy and Policy for Transformative Inclusion).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It is the first state-level policy in India to formally <strong>integrate women-led SHGs into the distributed renewable energy value chain.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The scheme is a collective effort of the <strong>department of panchayat and rural development of Chhattisgarh<\/strong> and Transform Rural India under the Green Economy Transition Mission.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The scheme is aimed at creating <strong>5,000 enterprises in the sector of women-led renewable energy in five years,<\/strong> along with<strong> 50,000 jobs<\/strong>, while extending energy to 5 lakh families and 10,000 public institutions across the state.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The scheme helps women acquire technical skills for the installation of roof top solar power systems, their maintenance, operation, and interactions with communities through a cluster of skilled<strong> \u201cSolar Didis\u201d<\/strong> for decentralized renewable energy systems deployment.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.newindianexpress.com\/india\/2026\/Jul\/27\/chhattisgarh-launches-women-led-solar-policy-under-dweepti-yojana\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>IE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Atmanirbhar Panchayat Programme, SAMARTH Portal and Model OSR (Own Source of Revenue) Rules<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/ Governance<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Union Minister of Panchayati Raj launched the Atmanirbhar Panchayat Programme, the SAMARTH Panchayat Portal and released the Model OSR (Own Source of Revenue) Rules for Panchayati Raj Institutions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Atmanirbhar Panchayat Programme<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It is an initiative of the <strong>Ministry of Panchayati Raj <\/strong>that enables Gram Panchayats and Block Panchayats to <strong>identify local assets and opportunities<\/strong> and develop them, with <strong>dedicated technical support<\/strong> from the Ministry, into bankable, revenue-generating projects that build sustainable OSR.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Financing is facilitated through <strong>Public Private Partnerships, Corporate Social Responsibility contributions<\/strong>, convergence with other schemes and bank finance, with NABARD and HUDCO as institutional partners.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Gram Panchayats with a <strong>minimum OSR of Rs. 50 lakh<\/strong> and <strong>Block Panchayats with a minimum OSR of Rs. 1 crore,<\/strong> each with <strong>at least three years<\/strong> of tenure remaining, are eligible to apply, with relaxed thresholds for special category States.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>SAMARTH Panchayat Portal<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Portal is an initiative of the <strong>Ministry of Panchayati Raj<\/strong> designed to strengthen the financial capacity of Gram Panchayats through technology-enabled management of OSR.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>SAMARTH enables Gram Panchayats to <strong>digitally manage the complete OSR lifecycle<\/strong>, from taxpayer registration and demand generation to online payments, collection and real-time monitoring.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Model OSR Rules for Panchayati Raj Institutions<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>To strengthen the financial independence of Panchayati Raj Institutions, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj has prepared <strong>Model OSR (Own Sources of Revenue) Rules <\/strong>as a guiding framework for States and Union Territories.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Building on the recommendations of the <strong>Sixteenth Finance Commission<\/strong>, the Model Rules aim to support States in creating a <strong>transparent, uniform and efficient system for the assessment, collection and management <\/strong>of Panchayat revenues such as property tax, user charges, fees and other non-tax revenues.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pib.gov.in\/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2290029&amp;reg=48&amp;lang=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>PIB<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>India Becomes World\u2019s Second-largest Supplier of Seafarers<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/Economy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>According to the BIMCO-ICS Seafarer Workforce Report 2026, India has emerged as the <strong>world\u2019s second-largest supplier of seafarers.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India contributes 311,936 maritime professionals to the global shipping industry.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It accounts for <strong>12.16% of the global seafaring workforce,<\/strong> ranking behind only the <strong>Philippines <\/strong>and<strong> ahead of China, the Russian Federation and Indonesia.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>India&#8217;s strength is particularly evident in the officer cadre,<\/strong> accounting for<strong> 13.41% <\/strong>of the world&#8217;s officer workforce.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The global supply of seafarers <\/strong>at 2.57 million, while demand has reached 2.55 million, highlighting an <strong>increasingly tight global labour market.\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>India\u2019s Target:<\/strong> India has an ambitious national vision to increase<strong> India&#8217;s share of the global seafaring workforce from 12.16% to 20%.\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Significance: <\/strong>With the global shipping industry continuing to face a shortage of qualified officers,<strong> India&#8217;s expanding maritime education ecosystem, <\/strong>internationally recognised training standards and progressive policy framework place the country in a strong position to meet future global demand.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/newsonair.gov.in\/india-becomes-worlds-second-largest-supplier-of-seafarers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>AIR<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/Environment&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>In News<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana received over 75 lakh applications, with 39.7 lakh rooftop solar systems installed, benefiting 48 lakh households through \u20b927,343.9 crore in Central Financial Assistance.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It was launched in\u00a0 2024 with an outlay of \u20b975,021 crore.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It has become the world\u2019s largest domestic rooftop solar programme.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Its easy financing options, including collateral-free loans up to \u20b92 lakh at a 6.75% subsidized interest rate through 12 Public Sector Banks, have further accelerated adoption.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Over 1 crore households have registered on the National Portal, with more than 33 lakh rooftop systems installed as of May 2026, adding over 12 GW capacity.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Rooftop solar now accounts for nearly 45% of residential solar capacity, with deployment growth rising to 85% during 2024\u20132026.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>India\u2019s installed solar power capacity, comprising utility-scale, rooftop and off-grid projects, was 162.15 GW at the end of June.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The scheme contributes to India\u2019s progress towards its 500 GW non-fossil capacity target by 2030, with total solar capacity crossing 150 GW as of March 2026, while enhancing energy access and reducing subsidy burden on DISCOMs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/epaper.thehindu.com\/ccidist-ws\/th\/th_delhi\/issues\/196647\/OPS\/GAGGAM7NA.1+GJEGANB58.1.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">TH<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Andromeda Galaxy<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/Space&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>In News<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Astronomers used data from the Hubble Space Telescope to create the most detailed map of star formation in the Andromeda Galaxy over the past 500 million years.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Andromeda Galaxy<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It is also known as Messier 31 (M31) and is a spiral galaxy &amp; is located about 2.5 million light-years away from Earth.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is the<strong> closest spiral galaxy to the Milky Way.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is the most distant object visible to the naked eye under dark skies.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It has an apparent magnitude of 3.1, meaning it is visible to the naked eye in dark or moderately light-polluted skies.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The first written description of the galaxy was by Persian astronomer Abd al-Rahman al-Sufi in his 964 CE book The Book of Fixed Stars.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/epaper.thehindu.com\/ccidist-ws\/th\/th_delhi\/issues\/196647\/OPS\/GAGGAM7NI.1+GURGAM8JP.1.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">TH<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Booker Prize 2026\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: Miscellaneous<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <strong>Booker Prize 2026 longlist<\/strong>, comprising <strong>13 books<\/strong> across genres ranging from thrillers and dystopian science fiction to love stories, has been announced.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About the Booker Prize<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Booker Prize is awarded each year to an author for a book published in English in the U.K. and\/or Ireland between 1 October and 30 September.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The six shortlisted authors each receive <strong>\u00a32,500<\/strong>, while the winner receives <strong>\u00a350,000<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The <strong>2025 Booker Prize<\/strong> was awarded to <strong>David Szalay<\/strong> for his novel <strong><em>Flesh<\/em><\/strong>.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Past Indian Booker Prize winners: <\/strong>Arundhati Roy (God of Small Things), Kiran Desai (Inheritance of Loss), and Aravind Adiga (White Tiger).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-background\" style=\"background-color:#fff2cc\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p><strong>International Booker Prize<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Formerly known as the <strong>Man Booker International Prize<\/strong>, this honor is presented annually for a work of fiction, either a novel or a collection of short stories that was originally written in a <strong>language other than English<\/strong>, then translated into English and published in the U.K. and\/or Ireland.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The prize highlights the crucial role of translators, with <strong>\u00a350,000 shared equally between the author and translator<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/books-and-literature\/booker-prize-2026-longlist-marlon-james-douglas-stuart-elizabeth-strout-10807672\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>IE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><strong> Context <\/strong><\/p>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> The 650th birth anniversary year of Sant Guru Ravidas commenced on Guru Purnima. <\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><strong> About <\/strong><\/p>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> Guru Ravidas was a 15th\u201316th century Bhakti saint, poet and social reformer, known for his message of equality, devotion and social justice.\u00a0 <\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> He is considered the founder of the Ravidassia religion. <\/li>\n<p><a href=\" https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/29-07-2026\/news-in-short-29-07-2026 \" class=\"btn btn-primary btn-sm float-end\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-80340","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-current-affairs"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80340","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=80340"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80340\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":80346,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80340\/revisions\/80346"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=80340"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=80340"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=80340"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}