Current Affairs 08 July 2026

Prime Minister’s Visit to Indonesia

During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official visit to Indonesia, India and Indonesia signed 14 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and Agreements and announced six major initiatives to deepen cooperation in defence, space, technology, disaster management, healthcare, education, trade, and digital connectivity. The visit further strengthened the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries.

Highlights

• India and Indonesia signed 14 MoUs/Agreements during the Prime Minister’s visit.
• Defence cooperation was strengthened through:
  • BrahMos Missile System Cooperation
  • Air-to-Air Missile Cooperation Agreement

Major Announcements

• India will assist in the conservation and restoration of the Prambanan Temple Complex in Yogyakarta.
• India will supply 100 tonnes of DWR-162 wheat seeds to Indonesia.
• Both countries announced the “Tagore–Dewantara Year of Cultural and Educational Diplomacy.”
• IIM Bangalore will establish a branch campus at Singhasari SEZ, Indonesia.
• Indonesia will launch the Indonesia Open Network (ION) based on India’s Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) architecture.

Nethanna Bharosa Scheme

The Andhra Pradesh Government announced the early rollout of the ‘Nethanna Bharosa’ scheme to strengthen the livelihood of handloom weavers. The announcement was made by the Handlooms and Textiles Minister during the golden jubilee celebrations of APCO at Mangalagiri.

Context

The Nethanna Bharosa scheme replaces the previous YSR Nethanna Nestham scheme of the former government. While the earlier scheme provided ₹24,000 annually to eligible handloom weavers, the present government enhanced the assistance to ₹25,000 per year and introduced free electricity support of 200 units for handlooms and 500 units for power looms. Although the policy was unveiled during National Handloom Day (07 August 2025), the government has now announced its early operational rollout and implementation.

Highlights

• Nethanna Bharosa is a welfare scheme for handloom weavers in Andhra Pradesh.
• The scheme provides ₹25,000 annual financial assistance to eligible weavers.
• The scheme offers 200 units of free electricity for handlooms and 500 units for power looms.
• APCO recently received the SKOCH Award for its digitalisation initiatives.

‘Mee Mart’ Initiative

The Andhra Pradesh Government has launched the ‘Mee Mart’ initiative to modernise the Public Distribution System (PDS) by transforming fair price shops into community retail centres. The first Mee Mart was inaugurated by Food and Civil Supplies Minister Nadendla Manohar at Lalupuram, Guntur district. The initiative aims to provide quality consumer goods at prices lower than the open market while creating an additional source of income for fair price shop dealers.

Supreme Court Reiterates That Every Accused Has the Right to Legal Representation

Following the Faizabad Bar Association’s resolution refusing to represent the accused in the Ayodhya Ram Temple embezzlement case, the issue of whether Bar Associations can collectively deny legal representation has come into focus. The Supreme Court has consistently held that such resolutions are illegal, unconstitutional, and against professional ethics, emphasizing that every accused is entitled to a fair trial and legal representation.

Highlights

• The issue arose after the Faizabad Bar Association resolved not to represent the accused in the Ayodhya Ram Temple embezzlement case.
• In A.S. Mohammed Rafi v. State of Tamil Nadu (2010), the Supreme Court declared that Bar Association resolutions refusing legal representation are null and void.
• The Court held that every accused has the fundamental right to a fair trial and legal representation.
• Article 22(1) of the Constitution guarantees every arrested person the right to consult and be defended by a legal practitioner of his or her choice.
• The right to a fair trial has also been recognized as part of Article 21 (Right to Life and Personal Liberty).
• Article 39A directs the State to promote equal access to justice and provide free legal aid where necessary.
• The Bar Council of India Rules permit an advocate to refuse a case only in individual special circumstances, not based on a collective Bar Association resolution.

White Gut Disease Outbreak

The Andhra Pradesh Fisheries Department has issued an alert following the detection of White Gut Disease (WGD), also known as White Feces Disease (WFD), in shrimp ponds in parts of the State. Fisheries officials have begun collecting samples from affected ponds and advised farmers to maintain proper pond hygiene to prevent the spread of the disease.

Highlights

• White Gut Disease (WGD), also known as White Feces Disease (WFD), has been reported in shrimp ponds in West Godavari district.
• Fisheries officials collected shrimp, water, feed, and faeces samples from ponds in Mahadevapatnam, Tokatippa, and other villages of Undi mandal.
• The Fisheries Department has advised shrimp farmers to maintain good pond hygiene and water quality to reduce the risk of disease outbreaks.

Mizoram University’s Natural History Museum Becomes India’s 21st Designated Repository

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has notified the Natural History Museum (NHM), Mizoram University, Aizawl, as India’s 21st Designated Repository under Section 39 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002. The designation strengthens biodiversity conservation, scientific documentation, and preservation of biological specimens, particularly in the Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspot.

What is a Designated Repository?

A Designated Repository is an institution officially notified by the Central Government under Section 39 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 to preserve and maintain authenticated biological specimens collected or accessed under the Act.

NATO Summit

The 2026 NATO Summit was held on 7–8 July 2026 at the Beştepe Presidential Complex, Ankara, Türkiye. This is the first NATO Summit hosted by Türkiye since the 2004 Istanbul Summit. The meeting, chaired by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, focused on strengthening collective security through increased defence spending, enhanced air and drone defence capabilities, and continued support for Ukraine.

Highlights

• The 2026 NATO Summit was held in Ankara, Türkiye, on 7–8 July 2026.
• Mark Rutte chaired the summit as the Secretary General of NATO.
• Leaders reviewed progress on the 5% of GDP defence spending target, adopted during the 2025 Hague Summit, replacing the earlier 2% benchmark.
• NATO members discussed strengthening integrated air defence systems and counter-drone capabilities.
• The summit also focused on transatlantic cooperation and continued security assistance to Ukraine.

Prime Minister Modi Conferred Indonesia’s Highest Civilian Honour

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred the ‘Bintang Adipurna of the Republic of Indonesia’, the highest civilian honour of Indonesia, by President Prabowo Subianto during his official visit to the country. The honour was bestowed in recognition of his leadership and exceptional contribution to strengthening India–Indonesia relations.

Q1. Which of the following Articles of the Constitution of India guarantees that an arrested person has the right to consult and be defended by a legal practitioner of his or her choice?
A. Article 19(1)(a)
B. Article 21
C. Article 22(1)
D. Article 32

Q2. Consider the following statements regarding the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO):
1. The 2026 NATO Summit was held in Ankara, Türkiye.
2. NATO is headquartered in Brussels, Belgium.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3. White Gut Disease (WGD), recently seen in the news, is associated with which of the following?
A. Cattle
B. Shrimp (Prawn) farming
C. Rice cultivation
D. Poultry farming

Q4. Consider the following statements regarding the ‘Nethanna Bharosa’ scheme:
1. The scheme was launched on 7 August 2025 by the Andhra Pradesh Government.
2. The scheme provides ₹25,000 annual financial assistance to eligible handloom weavers.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q5. The first ‘Mee Mart’, recently launched by the Andhra Pradesh Government, was inaugurated at which of the following villages?
A. Lalupuram
B. Mukkavaripalle
C. Sunnapurallapalle
D. Mahadevapatnam

Q6. India recently announced the “Tagore–Dewantara Year of Cultural and Educational Diplomacy” with which of the following countries?
A. Malaysia
B. Indonesia
C. Vietnam
D. Thailand

Q7. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was recently conferred the ‘Bintang Adipurna’, the highest civilian honour, by which country?
A. Malaysia
B. Indonesia
C. Singapore
D. Vietnam

Q8. Under which Section of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, does the Central Government notify a Designated Repository for preserving authenticated biological specimens?
A. Section 21
B. Section 39
C. Section 45
D. Section 62