Current Affairs 10 July 2026

Prime Minister’s Visit to Australia

During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official visit to Australia, India and Australia announced a wide range of agreements and initiatives to deepen cooperation in defence, maritime security, energy, critical technologies, education, mining, cyber security, clean energy, cultural heritage, and scientific research. The visit further strengthened the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries.

Highlights

• India and Australia signed the Joint Declaration on Defence and Security Cooperation (JDDSC), replacing the 2009 Joint Declaration on Security.
• Both countries adopted the Maritime Security Collaboration Roadmap (MSCR) to enhance maritime information sharing, capability development, and operational coordination.
• The India–Australia Civil Nuclear Agreement (2014) was operationalised, enabling the supply of uranium from Australia to India.
• The Australia–India Partnership for Cyber, Critical Technologies and Supply Chains (PACTS) was launched to strengthen cyber security, critical technologies, and resilient supply chains.
• An MoU was signed between the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and Australia’s Maritime Border Command (MBC) for maritime law enforcement and maritime border protection.
• A Centre of Excellence in Mining and Mining Equipment, Technology and Services (METS) will be established at NSTI, Bhubaneswar.
• Flinders University received approval to establish its campus in Bengaluru, while Victoria University received approval to establish its campus in Gurugram.
• Australia repatriated three Indian antiquities:
  • Nandi (vehicle of Lord Shiva)
  • Trident with Bhadrakali
  • Six-headed Skanda (Kartikeya)

India’s Energy Security During the West Asia Crisis

This topic is important for the APPSC Group-I Mains examination

Despite heightened geopolitical tensions in West Asia and concerns over disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, India successfully maintained energy security. It contained fuel inflation through strategic planning, diversified energy imports, diplomatic engagement, and coordinated government action. The experience highlighted India’s growing resilience against global energy shocks.

Highlights

• India successfully managed the energy crisis triggered by tensions in West Asia despite importing nearly 90% of its crude oil.
• The Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil transit route, remained the centre of global concern during the crisis.
• India contained increases in petrol, diesel, and LPG prices better than many advanced and developing economies.
• The Government and Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) absorbed a significant portion of the price shock instead of passing it entirely to consumers.
• India’s resilience was supported by:
  • Diversification of crude oil suppliers, including Russia, the United States, Africa, and Latin America.
  • Expansion of renewable energy, ethanol blending, and strategic petroleum reserves.
  • Strong diplomatic engagement with Gulf countries and Iran.
  • Coordinated action among the Ministries of External Affairs, Petroleum & Natural Gas, Ports, Shipping & Waterways, the Indian Navy, and the National Security Council Secretariat.
• The crisis demonstrated that diversification of energy sources has become a key pillar of India’s energy security strategy.

Delhi High Court Recognises the ‘Right to be Forgotten’ Under Article 21

The Delhi High Court, in a landmark judgment in Laksh Vir Singh Yadav v. Union of India (2026), laid down guiding principles for the Right to be Forgotten (RTBF) in India. The Court held that the right flows from the fundamental right to privacy under Article 21 of the Constitution and aims to protect individuals from continued harm caused by outdated or irrelevant digital information, while balancing it with the principles of open justice and freedom of speech.

Highlights

• The Court held that, wherever possible, masking or redacting names should be preferred over deleting entire judicial records.
• It introduced a proportionality test, balancing:
  • Individual privacy,
  • Public interest,
  • Open justice, and
  • Freedom of speech and expression.
• The Court directed legal databases to comply with de-indexing or name-masking orders within two weeks.
• The concept of the Right to be Forgotten first gained global recognition through the 2014 European Court of Justice judgment in Mario Costeja González v. Google Spain.
• In India, the foundation for informational privacy was laid by the Supreme Court in K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India (2017), which recognised privacy as a fundamental right under Article 21.
• The Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023, provides a limited statutory right to erasure but does not specifically deal with judicial records.

‘Hummus Trail’ Comes Under Scrutiny Amid War Crimes Allegations

The ‘Hummus Trail’, a popular travel circuit in India frequented by young Israeli tourists, has come under international scrutiny after the Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF) sought the arrest of an Israeli soldier vacationing in Himachal Pradesh over alleged war crimes committed in Gaza. The case has also highlighted India’s legal obligations under the Geneva Conventions Act, 1960, which allows prosecution of grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions irrespective of the nationality of the accused.

Highlights

• The Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF), a Belgium-based Palestinian rights organisation, sought action against an Israeli soldier accused of alleged war crimes in Gaza.
• The complaint invoked India’s Geneva Conventions Act, 1960, which implements the Geneva Conventions into Indian law.
• Under the Act, India can prosecute persons accused of grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions, regardless of their nationality or where the offence was committed.
• The incident brought attention to the ‘Hummus Trail’, a popular travel route followed by Israeli tourists after completing mandatory military service.
• Major destinations along the Hummus Trail include Kasol, Manali, Goa, Hampi, Gokarna, Rishikesh, Varanasi, Pushkar, Kerala, Kodaikanal, and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
• The trail derives its name from the popularity of Middle Eastern cuisine, particularly hummus, among Israeli travellers.
• The issue has renewed discussions on universal jurisdiction, which allows countries to prosecute certain serious international crimes such as war crimes regardless of where they were committed.

DoT’s ‘Samriddh Gram’ Wins WSIS Prize 2026

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) won the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Prize 2026 under Action Line C6 – Enabling Environment for its flagship project “Samriddh Gram: Integrated Phygital Service Delivery Model Enabled by BharatNet.” The award was presented at the WSIS Forum 2026 in Geneva, recognising India’s innovative use of digital public infrastructure to promote inclusive rural development.

Aswath S. Becomes India’s 98th Grandmaster

Seventeen-year-old Aswath S. became India’s 98th Chess Grandmaster (GM) after securing his final GM norm at the Pune International Round-Robin Chess Tournament. He achieved the title by winning his last three games, including a final-round victory over Kannan Vaidyanathan (USA) with the black pieces. Aswath is currently coached by Grandmaster M. Shyam Sundar at the Chess Thulir Academy, Chennai.

Sourav Ganguly Inducted into ICC Hall of Fame

Former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly was inducted into the International Cricket Council (ICC) Hall of Fame on July 8, 2026, becoming the 12th Indian cricketer to receive the prestigious honour. Ganguly represented India from 1992 to 2008 and is remembered for his contributions as a left-handed batter and for leading the Indian team during a transformative period.

Q1. The Centre of Excellence in Mining and Mining Equipment, Technology and Services (METS), announced during the Prime Minister’s visit to Australia, will be established at:
A. National Skill Training Institute (NSTI), Bhubaneswar
B. IIT (ISM), Dhanbad
C. Indian School of Mines, Ranchi
D. National Institute of Technology (NIT), Rourkela

Q2. Consider the following statements regarding the Samriddh Gram initiative:
1. It won the WSIS Prize 2026 under Action Line C6 – Enabling Environment.
2. The initiative is built on the BharatNet network to provide integrated phygital services in rural areas.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3. Laksh Vir Singh Yadav v. Union of India (2026), recently seen in the news, is associated with which of the following?
A. Recognition of the Right to be Forgotten as part of the right to privacy under Article 21
B. Constitutional validity of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023
C. Challenge to the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019
D. Guidelines on electoral bonds issued by the Supreme Court

Q4. The term “Hummus Trail”, recently seen in the news, refers to:
A. A popular travel circuit in India frequently visited by Israeli tourists after military service
B. A proposed international trade corridor connecting India and West Asia
C. A maritime shipping route across the Mediterranean Sea
D. A UNESCO cultural heritage route across the Middle East

Q5. Who became India’s 98th Chess Grandmaster?
A. Kannan Vaidyanathan
B. Aswath S.
C. M. Shyam Sundar
D. Arjun Erigaisi

Q6. Who became the 12th Indian cricketer to be inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame?
A. Yuvraj Singh
B. Sourav Ganguly
C. Rohit Sharma
D. Harbhajan Singh