UPSC current affairs — 15 July 2026
The 8 exam-relevant stories for 15 July 2026.
- India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) Comes Into Force
The landmark India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) has officially entered into force, eliminating or reducing tariffs on the vast majority of trade lines to boost key sectors like pharmaceuticals, electronics, and engineering. - Supreme Court to Examine Petition for 24/7 Benches to Protect Fundamental Rights
The Supreme Court has agreed to examine a writ petition seeking a framework for round-the-clock judicial benches, arguing that the protection of fundamental rights should not be constrained by temporal boundaries when executive power operates at all hours. - Supreme Court Scrutinises Procedural Fairness in Assam Foreigners Tribunals
The Supreme Court is examining whether individuals can be declared foreigners without a fair hearing under the Foreigners Tribunals in Assam, highlighting critical issues of citizenship, natural justice, and human rights. - Centre Bans Toxic Herbicide Paraquat Dichloride
India has joined over 70 countries in banning the highly toxic herbicide paraquat dichloride, which has no known antidote and has been linked to thousands of accidental, homicidal, and self-harm deaths. - RPwD Act to be Amended to Include Victims of Forced Acid Ingestion
The Centre has informed the Supreme Court that the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016, will be amended with retrospective effect to recognize individuals internally injured by forced acid ingestion. - Government Launches Inaugural Index of Services Production (ISP)
The government has introduced the inaugural Index of Services Production measuring 19 sub-sectors that cover nearly 60% of India's services sector, with 14 sectors registering double-digit growth in April. - India Bans Import of Goods Made Using Forced Labour
India has banned the import of goods produced using forced labor, aligning its trade policies with global labor standards ahead of a pending U.S. tariff investigation decision. - Draft National Health Research Policy Proposes Overhaul of Research Ecosystem
The Department of Health Research has drafted a unified national framework to overhaul India's research ecosystem across biomedical science, clinical medicine, public health, and emerging digital health technologies.