Chief Minister Hemant Soren directed the Forest, Environment, and Climate Change Department to formulate a technical and digital record of all forest land in Jharkhand within one month using layered GIS mapping. The state aims to monitor land-use changes, mining impacts, eco-tourism projects, and shifting sanctuary borders since 2000. Furthermore, afforestation drives must shift from numerical targets to species with economic/ecological utility—prioritizing Mahua, Jamun, Karanj, Palash, Kusum, Ber, and Arjun to bolster lac, tussar silk, and non-timber forest produce (NTFP) livelihoods. Plans for aerial seeding in remote terrains, large-scale bamboo and cashew farming, and enforcement via the Jan Vishwas App were also mandated.

Minister of State for Power Shripad Naik informed the Rajya Sabha that major thermal power projects are currently under construction in Jharkhand. These include Koderma TPS Phase-2 (2 units of 800 MW each = 1,600 MW), being executed by Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC), and the 3rd unit of Patratu STPP (800 MW), being developed by Patratu Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited (PVUNL – a JV of NTPC and JBVNL). Over the past 5 years, 2,780 MW of thermal power capacity was commissioned in the state (3×660 MW at North Karanpura STPP and 800 MW 1st unit at Patratu STPP). Nationally, non-fossil fuel installed capacity reached 53.75% as of May 31, 2026.

Chief Electoral Officer K. Ravi Kumar clarified that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls aims to ensure zero deletion of eligible voters in Jharkhand. For Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) and other tribal communities facing logical discrepancies or mapping issues, enrolment will be facilitated through land records (Khatiyan), genealogies, and block-level (Anchal) records. Over 21,000 Booth Level Agents (BLAs) have been mobilized across the state.

Ranchi is set to host matches of the historic Durand Cup—Asia’s oldest football tournament—for the first time from July 26 to August 16, 2026. The 30,000-capacity Birsa Munda Football Stadium in Morhabadi will host 6 Group C league matches and one quarterfinal. Group C comprises Jamshedpur FC, Indian Air Force, SC Delhi, and international team Defenders FC from Sri Lanka. Entry is free for spectators via complimentary tickets.

Women in the formerly Naxal-affected Churchu block of Hazaribagh district are generating monthly incomes of ₹70,000–₹80,000 by producing lac bangles under the Lakhpati Kisan / Lakhpati Didi initiatives and the Nari Urja Farmer Producer Company. Jharkhand stands as India’s largest producer of lac, used globally in bangles, jewelry, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.

Santhali filmmaker Ravi Raj Murmu (an alumnus of Karim City College, Jamshedpur, and FTII Pune) won the 72nd National Film Award for Best Debut Film Director for his Santhali feature Angen (Invisible). Inspired by Santhali folklore narrated by his grandparents, the 12-minute short explores themes of love, identity, and mythology surrounding a cowherd and a celestial goddess.

Health and Disaster Management Minister Dr. Irfan Ansari reviewed preparations for the Rajkiya Shravani Mela 2026 in Deoghar, establishing 35 health camps (32 operational 24/7) and emergency wards. Concurrently, Water & Sanitation Minister Yogendra Prasad held a review in Dumka warning underperforming agencies with blacklisting. Review metrics revealed that liquid waste management in Santhal Pargana stands at 91.78%, whereas solid waste management lags at 38.9%.

The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) granted market authorization to QDENGA, developed by Takeda Biopharmaceuticals India. Approved for individuals aged 4 to 60 years, it provides protection across all four dengue virus serotypes regardless of prior exposure, eliminating the need for pre-vaccination blood screening required by older vaccines like Dengvaxia. It is administered subcutaneously in a two-dose regimen, three months apart.

Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal introduced the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026 in the Lok Sabha on the opening day of the Monsoon Session. The bill seeks to increase the maximum sanctioned strength of Supreme Court judges (excluding the Chief Justice of India) from 33 to 37, addressing mounting pendency of complex constitutional and appellate cases.

Minister of State for Petroleum Suresh Gopi informed Rajya Sabha that India achieved its 20% ethanol blending target (E20) in 2025-26, five years ahead of the original 2030 schedule. Blending rose from 1.53% in 2013-14 to 20%. Since 2014-15, the program saved ₹1.97 trillion in forex, displaced 316 lakh tonnes of crude oil, reduced 952 lakh tonnes of CO2, and generated ₹1.66 lakh crore in farmer income. No decision has been made to blend beyond 20% without further technical evaluation.

Highlighted in policy discourse as a model for rural transformation, the Smart Tribal Farming Project Initiative (STFPI) aligns with DFI-2022 (Doubling Farmers’ Income) Volume 12B recommendations. Supported by high-speed 1-10 Gbps BharatNet pipelines at Gram Panchayat levels and PM-JANMAN, STFPI deploys edge computing, WebGIS asset mapping, IoT soil-moisture telemetry, and Adi Sewa Kendras across tribal village clusters under a “Quintuple Helix” model.

Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal completed a 5-day official tour of Spain, Belgium, Finland, and Estonia. Key outcomes include establishing a dedicated “India Team” in Spain, technical discussions to link India’s UPI with Spain’s Bizum payment network, co-chairing the 3rd India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC) meeting in Brussels, and listing 21 new Indian fishery establishments (taking total approved units to 625).

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reported to Rajya Sabha that polluted river stretches based on Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) declined from 351 in 2018 to 311 in 2022, and further down to 296 in 2025. The government has spent ₹11,332 crore under Namami Gange and ₹1,888 crore under the National River Conservation Plan (NRCP). Water quality is monitored via 2,265 stations nationwide using parameters like pH, BOD, Dissolved Oxygen (DO), and Faecal Coliform (FC).

Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 in extra time at MetLife Stadium, New Jersey, to claim its second FIFA World Cup title (first since 2010). Ferran Torres scored the winning goal in the 106th minute. Spanish midfielder Rodri received the Golden Ball (Best Player), Unai Simón won the Golden Glove (7 clean sheets, 1 goal conceded in 8 matches), and Pau Cubarsí won Best Young Player. France’s Kylian Mbappé won his second consecutive Golden Boot with 10 goals.

In global political developments, Andy Burnham (56), newly elected leader of the Labour Party, officially took charge as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom after King Charles III invited him to form a government following Sir Keir Starmer’s resignation. Meanwhile, President Droupadi Murmu arrived in Chisinau on a landmark visit to Moldova, North Macedonia, and Romania—marking the first-ever visit by an Indian President to Moldova.

Students from Sona College of Technology, Tamil Nadu, won the top prize at ‘Sanrachna’ (Bharat Tex 2026) for engineering an impact-resistant sports T-shirt treated with Shear-Thickening Fluid (STF), a smart liquid that solidifies upon impact.