The Iconic 200-Year-Old Jodhpur Mojari Receives GI Tag

Context: The Centre has granted a Geographical Indication (GI) tag to Jodhpur's nearly 200-year-old Mojari craft, providing official recognition and strengthening the identity of Rajasthan's traditional footwear heritage.

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• The GI certificate was awarded to the Jodhpur Handicraft Exporters Association and Gram Vikas Seva Sansthan, following an application submitted in 2021.
• The craft supports around 400 manufacturers, over 35,000 artisans, and is practised in more than 5,000 households in Jodhpur.
• The domestic market for Jodhpur Mojari is estimated at ₹100 crore, while exports are worth around ₹10 crore; the GI tag is expected to boost exports and improve market access.

About Jodhpur Mojari

• Originating in the early 19th century in the Marwar region of Rajasthan, Jodhpur Mojari is a traditional handcrafted leather footwear associated with Jodhpur and its surrounding areas.
• Traditionally crafted by the Jinagar (Jingar) community, historically known for making jeen (saddles) and myaan (leather sheaths) for armies.
• Once patronised by royal families, the craft evolved into a distinctive cultural symbol of Jodhpur and is known for its durability, comfort, and intricate embroidery.
• The footwear is designed to suit Rajasthan's hot climate and is traditionally worn by both men and women.

About Geographical Indication (GI) Tag

• A Geographical Indication (GI) identifies goods whose quality, reputation, or characteristics are essentially linked to a specific geographical origin.
• GI tags help protect traditional products from imitation, preserve cultural heritage, and enhance market value and export potential.
• GI protection in India is provided under the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999, enacted in compliance with the WTO-TRIPS Agreement, and came into force in 2003.
• GI registrations are administered by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry through the GI Registry at Chennai.
• Darjeeling Tea became India's first GI-tagged product in 2004-05.

3rd NAMASTE Day

Context: The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment commemorated the 3rd NAMASTE Day on 14 July 2026, marking three years of the National Action for Mechanized Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) Scheme.

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• NAMASTE Day is observed annually to recognise the contribution of sanitation workers and reaffirm the commitment to their dignity, safety, and social security.
• It promotes awareness regarding mechanised sanitation, occupational safety, workers' rights, and the elimination of hazardous sanitation practices.

About the NAMASTE Scheme

• NAMASTE (National Action for Mechanized Sanitation Ecosystem) is a Central Sector Scheme jointly implemented by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (MoSJE) and the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA) through the National Safai Karamcharis Finance & Development Corporation (NSKFDC).
• Implemented during FY 2023–24 to FY 2025–26, the scheme aims to eliminate hazardous manual cleaning of sewers and septic tanks through mechanisation while ensuring the dignity and safety of sanitation workers.
• It covers Sewer and Septic Tank Workers (SSWs) and, since June 2024, waste pickers engaged in solid-waste management.
• The scheme seeks to ensure that no sanitation worker is required to enter sewers or septic tanks for cleaning, promoting a fully mechanised sanitation ecosystem.

NIDAR 2.0 Launched Under SwaYaan Initiative

Context: The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), in collaboration with the Drone Federation India (DFI), launched the National Innovation Challenge for Drone Application and Research (NIDAR 2.0) for 2026–27 under the SwaYaan initiative.

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• NIDAR 2.0 aims to move students from merely operating drones to developing their core intelligence, autonomous systems, and indigenous electronics, thereby strengthening India's self-reliant drone ecosystem.
• The challenge encourages the development of drones powered by the indigenous VEGA processor, supporting the goals of Atmanirbhar Bharat and reducing dependence on foreign chip designs.

About NIDAR 2.0

• NIDAR (National Innovation Challenge for Drone Application and Research) is MeitY's flagship innovation challenge under the SwaYaan (Capacity Building for Human Resource Development in Unmanned Aircraft Systems and Allied Technologies) initiative.
• The first edition of NIDAR (2025–26), launched in March 2025, focused on drone applications and innovation, laying the foundation for student-led participation in India's emerging drone ecosystem.
• NIDAR 2.0 raises the level of the challenge by shifting the focus to autonomous systems, indigenous avionics, and core drone components, with an expanded prize pool of over ₹65 lakh to support advanced innovation and product development.
• The challenge consists of two tracks:
  • Drone Innovation: Development of autonomous swarm drones for disaster response and GPS-denied drones for indoor industrial inspection.
  • Component Innovation: Design of indigenous flight controllers and autopilot systems built around the VEGA processor using domestic electronic components.
• Under the Component Innovation track, the top 100 teams will each receive two VEGA processor development kits for testing and integration.

About SwaYaan

• SwaYaanis a MeitY initiative approved in 2022 with an outlay of ₹89.87 crore to develop a skilled workforce and innovation ecosystem for India's drone sector.
• The programme is implemented through premier institutions such as IISc, IITs, IIITs, NITs, C-DAC, and NIELIT, and has trained over 51,000 individuals.
• It focuses on five thematic areas: Aeromechanics, Drone Electronics, Guidance, Navigation & Control (GNC) Algorithms and Simulation, Drone Applications, and Allied UAS Technologies.

India Strengthens Global Leadership in Food Standards at CAC49

Context: India achieved significant milestones at the 49th Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC49) held in Geneva, Switzerland (6–10 July 2026), with the adoption of several international food standards developed under its leadership.

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• The Commission adopted seven Codex standards and guidelines developed under India's chairmanship and co-chairmanship, reinforcing India's role in shaping global food standards.
• Among the key adoptions were the Codex Standards for Dried Coriander Seeds and Fresh Curry Leaves, developed under India's chairmanship of the Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs (CCSCH).
• CAC49 also approved India's proposal to develop a Codex Standard for Cashew Kernels, a move expected to facilitate international trade and benefit producers.

About Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC)

• The Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) is the international food standards-setting body established jointly by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1963.
• It aims to protect consumer health and ensure fair practices in international food trade through harmonised food standards.
• Codex standards are recognised by the WTO's Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement as international reference standards for food safety and trade.
• India became a member of CAC in 1964 and is represented by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

Wimbledon 2026

Context: The 2026 Wimbledon Championships, the oldest and most prestigious tennis tournament, concluded at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, with Jannik Sinner and Linda Nosková emerging as the singles champions.

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• Men's Singles: Jannik Sinner (Italy) won his second consecutive Wimbledon title
• Women's Singles: Linda Nosková (Czech Republic) won her maiden Grand Slam title
• Men's Doubles: Harri Heliövaara (Finland) & Henry Patten (Great Britain)
• Women's Doubles: Guo Hanyu (China) & Kristina Mladenovic (France)
• Mixed Doubles: Marcelo Arévalo (El Salvador) / Jeļena Ostapenko (Latvia)

About Wimbledon Championships

• Established in 1877, Wimbledon is the oldest tennis tournament in the world.
• It is held annually at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London.
• Wimbledon is the only Grand Slam tournament played on grass courts.
• The tournament is known for traditions such as the all-white dress code for players and the serving of strawberries and cream.

About Grand Slam Tennis Tournaments

• Grand Slam tournaments are the four most prestigious tennis tournaments in the world:
  • Australian Open – Hard Court (January)
  • French Open (Roland Garros) – Clay Court (May–June)
  • Wimbledon – Grass Court (June–July)
  • US Open – Hard Court (August–September)
• The four tournaments are organised independently but cooperate through a shared Grand Slam framework on matters of common interest.
• Winning all four Grand Slam singles titles in the same calendar year is known as a Calendar Grand Slam.