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Skyroot Aerospace successfully launched Vikram-1, India's first privately developed orbital rocket, on July 18, 2026, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre. The rocket carried experimental payloads including a lab-grown diamond and robotic arms. Prime Minister Modi hailed the launch as a defining moment for India's space sector.
Social activist Sonam Wangchuk was hospitalized against his will on July 18, 2026, after his condition worsened on the 21st day of a hunger strike at Delhi's Jantar Mantar. Opposition parties united to attack the BJP government over the move, signaling the issue will be raised in Parliament's monsoon session starting Monday.
The Supreme Court of India took suo motu cognisance of patients unable to afford life-saving drugs after a cancer patient died awaiting a Kerala High Court order for access to Ribociclib. The case concerns bringing down the price of this patented breast cancer drug, costing Rs 78,468 per month, through domestic manufacture.
Floods in Raigad district, Maharashtra, have destroyed about one million Ganesh idols and damaged 3,000 workshops ahead of Ganesh Chaturthi. Sculptor Dilip Mhatre lost 500 idols worth $8,300. The industry employs 150,000 seasonally and generates 3.5bn rupees annually.
Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke escalated the protest demand from Education Minister Pradhan's resignation to Prime Minister Modi's resignation, blaming Modi for student deaths due to inaction on paper leaks. Dipke said the July 20 march to Parliament will proceed without official permission.
Indian singer Vishal Dadlani and actor Prakash Raj criticized Delhi Police for moving hunger-striking activist Sonam Wangchuk from Jantar Mantar to Safdarjung Hospital. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also condemned the removal, calling it wrong and accusing the Modi government of falsehood and violence.
Prime Minister Modi called Skyroot Aerospace after their successful rocket launch, saying he watched live and that the team has inspired India's youth. Skyroot is a private space company.
Geetansh Sarin, 18, scored 705 out of 720 in NEET-UG 2026, becoming Punjab's second-highest scorer and Jalandhar district topper. He aims to specialize in cardiology or neurology. Sarin had to restart preparation after the previous exam was cancelled due to controversy.
The National Testing Agency withheld the result of NEET paper leak accused Yash Yadav despite a Delhi court allowing him to take the June 21 retest. Yadav was arrested by the CBI for allegedly leaking question papers via Telegram. The NEET-UG exam was cancelled due to the leak.
The Indian government informed the Supreme Court that visa and consular services at missions in Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, Singapore, and Canberra are severely impacted after the Delhi High Court quashed the selection of private service providers. The court agreed to hear the appeal on Monday.