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- Delhi Dwarka Tunnel Approved | Vikram Misri Tenure Extended; July 3 Current Affairs
Today’s important current affairs, which are essential for students preparing for government jobs.
NATIONAL
1. Extension of tenure of Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri
- On July 1, the Government of India extended the tenure of Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri by one year.
- Now Vikram will work as India’s Foreign Secretary till July 14, 2027.
- Vikram’s tenure extension has been approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC).
- The approval for extending Vikram’s tenure has been given under Fundamental Rule 56(d).
- Earlier in November 2024, when Vikram’s tenure was completing, his tenure was extended till 2026.
- Vikram Misri is a 1989 batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer.
- Vikram Misri has also served as India’s Ambassador to China, he played a crucial role during the Ladakh standoff.
- Vikram has also served in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
- In 1990, handled various responsibilities including the Pakistan Desk in the Ministry of External Affairs.
- Served as Private Secretary to former PM I K Gujral from 1997 to 2000.
- Became Director to External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee between 2006 and 2008.
- Vikram Misri assumed the post of Foreign Secretary replacing Vinay Kwatra.
- The Foreign Secretary is the administrative head of the Ministry of External Affairs.
Vikram Misri has served as India’s ambassador to several countries including Spain, Myanmar, and China.
2. CBDT Chairman Ravi Agarwal’s tenure extended
- On July 1, the Central Government extended the tenure of Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) Chairman Ravi Agarwal by 6 months.
- The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) of the Government of India has granted him this approval.
- Now he will remain in the post from July 1 to December 31, 2026.
- Ravi’s reappointment has been done as per the general rules and conditions applicable to Central Government officials.
- Ravi is a 1988 batch IRS, that is, Indian Revenue Service Officer.
- Ravi was appointed as Member in CBDT in July 2023.
- In 2025, his tenure was extended by one year till June 2026.
Central Board of Direct Taxes
- The Central Board of Direct Taxes comes under the Revenue Department of the Ministry of Finance.
- CBDT formulates policies and rules related to direct taxes such as income tax and corporate tax.
- CBDT was established on 1st January 1964.
- CBDT is constituted under the Central Boards of Revenue Act, 1963.
- CBDT comes under the Ministry of Finance.
- The headquarters of CBDT is in New Delhi.
Ravi was appointed as Chairman of CBDT in June 2024.
APPOINTMENT
3. Lieutenant General Mohit Malhotra becomes head of South Western Command
- On July 1, Lieutenant General Mohit Malhotra (AVSM, SM) assumed charge as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) of the South Western Command.
- The headquarters of the South Western Command is located in Jaipur, Rajasthan.
- Lieutenant General Mohit was commissioned into the 47 Armoured Regiment of the Indian Army in June 1989.
- Lieutenant General Mohit has commanded an Independent Armoured Brigade and led an Independent Armoured Brigade.
- Lieutenant General Mohit became the General Officer Commanding of XII Corps (Konark Corps) in June 2023.
- Lieutenant General Mohit was appointed Chief of Staff in the Eastern Command in June 2025.
South Western Command
- The Indian Army’s ‘South Western Command’ is the seventh and newest operational command of the Army.
- This command was created on 15 April 2005 and its headquarters is in Jaipur.
- Known as ‘Sapta Shakti’, this command was primarily created to defend the desert and semi-desert areas located on the India-Pakistan border.
- Its main responsibility is to conduct offensive and defensive war operations through armored and mechanized units in the arid regions of Rajasthan and Punjab.
Lieutenant General Mohit has also commanded an Independent Armored Brigade.
4. Lieutenant General Sandeep becomes new Vice Chief of Indian Army
- On July 1, Lieutenant General Sandeep Jain assumed charge as Vice Chief of the Army Staff.
- Sandeep has replaced General Dheeraj Seth.
- Sandeep was commissioned into the Indian Army in the 13 Mahar Regiment after training at the Indian Military.
- Sandeep has also made significant contributions to United Nations peacekeeping missions and has held battalion and brigade commands.
- Sandeep commanded an Infantry Battalion and also led an Infantry Brigade in the Strike Corps.
- Sandeep has served in various operational areas including Jammu and Kashmir.
- Sandeep has commanded an infantry battalion in a desert area.
- Along with this, Sandeep has also led the United Nations Mission in South Sudan.
- Sandeep has also commanded a sector in the United Nations Mission in South Sudan.
- In February 2024, Sandeep was appointed Commandant at the Indian Military Academy.
- In June 2025, he became the Chief of Staff of the Southern Command.
Sandeep is a former student of the National Defence Academy.
MISCELLANEOUS
5. ₹14,115 crore highway and Dwarka tunnel project for Delhi-UP
- The Central Government approved road projects worth ₹14,115 crores for Delhi and Uttar Pradesh on 1 July, 2026.
- The Central Government has approved several National Highway projects costing approximately ₹14,115 crores with the aim of strengthening road connectivity in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh.
- These projects include the Dwarka Expressway Tunnel, new flyovers, interchanges, and widening and upgradation work of National Highways.
- The Dwarka Tunnel project aims to reduce traffic pressure in Delhi’s congested areas and enhance direct access to Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI Airport).
- The completion of the projects will make movement between Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram and Western Uttar Pradesh much easier.
- These projects are part of the government’s strategy to develop multi-modal connectivity and fast, safe and modern road infrastructure.
- Its objective is to reduce traffic, increase connectivity, enhance logistics capacity and improve regional development.
- This includes the construction of Dwarka Tunnel which will be 6-lane. This tunnel will connect Dwarka Expressway to Vasant Kunj (Nelson Mandela Marg).
- The total cost of this tunnel project is ₹6,969 crore, this tunnel will be 8.1 kilometers long.
- Additionally, the Kanpur-Kabrai corridor has also been approved. Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnav announced this.
- The Delhi tunnel project has a target to be completed in 52 months.
6. ‘Integrated Battle Groups’ (IBG) formed in Indian Army
- On July 2, the Indian Army formed 5 Integrated Battle Groups (IBG) for future wars.
- Along with this, a Fire Support Group (FSG) has also been created to ensure precise and intense strike capability on the enemy from long distances.
- Integrated Battle Group (IBG) is an independent, joint and mission-oriented structure of the army.
- IBG has integrated all units such as infantry, armored tanks, artillery, air defense, engineers, signals, drones and logistics.
- The objective of IBG is to deploy troops immediately in a short time and conduct effective military operations in limited time.
- Additionally, the newly formed Fire Support Group (FSG) includes long-range rockets, missiles and modern artillery systems.
- This new structure has been developed according to the needs of multi-domain warfare on the border line.
- This reform is being led by the new Army Chief General Dheeraj Seth.
The objective of IBG is to enhance the army’s rapid response capability during war.
Today in History (3 JULY)
- In 1661, Portugal gifted Bombay (now Mumbai) to British King Charles II. This agreement was part of the marriage between Portuguese Princess Catherine of Braganza and British King Charles II.
- In 1908, the British government arrested Indian freedom fighter Bal Gangadhar Tilak on charges of sedition.
- In 1928, J.L. Baird broadcast the world’s first color television (color TV) in London.
- In 1972, the historic Shimla Agreement was signed between India and Pakistan.
