11th JULY 2026 ENGLISH TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS PDF TNPSC SHOUTERS
State Song Must Be Sung First at Government Functions – Union Ministry of Home Affairs Announcement
- The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has issued new guidelines mandating that the State song be sung first at government functions. According to this announcement, priority must be given to the respective State's song at the commencement of government events.
- This is to be followed by the playing of the national song, 'Vande Mataram'. The order states that the national anthem, 'Jana Gana Mana', must be sung as the concluding item of the proceedings.
- Instructions have been issued to ensure strict adherence to the original lyrics and correct pronunciation while singing the national song and the national anthem.
- The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has also directed all State governments, Union Territories, and Central ministries to ensure the mandatory implementation of this new sequence in the public sector undertakings and organizations under their control.
- Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi met New Zealand Prime Minister Shri Christopher Luxon today (11.07.2026) at Government House in Auckland. Upon his arrival at Government House, he was accorded a traditional Māori welcome.
- The ceremony included Māori rituals symbolizing peace, respect, and welcome. Following the traditional welcome, the Prime Minister inspected and accepted the guard of honour.
- The two Prime Ministers held comprehensive bilateral discussions in both one-on-one and delegation-level formats. Their talks covered all aspects of the bilateral relationship, including trade, investment, defence, agricultural technology, sports, education, tourism, culture, and people-to-people ties.
- They agreed to elevate the bilateral relationship to the level of a strategic partnership. This marks a new chapter in India-New Zealand relations. They reaffirmed their commitment to deepening cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
- Both leaders emphasized the importance of the early implementation of the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement. The two Prime Ministers set a target to double bilateral trade by 2030. The leaders exchanged views on regional and global developments and reiterated their commitment to strengthening cooperation in multilateral forums.
- Following the talks, several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were exchanged in sectors such as defense, maritime security, sports, disaster management, dairy, tourism, maritime heritage, culture, food technology, and marine research. The two leaders also adopted a joint statement outlining future steps for bilateral cooperation.
- 'INS Mahendragiri,' an indigenously built advanced stealth warship, was inducted into the Eastern Naval Command at a ceremony held today (July 11) in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, presided over by Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh.
- 'INS Mahendragiri' is the sixth Project 17A indigenous stealth warship to be inducted into the Indian Navy within a span of just one and a half years. The first ship of this series, 'INS Nilgiri,' was inducted into service in January 2025.
- Subsequently, 'INS Udaygiri' and 'INS Himgiri' were inducted in August, 'INS Taragiri' in April of this year, and 'INS Dunagiri' last month.
- Designed by the Indian Navy's Warship Design Bureau and built by Mumbai-based Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), this ship is capable of undertaking a full spectrum of maritime operations, including naval air defense, surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, maritime interdiction, surveillance, and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR).
