Daily GK Update- 22nd July, 2026

 NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India’s Core Infrastructure Output Rises 5% in June: India’s core infrastructure sectors recorded a 5% year-on-year growth in June 2026, the highest in five months, compared to 1.1% in June 2025. The growth was primarily driven by higher production of cement, electricity, and iron ore. The Index of Core Industries (ICI) has been revised with a new base year of 2022–23, replacing the previous base year of 2011–12. Iron ore has been included in the Index of Core Industries, increasing the number of core sectors from eight to nine.

 

2. Policybazaar Names Amitabh Bachchan as Brand Ambassador: Policybazaar has appointed Amitabh Bachchan as its new Brand Ambassador to strengthen awareness about health insurance and term insurance across India. The company launched a nationwide campaign titled “Parivaar Sabse Pehle”, encouraging families to prioritise financial protection by purchasing insurance at the right time. The campaign supports IRDAI’s “Insurance for All” vision, aiming to increase insurance penetration through television, digital, OTT, and social media platforms.

 

3. Rahul Himalian Takes Additional Charge as IRCTC CMD: Rahul Himalian, Director (Tourism & Marketing), IRCTC, has been entrusted with the additional charge of Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) of IRCTC following the resignation of Sanjay Kumar Jain. A 1999-batch Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTS) officer, Rahul Himalian has over 26 years of experience in the Indian Railways and IRCTC and has served as a Whole-Time Functional Director on the IRCTC Board since 16 February 2024.

 

4. What are Ethanol ATMs?: Ethanol ATMs are proposed dispensing kiosks in India for selling ethanol in canisters for cooking use. The Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas is preparing a policy for wider use of ethanol as a mainstream cooking fuel, with a target timeline around September 2026. The proposed machines are expected to function at fuel retail outlets, where consumers can buy ethanol in sealed canisters. The canisters are designed with metal or thick plastic bodies and sealed lids, and they are meant to connect to specially designed ethanol stoves. State-run oil marketing companies are involved in research on ethanol-powered cooking stoves and pilot kiosks. The pilot installations are expected to test consumer response before wider deployment. India’s ethanol production capacity has crossed 20 billion litres annually, and it is projected to reach 24 billion litres by March 2027.

 

5. Mission Golden Spice for Lakadong Turmeric: Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region Jyotiraditya M. Scindia and Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma launched Mission Golden Spice – Integrated Lakadong Turmeric Value Chain Enhancement Project in New Delhi on 21 July 2026. The project is a five-year initiative from 2026 to 2030 with a financial outlay of Rs. 175.45 crore. The mission aims to expand the cultivation area from about 2,500 hectares to 7,000 hectares by 2030. It also targets annual production of 49,400 metric tonnes and an increase in farm-gate income from Rs. 30-40 per kilogram to about Rs. 80 per kilogram. The project plans to benefit more than 17,500 farmers, with 99% of them being women, mainly in the West Jaintia Hills and East Jaintia Hills districts. The initiative also seeks to create around 3,000 jobs and build a Rs. 100-crore local value-chain economy by fiscal year 2028-29. The project includes activities such as cultivation expansion, processing, branding, and market linkage for turmeric-based products.

 

6. Government Announces ₹40,000 Crore Mine Closure Corpu: The Government of India launched a corpus of about ₹40,000 crore on 22 July 2026 for scientific closure of coal mines in New Delhi. The plan covers 147 coal mines over the next two to three years and includes a 25% allocation of approved mine closure cost for community development over the next decade. The Ministry of Coal signed an implementation agreement with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit, a German development agency, for technical cooperation on mine closure and repurposing. The project is supported by Germany’s BMZ, co-financed by the European Union, and has a total project volume of €10 million until 2030.

 

7. Udmaroo Bridge Inaugurated Over Shayok River in Nubra: The Udmaroo Bridge over the Shayok River was inaugurated in the Nubra district of Ladakh on 21 July 2026. The bridge was built at a cost of ₹27.18 crore under the Union Territory Administration’s Special Development Package and is designed to improve road connectivity in a remote border region. The bridge connects settlements in the Nubra region of Ladakh. It shortens the distance between Udmaroo and Hundri villages, and between Terchey and Skuru villages, by about 35 kilometres. The project includes around 230 metres of approach roads. The bridge provides all-weather connectivity in the Nubra area. It also improves access to Sham Gombo, also known as Yarma Gonbo, a Buddhist pilgrimage site in Ladakh. The project is expected to benefit nearly 1,000 residents of the surrounding villages.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Andy Burnham Sworn in as 59th Prime Minister of the United Kingdom: Burnham became the 59th Prime Minister of the United Kingdom after being invited by King Charles III to form a new government, succeeding Keir Starmer. Burnham was elected Leader of the Labour Party unopposed and became the seventh Prime Minister of the UK in the last decade.

 

2. Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye Elected ECOWAS Chairman: Senegal President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has been elected as the Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), succeeding Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Bio. As ECOWAS Chairman, Faye will lead the 15-member regional bloc, focusing on regional security, economic integration, and democratic governance in West Africa. ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) is a regional economic organization established on 28 May 1975 through the Treaty of Lagos to promote economic integration, regional cooperation, and peace among West African countries.

 

3. Headquarters: Abuja, Nigeria | Members: 15 West African countries (currently, following the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger in 2025, ECOWAS has 12 active member states). France Bans Social Media for Children Under 15: France’s parliament approved a law on 21 July 2026 that bans social media access for children under 15 years of age. France became the first European Union member state to adopt a nationwide restriction of this kind for social media use by minors. The law applies to major social media platforms and requires age verification tools for compliance. It is linked to France’s digital regulation framework and to the role of Arcom, the country’s audiovisual and digital communications regulator. The ban will be introduced in two stages. From 1 September 2026, children under 15 will be blocked from creating new social media accounts, and from January 2027, the restriction will extend to existing accounts. The law includes exceptions for online encyclopedias, educational directories, and scientific directories. These categories are treated separately from social networking services under the legislation.

 

4. India and UAE sign MoU for food processing cluster: On 21 July 2026, the Andhra Pradesh Economic Development Board signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the UAE Food Cluster to establish a food processing cluster in Andhra Pradesh. The agreement was signed in Amaravati in the presence of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri. A food processing cluster is an industrial concentration of units linked to processing, packaging, storage, and export of agricultural produce. In this case, the proposed cluster is linked with horticulture, aquaculture, logistics, and cold-chain infrastructure in Andhra Pradesh. Dubai-based Floor Masters International announced an initial investment of ₹100 crore on 21 July 2026 for a food processing unit at Gangadhara Nellore in Chittoor district. The unit is planned as an export base for nearly 25 countries, with food products manufactured for overseas markets.

 

5. India’s First AI-Powered Bird Sanctuary Announced: India’s first AI-powered bird sanctuary has been announced for development at the Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary in Mumbai, Maharashtra. The project is named Bhandup Bird Park and has received administrative approval with an allocation of ₹45 crore from the District Planning Committee’s special fund. The sanctuary will come up over about 20.09 hectares along the Thane Creek shoreline. Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary is a designated Ramsar site, which places it among wetlands of international importance under the Ramsar Convention. Only 0.35 hectares of the project area will be used for physical infrastructure. The remaining area will be retained for ecological features and habitat-related facilities. The project includes a 2.16-kilometre mangrove nature trail, observation towers, and viewing decks. Mangroves are salt-tolerant coastal plants that grow in intertidal zones and support fish, birds, and other wetland species.

 

6. AI Solves Jacobian Conjecture Problem: The Jacobian Conjecture, proposed in 1939 by German mathematician Eduard Ott-Heinrich Keller, is a long-standing problem in algebraic geometry and polynomial mappings. On 20 July 2026, mathematician Levent Alpöge, associated with Harvard University and Anthropic, announced that the AI model Claude Fable 5 helped disprove the conjecture by finding a counterexample. The Jacobian Conjecture concerns polynomial maps and asks whether a map with a non-zero constant Jacobian determinant must always have a polynomial inverse. In mathematical terms, the conjecture deals with global invertibility of polynomial functions in several variables. The AI-assisted result produced a 216-character formula that met the required constant determinant condition but could not be reversed by a polynomial inverse. The counterexample included three distinct input coordinates, namely (0, 0, 1/4), (1, -3/2), and (-1, 3/2), which all mapped to the same output (1/4, 0, 0, 0).

 

7. India, North Macedonia Expand Trade, Technology Ties: India and North Macedonia agreed to expand cooperation in trade, technology, tourism, talent and healthcare during President Droupadi Murmu’s visit to North Macedonia on 21-22 July 2026. The visit was the first bilateral visit by an Indian President to North Macedonia since diplomatic relations were established in 1995. The discussions covered the “three Ts”, namely trade, technology and tourism, along with talent. The identified sectors included information technology, IT-enabled services, artificial intelligence, digital technology, agriculture, food processing, pharmaceuticals, textiles, biotechnology, tourism, hospitality and filmmaking. Both countries discussed direct connectivity to support trade and tourism. India also committed to doubling training slots for North Macedonia under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation programme, with artificial intelligence courses included.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

DEFENCE

 

1. Centre Announces 50% Quota for Ex-Agniveers in CAPFs: The Union government announced a 50% reservation for retired Agniveers in recruitment to Constable (General Duty) posts in the Central Armed Police Forces and Rifleman posts in the Assam Rifles. The policy was placed before the Lok Sabha on 21 July 2026 through a written reply by the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai. The Ministry of Home Affairs has created a separate category called Ex-Agniveers for recruitment into CAPFs and the Assam Rifles. The arrangement applies to Constable (GD) and Rifleman posts, which are entry-level uniformed positions in India’s internal security structure. CAPFs include the Central Reserve Police Force, Border Security Force, Central Industrial Security Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, Sashastra Seema Bal, and Assam Rifles. These forces function under the Ministry of Home Affairs and handle border guarding, internal security, counter-insurgency, and protection of vital installations.

 

2. Paras Defence to Set Up $644 Million Semiconductor Packaging Facility: Paras Semiconductors Private Limited, a subsidiary of Paras Defence and Space Technologies Limited, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the MP State Electronics Development Corporation on 22 July 2026. The MoU covers a greenfield advanced integrated circuit packaging and Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test facility in the Indore-Ujjain region of Madhya Pradesh. OSAT stands for Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test, a segment of the semiconductor value chain that covers assembly, packaging, and testing of chips. The proposed facility includes 3D heterogeneous integration, 2.5D and 3D advanced packaging, hybrid bonding, ultra-high-density fan-out packaging, chiplet integration, wafer bumping, and flip-chip assembly. The project involves a proposed investment of about ₹6,200 crore, which is equivalent to about US$644 million. The facility is planned to support domestic semiconductor manufacturing capacity and align with the India Semiconductor Mission.

 

SPORTS 

 

1. Peacko Unveiled as Official Mascot of BWF World Championships 2026: Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and Badminton Association of India (BAI) President Himanta Biswa Sarma unveiled the official mascot “Peacko” and launched the official championship anthem for the BWF World Championships, New Delhi 2026. Peacko, inspired by the Indian Peafowl (India’s national bird), will lead BAI’s nationwide fan engagement campaign ahead of the championship.

The 30th edition of the BWF World Championships will be held in New Delhi from 17–23 August 2026, featuring over 400 players from more than 50 countries.

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. Earth’s Second-Oldest Orbicular Rock Found in Madhya Pradesh: The Pichhore orbicular granite near Kutawali village in Shivpuri district, Madhya Pradesh, has been dated to about 2.56 billion years. It is the second-oldest known orbicular rock in the world, after a similar formation in Western Australia. Orbicular granite is a rare igneous rock that contains orbicules, which are spherical or rounded structures formed within the rock mass. These orbicules are commonly made of quartz and feldspar and may show concentric layers similar to tree rings. Scientists used Uranium-Lead, or U-Pb, zircon dating to determine the age of the Pichhore granite. Zircon is a mineral widely used in geochronology because it can preserve isotopic information for billions of years. The rock crystallised around 2.56 billion years ago during the Neoarchean Era. Inherited zircon crystals in the sample were as old as 3.5 billion years, which places them among the oldest mineral records in the Indian shield.

 

2. Five New Allographa Species Found in Western Ghats: Five new species of lichen-forming fungi from the genus Allographa have been identified in the Western Ghats of India. The discovery was made by scientists from the MACS Agharkar Research Institute (ARI), Pune, which functions as an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology. Allographa belongs to the lichen-forming fungi group and is studied in taxonomy, ecology, and biodiversity research. Lichens are composite organisms formed by a fungal partner and a photosynthetic partner, usually an alga or cyanobacterium. The five newly described species are Allographa keralensis, Allographa nayakae, Allographa paraconsanguinea, Allographa persistinspersa, and Allographa semicarbonisata. The name Allographa keralensis refers to Kerala, and Allographa nayakae honours Indian lichenologist Dr. Sanjeeva Nayaka.

 

3. ICMR Transfers Indigenous Medical Technologies for Commercialisation: The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) transferred indigenous medical technologies for commercialisation through its Medical Innovations Patent Mitra initiative. On 21 July 2026, ICMR licensed three biomedical technologies to Indian pharmaceutical and vaccine manufacturers, including Emcure Pharmaceuticals Ltd. and Biological E Ltd. SHetA2 is a novel anti-HPV therapeutic candidate developed for Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia (CIN), a precancerous condition of the cervix. ICMR licensed SHetA2 to Emcure Pharmaceuticals Ltd. for further development and commercial use. SHetA2 was developed through collaboration between Dr. Showket Hussain of ICMR-National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research (ICMR-NICPR) and Dr. Doris M. Benbrook of the Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma, USA. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a major cause of cervical cancer, and CIN is classified as a precursor lesion in cervical disease.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. UPI User Base Crosses 55.49 Crore; FY26 Transactions Reach ₹314 Lakh Crore: As of June 2026, nearly 55.49 crore users have been onboarded on the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), according to the government. During FY 2025–26, UPI recorded 24,162 crore transactions with a total transaction value of ₹314 lakh crore. To enhance security and transparency, the Government, RBI, and NPCI have introduced measures such as risk-based transaction limits, safeguards against unauthorised mobile number changes, enhanced app security, and expanded UPI linkage with international payment systems for cross-border payments.

 

2. India Commissions First Deep Geothermal Wells in Ladakh’s Puga Valley: India commissioned its first and deepest geothermal wells in Puga Valley, Ladakh. The two wells, each 1,000 metres deep, were inaugurated by Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena at an altitude of over 14,000 feet. The geothermal wells were developed by the ONGC Energy Centre and are linked to a 1 MW pilot geothermal power project, marking a significant step in India’s renewable energy programme. A maximum temperature of 135°C was recorded at a depth of 400 metres, with further testing underway to evaluate the geothermal reservoir for future electricity generation. Geothermal energy is derived from the Earth’s internal heat. India has identified major geothermal resource zones in Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Gujarat, and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

 

3. EPFO Launches VISHWAS 2026 Scheme: Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has launched VISHWAS 2026, a one-time dispute resolution scheme for the amicable settlement of damages and penalty-related disputes between EPFO and employers. The scheme will remain operational for six months and provides a fully digital, transparent, and time-bound mechanism to promote voluntary compliance, reduce litigation, and resolve long-pending disputes. Under VISHWAS 2026, damages and penalties for defaults before 14 June 2024 will be recalculated at reduced rates, and applications can be submitted online through the EPFO Employer Portal using a Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) or e-Sign.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Ajit Doval Selected for Lokmanya Tilak National Award 2026: National Security Adviser Ajit Doval has been selected for the Lokmanya Tilak National Award 2026, which will be presented on 1 August 2026 in Pune on the 106th death anniversary of Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak. The award, instituted by the Lokmanya Tilak Smarak Trust, comprises a memento, a citation, and a cash prize of ₹1 lakh. Ajit Doval has been honoured for his exceptional contribution to India’s national security, counter-terrorism operations, covert missions, and border security, including his role in Operation Black Thunder, the Doklam negotiations, and the Balakot air strike.

 

Daily GK Update- 21st July, 2026

 NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. PM Modi inaugurates 75 redeveloped railway stations across country under Amrit Bharat Scheme: Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated 75 redeveloped railway stations across 20 states under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme (ABSS) at a cost of ₹1,570 crore. Major redeveloped stations include Jalandhar Cantonment, SAS Nagar (Mohali), Sri Muktsar Sahib, Sri Anandpur Sahib (Punjab); Pratapnagar, Godhra, Porbandar, Bhaktinagar (Gujarat); Barpali, Balangir, Paralakhemundi, Talcher, Kesinga, Bimalgarh, Baripada (Odisha), along with 9 stations under Southern Railway. The stations have been modernised with passenger-friendly amenities while preserving local culture, heritage, and architecture under the theme “Virasat Bhi, Vikas Bhi”. PM Modi also flagged off the Kartoli–Ambala train and Sant Ravidas Express (Amritsar–Varanasi).

 

2. NITI Aayog Unveils Roadmap to Make India a Global BioEconomy Powerhouse by 2035: NITI Aayog released the report titled “Roadmap for Building India as a Leading BioEconomy Powerhouse by 2035.” India’s BioEconomy has grown 16-fold, from US$10 billion in 2014 to US$195.3 billion in 2025, and currently contributes 4.8% to India’s GDP. The report targets expanding India’s BioEconomy to US$691 billion by 2035 and US$2.6 trillion by 2047, positioning India as a global bioeconomy leader.

 

3. 21 July – National Flag Adoption Day: National Flag Adoption Day is observed in India on 21 July every year to commemorate the adoption of the Tiranga by the Constituent Assembly on 21 July 1947. The Indian National Flag was designed by Pingali Venkayya, and its final form was approved before India’s independence.

 

4. 21 July – International Moon Day: International Moon Day is observed annually on 21 July to commemorate the first human landing on the Moon during NASA’s Apollo 11 mission in 1969. The day was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in 2021 to promote international cooperation in the peaceful exploration and sustainable use of outer space. It aims to raise awareness about lunar exploration, scientific advancements, and the benefits of space research for humanity.

 

5. President Murmu’s first Moldova visit : Key Outcomes: President Droupadi Murmu visited the Republic of Moldova on 20 July 2026 at the invitation of President Maia Sandu. The visit was the first state visit by an Indian President to Moldova since diplomatic relations between India and Moldova began in 1992. The two leaders held bilateral talks at the Presidential Palace in Chisinau and discussed cooperation in trade, technology, education, healthcare, agriculture, renewable energy, and clean energy. India and Moldova established diplomatic relations in 1992 after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Moldova is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, and its capital is Chisinau. Bilateral relations between India and Moldova cover political, economic, educational, and cultural cooperation. The visit focused on the “3 Ts”, namely Trade, Technology, and Talent. Both sides discussed ways to expand bilateral trade and to increase cooperation in emerging technologies, artificial intelligence, cyber diplomacy, pharmaceuticals, and information technology. India also expressed support for wider business engagement through investment and innovation links.

 

6. India Approves First 100 MWh Flow Battery Project: India has approved its first utility-scale 100 MWh Vanadium Redox Flow Battery Energy Storage System (VRFB BESS) for deployment at Khavda Solar Park in Gujarat. NTPC Renewable Energy Limited awarded the contract for the project on 20-21 July 2026, and the system is scheduled for deployment in 2027 with 10 years of operations and maintenance services. A vanadium redox flow battery is a type of rechargeable battery that stores energy in liquid electrolyte solutions containing vanadium ions. The technology separates energy storage capacity from power output, which allows larger systems to be designed by increasing the size of the electrolyte tanks. VRFB systems use vanadium in multiple oxidation states, which reduces cross-contamination between the positive and negative electrolytes. This battery chemistry is classified as a flow battery and is used for stationary grid storage applications.

 

7. DGCA to Launch Digital Aviation Incident Reporting Platform: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is developing a digital aviation incident reporting platform for electronic submission and processing of mandatory occurrence reports. The platform will be integrated with the eGCA portal, which stands for e-Governance of Civil Aviation, and it will be used in India’s civil aviation regulatory system. The DGCA is India’s civil aviation regulator under the Ministry of Civil Aviation. It regulates aircraft operations, airworthiness, flight crew licensing, and aviation safety standards for aircraft and airport operators in India. Mandatory occurrence reports are formal safety reports used in aviation to record incidents, hazards, and operational irregularities. These reports are part of safety management systems and are used for regulatory monitoring and corrective action.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Khalil al-Hayya Elected Hamas Political Bureau Chief: Khalil al-Hayya, a senior Hamas leader born in 1960 in the Gaza Strip, has been elected head of the group’s political bureau after the death of Yahya Sinwar. He has been part of Hamas since its formation in 1987 and has served as one of its most prominent external political figures. The political bureau is Hamas’s top decision-making body for external political and diplomatic activity. Hamas is a Palestinian Islamist organisation that emerged from the Muslim Brotherhood in 1987 during the First Intifada. Al-Hayya has served as Hamas’s lead negotiator in indirect ceasefire and hostage-release talks with Israel. These talks have involved mediators from Qatar, Egypt and the United States, and they have continued during the Gaza war that began after the 7 October 2023 attack on Israel.

 

2. UK Appoints Kanishka Narayan as First AI Minister: On 21 July 2026, the United Kingdom appointed Kanishka Narayan as Minister for Artificial Intelligence. The post became the first AI Minister role to attend the Prime Minister’s Cabinet. Narayan is a Labour politician from Wales and has served as the Member of Parliament for the Vale of Glamorgan since 2024. Kanishka Narayan was born in Muzaffarpur in Bihar, India, and moved to Cardiff in Wales at the age of 12. He is an Indian-origin British politician and represented the Vale of Glamorgan in the House of Commons from 2024. He served as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for AI and Online Safety from September 2025 to July 2026. The United Kingdom created the AI Minister position within its ministerial structure in 2026. The role is linked to policy areas such as artificial intelligence, online safety, and digital regulation. The appointment placed AI policy at Cabinet level for the first time in the UK government.

 

3. India Tightens Tax Treaty Rule with Sri Lanka: India has introduced an anti-abuse rule in its tax treaty framework with Sri Lanka. The rule allows tax authorities to deny treaty benefits when obtaining those benefits was one of the principal purposes of an arrangement or transaction. A tax treaty is a bilateral agreement between two countries that allocates taxing rights on income such as dividends, interest, royalties, and business profits. India has signed Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements with many countries to reduce double taxation and to define tax treatment for cross-border income. An anti-abuse rule is a legal provision used to prevent the misuse of tax treaties for obtaining unintended tax advantages. In international taxation, such rules are linked to treaty shopping, where a person routes income through a jurisdiction mainly to secure lower tax rates or exemptions. The principal purpose test is a common anti-abuse standard in modern tax treaties. Under this test, treaty benefits can be denied if one of the principal purposes of an arrangement or transaction is to obtain those benefits.

 

4. DGCA Issues 1,331 Commercial Pilot Licences in 2026: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued 1,331 commercial pilot licences (CPLs) in India up to 30 June 2026. The data was placed before the Rajya Sabha on 20 July 2026 by the Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Murlidhar Mohol. A commercial pilot licence is a licence that permits a pilot to fly aircraft for remuneration under civil aviation rules. In India, the DGCA is the statutory authority that regulates pilot licensing, flight crew standards, and aviation safety under the Ministry of Civil Aviation. Out of the 1,331 CPLs issued in 2026 up to 30 June, 540 cadets, or 41%, received training from foreign Flying Training Organisations (FTOs). The remaining 791 cadets obtained their CPLs after training at Indian Flying Training Organisations (FTOs).

 

5. India Introduces Digital Monthly Toll Pass: The National Highways Authority of India introduced a digital Local Pass facility on the RajmargYatra mobile application in July 2026. The facility allows residents living within a 20-kilometre radius of an eligible toll plaza to buy a monthly pass for unlimited travel through that toll plaza. The digital Local Pass uses consent-based integration with DigiLocker and VAHAN for verification. The system retrieves residential address, vehicle registration details, and linked FASTag information, and it also uses GIS-based validation for eligibility checks. The facility was first rolled out at the Mundka–Bakkarwala Toll Plaza on Urban Extension Road-II in Delhi. Users can complete the pass application digitally through the RajmargYatra app without visiting the toll plaza in person.

 

6. Amul Bengal Dairy to Host World’s Largest Curd Plant: Amul has begun work on an integrated dairy project in West Bengal that will include the world’s largest curd manufacturing facility. The project is located at Howrah Food Park in Sankrail, Howrah district, and the foundation stone was laid at Biswa Bangla Convention Centre in New Town, Kolkata. The integrated dairy plant is planned with an investment of around ₹700 crore. The complex is designed to process 30 lakh litres of milk per day when fully operational. It will also produce curd and other cultured dairy products at a scale of 1,000 metric tonnes daily. The plant will function as a multi-product dairy unit. Its output will include curd, paneer, ghee, sweets, flavoured milk, and ice cream. Such integrated dairy plants combine milk reception, pasteurisation, processing, packaging, and cold-chain handling within one facility.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

DEFENCE

 

1. China Conducts Live-Fire Drill in Japan-Claimed EEZ: China conducted a live-fire naval exercise on 20 July 2026 inside an area that Japan claims as its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) near Okinotorishima, a remote Pacific island that Japan treats as its southernmost island. The drill took place about 180 kilometres southwest of Okinotorishima and involved a Chinese Luyang III-class missile destroyer firing live rounds, while a Russian frigate was also present in the area. An Exclusive Economic Zone is a maritime zone defined under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). It extends up to 200 nautical miles from a coastal state’s baseline, and the coastal state has sovereign rights over natural resources in the water column, seabed, and subsoil. Other states retain freedom of navigation and overflight in an EEZ under UNCLOS. Military exercises in an EEZ have been a subject of legal and diplomatic debate in several maritime disputes.

 

2. Centre Announces 50% Quota for Ex-Agniveers in CAPFs: The Union government announced a 50% reservation for retired Agniveers in recruitment to Constable (General Duty) posts in the Central Armed Police Forces and Rifleman posts in the Assam Rifles. The policy was placed before the Lok Sabha on 21 July 2026 through a written reply by the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai. The Ministry of Home Affairs has created a separate category called Ex-Agniveers for recruitment into CAPFs and the Assam Rifles. The arrangement applies to Constable (GD) and Rifleman posts, which are entry-level uniformed positions in India’s internal security structure. CAPFs include the Central Reserve Police Force, Border Security Force, Central Industrial Security Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, Sashastra Seema Bal, and Assam Rifles. These forces function under the Ministry of Home Affairs and handle border guarding, internal security, counter-insurgency, and protection of vital installations. Eligible Ex-Agniveers will receive a three-year relaxation over the prescribed upper age limit for recruitment. The first batch of Agniveers will receive an additional five-year relaxation, which makes the total age relaxation eight years for that batch.

 

SPORTS 

 

1. Spain Defeats Argentina to Win FIFA World Cup 2026 Title: Spain won the FIFA World Cup 2026, defeating Argentina in the final to claim their second FIFA World Cup title, having previously won in 2010. The FIFA World Cup 2026 was jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, marking the first 48-team edition of the tournament. Spain’s victory ended a 16-year wait for the World Cup title and reaffirmed its status as one of the world’s leading football nations. With this victory, Spain became the first country to simultaneously hold both the FIFA Men’s and FIFA Women’s World Cup titles. France’s Kylian Mbappé won the Golden Boot, becoming the first player to finish as the tournament’s top scorer at multiple FIFA World Cups. Spain captain Rodri was awarded the Golden Ball as the tournament’s Best Player, while Unai Simón won the Golden Glove for Best Goalkeeper. Pau Cubarsí of Spain received the FIFA World Cup 2026 Young Player Award for his outstanding performances throughout the tournament.

 

2. PV Sinhu Creates History, Becomes First Indian to Win Japan Open Title: PV Sindhu became the first Indian shuttler to win the Japan Open title by defeating Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi 21-17, 21-17 in the final. The 31-year-old clinched her maiden BWF Super 750 Japan Open title, ending a more than two-year title drought. Sindhu became the first Indian woman to reach the Japan Open final and secured her biggest title since winning the 2019 BWF World Championships.

 

3. Cricket Legend Sir Garfield Sobers Dies at 89: West Indies cricket legend Sir Garfield Sobers, widely regarded as the greatest all-rounder in cricket history, passed away at the age of 89 at his home in Barbados. Sobers represented the West Indies from 1954 to 1974, playing 93 Test matches, scoring 8,032 runs at an average of 57.78, taking 235 wickets, and famously becoming the first cricketer to hit six sixes in a single over in first-class cricket. Knighted in 1975, inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame in 2009, and the namesake of the ICC Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for Men’s Cricketer of the Year.

 

4. Rithvik Wins Silver, Rohith Krishna Takes Gold at Menuires Chess: The Menuires International Chess Championship was held in Menuires, France, on 19 July 2026. Grandmaster S. Rohith Krishna of Tamil Nadu won the gold medal, and Grandmaster Raja Rithvik of Telangana won the silver medal in the open event. The tournament was part of the 1st Open International d’Échecs des Menuires, which took place from 11 July to 18 July 2026 at Le Break des Menuires in the French Alps. The event featured 86 players from different countries and used a nine-round format. Rohith Krishna and Raja Rithvik each scored seven points from nine rounds and remained unbeaten throughout the event. Rohith Krishna won the gold medal on tie-break score of 43, while Rithvik finished with a tie-break score of 41.5. Rithvik was seeded fourth in the tournament and recorded five wins and four draws. In the ninth round, he defeated French Grandmaster Maxime Lagarde, who had a rating of 2622, while Rithvik had a rating of 2521.

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. India Achieves Historic Milestone with Successful Launch of Private Orbital Rocket Vikram-1: India’s first privately developed orbital rocket, Vikram-1, built by Skyroot Aerospace under Mission Aagaman, successfully reached a 450 km Low Earth Orbit (LEO) after launching from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. With the successful launch of Vikram-1, India became the third country in the world to achieve private orbital launch capability, marking a major milestone for the country’s private space sector. Developed by the Hyderabad-based startup Skyroot Aerospace, Vikram-1 is a three-stage solid-propellant launch vehicle with a liquid-fuelled Raman engine, designed to provide cost-effective and flexible launch services for small satellites.

 

2. Kerala Unveils State Action Plan for Snakebite Control: Kerala unveiled its State Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Snakebite Envenoming (SAPSE) on 20 July 2026. The plan sets a target of zero snakebite deaths and disabilities by 2030 and aligns with World Health Organization and national targets. Snakebite envenoming is a medical emergency caused by venom injected through a snakebite. Kerala declared snakebite envenoming a notifiable disease under the Kerala Public Health Act, 2023, by 13 October 2025. Notifiable disease status requires systematic reporting and surveillance by health authorities. The action plan focuses on surveillance of snakebite cases and deaths through the Integrated Health Information Platform, Health Management Information System, and the SARPA app. Hospitals are being mapped to identify red flag hotspots, which will receive additional support. The plan also provides for stronger primary care, better referral hospitals, and additional anti-snake venom facilities in high-risk areas.

 

3. Indian Startup Unveils Yantur Turbofan Engine Programme: Paninian India Private Ltd. unveiled the Yantur 4.5 kN turbofan engine programme in New Delhi on 20 July 2026. The programme is linked to indigenous propulsion technology for long-range autonomous systems, including combat drones and cruise missiles. A turbofan engine is a gas turbine engine that uses a fan to generate thrust and is widely used in aircraft propulsion. Compact turbofan engines are also relevant for unmanned aerial systems and cruise missile platforms because they combine thrust, fuel efficiency, and reduced size. The Yantur engine is being developed as part of a private-sector aerospace propulsion effort in India. The programme has completed conceptual design and detailed design phases and has moved to subsystem testing, validation, and engine certification. The engine core is designed at 4.5 kN thrust and can be scaled to 12.5 kN for the Svayatt CCAV platform.

 

 

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. MoSPI Releases India’s First Trial Index of Services Production (ISP): The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released India’s first Trial Index of Services Production (ISP), with the first trial index covering April 2026. The trial ISP includes 19 service sub-sectors, representing about 60% of India’s services sector, providing a high-frequency measure of service sector performance. 14 out of 19 sub-sectors recorded double-digit year-on-year growth, with the fastest-growing sectors being Accommodation & Food Services (37.2%), Retail Trade (30.8%), Administrative & Support Services (28.7%), Real Estate (27.7%), and Telecommunications (22.8%). Monthly trial ISP data will be released with a lag of around 60 days and published on the 29th of every month (or the next working day if the 29th is a holiday).

 

2. RBI Forex Swap Facility Attracts Over $20.7 Billion: The Reserve Bank of India’s concessional forex swap facility had attracted over $20.7 billion, or about ₹2 lakh crore, in foreign exchange inflows by 17 July 2026. The facility was announced on 5 June 2026 and became operational on 8 June 2026 to support India’s balance of payments and encourage capital inflows. A forex swap facility is a foreign exchange arrangement in which the central bank provides a swap cover for eligible foreign currency liabilities. In this case, the RBI covers the full hedging cost for certain inflows, which reduces the cost for banks and depositors. Foreign Currency Non-Resident (Bank) deposits formed the largest share of the inflows at 17.406 billion by 17 July 2026. Overseas Foreign Currency Borrowings contributed 1.97 billion, while External Commercial Borrowings added $1.342 billion during the same period.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Vairamuthu Chosen for the 60th Jnanpith Award 2025: Renowned Tamil poet, lyricist, and writer R. Vairamuthu has been selected for the 60th Jnanpith Award (2025), India’s highest literary honour. The award recognises Vairamuthu’s outstanding contribution to Tamil literature, celebrated for its emotional depth, cultural richness, and distinctive poetic style developed over several decades. The selection was made by the Bharatiya Jnanpith Selection Committee, chaired by Pratibha Ray, and the announcement was made in March 2026. The Jnanpith Award, instituted in 1961 by Bharatiya Jnanpith, is India’s highest literary honour. It is conferred for lifetime contribution to Indian literature and is open to authors writing in any language listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. The award carries a cash prize of ₹21 lakh, a bronze statue of Vagdevi (Goddess Saraswati), and a citation.

 

2. ‘Article 370’ Tops the 72nd National Film Awards 2024 with Best Feature Film Honour: The 72nd National Film Awards (2024) were announced, with Article 370 winning the Best Feature Film award and Yami Gautam receiving the Best Actress award for the same film. The Best Actor award was jointly won by Mammootty (Bramayugam) and Kartik Aaryan (Chandu Champion). Rajkumar Periasamy won the Best Director award for Amaran, while Kalki 2898 AD was adjudged Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment. Randeep Hooda’s Swatantrya Veer Savarkar won the Best Debut Film of a Director, while Captain Miller received the award for Best Feature Film Promoting National, Social and Environmental Values. In the Non-Feature Film category, Bhangaar won Best Non-Feature Film, Ram-Nami was named Best Documentary, and Kenchanuru Pradeep Kumar Shetty received the Best Book on Cinema award.

 

3. India Creates History with Four Gold Medals at International Chemistry Olympiad 2026: India achieved its best-ever performance at the 58th International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO) 2026, with all four team members winning gold medals for the first time. The 58th IChO 2026 was held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, from 10–19 July 2026, with 363 students from 93 countries, making it the largest edition of the Olympiad. India finished joint first in the country-wise medal tally alongside China, Vietnam, and Individual Participants Group B (Russia). The four Indian gold medal winners were Debadatta Priyadarshi (Odisha), Harshit Singla (Punjab), Kabeer Chillar (Delhi), and Sandeep Kuchi (Telangana). The Indian team was trained by the Chemistry Olympiad Cell at HBCSE, Mumbai, under the guidance of Prof. Subhajit Bandyopadhyay and Dr. Indrani Sen, with support from the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Department of Science and Technology (DST), and the Ministry of Education.

 

Daily GK Update- 20th July, 2026

 NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Virendra Kumar Inaugurates 31st Divya Kala Mela in Kolkata to Promote Divyang Entrepreneurs: Union Minister Virendra Kumar inaugurated the 31st Divya Kala Mela at Ravindra Sadan, Kolkata (West Bengal). The mela aims to promote and market products, handicrafts, and craftsmanship created by Divyang (persons with disabilities) entrepreneurs, encouraging their economic empowerment. This is the first edition of Divya Kala Mela jointly organised by the Central Government and the Government of West Bengal, strengthening support for inclusive entrepreneurship.

 

2. NITI Aayog Releases Investment Friendliness Index; Gujarat Tops Rankings with Four Other States: NITI Aayog has launched the Investment Friendliness Index (IFI) to rank States and Union Territories based on the quality of their investment ecosystem. The IFI evaluates regions on key parameters including infrastructure, business climate, financial health, regulatory environment, and government policies. States and UTs are classified into four categories: Top Performers (above 50), Frontrunners (45–50), Emerging Performers (40–<45), and Aspiring States (below 40).

Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Goa, and Odisha have emerged as the Top Performers in the Investment Friendliness Index.

 

3. GAIL Signs MoU with KABIL to Strengthen India’s Critical Minerals Security: GAIL (India) Limited has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Khanij Bidesh India Limited (KABIL) to enhance cooperation in the critical minerals sector. The partnership aims to strengthen India’s long-term resource security by ensuring access to critical and strategic minerals essential for economic growth and clean energy technologies.

 

4. Harjit Singh Grewal Appointed Chairperson of National Commission for Minorities: Harjit Singh Grewal was appointed as the Chairperson of the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) by the Ministry of Minority Affairs, filling the vacancy left after Iqbal Singh Lalpura’s tenure ended in April 2025. The National Commission for Minorities (NCM) is a statutory body established under the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992, to safeguard the rights and interests of minority communities in India. Harjit Singh Grewal will serve a three-year term from the date of assuming office. Munawari Begum has been appointed as Vice-Chairperson, while Glenn E. Souza Ticlo has been appointed as a Member of the Commission.

 

5. Omicron RF.5 Sub-Variant Detected in Andhra Pradesh: The Omicron RF.5 sub-variant of SARS-CoV-2 was detected in Andhra Pradesh in mid-July 2026. Genome sequencing at the National Institute of Virology, Pune, confirmed the RF.5 sub-lineage in samples from Kadapa district. SARS-CoV-2 is the virus that causes COVID-19, and Omicron is one of its major variants first identified in 2021. RF.5 is a sub-lineage of Omicron and belongs to the JN.1 evolutionary branch through LF.7 and PY.1.1.1. Symptoms linked with RF.5 include sore throat, cough, fever, headache, runny or blocked nose, fatigue, and body aches. Health officials in Andhra Pradesh stated that there was no scientific evidence that RF.5 was more severe than earlier Omicron sub-variants. The Andhra Pradesh Health Department issued an alert across all districts on 20 July 2026. Hospitals were kept ready with isolation wards, testing kits, and related infrastructure for disease surveillance and case management.

 

6. ICAR Works on Genome-Edited 40 Crop Varieties: The Indian Council of Agricultural Research is working on genome-editing of about 40 crop varieties across 34 research institutes in India. The initiative covers field crops and horticultural crops, including pulses, wheat, banana, tomato, cotton, soybean and rice. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research is an autonomous organisation under the Department of Agricultural Research and Education, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. It coordinates agricultural research, education and extension through a network of national institutes, research centres and agricultural universities. Genome editing is a technique that makes targeted changes in a plant’s own DNA. The SDN-1 and SDN-2 categories are used for such edits, and these methods do not introduce foreign genes into the plant genome. The Department of Biotechnology issued Standard Operating Procedures in 2022 for the regulatory review of genome-edited plants under SDN-1 and SDN-2 categories. Transgene-free edited crops are exempted under this framework.

 

7. Madhya Pradesh Archaeology Department Collects Rare 1857 Mutiny Records: The Madhya Pradesh archaeology department collected a set of historical documents in July 2026 that includes a rare record of the 1857 mutiny against British rule. The collection also contains a document linked to rebel leader Tatya Tope and an original portrait of the Queen of Jhansi, commissioned in 1853. The Revolt of 1857 is also called the First War of Indian Independence in Indian historiography. Tatya Tope was one of the prominent rebel leaders associated with the uprising, and Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi became a major figure in the resistance against the East India Company. The newly collected document bearing Tatya Tope’s signature was earlier given to the government by the princely state of Shivpuri after India’s Independence. Such records are used in the study of colonial administration, rebellion networks, and princely-state archives.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. FATF Updates Global Watchlists; Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iraq Added to Grey List: FATF updated its monitored jurisdictions list after the June 17–19, 2026 Plenary, removing Algeria and Namibia from the increased monitoring (Grey List) while adding Bosnia and Herzegovina and Iraq. Myanmar continues on the High-Risk Jurisdictions subject to a Call for Action (Black List), while the status of Iran and North Korea (DPRK) also remains unchanged. FATF urged countries to apply enhanced due diligence for high-risk jurisdictions but clarified that humanitarian aid, remittances, legitimate NGO activities, and lawful trade and business transactions should not be disrupted.

 

2. Ukraine Parliament Approves Serhii Koretskyi as New Prime Minister: Ukraine’s Parliament approved Serhii Koretskyi as the new Prime Minister following a nomination by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a major government reshuffle. Koretskyi previously served as CEO of Naftogaz, Ukraine’s state-owned oil and gas company, since May 2025 and was chosen for his expertise in strengthening the country’s energy sector ahead of another wartime winter.

 

3. 20 July – International Chess Day: International Chess Day is observed every year on 20 July to celebrate the game of chess and promote its role in education, culture, and international cooperation. The day commemorates the establishment of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) on 20 July 1924 in Paris, France. The United Nations officially proclaimed 20 July as International Chess Day in 2019, recognising chess as a game that promotes fairness, inclusion, critical thinking, and peace.

 

4. India, Spain Advance UPI-Bizum Payment Talks: India and Spain agreed on 19 and 20 July 2026 to advance technical discussions on interoperability between the Unified Payments Interface and Bizum. The talks took place during Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal’s visit to Spain in July 2026. The Unified Payments Interface, or UPI, is India’s real-time digital payment system developed by the National Payments Corporation of India. It enables instant bank-to-bank transfers through mobile applications and supports merchant payments, peer-to-peer transfers, and QR-based transactions. Bizum is a mobile-payment service in Spain that enables instant account-to-account transfers through participating banks. The proposed UPI-Bizum linkage is intended to support cross-border digital transactions for travellers and businesses and to improve financial connectivity between India and Spain.

 

5. OpenAI Appoints Uday Ruddaraju as CTO of Compute: OpenAI appointed Indian-origin technology executive Uday Ruddaraju as Chief Technology Officer, Compute, on 19 July 2026. He joined OpenAI in July 2025 as Head of Compute and Infrastructure and later moved to the CTO, Compute role after one year. The Chief Technology Officer, or CTO, is a senior executive responsible for technology strategy, engineering direction, and infrastructure planning in a company. In large artificial intelligence firms, the CTO role can cover compute systems, hardware, data centres, and large-scale software platforms. Compute infrastructure refers to the hardware and software systems used to train and run artificial intelligence models. It includes distributed systems, servers, networking equipment, storage, accelerators, and data centre facilities. Large language models require high-performance compute resources for training and inference.

 

6. National Conference Holds Statehood Protests in Jammu and Delhi : The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference organised protests in New Delhi and at district headquarters across Jammu and Kashmir on 20 July 2026, demanding the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. The Delhi protest began from Prithviraj Road after permission was denied for a gathering at Jantar Mantar. Jammu and Kashmir became a Union Territory on 31 October 2019 after the reorganisation of the former State of Jammu and Kashmir. The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has a legislative assembly, while the Union Territory of Ladakh does not have one. Article 370 of the Constitution of India granted special status to the former State of Jammu and Kashmir. In December 2023, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutional validity of the Centre’s decision on Article 370 and stated that statehood should be restored at the earliest.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

DEFENCE

 

1. Indian Navy to Host Operation Southern Readiness 26-2 Maritime Exercise in Kochi: Operation Southern Readiness 26-2, a multinational maritime security training exercise, will be held at the Southern Naval Command, Kochi, from 20–23 July 2026. The Indian Navy will conduct the four-day exercise in collaboration with the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) under Combined Task Force (CTF) 154. CTF 154, the CMF’s dedicated training task force, focuses on maritime security training, professional development, and operational coordination among partner navies.

 

2. Indian Navy to Commission Indigenous Mahe-Class ASW Craft INS Malvan: The Indian Navy will commission INS Malvan on 22 July 2026, the second Mahe-class Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), built by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), Kochi. INS Malvan has over 80% indigenous content, showcasing India’s growing self-reliance in naval shipbuilding under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative. Designed for coastal and shallow-water operations, the Mahe-class ASW-SWC enhances the Indian Navy’s anti-submarine warfare and maritime security capabilities with advanced indigenous technology.

 

3. Bangladesh and United States Launch Tiger Lightning 2026: Bangladesh and the United States began the annual bilateral military exercise Tiger Lightning 2026 on 19 July 2026. The exercise involves more than 160 service members from both countries and runs for 13 days until 31 July 2026. Tiger Lightning is a bilateral military exercise between the Bangladesh Army and the United States Army Pacific Command (USARPAC). The exercise began in 2017 and resumed after a pause during the COVID-19 pandemic. The opening ceremony took place at the Para Commando Brigade in Jalalabad Cantonment, Sylhet, Bangladesh. U.S. Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent T. Christensen and Chief of General Staff of the Bangladesh Army Lieutenant General Md Mainur Rahman attended the ceremony on 19 July 2026.

 

SPORTS 

 

1. Odisha’s Debadatta Wins Gold at International Chemistry Olympiad: Debadatta Priyadarshi of Bhubaneswar, Odisha, won a gold medal at the 58th International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO) 2026. The competition was held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, from 10 July to 19 July 2026, and India finished with four gold medals in the event. India secured four gold medals at the 58th IChO 2026, which was the country’s best-ever performance in the competition. The other Indian gold medallists were Harshit Singla of Punjab, Kabeer Chhillar of Delhi, and Sandeep Kuchi of Telangana. India finished first in the country-wise medals tally jointly with China, Vietnam, and Individual Participants Group B from Russia. The 2026 edition had 363 students from 93 countries, which made it the largest IChO held so far.

 

2. Spain Wins FIFA World Cup 2026 Final: Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final on 19 July 2026. Ferran Torres scored the only goal in the 106th minute of extra time at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, near New York. The FIFA World Cup final is the last match of the tournament and is decided by extra time and penalties if the score remains level after 90 minutes. The 2026 FIFA World Cup used a 48-team format, which was the largest field in the history of the competition. Argentina played with 10 men for the whole of extra time after Enzo Fernández received a second yellow card in second-half stoppage time. Emiliano Martínez made 12 saves in the final, and Ferran Torres received the Man of the Match award.

 

3. Pakistan to Host 2027 South Asian Games: Pakistan will host the 14th South Asian Federation Games, officially called the XIV South Asian Games, from 23 March to 31 March 2027. The multi-sport event will be held in Lahore, Islamabad, and Faisalabad, and more than 3,500 athletes from eight South Asian nations are expected to compete in 27 sports. The South Asian Games are a regional multi-sport event for countries of South Asia. The event is organised under the South Asian Olympic Council, which is the governing body for the Games. The participating countries are members of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation sporting framework. The South Asian Olympic Council announced Pakistan as the host in December 2019. Pakistan Olympic Association President Arif Hassan received the Games flag at that time. The Games were first planned for March 2023 and were later postponed to March 2024, January 2026, and then March 2027.

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. MAHE and Dhruva Space Partner to Establish ASCENT Space Technology Centre in Manipa: Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) and Dhruva Space signed an MoU to establish the ASCENT (Advanced Space Capability, Engineering and New-space Technologies) Centre at the MAHE Manipal campus, Karnataka. The ASCENT Centre will promote space systems engineering, applied research, mission development, and technology validation, with dedicated facilities for spacecraft development, integration, testing, and qualification. Expected to be inaugurated in late 2026, the centre will support student-led satellite and hosted payload missions, offering hands-on experience from spacecraft design to launch and on-orbit operations.

 

2. Kerala-Based HEX20 Launches Second Satellite ‘KOYO’ Aboard SpaceX Transporter-17 Mission: Kerala-based private spacetech startup HEX20 successfully launched its second satellite, KOYO (Kinetic Optical Yaw Observer), aboard SpaceX’s Transporter-17 mission. The launch took place from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, USA, marking another milestone for India’s private space sector. KOYO was developed for National Central University (NCU), Taiwan, and is designed as a multi-payload technology demonstration and space qualification satellite.

 

3. TNSDA Uncovers Over 1,000 Artefacts at Vellalore: The Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology (TNSDA) has unearthed more than 1,000 artefacts from the Noyyal river bed at Vellalore in Coimbatore. The finds date to the early historical and historical periods, with some artefacts placed between the 1st century BC and the 3rd century AD. Vellalore is located on the southern bank of the Noyyal river in Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu. The first season of excavation at Vellalore has identified evidence of an ancient settlement spread over about 100 acres. The work is being carried out at four locations across three sites near the Theneeswarar Temple. The excavated material includes Roman copper coins, household items, ornaments, stone structures, water channels, floor materials, and a round pit with lime plaster. The assemblage also includes evidence of bead-making, iron and steel making, weaving tools, shell ornament making, and pottery production.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. IndusInd Bank Integrates with EPFO to Enable Seamless Digital PF Contributions: IndusInd Bank has integrated with the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), enabling organisations to make Provident Fund (PF) contributions directly through the EPFO portal. Employers can now select IndusInd Bank as the payment option on the EPFO portal and complete transactions using the Bank’s Corporate Internet Banking and Mobile Banking platforms. The integration simplifies digital statutory payments, allowing IndusInd Bank customers to remit EPFO contributions seamlessly through the EPFO portal.

 

2. RBI Grants NBFC Registration to Delhivery Financial Services: Delhivery Financial Services Private Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Delhivery Limited, has received approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for a Certificate of Registration (CoR). The approval allows the company to operate as a Type-II Non-Banking Financial Company – Non-Deposit Taking (NBFC-ND), enabling it to provide financial services without accepting public deposits.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Indian Chess Stars Nominated for Inaugural FIDE Excellence Awards: The inaugural FIDE Excellence Awards will be held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, alongside the 46th Chess Olympiad in September to honour outstanding chess players. World Champion D. Gukesh, R. Praggnanandhaa, and Arjun Erigaisi have been shortlisted among the 10 nominees for the Best Male Chess Player award, along with World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen. Divya Deshmukh, Koneru Humpy, and R. Vaishali have been nominated for the Best Female Chess Player award, recognising their exceptional performances in international chess.