Daily GK Update- 23rd July, 2026

 NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. NHAI Expands RajmargYatra App with Digital Local Pass & MargMitra Help Centre: National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has introduced a Digital Local Pass facility and MargMitra Help Centre on the RajmargYatra mobile application to enhance citizen-centric digital services under the Digital India initiative. The Digital Local Pass allows eligible residents living within a 20-km radius of a toll plaza to purchase a monthly unlimited travel pass online using DigiLocker, VAHAN, FASTag, and GIS-based verification, eliminating the need to visit toll plazas. The MargMitra Help Centre provides a single-window digital support system, enabling users to access services, register grievances, and receive assistance through text or voice in all 22 Indian languages. The platform also offers services such as FASTag recharge, KYC, refund status, Annual/Local Pass management, complaint tracking, blacklisted FASTag status, pending e-notices, and road safety reporting, improving transparency and commuter convenience

 

2. I&B Ministry Launches ‘Gems of India Challenge’ to Promote Grassroots Digital Creators: Ministry of Information & Broadcasting launched the pilot phase of the “Gems of India Challenge” to identify, nurture, and promote grassroots digital creators across India. The challenge invites citizens to submit 1–3 minute videos showcasing the unique stories, culture, and heritage of their districts through the MyWAVES section on the WAVES OTT platform from 1–31 August. The pilot phase will be implemented in Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Arunachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, Goa, and Ladakh, with plans for nationwide expansion based on its success. The initiative offers ₹50,000 district-level awards (up to 20 creators per district), ₹2 lakh state-level awards, and ₹5 lakh national awards to encourage and recognize outstanding digital storytelling.

 

3. PFRDA Opens Continuous ‘On-Tap’ Registration Window for New NPS Pension Fund Managers: The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has opened an ‘on-tap’ registration window for prospective Pension Fund Managers (PFMs) to manage the corpus under the National Pension System (NPS). Under the new framework, applications for registration can now be submitted continuously, replacing the earlier system of accepting applications only during specified registration windows. The last ‘on-tap’ licensing window for Pension Fund Managers was opened by PFRDA in May 2022. The regulator stated that the continuous registration process will remain open until further notification, aiming to enhance competition and participation in the NPS ecosystem.

 

5. Centre Launches ₹175-Crore Lakadong Turmeric Mission ‘Golden Spice’ to Boost Northeast Economy: Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia launched the Lakadong Turmeric Mission – Golden Spice in New Delhi along with Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma. The mission, launched under the Ministry of DoNER’s Unlock the Economic Potential of India’s Northeast (USP) initiative, has an outlay of over ₹175 crore. The GI-tagged Lakadong Turmeric, known for having the world’s highest naturally occurring curcumin content, will be promoted through a farm-to-global-market ecosystem to enhance its quality, authenticity, scale, and global competitiveness.

The mission aims to expand cultivation to 7,000 hectares, double farmers’ incomes, create over 3,000 women-led jobs, and build a ₹100-crore Lakadong Turmeric economy by FY 2028–29. Designed as a five-year roadmap (2025–2030), the mission will be implemented in two phases—Value Chain Strengthening and Expansion & Scale-up—to promote Meghalaya’s unique agricultural products and strengthen the Northeast’s role in global value chains.

 

6. Tamil Nadu Renames and Expands Breakfast Scheme as Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Breakfast Scheme: Tamil Nadu renamed the Chief Minister’s Breakfast Scheme as the Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Breakfast Scheme. The scheme was originally launched in September 2022 for students of Classes 1 to 5 in government primary schools. From 17 September 2026, the scheme will be expanded to students of Classes 6 to 8 in government and government-aided schools, with the launch date coinciding with the birth anniversary of Periyar E.V. Ramasamy. The expansion is expected to cover an additional 15 lakh students, taking the total beneficiaries to over 34 lakh. The expanded scheme has an estimated annual cost of ₹343.55 crore, with ₹217.63 crore sanctioned for FY 2026–27.

 

7. Centre Appoints Anurag Jain as CEO of NITI Aayog for Two-Year Term: The Central Government has appointed Anurag Jain, a 1989-batch IAS officer of the Madhya Pradesh cadre, as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NITI Aayog for a two-year term, with the appointment approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC). Before this appointment, the CEO post was being handled on an additional-charge basis by Nidhi Chhibber. NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India), established on 1 January 2015, serves as the Government of India’s policy think tank, replacing the Planning Commission. The Prime Minister of India is its Chairperson.

 

8. 24 July – National Thermal Engineer Day: National Thermal Engineer Day is observed every year on 24 July to recognize the contributions of thermal engineers in advancing power generation, industrial processes, energy efficiency, and sustainable development. The day highlights the vital role of thermal engineers in the design, operation, maintenance, and innovation of thermal power plants, heating and cooling systems, and energy technologies.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. President Murmu unveils bust of Mahatma Gandhi in North Macedonian capital: President Droupadi Murmu unveiled a bust of Mahatma Gandhi at the Museum of the City of Skopje during her state visit to North Macedonia, highlighting India’s cultural and diplomatic ties with the country. Addressing the gathering, the President said that Mahatma Gandhi’s message of truth and non-violence belongs to all humanity, emphasizing that his ideals of dialogue, compassion, and peaceful coexistence remain relevant in today’s world.

2. France Becomes First EU Nation to Ban Social Media for Children Under 15: France’s Parliament approved a law banning children under 15 years old from accessing social media, making it the first European Union country to introduce a nationwide restriction on social media use by minors. Major social media platforms will be required to implement age verification systems to comply with the law, under France’s digital regulatory framework supervised by Arcom, the country’s audiovisual and digital communications regulator. The law will be implemented in phases: from 1 September 2026, children under 15 cannot create new social media accounts, and from January 2027, the restriction will also apply to existing accounts. Online encyclopedias, educational directories, and scientific directories are exempt from the ban.

 

3. India Hosts 16th BRICS Health Ministers’ Meeting in Chandigarh: India is hosting the 16th BRICS Health Ministers’ Meeting in Chandigarh as a three-day event, bringing together Health Ministers and senior officials from BRICS countries to strengthen cooperation on global health issues. The meeting is being held under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”, highlighting India’s commitment to advancing collective action on global health priorities. Key discussion areas include health security, pandemic preparedness, digital health, affordable medicines, innovation, traditional medicine, tuberculosis, mental wellness, healthy lifestyles, and resilient health systems.

 

4. 22 July – World Brain Day: World Brain Day is observed every year on 22 July to raise awareness about brain health, neurological disorders, and the importance of early diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. Theme 2026 – Brain Health: Access for All. The day is organised by the World Federation of Neurology (WFN) in collaboration with neurological societies worldwide to promote education, research, and improved access to neurological care.

 

5. 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 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.

 

6. 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. 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. The collaboration covers an integrated value chain for horticultural products such as mangoes, bananas, and cocoa. It also includes trade in seafood, dairy, poultry, pulses, and other products through cold-chain facilities and shipping links.

 

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 Udmaroo Bridge is a modern three-span Truss System Bridge. It has a 70R loading capacity, which is used for bridges that must carry heavy vehicular loads. The structure spans the Shayok River, which is a major river system in the Ladakh region.

OTHER UPDATES:

 

DEFENCE

 

1. Operation Jal Rahat: Indian Army Launches Flood Rescue Mission in Assam: Operation Jal Rahat has been launched by the Indian Army to support the Assam Government in rescue and relief operations amid severe floods affecting over 57,100 people across seven districts. Army and Assam Rifles teams have been deployed in the worst-hit districts of Charaideo, Sivasagar, and Jorhat, while the Indian Air Force (IAF) has been kept on standby for aerial assistance if required.

 

SPORTS 

 

1. Rajasthan Launches ‘Mukhyamantri Yuva Suyog’ Platform to Promote Youth Development and Sports: Rajasthan launched the Mukhyamantri Yuva Suyog platform in July 2026 from Jaipur to promote sports, skill development, employment opportunities, and community engagement among youth at the panchayat and ward levels. The initiative has been launched on a pilot basis in the Bagru Assembly constituency and Baran district, with youth participation facilitated through the Yuva Suyog portal using a registration-based system. The platform features sports such as cricket, volleyball, kabaddi, and football, with winning teams progressing from the local level to the Assembly constituency level. It also includes digital mapping of sports grounds to create a comprehensive database of sports infrastructure across rural and urban areas.

 

2. Pakistan to Host 14th South Asian Games in March 2027 Across Three Cities: Pakistan will host the 14th South Asian Games (XIV South Asian Games) from 23–31 March 2027, with competitions to be held in Lahore, Islamabad, and Faisalabad, featuring over 3,500 athletes from eight South Asian nations across 27 sports. The South Asian Games are a regional multi-sport event organized by the South Asian Olympic Council (SAOC) for member countries under the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) sporting framework. Pakistan will host the Games for the third time, after 1989 and 2004, and for the first time events will be held outside Islamabad, with Lahore and Faisalabad also serving as host cities.

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. NCBS Launches INvenTree Dataset for Indian Forests: The National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), Bengaluru, has compiled INvenTree-meta, a meta-dataset of tree inventory studies from India. The dataset covers 465 published studies conducted between 1991 and 2023 and includes forest data from more than 4,650 hectares across India’s major biomes. INvenTree-meta is designed to bring Indian forest data into global ecological analyses and climate studies. The dataset addresses the limited representation of South Asia in international forest databases and creates a structured resource for comparative research. The dataset compiles information from studies carried out in multiple forest regions and records a large volume of tree sampling in India. More than 80% of the underlying datasets are not publicly available, and data accessibility remains a major constraint in forest research.

 

2. 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.

 

3. 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.

 

 

 

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. India’s Debt-to-GDP Ratio Moderates to 58.2% in FY26; Capital Expenditure Continues to Drive Infrastructure Growth: India’s debt-to-GDP ratio moderated to 2% (provisional) in FY26, down from 58.5% in FY25, reflecting an improvement in the country’s fiscal position. As of 31 March 2026, the Central Government’s total debt stood at ₹201.17 lakh crore (provisional), while the debt is projected to rise to ₹228.27 lakh crore in FY27. The debt servicing ratio (interest payments to revenue receipts) declined from 41.6% in FY21 to 37.6% in FY26 (provisional), indicating an improved ability of the government to meet debt obligations through revenue receipts. In the Union Budget 2026–27, the government earmarked ₹17.15 lakh crore for effective capital expenditure, which exceeds the fiscal deficit (fresh borrowings) of ₹16.96 lakh crore, implying that borrowings are being fully utilised for asset creation. The government highlighted that capital expenditure of ₹44.03 lakh crore during FY21–FY26 has boosted infrastructure development, employment generation, logistics efficiency, and private investment, supported by initiatives such as PM GatiShakti, the National Logistics Policy, and the Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI).

 

2. 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. India has already scientifically closed 42 coal mines, including 33 mines in the previous year. Closed mine land has been converted into productive assets through uses such as water bodies, green cover, and other post-mining land uses.

 

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.