Current Affairs — 20 July 2026
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
Mon, 20 Jul 2026
New Index of Core Industries series with base year 2022-23 adds iron ore
DPIIT's Office of Economic Adviser released the first Index of Core Industries (ICI) with base year 2022-23 on 20 July 2026, replacing the 2011-12 series and raising the number of core industries from eight to nine with iron ore.
India becomes a Party to the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies
India deposited its Instrument of Acceptance of the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies on 20 July 2026, becoming the 123rd WTO Member to do so and a Party to the Agreement.
President Murmu makes first-ever Indian presidential visit to Moldova
President Droupadi Murmu reached Chisinau on 20 July 2026 on the first leg of State Visits to Moldova, North Macedonia and Romania, the first visit by an Indian President to Moldova, and held talks with President Maia Sandu.
NHAI launches digital Local Pass and MargMitra Help Centre on RajmargYatra app
NHAI introduced a digital toll 'Local Pass' and the 'MargMitra' Help Centre on the RajmargYatra app, with the first digital Local Pass at the Mundka–Bakkarwala Toll Plaza on UER-II in Delhi (announced 20 July 2026).
UPI has 55.49 crore users as of June 2026
UPI had 55.49 crore users onboarded as of June 2026, and recorded 24,161.69 crore transactions worth ₹314.23 lakh crore in FY 2025-26, the Finance Ministry said on 20 July 2026.
IAF joins Exercise Pitch Black 2026 at RAAF Base Darwin with Rafale jets
The Indian Air Force began participating in Exercise Pitch Black 2026 at Royal Australian Air Force Base Darwin on 20 July 2026, fielding Rafale fighters; the exercise runs till 7 August 2026.
APEDA facilitates Uttarakhand's first export of frozen French fries, to Iraq
APEDA facilitated the first export of 24 tonnes of frozen French fries from Kashipur in Uttarakhand's Udham Singh Nagar district to Iraq, announced on 20 July 2026.
CBN's Operation Vajra stops diversion of 12 crore Tramadol tablets
The Central Bureau of Narcotics seized 12 crore high-strength Tramadol tablets (about 30 tonnes) from a Delhi warehouse under 'Operation Vajra', it said on 20 July 2026, preventing their suspected diversion to Libya.
Pre-application conference held for ₹37,500-crore coal/lignite gasification scheme
The Ministry of Coal held the pre-application conference for the ₹37,500-crore Scheme for Promotion of Surface Coal/Lignite Gasification Projects on 20 July 2026.
Monsoon Session 2026 of Parliament begins; nine members take oath in Rajya Sabha
The Monsoon Session 2026 of Parliament began on 20 July 2026, with Rajya Sabha Chairman C. P. Radhakrishnan administering oath to nine newly elected or re-elected members.
DoLR clarifies that NAKSHA survey in Goa does not affect land records
On 20 July 2026, the Department of Land Resources and Goa's Directorate of Settlement and Land Records clarified that the NAKSHA pilot survey in Goa leaves existing land titles and records unaffected.
NHRC takes suo motu cognizance of frisking of girl students in Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan
On 20 July 2026, the NHRC took suo motu cognizance of a report that girl students were frisked, beaten and forced to remove clothes by two teachers at a government school in Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan, and sought a report within two weeks.