Current Affairs — 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.
Sun, 19 Jul 2026
Bihar CM inaugurates the State's first river-linking project, Belwa–Minapur Link Channel
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary inaugurated the 68.80-km Belwa–Minapur Link Channel in Sheohar on 19 July 2026, Bihar's first river-linking project, linking the Bagmati with the Burhi Gandak.
P. V. Sindhu becomes first Indian to win the Japan Open badminton title
P. V. Sindhu won the Japan Open 2026 women's singles title on 19 July 2026, beating Japan's Akane Yamaguchi 21-17, 21-17, and became the first Indian to win the Japan Open.
Bhoomi Pujan for world's largest curd plant under Amul Bengal Dairy Project in Kolkata
Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah performed the Bhoomi Pujan for the world's largest curd manufacturing plant under the Amul Bengal Dairy Project in Kolkata on 19 July 2026.
All four Indian students win gold at the 58th International Chemistry Olympiad
All four Indian students won gold medals at the 58th International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO) in Tashkent, Uzbekistan (10–19 July 2026), India's best-ever IChO result and first all-gold haul.
CCPA acts against 41 restaurants for levying service charge by default
The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) initiated suo motu action against 41 restaurants for adding service charge to bills by default, it said on 19 July 2026.
Amit Shah inaugurates first phase of 'Museum of Word' in Kolkata
Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the first phase of the 'Museum of Word' in Kolkata on 19 July 2026.
UP CM inaugurates new headquarters of State Disaster Management Authority in Lucknow
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurated the new headquarters building of the Uttar Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (UPSDMA) in Lucknow on 19 July 2026.
India wins 1 gold and 3 silver at the 37th International Biology Olympiad
All four Indian students won medals – 1 gold and 3 silver – at the 37th International Biology Olympiad (IBO) in Vilnius, Lithuania, held from 12 to 19 July 2026.
NAMASTE scheme: over 89,000 sewer workers and 2.81 lakh waste pickers validated
Over 89,000 sewer and septic tank workers and over 2,81,000 waste pickers have been validated under the NAMASTE scheme, Union Minister Dr Virendra Kumar said on 19 July 2026.
All-party meeting held ahead of Monsoon Session 2026
An all-party meeting chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was held in Parliament House Complex on 19 July 2026 ahead of the Monsoon Session, attended by 58 leaders from 40 political parties.
PM pays tribute to Mangal Pandey on his birth anniversary
Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tributes to the revolutionary Mangal Pandey on his birth anniversary on 19 July 2026.
Sat, 18 Jul 2026
Skyroot's Vikram-1 becomes India's first privately developed rocket to reach orbit
Skyroot Aerospace's Vikram-1, India's first privately developed orbital launch vehicle, reached Low Earth Orbit from Sriharikota on 18 July 2026 under Mission Aagaman.
72nd National Film Awards announced: Article 370 named Best Feature Film
The 72nd National Film Awards for 2024 were announced on 18 July 2026, with Article 370 winning Best Feature Film and Mammootty and Kartik Aaryan sharing Best Actor.
PM Modi dedicates 75 redeveloped Amrit Bharat Stations across 20 States
Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated 75 redeveloped Amrit Bharat Stations in 20 States, built at about ₹1,570 crore, to the nation on 18 July 2026.
First direct express train between Ramnagar and Dehradun flagged off
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw flagged off the Ramnagar–Dehradun Express, the first direct express train between the two Uttarakhand cities, on 18 July 2026.
Aadhaar App crosses 40 million downloads; email update free till December 2026
UIDAI said on 18 July 2026 that the Aadhaar App has crossed 40 million (4 crore) downloads, with about 49 lakh mobile number updates and 11.65 lakh address updates done through the App.
Draft Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2026 released for public consultation
The Bar Council of India hosted the Draft Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2026 on its website on 18 July 2026, inviting comments from stakeholders and the public by 31 July 2026 (3 PM).
MNRE extends ALMM List-II exemption for net-metering and open-access projects to December 2026
MNRE said on 18 July 2026 that there is no change in ALMM List-II policy for solar PV cells, but net-metering and open-access RE projects can commission without ALMM List-II cells till 31 December 2026.