Asia Current Affairs — Last 12 months
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
Fri, 24 Jul 2026
India hosts BRICS Ministerial Meeting on Disaster Risk Reduction; Joint Statement adopted
Under India's BRICS Chairship 2026, the NDMA hosted the 3rd BRICS Ministerial Meeting on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in New Delhi on 24 July 2026, chaired by MoS Home Nityanand Rai, which unanimously adopted the BRICS Joint Statement on DRR.
Union Environment Minister reviews Haryana's air pollution action plan
Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav on 24 July 2026 reviewed Haryana's measures to improve Delhi-NCR air quality with Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, stressing strict enforcement before the onset of winter.
Bucharest University of Economic Studies confers Honorary Doctorate on President Murmu
The Bucharest University of Economic Studies conferred an Honorary Doctorate on President Droupadi Murmu at a ceremony in Bucharest, Romania on 24 July 2026.
DoT activates Intra-Circle Roaming in flood-hit districts; Longleng second in Nagaland
The Department of Telecommunications on 24 July 2026 activated Intra-Circle Roaming (ICR) in disaster-affected districts of Nagaland, Gujarat and Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, with Longleng becoming the second district in Nagaland after Mon to get ICR.
ODOP: 1,244 products identified across 773 districts
The Commerce Ministry told Parliament on 24 July 2026 that 1,244 products have been identified across 773 districts under DPIIT's One District One Product (ODOP) initiative.
Thu, 23 Jul 2026
DRDO conducts maiden flight-test of 'Kusha' Long-Range Surface-to-Air Missile
DRDO successfully conducted the maiden flight-test of the 'Kusha' Long-Range Surface-to-Air Missile from APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha coast on 23 July 2026, intercepting an electronic target that simulated a high-speed, high-altitude aerial threat.
President Murmu in Romania – first State Visit by an Indian President in nearly three decades
President Droupadi Murmu reached Bucharest on 23 July 2026 on the last leg of her State Visits to Moldova, North Macedonia and Romania, and held talks with Romanian President Nicușor Dan at Cotroceni Palace – the first State Visit by an Indian President to Romania in nearly three decades.
US final Section 301 measures: India placed in lower tariff tier at 10%
The US Trade Representative on 23 July 2026 announced final measures under Section 301 of the US Trade Act, 1974, following its forced-labour investigation of 60 economies, placing India in the lower tier with an additional 10% ad valorem duty, down from the 12.5% proposed on 2 June 2026.
India and Israel conclude second round of FTA negotiations in New Delhi
India and Israel concluded the second round of negotiations for the proposed India–Israel Free Trade Agreement, held from 20 to 23 July 2026 at Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi.
India concludes its Eighth Trade Policy Review at the WTO
India's Eighth Trade Policy Review (TPR) at the World Trade Organization in Geneva concluded on 23 July 2026, with 68 WTO Members participating; the Indian delegation was led by Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal.
PM announces fast-track courts for paper leak cases
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on 23 July 2026 that the government has decided to set up fast-track courts to ensure swift and stringent punishment for those involved in paper leaks.
Permanent campus for NSTI (Women), Patna announced; MoU for Skill India International Centre in Bihar
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary and Union Skill Development MoS (Independent Charge) Jayant Chaudhary on 23 July 2026 announced a permanent campus for the National Skill Training Institute for Women (NSTI-W), Patna, and the MSDE and Bihar exchanged an MoU for a Skill India International Centre (SIIC).
Operation Southern Readiness 26-2 concludes at Kochi
Operation Southern Readiness 26-2, a four-day multinational maritime security training engagement conducted by the Indian Navy with the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), concluded at Southern Naval Command, Kochi on 23 July 2026.
Bharat Taxi cooperative cab service launched in Maharashtra
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis launched the cooperative 'Bharat Taxi' service in Maharashtra at Navi Mumbai International Airport on 23 July 2026, after its launch in Delhi and Gujarat.
16th BRICS Health Ministers' Meeting concludes in Chandigarh
The 16th BRICS Health Ministers' Meeting concluded in Chandigarh on 23 July 2026 under India's BRICS Chairship, with members unanimously adopting the 16th BRICS Health Ministerial Declaration.
Birth anniversaries of Lokmanya Tilak and Chandra Shekhar Azad observed
Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tributes to Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Chandra Shekhar Azad on their birth anniversaries on 23 July 2026.
Vice-President pays tributes to freedom fighter Subramania Siva
Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan paid floral tributes to freedom fighter Subramania Siva on his death anniversary at Uprashtrapati Bhawan on 23 July 2026.
Wed, 22 Jul 2026
Samudra Pradakshina: first Tri-service all-women circumnavigation completed
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on 22 July 2026 virtually flagged in 'Samudra Pradakshina', the first-ever Tri-service all-women circumnavigation sailing expedition, as nine women officers aboard IASV Triveni returned to Mumbai after a 314-day voyage of nearly 25,500 nautical miles across four oceans.
INS Malvan, second Mahe-class anti-submarine shallow water craft, commissioned at Karwar
INS Malvan, the second of the indigenously designed and built Mahe-class Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), was commissioned into the Indian Navy at Karwar on 22 July 2026 in a ceremony presided over by Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal A. P. Singh.
Coal Ministry releases 'AAROH', India's first report on scientific mine closure
The Ministry of Coal released 'AAROH – Annual Report on Mine Closure', India's first comprehensive documentation of scientific mine closure and repurposing practices, in New Delhi on 22 July 2026, and signed an implementation agreement with Germany's GIZ on 'to-be closed mines'.
Two Electronics Manufacturing Clusters approved in Tamil Nadu
MeitY informed Parliament on 22 July 2026 that the government has approved two Electronics Manufacturing Clusters (EMCs) in Tamil Nadu – at Manallur (474.3 acres) and Pillapaikkam (379.3 acres) – with projects worth ₹1,012 crore.
President Murmu unveils Mahatma Gandhi bust in Skopje, North Macedonia
President Droupadi Murmu and North Macedonia's President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova unveiled a bust of Mahatma Gandhi at the Museum of the City of Skopje on 22 July 2026.
First indigenous expendable turbojet engine of 350 kg thrust class delivered to DRDO
India's first indigenous Expendable Turbo Jet Engine of the 350 kg thrust class, designed by DRDO's Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), was realised and delivered to GTRE by industry partner Azad Engineering, Hyderabad, on 22 July 2026.
NBA releases ₹6.67 crore under Access and Benefit Sharing to 11 cotton-growing States
The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) announced on 22 July 2026 that it has released ₹6.67 crore under the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) mechanism to 11 cotton-growing States for biodiversity conservation and livelihood support.
India's installed wind power capacity reaches 57,443 MW
India's installed wind power capacity reached 57,443 MW as on 30 June 2026, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy told Parliament on 22 July 2026, with India ranked 4th globally in wind installations per the GWEC Report 2026.
DRDO signs two contracts for AEW&C Mk-II programme
DRDO's Centre for Air Borne Systems (CABS) on 22 July 2026 signed contracts with AI Engineering Services Limited (AIESL) to convert six A321 aircraft and with Adani Defence Systems and Technologies as Development-cum-Production Partner for mission systems, under the Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) Mk-II programme.
Indian Railways has electrified 99.6% of its broad gauge network
Indian Railways has electrified about 99.6% of its broad gauge network, second only to Switzerland in railway electrification as per the UIC's June 2025 report, the Railways Ministry said on 22 July 2026.
Agriculture Minister reviews relief for Totapuri mango farmers of AP, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan held a high-level review at Krishi Bhavan, New Delhi on 22 July 2026 on the problems of Totapuri mango farmers in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, based on an expert committee report.
Tue, 21 Jul 2026
CDSCO approves Qdenga, India's first dengue vaccine
The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) granted marketing authorisation for Qdenga, a live attenuated tetravalent dengue vaccine made by Takeda GmbH, Germany, the first dengue vaccine approved in India (announced 21 July 2026).
Mission Golden Spice launched for Meghalaya's GI-tagged Lakadong turmeric
Union Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia and Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma launched 'Mission Golden Spice', a ₹175.45-crore project for the Lakadong turmeric value chain in Meghalaya, on 21 July 2026.