Asia Current Affairs — Last 12 months
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
Thu, 16 Jul 2026
Railways approves ₹228-crore doubling of Tadali–Ghugus section in Maharashtra
Indian Railways approved doubling of the 14-km Tadali–Ghugus section in Maharashtra at ₹228 crore on 16 July 2026, on the Delhi–Chennai High Density Network.
Maharashtra Legislature moves to adopt National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA)
At a meeting at Vidhan Bhawan, Mumbai, on 16 July 2026, the Maharashtra Legislature committed to adopting the National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA), with consensus to expedite an MoU with the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs.
MoHUA approves guidelines for PARIVARTAN Scheme to replace old trucks and buses in NCR
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs approved guidelines for the ₹9,585-crore PARIVARTAN Scheme on 16 July 2026 to replace old, polluting trucks and buses in the National Capital Region with BS-VI or electric vehicles.
NAMO Airport, Daman gets its first flight: Alliance Air links Daman directly to Delhi
Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu flagged off the inaugural Daman–Delhi–Daman flight of Alliance Air from NAMO Airport, Daman, on 16 July 2026, Daman's first-ever direct air link.
ICAR marks 98th Foundation Day; 386 improved crop varieties developed in the past year
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) celebrated its 98th Foundation Day on 16 July 2026, with Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan saying ICAR developed 386 improved varieties across 44 crops in the past year.
PM Modi speaks with Amir of Qatar, conveys condolences on passing of Father Amir
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Qatar's Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on 16 July 2026 and conveyed condolences on the passing of the Father Amir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani.
PM Modi greets the nation on Rath Yatra
Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended greetings on the occasion of Rath Yatra on 16 July 2026, seeking the blessings of Mahaprabhu Jagannath.
Wed, 15 Jul 2026
India–UK CETA and Double Contribution Convention enter into force
The India–UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and the Agreement on Social Security (Double Contribution Convention) entered into force on 15 July 2026, giving zero-duty access to nearly 99% of India's exports.
Cabinet approves Semicon 2.0 with ₹1,27,500 crore outlay
The Union Cabinet approved Semicon 2.0 on 15 July 2026 with a total outlay of ₹1,27,500 crore to build India's semiconductor design and manufacturing ecosystem on six pillars.
Greenfield shipbuilding cluster at Porbandar and ₹1,570-crore Vadinar ship repair facility get approval
The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways gave in-principle approval on 15 July 2026 under the Shipbuilding Development Scheme to a greenfield shipbuilding cluster in Porbandar and a ₹1,570-crore ship repair facility at Vadinar, Gujarat.
World Youth Skills Day 2026: IndiaSkills 2026–27 guidelines and Skills Outcomes Fund unveiled
On World Youth Skills Day, 15 July 2026, MoS Jayant Chaudhary unveiled the IndiaSkills Competition 2026–27 guidelines covering 63 skill categories, launched the WorldSkills India Champions Club and announced a ~₹530-crore Skills Outcomes Fund.
CCEA approves National Investment Policy for Urea-2026 (NIPU-2026)
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the National Investment Policy for Urea-2026 for Atmanirbhar Bharat (NIPU-2026) on 15 July 2026 to attract new investment in gas-based urea plants.
Cabinet approves ₹62,500-crore Mobile Phone Manufacturing Scheme
The Union Cabinet approved the Mobile Phone Manufacturing Scheme (MPMS) on 15 July 2026 with an outlay of ₹62,500 crore for FY 2026-27 to FY 2030-31.
Eighth tranche of critical and strategic mineral block auctions launched with 20 blocks
Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy launched the eighth tranche of e-auction of 20 critical and strategic mineral blocks across nine States on 15 July 2026, at the curtain raiser of India Mining Week 2026.
Vice-President addresses Vidhayi Gaurav Yatra marking 75 years of Rajasthan Legislative Assembly
Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan addressed the valedictory session of the Vidhayi Gaurav Yatra, part of the 75th-year celebrations of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly, in Jaipur on 15 July 2026.
CCEA approves ₹3,907-crore rail multitracking projects in Odisha and Jharkhand
The CCEA approved two railway multitracking projects worth about ₹3,907 crore in Odisha and Jharkhand on 15 July 2026 — Paradeep–Haridaspur doubling and Rajkharsawan–Dangoaposi 4th line — adding about 145 km.
CCEA approves two elevated corridors worth over ₹25,000 crore to decongest Varanasi
The CCEA approved two Varanasi decongestion corridors on 15 July 2026: a 43.218-km corridor along the Varuna (₹10,998.32 crore) and a 46.039-km corridor along the Ganga between NH-19 and the Ring Road (₹14,447.64 crore).
PLFS June 2026: unemployment rate steady at 5.5%, LFPR at 54.4%
The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) monthly bulletin for June 2026, released on 15 July 2026, put the unemployment rate (15+ years) at 5.5% and the labour force participation rate at 54.4%.
PM pays homage to K. Kamaraj on his birth anniversary
Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid homage to K. Kamaraj on his birth anniversary on 15 July 2026, remembering him as a stalwart of India's freedom movement.
Tue, 14 Jul 2026
MoSPI releases first sub-sectoral trial Index of Services Production
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) on 14 July 2026 brought out its first release of the trial Index of Services Production (ISP) for 19 sub-sectors, with base year 2024-25.
Tribhuvan Sahkari University holds first convocation at Anand
Tribhuvan Sahkari University, India's first national university dedicated to the cooperative sector, held its first convocation at Anand, Gujarat, on 14 July 2026.
Jitendra Singh reviews NESAC's work at Umiam, Meghalaya
Union Minister Jitendra Singh visited the North Eastern Space Applications Centre (NESAC) at Umiam, Meghalaya, on 14 July 2026 and reviewed nearly 130 space application projects, including geospatial mapping of the India–Myanmar border.
Mandaviya inaugurates 15th BRICS Trade Union Forum Summit in Hyderabad
Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurated the 15th BRICS Trade Union Forum Summit in Hyderabad on 14 July 2026, ahead of the BRICS Labour and Employment Ministers' Meeting on 15–16 July.
Shivraj Chouhan reviews West Bengal projects with CM Suvendu Adhikari
Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan chaired a review meeting in Kolkata with West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on 14 July 2026, covering 19 infrastructure projects worth over ₹82,000 crore and an ₹8,508 crore rural development package.
Railways unveils eight more reforms under 'Reform Express'
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced eight more structural reforms under 'Reform Express' on 14 July 2026, taking the total to 17 against a target of 52 reforms in 52 weeks.
Rajnath Singh flags off 'Shaurya Vijay Yatra' for Kargil Vijay Diwas 2026
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on 14 July 2026 flagged off the 13-day 'Shaurya Vijay Yatra' motorcycle expedition from the National War Memorial, New Delhi, to the Kargil War Memorial in Dras, Ladakh.
First round of India–Maldives FTA negotiations concludes
The first round of India–Maldives Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations, held virtually from 29 June to 7 July 2026, concluded with eight technical sessions covering eight policy areas.
WPI inflation rises to 9.87% in June 2026
All-India Wholesale Price Index (WPI) inflation rose to 9.87% year-on-year in June 2026 from 9.68% in May 2026, on the 2022-23 base.
Vice-President releases 'The Voice of Justice: Justice Gavai Speaks'
Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan released the book 'The Voice of Justice: Justice Gavai Speaks', a collection of speeches of former Chief Justice of India B. R. Gavai, on 14 July 2026.
CeNS Bengaluru develops ultra-sensitive room-temperature ammonia sensor
Scientists at the Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS), Bengaluru, have developed a room-temperature ammonia sensor that detects the gas down to 319 parts per billion and can power itself from body motion.