Current affairs
News for UPSC, SSC and defence exams, with the reason it matters.
July 2026
Lok Sabha passes Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2026 to tighten delayed registration
- The Lok Sabha passed the Bill on 31 July 2026, two days after it was introduced.
- It amends the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969.
- Events reported after one year but within two years need a magistrate's approval.
Why it matters
[Polity] Late registrations are often misused to make fake birth records. The Bill makes such claims go through checks first. A birth certificate is now a key proof of date of birth.
Cabinet approves PM Surya Sarovar Yojana for 5,000 MW of floating solar with storage
- The Cabinet approved the PM Surya Sarovar Yojana with an outlay of ₹5,070 crore.
- It targets 5,000 MW of floating solar projects on reservoirs and ponds.
- Each project must have batteries storing at least two hours of power.
Why it matters
[Environment] Floating solar panels sit on water, so they need no farmland. The water also cools the panels and cuts evaporation. Storage lets the power be used after sunset.
Cabinet extends PM-KISAN till 2030-31 with an outlay of about ₹3.15 lakh crore
- The Cabinet approved PM-KISAN for five more years, from 2026-27 to 2030-31.
- The total outlay is ₹3,15,614 crore.
- Eligible farmer families get ₹6,000 a year in three equal instalments.
Why it matters
[Policy] PM-KISAN began in February 2019. It is a Central Sector Scheme, so the Centre pays the full cost. The money goes straight to bank accounts through Direct Benefit Transfer.
Cabinet approves Samudra Manthan, an ₹84,084 crore national offshore oil and gas exploration scheme
- The Union Cabinet approved Samudra Manthan on 31 July 2026.
- It is a Central Sector Scheme with ₹84,084 crore up to 2030-31.
- About ₹43,200 crore goes to drilling 60 deepwater wells.
Why it matters
[Economy] India imports most of the crude oil it uses. Its offshore basins are still largely unexplored. The scheme is run by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
India and Lesotho hold 6th Joint Bilateral Commission for Cooperation in New Delhi
- The 6th Joint Bilateral Commission meeting was held in New Delhi on 30 July 2026.
- It was co-chaired by senior officials of the two foreign ministries.
- Talks covered development aid, training, and disaster relief.
Why it matters
[Mains] Lesotho is a small kingdom fully surrounded by South Africa. India's outreach to it is part of South-South cooperation with African partners.
India issues its first sovereign-backed P&I marine insurance policy under the Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool
- The first Protection and Indemnity (P&I) policy under the pool was issued on 30 July 2026.
- New India Assurance designed the policy and issued it to the Shipping Corporation of India.
- It covers third-party risks like crew and cargo claims, pollution and wreck removal.
Why it matters
[First] Indian ships have relied mostly on foreign P&I clubs for this cover. A domestic pool keeps premiums at home. It also protects shipping if foreign insurers pull out during sanctions or war.
Parliament passes Public Examinations Amendment Bill, 2026 with tougher penalties for exam cheating
- The Rajya Sabha passed the Bill on 30 July 2026, a day after the Lok Sabha.
- Jail for using unfair means rises to 5–10 years, with fines up to ₹50 lakh.
- Organised exam crime now gets at least 7 years and a minimum ₹10 crore fine.
Why it matters
[Polity] The Bill amends the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024. That Act covers exams by UPSC, SSC, railway boards, IBPS and the NTA. Service providers caught cheating can now be barred for eight years.
Rajnath Singh opens India’s first Department of Military Medicine at Command Hospital, Lucknow
- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh opened it virtually on 29 July 2026.
- It is at the Command Hospital (Central Command), Lucknow.
- It is India's first department devoted only to military medicine.
Why it matters
[Security] Treating wounded soldiers on a battlefield is different from hospital care. Fast first aid in the first hour saves the most lives. The department will also support disaster response.
Cochin Shipyard launches ‘Machilipatnam’, seventh Mahe-class anti-submarine shallow water craft for the Navy
- Cochin Shipyard launched Machilipatnam on 29 July 2026.
- It is the seventh of eight Mahe-class Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft.
- The craft will hunt submarines, guard the coast and lay mines in shallow waters.
Why it matters
[Security] Big warships cannot work well in shallow coastal waters. These smaller craft fill that gap. The class is named after ports on India's coast, such as Mahe and Machilipatnam.
Supreme Court seeks Centre’s reply on plea challenging the ‘merger’ exception in the anti-defection law
- The Supreme Court issued notice to the Centre on 28 July 2026.
- The plea was filed by Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal.
- It challenges how Paragraph 4 of the Tenth Schedule is read.
Why it matters
[Polity] The Tenth Schedule was added by the 52nd Amendment in 1985. The 91st Amendment in 2003 removed the 'split' exception. The 'merger' exception still remains.
MSME Development (Amendment) Bill, 2026 introduced in Rajya Sabha to tackle delayed payments
- The Bill was introduced in the Rajya Sabha on 28 July 2026.
- It amends the MSME Development Act, 2006.
- Central public sector firms must settle MSME invoices through the TReDS platform.
Why it matters
[Economy] Late payment by big buyers is a major problem for small firms. TReDS lets an MSME sell its unpaid invoices to banks and get cash quickly. The Bill later passed both Houses in August 2026.
NSE launches India’s first natural gas futures based on a domestic price benchmark
- NSE launched the contracts on 27 July 2026 after SEBI approval.
- They trade under the symbol NATGASIND.
- The price is based on the Indian Gas Exchange's Gujarat hub price.
Why it matters
[First] Earlier gas futures in India tracked the US Henry Hub price. A local benchmark reflects Indian supply and demand. Gas users can now hedge price risk without relying on foreign prices.
India marks 27th Kargil Vijay Diwas; Rajnath Singh pays tribute at Kargil War Memorial, Drass
- India observed the 27th Kargil Vijay Diwas on 26 July 2026.
- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh laid a wreath at the Kargil War Memorial in Drass, Ladakh.
- Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth also led the tributes.
Why it matters
[Security] The day marks India's victory in the 1999 Kargil War with Pakistan. The Army's campaign was called Operation Vijay. The Air Force's part was called Operation Safed Sagar.
President Droupadi Murmu completes four years in office
- Droupadi Murmu completed four years as President on 25 July 2026.
- She took oath as India's 15th President on 25 July 2022.
- She is India's first President from a Scheduled Tribe.
Why it matters
[Polity] The President is elected for five years under Article 56. The electoral college has elected MPs and elected MLAs of states and some UTs. Murmu's term runs till July 2027.
Indigenous ‘Bhargavastra’ counter-swarm drone system demonstrated to the Army in Nagpur
- Solar Defence and Aerospace Ltd showed Bhargavastra to an Army team on 24 July 2026.
- The review was held at its Nagpur facility under the Make-II programme.
- It is a vehicle-mounted system built to destroy swarms of drones.
Why it matters
[Security] Cheap drones attacking in large groups are a growing threat. Firing costly missiles at each drone is not practical. Make-II projects are funded by industry, not by the government.
Cabinet approves ₹3,030 crore BHAVYA Rasayan scheme to build three chemical parks
- The Union Cabinet approved the scheme on 24 July 2026.
- BHAVYA stands for Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojana.
- Its outlay is ₹3,030 crore, from 2026-27 to 2030-31.
Why it matters
[Economy] The parks will offer ready shared facilities, like effluent treatment plants and pipelines. Firms can set up quickly without building these themselves. This should cut costs and pollution in the chemical sector.
President Murmu makes first Indian presidential State Visit to Romania in nearly 30 years
- President Murmu's State Visit to Romania began on 23 July 2026.
- It was the first such visit by an Indian President in nearly three decades.
- She held talks with Romanian President Nicusor Dan in Bucharest.
Why it matters
[Mains] Romania was the last stop of a tour that also covered Moldova and North Macedonia. Romania is a member of both the EU and NATO. Closer ties support India's wider outreach to Central and Eastern Europe.
DRDO’s GTRE receives India’s first indigenous 350 kg-thrust expendable turbojet engine
- Azad Engineering delivered the engine to DRDO's GTRE on 22 July 2026.
- It is India's first indigenous expendable turbojet engine of the 350 kg thrust class.
- GTRE stands for Gas Turbine Research Establishment, based in Bengaluru.
Why it matters
[Security] An expendable engine is meant for one use, as in missiles and target drones. Only a few nations have mastered jet engine technology. Home-made engines cut dependence on imports.
Navy commissions INS Malvan, second Mahe-class anti-submarine shallow water craft, at Karwar
- INS Malvan was commissioned at Karwar on 22 July 2026.
- Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, the Chief of the Air Staff, presided.
- It is the second of eight such craft built by Cochin Shipyard.
Why it matters
[Security] The ship is named after Malvan, a coastal town in Maharashtra. Malvan is linked to the naval heritage of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Craft of this class hunt submarines in shallow coastal waters.
Madhya Pradesh Assembly passes Uniform Civil Code Bill, the fourth state to do so
- The Madhya Pradesh Assembly passed the UCC Bill on 21 July 2026 by voice vote.
- It is the fourth state after Uttarakhand, Gujarat and Assam.
- It bans polygamy and makes registration of marriages compulsory.
Why it matters
[Polity] Article 44, a Directive Principle, asks the State to try to secure a uniform civil code. A state can make such a law because marriage and succession are in the Concurrent List. The Bill still needs the Governor's assent.
NTPC awards India’s first grid-scale 100 MWh vanadium redox flow battery project at Khavda
- NTPC Renewable Energy awarded the project to Bondada Engineering, reported on 20 July 2026.
- It is a 100 MWh vanadium redox flow battery at Khavda Solar Park, Gujarat.
- It is called India's first grid-scale battery of this kind.
Why it matters
[Environment] Flow batteries store energy in liquid electrolytes kept in tanks. They last longer and are safer than lithium-ion for long hours of storage. This helps store solar power for use after sunset.
Monsoon Session opens; Bill introduced to raise Supreme Court judges’ strength from 34 to 38
- Parliament's Monsoon Session began on 20 July 2026.
- Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal introduced the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill that day.
- It raises the number of judges, other than the CJI, from 33 to 37.
Why it matters
[Polity] Article 124 lets Parliament fix the number of Supreme Court judges by law. That number is set in the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956. An ordinance lapses six weeks after Parliament reassembles unless replaced by a law.
India wins four golds at the 58th International Chemistry Olympiad, its best-ever result
- All four Indian students won gold at the 58th International Chemistry Olympiad in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
- It is India's best-ever result at the Chemistry Olympiad.
- India finished joint first with China, Vietnam and Russia.
Why it matters
[Science] Olympiad results show the depth of India's school science training. July 2026 was a strong month, with five golds at the Physics Olympiad too. HBCSE in Mumbai selects and trains India's teams.
CCPA acts against 41 restaurants for adding service charge by default
- The Central Consumer Protection Authority took suo motu action against 41 restaurants in July 2026.
- They had added service charge to bills by default, based on National Consumer Helpline complaints.
- Penalties were imposed, and the restaurants were told to stop automatic service charges.
Why it matters
[Polity] The CCPA was set up under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. Its 2022 guidelines bar restaurants from adding service charge by default. Courts have upheld these guidelines.
Skyroot’s Vikram-1 becomes India’s first privately built rocket to reach orbit
- Skyroot Aerospace launched Vikram-1 on 18 July 2026 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.
- The mission was named 'Aagaman'. The rocket placed its payloads in a 450 km low-Earth orbit.
- It carried Skyroot's own SCOPE satellite and customer payloads from Grahaa Space, Cosmoserve and DCubed.
Why it matters
[Science] Skyroot, based in Hyderabad, was founded in 2018 by two former ISRO engineers. The 2020 space reforms opened rocket launches to private firms. Its suborbital Vikram-S flew in November 2022.
ONGC completes two deep geothermal wells at Puga, Ladakh, for India’s first geothermal power project
- ONGC Energy Centre completed two geothermal wells, GT-02 and GT-03, at Puga Valley in Ladakh.
- Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena unveiled a plaque at the site on 17 July 2026.
- The wells will feed a planned 1 MW pilot plant. It is meant to be India's first demonstration-scale geothermal power project.
Why it matters
[Environment] Geothermal energy uses heat from inside the Earth. Unlike solar and wind, it can give power all day and night. Puga sits high in the Himalayas, near the meeting zone of two tectonic plates.
PM Modi flags off India’s first hydrogen-powered train on Jind–Sonipat route in Haryana
- PM Narendra Modi flagged off the train at Jind railway station, Haryana, on 17 July 2026.
- It runs on the 89 km Jind–Gohana–Sonipat section of Northern Railway.
- The train has two power cars and eight passenger cars. It can carry about 2,600 passengers.
Why it matters
[Science] A hydrogen fuel cell makes electricity from hydrogen and oxygen. Its only exhaust is water vapour. Such trains suit routes that have no overhead electric lines.
National Anti-Doping Act, 2022 and its 2025 Amendment come into force after four years
- The Sports Ministry brought the National Anti-Doping Act, 2022 into force from 15 July 2026.
- The National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Act, 2025 came into force the next day, 16 July 2026.
- The Act makes NADA a statutory body. NADA handles testing, investigations and anti-doping education.
Why it matters
[Polity] Parliament passed the Act in August 2022. The World Anti-Doping Agency objected that it gave government too much control. India amended the law in 2025 before switching it on.
CCEA approves National Investment Policy for Urea-2026 to attract new gas-based plants
- The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved NIPU-2026 on 15 July 2026.
- It covers all new gas-based urea plants proposed in India.
- It offers a return on equity band of 12% to 16%.
Why it matters
[Economy] India still imports a large share of its urea. NIP-2012 led to six new plants. A new policy aims to cut imports and improve fertiliser security.
Cabinet approves ₹62,500 crore Mobile Phone Manufacturing Scheme to succeed PLI
- The Union Cabinet approved the Mobile Phone Manufacturing Scheme (MPMS) on 15 July 2026.
- It has an outlay of ₹62,500 crore. It runs for five years, from 2026-27 to 2030-31.
- Firms get 2.25% to 5% incentive on eligible sales. Extra incentives reward local components and Indian brands.
Why it matters
[Economy] PLI mainly helped phone assembly in India. MPMS shifts the focus to making components and doing design and research at home. This raises domestic value addition.