Current affairs
News for UPSC, SSC and defence exams, with the reason it matters.
July 2026
All subjectsArt and CultureEnvironment and EcologyGeneral KnowledgeIndian EconomyIndian GeographyIndian Polity and ConstitutionInternational RelationsScience and TechnologyWorld Geography
Playback singer S. Janaki, ‘Nightingale of South India’, dies at 88
- Playback singer S. Janaki died in Mysuru on 11 July 2026, aged 88.
- She recorded about 48,000 songs in 17 languages over six decades.
- She won four National Film Awards and 33 State Film Awards.
Why it matters
[Culture] Janaki sang mostly in Telugu, Kannada, Tamil and Malayalam films. She was widely called the Nightingale of South India. Her career is a common source of Art and Culture questions.
Pandavani legend Teejan Bai dies at 70 in Raipur
- Pandavani singer Teejan Bai died on 5 July 2026 at AIIMS Raipur, aged 70.
- Pandavani is a folk art of Chhattisgarh that sings and acts out stories of the Mahabharata.
- She chose the standing 'Kapalik' style, which women rarely performed then.
Why it matters
[Culture] Pandavani is told by one lead singer with a tambura, backed by a small group. There are two styles: Vedamati, sung seated, and Kapalik, performed standing. Teejan Bai took this art to stages across the world.