Current Affairs One- Liner: 19th and 20th July 2026

National:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Advanced Mother and Child Centre and Advanced Neurosciences Centre at PGIMER Chandigarh. The 300-bed maternal and child facility will handle high-risk pregnancies, newborn illnesses and paediatric cases, while the neuroscience centre will treat strokes, epilepsy, brain tumours and spinal disorders. The facilities will strengthen specialised healthcare for patients from Chandigarh and neighbouring states

• The Maharashtra Legislature initiated implementation of the National e-Vidhan Application under the Digital India programme. NeVA will digitise questions, bills, notices and legislative proceedings, reducing dependence on printed documents. Implemented by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, the project aims to improve transparency, administrative efficiency and access to legislative information. The nationwide project has an approved outlay of ₹673.94 crore.
• On 19 July 2026, Amit Shah laid the foundation stone of Amul’s ₹700 crore dairy project at Sankrail, Howrah. The plant will process 30 lakh litres of milk daily and produce nearly 10 lakh kg of curd and cultured products. It is expected to benefit 1.25 lakh milk producers, including 30,000 women, and create around 1,000 jobs.
• The Supreme Court Judges Strength Bill, 2026 proposes increasing the number of Supreme Court judges from 33 to 37, excluding the Chief Justice of India. The Court’s total sanctioned strength will therefore rise to 38. The Bill aims to reduce case pendency, allow the creation of more benches and improve the timely disposal of constitutional, commercial and regular appeals.
• The Aadhaar mobile application crossed four crore downloads across India. Developed by UIDAI, it allows users to carry a digital version of Aadhaar, verify their identity and share selected information through secure QR codes. The application aims to reduce dependence on physical photocopies, make Aadhaar authentication more convenient and give users greater control over the personal information they share.
• The Centre moved forward with environmental clearance for the 1,000 MW Naying Hydroelectric Project in Arunachal Pradesh. The run-of-river project will be developed on the Siyom River in Shi Yomi district. It aims to increase renewable electricity generation, utilise the Northeast’s hydropower potential and support local employment, infrastructure and economic development in the strategically important border region.
• Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan unveiled the Viksit Krishi and Samruddh Kisan roadmap at ICAR’s 98th Foundation Day. ICAR released 43 crop varieties, 17 technologies and 14 publications, while the government proposed 100 climate-smart villages. The roadmap aims to improve farm productivity, reduce costs, raise farmers’ incomes and promote climate-resilient and technology-based agriculture.

International: 

• Andy Burnham became Prime Minister of the United Kingdom on 20 July 2026 after being confirmed as Labour Party leader on 17 July. He succeeded Keir Starmer. His government initially focused on housing, energy bills, the cost-of-living crisis and regional decentralisation. Burnham previously served as Mayor of Greater Manchester and held ministerial positions in earlier Labour governments.

Economy: 

• Gujarat ranked first in NITI Aayog’s inaugural Investment Friendliness Index with a score of 56.6, followed by Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. The index assessed infrastructure, regulations, financial health, policy stability, land and labour conditions across 17 states. It aims to promote competitive federalism and help states identify reforms required to attract and retain private investment.
• MoSPI released the quarterly update of the PAIMANA dashboard, which tracks the performance of major infrastructure sectors such as roads, railways, ports, power, aviation and telecommunications. Launched in April 2026, the dashboard brings infrastructure data onto a common platform. It aims to support evidence-based policymaking, identify delays and improve the monitoring of capacity creation and economic activity.
• The Union Cabinet approved NIPU-2026, railway multitracking projects and elevated-road corridors. NIPU-2026 aims to attract investment in domestic urea production and reduce fertiliser imports. The railway projects will increase passenger and freight capacity, while the road corridors will reduce congestion and travel time. Together, the projects support manufacturing, agricultural security, employment and multimodal infrastructure development.
• Chhattisgarh became the first state to introduce a statutory risk-based business approval system. Low-risk businesses can receive quicker approvals through self-certification or deemed approval, while high-risk industries will face detailed scrutiny. The reform aims to reduce compliance costs, accelerate MSME establishment, improve transparency and allow government departments to focus their inspections on genuinely hazardous activities.
• Fresh cherries and plums from Jammu and Kashmir were exported to Singapore for the first time with APEDA’s support. The shipment included premium produce from Shopian and Pulwama. The initiative aims to provide growers access to high-value overseas markets, improve farmers’ earnings and promote investment in grading, packaging, cold-storage and air-transport infrastructure for Kashmir’s perishable horticultural products.

Appointments: 

• Harjeet Singh Grewal was appointed Chairman of the National Commission for Minorities, succeeding Iqbal Singh Lalpura. The Commission protects the rights of Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Parsis and Jains. It investigates complaints, reviews government safeguards and recommends measures for the educational, social and economic development of India’s centrally notified minority communities.

Awards and Honours: 

• Gujarat received the Agriculture Leadership Award 2026 in the Best Horticulture State category. The state was recognised for horticultural production, water-efficient farming, greenhouse cultivation, improved planting material and value-chain development. Presented by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, the award highlights Gujarat’s efforts to increase farm productivity, strengthen food processing and improve farmers’ earnings through market-oriented horticulture.

MoUs:

• Akasa Air and BPCL signed an MoU to promote sustainable aviation fuel in India. They will explore SAF-blended aviation fuel supply, demand forecasting and distribution at selected airports. SAF can be produced from waste oils and agricultural residue and can reduce lifecycle emissions. The agreement aims to support cleaner aviation and encourage domestic investment in biofuel production.
• Arunachal Pradesh signed an MoU with Norway’s Tidal Sail AS for India’s first river kinetic-energy demonstration project. The proposed 500-kilowatt system will generate power from flowing river water without a large dam or reservoir. The pilot aims to test whether the technology can provide reliable, low-impact electricity to remote Himalayan communities with limited access to conventional grids.
• Telangana partnered with Microsoft, the 1M1B Foundation and MeitY Startup Hub to establish a Green Skills and Applied AI Centre of Excellence in Hyderabad. The centre will train students and professionals in applying artificial intelligence to energy efficiency, sustainable manufacturing, pharmaceuticals and waste reduction. It aims to create green jobs, support climate-tech startups and strengthen industry-ready skills.

Science and Technology: 

• Union Minister Pralhad Joshi commissioned a White Rabbit technology demonstration network in Bengaluru for highly precise distribution of Indian Standard Time. The system can synchronise clocks with sub-nanosecond accuracy. It is important for banking, stock exchanges, telecom networks, power grids, defence and scientific research and aims to reduce dependence on foreign time sources.
• Skyroot Aerospace launched Vikram-1 under Mission Aagaman, making it India’s first privately developed rocket to place payloads into orbit. The multistage rocket is designed to carry small satellites into low Earth orbit. The achievement strengthens India’s private-space sector, provides more flexible satellite launches and reduces dependence on foreign commercial launch providers.
• Analog astronaut Captain Aman Johri reportedly conducted microgravity-related research on onions and potatoes from Maharashtra under Project Astra Farm. The study aims to examine crop behaviour, storage and possible use in future space-agriculture systems. However, the information is based mainly on a private press release and has not been confirmed through a detailed ISRO or peer-reviewed scientific announcement.
• Reliance Jio’s proposal for around 1,600 low-Earth-orbit satellites received a favourable technical assessment from IN-SPACe. The network aims to provide low-latency broadband to rural, mountainous and remote areas. However, this is not final operational approval. Jio must still obtain spectrum, security and regulatory clearances before launching and operating the satellite-broadband system.
• India’s drug regulator approved Takeda’s QDENGA as the country’s first authorised dengue vaccine. It is approved for people aged four to 60 years and requires two doses three months apart. The vaccine protects against all four dengue serotypes and aims to reduce severe disease and hospitalisation. Commercial availability is expected through private healthcare channels in 2027.

Sports: 

• India won four gold medals at the 58th International Chemistry Olympiad in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Every member of the Indian team secured gold, giving the country its best-ever performance. The competition tested advanced theoretical and laboratory knowledge. India’s team was selected and trained through the national Olympiad programme coordinated by HBCSE under the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research.
• India won one gold and three silver medals at the 37th International Biology Olympiad in Vilnius, Lithuania, held from 12 to 19 July 2026. All four Indian students won medals. The competition tested genetics, ecology, biochemistry, physiology and laboratory skills and included 307 students representing 78 countries.

Important Days: 

• The Day of International Criminal Justice is observed annually on 17 July. It commemorates the adoption of the Rome Statute in 1998, which established the International Criminal Court. The day promotes accountability for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. The ICC is headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands, while India is not a party to the Rome Statute.
• Nelson Mandela International Day is observed every year on 18 July, Mandela’s birth anniversary. The United Nations declared the day in 2009 to honour his contribution to peace, equality and human rights. People are encouraged to perform 67 minutes of community service, representing Mandela’s approximately 67 years of work for social justice and public service.
• FIFA initially announced $50 million for the 2026 World Cup winner, but Spain reportedly received an adjusted payment of $51 million. Argentina received $34 million, while England and France received $30 million and $28 million. Payments were made to national football associations, which separately determine how bonuses are distributed among players and staff.
• Rohit Sharma scored 138 runs against England at Lord’s on 19 July 2026, becoming the first Indian to score an ODI century at the venue. It was his 34th ODI hundred and eighth ODI century in England. He also surpassed Sachin Tendulkar’s record for the most ODI centuries scored by a batter in a foreign country.
• P.V. Sindhu won the Japan Open 2026 women’s singles title by defeating Akane Yamaguchi 21-17, 21-17. She became the first Indian player to win the tournament. The victory ended her long wait for a major BWF World Tour title and added to a career that already includes two Olympic medals and a World Championship title.
• The FIFA World Cup 2030 will be primarily hosted by Morocco, Portugal and Spain. Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay will each host one centenary match to mark 100 years since the first World Cup in 1930. The tournament will therefore be played across three continents, while the confirmed format currently remains a 48-team competition.

Questions: 

Q1.The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026 proposes increasing the number of Supreme Court judges, excluding the Chief Justice of India, from:

a)30 to 33

b) 31 to 35

c) 33 to 37

d) 34 to 40

Answer: c) The Bill proposes adding four judges, taking the strength from 33 to 37, excluding the Chief Justice of India. The Court’s total sanctioned strength will consequently become 38.

Q2.Which organisation developed the Aadhaar mobile application that crossed four crore downloads in July 2026?

a) National Informatics Centre

b) Reserve Bank of India

c) Unique Identification Authority of India

d) Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology

Answer: c) UIDAI’s Aadhaar application crossed 40 million downloads on 21 July 2026. It enables residents to carry digital Aadhaar information and securely share selected identity details.