- On 20 July 2026, IIT Madras-incubated startup The ePlane Company unveiled the full-scale e200X electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft prototype. The aircraft uses electric motors to take off vertically like a helicopter and is designed for short urban journeys. It aims to reduce road congestion and travel time, although certification, battery safety, vertiports and air-traffic rules remain major challenges.
- On 20 July 2026, the Supreme Court directed the Union Government to form a committee within two weeks to recommend uniform post-retirement facilities for former High Court Chief Justices and judges. The Court noted that benefits such as security, drivers, medical support and other facilities vary widely among states. The committee must submit its recommendations within three months and suggest how expenses should be shared between the Centre and states. The move aims to ensure fair and consistent treatment of retired judges across India.
- On 20 July 2026, the government announced that DGCA was developing a digital aviation-incident reporting facility through the eGCA portal. Airlines, pilots, airports and maintenance organisations will be able to submit Mandatory Occurrence Reports electronically. The initiative aims to standardise reporting, accelerate safety investigations and help DGCA identify recurring operational risks. The platform is under development and has not yet been launched nationwide.
- On 21 July 2026, the Ministry of Home Affairs announced that former Agniveers would receive 50% reservation in Constable General Duty and Rifleman recruitment in the Central Armed Police Forces and Assam Rifles. They will also receive age relaxation. The decision aims to provide employment after four years of military service while supplying CAPFs with disciplined personnel who already possess physical and military training.
- India’s drug regulator granted marketing authorisation to Takeda’s QDENGA on 20 July 2026, making it the country’s first approved dengue vaccine. It is authorised for people aged four to 60 years and protects against all four dengue-virus serotypes. The vaccine aims to reduce symptomatic dengue, severe illness and hospitalisation. Commercial availability will depend on production and rollout arrangements.
International:
Banking: - Andy Burnham became Prime Minister of the United Kingdom on 20 July 2026 after being elected leader of the governing Labour Party. He succeeded Keir Starmer and formed a new cabinet. His government’s initial priorities include the cost-of-living crisis, housing, energy prices and transferring greater political and economic authority from London to regional governments.
- President Droupadi Murmu arrived in Moldova on 20 July 2026, marking the first visit by an Indian President to the country. She held discussions on trade, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, education, digital technology and renewable energy. The visit aimed to strengthen political relations, encourage business cooperation and expand India’s diplomatic engagement with Moldova and the wider Eastern European region.
- On 20 July 2026, Hamas selected Khalil al-Hayya as its overall leader, replacing the temporary collective leadership established after Yahya Sinwar’s death. Al-Hayya has played a major role in ceasefire and hostage negotiations. His appointment is significant because Hamas’s leadership influences its political strategy, relations with regional governments and negotiations concerning the Gaza conflict.
- Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye was elected Chairman of ECOWAS on 19 July 2026, succeeding Sierra Leone’s Julius Maada Bio. He will lead regional discussions on economic integration, terrorism, political instability and relations with military-led Sahel countries. The appointment comes as ECOWAS faces major challenges involving security, democratic governance and unity among West African states.
- On 19 July 2026, a Chinese naval vessel conducted a live-fire drill near Okinotorishima in waters Japan regards as part of its Exclusive Economic Zone. Japan protested that sufficient notice was not provided, while China disputes Japan’s maritime claim in the area. The incident added to tensions over naval activity, maritime jurisdiction and security in the western Pacific.
- On 21 July 2026, French lawmakers approved legislation restricting social-media access for children below 15 years. Platforms will be required to introduce age-verification measures. The law aims to protect children from cyberbullying, harmful content, online addiction and excessive screen time. Its implementation will require technical safeguards that verify age without unnecessarily collecting sensitive personal information.
- The Central KYC Records Registry became operational on 8 July 2016, while banks began uploading the KYC records of new individual customers from 1 January 2017. CKYC gives customers a reusable KYC identifier that can be accessed by banks, insurers and mutual funds with consent. It aims to reduce repeated documentation, simplify customer onboarding and strengthen anti-money-laundering compliance.
- On 18 July 2026, the Department of Land Resources and RBI Innovation Hub explored linking verified digital land records with formal lending platforms. The proposed system would help banks confirm ownership, boundaries and encumbrances before sanctioning rural loans. It aims to reduce documentation delays, prevent fraud and make institutional credit more accessible to farmers and other borrowers who use land as collateral.
- NPCI is developing an NFC-based offline UPI facility that will allow users to make payments of up to ₹2,000 by tapping their smartphone on a compatible PoS terminal. The system will use the UPI Lite balance and work without internet connectivity. It is still under development and has not yet been launched nationwide.
- India’s core industries recorded 5% year-on-year growth in June 2026 under the revised base-year series of 2022-23. The updated index covers nine sectors, with iron ore added to coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilisers, steel, cement and electricity. The index measures the performance of industries that strongly influence infrastructure, manufacturing and the broader Index of Industrial Production.
- India deposited its instrument of acceptance for the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies on 20 July 2026. The agreement restricts subsidies supporting illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and the exploitation of overfished stocks. India’s participation supports marine-resource conservation, although it continues to seek protection for small-scale fishermen and policy flexibility for developing countries.
- Bharat Tex 2026 was held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, from 14 to 17 July 2026. The event showcased India’s textile value chain, including fibres, garments, machinery, handicrafts and technical textiles. It brought together businesses, global buyers and policymakers to promote exports, investment, sustainable manufacturing, innovation and employment in one of India’s largest labour-intensive industries.
- Effective 16 July 2026, the government raised the export duties on diesel and aviation turbine fuel while lowering the levy on petrol exports. Windfall taxes are imposed when refiners earn unusually high profits from changes in international fuel prices. The revision aimed to capture part of these exceptional gains, maintain adequate domestic fuel supplies and adjust taxation according to changing global refining margins.
- In July 2026, the government was reported to be considering Ethanol ATMs as a dedicated retail system for dispensing ethanol in approved containers. The fuel could be used in specially designed cooking stoves, particularly where LPG access is limited. The proposal aims to create additional demand for surplus ethanol and promote cleaner fuel, but safety, pricing and distribution rules are still being developed.
Govt. Scheme:
- Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia and Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma launched the ₹175.45 crore Mission Golden Spice on 21 July 2026. The mission focuses on Meghalaya’s GI-tagged Lakadong turmeric, known for its high curcumin content. It will support scientific cultivation, processing, testing, branding and exports, with the objective of increasing farmers’ incomes and developing a farm-to-global-market value chain.
- On 20 July 2026, NTPC Renewable Energy awarded India’s first indigenous utility-scale 100 MWh vanadium redox flow-battery project for deployment at the Khavda Renewable Energy Park in Gujarat. The system will store excess solar power and release it when generation falls. It aims to improve grid stability and demonstrate a safer, long-duration alternative to conventional lithium-ion batteries.
- IIT Tirupati hosted the fifth BRICS meeting on Geospatial Technologies and Applications in July 2026. Experts discussed satellite data, remote sensing and geographic information systems for agriculture, disaster management, urban planning and climate monitoring. The meeting aimed to strengthen scientific cooperation, data sharing and joint research among BRICS countries while promoting geospatial technology for sustainable development.
- On 20 July 2026, IIT Kanpur announced a Centre of Excellence for Green Hydrogen under the Uttar Pradesh Green Hydrogen Policy. The centre will work on hydrogen production, storage, transportation, safety and industrial use. It aims to reduce technology costs, train specialised workers, support startups and help decarbonise difficult sectors such as fertilisers, refineries, steel and heavy transport.
- NASA announced on 15 July 2026 that the James Webb Space Telescope had identified a new gas-giant exoplanet named Beta Pictoris d, around 63 light-years from Earth. Its infrared instruments detected the previously hidden planet in a young star system. The discovery will help scientists study early planetary formation, atmospheric composition and the evolution of giant planets.
- In July 2026, researchers reported that orbicular granite found near Pichhore in Madhya Pradesh is approximately 2.56 billion years old, making it the second-oldest known formation of its type. Orbicular rocks contain unusual rounded mineral structures formed inside magma. The discovery provides important evidence about the early geological history and formation of the Indian continental crust.
- On 21 July 2026, scientists announced the discovery of five new species of Allographa, a group of lichen-forming fungi, in the Western Ghats. Lichens are highly sensitive to pollution, moisture and habitat disturbance and are therefore important environmental indicators. The discoveries highlight the region’s rich biodiversity and the need for continued taxonomic research and forest conservation.
- On 20 July 2026, Indian startup Paninian India unveiled the Yantur programme to develop a 4.5-kilonewton indigenous turbofan engine for long-range autonomous aircraft and cruise-missile-class systems. The programme aims to reduce reliance on imported propulsion technology and build domestic expertise in turbines, combustion and high-temperature materials. The engine is still under development and must complete extensive testing before deployment.
- On 17 July 2026, the United States delivered another MH-60R Seahawk helicopter to the Indian Navy, reported as the 21st aircraft supplied under India’s 24-helicopter agreement. The multi-role helicopter is used for anti-submarine warfare, maritime surveillance, search and rescue and anti-surface operations. The delivery strengthens India’s naval aviation capabilities and defence partnership with the United States.
- On 10 July 2026, the US Air Force’s YFQ-44A Fury unmanned aircraft successfully fired an AIM-120 air-to-air missile at a digital target over California’s Mojave Desert. The test was announced on 15 July. It supports the Collaborative Combat Aircraft programme, which seeks to develop autonomous drones capable of operating alongside crewed fighter jets in surveillance and combat missions.
- On 20 July 2026, the Locarno Film Festival announced that American filmmaker James Gray would receive its honorary Pardo alla Carriera on 9 August. The award recognises his complete contribution to cinema rather than one particular film. Gray is known for works such as The Immigrant, The Lost City of Z, Ad Astra and Armageddon Time.
- National Security Adviser Ajit Doval was selected for the Lokmanya Tilak National Award on 20 July 2026. The award is scheduled to be presented in Pune on 1 August, the death anniversary of Bal Gangadhar Tilak. Doval was chosen for his contribution to national security, strategic affairs, intelligence coordination and public service.
- The Commonwealth Games will be held in Glasgow, Scotland, from 23 July to 2 August 2026. The compact edition will feature around 3,000 athletes from 74 nations and territories, competing in ten sports. Glasgow was selected after the original hosting arrangement changed. The event will rely mainly on existing venues to control costs and ensure efficient organisation.
- Indian Grandmaster Rohith Krishna won gold and Raja Rithvik secured silver at the Menuires International Chess Championship in France, with the result confirmed on 19 July 2026. Both remained unbeaten and finished with seven points, while Rohith took first place through the tie-break system. The result highlighted the growing depth of India’s young grandmaster talent.
- Pakistan will host the 14th South Asian Games from 23 to 31 March 2027. Events are planned in cities including Lahore, Islamabad and Faisalabad. Athletes from South Asian countries will compete in Olympic and regional sports. The event aims to promote sporting cooperation, provide international exposure and strengthen sports infrastructure in the host country.
Important Days:
- International Moon Day was observed on 20 July 2026 to commemorate the Apollo 11 Moon landing of 20 July 1969. The United Nations declared the observance in 2021. It aims to promote lunar science, peaceful space exploration, international cooperation and sustainable activities on the Moon as governments and private companies prepare for future lunar missions.
Books and Authors:
- Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan released RSS @ 100: A Century of Service, Unity & Sacrifice on 17 July 2026. Written by Shyam Jaju and Anupam Trivedi, the book examines the history, organisational growth, ideology and social activities of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh during its first hundred years since its establishment in 1925.
Obituaries:
- Former England football captain and manager Kevin Keegan passed away on 20 July 2026 at the age of 75. A two-time Ballon d’Or winner, he represented clubs including Liverpool, Hamburg, Southampton and Newcastle United. He later managed Newcastle, Manchester City and England and was widely known for his energetic playing style and attacking approach to football.
Questions:
Q1. The Supreme Court asked the Union Government to frame uniform post-retirement facilities for:
a) Members of Parliament
b) Former High Court judges and Chief Justices
c) Retired civil servants
d) Former Governors
Answer:b) The Court directed the Centre to form a committee to recommend uniform facilities such as security, medical assistance and drivers for retired High Court judges across states.
Q2.Which country approved restrictions on social-media access for children below 15 years in July 2026?
a) Germany
b) France
c) Italy
d) Spain
Answer: b) France lawmakers approved the restriction to protect children from cyberbullying, harmful content, addiction and excessive screen time. Platforms are required to introduce age-verification measures.
