Current Affairs 28 July 2026

Polity & GovernanceHighquizQuiz

Public Examinations Amendment Bill 2026 Doubles Jail Term, Raises Fines for Cheating

•The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, introduced in the Lok Sabha, proposes to raise the punishment for individuals resorting to unfair means from 3-5 years' imprisonment to 5-10 years, and the maximum fine from ₹10 lakh to ₹50 lakh.
•For service providers, the maximum fine rises from ₹1 crore to ₹5 crore and the debarment period from 4 to 8 years; punishment for their directors/senior management rises to 5-10 years (from 3-10 years), with fines up to ₹5 crore (from ₹1 crore).
•Punishment for organised examination crime rises from 5-10 years to 7-10 years' imprisonment, with the maximum fine increased from ₹1 crore to ₹10 crore.

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Schemes & CommitteesLowquizQuiz

313 PACS Godowns Completed Under World's Largest Grain Storage Plan

•Under the World's Largest Grain Storage Plan in Cooperative Sector, 1,015 PACS have been identified for godown construction; work is complete in 313 PACS, creating 1.80 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of storage capacity.
•The Plan integrates convergence of the AIF, AMI, SMAM and PMFME schemes at PACS level; AMI's subsidy for PACS was raised from 25% to 33.33% and construction cost norms revised upward, with an extra one-third subsidy for ancillary infrastructure.
•FCI has mapped a storage requirement of ~26.03 LMT across 216 potential PACS locations in 18 States/UTs, offering 9-year uniform hiring assurance for warehouses of 2,500 MT+ capacity (1,671 MT+ in NE/hilly regions).

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Schemes & CommitteesHighquizQuiz

Devolution Index 2024 Ranks States on Panchayat Empowerment; ₹2.83 Lakh Crore Released Under 15th FC

•The Ministry of Panchayati Raj released 'Status of Devolution to Panchayats in States — An Indicative Evidence-Based Ranking, 2024' in February 2025, introducing a Devolution Index ranking States/UTs on six dimensions — Framework, Functions, Finances, Functionaries, Capacity Enhancement, and Accountability.
•During the 15th Finance Commission award period (FY2020-21 to FY2025-26), ₹2,82,632 crore has been released against a total allocation of ₹2,97,555 crore to Panchayati Raj Institutions.
•Under the Revamped Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA, since FY2022-23), ₹3,601.77 crore has been released over five years; 1.66 crore+ Elected Representatives trained; 90.73% of PRIs (2,40,435 of 2,64,998) generated audit reports in FY2024-25 via the eGramSwaraj-PFMS-AuditOnline digital ecosystem.

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EconomyLowquizQuiz

Government Imposes Sugar Dealer Stock-Holding Limits from 1 August 2026

•The government will impose stock-holding limits on sugar dealers nationwide from 1 August 2026 to 30 November 2026, to curb hoarding, speculative 'paper trade' and artificial scarcity behind recent ex-mill price rises.
•Dealers must declare and weekly update their stock position via the Department of Food and Public Distribution's online portal (foodstock.dfpd.gov.in).
•The government says demand-supply fundamentals do not support the recent price rise and has assured adequate domestic sugar availability.

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EconomyMediumquizQuiz

₹24,736 Crore Shipbuilding Assistance Scheme, ₹25,000 Crore Maritime Development Fund Launched

•The Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Scheme (SBFAS), an extension of the Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Policy, has an outlay of ₹24,736 crore to offset Indian shipyards' cost disadvantage versus global yards; guidelines were issued on 26.12.2025.
•The Maritime Development Fund (MDF), with a ₹25,000 crore corpus, comprises the Maritime Investment Fund (₹20,000 crore) and Interest Incentivisation Fund (₹5,000 crore); MDF guidelines were issued on 20.02.2026, and SBI Ventures Limited was appointed Fund Manager for the MIF on 26.05.2026.
•Both schemes align with the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 (MAKV 2047), which targets India in the top 10 shipbuilding/ship-owning nations by 2030 and top 5 by 2047.

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EnvironmentMediumquizQuiz

India Becomes World's Top Ship-Recycling Nation, Alang Yard Handles 35.4% Global Share

•In 2025, India became the world's leading ship-recycling nation with 35.4% of global volume; the Alang-Sosiya Yard (Gujarat, established 1982-83) handles 98% of India's ship recycling, with 128 operational plots and 4.5 million LDT/year capacity — over 8,900 ships (71+ million LDT) recycled since inception.
•The yard employs about 15,000 directly and supports 1.5 lakh+ people indirectly; a 35-bed Level III Trauma Centre run by the Indian Red Cross Society has treated 4.79 lakh+ patients as of June 2026.
•India has aligned domestic law with the Hong Kong Convention (entered into force June 2025) via the Recycling of Ships Act 2019, Rules 2021 and Regulations 2026; 115 Alang plots have achieved HKC compliance so far.

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EconomyHighquizQuiz

32 Operational National Waterways Span 5,155 km; Cargo Movement Nearly Doubles in FY26

•India has 32 operational National Waterways spanning 5,155 km; year-wise NW development funding rose from ₹425.43 crore (2021-22) to ₹1,074.48 crore (2025-26, unaudited).
•Cargo movement on National Waterways nearly doubled to 218.24 million tonnes in 2025-26 from 108.79 MMT in 2021-22, with NW-1 (Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly) alone carrying 84.78 MMT.
•Passenger traffic on NWs rose from 7.64 crore (2024-25) to 10.56 crore (2025-26); ferry services operate on 23 of the 32 waterways.

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InternationalMediumquizQuiz

First Direct Commercial Freight Train Links Kolkata Port to Nepal's Biratnagar

•Indian Railways operated its first-ever direct commercial container freight train — 40 wagons carrying canola — from Kolkata Port to Biratnagar Customs Yard, Nepal, under the revised India-Nepal Rail Transit Protocol, eliminating transshipment at the border.
•The service builds on the broad-gauge Jogbani (India)-Biratnagar (Nepal) rail link, jointly inaugurated by PM Modi and Nepal's PM in June 2023; the revised Rail Transit Protocol followed a Letter of Exchange signed in November 2025.
•Direct rail movement is expected to cut transit time, logistics costs and cargo handling for India-Nepal cross-border trade, benefiting exporters, importers and logistics operators.

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EconomyHighquizQuiz

India's Exports Scale Record $863.1 Billion in FY2025-26 on FTA Trade

•India recorded highest-ever exports in FY2025-26 at $863.1 billion — merchandise $441.8bn + services $421.3bn — driven by strong FTA-partner trade with UAE, UK and Australia.
•Under India-UAE CEPA (in force since 1 May 2022), 4.45 lakh Certificates of Origin have been issued; tariff lines exported to UAE rose from 7,546 (FY2021-22) to 8,053 (FY2025-26), worth $37.3 billion.
•Under India-Australia ECTA (in force since 29 December 2022), Certificate of Origin issuance rose from 1,482 (FY2020-21) to an average of ~45,527/year; tariff lines rose from 5,396 to 5,668, worth $7.2 billion.

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Schemes & CommitteesMediumquizQuiz

4.84 Lakh Raids in 2025 Curb Fertilizer Black-Marketing; Potash Self-Reliance Push

•The government reported 4,84,663 raids conducted in 2025 against fertilizer black-marketing/hoarding, leading to 17,392 show-cause notices, 6,941 licence suspensions/cancellations and 847 FIRs; urea MRP remains ₹242/45kg bag under the Urea Subsidy Scheme.
•Under the Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) Scheme (in force since 1 April 2010), DAP is kept at ₹1,350/50kg via additional support of ₹3,500/tonne for Kharif 2026; P&K fertilizer grades covered under NBS rose from 22 (2021) to 28.
•To cut potash-import dependence, Potassium Derived from Molasses (PDM) — notified under the Fertilizer Control Order 1985 in 2009, inducted into NBS from 13.10.2021 — gets ₹345/tonne subsidy for Kharif 2026; GSI has established 456.52 million tonnes of potash resource in Rajasthan/Punjab since the 2015 MMDR Amendment Act.

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EnvironmentLowquizQuiz

91.1% of India's Marine Fish Stocks Found Sustainable: ICAR-CMFRI

•ICAR-CMFRI's Marine Fish Stock Status of India (2022) publication found 91.1% of 135 assessed marine fish stocks in India's EEZ to be sustainable, with no palpable decline in trawl-based landings during 2021-2025.
•Fisheries is a State subject; coastal States enforce their own Marine Fishing Regulation Acts (MFRA) governing zoning, mesh-size, seasonal bans, and gear restrictions within 12 nautical miles.
•PMMSY supports Turtle Excluder Devices, sea ranching, artificial reefs, deep-sea vessel acquisition and mariculture/seaweed farming to protect traditional fishers and inshore stocks.

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Schemes & CommitteesHighquizQuiz

PMMSY Approves ₹21,461 Crore for Fisheries Development Over Six Years

•Over the last six years, the Department of Fisheries has approved PMMSY projects worth ₹21,461 crore (Central share ₹9,571 crore) across 34 States/UTs, releasing ₹6,206 crore so far; fish production rose from 141.64 lakh tonnes (2019-20) to a record 197.75 lakh tonnes (2024-25).
•PMMSY, running since FY2020-21, has been continued till September 2026 in its existing form, with ₹2,500 crore allocated for FY2026-27; NITI Aayog's evaluation recommended its continuation.
•Under the Group Accidental Insurance Scheme (GAIS), an average of 35.74 lakh active fishers are enrolled annually, with cover of ₹5 lakh for death/total disability, ₹2.5 lakh for partial disability and ₹25,000 hospitalisation support — sharply higher than under the erstwhile Blue Revolution scheme.

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EconomyHighquizQuiz

IIP Growth Accelerates to 7.3% in June 2026, Led by Electrical Equipment and Auto

•India's Index of Industrial Production (IIP) grew 7.3% year-on-year in June 2026 (Quick Estimate), up from 5.1% in May 2026, driven by 7.8% growth in Manufacturing and 10.6% in Electricity & Gas Supply.
•The IIP stands at 123.1 (Base 2022-23=100), against 114.7 in June 2025; Mining & Quarrying grew a modest 1.0%, while Water Supply/Sewerage/Waste Management grew 6.1%.
•19 of 23 NIC-2-digit manufacturing industry groups recorded positive growth; the top contributors were Electrical Equipment (34.0%), Motor Vehicles/Trailers (17.5%), and Food Products (10.8%).

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EconomyMediumquizQuiz

PAIMANA Portal Tracks 1,847 Infrastructure Projects Worth ₹40.54 Lakh Crore

•As of June 2026, MoSPI's PAIMANA portal tracks 1,847 Central Sector infrastructure projects worth ₹150 crore and above, with a total revised cost of ₹40.54 lakh crore, across 17 Central Ministries/Departments.
•Cumulative expenditure stands at ₹21.97 lakh crore (54.18% of revised cost); 709 projects (~39%) have crossed 80% physical progress, while 337 (~19%) have crossed 80% financial completion.
•Transport & Logistics dominates with 1,341 projects worth ₹22.32 lakh crore (55% of total cost); Ministry of Road Transport & Highways leads with 1,022 projects worth ₹9.89 lakh crore.

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Schemes & CommitteesMediumquizQuiz

PM Surya Ghar Rooftop Solar Crosses 48 Lakh Households, PM-KUSUM Convergence Widened

•Since its launch in February 2024, PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana (PMSG:MBY) has installed 39,72,447 rooftop solar (RTS) systems benefiting 48,02,717 households (as on 22.07.2026), with 18.71 lakh systems installed in FY2025-26 alone, adding 6.7 GW capacity.
•18.93 lakh+ beneficiaries have reported zero electricity bills in some months after installing RTS; expenditure has risen from ₹7,822.92 crore (FY2024-25) to ₹16,166.23 crore (FY2025-26), with ₹10,392.48 crore spent in FY2026-27 so far.
•Affordability measures include higher subsidy for the first 2 kWp, collateral-free bank loans at 5.75% p.a. (repo+50bps) for 10 years, and RESCO/Utility-Led Aggregation models.

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Important DaysHighquizQuiz

Health Ministry Marks Eight Years of NVHCP on World Hepatitis Day 2026

•The Health Ministry observed World Hepatitis Day 2026 (theme 'Hepatitis: Let's Break It Down') on 28 July, marking eight years of the National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme (NVHCP), launched on World Hepatitis Day 2018 to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030 (SDG Target 3.3).
•Since inception, NVHCP has screened over 21 crore beneficiaries and treated more than 6 lakh patients free of cost, and now runs 1,153 treatment centres including 70+ specialised sites — surpassing its one-treatment-centre-per-district target.
•Hepatitis B birth-dose coverage has crossed 92%, though only around 65% of pregnant women are currently screened for Hepatitis B — the Ministry has urged States/UTs to reach 100% screening. 7.64 crore pregnant women have been screened and 2.24 lakh newborns of Hepatitis B-positive mothers given HBIG.

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Schemes & CommitteesMediumquizQuiz

20,149 Jan Aushadhi Kendras Save Citizens ₹45,000 Crore in 12 Years

•As on 30 June 2026, 20,149 Jan Aushadhi Kendras (JAKs) are operational nationwide (up from 80 in 2014), offering 2,110 medicines and 315 surgicals/devices at 50-80% cheaper than branded prices, under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP).
•PMBJP sales reached ₹2,252.19 crore MRP value in FY2025-26 (up from ₹7.29 crore in 2014), and citizens have saved an estimated ₹45,000 crore over the last 12 years compared to branded-medicine prices.
•Assam has 202 JAKs as on 30.06.2026, led by Cachar district (40 Kendras); on average, 15 lakh people visit Jan Aushadhi Kendras daily nationwide.

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Schemes & CommitteesMediumquizQuiz

NPPA Fixes Ceiling Prices for 935 Scheduled Drugs Under DPCO 2013

•Government told Rajya Sabha that drug prices are regulated under the Drugs (Prices Control) Order 2013 (DPCO 2013), based on the National Pharmaceuticals Pricing Policy 2012; NPPA has fixed ceiling prices for 935 scheduled formulations (as on 23.07.2026) drawn from the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM), 2022.
•NLEM 2022 lists 388 medicines under 29 therapeutic categories; retail prices of 3,845 new drugs have also been fixed by NPPA till 23.07.2026.
•For non-scheduled formulations, manufacturers cannot raise MRP by more than 10% in a preceding 12-month period; NPPA can also fix prices under Para 19 in extraordinary/public-interest circumstances.

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Banking & FinanceHighquizQuiz

PSB Gross NPA Hits Historic Low of 1.9%, RRBs Post Record ₹10,177-Crore Profit in FY26

•Gross NPAs of Public Sector Banks (PSBs) fell to a historic low of 1.9% as of 31.3.2026, from 7.3% in FY2022, while net profit rose to a record ₹1.98 lakh crore and aggregate business crossed ₹283 lakh crore, the Finance Ministry told the Rajya Sabha.
•MSME loans grew 19.6% and retail loans 19.8% year-on-year in FY2025-26, with Capital Adequacy (CRAR) improving to 16.6%.
•Separately, Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) posted their highest-ever consolidated net profit of ₹10,177 crore in FY2025-26, with total deposits of ₹7,68,621 crore and CRAR of 15.0%, per NABARD data placed before Rajya Sabha the same day.

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Schemes & CommitteesMediumquizQuiz

₹119 Crore Released Under ₹2,254-Crore National Forensic Infrastructure Scheme

•The Home Ministry told Parliament that ₹119.09 crore has been released and utilised so far under the National Forensic Infrastructure Enhancement Scheme (NFIES), which has a total outlay of ₹2,254.43 crore for FY2024-25 to FY2028-29.
•NFIES funds 9 new campuses of the National Forensic Sciences University (₹1,309.13 crore) and 7 new Central Forensic Science Laboratories (₹860.3 crore), with 6 CFSLs to be co-located with NFSU campuses.
•NFSU campuses are already functioning from transit buildings in Nagpur, Raipur, Khordha, Chengalpattu and Jaipur; land has been allotted at five of the nine approved sites.

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Science & TechMediumquizQuiz

Cell Broadcast Alert System Integrates Five Agencies for Disaster Warnings

•The Cell Broadcast Alert System for disaster warnings runs on the Integrated Alert System (SACHET), based on the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) implemented by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
•It integrates five Warning Generating Agencies — IMD, Central Water Commission (CWC), INCOIS, Defence Geoinformatics Research Establishment (DGRE) and Forest Survey of India (FSI) — with State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs) of all States/UTs.
•Geo-targeted alerts for cyclone, tsunami, flash floods, lightning, avalanche, cloudburst and other short-lead-time disasters are pushed in the local language to all mobile handsets and networks in the affected area.

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Schemes & CommitteesMediumquizQuiz

Government Releases Vision Document on Narcotics Control (2026-2029)

•The Vision Document on Narcotics Control (2026-2029) was released on 26 June 2026, laying out a three-year national roadmap against illicit drug trafficking and abuse, to be implemented by Central Ministries/Departments and States/UTs on defined timelines.
•It rests on four focus areas — Enforcement (Intelligence & Operations), Precursors & Synthetic Drugs Control, Demand & Harm Reduction, and Capacity Building & Coordination.
•States and Districts are expected to prepare their own 3-year roadmaps aligned with the national plan, strengthening the Narco-Coordination Centre (NCORD) mechanism and the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan.

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Schemes & CommitteesMediumquizQuiz

Vibrant Villages Programme-I: 1,248 Projects Sanctioned Across Five Border States

•Home Ministry told the Lok Sabha that under Vibrant Villages Programme-I (VVP-I), a combined 1,248 projects worth ₹3,065.32 crore have been sanctioned across Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Ladakh, Sikkim and Uttarakhand, of which 316 are completed.
•VVP-I has identified 662 priority villages for comprehensive development, and ₹953.47 crore has been released to the States/UT so far.
•111 road projects worth ₹2,481.93 crore have been sanctioned for all-weather connectivity to 134 unconnected villages; 528 villages now have 4G connectivity, 625 piped water, and 621 grid/off-grid electricity.

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Schemes & CommitteesMediumquizQuiz

I4C's CFCFRMS Saves ₹11,158 Crore in Cyber Fraud Across 32.8 Lakh Complaints

•Home Ministry told the Lok Sabha that the Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System (CFCFRMS), run by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), has saved more than ₹11,158 crore across 32.80 lakh complaints till 30 June 2026.
•More than 15.75 lakh SIM cards and 5.77 lakh IMEIs linked to cyber fraud have been blocked, and I4C's Suspect Registry has flagged 32.08 lakh mule accounts, declining transactions worth ₹25,698 crore.
•A Standard Operating Procedure now governs NCRP-CFCFRMS complaint handling, and a Money Restoration Module plus a Grievance Redressal Module have been functional since April 2026.

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Schemes & CommitteesHighquizQuiz

India's AYUSH Exports Cross $1.25 Billion; Yoga Diplomacy Expands via 100+ MoUs

•Since the UN adopted 21 June as International Day of Yoga in 2014 (on India's proposal), the Ministry of AYUSH has signed 27 Country-to-Country MoUs, 16 Ayush Chair MoUs and 57 Institute-to-Institute MoUs to promote Yoga and AYUSH systems globally, offering 104 annual scholarship slots to foreign nationals.
•WHO and the Ministry of AYUSH jointly developed a Technical Report on Training in Yoga, setting international training standards; new MoUs were signed in 2025 (with Mongolia's Yoga Federation) and 2026 (with a Réunion-based cultural body) for academic collaboration.
•India's AYUSH product exports grew from $869.81 million (FY2020-21) to $1,251.25 million (FY2025-26) — a CAGR of 7.54% — led by Extracts ($593.06 million) and Medicinal & Aromatic Plants ($456.34 million).

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Science & TechMediumquizQuiz

Bharat 6G Alliance Reviews Progress; India's 3GPP Participation Surges

•The Communications Minister reviewed the Bharat 6G Alliance (B6GA)'s progress, three years after PM Modi released the Bharat 6G Vision document (22 March 2023) targeting India as a front-line 6G contributor by 2030; B6GA operates through seven specialised Working Groups.
•B6GA member organisations hold 7,700+ 5G/6G patent filings (4,400+ foreign); India's participation in 3GPP rose from 717 delegates (2020) to 1,787 (2025), with technical contributions rising from 196 to 2,943 over the same period.
•5G Lab Excellence Awards (January-June 2026 performance) were presented across four categories; IIITDM Kurnool secured first position in all four.

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Schemes & CommitteesHighquizQuiz

PM-AJAY Continuation Proposed With Enhanced Outlay for 2026-31; ₹4,277 Crore Released So Far

•The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment has proposed continuing PM-AJAY from 2026-27 to 2030-31 with an enhanced financial outlay; since its 2021-22 launch, the Centre has released ₹4,276.62 crore (up to 2025-26) across 30 States/UTs, with ₹1,100.09 crore released in 2025-26 alone.
•A NITI Aayog DMEO evaluation found PM-AJAY has significantly improved infrastructure, electricity, banking access, healthcare, education and livelihoods in SC-dominated areas.
•Under the Adarsh Gram component, 3,112 villages have been identified since 2018-19, with 3,111 declared Adarsh Gram in Tamil Nadu alone.

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Schemes & CommitteesHighquizQuiz

PM E-DRIVE Incentivises 23.2 Lakh EVs; India's EV Penetration Rises to 8.2%

•Under the PM E-DRIVE Scheme (₹10,900 crore outlay, notified 29.09.2024), 23,22,878 EVs have been incentivised with ₹2,281.94 crore reimbursed to OEMs, as on 22.07.2026; EV penetration has risen from 0.7% (FY2019-20) to 8.2% (FY2025-26).
•Its predecessor, FAME-II (2019-2024, ₹11,500 crore outlay), supported about 16.72 lakh EVs and deployed 5,197 e-buses; the PLI-Auto Scheme (₹25,938 crore, approved 23.09.2021) has attracted ₹44,326 crore investment and generated 67,820 jobs.
•The PLI Scheme for ACC Battery Storage (₹18,100 crore, 50 GWh target) has awarded 40 GWh capacity to four firms and established a 1.4 GWh Giga-scale plant; a new Scheme to Promote Manufacturing of Sintered Rare Earth Permanent Magnets (₹7,280 crore, 6,000 MTPA target) had its RFP published 20 March 2026.

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Ranks & ReportsHighquizQuiz

India Becomes World's 2nd-Largest Seafarer Supplier; Government Launches Mission 20%

•Per the BIMCO-ICS Seafarer Workforce Report 2026, India has become the world's second-largest supplier of seafarers with 311,936 professionals — 12.16% of the global seafaring workforce — up from fifth place and 5.2% in 2015, behind only the Philippines.
•Indian officers number 140,718 (13.41% of the world's officer workforce); Indian ratings number 171,218 (11.29% of global ratings); global seafarer supply stands at 2.57 million against demand of 2.55 million.
•The Government has launched 'Mission 20%' to raise India's global seafarer share from 12.16% to 20% — one in five seafarers worldwide — via expanded training capacity, industry-academia partnerships and greater opportunities for women.

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Schemes & CommitteesMediumquizQuiz

3.46 Crore SHG Women Become 'Lakhpati Didis' Under DAY-NRLM

•Under DAY-NRLM, 10.08 crore rural households have been mobilised into ~92 lakh Self Help Groups (SHGs); more than 3.46 crore SHG members have become 'Lakhpati Didis', earning at least ₹1 lakh/year sustainably for 4+ seasons/cycles.
•SHGs have accessed ₹13.41 lakh crore in bank credit since 2013-14; the Start-up Village Entrepreneurship Programme (SVEP) has supported 4.32 lakh enterprises (as of June 2026).
•10.05 crore households and 92 lakh SHGs are mapped on the DAY-NRLM digital platform, with total credit disbursement of ₹13,41,852.66 crore recorded via the SHG Bank Linkage Portal.

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Schemes & CommitteesMediumquizQuiz

PMAY-G Continued to FY2028-29 for 2 Crore More Rural Houses; 97.48 Lakh Sanctioned

•The Union Cabinet approved continuing PMAY-G during FY2024-25 to FY2028-29 for construction of 2 crore additional rural houses; of the 1.22 crore national target allocated, 97.48 lakh houses have been sanctioned so far.
•Since FY2024-25, ₹49,407.96 crore central share has been released, with ₹88,426.76 crore utilised (including State matching share).
•Reported delay factors include beneficiary unwillingness, migration, succession disputes, land-allotment delays, elections, and delayed fund releases from State treasuries.

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Schemes & CommitteesMediumquizQuiz

PMGSY Builds 1.32 Lakh km of Roads, 5,110 Bridges Over Five Years

•Over the last five years, PMGSY has completed 1,31,589 km of road length (18,814 roads, 5,110 bridges) at an expenditure of ₹1,07,942 crore (including State share); under PMGSY-I, 99.7% of 1,63,275 sanctioned habitations (1,62,845) now have connectivity.
•Launched 25 December 2000, PMGSY targets all-weather road connectivity to unconnected rural habitations; PMGSY-IV (launched September 2024) targets about 25,000 more habitations, prioritising those under VVP-II.
•Quality and transparency tools include OMMAS (online monitoring), GPS-enabled Vehicle Tracking Systems, eMARG (performance-based maintenance payments), and a QR-code-based digital road identity linked to the Meri Sadak app and CPGRAMS.

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Polity & GovernanceHighquizQuiz

VB-G RAM G Act Replaces MGNREGA, Guarantees 125 Days of Rural Employment

•The Viksit Bharat - Guarantee for Rozgar and Aajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act, 2025 came into force on 1 July 2026 across rural India, replacing the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), 2005; all States/UTs have notified and begun implementing the scheme.
•The Act preserves the statutory, demand-driven right to 125 days of guaranteed wage employment per rural household per year (up from MGNREGA's 100 days) and to unemployment allowance, while adding sustainable livelihood, durable-asset, water-security, climate-resilience and technology-governance goals.
•From 1 July 2026, over 99.5% of workers who demanded employment have been offered it; 5.20 crore persondays generated across 8.46 lakh worksites as on 22.07.2026.

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Polity & GovernanceMediumquizQuiz

Draft Pesticides Management Bill 2026 to Replace Insecticides Act 1968

•The Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare has drafted the Pesticides Management Bill, 2026, aligned with the Jan Vishwas Act, to update the existing pesticide regulatory framework.
•The draft Bill was circulated to Ministries/States on 30.12.2025 and placed in the public domain on 07.01.2026 for stakeholder comments (manufacturers, dealers, farmers, NGOs), including on data protection.

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Schemes & CommitteesMediumquizQuiz

1.89 Crore Farmers, 2.78 Lakh Traders Registered on e-NAM Platform

•As on 30 June 2026, 1.89 crore farmers and 2.78 lakh traders are registered on e-NAM (National Agriculture Market), the all-India electronic trading portal integrating physical APMCs; inter-State trade grew from 563 MT (₹37 lakh) in 2018-19 to 2,984.3 MT (₹14.28 crore) in 2025-26.
•Under the Central Sector Scheme for 10,000 FPOs (launched 2020), all 10,000 FPOs have been registered, with cumulative turnover crossing ₹20,340 crore.
•Under the Agricultural Marketing Infrastructure (AMI) Scheme, 12,353 storage projects (369.18 lakh MT capacity) and 6,901 non-storage projects have been sanctioned over the last decade; MIDH has created about 1.76 lakh post-harvest infrastructure units.

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Schemes & CommitteesMediumquizQuiz

FSSAI Introduces Perpetual Licence Validity, Free Registration for Street Vendors

•FSSAI has issued over 74.33 lakh active food business licences/registrations under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006; it introduced perpetual validity for licences/registrations (ending periodic 1-5 year renewals) and free 5-year registration for street food vendors.
•Street vendors registered under the Street Vendors Act, 2014 now get 'deemed registration' under FSSAI to avoid dual compliance; Tatkal licensing for low-risk categories (wholesalers, distributors, transporters, etc.) has been in effect since 28 June 2024.
•In 2025-26, over 2.23 lakh food samples were analysed and more than 40,000 non-conforming samples detected, showing continued enforcement alongside the simplification drive.

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Schemes & CommitteesMediumquizQuiz

AB-PMJAY Now Pan-India; 29 Lakh Portability Claims Worth ₹8,384 Crore

•AB-PMJAY is now operational across all 36 States/UTs; as on 30 June 2026, 29.05 lakh inter-state portability hospital admissions worth over ₹8,383.97 crore have been authorised, enabled by Pradhan Mantri Arogya Mitras at empanelled hospitals.
•Launched September 2018, AB-PMJAY provides ₹5 lakh/family/year cover; beneficiary base expanded from 10.74 crore (2018) to 12 crore families (Jan 2023), plus about 37 lakh ASHA/Anganwadi worker families (March 2024) and 6 crore senior citizens aged 70+ (4.5 crore families) irrespective of socio-economic status.
•Under Health Benefit Package 2022 (HBP-2022), cashless treatment covers 1,961 procedures across 27 specialties, including cancer, cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease.

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Polity & GovernanceHighquizQuiz

Home Ministry Details Justice-Centric Provisions of the New Criminal Law Sanhitas

•A Lok Sabha reply from the Home Ministry sets out the 'justice-centric' provisions of the three new criminal-law Sanhitas — the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA), all 2023, in force since 1 July 2024.
•Victim-centric changes include Zero FIR, a free copy of the FIR, mandatory case-progress updates within 90 days, and document supply to both victim and accused within 14 days.
•New reformative measures include community service as punishment for minor offences, an expanded scope for summary trials, and trial in absentia for proclaimed offenders.

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Schemes & CommitteesMediumquizQuiz

Textile Ministry Details PLI, NTTM, NHDP Schemes and Record FY26 Exports in Lok Sabha

•Lok Sabha replies from the Ministry of Textiles detail the PLI Scheme for Textiles, the National Technical Textiles Mission (and its GREAT start-up scheme), the National Handloom Development Programme, and India's FY2025-26 textile export performance.
•PLI-Textiles was revised in October 2025 — new HSN codes, a 50% cut in the minimum investment threshold and a lower turnover criterion — after which MSMEs made up 68% of Round-3 applications.
•India's textile & apparel exports (incl. handicrafts) touched a record ₹3,25,339 crore in FY2025-26, growing in over 100 countries, backed by 16 in-force FTAs including the India-UK CETA.

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EnvironmentHighquizQuiz

PIB Backgrounder: India's Tiger Conservation Leadership Ahead of International Tiger Day

•PIB released a Backgrounder ahead of International Tiger Day (29 July) highlighting India's status as home to nearly 70% of the world's wild tigers.
•India's tiger population, per the All India Tiger Estimation (AITE) 2022, stands at 3,682 across 58 tiger reserves in 18 states covering ~84,500 sq km (2.56% of India's area).
•The backgrounder details India's institutional architecture (Project Tiger, NTCA), tech-driven monitoring (M-STrIPES, AI camera-trap tools) and global partnerships (Global Tiger Forum, International Big Cat Alliance, ITHCP).

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InternationalMediumquizQuiz

Russia Launches K-563 Ulyanovsk, a Yasen-M Nuclear Attack Submarine

•Russia launched the Project 885M Yasen-M nuclear-powered attack submarine K-563 Ulyanovsk on 28 July 2026.
•The launch took place at the Sevmash shipyard in Severodvinsk.
•The submarine was laid down on 28 July 2017, exactly nine years earlier.

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EconomyHighquizQuiz

India's Industrial Output Hits 23-Month High of 7.3% in June 2026

•India's Index of Industrial Production grew 7.3% year-on-year in June 2026, its highest in 23 months.
•The data was released by the National Statistics Office on 28 July 2026.
•Growth accelerated from a revised 5.0% in May 2026, helped by a favourable base effect.

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InternationalLowquizQuiz

India and Nepal Inaugurate Restored Buddhist Heritage Sites in Lalitpur

•India and Nepal jointly inaugurated the restored Shree Gusthal Mahavihar and Agam of Prathamshree Mahavihar at Guita Tole in Patan, Lalitpur, on 28 July 2026.
•The project, funded by a ~NPR 12 crore Government of India grant, restored Buddhist heritage structures damaged in the 2015 Nepal earthquake.
•INTACH (Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage) provided design and project management consultancy for the restoration.

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BusinessLowquizQuiz

Assam Exports First International Consignment of Purabi Ice Cream to Bhutan

•Assam exported its first international dairy consignment — 5,627 litres of Purabi ice cream — to Bhutan on 28 July 2026.
•Purabi ice cream is manufactured by the West Assam Milk Producers' Cooperative Union (WAMUL) and marketed by North East Dairy and Foods Limited (NEDFL).
•APEDA facilitated the export, with the consignment reaching markets including Thimphu, Paro, Phuentsholing, and Wangdue.

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EnvironmentMediumquizQuiz

Rajasthan's Tiger Population Rises to 149 Across Five Reserves

•Rajasthan's tiger population reached 149 across five tiger reserves as of 28 July 2026, up from 135 in 2025, released ahead of International Tiger Day (29 July).
•Ranthambore Tiger Reserve leads with 72 tigers (up from 66), followed by Sariska with 56 (up from 50) — though Ranthambore's population already exceeds its estimated carrying capacity of 40-50.
•Rajasthan's five tiger reserves are Ranthambore, Sariska, Mukundara Hills, Ramgarh Vishdhari, and Dholpur-Karauli.

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Polity & GovernanceMediumquizQuiz

MSME Development (Amendment) Bill, 2026 Introduced in Rajya Sabha

•The Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Amendment) Bill, 2026 was introduced in the Rajya Sabha on 28 July 2026, amending the 2006 Act.
•It requires Central PSEs to settle MSME invoices through RBI-authorised TReDS platforms, and sets 90-day statutory timelines for mediation and arbitration in payment disputes.
•Courts may order payment of at least 50% of an awarded amount to MSME suppliers if a challenge to the order stays pending over six months.

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State NewsMediumquizQuiz

Maharashtra Cabinet Approves New NDPS and SC-ST Special Courts

•The Maharashtra Cabinet, chaired by CM Devendra Fadnavis, approved new special courts under the NDPS Act and the SC-ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act on 28 July 2026.
•A special NDPS court was sanctioned for Pune district, which had around 1,425 pending NDPS cases, with ₹1.26 crore approved for the court.
•Five exclusive SC-ST Act courts were approved for Ahilyanagar, Parbhani, Solapur, Nanded, and Yavatmal, with ₹4.51 crore sanctioned.

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SportsLowquizQuiz

16th Hockey India Junior Men National Championship Begins in Coimbatore

•The 16th Hockey India Junior Men National Championship 2026 began on 28 July 2026 in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, with 30 teams across Divisions A, B, and C.
•Notable opening-day results: Hockey Chandigarh defeated Chhattisgarh Hockey 9-2, with Gurpreet Singh scoring five goals; Hockey Uttarakhand beat Kerala Hockey 5-2.
•The divisional format places teams in competitive tiers with promotion-relegation pathways.

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NationalMediumquizQuiz

President Murmu Launches RAAHI, e-Upahaar 3.0 to Mark Four Years in Office

•President Droupadi Murmu, who completed four years in office on 25 July 2026, inaugurated new initiatives at Rashtrapati Bhavan on 28 July 2026.
•Key launches: RAAHI, a fare-free electric bus service run by women drivers connecting the President's Estate to the nearest Metro station; and the third edition of e-Upahaar, auctioning 300 curated Presidential gifts (5 August-5 September 2026).
•Other initiatives include an application-based e-Audio Guide (available in Hindi, English and 14 other languages with a sign-language module), Bachpan 'Bal Parisar' for children, and a Net Zero Energy Strategy for the service block.

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State NewsMediumquizQuiz

Maharashtra Bans Sale of Junk Food Within 50 Metres of Schools

•The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has banned the sale, free distribution and advertising of junk food in and around schools.
•The ban covers foods High in Fat, Sugar and Salt (HFSS) within school premises and a 50-metre radius.
•It applies to all government, aided and private schools across boards, covering about 1.08 lakh schools and 2 crore students.

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BusinessMediumquizQuiz

IRDAI Approves Patanjali–DS Group Acquisition of Magma General Insurance

•The IRDAI approved Patanjali Ayurved and the Dharampal Satyapal (DS) Group's acquisition of Magma General Insurance, via a letter dated 28 July 2026.
•The deal is valued at around ₹4,500 crore.
•Patanjali Ayurved will hold a 73.56% stake and the DS Group about 24.5%.

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NationalMediumquizQuiz

Top CPI (Maoist) Politburo Leader Misir Besra Arrested in Jharkhand

•Top CPI (Maoist) leader Misir Besra, a member of the outfit's Politburo, was arrested in Jharkhand in a major security operation.
•He was carrying a bounty of over ₹1 crore and was wanted in around 141 cases.
•The operation was carried out jointly by the Jharkhand Police, the CRPF and the CoBRA battalion, based on specific intelligence.

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EconomyMediumquizQuiz

Centre Imposes Stock Limits on Sugar Dealers to Curb Hoarding and Cool Prices

•The Centre imposed stockholding limits on sugar dealers to curb hoarding and stabilise rising prices, in an order issued on 28 July 2026.
•A dealer cannot hold more than 4,000 quintals of sugar at a time and cannot store it for more than 30 days from receipt.
•The limits apply from 1 August to 30 November 2026.

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Banking & FinanceMediumquizQuiz

Banks Collected ₹7,086 Crore as Minimum Balance Penalties in FY26: Government Tells Parliament

•Banks collected over ₹7,086 crore in FY26 as penalties for not maintaining the minimum average balance (MAB), the government told Parliament on 28 July 2026.
•Private banks accounted for ₹4,948.71 crore and public sector banks (PSBs) for ₹2,137.92 crore.
•HDFC Bank collected the most (₹1,798.14 crore), followed by Axis Bank (₹1,081.33 crore); SBI led among PSBs (₹477.27 crore).

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Banking & FinanceMediumquizQuiz

Delhi High Court Orders Winding Up of Paytm Payments Bank; Liquidator Appointed

•The Delhi High Court ordered the winding up of Paytm Payments Bank Ltd (PPBL) under the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 read with the Companies Act, 2013.
•Girikumar M. Nair, a former Chief General Manager of the State Bank of India, was appointed the official liquidator.
•The winding up follows the RBI's cancellation of PPBL's banking licence on 24 April 2026 under Section 22(4) of the Banking Regulation Act.

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EconomyMediumquizQuiz

Number of Rs 100-Crore Income Earners Crosses 500 in FY25

•The number of individuals reporting a gross total income of Rs 100 crore or more crossed 500 for the first time in FY25.
•The Finance Ministry told Parliament that 576 individuals reported such income in Assessment Year 2025-26.
•This corresponds to Financial Year 2024-25.

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EnvironmentMediumquizQuiz

Maharashtra to Set Up India's First AI-Powered Bird Sanctuary at Thane Creek

•Maharashtra has approved India's first AI-powered bird sanctuary at the Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary.
•It comes with a Rs 45-crore Eco-Nature Park spread over about 20 hectares along the Thane Creek shoreline.
•An AI-based system will track and identify birds in real time within a 1.5-km radius.

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DefenceMediumquizQuiz

Rajnath Singh Unveils Two HR Policy Reforms for the Indian Coast Guard

•Defence Minister Rajnath Singh unveiled two HR policy reforms for the Indian Coast Guard on 28 July 2026.
•The first establishes gender-neutral officer induction and career progression.
•Women can now join through both Short Service and Permanent Appointment streams, on par with men.

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Important DaysMediumquizQuiz

World Hepatitis Day Observed on 28 July to Push for Elimination by 2030

•World Hepatitis Day is observed on 28 July every year.
•It is one of the World Health Organization's official global public-health days.
•The date marks the birthday of Nobel laureate Dr Baruch Blumberg, who discovered the Hepatitis B virus.

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Important DaysMediumquizQuiz

World Nature Conservation Day Observed on 28 July

•World Nature Conservation Day is observed every year on 28 July.
•It raises awareness about protecting natural resources and the environment.
•The day stresses that a healthy environment is the foundation of a stable society.

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SportsMediumquizQuiz

Gyaneshwari Yadav Wins Weightlifting Silver in Women's 53 kg at CWG 2026

•Gyaneshwari Yadav won silver in the women's 53 kg weightlifting at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
•She recorded a personal-best total of 199 kg (88 kg snatch and 111 kg clean and jerk).
•It was India's third weightlifting medal of the Games.

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SportsMediumquizQuiz

Valluri Ajaya Babu Wins Weightlifting Silver in Men's 79 kg at CWG 2026

•Valluri Ajaya Babu won silver in the men's 79 kg weightlifting at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
•He lifted a total of 330 kg, with a Games-record snatch of 149 kg and 181 kg in the clean and jerk.
•Gold went to Malaysia's Erry Hidayat Muhammad with a Games-record total of 331 kg.

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SportsMediumquizQuiz

Sarvesh Kushare Becomes First Indian to Win Men's High Jump Silver at CWG

•Sarvesh Kushare won silver in the men's high jump at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
•He cleared 2.25 m, losing gold to Jamaica's Romaine Beckford on countback.
•He became the first Indian to win a men's high jump silver at the Commonwealth Games.

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SportsHighquizQuiz

Sharmila Dhankar Wins India's First Para-Athletics Gold at Commonwealth Games

•Sharmila Dhankar became the first Indian to win a Commonwealth Games gold in para-athletics.
•She won the women's shot put F57 event at the 2026 Games in Glasgow with a season-best throw of 9.81 m.
•Her win ended India's roughly 20-year wait for a Commonwealth Games para-athletics medal.

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NationalMediumquizQuiz

Government Proposes Three-Year PUC Validity for New BS-VI Vehicles

•The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has proposed revising the validity of the Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate.
•Privately owned BS-VI vehicles up to six years old would need a PUC only once every three years, instead of annually.
•BS-VI vehicles aged six to ten years would renew it yearly.

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BusinessMediumquizQuiz

Government Plans 44 Airports Under a Hub-and-Spoke Model

•The government plans to develop 44 airports under a hub-and-spoke model to boost international connectivity.
•The network will have 4 hub airports and 40 spoke airports.
•At present there is one hub (Delhi) and two spokes (Varanasi and Amritsar).

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NationalMediumquizQuiz

Centre Advances Rs 6,143 Crore Kosi-Mechi River Link Project for Bihar

•The Centre is advancing the Kosi-Mechi river link project in Bihar at a cost of about Rs 6,143 crore.
•It is included under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana's Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (PMKSY-AIBP).
•The project diverts surplus Kosi water to the Mahananda basin by remodelling the Eastern Kosi Main Canal.

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InternationalHighquizQuiz

India and China to Resume Nathu La Border Trade from 1 August

•India and China will resume border trade through the Nathu La pass in Sikkim from 1 August 2026.
•Trade had been suspended for about six years, since the Covid-19 pandemic.
•A trial run was planned for 30 July to test logistics and border-crossing procedures.

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EconomyHighquizQuiz

Government Approves RBI Field Trials of Rs 10 and Rs 20 Polymer Banknotes

•The government has approved the RBI's proposal to conduct field trials of polymer (plastic) banknotes in the Rs 10 and Rs 20 denominations.
•The pilot involves about one billion notes each of Rs 10 and Rs 20.
•The approval follows recommendations of the RBI's Central Board under Section 25 of the RBI Act, 1934.

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