Current Affairs 31 July 2026

EconomyLowquizQuiz

Government's Inter-Ministerial Group Coordinates Response to Maritime Trade Disruptions

•An Inter-Ministerial Group under the Department of Commerce — spanning MEA, MoPSW, Petroleum, RBI, CBIC, DPIIT, APEDA and CONCOR among others — monitors how disruptions like those at the Strait of Hormuz and Red Sea affect India's maritime trade and coordinates relief measures.
•Steps taken include extending EPCG/Advance Authorisation export-obligation deadlines to 31 August 2026, a 100% ground-rent/demurrage waiver at major ports, extended export credit (270 to 450 days) and ECLGS 5.0 for MSME liquidity.
•The Cabinet also approved a sovereign guarantee of about US$1.5 billion for a domestic maritime insurance pool to cut freight and insurance costs for exporters.

UPSCSSCBanking

Read Analysisarrow_forward

Schemes & CommitteesMediumquizQuiz

CCRUM's 21 Clinical Institutes Reach 47 Lakh People; NSSO Finds 94.8% Rural Ayush Awareness

•CCRUM, the autonomous Unani research body under the Ministry of Ayush, operates 21 clinical institutes/units/centres nationwide, benefiting about 47 lakh people over the last five years through outreach.
•NSSO's 79th Round survey (July 2022-June 2023) found Ayush awareness at 94.8% in rural India and 96% in urban India, with 46.3% rural and 52.9% urban residents using Ayush treatment within the past year.
•NCISM has issued six new regulations since 2022 to standardise Unani undergraduate/postgraduate education, curricula and assessment nationally.

UPSCSSC

Read Analysisarrow_forward

Schemes & CommitteesLowquizQuiz

CCRAS Details Tribal and Ethno-Botanical Research Programmes for Traditional Medicine

•CCRAS validates traditional and tribal medicine through two flagship programmes — the Tribal Health Care Research Programme (started 1982, active in 14 states) and the Medico Ethno-Botanical Survey (started 1969, documenting medicinal plants).
•A May 2023 MoA between the Ministry of Ayush and ICMR promotes joint Integrative Health Research; a completed Ayush-ICMR study tested an Ayurvedic anaemia treatment against standard iron-folic-acid therapy.
•CGHS beneficiaries can choose either Allopathic or Ayush treatment based on clinical need, reflecting the government's broader integrative-medicine push.

UPSCSSC

Read Analysisarrow_forward

Schemes & CommitteesLowquizQuiz

IRDAI Mandate Drives Wider Insurance Coverage for Ayush Treatments

•IRDAI's Master Circular on Health Insurance Business (29 May 2024) mandates insurers to offer products covering all systems of medicine, including Ayush, at par with other treatments.
•The Ministry of Ayush revised its Benchmark Rates for Insurance Coverage of Ayush Treatments in 2026 and signed an MoU with the General Insurance Council — via AIIA, New Delhi — at Ayush Chintan Shivir 2026 (16 April 2026) to enable common empanelment of all government Ayush hospitals.
•A dedicated Project Management Unit for Ayush Health Insurance has been set up at AIIA, New Delhi, to support hospital empanelment and grievance redressal.

UPSCSSCBanking

Read Analysisarrow_forward

Schemes & CommitteesMediumquizQuiz

Ayush Quality Mark Implementation Entrusted to AYUSHEXCIL

•The Ayush Quality Mark, launched 19 December 2025 at the 2nd WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine, is a unified quality-assurance framework covering Ayush products, hospitals, day-care centres, wellness centres, testing labs and Medical Value Travel Facilitators.
•Implementation has been entrusted to AYUSHEXCIL, the DGFT-notified Ayush Export Promotion Council under the Ministry of Commerce, supported by the Ministry of Ayush.
•The AOGUSY scheme (₹122 crore over five years, approved 2021) backs quality infrastructure — 34 State and 118 approved private Drug Testing Laboratories now test Ayush drug quality nationally.

UPSCSSC

Read Analysisarrow_forward

Schemes & CommitteesMediumquizQuiz

Ministry of Ayush Details Multi-Pronged Ayurveda-Modern Medicine Integration

•The Ministry of Ayush has established an Ayush Vertical under the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), jointly with the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, as the institutional mechanism for integrating Ayush into public health programmes, medical education and hospitals.
•Integrated Ayush Departments now operate at Safdarjung Hospital, Lady Hardinge Medical College and Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in Delhi; NCISM's new MBBS internship module gives interns structured exposure to Ayurveda, Unani and Siddha.
•The Ministry funds nine national institutions — including AIIMS, IIT Delhi, IISc Bengaluru, NIMHANS and Tata Memorial Centre — as Centres of Excellence for Ayurveda-modern medicine research under the Ayurswasthya Yojana.

UPSCSSC

Read Analysisarrow_forward

Schemes & CommitteesLowquizQuiz

NCAHP Update: 57 Allied Health Categories, 29 States With Councils, 1L New AHPs Planned

•The National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP), set up under the NCAHP Act, 2021, has finalised 18 competency-based curricula and run live online enrolment portals since October 2024 for workforce mapping across 57 recognised allied-health categories.
•29 States/UTs have constituted their own State Allied and Healthcare Councils under the Act.
•Budget 2026 announced 100,000 additional Allied Healthcare Professionals over the next five years, with ₹1,000 crore allocated this year for the scheme.

UPSCSSC

Read Analysisarrow_forward

Schemes & CommitteesMediumquizQuiz

PMSMA Update: MMR Falls to 87 Per Lakh, Institutional Deliveries Rise to 90.6%

•Since PMSMA's 2016 launch, over 7.91 crore pregnant women have received free antenatal care and 1.24 crore high-risk pregnancies have been identified under the scheme.
•India's Maternal Mortality Ratio has fallen 43 points, from 130 (SRS 2014-16) to 87 per lakh live births (SRS 2022-24), moving closer to the SDG target of below 70 by 2030.
•Antenatal-care indicators have also improved sharply between NFHS-4 (2015-16) and NFHS-6 (2023-24): first-trimester registration rose from 58.6% to 76.2%, and institutional deliveries from 78.9% to 90.6%.

UPSCSSC

Read Analysisarrow_forward

Schemes & CommitteesMediumquizQuiz

NHM's Free Drugs and Free Diagnostics Initiatives: Facility-Wise Coverage Detailed

•Under NHM's Free Drugs Service Initiative (FDSI), the Centre funds essential medicines at five facility tiers — from 113 drugs at Sub Health Centres up to 381 at District Hospitals.
•The Free Diagnostics Service Initiative similarly provides free pathological/radiological tests, from 14 at Sub Centres to 134 at District Hospitals, to cut patients' out-of-pocket expenditure.
•A same-day Department of Pharmaceuticals reply detailed monitoring of FDSI via the DVDMS platform and confirmed PMBJP's target of 25,000 Jan Aushadhi Kendras by March 2027.

UPSCSSC

Read Analysisarrow_forward

Schemes & CommitteesMediumquizQuiz

FSSAI Details Food Testing Infrastructure: 259 NABL Labs, 305 Mobile Vans

•FSSAI has notified 259 NABL-accredited laboratories for food sample analysis and 24 Referral Food Laboratories for appeal samples.
•Under the SoFTeL scheme, 47 State Food Testing Laboratories have been structurally upgraded and 34 specialised microbiology laboratories set up; 305 mobile 'Food Safety on Wheels' vans are deployed across 35 States/UTs.
•Field-level tools — the 'Magic Box' kit, the DART book (44 household-level tests) and 88 approved RAFT kits — extend testing capability down to households and remote areas.

UPSCSSC

Read Analysisarrow_forward

Schemes & CommitteesLowquizQuiz

Rs 1,000 Crore Grant for Bulk Drug Park at Haroli, Himachal Pradesh

•The Centre has sanctioned a ₹1,000 crore grant-in-aid for Common Infrastructure Facilities (CIF) at the Bulk Drug Park being developed at Haroli, Una district, Himachal Pradesh, under the Scheme for Promotion of Bulk Drug Parks.
•As of 30 June 2026, Himachal Pradesh had utilised ₹116 crore of the Central grant; the park's total project cost is ₹1,923 crore, with expected direct employment of 15,000-20,000 and investment of ₹8,000-10,000 crore.
•The scheme's tenure has been extended up to FY2026-27 owing to delays, chiefly the environmental clearance, which was granted only on 25 September 2025.

UPSCSSCBanking

Read Analysisarrow_forward

Schemes & CommitteesLowquizQuiz

Seven NIPERs Declared Institutions of National Importance Under 1998 Act

•There are currently seven National Institutes of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPERs), all declared Institutions of National Importance under the NIPER Act, 1998.
•The first NIPER was set up at Mohali (Punjab) in 1998; six more were established at Ahmedabad, Guwahati, Hajipur, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Raebareli after the Act's 2007 amendment.
•Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers Anupriya Patel gave this information in a Lok Sabha written reply on 31 July 2026.

UPSCSSC

Read Analysisarrow_forward

EconomyMediumquizQuiz

DPCO 2013 Amended: NPPA Eases Prior Price Approval, Caps Overcharging Liability

•The Department of Pharmaceuticals notified amendments to the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013 via S.O. 3516(E) dated 30 June 2026.
•Manufacturer liability for overcharging is now capped to the actual quantity of stock overcharged, instead of the entire consignment.
•Existing manufacturers can now adopt an NPPA-fixed retail price for a new formulation within 12 months, without seeking separate prior approval, by intimating NPPA on Form-1A.

UPSCBankingSSC

Read Analysisarrow_forward

DefenceLowquizQuiz

COAS Launches Indigenous Xtreme Weather Grade (XWG) Diesel for -42°C Operations

•Chief of the Army Staff Gen Dhiraj Seth launched indigenously developed Xtreme Weather Grade (XWG) Diesel in New Delhi, jointly developed by the Indian Army and Oil Marketing Companies.
•XWG Diesel remains effective down to -42°C, is BS-VI compliant and meets IS 1460:2025 specifications, and needs no engine modification in existing Army vehicles.
•The fuel was developed within a year and also has civilian applications in high-altitude and severe-winter regions.

UPSCDefenceSSC

Read Analysisarrow_forward

Schemes & CommitteesMediumquizQuiz

Mission Saksham Anganwadi & Poshan 2.0: Six Services, Poshan Tracker and Nutri-Gardens Explained

•Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 delivers six services — Supplementary Nutrition, pre-school non-formal education, nutrition & health education, immunisation, health check-ups and referral services — through Anganwadi Centres.
•Two lakh AWCs in government buildings have been sanctioned as upgraded 'Saksham Anganwadis' in the 15th Finance Commission cycle, including 23,697 in Uttar Pradesh (206 in Ghaziabad district).
•The Poshan Tracker app, onboarded by every State and UT, gives real-time monitoring of attendance, growth measurement and ration delivery at every Anganwadi Centre.

UPSCSSCRailway

Read Analysisarrow_forward

EconomyMediumquizQuiz

101 Crore Indians Now Under Social Security Net, ILO-Recognised: Labour Minister

•India's social protection systems now cover about 101 crore people — over 68% of the population — Labour Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya said at the 4th Global Industrial Relations Summit in New Delhi.
•The figure was earlier highlighted by the ILO at the BRICS Labour Ministers' Meeting in Hyderabad.
•Employment generated per percentage point of GDP growth has risen from 0.008% twelve years ago to 1.11% today, the Minister said.

UPSCBankingSSC

Read Analysisarrow_forward

Banking & FinanceMediumquizQuiz

Favara-UPI Corridor Goes Live: India's Newest Cross-Border UPI Linkage, With Maldives

•The Favara-UPI cross-border payment corridor went live between the Maldives and India on 30 July 2026, letting Maldivians send real-time payments to UPI-linked Indian bank accounts.
•Two Maldivian banks — Bank of Maldives Plc and Maldives Islamic Bank Plc — are live in the initial phase, transacting through their mobile banking apps.
•The corridor converts Maldivian Rufiyaa to Indian Rupees instantly; permitted uses are family-maintenance and gift remittances.

UPSCBankingSSC

Read Analysisarrow_forward

Schemes & CommitteesLowquizQuiz

DISHA 2.0: Centre's New Central Sector Scheme for Legal Aid Access (2026-31)

•The Centre has notified DISHA 2.0 — Designing Innovative Solutions for Holistic Access to Justice — a Central Sector Scheme running 2026-31, covering all of India including every district of Gujarat.
•The scheme bundles four components: Tele-Law, Nyaya Bandhu, a Legal Literacy and Legal Awareness Programme, and the VIDHI-Sanjeevani monitoring dashboard.
•Progress will be tracked through VIDHI-Sanjeevani's centralised dashboard alongside review meetings, field visits and regional workshops run by a dedicated Programme Management Unit.

UPSCSSC

Read Analysisarrow_forward

Polity & GovernanceLowquizQuiz

MSCS Amendment Act 2023: Ombudsman, stricter audits shield cooperative depositors

•In a Lok Sabha written reply, the Law Ministry detailed depositor/member-protection measures introduced via the Multi-State Cooperative Societies (MSCS) (Amendment) Act & Rules, 2023, including a Cooperative Ombudsman and mandatory Information Officers
•The amendment strengthened audit norms (concurrent audit, uniform accounting standards, Parliament-tabled audit reports for Apex societies) and governance safeguards, including conflict-of-interest restrictions on directors
•Complaints alleging fraud, cheating or criminal breach of trust are referred to State Police, the Economic Offences Wing or the CBI; recovery of dues is handled by a Liquidator under the MSCS Act, 2002

UPSCSSCBanking

Read Analysisarrow_forward

Polity & GovernanceMediumquizQuiz

e-Courts Phase III: NIC's AI tool LegRAA aids judges; 1.25 crore cases e-filed

•In a Lok Sabha written reply, the Law Ministry stated that 1.25 crore cases had been e-filed nationwide as of 30.06.2026 under the e-Courts Mission Mode Project, with e-Filing Rules live in 25 High Courts and their District Courts
•NIC's AI Division and the Centre of Excellence for eCourts (CoEE) have built the Legal Research Analysis Assistant (LegRAA) to help judges with legal research and document analysis, and Digital Courts 2.1 for AI-enabled case management with voice-to-text transcription — both in pilot testing
•Rs.53.57 crore has been earmarked under e-Courts Phase III's Future Technological Advancements component for adopting AI in courts

UPSCSSCBanking

Read Analysisarrow_forward

EconomyMediumquizQuiz

Govt: Ethanol blending saved Rs 30/litre in 2026 oil surge, doesn't hurt food security

•The government clarified that the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme uses only surplus or damaged foodgrain certified after every food-security obligation — PDS, NFSA, welfare schemes and buffer stocks — is met, never grain meant for the poor
•FCI rice is one of six approved feedstocks priced under a common government formula (Rs.57.97-Rs.71.86/litre in ESY 2025-26); its share of ethanol output rose from just 0.02% in ESY 2023-24 to 24.64% in ESY 2025-26 only because certified surplus became available
•The EBP Programme has saved over Rs.1.97 lakh crore in forex, substituted over 316 lakh MT of crude imports, cut over 950 lakh MT of CO2, and paid over Rs.1.66 lakh crore to farmers and distillers; without 20% blending, petrol was projected to cost around Rs.125/litre versus the actual Rs.94.77/litre during the 2026 crude price surge

UPSCSSCBanking

Read Analysisarrow_forward

BusinessLowquizQuiz

APEDA sends first-ever air shipment of Karnataka mangoes to Maldives

•APEDA facilitated India's first-ever air shipment of Karnataka's Neelam and Totapuri mangoes to the Maldives, flagged off on 30 July 2026
•The 1-tonne consignment was sourced from a Kolar-district Farmer Producer Company and exported by a woman entrepreneur, earning farmers over 50% higher returns than conventional market channels
•APEDA, under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, continues to work with state governments, exporters and FPOs/FPCs to expand India's horticultural export basket

UPSCSSCBanking

Read Analysisarrow_forward

Schemes & CommitteesHighquizQuiz

Cabinet approves revamped Khelo India Scheme and enhanced ANSF, Rs 36,441 crore

•The Union Cabinet approved a revamped Khelo India Scheme and enhanced Assistance to National Sports Federations (ANSF) with a combined outlay of Rs.36,441 crore for 2026-27 to 2030-31 — nearly eight times the previous Khelo India outlay
•New elements include the Emerging Khelo India Athletes (E-KIAs) category expanding the athlete pool nearly ten-fold, Khelo India Feeder Schools, Khelo India Utkrishta Vidyalayas and a National Coach Accreditation Board (NCAB)
•The scheme is aligned with Khelo Bharat Niti 2025 and targets the 2030 Commonwealth Games and India's Olympic/Paralympic hosting ambitions

UPSCSSCBanking

Read Analysisarrow_forward

Schemes & CommitteesMediumquizQuiz

Cabinet extends PM-KISAN to 2030-31 with Rs 3.15 lakh crore outlay

•The Union Cabinet approved continuation of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) Scheme from 2026-27 to 2030-31 with a total financial outlay of Rs.3.15 lakh crore
•Eligible landholding farmer families receive Rs.6,000/year in three equal instalments via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT); over Rs.4.47 lakh crore has been transferred through 23 instalments so far
•An independent DMEO (NITI Aayog) evaluation found over 92% of beneficiaries used the assistance for agricultural investment and about 85% reported improved agricultural income and reduced dependence on informal credit

UPSCSSCBanking

Read Analysisarrow_forward

AppointmentsLowquizQuiz

Varsha Ashok Aglawe Becomes First Woman Director General of Geological Survey of India

•Smt. Varsha Ashok Aglawe has become the 54th Director General of the Geological Survey of India (GSI) and the first woman to head the 176-year-old institution, succeeding Shri Asit Saha.
•A GSI veteran since 1992 with prior service at the Indian Bureau of Mines, she is a palaeontology/palynology expert who identified the Salbardi-Ghorpend area as a new Central Indian dinosaur nesting site and established a Palynology Laboratory at GSI's Lucknow office.
•She has flagged critical mineral exploration, offshore mineral exploration, and deep-seated/concealed deposit exploration as priorities aligned with the Government's mineral-security agenda.

UPSCSSC

Read Analysisarrow_forward

AppointmentsLowquizQuiz

Air Marshal Sandeep Thareja Appointed Next DGAFMS

•Air Marshal Sandeep Thareja, currently Director General Medical Services (Air), has been appointed the next Director General Armed Forces Medical Services (DGAFMS), succeeding Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin on her retirement on 31 August 2026.
•An AFMC Pune alumnus commissioned in December 1986, he holds an MD in Medicine (1997) and a DM in Gastroenterology from AIIMS New Delhi (2005), and has held key posts including Commandant of AFMC Pune.
•As DG Medical Services (Air), he strengthened medical preparedness for the Gaganyaan Human Spaceflight Mission and operationalised the BHISHM Cube for rapid medical response.

UPSCSSCDefence

Read Analysisarrow_forward

Polity & GovernanceLowquizQuiz

NHRC Takes Suo Motu Cognizance of 5 Malaria Deaths in 13 Days in Kanker, Chhattisgarh

•NHRC took suo motu cognizance of media reports that 5 people, including an 11-year-old boy, died of malaria within 13 days in Kanker district, Chhattisgarh, and issued notice to the state's Chief Secretary for a report within two weeks.
•The boy tested negative for malaria at a private lab, was later confirmed positive after his condition worsened, and died before receiving the confirmed report — raising concerns about diagnostic delay.
•Following the incident, Chhattisgarh's State Health Department launched a door-to-door malaria screening and awareness campaign in the affected areas.

UPSCSSC

Read Analysisarrow_forward

EconomyMediumquizQuiz

Cabinet Approves Revised Captive Policy for Waterfront Access at Major Ports

•The Cabinet approved a revised Captive Policy — replacing the 2016 policy — letting existing Port Dependent Industries expand via new berths/jetties/terminals/SBMs and extend concession agreements up to 30 years without a fresh tender, at the higher of market rate or indexed existing revenue.
•Capacity expansion will use competitive bidding with a Right of First Refusal (RoFR) for existing concessionaires, restricted to PDIs handling the same cargo profile; any new berth's concession stays co-terminus with the existing facility's maximum permissible period.
•For the first time, eligible government entities (Central/State departments, statutory bodies, CPSUs/SPSUs) can get waterfront access without competitive bidding, at the notified floor price — with no financial implication for the Government.

UPSCSSC

Read Analysisarrow_forward

InternationalLowquizQuiz

PM Modi Speaks with New UK PM Andy Burnham, Reaffirms India-UK Vision 2035

•PM Modi received a congratulatory call from new UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham on his taking office, with both leaders agreeing to deepen the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
•They committed to strengthening cooperation on technology, defence, security, clean energy and education under the India-UK Vision 2035 framework, and welcomed the recent entry into force of the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).
•The leaders also exchanged views on regional and global issues and agreed to remain in touch.

UPSCSSC

Read Analysisarrow_forward

EnvironmentLowquizQuiz

CAQM Extends Delhi-NCR Industrial PM Emission Standard Deadline to 1 October 2026

•CAQM amended its Statutory Direction No. 98, pushing the compliance deadline for revised PM emission standards (50 mg/Nm³) for Delhi-NCR industries to 1 October 2026.
•Direction No. 98, notified 20 February 2026, was based on CPCB and IIT Kanpur technical studies; the extension followed industry representations citing APCD procurement/installation delays and limited laboratory capacity for compliance verification.
•All other provisions of Direction No. 98 remain unchanged; the amendment is meant solely to give industries more time to install and retrofit Air Pollution Control Devices (APCDs).

UPSCSSC

Read Analysisarrow_forward

Schemes & CommitteesMediumquizQuiz

NAMASTE Scheme: 2.71 Lakh PPE Kits Distributed, 1.81 Lakh Sanitation Workers Insured

•Since NAMASTE's 2023 launch, 2.71 lakh PPE kits have been distributed and 1.81 lakh sanitation workers/waste pickers covered under health insurance; 1,023 workers received capital assistance for mechanised equipment and 20,293 completed safety/skill training.
•Between 1 January 2021 and 30 June 2026, 332 sanitation workers died during hazardous sewer/septic-tank cleaning; full compensation was paid in 268 cases and partial compensation in 18.
•Of 58,098 manual scavengers identified in 2013 and 2018 surveys, all received one-time cash assistance, while 27,926 completed skill training and 2,803 received capital subsidy for self-employment.

UPSCSSC

Read Analysisarrow_forward

EnvironmentLowquizQuiz

Vizianagaram's 8,973 Water-Conservation Works Model Groundwater Revival Under Catch the Rain

•Vizianagaram district, Andhra Pradesh, completed 8,973 water-conservation works — rejuvenating 6,424 minor irrigation tanks and 2,549 feeder channels — under the Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari: Catch the Rain campaign, generating 1.28 crore person-days of employment.
•Restoration removed about 109.9 lakh cubic metres of silt and 82.48 lakh square metres of vegetation, and restored over 2,090 km of feeder channels, projected to add 0.70 TMC storage and 0.60 TMC groundwater recharge.
•The district specifically prioritised 193 groundwater-deficit villages and rejuvenated 94 cascade tank systems to restore natural hydrological connectivity.

UPSCSSC

Read Analysisarrow_forward

NationalLowquizQuiz

Indian Railways Transports India's First Live Donor Heart by Train via Vande Bharat Express

•Indian Railways transported India's first live donor heart by train, carried aboard Train No. 20901 Mumbai Central-Gandhinagar Capital Vande Bharat Express from Surat to Ahmedabad for transplantation at the U.N. Mehta Institute of Cardiology & Research Centre.
•A dedicated Green Corridor from Ahmedabad Railway Station Platform 1 to the hospital was set up jointly by the Railway Protection Force and Gujarat Police to ensure uninterrupted, time-critical movement.
•The mission demonstrated Vande Bharat's speed and reliability for time-sensitive organ transplantation, expanding Indian Railways' role in emergency healthcare logistics.

UPSCSSC

Read Analysisarrow_forward

Schemes & CommitteesMediumquizQuiz

PMAY-G Progress: 3.11 Crore Houses Completed of 4.18 Crore Cumulative Target

•Under PMAY-G, 33.54 lakh houses were sanctioned and 35.54 lakh completed in 2025-26 (up to June 2026); cumulatively, of a 4.18 crore target, 3.92 crore houses are sanctioned and 3.11 crore completed, leaving 1.06 crore pending.
•Beneficiaries get ₹1.20 lakh (plain areas) or ₹1.30 lakh (NE states, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, J&K, Ladakh) in unit assistance, plus ₹12,000 for toilets via SBM-G convergence and wage-employment days via MGNREGS/VB-G RAM G convergence.
•Phase-2 of PMAY-G, targeting 2 crore additional houses, runs till March 2029; nationally 3.10 crore houses now have toilets, 2.45 crore water connections, 3.08 crore electricity connections, 2.91 crore LPG connections, and 1.35 crore beneficiary households are linked to SHGs.

UPSCSSC

Read Analysisarrow_forward

Schemes & CommitteesMediumquizQuiz

PMGSY Progress: 1.85 Lakh Roads and 10,833 Bridges Constructed Since Inception

•Since inception, 1,85,651 roads (7,96,940.94 km) and 10,833 bridges have been constructed under PMGSY out of 1,98,011 roads and 12,576 bridges sanctioned — spread across the PMGSY-I, II, III, IV, RCPLWEA and PM-JANMAN verticals.
•PM-JANMAN's road-connectivity component (target: 8,000 km including bridges by March 2028) has released ₹1,218 crore against a ₹4,708 crore allocation, connecting Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups' habitations.
•The Vibrant Villages Programme-I has sanctioned 113 roads (1,085 km) and 35 bridges for 137 border habitations, of which 10 roads (248 km) are complete, backed by ₹996.72 crore released so far.

UPSCSSC

Read Analysisarrow_forward

Schemes & CommitteesMediumquizQuiz

VB-G RAM G Act in Force: 125-Day Rural Employment Guarantee Replaces MGNREGA's 100 Days

•The VB-G RAM G Act, 2025 came into force from 1 July 2026, replacing MGNREGA's 100-day guarantee with a statutory 125-day guaranteed wage-employment framework, alongside unemployment allowance and wage-delay compensation rights.
•For FY2026-27, the Centre has provided ₹95,692.31 crore — the largest-ever Budget Estimate allocation for rural employment — with total programme outlay (including state share) expected to exceed ₹1.51 lakh crore.
•All States/UTs have notified the scheme; ₹25,844.97 crore has been issued as first-instalment mother sanctions, with no dues pending to any State/UT as of the release date.

UPSCSSC

Read Analysisarrow_forward

EnvironmentLowquizQuiz

NBA Releases Over Rs 24 Lakh in Biodiversity Benefit-Sharing to Farmers and Institutions

•NBA released over ₹24 lakh in Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) payments to a Murrah buffalo farm in Haryana, three national research institutions, and State Biodiversity Boards across 11 states — for commercial use of biological resources they conserved.
•Payments covered Murrah buffalo breeding stock, hundreds of crop varieties (rice, mustard, chilli and others), 627 pearl millet and 55 maize varieties, and fish cell cultures/cotton varieties used in research.
•With this release, NBA's cumulative ABS disbursement has reached about ₹153 crore since the mechanism began, under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.

UPSCSSC

Read Analysisarrow_forward

History & CultureLowquizQuiz

National Digitization Drive Workshop Reviews Gyan Bharatam Mission's Manuscript Preservation Progress

•The Ministry of Culture held a National Digitization Drive Workshop in New Delhi under the Gyan Bharatam Mission, with over 200 representatives from States/UTs, manuscript-holding Centres and technology partners; over 1.2 crore manuscripts have been reported nationally so far.
•Gyan Bharatam is a Central Sector Scheme (2024-31) with a ₹482.85 crore outlay, restructuring the earlier National Mission for Manuscripts to build an AI-enabled National Digital Manuscript Ecosystem.
•The workshop reviewed digitization targets, standardised imaging/metadata practices and showcased leading states and institutions, including Rajasthan, BORI Pune, and Jamia Hamdard.

UPSCSSC

Read Analysisarrow_forward

Schemes & CommitteesHighquizQuiz

20,149 Jan Aushadhi Kendras Operational Nationwide, PACS Partnership Expands Rural Reach

•20,149 Jan Aushadhi Kendras (JAKs) are operational nationwide as of 30 June 2026 under PMBJP, including 690 in Madhya Pradesh (7 in Khandwa) and 43 in Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu.
•FY2025-26 sales reached ₹2,252.19 crore, saving citizens an estimated ₹9,000 crore compared to branded-drug prices; district-wise sales data is not maintained by PMBI.
•A new partnership has opened 846 JAKs through Primary Agriculture Cooperative Credit Societies (PACS), with over 4,250 PACS given initial approval, extending the scheme's reach into rural cooperative networks.

UPSCSSCBanking

Read Analysisarrow_forward

Science & TechLowquizQuiz

IndiaAI and Ministry of Ayush Sign MoU to Integrate Traditional Medicine Data into AIKosh

•IndiaAI (MeitY) and the Ministry of Ayush signed an MoU to integrate eligible AYUSH health research artefacts into AIKosh, India's sovereign AI repository, and give Ayush stakeholders access to IndiaAI's compute infrastructure.
•The MoU is valid for an initial two years with automatic-renewal provision and involves no financial commitment from either party; it was signed by IndiaAI Mission COO Sudeep Srivastava and Ayush Joint Secretary Dr Kavita Jain.
•The collaboration will support AI-driven work on Ayush research, medicinal plants, drug administration and capacity building, building on Ayush Grid's Emerging Technologies component.

UPSCSSC

Read Analysisarrow_forward

Schemes & CommitteesHighquizQuiz

Cabinet's PM-SSY: ₹5,070 Crore Push for Floating Solar with Storage

•Cabinet approved the Pradhan Mantri Surya Sarovar Yojana (PM-SSY), a ₹5,070 crore scheme to build 5,000 MW of Floating Solar PV with co-located Energy Storage Systems (minimum 2-hour/10,000 MWh storage).
•Central Financial Assistance: ₹1 crore per MW after commissioning, plus up to ₹50 lakh per project for feasibility studies such as bathymetry and hydrography.
•Projects will be sanctioned FY 2026-27 to FY 2030-31, with disbursement continuing to FY 2032-33, based on NISE's estimate of ~102.18 GWp of floating solar potential nationwide.

UPSCSSCBanking

Read Analysisarrow_forward

EconomyHighquizQuiz

PIB Explainer: How India Is Building a Globally Competitive Tourism Economy

•India recorded 2.9 billion domestic tourist visits in 2024 and 2.02 crore International Tourist Arrivals in 2025, with tourism contributing ₹15.73 lakh crore (5.22% of GDP) in FY 2023-24.
•Swadesh Darshan (76 projects, ₹5,295.24 crore, 75 completed) and Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (53 projects, ₹2,207.08 crore) are building destination-centric tourism infrastructure across 14 thematic circuits.
•The e-Tourist Visa now covers nationals of 175 countries through 33 airports, 19 seaports and 4 land ports; the NIDHI+ platform digitises registration of tourism service providers.

UPSCSSCBankingRailway

Read Analysisarrow_forward

Polity & GovernanceHighquizQuiz

PIB Explainer: How India's Anti-Paper-Leak Law Gets Tougher in 2026

•Government has introduced the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 in the Lok Sabha, sharply raising penalties under the 2024 Act.
•Individual-offender jail terms rise from 3-5 years to 5-10 years, and fines from up to ₹10 lakh to up to ₹50 lakh; organised-syndicate fines rise to at least ₹10 crore.
•Every State/UT must now designate a Court of Session as a Special Fast Track Court, bound to a 3-month trial after chargesheet.

UPSCSSCBankingRailway

Read Analysisarrow_forward

EnvironmentMediumquizQuiz

Scientists Survey Mount Ararat's Ice Cap for the First Time

•A German-Turkish research team has surveyed the ice cap on Mount Ararat in eastern Turkey for the first time, working for two weeks in July 2026 at above 5,000 metres.
•The survey used ground-based radio echo sounding together with active seismic methods to map how thick the ice is and what the bedrock beneath it looks like.
•The project is led by the University of Münster, with the Alfred Wegener Institute, the University of Heidelberg and Turkey's Isparta University taking part.

UPSCSSC

Read Analysisarrow_forward

EnvironmentMediumquizQuiz

New Blind Blood-Red Eel Species Discovered in Wells of Assam's Goalpara District

•Scientists have described Rakthamichthys anchi, a new species of blind, blood-red swamp eel, from dug-out wells in Assam's Goalpara district.
•The discovery was published in the international taxonomy journal Zootaxa.
•The species measures between 25.5 cm and 31.8 cm and resembles a moderately sized earthworm.

UPSCSSCRailway

Read Analysisarrow_forward

Schemes & CommitteesMediumquizQuiz

NAKSHA Urban Land Survey Pilot Begins Field Inquiry in Goa

•Goa's Directorate of Settlement and Land Records is launching a month-long field inquiry under the NAKSHA pilot programme in Margao, Cuncolim and Panaji.
•NAKSHA stands for National Geospatial Knowledge-based Land Survey of Urban Habitations.
•It is a GIS-based urban land records modernisation programme of the Department of Land Resources, Ministry of Rural Development.

UPSCSSCBanking

Read Analysisarrow_forward

Science & TechMediumquizQuiz

Health Ministry Urges Monitoring of ALT Levels as Early Marker of Liver Injury

•The Union Health Ministry has urged people to monitor alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels as an early indicator of liver injury.
•ALT, also known as serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), is an enzyme found predominantly inside liver cells.
•It plays a role in amino acid metabolism, breaking down amino acids to produce energy.

UPSCSSC

Read Analysisarrow_forward

EnvironmentHighquizQuiz

Monsoon Flash Floods Across Himalayan States Renew Focus on Cloudbursts

•Heavy monsoon downpours across Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir have caused repeated flash floods and landslides, bringing renewed attention to cloudbursts.
•The India Meteorological Department defines a cloudburst as 100 mm or more of rainfall in one hour over an area of roughly 20 to 30 square kilometres.
•Cloudbursts are concentrated in the Himalayan belt because steep orographic slopes force moist air to rise rapidly.

UPSCSSC

Read Analysisarrow_forward

InternationalHighquizQuiz

Italy Suspends Schengen Free Movement with Spain Over Ceuta Migrant Crisis

•Italy's Interior Ministry ordered the temporary suspension of Schengen free movement between Italy and Spain, introducing targeted and selective checks on non-EU travellers.
•Because Italy shares no land border with Spain, the measure applies to air and sea travel, requiring passports on routes between the two countries.
•The controls were announced for August, according to Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi.

UPSCSSCBanking

Read Analysisarrow_forward

DefenceMediumquizQuiz

Air Marshal A K Bharti, Face of Operation Sindoor Briefings, Retires from IAF

•Air Marshal A K Bharti retired from the Indian Air Force on 31 July 2026 after a 39-year career.
•He was serving as Deputy Chief of Air Staff at the time of his retirement.
•As Director General Air Operations he was one of the public faces of the tri-services briefings during Operation Sindoor.

DefenceSSCRailway

Read Analysisarrow_forward

NationalHighquizQuiz

Terrorists Kill Two Migrant Workers at Brick Kiln in Kulgam, Jammu and Kashmir

•Terrorists fired on non-local workers at a brick kiln in Kelam village of Kulgam district, Jammu and Kashmir, on 31 July 2026.
•Two migrant workers from Chhattisgarh were shot; one died on the spot and the second succumbed to injuries during treatment.
•The Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir directed security forces to eliminate the attackers.

UPSCSSCDefence

Read Analysisarrow_forward

AppointmentsMediumquizQuiz

Air Marshal Sandeep Thareja Appointed Director General Armed Forces Medical Services

•Air Marshal Sandeep Thareja has been appointed Director General Armed Forces Medical Services (DGAFMS) with effect from the afternoon of 31 August 2026.
•He was serving as Director General Medical Services (Air) at the time of the appointment.
•He succeeds Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin, who retires on that date.

SSCDefenceRailwayBanking

Read Analysisarrow_forward

SportsHighquizQuiz

Neeraj Chopra Takes Silver as India Claims Javelin Double Podium at Glasgow

•Neeraj Chopra won silver in the men's javelin throw at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games on 31 July with a best throw of 85.83m.
•Yash Vir Singh took bronze with a personal best of 85.41m on his final attempt, giving India a double podium in the event.
•Gold went to Sri Lanka's Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage with a throw of 89.75m.

UPSCSSCBankingRailway

Read Analysisarrow_forward

SportsHighquizQuiz

Harsh Singh Wins India's First Men's Judo Gold at Commonwealth Games

•Havildar Harsh Singh won gold in the men's 60 kg judo final at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games on 31 July.
•He became the first male judoka from India to win a Commonwealth Games title.
•He beat Australia's Katz in the final, sealing the bout with a low tai-otoshi throw inside the final minute.

SSCRailwayDefenceBanking

Read Analysisarrow_forward

SportsHighquizQuiz

Tejaswin Shankar Wins India's First-Ever Commonwealth Games Decathlon Medal

•Tejaswin Shankar won bronze in the men's decathlon at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games on 31 July, India's first medal ever in the event at these Games.
•He totalled 7,976 points across the two-day, ten-event competition at the EDF Scotstoun Stadium.
•Lindon Victor of Grenada took gold and Damian Warner of Canada silver with 8,036 points.

UPSCSSCBankingRailway

Read Analysisarrow_forward

Schemes & CommitteesHighquizQuiz

Cabinet Approves Rs 84,084 Crore Samudra Manthan Offshore Exploration Scheme

•The Union Cabinet approved 'Samudra Manthan', the National Offshore Exploration Scheme, with an outlay of Rs 84,084 crore running to FY 2030-31.
•It is a Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas aimed at stimulating oil and gas exploration across all of India's maritime regions.
•Components include large-scale seismic data acquisition, accelerated deepwater and ultra-deepwater exploratory drilling, and scientific drilling in frontier basins.

UPSCSSCBankingRailway

Read Analysisarrow_forward

Schemes & CommitteesHighquizQuiz

Cabinet Approves Rs 5,070 Crore PM Surya Sarovar Yojana for Floating Solar Power

•The Union Cabinet approved the Pradhan Mantri Surya Sarovar Yojana (PM-SSY) with a total outlay of Rs 5,070 crore.
•The scheme targets 5,000 MW of floating solar photovoltaic capacity with co-located energy storage of at least two hours, or 10,000 MWh.
•Projects will be sanctioned between FY 2026-27 and FY 2030-31, with financial support disbursed up to FY 2032-33.

UPSCSSCBankingRailway

Read Analysisarrow_forward

Schemes & CommitteesHighquizQuiz

Cabinet Clears Rs 36,441 Crore Revamped Khelo India Scheme and Higher Federation Support

•The Union Cabinet approved a revamped Khelo India Scheme together with enhanced Assistance to National Sports Federations (ANSFs) at a combined outlay of Rs 36,441 crore for 2026-27 to 2030-31.
•Of this, Rs 29,054 crore goes to Khelo India and Rs 7,387 crore to assistance for National Sports Federations.
•The government described it as the country's most ambitious sports development programme since Independence.

UPSCSSCBankingRailway

Read Analysisarrow_forward

Schemes & CommitteesHighquizQuiz

Cabinet Extends PM-KISAN to 2030-31 with Rs 3.15 Lakh Crore Outlay

•The Union Cabinet approved continuation of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) from 2026-27 to 2030-31 with a financial outlay of Rs 3.15 lakh crore.
•The scheme will continue to pay Rs 6,000 per year to each eligible landholding farmer family in three equal instalments of Rs 2,000 through Direct Benefit Transfer.
•More than 9.49 crore farmers are expected to benefit; women farmers have already drawn over Rs 1.06 lakh crore and make up nearly one in four beneficiaries.

UPSCSSCBankingRailway

Read Analysisarrow_forward

Schemes & CommitteesMediumquizQuiz

Centre Releases Over ₹10,000 Crore to 12 States Under PMAY-Gramin

•The Union Minister for Rural Development released over ₹10,000 crore to twelve states under the Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G).
•PMAY-G, launched in 2016 by restructuring the earlier Indira Awaas Yojana, targeted 2.95 crore rural houses for FY 2016-17 to FY 2023-24, extended for FY 2024-25 to FY 2028-29 with an additional target of 2 crore houses.
•Unit assistance is ₹1.20 lakh in plain areas and ₹1.30 lakh in hilly/northeastern states, shared 60:40 (Centre:State) in plains and 90:10 in NE/Himalayan states; each house must be at least 25 sq.m with a hygienic cooking area.

UPSCSSC

Read Analysisarrow_forward

Schemes & CommitteesMediumquizQuiz

PM Inaugurates 75 Redeveloped Railway Stations Under Amrit Bharat Station Scheme

•The Prime Minister virtually inaugurated 75 redeveloped railway stations across 20 states under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme (ABSS).
•ABSS, launched in 2022, envisages long-term Master Planning for stations, with upgrades to entry/exit points, waiting halls, toilets, platforms, roofing, lifts, escalators, and free Wi-Fi.
•The scheme promotes 'One Station One Product' kiosks to sell local goods and support the local economy, alongside greener, more attractive station design.

UPSCSSCRailway

Read Analysisarrow_forward

DefenceMediumquizQuiz

Defence Minister Inaugurates Shyok Tunnel on Strategic DS-DBO Road in Ladakh

•India's Defence Minister inaugurated the Shyok Tunnel on the Darbuk-Shyok-Daulat Beg Oldie (DS-DBO) Road in eastern Ladakh, as part of 125 Border Roads Organisation (BRO) infrastructure projects.
•The 920-metre cut-and-cover tunnel, built by BRO at over 12,000 feet altitude, bypasses a road stretch regularly hit by snow, avalanches, and landslides, ensuring all-weather connectivity.
•The DS-DBO Road is the only surface route to Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO), India's northernmost military outpost near the LAC, and also supports logistics toward the Siachen Glacier region.

DefenceUPSC

Read Analysisarrow_forward

InternationalMediumquizQuiz

Iran Claims It Destroyed Three US F-35 Jets in Jordan; US Denies Claim

•Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed it destroyed three US F-35 stealth fighter jets at Al-Azraq Air Base in Jordan during retaliatory missile strikes, after US-Iran hostilities resumed following a temporary pause.
•The United States rejected Iran's claim.
•The F-35 Lightning II, built by Lockheed Martin, is a fifth-generation stealth multirole aircraft available in three variants — F-35A (conventional), F-35B (short takeoff/vertical landing), and F-35C (carrier-based).

UPSCDefence

Read Analysisarrow_forward

Science & TechMediumquizQuiz

ISRO, JAXA Review Chandrayaan 5 (LUPEX) Progress in Bengaluru Talks

•ISRO and JAXA reviewed progress on Chandrayaan 5 (LUPEX — Lunar Polar Exploration Mission) at technical meetings in Bengaluru, covering spacecraft communication, payload integration, and launch planning, with the mission still targeted for 2028.
•LUPEX will study water and water-ice in the Moon's south polar Permanently Shadowed Regions; ISRO is building the lander while JAXA (with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries) develops the rover, to be launched on Japan's H3-24L rocket.
•The mission carries 7 scientific instruments contributed by ISRO, JAXA, NASA (neutron spectrometers), and ESA (mass spectrometer), and received Indian government financial sanction on 10 March 2025.

UPSC

Read Analysisarrow_forward

Schemes & CommitteesMediumquizQuiz

Government Approves 33 Projects Under ₹1-Lakh-Crore Urban Challenge Fund

•The government has approved or given in-principle approval to 33 projects under the Urban Challenge Fund (UCF), a Union Minister informed the Lok Sabha.
•UCF is a new Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs scheme with ₹1 lakh crore central assistance, operational FY 2025-26 to FY 2030-31 (extendable to FY 2033-34), supporting projects via competitive 'challenge-mode' selection.
•Central assistance is capped at 25% of bankable project cost, with at least 50% to be mobilised via market sources (municipal bonds, bank loans, PPPs) — expected to drive ₹4 lakh crore in total urban investment over five years.

UPSC

Read Analysisarrow_forward

Polity & GovernanceMediumquizQuiz

CWMA Directs Karnataka to Release Cauvery Water to Tamil Nadu Amid Distress Conditions

•The Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) endorsed a Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) order directing Karnataka to release 3,500 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu for 15 days (29 July-12 August 2026), nearly 4.5 TMC ft.
•The decision came amid deficient southwest monsoon rainfall: net inflows into Karnataka reservoirs were ~60% below the 30-year average, and river flow at Biligundulu showed a 90% deficit.
•Combined storage in Karnataka's four major reservoirs stood at 64.15 TMC ft against a capacity of 114.57 TMC ft; Karnataka considers the order burdensome given drought-like conditions and is examining an appeal before the CWMA.

UPSC

Read Analysisarrow_forward

InternationalHighquizQuiz

US-Iran Conflict Triggers Gulf Security Realignments, Raises India's Energy Stakes

•The US-Iran conflict has triggered strategic realignments among Gulf Arab states — including renewed defence pacts with Pakistan and resumed Houthi-Saudi hostilities — with implications for regional stability and India's energy security.
•Kuwait ratified a 5-year Defence Cooperation Agreement with Pakistan (training, intelligence sharing, logistics); Qatar deepened security cooperation with Pakistan, following the earlier Saudi-Pakistan Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement (September 2025).
•Fighting resumed between Saudi-backed Yemeni forces and the Houthis, including a Houthi naval blockade declaration in the Bab-el-Mandeb strait and strikes on Saudi Aramco facilities — meaning both the Red Sea and Strait of Hormuz face simultaneous conflict-related disruption for the first time.

UPSC

Read Analysisarrow_forward

EconomyHighquizQuiz

Transmission Bottlenecks Put ~21 GW of India's Renewable Capacity at Risk

•Nearly 21 GW (~9%) of India's installed renewable capacity is running on temporary grid connections due to delayed dedicated transmission infrastructure, putting project revenues at risk; ~12 GW faces peak-hour evacuation restrictions.
•In FY26, about 6,900 GWh of clean electricity faced curtailment restrictions; during April-June 2026 alone, 8,133 GWh of solar power was curtailed.
•Under the GNA-TGNA framework, projects with long-term General Network Access (GNA) get firm evacuation rights, while those on Temporary GNA (T-GNA) are curtailed first during congestion — by up to 70-80% of capacity in some cases, uncompensated.

UPSC

Read Analysisarrow_forward

Schemes & CommitteesLowquizQuiz

Public Accounts Committee Flags Concerns Over PM Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) Implementation

•Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) criticised the government's flagship skilling programme, the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), over implementation shortcomings.
•PMKVY, launched in 2015, is implemented by the National Skill Development Corporation and aims to certify India's youth (aged 15-29) through industry-relevant skill training.
•The scheme has passed through three phases — PMKVY 1.0 (2015, targeted 50 million by 2020), PMKVY 2.0 (2016, targeted 10 million by 2020), and PMKVY 3.0 (targeting 15-20 million by 2022, including high-end skills like robotics and 3D printing).

UPSC

Read Analysisarrow_forward

Schemes & CommitteesMediumquizQuiz

PM Disburses ₹2,400 Crore Under Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana to 15 Lakh First-Time Employees

•Prime Minister Narendra Modi disbursed ₹2,400 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana (PM-VBRY) to around 15 lakh first-time employees.
•PM-VBRY aims to support creation of over 3.5 crore jobs in two years by incentivising formal-sector employment and EPFO enrolment.
•Part A gives first-time EPFO-registered employees (salary up to ₹1 lakh) one month's EPF wage (up to ₹15,000) in two instalments, after 6 and 12 months of service.

UPSCSSC

Read Analysisarrow_forward

ObituariesLowquizQuiz

AC Milan Legend Franco Baresi Dies at 66

•Franco Baresi, former AC Milan captain and Italy international, died on 31 July 2026 at age 66, having played his entire senior career (1977-1997) for AC Milan across 719 appearances.
•He won six Serie A titles and three European Cup/UEFA Champions League titles with Milan, which retired his No. 6 shirt after his career.
•He was part of Italy's 1982 FIFA World Cup-winning squad and captained Italy to the 1994 World Cup final, lost to Brazil on penalties.

SSC

Read Analysisarrow_forward

Science & TechLowquizQuiz

IndiaAI Mission and Ministry of Ayush Sign MoU to Expand AI in Traditional Medicine

•The Ministry of Ayush and the IndiaAI Mission (under MeitY) signed an MoU on 31 July 2026 to expand AI use in research, digital health, capacity building, medicinal plants, and drug administration for traditional medicine systems.
•Under the MoU, Ayush will onboard the AIKosh platform to share datasets, metadata, AI models, and toolkits, and get access to subsidised GPU-based high-performance computing.
•The IndiaAI Innovation Challenge 2026, in partnership with the Ministry of Ayush, invites market-ready AI solutions for Ayush-linked public health challenges, with pilot support and potential government contracts.

UPSC

Read Analysisarrow_forward

DefenceMediumquizQuiz

Army Chief Launches Indigenous Xtreme Weather Grade (XWG) Diesel

•General Dhiraj Seth, Chief of the Army Staff, launched indigenously developed Xtreme Weather Grade (XWG) Diesel in New Delhi on 31 July 2026, jointly developed by the Indian Army and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL).
•XWG Diesel functions at temperatures as low as minus 42°C, addressing conventional diesel's tendency to thicken and clog fuel filters in extreme cold, and can be used in existing Army vehicles without modification.
•It complies with BS-VI standards and IS 1460:2025 specifications; BPCL has established a supply chain from its Bina Refinery to strategic storage at Bathinda.

DefenceUPSC

Read Analysisarrow_forward

ObituariesMediumquizQuiz

Former Army Chief General V.N. Sharma Passes Away

•Former Indian Army Chief General Vishwa Nath Sharma passed away in New Delhi on 31 July 2026, having served as the 14th Chief of the Army Staff from 1 May 1988 to 30 June 1990.
•Commissioned into the 16th Light Cavalry in June 1950, he became the first post-Independence commissioned officer to rise to Army Chief.
•As Eastern Army Commander, he played a major role during the 1987 Sumdorong Chu military stand-off with China in Arunachal Pradesh.

DefenceSSCUPSC

Read Analysisarrow_forward

InternationalMediumquizQuiz

India and Bhutan Sign ₹4,000-Crore Line of Credit for Energy Projects

•India and Bhutan signed a concessional Line of Credit worth ₹4,000 crore (Nu 40 billion) on 31 July 2026, exchanged between the Export-Import Bank of India and Bhutan's Ministry of Finance during the Fifth India-Bhutan Development Cooperation Talks in Thimphu.
•The LoC supports energy projects under Bhutan's 13th Five-Year Plan (2024-29); India has reaffirmed overall support of ₹10,000 crore for this Plan period.
•The same day, AIIMS and Bhutan's Khesar Gyalpo University of Medical Sciences exchanged an MoU on medical research and education, and India handed over 45 electric vehicles for green mobility.

UPSC

Read Analysisarrow_forward

Polity & GovernanceHighquizQuiz

Parliament Clears Anti-Paper Leak Amendment Bill 2026 with Tougher Penalties

•Parliament cleared the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 after Rajya Sabha approval followed Lok Sabha passage; it now awaits Presidential assent to become law.
•The Bill sharply raises penalties: individual offences now carry 5-10 years' imprisonment (up from 3-5) and fines up to ₹50 lakh (up from ₹10 lakh); organised crime offences carry a minimum 7 years and fines up to ₹10 crore.
•It gives statutory backing to Special Fast Track Courts (to be set up initially in the four High Courts handling NEET-related cases), with investigations capped at 2 months and trials at 3 months.

UPSCSSC

Read Analysisarrow_forward

Important DaysMediumquizQuiz

Shaheed Udham Singh Martyrdom Day 2026 Observed on 31 July

•India observed Shaheed Udham Singh's 87th martyrdom day on 31 July 2026, marking his execution at Pentonville Prison, London, on 31 July 1940.
•Udham Singh, who witnessed the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre, assassinated Michael O'Dwyer — the Lieutenant Governor of Punjab who defended the massacre — at Caxton Hall, London, on 13 March 1940.
•While in British custody, he signed his name as 'Ram Mohammad Singh Azad', symbolising Hindu-Muslim-Sikh unity and a free India; his remains were brought back to India in 1974 and cremated at Sunam.

UPSCSSCRailway

Read Analysisarrow_forward

InternationalHighquizQuiz

Hamas Agrees to Disarm Under Trump-Backed 'Board of Peace' Plan for Gaza

•US President Donald Trump announced that the 'Board of Peace' has secured Hamas's agreement to fully disarm in Gaza, as part of the second phase of the US-brokered Gaza ceasefire framework.
•The plan envisages full disarmament of Hamas and other militant groups, Israeli troop withdrawal, an International Stabilization Force, and a new Palestinian police force — facilitated by Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey.
•Israel has not yet officially accepted the deal, with reports suggesting Israeli officials feel some provisions do not fully meet the country's security requirements.

UPSC

Read Analysisarrow_forward

Ranks & ReportsMediumquizQuiz

Environmental Performance Index 2026: Estonia Tops Rankings, India Placed 176th

•The Environmental Performance Index (EPI) 2026, covering 177 countries across 47 indicators in 12 issue categories, ranked Estonia first with a score of 74.79, followed by Luxembourg and the United Kingdom.
•India was ranked 176th with a score of 22.46, just above Laos, marking it among the lowest-performing countries in the index.
•The EPI is compiled by Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy, Columbia University's CIESIN, and Yale Center for Geospatial Solutions, with McCall MacBain Foundation support.

UPSCSSC

Read Analysisarrow_forward

NationalMediumquizQuiz

Indian Railways Launches Online Personal Luggage Booking for Reserved Passengers

•Indian Railways rolled out online personal luggage booking for passengers with reserved tickets, effective 31 July 2026, per a Railway Board order dated 20 July 2026.
•Confirmed passengers in reserved classes can now book excess luggage online in advance, avoiding station counter visits; waitlisted/unconfirmed ticket holders cannot use the service.
•Free luggage allowance ranges from 35 kg (Second Class) to 70 kg (AC First Class); excess baggage beyond the free limit is charged at 1.5 times the applicable rate, within class-wise maximum limits.

SSCRailway

Read Analysisarrow_forward

Polity & GovernanceMediumquizQuiz

Lok Sabha Passes Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2026

•The Lok Sabha passed the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2026 by voice vote on 31 July 2026, after it was introduced by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on 29 July 2026.
•The Bill amends the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969, changing the procedure for delayed registration of births and deaths.
•Under the amended framework, a birth or death reported after two years will require an order from a Judicial Magistrate of the First Class; delays of one-two years continue to need a District/Sub-Divisional Magistrate's order.

UPSCSSC

Read Analysisarrow_forward