Current Affairs for Competitive Exams: 21 July 2026, Daily Roundup
Current Affairs – 21 July 2026
National Affairs
1. DCGI Approves India’s First Dengue Vaccine – QDENGA: The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) approved Takeda’s QDENGA (TAK-003), India’s first licensed dengue vaccine.
Key Points:
- Live attenuated tetravalent vaccine (covers DENV-1 to DENV-4).
- Approved for 4–60 years age group.
- Expected to reduce severe dengue cases and hospitalisations.
2. Renewable Energy Capacity Reaches 288.58 GW: The Ministry of New & Renewable Energy informed Parliament that India’s installed renewable energy capacity reached 288.58 GW (June 2026).
Break-up:
- Solar – 162.15 GW
- Wind – 57.44 GW
- Hydro – 57.24 GW
- Bio Power – 11.75 GW
- Total Non-Fossil Capacity – 297.36 GW (including nuclear).
3. Monsoon Session Begins Amid Opposition Protest: The first day of Parliament’s Monsoon Session witnessed repeated adjournments over the NEET issue.
- Bihar Legislature also began its five-day Monsoon Session.
- Madhya Pradesh Assembly introduced the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill, 2026.
4. Other Important Developments
- Skyroot Aerospace’s Vikram-1 successfully placed multiple payloads into 450 km Low Earth Orbit under Mission Aagaman.
- Odisha’s Rameshwar–Paradip Coastal Highway (160 km; ₹8,000 crore+) approved to improve coastal connectivity.
- Punjab initiated transition from MGNREGA to VBGRAMG (Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Aajeevika Mission).
- Char Dham Yatra temporarily suspended due to heavy rainfall.
International Current Affairs
1. India–Moldova Business Forum: President Droupadi Murmu addressed the India–Moldova Business Forum in Chișinău, calling for stronger cooperation in trade, Technology, agriculture, and Pharmaceuticals
2. Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award 2025: The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports invited nominations for the Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award (TNNAA) 2025 through the National Awards Portal.
Categories:
- Land
- Water
- Air Adventure
- Lifetime Achievement
3. World News
- Houthi rebels announced a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia.
- US–Iran conflict entered its ninth consecutive day, with continued strikes around the Strait of Hormuz.
- Andy Burnham assumed office as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
- US President Donald Trump supported including Iran in a proposed Russia sanctions bill.
Defence & Science & Technology
1. BSF Reviews Security in Sundarbans: The Border Security Force (BSF) began assessing eco-friendly border management in the Sundarbans.
Focus:
- Floating Border Outposts (BOPs)
- Drone surveillance
- Sonar monitoring
- Balancing border security with mangrove conservation.
2. Maglev High-Speed Rail Research: NITI Aayog and the Ministry of Railways reviewed indigenous Maglev (Magnetic Levitation) technology.
Significance:
- Speeds above 450 km/h.
- Uses magnetic levitation, reducing friction and maintenance.
3. Defence Highlights
- Indian Air Force issued an RFI for indigenous man-portable loitering munitions under Make in India.
- India accelerated development of High-Altitude Pseudo Satellites (HAPS) for surveillance and communication.
- Indian Army launched Operation Jal Rahat for flood rescue operations in Assam.
Sports
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated PV Sindhu for winning the Japan Open 2026 Women’s Singles title.
- Indian men’s and women’s teams began their campaign in the inaugural FIH Youth Hockey5s Asian Championship in Muscat.
- Indian Grandmaster M. Pranesh defeated World Champion D. Gukesh in classical chess.
Global Observance
World Junk Food Day (21 July): Observed annually to raise awareness about:
- Healthy eating habits
- Lifestyle diseases
- WHO recommendations on reducing unhealthy diets
- India’s Eat Right India campaign.
Miscellaneous One-Liners Current Affairs
- Supreme Court cleared India’s first Night Safari project at Kukrail, Lucknow.
- R. Vairamuthu received the 60th Jnanpith Award (2025).
- Madhya Pradesh Assembly passed the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill.
- Indian Grey Hornbill bred successfully for the 4th consecutive year in Gir Forest.
- Pooja Wadhwa became the first woman Mayor of Abohar (Punjab).
- NHRC issued notice over alleged assault on girl students in a Rajasthan government school.
- 16 workers trapped in the Samardung Tunnel (Sikkim) were rescued safely.
- Heavy rainfall and landslides caused loss of life in Assam, Nagaland and Jammu & Kashmir, with IMD issuing Red Alerts for several northern states.
