Current Affairs for Competitive Exams: 31 July 2026, Daily Roundup
Current Affairs – 31 July 2026
National Current Affairs
1. Registration of Births & Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2026 Passed: The Lok Sabha passed the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2026 to strengthen India’s digital civil registration system.
Key Provisions:
- Creation of an integrated digital database for births and deaths.
- Automatic updating of electoral rolls, National Population Register (NPR) and other government databases.
- Improves digital governance and service delivery.
2. Supreme Court Examines Plea Against Polygamy: The Supreme Court issued notice to the Union Government on a petition challenging the constitutional validity of polygamy.
Exam Focus: Articles 14 (Equality), 21 (Right to Life & Dignity), 25 (Freedom of Religion) and the debate on the Uniform Civil Code (UCC).
3. DAANVEER Initiative Launched: The Ministry of Panchayati Raj launched the DAANVEER initiative.
Objective:
- Citizens and organisations can donate computers and IT equipment to Gram Panchayats through the Meri Panchayat App.
- Promotes digital inclusion and strengthens rural e-governance.
4. GDP Estimation Reform: The Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI) announced that the Producer Price Index (PPI) will replace the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) as the GDP deflator. Provides a more accurate estimate of real GDP growth and inflation-adjusted national income.
5. Other Important National Updates
- President Droupadi Murmu launched several citizen-centric initiatives at Rashtrapati Bhavan, including heritage and sustainability projects, on completion of four years in office.
- Chhattisgarh launched DWEEPTI Yojana, India’s first women-led distributed renewable energy policy.
International Current Affairs
1. India–UK Strategic Partnership: Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated newly appointed UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham and reaffirmed commitment to strengthening the India–UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, including trade, technology and clean-energy cooperation.
2. India Issues Space Re-entry Guidelines: IN-SPACe issued India’s first Norms, Guidelines and Procedures for Planned Re-entry of Space Objects, applicable to Indian and foreign operators undertaking controlled atmospheric re-entry.
3. India’s Digital Public Infrastructure Goes Global: India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) has now been adopted by 24 countries, using platforms such as UPI, DigiLocker and India Stack.
4. India Becomes World’s Second-Largest Supplier of Seafarers: According to the BIMCO-ICS Seafarer Workforce Report 2026, India now contributes 3,11,936 seafarers (12.16%), making it the world’s second-largest supplier after the Philippines.
5. Major World Developments
- Protests continued in Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir (PoJK) following the crackdown on civilians.
- The US and Iran exchanged fresh missile strikes, escalating tensions in West Asia.
- The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo crossed 1,500 deaths.
Defence Update
1. INS Machilipatnam Launched: The Indian Navy launched INS Machilipatnam, the 7th Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC) built by Cochin Shipyard Limited.
Importance:
- Strengthens coastal surveillance and anti-submarine warfare capability.
- Supports India’s indigenous shipbuilding programme.
2. Self-Reliant Defence Vision: Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth reiterated the government’s commitment to building an Atmanirbhar defence ecosystem and making the Indian Air Force among the world’s strongest by 2047.
3. Samudra Pradakshina: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh felicitated nine women officers who completed Samudra Pradakshina, India’s first Tri-service all-women circumnavigation sailing expedition.
Key Facts:
- Duration: 314 days
- Distance: 25,500 nautical miles
- Conducted aboard Indian Army Sailing Vessel Triveni.
Science & Technology
1. India’s First Telecom Manufacturing Zone: The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) signed an MoU with the Government of Madhya Pradesh to establish India’s first Telecom Manufacturing Zone (TMZ) at Gwalior.
Sports Update
Commonwealth Games 2026 (Glasgow)
- Neeraj Chopra, Rohit Yadav and Yashvir Singh qualified for the Men’s Javelin Throw Final.
- India remained 8th in the medal standings with 15 medals (3 Gold, 9 Silver, 3 Bronze).
Other Sports
- The Indian Men’s Team reached the semi-finals of the World Junior Squash Team Championships, defeating England 2–1, while the women’s team exited in the quarter-finals.
- Veteran batter Ajinkya Rahane announced his retirement from international cricket after representing India in 85 Tests, 90 ODIs and 20 T20Is.
Important Observance – 31 July
World Ranger Day: Observed annually on 31 July by the International Ranger Federation (IRF).
Objective:
- Honours park rangers who lost their lives or were injured while protecting forests and wildlife.
- Recognises their contribution to biodiversity conservation and anti-poaching efforts.
Miscellaneous One-Liners Current Affairs
- Madhya Pradesh selected for India’s first Telecom Manufacturing Zone at Gwalior.
- Supreme Court upheld the NCLAT order setting aside the ₹301.6 crore CCI penalty imposed on Grasim Industries.
- PMO announced ₹2 lakh ex gratia for victims of the Bhiwandi building collapse.
- Karnataka held consultations on the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) directive amid water scarcity.
- IRDAI approved Patanjali Ayurved and DS Group’s acquisition of a 98% stake in Magma General Insurance.
- West Bengal will implement a new NEP 2020-aligned school syllabus from 2028.
