Current Affairs for Competitive Exams: 12 July 2026, Daily Roundup
Current Affairs – 12 July 2026
National Affairs
1. PMFME Scheme Crosses 2 Lakh Loan Milestone: The Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme has sanctioned loans to over 2 lakh micro food processing enterprises, promoting value addition, food processing, entrepreneurship and employment.
2. Andhra Pradesh Launches ‘Pillale Sampada’ Initiative: Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu announced a policy shift from population control to population conservation by launching ‘Pillale Sampada’ (Children are Wealth) to encourage balanced population growth.
3. Higher Education & Tourism
- Preparations began for the 14th International Tourism Mart (ITM) 2026, to be hosted at Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh, showcasing Northeast India’s tourism potential.
- The AISHE Reports (2022–23 & 2023–24) highlighted continued growth in higher education enrolment, female participation and GER.
4. Railways & Infrastructure
- Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw inspected the Medha railway coach manufacturing facility in Telangana.
- Hyderabad is proposed to become a High-Speed Rail Hub, with future bullet train corridors to Pune, Chennai and Bengaluru.
5. Agriculture & Environment
- Kharif sowing in Maharashtra reached 6.51 million hectares (45%) of the normal sowing area following revival of the southwest monsoon.
International Current Affairs
1. PM Modi Concludes New Zealand Visit: Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded his historic New Zealand visit—the first by an Indian Prime Minister in over 40 years.
- Both nations elevated ties through cooperation in maritime security, Indo-Pacific, trade and supply chains.
2. India–Kyrgyzstan Cultural Cooperation: India and Kyrgyzstan inaugurated the International Centre for Civilizational Studies – “Manas and Mahabharata” in Bishkek, strengthening cultural diplomacy and academic collaboration.
3. Bangladesh Hands Mongla Port Project to China: Bangladesh transferred the Mongla Port Project from India to China, reflecting increasing strategic competition in the Bay of Bengal.
4. Other news
Defence & Science & Technology
1. INS Mahendragiri Commissioned: India commissioned INS Mahendragiri, the 6th Project 17A indigenous stealth frigate, into the Eastern Fleet at Visakhapatnam.
- Equipped with BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles.
- Strengthens India’s indigenous naval capability under Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
2. DRDO Chairman Appointment: The Government is in the final stage of appointing a full-time Chairman of DRDO following the retirement of Dr. Samir V. Kamat.
3. NASA Mission: Indian-origin astronaut Anil Menon was confirmed for the Soyuz MS-29 mission to the International Space Station (ISS).
Sports
- India’s women’s compound archery team (Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Prithika Pradeep & Chikitha Taniparthi) won Silver at the Archery World Cup Stage 4 in Madrid.
- 19th Governor’s Taekwondo Cup 2026 inaugurated in Imphal, Manipur with 1,141 participants.
- England defeated India by 56 runs in the 5th T20I, winning the series.
- Trophy tour for the 135th Durand Cup 2026 began in Shillong. The tournament runs from 31 July–23 August.
Observance Day
World Malala Day (12 July): Observed annually on 12 July, Malala Day promotes girls’ education, gender equality and the right to education, honouring Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai.
Miscellaneous One-Liners Current Affairs
- Legendary playback singer S. Janaki, popularly known as the “Nightingale of the South”, passed away at 88.
- World Bank approved USD 890 million to support PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, accelerating rooftop solar adoption.
- Quality Council of India (QCI) and NSIC signed an MoU to strengthen MSME quality standards and competitiveness.
- CAQM conducted inspections of road redevelopment works in Noida and Greater Noida to improve air quality.
- IMD forecast heavy rainfall across northern and eastern India for the next several days.
- 15 Indian tourists lost their lives after a boat capsized near Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam.
- West Bengal constituted a 9-member committee under Justice (Retd.) Ranjana Prakash Desai to examine the draft Uniform Civil Code (UCC).
- The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted searches across Assam, Mizoram, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh in a Myanmar areca nut smuggling and money laundering case.
- Kerala constituted a 5-member expert committee to investigate the Kalladi landslide in Wayanad.
- Swachhata Pakhwada 2026 was inaugurated by Union Minister Suresh Gopi in Kerala.
