Current Affairs for Competitive Exams: 22 July 2026, Daily Roundup

Current Affairs for Competitive Exams: 22 July 2026, Daily Roundup

Current Affairs – 22 July 2026

National Current Affairs

1. National Cooperation Policy & ‘Gems of India Challenge’: The Union Government highlighted implementation measures under the National Cooperation Policy to strengthen the cooperative sector. Separately, the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting launched the Gems of India Challenge to promote domestic digital creators and grassroots storytelling.

2. Digital Land Records Linked with Rural Credit: The Department of Land Resources (DoLR) partnered with the RBI Innovation Hub (RBIH) to integrate digitised land records with digital lending infrastructure.

• Aim: Faster and easier institutional credit for rural citizens.
• Significance: Convergence of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), land governance and financial inclusion.

3. Madhya Pradesh Assembly Passes UCC Bill: The Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly passed the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill, 2026 by voice vote during its Monsoon Session.

• Provides a common framework for specified civil matters.
• Contains specific exemptions for tribal communities.

4. Other National Updates

• West Bengal increased monthly old-age, widow and disability pensions from ₹1,000 to ₹1,500.
• NHAI introduced a Local Pass facility on RajmargYatra App for residents within 20 km of eligible toll plazas.
• India’s renewable-energy capacity crossed 288 GW, including over 162 GW solar capacity.

International Current Affairs

1. EAM Attends ASEAN & Quad Meetings in Manila: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar participated in the ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference and Quad engagements in Manila. Reaffirmed India’s support for a free, open, inclusive and rules-based Indo-Pacific.

2. India–EU Textile & Apparel Dialogue: The Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI) and EURATEX established the EU–India Textile and Apparel Dialogue (TAD).

3. India Protests Attack on MV Golden Leo: India summoned the Russian Chargé d’Affaires following an attack on commercial vessel MV Golden Leo at Ukraine’s Odesa port that killed four Indian seafarers.

4. President Murmu’s North Macedonia Visit: President Droupadi Murmu addressed North Macedonia’s Assembly in Skopje, becoming the first Indian President to visit the country.

5. US–Iran & Strait of Hormuz Crisis: US–Iran hostilities continued around the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, while Iran-backed Houthis announced a maritime embargo targeting Saudi Arabia.

• Threatens global oil supplies and shipping.
• Raises freight and marine-insurance costs.
• Particularly important for India’s energy security.

Other World Updates: The US announced a 50% tariff on selected Canadian imports; protests continued in PoJK; and severe flash floods caused major casualties in Afghanistan’s Nuristan province.

Defence

1. INS Malvan Commissioned: The Indian Navy commissioned INS Malvan, an indigenously built Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC).

2. Samudra Pradakshina: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh virtually flagged in the Samudra Pradakshina all-women maritime expedition, highlighting women’s growing role in the Armed Forces.

3. Exercise Pitch Black 2026: The IAF participated in Exercise Pitch Black at Darwin, Australia, with Rafale fighters, C-17 Globemaster and IL-78 refuellers.

• Hosted by Royal Australian Air Force.
• Focus: multinational air combat and interoperability.

Defence Update: The Army is also introducing drone-equipped Shaurya Squadrons into armoured formations for surveillance, electronic warfare and loitering-munition operations.

Science & Technology

1. IISc Develops Targeted Oral-Cancer Therapy: Researchers at IISc Bengaluru developed a targeted drug-delivery approach for oral cancer.

• Designed to improve therapeutic efficiency.
• Could reduce damage to healthy tissues and treatment side effects.

2. Bharat Train Control System (BTCS): Indian Railways is developing the indigenous Bharat Train Control System (BTCS) for high-speed and bullet-train network

3. Peninsular Gneiss: The Peninsular Gneiss exposed at Lalbagh, Bengaluru, is about 3.4 billion years old, making it one of Earth’s oldest exposed crustal formations.

Sports

• India announced a 126-member contingent for the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
• Tamil Nadu’s Aswath S became India’s 98th Chess Grandmaster.
• Former England football star and two-time Ballon d’Or winner Kevin Keegan passed away aged 75.
• India named a 20-member men’s hockey squad, led by Harmanpreet Singh, for the upcoming FIH World Cup.

Observance Day

World Brain Day – 22 July: Observed annually by the World Federation of Neurology (WFN) to promote:

• Brain health and prevention of neurological disorders.
• Early diagnosis and treatment.
• Equitable access to neurological healthcare.

Miscellaneous One-Liners Current Affairs

• Anurag Jain appointed CEO of NITI Aayog.
• Meghalaya launched Mission Golden Spice, a ₹175.45-crore initiative to globally promote GI-tagged Lakadong turmeric and improve farmers’ incomes.
• Shabdalok – Museum of Word, an immersive language museum showcasing nearly 380 Indian languages, inaugurated at Kolkata’s National Library campus.
• Smart Property Cards announced for 48 Lal Dora villages in Delhi under the SVAMITVA framework.
• Supreme Court asked States/UTs to consider increasing the retirement age of judicial officers.
• Sikkim announced a high-level inquiry into the Samardung NHPC tunnel disaster.
• Punjab Police arrested 17 persons after thwarting an alleged terror conspiracy.