Current Affairs for Competitive Exams: 23 July 2026, Daily Roundup
Current Affairs – 23 July 2026
National Affairs
1. Fast-Track Courts for Examination Paper-Leak Cases: Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced dedicated fast-track courts for cases involving examination paper leaks.
2. ₹2,000-Crore Greater Noida West Metro Gets PIB Clearance: The Public Investment Board (PIB) cleared the 8.4-km Greater Noida West Metro extension.
- Route: Sector 61–Greater Noida West Sector 4.
- 5 elevated stations proposed.
- Implementing agency: Noida Metro Rail Corporation (NMRC).
- Objective: improve public transport and ease congestion around Gaur Chowk.
3. QS Best Student Cities Index: The latest QS Best Student Cities rankings highlighted India’s emerging higher-education hubs.
- Mumbai: Top-ranked Indian student city.
- Delhi: Ranked as the world’s most affordable student city, based on factors such as tuition and living costs.
- Relevant to India’s efforts toward internationalisation of higher education.
International Current Affairs
1. Stable India–China Ties Vital for Multipolar World: EAM: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar stressed that stable and predictable India–China relations are essential for:
- A multipolar Asia.
- A multipolar world order.
- Regional economic and strategic stability.
2. France Tightens Social-Media Access for Under-15s: France enacted legislation restricting social-media access for children below 15 without parental authorisation.
Significance:
- Child online safety.
- Protection from harmful digital content.
- Data privacy and platform accountability.
- Important example of emerging global digital regulation.
3. Red Sea–Bab-el-Mandeb Shipping Crisis: Commercial oil tankers bound for India and East Asia began rerouting following renewed Houthi blockade threats around the Red Sea–Bab-el-Mandeb corridor.
Impact on India:
- Longer shipping routes.
- Higher freight and insurance costs.
- Potential rise in imported crude prices.
- Greater vulnerability of India’s energy supply chains.
EAM Jaishankar also discussed maritime security and protection of Indian seafarers with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
Defence
1. India’s First Indigenous 350-kg Thrust Expendable Turbojet Engine: DRDO’s Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), in collaboration with Hyderabad-based Azad Engineering, developed an indigenous 350-kg thrust-class Expendable Turbojet Engine.
Importance:
- Can support UAVs, target drones and long-range precision weapons.
- Requires advanced metallurgy, precision manufacturing and aerothermal engineering.
- Reduces dependence on imported propulsion technologies.
2. IAF Chief Calls for Faster Indigenisation: Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh emphasised faster indigenous development of military technologies with the message:
“Tech delayed is tech denied.”
Science & Technology
1. Arunachal’s Expanding Glacial Lakes Raise GLOF Risk: Satellite analysis of the Mago Chu Basin in Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh, revealed rapid expansion of major glacial lakes. Sanhapo Lake: expanded from 55.87 hectares (2016) to 88.81 hectares (2026).
Why Important?
Rapid glacial-lake expansion increases the risk of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs).
Mitigation: Remote sensing, continuous monitoring, hazard mapping and early-warning systems are critical for vulnerable Himalayan settlements.
Sports
- Chess: Indian GM M. Pranesh defeated reigning World Chess Champion D. Gukesh in classical tournament play.
Global Observance Day
National Broadcasting Day – 23 July: Observed annually in India to commemorate the beginning of organised radio broadcasting.
Remember:
- 23 July 1927: Indian Broadcasting Company (IBC) began broadcasting from Bombay.
- Broadcasting was later taken over by the government.
- All India Radio (AIR) came into existence in 1936.
- AIR has officially been known as Akashvani since 1957.
Miscellaneous One-Liners Current Affairs
- Assam: Monsoon floods intensified, with the cumulative death toll reportedly reaching 31.
- Gujarat: Government approved specialised de-addiction centres in all district hospitals under the Drug Free Gujarat initiative.
- Uttar Pradesh: Veteran politician Alam Badi Azmi, aged 90, passed away.
- Tamil Nadu: Continues to be a major national leader in the share of women employed in factories, an important indicator of female industrial participation.
- Assam: IIM Guwahati commenced its flagship full-time MBA programme with an inaugural batch of 52 students.
- Madhya Pradesh: Supreme Court directed strict compliance with communal-access and heritage-preservation arrangements at the historic Bhojshala complex.
