Daily Current Affairs and GK Updates (22nd July, 2026) |

National News

Coal Ministry Releases First Annual Scientific Mine Closure Report

The Ministry of Coal will sign a technical cooperation agreement with Germany’s GIZ on 22 July 2026.
The agreement aims to promote scientific mine closure and environmental restoration.
It focuses on sustainable post-mining land development across India.
The partnership will facilitate knowledge sharing and institutional capacity building.
Global best practices for rehabilitation of closed coal mines will be adopted.
Scientific mine closure includes land stabilisation and ecosystem restoration.
It also covers water management, vegetation recovery, and sustainable future land use.
Existing initiatives such as RECLAIM, L.I.V.E.S., and SUVIKALP will be strengthened.
The Ministry will release its first AAROH (Annual Report on Mine Closure) during the event.
The report documents the scientific closure of 42 coal mines since Independence.
Key Fact: Germany’s Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) is partnering with India for scientific mine closure.

State News

Maharashtra Approves India’s First AI-Powered Bird Sanctuary Project

Maharashtra will develop India’s first AI-powered bird sanctuary.
The project will be established at Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary.
The state government has approved an investment of ₹45 crore.
An AI-based bird detection and monitoring centre will be developed.
The AI system will identify bird species and monitor their movement.
It will collect ecological data in real time for scientific research.
Thane Creek is an important wetland near Mumbai and Navi Mumbai.
The sanctuary attracts thousands of migratory birds, especially flamingos.
The project includes birdwatching towers, nature trails, and educational facilities.
It aims to promote wildlife conservation along with sustainable eco-tourism.
Key Fact: Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary will become India’s first AI-powered bird sanctuary.

Madhya Pradesh Uniform Civil Code Bill 2026

The Madhya Pradesh Cabinet approved the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill 2026.
Madhya Pradesh became the fourth state to introduce a UCC Bill.
Uttarakhand, Gujarat, and Assam had introduced similar legislation earlier.
The Bill proposes common civil laws on marriage, divorce, inheritance, and adoption.
Registration of marriages will be mandatory under the proposed law.
Live-in relationships must be registered within one month.
Equal inheritance rights are proposed for sons and daughters.
Practices like polygamy, triple talaq, and nikah halala are prohibited.
Scheduled Tribes and Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups are exempted.
The Bill is based on Article 44 of the Indian Constitution.
Key Fact: Madhya Pradesh is the fourth Indian state to introduce a Uniform Civil Code Bill.

Mission Golden Spice Boosts Meghalaya’s Lakadong Turmeric Value Chain

The Centre and Meghalaya launched Mission Golden Spice on 21 July 2026.
The mission focuses on the GI-tagged Lakadong Turmeric.
The project has a total investment of ₹175.45 crore.
It is planned as a five-year integrated value chain development programme.
Cultivation will expand from 2,500 hectares to 7,000 hectares by 2030.
Lakadong Turmeric is known for its high 7–12% curcumin content.
More than 17,500 farmers, mostly women, will benefit from the project.
The mission will improve processing, branding, and market access.
It aims to build a ₹100 crore turmeric economy.
Exports will be promoted to the US, Europe, Japan, and Gulf countries.
Key Fact: Lakadong Turmeric is globally renowned for its exceptionally high 7–12% curcumin content.

International News

France Bans Social Media Access for Children Under Fifteen

France approved a landmark law restricting social media access for children under 15 years.
The law will come into force from January 2027.
France became the first European country to introduce such nationwide restrictions.
The legislation is backed by President Emmanuel Macron.
Mandatory age verification will apply to all social media users.
From September 2026, children under 15 cannot create new social media accounts.
Existing users will undergo compulsory age verification from January 2027.
The law aims to improve children’s mental health and online safety.
It also seeks to reduce cyberbullying and harmful online content exposure.
The move has raised concerns regarding privacy, data protection, and enforcement.
Key Fact: France is the first European nation to ban social media access for children below 15 years.

Kanishka Narayan Becomes UK’s First Artificial Intelligence Minister

Kanishka Narayan has become the United Kingdom’s first Minister for Artificial Intelligence.
He is a British politician of Indian origin.
Narayan was born in Muzaffarpur, Bihar.
He was raised in Cardiff, Wales.
He represents the Vale of Glamorgan constituency.
He graduated from Oxford University and Stanford University.
He was appointed as AI Minister in July 2026.
He will oversee AI safety, innovation, regulation, and digital transformation.
His role includes supporting AI research, startups, and ethical AI governance.
His appointment reflects the growing importance of AI in public administration.
Key Fact: Kanishka Narayan is the UK’s first-ever Minister for Artificial Intelligence.

President Murmu Visits North Macedonia to Strengthen Bilateral Relations

President Droupadi Murmu visited North Macedonia on 21–22 July 2026.
It was the first bilateral visit by an Indian President to the country.
India and North Macedonia established diplomatic relations in 1995.
Both countries agreed to strengthen cooperation in trade and technology.
Other focus sectors include tourism, healthcare, and skill development.
The two nations aim to double bilateral trade from USD 133 million (2025).
India announced doubling ITEC training slots for North Macedonian professionals.
The healthcare cooperation MoU was extended for five years.
Both sides held the India–North Macedonia Business Forum.
Cooperation was discussed under ISA, CDRI, and GBA initiatives.
Key Fact: This was the first-ever bilateral visit by an Indian President to North Macedonia.

Banking News

EnKash Launches India’s First UPI-Enabled Digital Meal Card

EnKash launched India’s first UPI-enabled Meal Card.
The card integrates employee meal benefits with the Unified Payments Interface (UPI).
Users can make payments by scanning eligible UPI QR codes.
The card is available in both physical and virtual formats.
It supports tap, swipe, scan, and online transactions.
Transactions are processed through the RuPay network.
Employees can receive tax-free meal benefits of up to ₹8,800 per month.
The annual tax-free meal allowance is ₹1,05,600.
The card is accepted at over 5 lakh food and grocery outlets.
It is also usable on platforms like Swiggy, Zomato, and Blinkit.
Key Fact: EnKash introduced India’s first UPI-enabled Meal Card.

Economy News

India’s Fertiliser Exports Rise Fifty-Two Percent During FY26

India’s fertiliser exports increased by nearly 52% between FY24 and FY26.
Exports rose from 0.31 million tonnes to 0.47 million tonnes.
Growth was driven by potassium sulphate and superphosphate exports.
Organic and specialised fertilisers also contributed significantly.
Brazil emerged as India’s largest fertiliser export destination.
Fertiliser imports increased to 28.17 million tonnes in FY26.
India remains heavily dependent on imported urea, DAP, and MOP.
The country imports raw materials like natural gas, potash, and rock phosphate.
Export growth has strengthened India’s position in global fertiliser markets.
Reducing import dependence remains essential for agricultural security.
Key Fact: Brazil became the largest importer of Indian fertilisers during FY24–FY26.

Appointments News

Amit Diwan Named Hines Asia-Pacific and Middle East Head

Global real estate company Hines appointed Amit Diwan as Head of Asia-Pacific and Middle East.
He previously served as Head of Hines India.
Amit Diwan has nearly 25 years of real estate experience.
He will oversee regional investments and business strategies.
His responsibilities include partnerships and cross-border operations.
The appointment supports Hines’ expansion in high-growth markets.
Hines operates across multiple countries globally.
Amit Diwan succeeds Jon Tanaka in the regional leadership role.
Jon Tanaka will now lead strategic projects in Japan and Korea.
The appointment highlights the growing global leadership of Indian professionals.
Key Fact: Amit Diwan is the new Head of Asia-Pacific and Middle East at Hines.

Defense News

Paras Semiconductors to Build ₹6,200 Crore OSAT Facility

Paras Semiconductors Pvt. Ltd. signed an MoU with the MP State Electronics Development Corporation.
The company will establish a ₹6,200 crore greenfield semiconductor packaging facility.
The OSAT facility will be located in the Indore–Ujjain region of Madhya Pradesh.
The project supports the India Semiconductor Mission.
It will strengthen domestic semiconductor assembly, packaging, and testing capabilities.
Advanced technologies like 3D integration, chiplet integration, hybrid bonding, wafer bumping, and flip-chip assembly will be used.
The project is expected to generate over 2,500 direct jobs.
It will reduce India’s dependence on imported semiconductor services.
Initially, the facility will cater to the defence, space, sensor, and optical sectors.
The company also plans to expand into AI chip packaging in the future.
Key Fact: The project involves an investment of ₹6,200 crore under the India Semiconductor Mission.

Operation Southern Readiness 26-2: Indian Navy Hosts Multinational Maritime Exercise

The Indian Navy launched Operation Southern Readiness 26-2 at Kochi.
The exercise is being hosted at the Southern Naval Command.
It is the first time the multinational exercise is being held in India.
The programme is conducted under Combined Task Force 154 (CTF 154).
CTF 154 functions under the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF).
The four-day exercise includes 254 participants from 26 countries.
It also involves 74 facilitators, maritime experts, and international representatives.
The exercise focuses on interoperability and operational readiness.
Participants undergo simulator-based learning, practical training, and discussions.
The event strengthens maritime cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
Key Fact: 26 countries are participating in Operation Southern Readiness 26-2.

Schemes News

Rajasthan’s MAAY Scheme Offers ₹25 Lakh Annual Health Coverage

Rajasthan implements the Mukhyamantri Ayushman Arogya Yojana (MAAY).
The scheme provides cashless health insurance coverage.
Each eligible family receives coverage of up to ₹25 lakh annually.
MAAY was earlier known as the Mukhyamantri Chiranjeevi Swasthya Bima Yojana.
More than 1,700 medical and surgical procedures are covered.
Both government and empanelled private hospitals are included.
The scheme also offers accident insurance benefits.
Paid-category families contribute ₹850 per year.
Coverage is available for all members listed on the Jan Aadhaar Card, including newborns.
The scheme aims to reduce out-of-pocket healthcare expenditure and improve access to treatment.
Key Fact: MAAY provides ₹25 lakh annual cashless health insurance per family.

Science & Technology News

ICMR Transfers Three Indigenous Healthcare Technologies to Industry Partners

ICMR transferred three indigenous medical technologies for commercialisation.
The transfer was made under the Medical Innovations Patent Mitra initiative.
The technologies were licensed to Emcure Pharmaceuticals Ltd. and Biological E Ltd.
SHetA2 was licensed to Emcure for HPV-related cervical precancer treatment.
Biological E received two indigenous vaccine platforms.
The vaccines target typhoid, paratyphoid, and Shigella infections.
All technologies were developed by ICMR institutes.
The initiative promotes commercialisation of publicly funded research.
It supports India’s biotechnology and vaccine manufacturing ecosystem.
The programme aligns with the Make in India initiative.
Key Fact: ICMR transferred three indigenous healthcare technologies under the Medical Innovations Patent Mitra initiative.

IIT Kanpur Establishes Green Hydrogen Research Centre ECOGEN

IIT Kanpur will establish the Centre of Excellence on Innovative and Integrated Ecosystem for Green Hydrogen (ECOGEN).
The centre is approved under the Uttar Pradesh Green Hydrogen Policy 2024.
ECOGEN will promote research in green hydrogen technologies.
It will serve as a bridge between scientific research and industry.
The centre will focus on hydrogen production using renewable energy.
Research will also cover hydrogen storage and utilisation.
It aims to integrate hydrogen technologies into existing energy systems.
ECOGEN will help reduce carbon emissions.
The initiative supports India’s net-zero and clean energy goals.
It will strengthen Uttar Pradesh’s green hydrogen ecosystem.
Key Fact: ECOGEN is IIT Kanpur’s Centre of Excellence for Green Hydrogen research.

Scientists Discover Five New Allographa Lichen Species in Western Ghats

Scientists discovered five new Allographa species in the Western Ghats.
The research was conducted by MACS Agharkar Research Institute, Pune.
The discovery was announced on 21 July 2026.
It is the first comprehensive molecular study of Allographa in the region.
Researchers used DNA sequencing and chemical analysis.
Field surveys and morphological studies confirmed the findings.
The new species belong to the lichen-forming fungus genus Allographa.
Lichens are important indicators of environmental health.
The discovery supports biodiversity conservation and ecosystem monitoring.
It improves scientific understanding of species evolution.
Key Fact: Five new Allographa lichen species were discovered in the Western Ghats.

AI-Assisted Discovery Challenges Decades-Old Jacobian Conjecture in Mathematics

An AI-assisted discovery has challenged the Jacobian Conjecture.
The conjecture was proposed by Eduard Ott-Heinrich Keller in 1939.
The breakthrough was announced on 20 July 2026.
Mathematician Levent Alpöge collaborated with Anthropic.
The AI model Claude Fable 5 identified a possible counterexample.
The result was verified using SymPy and the Lean proof assistant.
The findings have been reviewed by mathematicians.
Independent peer review is still required for final validation.
The discovery could reshape research in algebraic geometry.
It highlights AI’s growing role in mathematical research and proof verification.
Key Fact: Claude Fable 5 reportedly identified a counterexample to the Jacobian Conjecture.

Sports News

Finnie: Mascot of Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games

Finnie has been unveiled as the official mascot of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.
The mascot is inspired by Scotland’s national animal, the unicorn.
Finnie is named after the iconic Finnieston Crane in Glasgow.
It represents Scottish culture, heritage, and creativity.
The mascot blends folklore with modern design.
Finnie will promote the Games through community outreach programmes.
It will also feature in educational and fan engagement activities.
The mascot aims to inspire participation among young people and visitors.
Commonwealth Games mascots help create a unique identity for each edition.
Finnie is expected to promote tourism and showcase Glasgow globally.
Key Fact: Finnie is the official mascot of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.

Rohith Krishna Wins Menuires International Chess Championship Gold Medal

Indian Grandmaster S. Rohith Krishna won the gold medal at the Menuires International Chess Championship 2026.
Grandmaster Raja Rithvik secured the silver medal.
Both Indian players remained unbeaten throughout the tournament.
Each scored 7 points from 9 rounds.
Rohith Krishna won the title on a superior tie-break score of 43.
Raja Rithvik finished with a tie-break score of 41.5.
The championship was held from 11–18 July 2026.
The event took place in Les Menuires, France.
A total of 86 players competed in the nine-round Swiss-format tournament.
Raja Rithvik defeated French Grandmaster Maxime Lagarde in the final round.
Key Fact: S. Rohith Krishna won the Menuires International Chess Championship 2026 title.

Important Days News

World Brain Day 2026 Promotes Brain Health Access for All

World Brain Day 2026 was observed on 22 July.
The 2026 theme was “Brain Health: Access for All.”
The campaign is led by the World Federation of Neurology (WFN).
It raises awareness about neurological disorders worldwide.
The observance promotes equal access to brain healthcare services.
It emphasizes prevention, early diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation.
The campaign also encourages education and policy support.
Neurological disorders such as stroke, migraine, and epilepsy remain major health concerns.
The observance encourages governments and healthcare professionals to reduce inequalities in neurological care.
World Brain Day has been observed annually since 2014.
Key Fact: The theme of World Brain Day 2026 was “Brain Health: Access for All.”

National Flag Day 2026 Celebrates Adoption of India’s Tiranga

National Flag Day is observed every year on 22 July.
It commemorates the adoption of the Indian National Flag (Tiranga).
The Constituent Assembly adopted the Tiranga on 22 July 1947.
The day celebrates India’s unity, sovereignty, and constitutional values.
It honours the sacrifices of freedom fighters during the Independence Movement.
The national flag consists of saffron, white, and green horizontal bands.
The Ashoka Chakra is placed at the centre of the white band.
The colours symbolize courage, peace, prosperity, and progress.
Various awareness programmes promote respect for the National Flag.
The observance highlights the historical evolution of the Tiranga before its final adoption.
Key Fact: The Constituent Assembly adopted the Tiranga on 22 July 1947.