Daily Current Affairs and GK Updates (27th July, 2026) |

National News

PM Modi Forms Exam Reform Task Force Under Nilekani

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the formation of a high-powered Exam Reform Task Force.
Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani has been appointed as the Chairman of the task force.
The initiative aims to improve transparency and credibility in India’s examination system.
The panel will address issues such as paper leaks and unfair examination practices.
It will recommend technology-based monitoring, enhanced security, and efficient exam management.
Members include Dr. S. Somnath, Tapan Deka, Prof. V. Kamakoti, Anita Karwal, and Amrit Lal Meena.
The reforms come ahead of the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026.
The recommendations aim to restore public confidence in competitive examinations.
Key Fact: Nandan Nilekani is the co-founder of Infosys and former Chairman of UIDAI.

University of Leeds and IIT Kharagpur Sign Strategic Partnership Agreement

The University of Leeds and IIT Kharagpur signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
The partnership focuses on research, education, innovation, and student mobility.
It will promote interdisciplinary research and faculty and student exchange programmes.
Both institutions will undertake joint academic and innovation initiatives.
The collaboration includes technology transfer, intellectual property development, and startup support.
Industry partnerships will help convert research into practical solutions.
The agreement strengthens India–UK academic and research cooperation.
Students and researchers will gain greater international exposure and collaboration opportunities.
Key Fact: IIT Kharagpur is India’s first Indian Institute of Technology, established in 1951.

Sarnath Earns UNESCO World Heritage Status, Boosting India’s Heritage

UNESCO added Sarnath to the World Heritage List on 25 July 2026.
The decision was taken during the 48th World Heritage Committee session in Busan, South Korea.
Sarnath became India’s 45th UNESCO World Heritage Site.
It is the place where Gautama Buddha delivered his first sermon after attaining enlightenment.
The site includes the Dhamek Stupa, Dharmarajika Stupa, and Chaukhandi Stupa.
UNESCO recognized Sarnath for its outstanding universal and cultural value.
The inscription will strengthen conservation and global recognition of the Buddhist site.
Sarnath has remained an important Buddhist pilgrimage centre for over 2,500 years.
Key Fact: Sarnath is located near Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh.

President Murmu Receives Honorary Doctorate from Romania’s ASE University

President Droupadi Murmu received the honorary Doctor Honoris Causa from ASE University, Romania.
The honour recognizes her public service and contribution to education and social inclusion.
She dedicated the award to the 1.4 billion people of India.
President Murmu described education as the “greatest equaliser.”
She highlighted her journey from being the first girl in her village to attend college to becoming President.
She emphasized ethical and responsible use of artificial intelligence.
The award also reflects growing India–Romania bilateral relations.
Her speech encouraged universities to balance technology with compassion and human values.
Key Fact: ASE stands for Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Romania.

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan Resigns

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned from the Union Council of Ministers.
His resignation followed nationwide protests over alleged NEET-UG examination irregularities.
He stated that the decision was taken in the best interests of students.
The resignation aims to restore confidence in India’s education system.
The government has initiated investigations into examination malpractice.
Proposed reforms include computer-based examinations and stronger digital infrastructure.
Faster grievance redressal and improved monitoring are also being planned.
The episode highlights the importance of transparency and fairness in competitive examinations.
Key Fact: The controversy centered around alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG examination.

Pralhad Joshi Takes Additional Charge of Education Ministry

Pralhad Joshi has been assigned the additional charge of the Ministry of Education.
The appointment follows the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan.
President Droupadi Murmu approved the appointment under Article 75(2) of the Constitution.
Joshi will continue to handle Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, and New & Renewable Energy.
He will oversee the Education Ministry until further orders.
Pralhad Joshi has represented Dharwad in the Lok Sabha since 2004.
He appreciated Dharmendra Pradhan’s role in implementing NEP 2020.
The move ensures continuity in the functioning of the Education Ministry.
Key Fact: Pralhad Joshi is a senior BJP leader and Member of Parliament from Dharwad, Karnataka.

AI Holobox of Atal Vajpayee Unveiled at Sangrahalaya

The AI Holobox of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was inaugurated on 26 July 2026.
The exhibit is located at the Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya in New Delhi.
It features a hyper-realistic 3D AI avatar of Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Visitors can interact with the AI using verified speeches, writings, and archival records.
The museum already showcases AI avatars of Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Patel, and Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
The inauguration coincided with the 27th Kargil Vijay Diwas.
A special exhibition displayed archival videos, photographs, letters, and official documents.
The initiative demonstrates the use of AI in preserving India’s political heritage.
Key Fact: Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya is a museum dedicated to all the Prime Ministers of India.

State News

Puri Jagannath Temple Protects Sacred Names Through Trademarks

The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) secured trademark approval for five sacred names.
The move aims to protect the cultural and religious identity of Lord Jagannath traditions.
The approved trademarks include Jagannath Dham, Shree Kshetra, Mahaprasad, Nilachakra, and Koili Vaikuntha.
The decision followed controversy over the use of “Jagannath Dham” for a temple in Digha, West Bengal.
SJTA has applied for trademark protection of 29 names, symbols, and cultural elements.
The registrations are made under the Trade Marks Act, 1999.
The initiative seeks to prevent commercial misuse and unauthorized use of sacred identities.
It will help preserve the historical and cultural significance of the Puri Jagannath Temple.
Key Fact: The Jagannath Temple is located in Puri, Odisha, and is one of the Char Dham pilgrimage sites.

Uttarakhand Radio-Collars Elephants Ahead of Kumbh Mela 2027

Uttarakhand Forest Department plans to radio-collar herd-leading elephants before Kumbh Mela 2027.
The project aims to reduce human-elephant conflict and improve pilgrim safety.
It will be implemented in collaboration with the Wildlife Institute of India (WII).
Researchers have been studying elephant movement and migration since May 2026.
Radio collars will enable real-time tracking of elephant movements.
The system will help issue early warnings and guide mitigation teams.
The proposal has been discussed by the State Wildlife Board and Tiger Steering Committee.
Final approval is awaited from the Union Environment Ministry.
Key Fact: Uttarakhand recorded 2,026 elephants in the 2020 elephant census.

Rajasthan Launches Bharat Taxi Cooperative Mobility Service in Jaipur

Rajasthan launched the Bharat Taxi cooperative mobility service on 25 July 2026.
The initiative was inaugurated by Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma in Jaipur.
The service operates under the vision of “Sahakar Se Samriddhi.”
Drivers, known as Sarathis, receive cooperative ownership and direct trip earnings.
Bharat Taxi currently has over 8 lakh registered drivers and 41 lakh customers.
The platform completes around 11,000 trips daily and plans expansion to 500 cities.
Drivers are provided ₹5 lakh accident insurance and transparent fare benefits.
MoUs with Jaipur Metro, Rajasthan Police, Saras, and JMC will strengthen integrated transport services.
Key Fact: More than 30,000 Sarathis and 7 lakh customers have already joined Bharat Taxi in Rajasthan.

International News

UNESCO Adds Mount Olympus and D-Day Beaches to Heritage List

UNESCO added Mount Olympus (Greece) and the D-Day Landing Beaches (France) to the World Heritage List.
The decision was taken during the 48th World Heritage Committee Session in Busan, South Korea.
Mount Olympus was recognized as a Mixed World Heritage Site.
It is Greece’s highest mountain, standing at 2,918 metres.
The D-Day Landing Beaches in Normandy were inscribed as a Cultural Heritage Site.
The beaches commemorate the Allied invasion of Nazi-occupied France on 6 June 1944.
UNESCO also highlighted conservation challenges such as tourism and climate change.
Rising sea levels were identified as a major threat to the heritage sites.
Key Fact: The D-Day Landing Beaches include Omaha, Utah, Gold, Juno, Sword Beaches, and Pointe du Hoc.

Economy News

India Enters Red Hat’s Top Five Global Growth Markets

India has become one of Red Hat’s top five global growth markets.
Growth is driven by AI, cloud computing, open-source software, and digital transformation.
The announcement was made by Navtej Singh Bal, Vice President and General Manager for India & South Asia.
India has emerged as a major engineering, innovation, and business hub for Red Hat and IBM.
AI is expected to improve productivity and create demand for new digital skills.
High-growth sectors include AI, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and data science.
India’s digital public infrastructure such as UPI, Aadhaar, and passport services supports AI innovation.
Infrastructure costs, talent shortages, and AI deployment remain key challenges.
Key Fact: Red Hat is an IBM-owned global leader in enterprise open-source software solutions.

Awards News

Dr G Satheesh Reddy Wins Changemaker-2026 Award

Former DRDO Chairman Dr. G. Satheesh Reddy received the EMESCO–Dr. B.V. Pattabhiram Changemaker-2026 Award.
The award was presented in Hyderabad.
Actor and politician Chiranjeevi presented the honour.
Dr. Reddy was recognized for contributions to defence research and technological innovation.
He highlighted India’s growing self-reliance in indigenous defence technologies.
Dr. Reddy currently serves as a member of the National Security Advisory Board.
He has actively encouraged students through science outreach and motivational programmes.
The award recognizes individuals creating a positive impact on society.
Key Fact: Dr. G. Satheesh Reddy served as the Chairman of DRDO and Scientific Adviser to the Defence Minister.

Appointments News

Keshav Chandra Takes Charge as Mines Secretary

Shri Keshav Chandra assumed charge as Secretary of the Ministry of Mines on 27 July 2026.
He is a 1995-batch IAS officer of the AGMUT cadre.
Soon after assuming office, he chaired a review meeting with senior ministry officials.
Discussions focused on mineral exploration and operationalisation of mineral blocks.
The ministry emphasized the development of critical and strategic minerals.
Priority minerals include lithium, cobalt, nickel, graphite, and rare earth elements.
These minerals are essential for electric vehicles, renewable energy, defence, and advanced technology.
Keshav Chandra stressed effective implementation of schemes and stronger stakeholder coordination.
Key Fact: Critical minerals are vital for clean energy technologies and India’s mineral security strategy.

MEA Appoints Dr. K. Srikar Reddy as Qatar Ambassador

The Ministry of External Affairs appointed Dr. K. Srikar Reddy as India’s next Ambassador to Qatar.
He is currently serving as the Consul General of India in San Francisco.
His appointment comes amid expanding India-Qatar strategic relations.
Qatar is India’s largest supplier of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG).
Qatar supplied about 11.2 million tonnes, nearly 41% of India’s LNG imports, during FY 2024–25.
Petronet LNG signed a 20-year LNG agreement with QatarEnergy covering 2028–2048.
India and Qatar elevated their relationship to a Strategic Partnership in February 2025.
Qatar is home to more than 8 lakh Indians, strengthening people-to-people ties.
Key Fact: India and Qatar aim to increase bilateral trade from $14 billion to $28 billion by 2030.

Defense News

Bhargavastra: India’s Indigenous Anti-Drone Defence System Explained

Bhargavastra is an indigenous anti-swarm drone defence system developed in India.
The Indian Army was introduced to the system during the Make-II project launch in Nagpur on 24 July 2026.
It is designed to counter enemy drones and loitering munitions.
The system combines radar, EO/IR sensors, passive RF detectors, and C4I technologies.
It can detect large UAVs from 10 km and small drones from 6 km.
Bhargavastra uses a two-layer defence system with mini-rockets and smart mini-missiles.
Smart mini-missiles can engage targets at ranges of up to 2.5 km.
It also integrates soft-kill electronic warfare and hard-kill interception capabilities.
Key Fact: Bhargavastra is designed as a mobile, low-cost, layered air defence system against drone swarms.

Schemes News

Himachal Launches Machhuara Samman Nidhi Scheme for Reservoir Fishermen

Himachal Pradesh launched the Mukhyamantri Machhuara Samman Nidhi Yojana.
The scheme provides financial assistance to reservoir fishermen during the annual fishing ban.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced the initiative.
Eligible fishermen will receive ₹3,500 annually through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
Around 3,700 fishing families are expected to benefit from the scheme.
The state government has allocated nearly ₹1.20 crore annually for implementation.
The scheme covers major reservoirs including Gobind Sagar, Pong Dam, Kol Dam, Chamera, and Ranjit Sagar.
It aims to support livelihoods while promoting sustainable fisheries conservation.
Key Fact: Beneficiaries must be licensed reservoir fishermen and members of registered Fisheries Cooperative Societies.

MJPJAY Scheme: Maharashtra’s Cashless Healthcare Plan Explained

The Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Jan Arogya Yojana (MJPJAY) was launched by Maharashtra in 2012.
The scheme provides cashless healthcare to economically weaker families.
It was previously known as the Rajiv Gandhi Jeevandayee Arogya Yojana.
Families receive health coverage of ₹1.5 lakh annually.
Organ transplant procedures are covered up to ₹2.5 lakh.
Combined beneficiaries of MJPJAY and Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY can receive coverage up to ₹5 lakh.
The scheme covers 996 medical procedures across 34 specialties.
Both government and empanelled private hospitals provide treatment under the scheme.
Key Fact: MJPJAY is implemented by the State Health Assurance Society of Maharashtra.

Majhi Kanya Bhagyashree Yojana: Benefits, Eligibility and Application

The Majhi Kanya Bhagyashree Scheme was launched by the Maharashtra Government on 1 August 2017.
It is implemented by the Women and Child Development Department.
The scheme promotes the welfare, education, and financial security of girl children.
It also aims to prevent female foeticide and improve the child sex ratio.
Families with one daughter receive a ₹50,000 fixed deposit.
Families with two daughters receive ₹25,000 fixed deposits for each child.
The deposits mature when the girl reaches 18 years of age.
Eligible families must be Maharashtra residents with an annual income below ₹7.5 lakh.
Key Fact: The scheme encourages girl child education, family planning, and financial empowerment through long-term savings.

Sports News

Anahat Singh Creates History With World Junior Squash Title

India’s Anahat Singh won the girls’ singles title at the World Junior Squash Championships 2026.
She became the first Indian player to achieve this historic feat.
The 18-year-old defeated Egypt’s Ruqayya Salem 3–0 in the final.
The final score was 11–3, 11–7, 11–9.
Anahat lost only two games throughout the entire tournament.
Her victory ended Egypt’s 13-year dominance in the championship.
She also became the first non-Egyptian champion since 2010.
The triumph is regarded as a landmark achievement for Indian squash.
Key Fact: Anahat Singh surpassed Joshna Chinappa’s 2005 runner-up finish to register India’s best-ever result.

Mirabai Chanu Wins Commonwealth Games 2026 Weightlifting Gold

Mirabai Chanu won the gold medal in the women’s 48 kg category at the Commonwealth Games 2026.
She secured her third consecutive Commonwealth Games gold medal.
Mirabai lifted a combined total of 190 kg.
Her lifts included 85 kg in snatch and 105 kg in clean and jerk.
The victory earned India its first gold medal at the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
Nigeria’s Ruth Asuquo Nyong won silver.
Malaysia’s Irene Jane Henry claimed the bronze medal.
Mirabai has now won medals in four consecutive Commonwealth Games.
Key Fact: Mirabai Chanu is also an Olympic silver medallist and World Champion.

Raja Muthupandi Wins Silver in Commonwealth Weightlifting 2026

Raja Muthupandi won the silver medal in the men’s 65 kg weightlifting event.
He represented India at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow.
Raja lifted a combined total of 286 kg.
Malaysia’s Aznil Bin Bidin Muhamed won gold with a Games record of 299 kg.
Papua New Guinea’s Morea Baru secured the bronze medal.
Raja recovered strongly after a difficult start in the snatch event.
He also overcame a failed clean and jerk attempt to finish second.
His medal strengthened India’s successful weightlifting campaign.
Key Fact: Raja Muthupandi’s performance added another medal to India’s weightlifting tally at CWG 2026.

Rishikanta Singh Wins India’s First CWG 2026 Silver

Rishikanta Singh Chanambam won India’s first silver medal at the Commonwealth Games 2026.
He competed in the men’s 60 kg weightlifting category.
The athlete belongs to Imphal West, Manipur.
He set a new Commonwealth Games record with a 121 kg snatch.
Rishikanta lifted 143 kg in clean and jerk.
His combined total reached 264 kg.
Malaysia’s Mohamad Aniq Kasdan won the gold medal.
The achievement further strengthened India’s presence in international weightlifting.
Key Fact: Rishikanta won gold at the 2025 Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships before this success.

Nyck de Vries Wins Tokyo Formula E for Mahindra Racing

Nyck de Vries won the second race of the Tokyo E-Prix in Formula E.
He started the race from fifth position.
De Vries used Attack Mode effectively in changing wet-to-dry conditions.
He secured his second victory of the 2026 Formula E season.
It marked Mahindra Racing’s second win of the season.
Mahindra collected 38 points during the Tokyo double-header.
The team climbed to fourth place in the Teams’ Championship with 210 points.
Edoardo Mortara also impressed by equalling the season pole-position record.
Key Fact: This is Mahindra Racing’s first multi-win Formula E season since 2017–18.

Important Days News

CRPF Foundation Day 2026: History, Role and Significance

CRPF Foundation Day is observed every year on 27 July.
The year 2026 marks the 87th Foundation Day of the Central Reserve Police Force.
CRPF is India’s largest Central Armed Police Force.
It plays a vital role in internal security and counter-terrorism operations.
The force also tackles Left-Wing Extremism and provides election security.
CRPF was established in 1939 as the Crown Representative’s Police.
It was renamed the Central Reserve Police Force under the CRPF Act, 1949.
The force has over 246 battalions, including CoBRA and RAF units.
Key Fact: The Hot Springs incident (1959), where 10 CRPF personnel were martyred, is commemorated every year as Police Commemoration Day.

Kargil Vijay Diwas 2026: Remembering India’s War Heroes

Kargil Vijay Diwas is observed annually on 26 July.
It commemorates India’s victory in the 1999 Kargil War.
The year 2026 marks the 27th anniversary of the victory.
The conflict began after Pakistani forces occupied strategic positions along the Line of Control.
India launched Operation Vijay to recapture the occupied peaks.
The Indian Air Force supported the mission through Operation Safed Sagar.
Major victories included the capture of Tololing and Tiger Hill.
The day honours the courage and sacrifice of Indian Armed Forces personnel.
Key Fact: Param Vir Chakra awardees Captain Vikram Batra, Lieutenant Manoj Kumar Pandey, Grenadier Yogendra Singh Yadav, and Rifleman Sanjay Kumar are among the heroes of the Kargil War.