Daily Current Affairs Quiz 12th July 2026 for Banking & Competitive Exams |

Daily Current Affairs: 12 July, 2026

Q1. In July 2026, India and New Zealand officially upgraded their historic bilateral relationship to foster deeper cooperation across defense, maritime security, trade, and agricultural technology. To which specific diplomatic tier have the two nations elevated their partnership?

(a) Comprehensive Economic Partnership

(b) Strategic Partnership

(d) Special Privileged Partnership

(e) Comprehensive Strategic Partnership

Answer: b

Solution:

India and New Zealand have elevated their bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership, marking a significant step towards deepening cooperation across multiple sectors. The two countries also adopted the India–New Zealand Roadmap to 2030 to guide the implementation of the partnership over the next four years.

Q2. In July, 2026, the Indian Navy successfully inducted INS Mahendragiri (F38) into its Eastern Fleet at Visakhapatnam to scale up its presence in the IOR. Which specific internal division of the Indian Navy holds the institutional mandate for designing this advanced, frontline stealth platform?

(a) Naval Construction and Engineering Directorate (NCED)

(b) Directorate of Naval Architecture (DNA)

(d) Marine Combat Engineering Board (MCEB)

(e) Defence Ship Design Command (DSDC)

Answer: c

Solution:

The Indian Navy inducted INS Mahendragiri (F38), the sixth Project 17A indigenous stealth frigate, into the Eastern Fleet on 11 July 2026.
The warship was designed in-house by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau (WDB) and built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai.
INS Mahendragiri represents the latest generation of India’s frontline stealth frigates and incorporates advanced stealth features, enhanced survivability, reduced radar signature, and a high degree of automation.
The ship is capable of undertaking the full spectrum of maritime operations, including fleet air defence, anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, maritime interdiction, surveillance, and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) missions.
INS Mahendragiri is the sixth Project 17A frigate inducted into the Indian Navy within a span of 1.5 years.
The induction sequence of the Project 17A frigates is:
- INS Nilgiri – Commissioned in January 2025
- INS Udaygiri – Commissioned in August 2025
- INS Himgiri – Commissioned in August 2025
- INS Taragiri – Commissioned in April 2026
- INS Dunagiri – Commissioned in June 2026
- INS Mahendragiri – Inducted on 11 July 2026
The warship has over 75% indigenous content, reflecting the success of the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative in defence manufacturing.
The construction of the ship involved a large number of Indian industries, including Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), strengthening the country’s defence industrial base and generating employment.

Q3. World Population Day serves as an annual reminder to balance resource consumption with global demographic growth. What is the official global theme designated for the observation of World Population Day on 11 July 2026?

(a) Rights and Choices are the Answer: Unleashing the Power of Women

(b) A World of 8 Billion: Towards a Resilient Future for All

(d) Safeguarding the Health and Rights of Women and Girls Amid Rapid Climate Shifts

(e) Investing in Youth Today to Secure the Economic Pillars of Tomorrow

Answer: c

Solution:

World Population Day is observed annually on 11 July.
The day highlights the challenges and opportunities arising from population growth and emphasizes the need to address population-related issues to achieve a sustainable future.
It was established in 1989 by the Governing Council of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
In December 1990, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted a resolution to continue observing the day to enhance awareness of population issues and their relationship with environment and development.
World Population Day was first observed on 11 July 1990 in more than 90 countries.
Since then, the day has been commemorated annually by UNFPA country offices, governments, civil society organisations, and other institutions worldwide.
Theme for World Population Day 2026: “Realising the hopes and aspirations of young people – today and for the future.”

Q4. To strengthen their newly elevated Strategic Partnership, India and New Zealand have rolled out a comprehensive economic target under the framework of their Free Trade Agreement. What is the designated bilateral trade target volume established by the ‘Roadmap to 2030’?

(a) NZ$ 5 billion (~₹25,000 crore)

(b) NZ$ 7 billion (~₹35,000 crore)

(d) NZ$ 8.5 billion (~₹42,500 crore)

(e) NZ$ 12 billion (~₹60,000 crore)

Answer: b

Solution:

India and New Zealand have set a target to double bilateral trade to NZ$7 billion (approximately ₹35,000 crore) by 2030, with the objective of strengthening economic ties and expanding market access between the two countries in the context of the proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

Q5. The Government of West Bengal has officially notified the configuration of a 9-member committee tasked with examining the state’s upcoming draft Bill on the Uniform Civil Code, appointing Justice (retd) __________ as the Chairperson and former Meghalaya Governor Tathagata Roy as a prominent member.

(a) Indu Malhotra

(b) Ruma Pal

(d) B.V. Nagarathna

(e) Ranjana Prakash Desai

Answer: e

Solution:

The West Bengal Government has formed a nine-member committee to examine the draft Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill for the state.
The constitution of the committee was notified through an official government notification.
The committee will be chaired by Justice (Retd.) Ranjana Prakash Desai, former Judge of the Supreme Court of India.
Former Governor of Meghalaya, Tathagata Roy, is one of the members of the committee.
The committee has been tasked with examining the draft legislation and making recommendations on the proposed Uniform Civil Code for West Bengal.

Q6. To execute the objectives of the Kiwifruit Action Plan, India and New Zealand announced the setting up of two specialized Centres of Excellence. In which two Indian states are these premier centers being established?

(a) Himachal Pradesh and Arunachal Pradesh

(b) Sikkim and Jammu & Kashmir

(d) Meghalaya and Himachal Pradesh

(e) Assam and Uttarakhand

Answer: c

Solution:

India and New Zealand have launched the Kiwifruit Action Plan to enhance kiwifruit production and productivity in India.
Two Centres of Excellence (CoEs) for Kiwifruit will be established in Nagaland and Uttarakhand.
The initiative is being implemented under the Agricultural Productivity Partnership in the context of the proposed India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
The partnership aims to improve kiwifruit cultivation, productivity, quality, and value addition through the adoption of advanced technologies and best agricultural practices.

Q7. During the July 2026 high-level diplomatic visit, India and New Zealand penned a major scientific pact targeting Antarctic research. Which academic institution from New Zealand partnered directly with India’s National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) for this initiative?

(a) University of Auckland

(b) Massey University

(d) University of Canterbury

(e) Victoria University of Wellington

Answer: d

Solution:

During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to New Zealand in July 2026, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), Goa, and the University of Canterbury, New Zealand, to strengthen cooperation in Antarctic research.

Q8. During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s high-level bilateral tour of New Zealand in July 2026, a milestone academic MoU was inked to advance the domestic food processing landscape. Which leading New Zealand university partnered with India’s NIFTEM-K to drive this food technology research and student mobility framework?

(a) University of Auckland

(b) Victoria University of Wellington

(d) University of Otago

(e) Lincoln University

Answer: c

Solution:

During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to New Zealand in July 2026, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the National Institute of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management, Kundli (NIFTEM-K) and Massey University, New Zealand to strengthen cooperation in food technology, research, and higher education.

Q9. NSE Indices Limited introduced a novel, ethically filtered benchmark to the Indian capital markets called the Nifty500 Ahimsa Index. Which of the following best describes the primary screening parameter used to construct this thematic index?

(a) Selecting companies based on high gender diversity and carbon neutrality metrics

(b) Tracking companies that pledge zero corporate tax litigation over a rolling five-year window

(c) Filtering the Nifty 500 universe to include only firms that actively avoid business practices that cause harm to animals

(d) Prioritizing companies that allocate more than five percent of net profits to rural sports infrastructure

(e) Isolating public sector undertakings that maintain zero debt-to-equity ratios on their balance sheets

Answer: c

Solution:

NSE Indices Limited, a subsidiary of the National Stock Exchange (NSE), launched the Nifty500 Ahimsa Index on 10 July 2026.
The index tracks companies from the Nifty 500 universe that adhere to the principle of Ahimsa (non-violence) in their business operations.
It excludes companies involved in activities that harm animals or are associated with animal exploitation.
The index aims to promote ethical and responsible investing by enabling investors to identify companies that align with non-violence and sustainability principles.

Q10. S&P Global Ratings placed Federal Bank in the “global investment-grade category” following its rating assignment. Within the standardized scale used by global rating agencies like S&P and Fitch, what is the exact lower boundary or baseline notch that a corporate or sovereign bond must hit to be classified as “investment grade”?

(a) BB+

(b) BBB-

(d) BBB+

(e) Baa1

Answer: b

Solution:

S&P Global Ratings has assigned Federal Bank an inaugural international issuer credit rating.
The bank received a BBB– (Stable) rating for its long-term issuer credit.
It also received an A–3 rating for its short-term issuer credit.
The BBB– long-term rating places Federal Bank in the global investment-grade category, indicating adequate capacity to meet its financial commitments.
This is the first international issuer credit rating assigned to Federal Bank by S&P Global Ratings.