Daily Current Affairs Quiz 21st July 2026 for Banking & Competitive Exams |

Daily Current Affairs:20 July, 2026

Q1. Which player was awarded the prestigious Golden Ball Award as the best player of the 2026 FIFA World Cup tournament?

(a) Lionel Messi

(b) Unai Simón

(d) Pau Cubarsí

(e) Kylian Mbappé

Answer: c

Solution:

Spain defeated defending champions Argentina 1-0 after extra time to win the FIFA World Cup 2026 title.
The final was played at the New York New Jersey Stadium.
After a tense and closely fought match ended 0-0 at the end of regular time, Spain’s substitute Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal in the 106th minute of extra time.
The victory gave Spain its second FIFA Men’s World Cup title and its first World Cup triumph since 2010.
With this achievement, Spain became the first country in history to simultaneously hold both the Men’s and Women’s FIFA World Cup titles.
France’s Kylian Mbappé won the Golden Boot Award as the tournament’s highest goal scorer.
Mbappé became the first player to finish as the leading scorer in multiple FIFA World Cups, securing his second Golden Boot.
Spain captain Rodri was named the Best Player of the Tournament and received the Golden Ball Award.
Unai Simón of Spain won the Golden Glove Award for being the tournament’s best goalkeeper.
Pau Cubarsí of Spain received the Young Player Award for his outstanding performances during the tournament.

Q2. The Japan Open title won by PV Sindhu falls under which specific classification tier of the BWF World Tour?

(a) Super 300

(b) Super 500

(d) Super 1000

(e) BWF World Tour Finals

Answer: c

Solution:

Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu clinched her maiden Japan Open title on 19 July 2026, becoming the first Indian shuttler to win the prestigious tournament.
In the final, Sindhu defeated Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi, a local favourite and three-time World Champion, in straight games 21-17, 21-17.
The victory marked Sindhu’s triumph at a BWF Super 750 tournament.
With this win, the 31-year-old ended a title drought of more than two years.
Sindhu’s success at the Japan Open adds another significant achievement to her illustrious career, which already includes two Olympic medals, a World Championship title, and multiple international titles.

About Japan Open

The Japan Open is one of the most prestigious tournaments on the BWF World Tour.
It is currently classified as a BWF Super 750 event.
The tournament is organized annually in Japan and attracts many of the world’s top badminton players.

Q3. The 58th International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO) 2026, which witnessed India’s historic performance, was organized in which host city and country?

(a) Vilnius, Lithuania

(b) Tashkent, Uzbekistan

(d) Almaty, Kazakhstan

(e) Dushanbe, Tajikistan

Answer: b

Solution:

India delivered its best-ever performance at the 58th International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO) 2026 held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, from 10 to 19 July 2026.
All four members of the Indian team won Gold Medals, marking India’s first-ever all-gold haul at the International Chemistry Olympiad.

Indian Medal Winners

Debadatta Priyadarshi (Gold Medal) – Bhubaneshwar, Odisha
Harshit Singla (Gold Medal) – Mandi Gobindgarh, Punjab
Kabeer Chillar (Gold Medal) – Delhi
Sandeep Kuchi (Gold Medal) – Hyderabad, Telangana
In the country-wise medals tally, India secured the first position jointly with China, Vietnam, and Individual Participants Group B (from Russia).
The 58th IChO witnessed participation from 363 students representing 93 countries, making it the largest International Chemistry Olympiad ever held.
This achievement represents India’s best performance in the history of the International Chemistry Olympiad

Q4. The Indian Air Force (IAF) commenced its participation in Exercise Pitch Black 2026 on 20 July 2026. At which Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) base is this multinational exercise centered?

(a) RAAF Base Amberley

(b) RAAF Base Darwin

(d) RAAF Base Pearce

(e) RAAF Base Williamtown

Answer: b

Solution:

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has commenced participation in Exercise Pitch Black 2026 at the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base Darwin, Australia.
The exercise is being conducted from 20 July 2026 to 07 August 2026.
Exercise Pitch Black is the RAAF’s premier biennial multinational air combat exercise.
The exercise derives its name from its emphasis on night flying operations over the vast, unpopulated regions of northern Australia.
In its 45-year history, the 2026 edition features a large number of participating forces and military personnel conducting complex Large Force Employment (LFE) missions and multinational air combat operations.
The IAF has previously participated in the 2018, 2022, and 2024 editions of the exercise, reaffirming its commitment to strengthening defence cooperation and regional security.

About Exercise Pitch Black

The Royal Australian Air Force has a long history of conducting air exercises in the Northern Territory, including the High-series exercises during the 1960s and the Top-series exercises in the early 1970s.
Exercise Pitch Black was first conducted in June 1981 from RAAF Base Williamtown, New South Wales, as a three-day air defence exercise.
The exercise was held again at Williamtown in July 1982.
The name “Pitch Black” is believed to refer to the exercise’s emphasis on night-time flying operations over large unpopulated areas.
RAAF Base Darwin hosted Exercise Pitch Black for the first time from 9–13 May 1983.
Exercise Pitch Black has been held biennially since 1988, except in 2020, when it was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Q5. What is the name of the official mascot launched for the BWF World Championships, New Delhi 2026, which is inspired by India’s national bird, the peafowl?

(a) Perry

(b) Olly

(d) Tazuni

(e) Feifei

Answer: c

Solution:

Union Minister for Youth Affairs & Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, and Badminton Association of India (BAI) President and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma unveiled the official mascot “Peacko” and launched the official championship anthem for the BWF World Championships, New Delhi 2026 on 18 July 2026.

Q6. The 8th Meeting of BRICS Heads of Prosecution Services (20–21 July 2026) was organized under India’s 2026 BRICS Chairship. Which official presided over this multilateral legal conference?

(a) Chief Justice of India

(b) Union Minister of Law and Justice

(d) Solicitor General of India

(e) Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister

Answer: c

Solution:

The Department of Legal Affairs, under the Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India, is organizing the 8th Meeting of BRICS Heads of Prosecution Services on 20–21 July 2026 in a virtual format.
The meeting is being held under the aegis of India’s BRICS Chairship 2026.
The event presided over by the Attorney General for India, Shri R. Venkataramani.
The dialogue will bring together the heads of prosecution services from BRICS member countries to discuss issues of mutual interest and strengthen legal cooperation.
The meeting aligns with India’s BRICS Chairship theme: “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.”
By bringing together prosecution leaders from member nations, the meeting aims to promote cooperation in legal and prosecutorial matters and strengthen institutional frameworks

Q7. Which statutory body under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry facilitated the first export of Frozen French Fries from Uttarakhand to Iraq?

(a) Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA)

(b) Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA)

(d) National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED)

(e) Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)

Answer: b

Solution:

The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has facilitated the first export of 24 Metric Tonnes (MT) of Frozen French Fries from Kashipur, Uttarakhand, to Iraq.
The consignment is being exported by Virun Global Trade Pvt. Ltd.
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry stated that the consignment marks a significant milestone in promoting value-added agricultural exports from Uttarakhand while strengthening India’s processed food export basket.

Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA)

It is a statutory body established by the Government of India under the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority Act, 1985.
Established: December 1985
Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Commerce and Industry
Objective: To develop and promote the export of scheduled products.
Chairman: APEDA is headed by a Chairman appointed by the Central Government.
Headquarters: New Delhi.

Q8. Who among the following political leaders was elected as the new Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) during its 69th Ordinary Session?

(a) Julius Maada Bio

(b) Bola Tinubu

(d) Assimi Goïta

(e) Bassirou Faye

Answer: e

Solution:

Senegal President Bassirou Faye has been elected as the new Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
He succeeds Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Bio as the head of the regional bloc.
Faye was elected during the 69th Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS, held in Sierra Leone.

Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

It is a regional organization established through the Lagos Treaty, signed on 28 May 1975 in Lagos, Nigeria.
Aim: To promote economic cooperation and regional integration among West African countries.
It seeks to establish an economic union to improve living standards, maintain economic stability, strengthen relations among member states, and contribute to Africa’s development.
ECOWAS also aims to create a single common currency and a unified trading bloc covering sectors such as industry, transport, telecommunications, energy, finance, and socio-cultural affairs.
Along with economic integration, ECOWAS has played an important role in maintaining peace and security in the region.
It operated a regional peacekeeping force known as ECOMOG (Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group), particularly during the 1990s and early 2000s.
Member countries: The current Member States of ECOWAS are Benin, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Sénégal and Togo.

Q9. Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav recently held high-level discussions in New Delhi on climate finance, adaptation, and technology transfer during an official visit by the UN Climate Chief from 20 to 22 July 2026. Who among the following currently serves as the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)?

(a) Simon Stiell

(b) António Guterres

(d) Jim Skea

(e) Achim Steiner

Answer: a

Solution:

Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav met UNFCCC Executive Secretary Simon Stiell in New Delhi to discuss global climate action and cooperation.
The discussions focused on key issues including climate finance, climate adaptation, technology transfer, the Global Stocktake, and a just transition.
During the meeting, Bhupender Yadav highlighted that India has successfully achieved its enhanced Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) well ahead of schedule.
The dialogue reaffirmed India’s commitment to climate action while emphasizing the need for greater support from developed countries in terms of finance, technology, and capacity building.
Simon Stiell’s official visit to India is scheduled from 20 to 22 July 2026.

Q10. According to official data released by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), how many users were onboarded on the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) platform as of June 2026?

(a) 42.15 crore

(b) 48.80 crore

(d) 61.20 crore

(e) 68.35 crore

Answer: c

Solution:

The National Payment Corporation of India has informed that there were 55.49 crore users onboarded on UPI platform as in June 2026.
The Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is a payment system operated by National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), authorised under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007.