Daily Current Affairs Quiz 24th July 2026 for Banking & Competitive Exams

Daily Current Affairs: 24 July, 2026

Q1. What is the name of the first-ever Tri-Service all-women circumnavigation sailing expedition flagged-in by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in July 2026?

(a) Navika Sagar Parikrama

(b) Samudra Pradakshina

(c) Sagar Parikrama II

(d) Jal Tarangini

(e) Samudra Shakti

Answer: b

Solution:

• Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh flagged-in ‘Samudra Pradakshina’, the first-ever Tri-Service all-women circumnavigation sailing expedition, through video conferencing on 22 July 2026.
• The expedition was undertaken aboard the Indian Army Sailing Vessel (IASV) Triveni.
• A team of nine women officers from the Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force successfully completed the historic voyage.
• The expedition concluded in Mumbai after a 314-day journey.
• During the voyage, the crew covered nearly 25,500 nautical miles across four oceans.
• The expedition was virtually flagged off by Rajnath Singh from Mumbai on 11 September 2025.
• Samudra Pradakshina is the first-ever all-women circumnavigation sailing expedition undertaken jointly by the three Services of the Indian Armed Forces.

Q2. What is the total installed capacity of wind power projects in India as of 30 June 2026?

 (a) 42,150 MW

(b) 48,000 MW

(c) 57,443 MW

(d) 65,200 MW

(e) 72,100 MW

Answer: c

Solution:

• As on 30 June 2026, the total installed wind energy capacity in India stands at 57,443 MW.
• During FY 2025-26, wind energy projects generated 106 billion units (BU) of electricity.
• According to the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) Report 2026, India ranked 4th globally in cumulative wind energy installations as of 31 December 2025.

Wind Capacity Addition and Power Generation

• Wind capacity addition increased from 3,253 MW in 2023-24 to 6,057 MW in 2025-26.
• Wind power generation reached a record 106 billion units during FY 2025-26.

State-wise Installed Wind Energy Capacity (as on 30 June 2026)

• Gujarat has the highest installed wind energy capacity in India with 16,086 MW, followed by Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

State-wise Wind Power Generation during FY 2025-26

• Gujarat was the leading wind power generating state during FY 2025-26 with 33,706 MU, followed by Tamil Nadu (24,200 MU) and Karnataka (18,804 MU).

Q3. Which dedicated portal is leveraged by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) to expedite land acquisition notifications and compensation processing for National Highway projects?

(a) Bhoomi Rashi Portal

(b) PRAGATI Portal

(c) SAMARTH Portal

(d) GATI Shakti Portal

(e) PARIVESH Portal

Answer: a

Solution:

• The Government has established a framework for regular review of the progress of all ongoing National Highway projects, including National High-Speed Corridors (NHSCs) and Greenfield Expressways.
• The review mechanism operates at the project, State, and Central Government levels and involves all stakeholders, including the concerned State Governments.
• A total of 10,389 km of National High-Speed Corridors have been awarded across the country.
• Out of the awarded length, 4,809 km has been completed, while 5,580 km is currently under implementation.
• The Government is continuously monitoring the progress of these projects to ensure timely completion and operationalization.

Initiatives Taken to Expedite Project Execution

• Streamlining and accelerating land acquisition through the Bhoomi Rashi Portal.
• Use of GIS-based Land Acquisition Plans for efficient project planning and execution.
• Revamping of the PARIVESH Portal by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to facilitate faster forest and environmental clearances.
• Enabling online approval of General Arrangement Drawings (GADs) for Road Over Bridges (ROBs) and Road Under Bridges (RUBs) from the Railways.
• Strengthening mechanisms for review and resolution of bottlenecks and hindrances in ongoing projects.
• Active coordination and collaboration with State Governments and other stakeholders to address implementation challenges.

Q4. The Union Government’s PM-YASASVI scheme operates as an overarching umbrella initiative designed to eliminate financial constraints in acquiring quality education. Which specific combination of social categories is targeted under this scheme?

(a) Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Economically Weaker Sections (EWS)

(b) Other Backward Classes (OBCs), Economically Backward Classes (EBCs), and Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (DNTs)

(c) Notified Religious Minorities, Persons with Disabilities (PwD), and Scheduled Castes (SCs)

(d) Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Rural BPL Households

(e) Other Backward Classes (OBCs), Scheduled Castes (SCs), and Transgender Youth

Answer: b

Solution:

• The Government of India has reaffirmed its commitment to expanding educational opportunities for students belonging to the Other Backward Classes (OBCs), Economically Backward Classes (EBCs), and Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (DNTs) through the PM-YASASVI (Prime Minister Young Achievers Scholarship Award Scheme for Vibrant India) umbrella scheme.
• The scheme aims to reduce financial barriers and promote inclusive, equitable, and quality education for eligible students from these communities.
• PM-YASASVI seeks to enhance educational access and support students at various stages of their academic journey.

Components of PM-YASASVI

• Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme for eligible Other Backward Classes (OBCs), Economically Backward Classes (EBCs), and Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (DNTs)  students.
• Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme for eligible OBC, EBC, and DNT students pursuing higher studies after Class X.
• Top Class Education in Schools Scheme for meritorious students studying in identified top schools.
• Top Class Education in Colleges Scheme for eligible students pursuing higher education in premier institutions.

Q5. The Central Government approved the establishment of two Electronics Manufacturing Clusters (EMCs) in Tamil Nadu to strengthen the state’s ESDM ecosystem. What is the total combined investment earmarked for these two clusters?

(a) ₹750.50 crore

(b) ₹890.25 crore

(c) ₹1,012.02 crore

(d) ₹1,245.80 crore

(e) ₹1,500.00 crore

Answer: c

Solution:

• The Central Government has approved two Electronics Manufacturing Clusters (EMCs) in Tamil Nadu with a combined investment of over ₹1,012.02 crore.
• The initiative is aimed at strengthening Tamil Nadu’s electronics manufacturing ecosystem and advancing India’s goal of self-reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat) in the electronics sector.
• The two Electronics Manufacturing Clusters will be developed at Manallur and Pillapaikkam.
• The Manallur EMC will be developed over 474.3 acres with a project cost of ₹587.47 crore.
• The Pillapaikkam EMC will cover 379.3 acres with an investment of ₹424.55 crore.
• The clusters are expected to attract investments, boost domestic electronics manufacturing, create employment opportunities, and strengthen the electronics supply chain in the country.

Q6. National Broadcasting Day is celebrated annually in India on July 23 to commemorate which landmark historical event in the country’s communications history?

(a) The inauguration of the first television broadcast by Doordarshan in New Delhi

(b) The first-ever radio broadcast going on air from the Bombay Station under the Indian Broadcasting Company in 1927

(c) The official passage of the Prasar Bharati (Broadcasting Corporation of India) Act in Parliament

(d) The complete privatization of FM radio bandwidth frequencies across tier-1 cities

(e) The official renaming of the Indian State Broadcasting Service to All India Radio

Answer:  b

Solution:

• National Broadcasting Day is observed on 23 July every year.
• On 23 July 1927, the first-ever radio broadcast in India went on air from the Bombay Station under the Indian Broadcasting Company (IBC).
• The day commemorates the beginning of radio broadcasting in India and recognizes its contribution to information dissemination, education, entertainment, and nation-building.
• On 8 June 1936, the Indian State Broadcasting Service (ISBS) was renamed All India Radio (AIR).
• In 1956, the name Akashvani was adopted for the national broadcaster.
• The Vividh Bharati Service was launched in 1957, with popular film music as its main component.
• During India’s freedom struggle, radio served as a powerful medium for spreading information and fostering national unity.
• After Independence, broadcasting played a significant role in promoting literacy, health awareness, agricultural knowledge, and rural development.
• For nearly a century, radio has remained an important medium of communication, connecting people across the country.
• Akashvani continues to serve the nation through its motto “Bahujana Hitaya, Bahujana Sukhaya” (For the welfare of the many, for the happiness of the many).
• National Broadcasting Day celebrates not only the technological evolution of broadcasting but also radio’s enduring role in informing, educating, entertaining, and uniting India’s diverse population.

Q7. Recently, in July 2026, The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved the appointment of senior bureaucrat Anurag Jain (IAS: MP:1989) to which pivotal apex policy institution for a tenure of up to two years?

(a) Chairman, Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)

(b) Financial Services Secretary, Ministry of Finance

(c) Managing Director, State Bank of India

(d) Cabinet Secretary, Government of India

(e) Chief Executive Officer (CEO), NITI Aayog

Answer: e

Solution:

• The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of Anurag Jain, IAS (Madhya Pradesh Cadre: 1989) as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NITI Aayog.
• He will assume charge for a tenure of up to two years, or until further orders.
• His appointment will be on the same terms and conditions as his predecessor.

Q8. Which IIT Madras-incubated aerospace startup unveiled India’s first full-scale electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft prototype, designated e200X (PT-01)?

(a) Skyroot Aerospace

(b) AgniKul Cosmos

(c) The ePlane Company

(d) Dhruva Space

(e) IdeaForge Technology

Answer: c

Solution:

• An ePlane Company, an IIT Madras-incubated startup has launched India’s first Electric Vertical Take-off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft prototype, marking a significant milestone in the country’s urban air mobility ecosystem.

About Electric Vertical Take-off and Landing (eVTOL) Aircraft

• An eVTOL is a battery-powered aircraft that can take off and land vertically like a helicopter and then transition to forward flight like a conventional airplane.
• eVTOL aircraft do not require long runways, making them suitable for operations in urban and congested areas.
• They are designed as low-altitude urban air mobility (UAM) vehicles.

Q9. Which coastal settlement in Tamil Nadu was recently transformed into the state’s first fully operational Climate Resilient Village (CRV) to counter sea-level rise and saline intrusion?

(a) Dhanushkodi

(b) Velankanni

(c) Poompuhar

(d) Killai

(e) Pulicat

Answer: d

Solution:

• Killai in Tamil Nadu has emerged as the state’s first fully operational Climate Resilient Village (CRV).
• The initiative has been implemented under the Tamil Nadu Climate Change Mission (TNCCM) of the Department of Environment and Climate Change.
• Killai has transformed from a climate-vulnerable coastal settlement into a model demonstrating how ecosystem restoration, renewable energy, and community-led action can address climate challenges.
• The village has adopted solar-powered e-boats operating through the mangrove creeks of Pichavaram.
• Scientific beekeeping in the mangrove ecosystem has enabled honey production and enhanced livelihood opportunities for local communities.
• Hybrid solar power systems have been installed in government buildings, helping reduce electricity consumption and promote clean energy use.
• The Buckingham Canal has been desilted, improving water flow and strengthening the health of the local ecosystem.
• The Climate Resilient Village model focuses on tackling major climate-related challenges such as cyclones, sea-level rise, saline intrusion, coastal erosion, and biodiversity loss.
• The project highlights the role of community participation and nature-based solutions in building climate resilience.

Q10. The Tilak Smarak Mandir Trust announced the recipient of the prestigious Lokmanya Tilak National Award for the year 2026, recognizing extraordinary contributions to national progress and security. Who among the following eminent personalities will be conferred with this honor on August 1, 2026, in Pune?

(a) S. Jaishankar

(b) Ajit Doval

(c) K. Sivan

(d) T. B. Somanathan

(e) B. V. R. Subrahmanyam

Answer: b

Solution:

• National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval has been selected for the prestigious Lokmanya Tilak National Award 2026.
• The award will be presented on 1 August 2026 in Pune, Maharashtra.
• The occasion marks the 106th death anniversary of Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak.
• Ajit Doval has been chosen in recognition of his outstanding contribution to national security, strategic affairs, and nation-building.

Lokmanya Tilak National Award

• The Lokmanya Tilak National Award was instituted in 1983 by the Tilak Smarak Mandir Trust.
• The award is presented every year on 1 August, the death anniversary of Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak.
• It is conferred on individuals who have made remarkable and extraordinary contributions towards the progress and development of the nation.