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13 Jul 2026, 03:02 AM
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Daily Current Affairs 12-13 July
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Daily Current Affairs - July 12-13, 2026
DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS
12-13 JULY 2026
Comprehensive, exam-oriented daily compilation featuring in-depth analysis of national and international developments.
National & State Updates
Governance
12 July 2026
World Bank Approves USD 890 Million Financing Package for PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana
- Financing Breakdown: The USD 890 million support consists of a USD 820 million IBRD loan, a USD 60 million Clean Technology Fund loan, and a USD 10 million Livable Planet Fund grant.
- Rooftop Solar Target: The funding aims to support India's national program to install rooftop solar panels for 10 million households.
- Economic Gains: Expected to mobilize USD 4.2 billion in private financing and create over 1.7 million jobs in the solar energy sector.
Education
12 July 2026
AISHE Report 2023-24: Tamil Nadu Records Highest Gross Enrollment Ratio in Higher Education
- Record GER: Tamil Nadu registered a Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) of 52.3%, crossing the 50% milestone for the first time among major states.
- Gender Split: Female GER stood at 53.1%, while male GER was recorded at 51.6%, showing strong gender parity.
- National Comparison: Tamil Nadu continues to lead the country, far exceeding the national average GER which stands at 30.0%.
Environment
12 July 2026
28th Meeting of the Wildlife Institute of India Society Held in Coimbatore
- Convention: Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav chaired the 28th meeting of the reconstituted WII Society at CaSFOS in Coimbatore.
- Mitigation Focus: Deliberated on mitigating human-wildlife conflict and integrating modern technologies like AI and geo-spatial tracking in forest management.
- Centre of Excellence: Coincided with the launch of the Centre of Excellence on Human-Wildlife Conflict at the SACON campus.
Welfare
12 July 2026
National Seminar on Transgender Identity and Empowerment Held in Pune
- Valedictory Address: Union Minister Ramdas Athawale addressed the national seminar in Pune, highlighting the SMILE scheme.
- Policy Commitment: Reaffirmed government support for skill development, shelter homes, and social inclusion for transgender individuals.
National
13 July 2026
Government of India Declares One-Day National Mourning Following the Passing of Qatar's Father Amir
- Official Declaration: India declared a day of national mourning on July 13, 2026, as a mark of respect for Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, the former Amir of Qatar.
- Protocols: The National Flag is flown at half-mast on all regular buildings across India, and all official entertainment has been cancelled for the day.
- Bilateral Legacy: PM Modi paid tribute, describing him as a visionary leader and a true friend of India who significantly strengthened bilateral ties.
Defense
13 July 2026
Adani Defence & Aerospace Announces South Asia's Largest Private Missile Manufacturing Complex in Madhya Pradesh
- Project Investment: Initiated a Rs. 2,500-crore project in Shivpuri, Madhya Pradesh, to build South Asia's largest private missile ecosystem.
- Integration: First backward-integrated private complex, managing input materials like propellant and TNT alongside final missile assembly in a single hub.
- Employment: Expected to generate over 5,000 jobs and support a network of over 50 local MSMEs.
Demography
13 July 2026
Kerala's Crude Birth Rate Drops Below 10 Per Thousand for the First Time
- Milestone: According to the Vital Statistics Report of 2024, Kerala's birth rate has dropped below 10 to a historic low of 9.64.
- Live Birth decline: Live births registered fell to 344,766 compared to 393,231 in 2023, showing accelerating transition trends.
Economy
13 July 2026
Sikkim Tops Indian States in Per Capita Income for FY 2024-25
- Top Rank: Sikkim maintained the highest per capita income in India, recorded at over Rs. 6.46 lakh for the fiscal year.
- Multiples: Exceeds the national average per capita income by nearly three times, driven by tourism, pharma, and organic agriculture.
Governance
13 July 2026
West Bengal Government Constitutes 9-Member Expert Panel to Study Uniform Civil Code Draft
- Constitution: Panel chaired by retired Supreme Court Judge Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai.
- Timeline: Tasked with studying the draft Bill and submitting recommendations within four weeks.
Agriculture
13 July 2026
Assam Becomes First Indian State to Produce Japanese Matcha Tea
- Production: Commercial farming has begun at Chota Tingrai Tea Estate in Tinsukia district, Assam.
- Significance: Leverages traditional Japanese shade-growing and stone-ground processing to supply high-grade Matcha.
Defense
13 July 2026
Bengaluru Selected to Host 16th Edition of Aero India 2027 Airshow
- Location: The Ministry of Defence announced Yelahanka Air Force Station in Bengaluru as the host for Aero India 2027.
- Aviation Hub: Continues Bengaluru's uninterrupted run of hosting the prestigious biennial airshow since its inception in 1996.
Agriculture
13 July 2026
India and New Zealand Sign Agreement for Kiwifruit Centres in Nagaland and Uttarakhand
- Collaboration: India and New Zealand signed a bilateral agreement to set up two Centres of Excellence for kiwifruit cultivation.
- Locations: The centers will be established in Nagaland and Uttarakhand to boost local agricultural practices and farming returns.
Governance
13 July 2026
Union Minister Proposes Renaming Central Vista Area as 'Kartavya Bhawan'
- Proposal: Union Minister Manohar Lal suggested renaming the Central Vista area (comprising the new Parliament and central administrative offices) to 'Kartavya Bhawan'.
- Rationale: Intended to reflect a national pivot towards responsibility and civic duty (Kartavya) among lawmakers and administrators.
International Relations & Diplomacy
Defense
12 July 2026
India and Indonesia Sign Landmark Export Deal for Indigenous Astra Mk-1 BVRAAM Missiles
- First Export: Marks the first international export of India's indigenous Beyond-Visual-Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM), Astra Mk-1.
- Fleet Integration: Indonesia will integrate the Astra Mk-1 with its Russian-origin Sukhoi Su-27 and Su-30 fighter jets.
- Strategic Partnership: Handled under the wider defense cooperation pact signed during bilateral talks in Jakarta.
Diplomacy
13 July 2026
India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) to Enter into Force on July 15
- Implementation: The landmark trade agreement is scheduled to officially take effect on July 15, 2026.
- Trade Impact: Significantly reduces tariffs on key exports, including Indian textiles, leather, and jewelry, and British automotive components and chemicals.
- Bilateral Target: Targets doubling bilateral trade by 2030, enhancing business corridor growth.
Diplomacy
13 July 2026
India and New Zealand Launch Centenary Programme to Celebrate 100 Years of Hockey Partnership
- Centennial Milestone: Celebrates 100 years of sports partnership, tracing back to the 1926 Indian Army hockey tour featuring Major Dhyan Chand.
- Joint Action Plan: Focuses on expanding sporting exchanges, training, and cooperation in sports science and rugby development.
International
13 July 2026
Andy Burnham Emerges as Leading Candidate to Become the Next Prime Minister of United Kingdom
- Leadership Race: Following Keir Starmer's resignation announcement, Andy Burnham has secured overwhelming support from a majority of Labour MPs.
- Transition: Formally entering the leadership race with the backing of over 320 MPs, positioning him to assume the premiership by mid-July.
International
13 July 2026
India Urges De-escalation of Conflict in the Strait of Hormuz Following Maritime Security Incidents
- Conflict: Follows attacks on a merchant container vessel and subsequent retaliatory airstrikes. An Indian seafarer was reported missing.
- Diplomatic Call: India urged all regional actors to maintain restraint, protect maritime trade lanes, and ensure the safety of seafarers in the Strait of Hormuz.
International
13 July 2026
Major Fire Tragedy at Pub in Bangkok, Thailand Claims 27 Lives
- Incident: A massive fire broke out at a crowded entertainment pub in Bangkok, resulting in at least 27 deaths and multiple injuries.
- Aftermath: Thai authorities ordered a strict safety audit of all nightlife venues across tourist districts.
Science, Technology & Environment
Space
13 July 2026
JAXA Successfully Conducts Test Flight of Reusable 'RV-X' Rocket Prototype
- Rocket Flight: Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) successfully tested its reusable launch vehicle testbed, the RV-X.
- Objective: Designed to validate vertical takeoff and vertical landing (VTVL) controls and lightweight fuel tanks to lower future space launch costs.
Defense
12 July 2026
Indian Air Force Ranked 3rd Globally in WDMMA Global Air Powers Rankings 2026
- High Ranking: IAF ranked 3rd globally among independent national air forces, behind only the US Air Force and Russian Air Force.
- Overall Tally: Placed 6th globally out of 129 services when sub-branches (US Navy, US Army, etc.) are included.
- Capability Advantage: Secured a TruVal Rating (TvR) of 69.4, ahead of China's PLAAF (ranked 7th) despite China's larger fleet size.
Science
12 July 2026
India Tops 56th International Physics Olympiad 2026 with Five Gold Medals
- Triumph in Colombia: The Indian team won 5 gold medals at the event in Bucaramanga, Colombia.
- Tally Leader: India placed first in the medal tally jointly with China, Russia, Kazakhstan, South Korea, and Taiwan.
Biodiversity
12 July 2026
IUCN Red List 2026 Warns of Extinction Risks to Hydrothermal Vent Molluscs from Deep-Sea Mining
- Threat Status: 62% of endemic hydrothermal vent mollusc species are now classified as threatened with extinction.
- Drivers: Commercial deep-sea mining exploration for cobalt, copper, and zinc in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
- Critically Endangered: Species like the snail Lirapex felix were officially added to the Critically Endangered list.
Index & Report Rankings
Reports
13 July 2026
EIU Global Liveability Index 2026: Copenhagen Retains First Rank
- Top Spot: Copenhagen (Denmark) topped the EIU Global Liveability Index 2026, scoring 98 out of 100.
- Categories: Achieved perfect 100 scores in stability, education, and infrastructure. Vienna placed 2nd.
Economy
12 July 2026
Jaipur Ranked 6th Globally in Time Out World's Happiest Cities 2026 Survey
- Survey Milestone: Jaipur was ranked 6th globally and was the only Indian city to make the top 10 list.
- Top spots: Bath (England) took 1st place, followed by Panama City (2nd) and Guadalajara (3rd).
- Criteria: Evaluated community bonding, positivity, cultural vibrancy, and resident survey feedback.
Sports & Culture Updates
Sports
13 July 2026
Linda Noskova Claims Wimbledon 2026 Women's Singles Championship
- First Grand Slam: The 21-year-old Czech player Linda Noskova defeated compatriot Karolina Muchova in the final to win her maiden Grand Slam title.
- Final Score: Noskova won the match 6-2, 5-7, 6-3 on the Centre Court grass.
Sports
13 July 2026
India Wins 16 Medals at the Under-23 Asian Athletics Championships in China
- Medal Tally: The Indian contingent finished with a haul of 16 medals at the continental youth meet in China.
- Performance: Showcased stellar performance in track, hurdles, and javelin events.
Obituary
12 July 2026
Legendary Playback Singer S. Janaki Amma Passes Away at 88
- Loss to Music: The iconic playback singer, affectionately known as the 'Nightingale of South India', passed away in Mysuru, Karnataka.
- Legacy: Recorded tens of thousands of songs across Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Hindi during a 6-decade career.
- Funeral: cremated with full state honors in Mysuru.
Sports
12 July 2026
Telangana Named Official Host for 8th Khelo India Youth Games 2026
- Host: Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya announced Telangana as the host for the 8th edition of KIYG.
- Timeline: Scheduled to be held in November 2026, with Hyderabad as the primary host city.
- Budget: Sports department proposed an approximate budget of Rs. 80 crore for stadium upgrades.
One-Liner Quick Revision Pointers
- PM Surya Ghar Yojana: Approved million financing package from World Bank.
- AISHE state GER: Tamil Nadu registered highest Gross Enrollment Ratio of 52.3%.
- WII Society Meeting: 28th meeting chaired by Union Minister Bhupender Yadav in Coimbatore.
- SMILE Scheme: Government program for transgender rehabilitation and welfare.
- Astra Mk-1 Deal: Beyond-Visual-Range missile export agreement signed between India and Indonesia.
- WDMMA Ranking: Indian Air Force secured the 3rd rank globally in military air powers.
- IPhO 2026: Indian team won 5 gold medals at Physics Olympiad in Colombia.
- IUCN Red List: Deep-sea mining flagged as key risk for hydrothermal vent molluscs.
- Happiest Cities: Jaipur ranked 6th globally; Bath (England) took 1st place.
- S. Janaki Amma: Nightingale of South India passed away at 88 in Mysuru.
- Khelo India Games: Telangana chosen to host the 8th Youth Games in November 2026.
- National Mourning: India declared mourning on July 13 for Qatar's Father Amir.
- Central Vista: Union Minister suggested renaming the area to 'Kartavya Bhawan'.
- India-UK CETA: Trade agreement entering into force on Wednesday, July 15, 2026.
- Strait of Hormuz: India urges de-escalation of regional conflict to secure trading.
- Bangkok Pub Fire: Tragic incident caused 27 casualties at a pub in Thailand.
- Adani Shivpuri complex: Rs. 2,500-crore investment for South Asia's largest private missile ecosystem.
- Kerala Birth Rate: Crude Birth Rate fell below 10 for the first time in history to 9.64.
- Sikkim Income: Holds the highest per capita income in India, exceeding Rs. 6.46 lakh.
- West Bengal UCC panel: Constituted 9-member expert committee chaired by Justice Ranjana Desai.
- Matcha Tea production: Assam became first state to cultivate Japanese Matcha commercially.
- Aero India 2027: 16th edition to be held at Yelahanka Air Force Station in Bengaluru.
- India-NZ Hockey: Celebrating 100 years since the 1926 Indian Army hockey tour.
- Andy Burnham: Formally entered UK Prime Minister race with majority Labour support.
- JAXA RV-X Rocket: Reusable launch testbed prototype successfully conducts test flight.
- EIU Liveability Index: Copenhagen, Denmark, topped the Global Liveability Index 2026.
- Wimbledon 2026 Winner: Linda Noskova won the Women's Singles Championship.
- Under-23 Athletics: Indian contingent won a total of 16 medals in China.
- World Population Day: Observed on July 11 to address global demographic challenges.
Appendix: States & UTs Study Reference
28 States of India
| State | Capital | Chief Minister | CM Sworn-in Date | Governor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andhra Pradesh | Amaravati | Nara Chandrababu Naidu | June 12, 2024 | Justice (Retd.) S. Abdul Nazeer |
| Arunachal Pradesh | Itanagar | Pema Khandu | June 13, 2024 | Lt. Gen. K. T. Parnaik (Retd.) |
| Assam | Dispur | Himanta Biswa Sarma | May 10, 2021 | Gulab Chand Kataria |
| Bihar | Patna | Nitish Kumar | January 28, 2024 | Rajendra Arlekar |
| Chhattisgarh | Raipur | Vishnu Deo Sai | December 13, 2023 | Ramen Deka |
| Goa | Panaji | Pramod Sawant | March 28, 2022 | P. S. Sreedharan Pillai |
| Gujarat | Gandhinagar | Bhupendra Patel | December 12, 2022 | Acharya Devvrat |
| Haryana | Chandigarh | Nayab Singh Saini | March 12, 2024 | Bandaru Dattatreya |
| Himachal Pradesh | Shimla | Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu | December 11, 2022 | Shiv Pratap Shukla |
| Jharkhand | Ranchi | Hemant Soren | July 4, 2024 | Santosh Kumar Gangwar |
| Karnataka | Bengaluru | Siddaramaiah | May 20, 2023 | Thaawarchand Gehlot |
| Kerala | Thiruvananthapuram | Pinarayi Vijayan | May 20, 2021 | Arif Mohammad Khan |
| Madhya Pradesh | Bhopal | Mohan Yadav | December 13, 2023 | Mangubhai C. Patel |
| Maharashtra | Mumbai | Eknath Shinde | June 30, 2022 | C. P. Radhakrishnan |
| Manipur | Imphal | N. Biren Singh | March 21, 2022 | Lakshman Prasad Acharya |
| Meghalaya | Shillong | Conrad Sangma | March 7, 2023 | C. H. Vijayashankar |
| Mizoram | Aizawl | Lalduhoma | December 8, 2023 | Dr. Hari Babu Kambhampati |
| Nagaland | Kohima | Neiphiu Rio | March 7, 2023 | La. Ganesan |
| Odisha | Bhubaneswar | Mohan Charan Majhi | June 12, 2024 | Raghubar Das |
| Punjab | Chandigarh | Bhagwant Mann | March 16, 2022 | Gulab Chand Kataria |
| Rajasthan | Jaipur | Bhajan Lal Sharma | December 15, 2023 | Haribhau Bagade |
| Sikkim | Gangtok | Prem Singh Tamang | June 10, 2024 | Om Prakash Mathur |
| Tamil Nadu | Chennai | M. K. Stalin | May 7, 2021 | R. N. Ravi |
| Telangana | Hyderabad | Anumula Revanth Reddy | December 7, 2023 | Jishnu Dev Varma |
| Tripura | Agartala | Manik Saha | May 15, 2022 | Indra Sena Reddy Nallu |
| Uttar Pradesh | Lucknow | Yogi Adityanath | March 19, 2017 | Anandiben Patel |
| Uttarakhand | Dehradun | Pushkar Singh Dhami | July 4, 2021 | Lt. Gen. Gurmit Singh (Retd.) |
| West Bengal | Kolkata | Suvendu Adhikari | May 9, 2026 | C. V. Ananda Bose |
8 Union Territories of India
| Union Territory | Capital | Chief Minister (If Elected) | CM Sworn-in Date | Lieutenant Governor / Administrator |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andaman & Nicobar Islands | Port Blair | N/A | - | Admiral D. K. Joshi (Retd.) (LG) |
| Chandigarh | Chandigarh | N/A | - | Gulab Chand Kataria (Administrator) |
| Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu | Daman | N/A | - | Praful Khoda Patel (Administrator) |
| Delhi (NCT) | New Delhi | Rekha Gupta | September 21, 2024 | Vinai Kumar Saxena (LG) |
| Jammu & Kashmir | Srinagar (Summer) / Jammu (Winter) | Omar Abdullah | October 16, 2024 | Manoj Sinha (LG) |
| Ladakh | Leh (Summer) / Kargil (Winter) | N/A | - | Brigadier (Retd.) B. D. Mishra (LG) |
| Lakshadweep | Kavaratti | N/A | - | Praful Khoda Patel (Administrator) |
| Puducherry | Puducherry | N. Rangaswamy | May 7, 2021 | C. P. Radhakrishnan (LG) |