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21 Jul 2026, 05:42 AM
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Daily Current Affairs 15 July
DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS
15 JULY 2026
Comprehensive, exam-oriented daily compilation featuring in-depth analysis of national and international developments.
Sports & Global Honors
Cricket
15 July 2026
Kranti Gaud Becomes First Woman Cricketer Engraved on Lord's Test Honours Board
- Historic Milestone: Indian cricketer Kranti Gaud became the first female player in international cricket history to have her name inscribed on the iconic Lord's Test Honours Board in London.
- Match Performance: The honor was conferred following her outstanding 5-wicket haul during an international Test match played at Lord's.
- MCC Rule Revision: Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) updated board protocols to permanently enshrine historic and modern achievements by women cricketers.
CONCEPT FOCUS & BACKGROUND
The Lord's Honours Board is a prestigious wooden board located inside the Lord's Pavilion that commemorates players scoring 100+ runs or taking 5+ wickets in a Test or ODI at Lord's Cricket Ground.
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
Lord's Cricket Ground: Established in 1814 in St John's Wood, London. Owned by the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC, founded 1787). Universally known as the "Home of Cricket".
Sports Honors
15 July 2026
Sourav Ganguly Officially Inducted as 12th Indian in ICC Hall of Fame
- Induction Ceremony: Former Indian Captain and ex-BCCI President Sourav Ganguly was officially inducted into the International Cricket Council (ICC) Hall of Fame.
- Elite Rank: Ganguly becomes the 12th Indian cricketer to join the global hall of fame.
- Captaincy & Career: Led India to 21 Test victories in 49 matches, captained India to the 2003 World Cup Final, and scored 18,575 international runs across formats.
CONCEPT FOCUS & BACKGROUND
The ICC Hall of Fame was established in 2009 in association with FICA to celebrate the heritage and lifetime achievements of cricket's legendary players.
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
Indian Inductees: Bishan Singh Bedi, Kapil Dev, Sunil Gavaskar, Anil Kumble, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Vinoo Mankad, Diana Edulji, Virender Sehwag, Neetu David, Yuvraj Singh, Sourav Ganguly.
Economy & State Rankings
State Economy
15 July 2026
Sikkim Ranks First in Per Capita Income Among Indian States
- National Ranking: Sikkim secured 1st position among all Indian states in Per Capita Income in the latest economic assessment released by MoSPI.
- Income Level: Sikkim recorded an annual per capita income exceeding Rs. 6.46 Lakh per person.
- Growth Pillars: Strong performance in organic farming, pharmaceutical manufacturing, eco-tourism, and clean hydroelectric power.
CONCEPT FOCUS & BACKGROUND
Per Capita Income (PCI) is calculated by dividing Net State Domestic Product (NSDP) by total population, serving as a primary indicator of economic prosperity and standard of living.
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
Sikkim Profile: Capital: Gangtok | CM: Prem Singh Tamang | Governor: Om Prakash Mathur. Became India's 1st 100% Organic State in 2016.
Global Report
15 July 2026
India Leads Global Growth in Intangible Asset Investments - World Intangible Investment Report
- Report Release: According to the World Intangible Investment Report 2026, India recorded the highest growth rate in intangible asset investments among major economies.
- Asset Classes: Encompasses R&D, software development, artificial intelligence IP, branding, patents, and data infrastructure.
- Key Factor: Driven by India's booming IT services exports, AI startup ecosystems, and digital public infrastructure (DPI).
CONCEPT FOCUS & BACKGROUND
Intangible capital refers to non-physical economic assets (IP, software, organizational knowledge) that enhance economic productivity compared to physical tangible assets.
Science, Technology & Space
Science Honor
15 July 2026
Dr. Soumya Swaminathan Elected as Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS), London
- Scientific Honor: Renowned scientist and former WHO Chief Scientist Dr. Soumya Swaminathan was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS).
- Historic Achievement: She is the 2nd Indian woman scientist to achieve this prestigious fellowship.
- Contributions: Recognized for global pioneering research in tuberculosis (TB), HIV/AIDS treatment, and public health policy.
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
First Indian Woman FRS: Dr. Gagandeep Kang (elected in 2019).
Royal Society: Founded in 1660 in London; world's oldest continuous scientific academy.
Royal Society: Founded in 1660 in London; world's oldest continuous scientific academy.
Space Tech
15 July 2026
SpaceX Launches 'BOHR' - World's First Commercial Nuclear-Powered Satellite
- Space Mission: SpaceX launched 'BOHR', the world's first commercial satellite powered by nuclear energy.
- Technology: Powered by a miniaturized Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (RTG) for uninterrupted long-duration space missions.
- Nomenclature: Named in honor of Nobel laureate quantum physicist Niels Bohr.
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
SpaceX: Founded in 2002 by Elon Musk | HQ: Hawthorne, California.
RTG Power: Converts decay heat of radioisotopes (Plutonium-238) into electricity.
RTG Power: Converts decay heat of radioisotopes (Plutonium-238) into electricity.
Drone Tech
15 July 2026
MeitY & Drone Federation Launch 'NIDAR 2.0' Drone Innovation Challenge
- Initiative Launch: Ministry of Electronics & IT (MeitY) and Drone Federation of India launched NIDAR 2.0 (National Innovation Challenge for Drone Application & Research).
- SwaYaan Scheme: Executed under SwaYaan Initiative (2026-27) to advance indigenous drone flight controllers and VEGA microprocessors.
GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES / SCHEMES
SwaYaan Initiative: Aimed at empowering Indian startups and academic researchers to develop indigenous hardware, algorithms, and cybersecurity for autonomous drone fleets.
International Relations & Trade
Bilateral Trade
15 July 2026
India-UK Comprehensive Economic & Trade Agreement (CETA) Comes Into Effect
- Trade Enforcement: The landmark Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between India and the UK officially came into force.
- Tariff Benefits: Eliminates tariffs on over 90% of trade lines, facilitating duty-free exports of Indian textiles, leather, and IT services to the UK market.
- Professional Mobility: Features simplified visa procedures for skilled Indian professionals under Young Professionals Scheme.
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
United Kingdom: Prime Minister: Keir Starmer | Capital: London | Currency: British Pound Sterling (GBP).
Trilateral Ties
15 July 2026
India, Australia, and Canada Launch Trilateral Technology & Innovation Partnership
- Trilateral Agreement: India, Australia, and Canada launched a joint Trilateral Technology & Innovation Partnership.
- Focus Domains: Joint R&D in AI ethics, quantum communication, critical minerals processing, and supply chain security.
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
Capitals: India (New Delhi), Australia (Canberra), Canada (Ottawa).
Consular Affairs
15 July 2026
Speedboat Incident Near Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam Prompts Diplomatic Rescue Coordination
- Incident: A speedboat incident occurred near Phu Quoc Island in Vietnam involving 15 Indian tourists.
- MEA Response: Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and Indian Embassy in Hanoi set up emergency helpline desks for consular assistance.
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
Phu Quoc Island: Vietnam's largest island, situated in the Gulf of Thailand off Kien Giang Province.
Vietnam Profile: Capital: Hanoi | Currency: Vietnamese Dong (VND) | PM: Pham Minh Chinh.
Vietnam Profile: Capital: Hanoi | Currency: Vietnamese Dong (VND) | PM: Pham Minh Chinh.
Industry & Infrastructure
Semiconductors
15 July 2026
Spanish Firm Submer Group Announces $2 Billion Semiconductor Investment in MP
- FDI Investment: Spanish cooling tech major Submer Group announced a $2 Billion (Rs. 16,600 Crore) investment in Madhya Pradesh.
- Scope: Construction of advanced liquid-immersion cooling infrastructure and microchip packaging plants along the Bhopal-Indore industrial corridor.
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
Madhya Pradesh: CM: Mohan Yadav | Governor: Mangubhai C. Patel | Capital: Bhopal.
India Semiconductor Mission: Rs. 76,000 Crore scheme under MeitY.
India Semiconductor Mission: Rs. 76,000 Crore scheme under MeitY.
Textile Expo
15 July 2026
Bharat Tex 2026 International Textile Expo Commences at Bharat Mandapam
- Global Expo: Bharat Tex 2026, India's largest international textile conference, commenced at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
- 5F Vision: Guided by Prime Minister's 5F Vision: Farm to Fibre to Factory to Fashion to Foreign.
GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES / SCHEMES
PM MITRA Scheme: Setting up 7 Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel (PM MITRA) Parks across India with modern infrastructure.
Urban Governance
15 July 2026
Central Government Renames Central Vista Area to 'Kartavya Bhavan Area'
- Renaming Notification: Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs officially renamed the Central Vista executive zone as 'Kartavya Bhavan Area'.
- Infrastructure: Accommodates the Common Central Secretariat complex housing 55+ Central Ministries.
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
Union Housing Minister: Manohar Lal Khattar.
Kartavya Path: Ceremonial axis in New Delhi formerly known as Rajpath.
Kartavya Path: Ceremonial axis in New Delhi formerly known as Rajpath.
Judiciary Infrastructure
15 July 2026
CJI Surya Kant Inaugurates High-Tech 'Tower of Justice' in Gurugram
- Judicial Complex: Chief Justice of India Surya Kant inaugurated the state-of-the-art 'Tower of Justice' complex in Gurugram, Haryana.
- Tech Specs: Houses 55 digital courtrooms, AI e-filing desks, paperless case tracking, and green building certification.
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
Haryana: CM: Nayab Singh Saini | Governor: Bandaru Dattatreya | Capital: Chandigarh.
GI Products
15 July 2026
Uttarakhand Inaugurates First GI Products Gallery in Haldwani
- Gallery Launch: Uttarakhand launched its 1st dedicated GI Products Gallery in Haldwani (Nainital district).
- Exhibits: Displays 18+ certified GI products including Tejpatta, Berinag Tea, Munsiyari Rajma, Ringal Craft, and Aipan Art.
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
GI Tag Act: Governed by GI of Goods Act 1999 under DPIIT. Valid for 10 years.
Uttarakhand: CM: Pushkar Singh Dhami | Governor: Gurmit Singh.
Uttarakhand: CM: Pushkar Singh Dhami | Governor: Gurmit Singh.
Urban Schemes
15 July 2026
Lakhanpur (J&K) Selected Under PM SVANidhi Street Food Hub Initiative
- Selection: Border town of Lakhanpur (Kathua district, J&K) was selected among initial 50 towns for development under PM SVANidhi Street Food Hub project.
- Goal: Modernize street food vending zones with hygienic stalls and digital payment infrastructure.
GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES / SCHEMES
PM SVANidhi: PM Street Vendor's AtmaNirbhar Nidhi launched in June 2020 by MoHUA for collateral-free working capital loans.
State Welfare
15 July 2026
Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu Launches 'Pillale Sampada' Scheme
- Welfare Launch: Andhra Pradesh CM N. Chandrababu Naidu launched 'Pillale Sampada' (Children are Our Wealth) initiative.
- Focus: Financial incentives and healthcare support for maternal welfare, child nutrition, and family stabilization.
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
Andhra Pradesh: Capital: Amaravati | CM: N. Chandrababu Naidu | Governor: S. Abdul Nazeer.
Culture & Festivals
15 July 2026
Annual Anivara Asthanam Festival Celebrated at Tirumala Temple
- Temple Festival: Annual festival of Anivara Asthanam was grandly conducted at Tirumala Sri Venkateswara Temple in Andhra Pradesh.
- Significance: Marks traditional fiscal new year where temple account books are presented before Lord Venkateswara.
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
Tirumala Temple: Located on Seshachalam Hills, Tirupati, AP. Dravidian architectural style, managed by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD).
Awards & Honors
15 July 2026
Reliance Foundation Founder Nita Ambani Honored with 'Fortune India MPW' Award
- Award: Nita Ambani, Founder of Reliance Foundation, was conferred with the Fortune India Most Powerful Women (MPW) Award.
- Recognition: Honored for transformational leadership in education, sports promotion, and social development across India.
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
Reliance Foundation: Established in 2010 as the CSR arm of Reliance Industries Limited.
โก ONE-LINER QUICK REVISION POINTERS (15 JULY 2026)
- Kranti Gaud: Became the first woman cricketer in history to have her name inscribed on the Lord's Test Honours Board.
- Sikkim: Ranked 1st among Indian states in Per Capita Income exceeding Rs. 6.46 Lakh per annum.
- Dr. Soumya Swaminathan: Elected as the 2nd Indian woman scientist Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS), London.
- Sourav Ganguly: Official 12th Indian cricketer inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame.
- Anivara Asthanam: Famous annual accounts-opening festival celebrated at Tirumala Sri Venkateswara Temple, Andhra Pradesh.
- Trilateral Tech Partnership: India, Australia, and Canada launched joint initiative in Technology & Innovation.
- Submer Group: Spanish firm announced $2 Billion semiconductor & liquid cooling investment in Madhya Pradesh.
- GI Products Gallery: Uttarakhand's 1st Geographical Indications gallery inaugurated in Haldwani.
- Bharat Tex 2026: India's largest international textile conference launched at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
- World Intangible Investment Report 2026: India recorded highest global growth rate in intangible asset investments.
- SpaceX BOHR Satellite: World's 1st commercial nuclear-powered satellite successfully launched into orbit.
- India-UK CETA: Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between India and UK officially came into force.
- Tower of Justice: High-tech judicial complex inaugurated in Gurugram, Haryana by CJI Surya Kant.
- Kartavya Bhavan Area: Central Vista redevelopment area officially renamed by the Central Government.
- PM SVANidhi Food Hub: Lakhanpur (J&K) selected among initial towns for Street Food Hub development.
- Nita Ambani: Honored with the prestigious Fortune India Most Powerful Women (MPW) Award.
- NIDAR 2.0: MeitY & Drone Federation of India launched National Innovation Challenge for Drone Application & Research.
- Pillale Sampada: Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu launched child birth & welfare incentive scheme.
- Phu Quoc Island Incident: Tragic speedboat incident off Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam prompted MEA consular assistance.
Appendix: Governors & Swearing-In Dates of States & UTs
| S.No. | State / UT | Chief Minister / Administrator | Governor / Lt. Governor | Swearing-In Date / Taking Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Andhra Pradesh | N. Chandrababu Naidu | S. Abdul Nazeer | 12 June 2024 |
| 2 | Arunachal Pradesh | Pema Khandu | Lt. Gen. Kaiwalya Trivikram Parnaik | 13 June 2024 |
| 3 | Assam | Himanta Biswa Sarma | Lakshman Prasad Acharya | 10 May 2021 / 30 July 2024 |
| 4 | Bihar | Nitish Kumar | Rajendra Arlekar | 28 January 2024 / 17 February 2023 |
| 5 | Chhattisgarh | Vishnu Deo Sai | Ramen Deka | 13 December 2023 / 31 July 2024 |
| 6 | Goa | Pramod Sawant | P.S. Sreedharan Pillai | 28 March 2022 / 15 July 2021 |
| 7 | Gujarat | Bhupendra Patel | Acharya Devvrat | 12 December 2022 / 22 July 2019 |
| 8 | Haryana | Nayab Singh Saini | Bandaru Dattatreya | 17 October 2024 / 15 July 2021 |
| 9 | Himachal Pradesh | Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu | Shiv Pratap Shukla | 11 December 2022 / 18 February 2023 |
| 10 | Jharkhand | Hemant Soren | Santosh Kumar Gangwar | 28 November 2024 / 31 July 2024 |
| 11 | Karnataka | Siddaramaiah | Thaawarchand Gehlot | 20 May 2023 / 11 July 2021 |
| 12 | Kerala | Pinarayi Vijayan | Arif Mohammad Khan | 20 May 2021 / 06 September 2019 |
| 13 | Madhya Pradesh | Mohan Yadav | Mangubhai C. Patel | 13 December 2023 / 08 July 2021 |
| 14 | Maharashtra | Devendra Fadnavis | C.P. Radhakrishnan | 05 December 2024 / 31 July 2024 |
| 15 | Manipur | N. Biren Singh | Lakshman Prasad Acharya (Addl. Charge) | 21 March 2022 / 31 July 2024 |
| 16 | Meghalaya | Conrad Sangma | CH Vijayashankar | 07 March 2023 / 30 July 2024 |
| 17 | Mizoram | Lalduhoma | Kambhampati Hari Babu | 08 December 2023 / 19 July 2021 |
| 18 | Nagaland | Neiphiu Rio | La. Ganesan | 07 March 2023 / 20 February 2023 |
| 19 | Odisha | Mohan Charan Majhi | Raghubar Das | 12 June 2024 / 31 October 2023 |
| 20 | Punjab | Bhagwant Mann | Gulab Chand Kataria | 16 March 2022 / 31 July 2024 |
| 21 | Rajasthan | Bhajan Lal Sharma | Haribhau Kisanrao Bagde | 15 December 2023 / 31 July 2024 |
| 22 | Sikkim | Prem Singh Tamang | Om Prakash Mathur | 10 June 2024 / 31 July 2024 |
| 23 | Tamil Nadu | M.K. Stalin | R.N. Ravi | 07 May 2021 / 18 September 2021 |
| 24 | Telangana | A. Revanth Reddy | Jishnu Dev Varma | 07 December 2023 / 31 July 2024 |
| 25 | Tripura | Manik Saha | N. Indrasena Reddy | 08 March 2023 / 26 October 2023 |
| 26 | Uttar Pradesh | Yogi Adityanath | Anandiben Patel | 25 March 2022 / 29 July 2019 |
| 27 | Uttarakhand | Pushkar Singh Dhami | Lt. Gen. Gurmit Singh | 23 March 2022 / 15 September 2021 |
| 28 | West Bengal | Mamata Banerjee | C.V. Ananda Bose | 05 May 2021 / 23 November 2022 |
| UNION TERRITORIES | ||||
| 29 | Andaman & Nicobar Islands | -- | Admiral D.K. Joshi (Lt. Governor) | 08 October 2017 |
| 30 | Chandigarh | -- | Gulab Chand Kataria (Administrator) | 31 July 2024 |
| 31 | Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu | -- | Praful Patel (Administrator) | 26 January 2020 |
| 32 | Delhi (NCT) | Atishi Marlena | Vinai Kumar Saxena (Lt. Governor) | 21 September 2024 / 26 May 2022 |
| 33 | Jammu & Kashmir | Omar Abdullah | Manoj Sinha (Lt. Governor) | 16 October 2024 / 07 August 2020 |
| 34 | Ladakh | -- | Brig. (Dr.) B.D. Mishra (Lt. Governor) | 12 February 2023 |
| 35 | Lakshadweep | -- | Praful Patel (Administrator) | 05 December 2020 |
| 36 | Puducherry | N. Rangasamy | K. Kailashnathan (Lt. Governor) | 07 May 2021 / 07 August 2024 |