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29 Jul 2026, 04:35 PM
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Daily Current Affairs 20 July
DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS
20 JULY 2026
Comprehensive, exam-oriented daily compilation featuring in-depth analysis of national and international developments.
Diplomacy & Defense Cooperation
UNSC Campaign
20 July 2026
India Launches 'SHANTI' Campaign for 2028-29 Non-Permanent UNSC Seat
- Global Bid: External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar officially launched India's diplomatic campaign for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the 2028-29 term.
- SHANTI Vision: The acronym stands for "Securing Holistic Advancement through Norms, Trust and Integrity", reflecting India's approach to reformed multilateralism.
- Core Priorities: Focuses on global security, climate action, modern peacekeeping reform, digital governance, and representing the voice of the Global South.
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
UNSC Composition: 15 members (5 Permanent: US, UK, France, Russia, China; and 10 Non-permanent members elected for 2-year terms).
India's Record: India has served as a non-permanent member 8 times (most recently in 2021-22). The election for the 2028-29 term will be held in June 2027.
India's Record: India has served as a non-permanent member 8 times (most recently in 2021-22). The election for the 2028-29 term will be held in June 2027.
Joint Military Exercise
20 July 2026
Multinational Exercise 'Pitch Black 2026' Commences in Australia
- Exercise Commencement: The premier biennial multinational warfare exercise **Exercise Pitch Black 2026** officially commenced in Australia (scheduled from 20 July to 7 August 2026).
- Indian Air Force Deployment: IAF deployed a potent contingent comprising 4 Rafale fighter aircraft, 2 C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft, and over 120 air warriors.
- Locations: Operations are being conducted from RAAF bases Darwin, Tindal, and Amberley in Australia, focusing on large-force employment and coalition interoperability.
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
Exercise Pitch Black: Hosted biennially by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).
Indian Air Force: Chief of the Air Staff: Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh.
Indian Air Force: Chief of the Air Staff: Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh.
Navy Induction
20 July 2026
Indian Navy Commissions Second Mahe-Class ASW-SWC Vessel 'INS Malvan'
- Commissioning: The Indian Navy commissioned INS Malvan, the second ship of the indigenous Mahe-class Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), at Karwar Naval Base.
- Design & Role: Constructed by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) with over 80% indigenous content. Designed for coastal anti-submarine warfare, mine warfare, and Low Intensity Maritime Operations (LIMO).
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
INS Malvan: Named after the historic coastal town of Malvan in Maharashtra. Presided over by Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh, Chief of the Air Staff.
Bilateral TTC
20 July 2026
Third India-EU Trade & Technology Council Meeting Held in Brussels
- High-Level Meeting: The 3rd ministerial meeting of the India-European Union Trade and Technology Council (TTC) was held in Brussels, Belgium.
- Co-Chairs: Co-chaired by Piyush Goyal, Dr. S. Jaishankar, and Jitin Prasada from India; and Henna Virkkunen, Maros Sefcovic, and Ekaterina Zaharieva from the EU.
- Key Dialogues: Both sides initiated negotiations for India's association with **Horizon Europe** (flagship R&D scheme) and deepened partnership in semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and green technology.
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
TTC: Established in April 2022 during European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's visit to India. This is India's second TTC (first is with the USA).
National Policy, Technology & Trade
WTO Trade
20 July 2026
India Joins WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies (AFS) as 123rd Member
- Formal Acceptance: India deposited its Instrument of Acceptance with the WTO in Geneva, formally joining the **WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies (AFS)** as the **123rd member**.
- Filer Details: Handed over by Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal to WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
- Livelihood Protection: Explicitly excludes aquaculture and inland fisheries (protecting India's huge shrimp export sector) while banning subsidies for Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing to protect small-scale domestic fishers.
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
WTO: Established: 1 January 1995 | HQ: Geneva, Switzerland | Director-General: Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
India's Goal: Pushing for Phase II negotiations requesting a 25-year transition period for developing nations to safeguard traditional artisanal fishermen.
India's Goal: Pushing for Phase II negotiations requesting a 25-year transition period for developing nations to safeguard traditional artisanal fishermen.
Monsoon Session
20 July 2026
Monsoon Session of Indian Parliament Commences
- Session Opening: The Monsoon Session of the Indian Parliament officially commenced on 20 July 2026.
- Address by PM: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the session, calling for constructive debates, smooth functioning of both Houses, and collective parliamentary resolve to achieve the vision of *Viksit Bharat*.
- Legislative Agenda: Expected to take up key bills including financial reforms, environmental amendments, and digital regulations.
CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS
Under **Article 85** of the Indian Constitution, the President summons each House of Parliament to meet. The maximum gap between two sessions cannot exceed 6 months. India typically hosts three sessions: Budget, Monsoon, and Winter.
Digital Initiative
20 July 2026
Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal Launches e-VSP Portal
- Portal Launch: Union Law Minister (Independent Charge) Arjun Ram Meghwal launched the **e-VSP portal** for digital access to Hindi legal literature.
- Vidhi Sahitya Prakashan: Developed to digitize legal journals, translated central acts, and legal books, making them easily searchable and accessible to students and advocates.
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
Vidhi Sahitya Prakashan (VSP): Established in 1968 under the Ministry of Law and Justice to publish Hindi translations of legal text and promote Hindi usage in courts.
Infrastructure
20 July 2026
PM Modi Redevelops 75 Railway Stations under Amrit Bharat Scheme
- Punjab Flag-off: Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated 75 redeveloped railway stations across the country from a program in Jalandhar, Punjab.
- Redevelopment Outlay: Developed under the **Amrit Bharat Station Scheme** at a total investment of over **Rs 1,570 crore**, modernizing passenger amenities and regional architecture.
GOVERNMENT SCHEMES / PROGRAMMES
Amrit Bharat Station Scheme: Launched in 2023 by the Ministry of Railways to redevelop 1275+ stations nationwide with long-term master plans.
FDA Approval
20 July 2026
US FDA Approves Lipfendra (enlicitide) as First Oral PCSK9 Inhibitor
- FDA Approval: The U.S. FDA approved Lipfendra (enlicitide) as the first-ever oral PCSK9 inhibitor tablet for reducing LDL cholesterol.
- Efficacy: Formulated as a once-daily 20-mg tablet. Offers a non-injectable alternative to existing PCSK9 inhibitors (like evolocumab and alirocumab) which are administered via injections.
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
PCSK9: Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9. Lipfendra blocks this protein to allow the liver to clear LDL (bad cholesterol) more effectively.
State Governance & Global Leaders
Global Prime Minister
20 July 2026
Mindaugas Sinkevicius Sworn In as Prime Minister of Lithuania
- New Leader: Mindaugas Sinkevicius has officially assumed office as the new Prime Minister of Lithuania.
- Succession: Succeeds former Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene, heading the new Lithuanian cabinet focused on European security and economic reforms.
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
Lithuania: Capital: Vilnius | Currency: Euro | President: Gitanas Nauseda.
Urban Development
20 July 2026
Andhra Pradesh Partners with UN-Habitat for Resilient Urban Growth
- Landmark MoU: The Government of Andhra Pradesh signed an MoU with the **United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat)** to accelerate inclusive, sustainable, and climate-resilient urban planning.
- Amaravati Centre: Establishes a **Centre of Excellence for Urban Affairs in Amaravati** to drive research, digital governance, poverty alleviation, and municipal finance reforms.
- Global Stage: Strengthens the state's flagship urban schemes (SURGE, RISE, UPLIFT AP), with a commitment to showcase AP's models at the 14th World Urban Forum (WUF14) in Mexico in 2028.
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
UN-Habitat: Established: 1978 | HQ: Nairobi, Kenya | Executive Director: Anaclรกudia Rossbach.
Andhra Pradesh Profile: CM: N. Chandrababu Naidu | Governor: S. Abdul Nazeer.
Andhra Pradesh Profile: CM: N. Chandrababu Naidu | Governor: S. Abdul Nazeer.
Vertical Campus
20 July 2026
India's First AI-Integrated Vertical University Campus Inaugurated in Chennai
- Inauguration: Padma Shri Sridhar Vembu inaugurated India's first **AI-integrated vertical university campus** at **VISTAS** in Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai.
- Architectural Solution: Employs a skyscraper high-tech model housing laboratories, lecture halls, and library services to tackle metropolitan spatial constraints.
- AI Infrastructure: Integrates automated smart buildings, student traffic optimization, and AI-enabled custom environments.
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
VISTAS: Vels Institute of Science, Technology & Advanced Studies, Chennai.
Inaugurator: Sridhar Vembu, Founder and Chief Scientist of Zoho Corporation.
Inaugurator: Sridhar Vembu, Founder and Chief Scientist of Zoho Corporation.
Awards & Sports Achievements
72nd National Film Awards
20 July 2026
'Article 370' Wins Best Feature Film at 72nd National Film Awards
- Best Feature Film: The Hindi feature film "Article 370" won the coveted **Best Feature Film** award at the 72nd National Film Awards.
- Individual Awards: Lead actress Yami Gautam won the **Best Actress** award for her performance in the film. **Shashwat Sachdev** won the **Best Music Direction (Songs)** award.
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
National Film Awards: Established in 1954, administered by the Directorate of Film Festivals under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
Badminton
20 July 2026
PV Sindhu Scripts History by Winning the 2026 Japan Open Singles Title
- Historic Win: Two-time Olympic medalist **PV Sindhu** became the first Indian badminton player to win the prestigious **Japan Open women's singles title**.
- The Final: She defeated home favorite and three-time world champion Akane Yamaguchi in straight games (**21-17, 21-17**) at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium.
- Career Milestone: This historic victory marks PV Sindhu's first-ever BWF Super 750 crown, ending a long-standing tour title drought.
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
PV Sindhu: Born in Hyderabad. Scripted history by winning Silver at the 2016 Rio Olympics and Bronze at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, along with a World Championship gold in 2019.
BWF: Badminton World Federation. HQ: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
BWF: Badminton World Federation. HQ: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
NCM Appointment
20 July 2026
Harjit Singh Grewal Assumes Charge as Chairperson of National Commission for Minorities (NCM)
- NCM Chairperson: Senior leader **Harjit Singh Grewal** assumed charge as the new Chairperson of the statutory National Commission for Minorities (NCM).
- Inductions: Notified by the Ministry of Minority Affairs, the commission also saw the induction of **S. Munawari Begum** as Vice-Chairperson and other members.
- Statutory Role: The NCM is tasked with monitoring and safeguarding constitutional rights for India's six notified minority communities (Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Parsis, and Jains).
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
National Commission for Minorities: Established under the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992. Initially designated 5 religious minorities, with Jains added in 2014. Minister of Minority Affairs: Kiren Rijiju.
โก ONE-LINER QUICK REVISION POINTERS (20 JULY 2026)
- UNSC Campaign: India launched its 'SHANTI' campaign (Securing Holistic Advancement through Norms, Trust and Integrity) for a non-permanent seat for the 2028-29 term.
- Exercise Pitch Black: Indian Air Force deployed Rafale and C-17 aircraft to Darwin, Australia, for the multinational exercise Pitch Black 2026.
- INS Malvan: Second Mahe-class Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC) vessel commissioned at Karwar Naval Base.
- India-EU TTC: The 3rd India-EU Trade and Technology Council ministerial meeting was held in Brussels, Belgium.
- WTO Fisheries Subsidies: India deposited its Instrument of Acceptance in Geneva, becoming the 123rd member to join the WTO agreement.
- Monsoon Session: The Monsoon Session of the Indian Parliament commenced on 20 July 2026 with an address by PM Modi.
- UN-Habitat & AP: Andhra Pradesh government signed an MoU with UN-Habitat to set up a Centre of Excellence for Urban Affairs in Amaravati.
- NCM Chairperson: Harjit Singh Grewal officially assumed charge as the Chairperson of the National Commission for Minorities.
- PV Sindhu: Defeated Akane Yamaguchi to win her maiden Japan Open singles title, becoming the first Indian to achieve the feat.
- Article 370: Awarded Best Feature Film at the 72nd National Film Awards, and Yami Gautam won Best Actress.
- e-VSP Portal: Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal launched this portal for digital access to Hindi legal literature.
- AI Vertical Campus: India's first AI-integrated vertical university campus (VISTAS) was inaugurated in Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai.
- Amrit Bharat Stations: PM Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated 75 redeveloped railway stations across India under the Amrit Bharat Scheme.
- Lipfendra (enlicitide): Approved by the US FDA as the first-ever oral PCSK9 inhibitor tablet for lowering bad LDL cholesterol.
- Lithuania PM: Mindaugas Sinkevicius was sworn in as the new Prime Minister of Lithuania.
- Operation Toofan: Kerala government's massive anti-narcotics campaign yielded over 8,500 arrests by late July.
- World Chess Day: Celebrated globally on 20 July to mark the founding of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) in 1924.
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 |