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29 Jul 2026, 04:35 PM
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Daily Current Affairs 21 July
DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS
21 JULY 2026
Comprehensive, exam-oriented daily compilation featuring in-depth analysis of national and international developments.
Polity, Governance & Judiciary
Judiciary
21 July 2026
Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026 Introduced in Lok Sabha
- Bill Introduction: Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal introduced the **Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026** in the Lok Sabha.
- Strength Increase: Seeks to increase the sanctioned strength of Supreme Court judges from **34 to 38** (including the Chief Justice of India) to address the backlog of 92,000+ cases.
- Ordinance Replacement: The bill replaces the **Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Ordinance, 2026**, which was promulgated by President Droupadi Murmu on May 16, 2026.
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
Act Amended: Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956. The strength was last increased in 2019 from 31 to 34 judges.
Uniform Civil Code
21 July 2026
Madhya Pradesh Assembly Passes Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill, 2026
- Assembly Passage: The Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly passed the **Madhya Pradesh Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill, 2026** via a voice vote during its Monsoon Session.
- Key Exemption: In compliance with constitutional rights, **Scheduled Tribes (STs)** (under Articles 342 and 366) are completely exempted from the law's purview.
- Provisions: Prohibits polygamy, *triple talaq*, and *nikah halala*, mandates registration of marriages/divorces, and requires live-in couples to register within 1 month.
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
Four States: Madhya Pradesh is the fourth state to pass a UCC bill, following Uttarakhand, Gujarat, and Assam.
Judicial Benefits
21 July 2026
Supreme Court Directs Centre to Form Committee for Uniform Post-Retirement Benefits
- Directive: A Supreme Court bench led by CJI Surya Kant directed the Central Government to form a committee within two weeks to frame **uniform national guidelines** for post-retirement benefits of former Chief Justices and judges of High Courts.
- Disparity Concern: The Court observed a wide disparity in state-wise amenities (security, transport, medical), emphasizing that judges who held the same constitutional office must receive consistent treatment.
- Report Timeline: The committee must submit recommendations to the SC and the Union Government within three months of its constitution.
THE BENCH
The Bench consisted of Chief Justice Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana, hearing a contempt petition by the Association of Retired Judges.
National Policy, Energy & Science
Renewable Energy
21 July 2026
India's First 100 MWh Vanadium Redox Flow Battery storage contract awarded
- Utility-Scale Battery: NTPC Renewable Energy Limited (NTPC REL) awarded the contract for India's first utility-scale **100 MWh Vanadium Redox Flow Battery (VRFB) Energy Storage System (BESS)**.
- Location: To be installed at the massive **Khavda Solar Park** in Gujarat, scheduled for commissioning in 2027.
- Contractors: Bondada Engineering bagged the EPC contract, while Delectrik Systems will serve as the technology partner providing proprietary flow chemistry.
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
Technology advantages: VRFB technology offers 25+ years of operational life, high safety, and zero degradation compared to traditional lithium-ion batteries.
NITI Aayog Roadmap
21 July 2026
NITI Aayog Launches Roadmap Targeting USD 691 Billion Bioeconomy by 2035
- 10-Year Roadmap: Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh launched the roadmap titled *"Roadmap for Building India as a Leading Bioeconomy Powerhouse by 2035"*.
- Outlay & Growth: Recommends a **Rs 50,000 crore BioEconomy Growth Fund** (2026-2035) to boost bio-manufacturing, synthetic biology, and therapeutics, aiming for a USD 2.6 trillion bioeconomy by 2047.
- National BioMissions: Proposes six missions: *GeneIndia, AgriBio 2.0, BioX Foundry, One Health Grid, Marine Biotechnology, and BioPharmaNext*.
GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES
Proposes the creation of a **National BioData Council** for data governance and a **BioIP and Innovation Evaluation Agency** to value biotech IP.
Vaccination
21 July 2026
India Approves Qdengaยฎ (TAK-003) as Country's First Dengue Vaccine
- CDSCO Approval: The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) granted marketing authorization for India's first dengue vaccine, **Qdengaยฎ (TAK-003)**.
- Manufacturer & Age Limit: Developed by **Takeda GmbH, Germany**, the vaccine is approved for individuals aged **4 to 60 years**, administered in 2 subcutaneous doses 3 months apart.
- Key Advantage: Can be administered regardless of prior dengue exposure, requiring no pre-vaccination screening.
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
Technology: Qdengaยฎ is a live-attenuated, tetravalent recombinant vaccine protecting against all four dengue virus serotypes (DEN-1 to DEN-4).
Geothermal Energy
21 July 2026
VK Saxena Commissions India's First 2 Geothermal Wells in Ladakh
- Ladakh Wells: VK Saxena, Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, commissioned India's first and deepest two 1,000m geothermal wells at **Puga Valley in Ladakh**.
- Pilot Project: Executed by ONGC Energy Centre. These wells feed a **1 MW Pilot Geothermal Power Plant**, which is India's first demonstration-scale geothermal power project.
- High Temperature: At a depth of 400m, the wells recorded maximum temperatures of 135ยฐC, confirming geothermal viability.
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
Puga Valley: Located at over 14,000 feet altitude in eastern Ladakh, known as one of the most promising geothermal fields in India.
State Reforms, Culture & Environment
Culture & Heritage
21 July 2026
Amit Shah Inaugurates 'Shabdalok' - India's First Immersive Language Museum
- Museum Opening: Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated **Shabdalok** (Museum of Word), India's first immersive language museum, at the National Library campus in Kolkata.
- Belvedere House: Housed inside the historic Belvedere House, the museum covers nearly **380 Indian languages**, showcasing linguistic evolution through digital displays, holograms, AI, and VR.
- Constitutional Scope: Specifically highlights the 22 languages under the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, tracing their script development.
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
National Library of India: Established in 1948 (formerly Imperial Library, established in 1891). Housed in Belvedere House, Kolkata, it is the largest library in India.
Wildlife Tourism
21 July 2026
UP to Develop India's First Urban Night Safari in Lucknow
- Kukrail Safari: Following Supreme Court clearance, Uttar Pradesh is developing **Kukrail Night Safari** in Lucknow as **India's first urban night safari** (world's 5th).
- Massive Scale: Spanning **855 acres**, the safari will use a specialized lighting system simulating natural moonlight to allow visitors to observe nocturnal animals safely without disrupting them.
- Gharial Centre: Integrates Lucknow's existing Gharial Rehabilitation Centre (established in 1975) inside the Kukrail Reserve Forest.
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
Night Safaris globally: Singapore, Thailand, China, and Indonesia host the only other night safaris in the world. UP CM: Yogi Adityanath | Governor: Anandiben Patel.
Ease of Doing Business
21 July 2026
Chhattisgarh becomes first state to implement Risk-based Business Approvals
- First in India: Chhattisgarh Assembly passed the **Chhattisgarh Ease of Doing Business Act, 2026**, making it the first state to introduce a statutory, risk-based business approval system.
- Self-Certification: Low-risk businesses and MSMEs can now self-certify compliance, bypassing routine inspections. Also introduces "deemed approvals" for delayed files.
- Three-tier Structure: The system is overseen by an Executive Council chaired by the Chief Minister, with state and district-level committees.
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
Chhattisgarh: CM: Vishnu Deo Sai | Governor: Ramen Deka. The Act covers 43 services across 8 departments in Phase I.
State Award
21 July 2026
Gujarat Honoured with Agriculture Leadership Award 2026 for Horticulture
- Horticulture Excellence: Gujarat was awarded the prestigious **Agriculture Leadership Award 2026** for outstanding performance in the horticulture sector.
- Presentation: Presented by Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to Gujarat's Agriculture Minister Jitu Vaghani during the **17th Agriculture Leadership Conclave** in New Delhi.
- Initiatives: Recognizes Gujarat's sustainable farm innovations, protected cultivation, and micro-irrigation schemes.
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
Gujarat Leadership: CM: Bhupendra Patel | Governor: Acharya Devvrat. Gujarat leads in high-value horticulture crops like pomegranate, mango, and cumin.
Species Discovery
21 July 2026
New Damselfly Species 'Lestes paloti' Discovered in Kerala's Western Ghats
- Western Ghats Discovery: A team of odonatologists discovered a new species of spreadwing damselfly named **Lestes paloti** in Kerala.
- Naming Honor: Named in honor of Dr. Muhamed Jafer Palot (ZSI Kozhikode) for his contributions to documenting Western Ghats fauna.
- Decades-long milestone: Marks the first new Lestes species discovered in the Western Ghats in **97 years**, raising Kerala's odonate species count to 192.
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
Unique Habitat: Unlike related damselflies near water, *Lestes paloti* prefers scrub vegetation around laterite hillocks far from water bodies. It is brown in the dry season and bluish in the monsoon.
Rural Development
21 July 2026
NABARD Launches 'Gramodyam' Program to Promote Rural Entrepreneurship
- Program Launch: NABARD launched the **Gramodyam** program on July 13, 2026 (its 45th Foundation Day) in partnership with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC).
- Entrepreneurship Target: A 3-year pilot program aiming to identify, nurture, and support approximately **4,000 rural entrepreneurs** across all States and Union Territories.
- End-to-End Support: Provides counseling, hybrid skill training, credit facilitation via Regional Rural Banks, and direct market linkages.
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
NABARD: National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development. Established on 12 July 1982 by a parliamentary act. Headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra. Chairman: Shaji K V.
Disaster Relief
21 July 2026
Indian Army Launches 'Operation Jal Rahat' for Flood Relief in Assam
- HADR Mission: The Indian Army launched **Operation Jal Rahat**, a Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) mission, in flood-ravaged Upper Assam.
- Units Involved: Led by the Indian Army's **Spear Corps**, utilizing Dedicated Flood Relief Columns from the Red Shield Division, alongside Engineer Task Forces (ETFs) and the Assam Rifles.
- Relief Work: Conducted rescue operations in Charaideo, Sivasagar, and Jorhat districts using specialized motorboats, setting up medical camps, and supplying clean drinking water.
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
Assam Geography: The state faces annual severe flooding due to the Brahmaputra River system. CM: Himanta Biswa Sarma | Governor: Lakshman Prasad Acharya.
Space Tech, International & Sports
Space Tech
21 July 2026
HEX20 Launches Second Satellite 'KOYO' on SpaceX Transporter-17
- Startup Launch: Thiruvanmiyur-based (Kerala) space-tech startup **HEX20** successfully launched its second satellite, **'KOYO' (Kinetic Optical Yaw Observer)**, into orbit.
- SpaceX Rideshare: Launched aboard SpaceX's **Transporter-17** rideshare mission. KOYO was developed in partnership with Taiwan's **National Central University (NCU)**.
- Technology Test: Serves as a testbed to space-qualify a fiber-optic gyroscope (FOG) and advanced solar panels, opening international client pathways for Indian startups.
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
HEX20: Established in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. Its first satellite mission was named 'Nila' (launched in 2025).
Space & Agriculture
21 July 2026
Project Astra Farm: Analog Astronaut Captain Aman Johari Conducts Microgravity Crop Research
- Microgravity Flight: Captain Aman Johari successfully conducted a microgravity flight testing crop seeds under **"Project Astra Farm"**.
- Staple Crops: Investigated the effects of microgravity on staple crops native to Maharashtra, specifically **onions and potatoes**, using a passive payload in partnership with NRC Canada.
- BARC testing: Post-flight, the samples will undergo food irradiation testing at the **Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC)** to assess potential shelf-life extensions and mutation benefits.
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
BARC: Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, headquartered in Trombay, Mumbai. Established in 1954 as Atomic Energy Establishment, Trombay (AEET). Director: Vivek Bhasin.
Science Olympiad
21 July 2026
India Sweeps 4 Gold Medals at 58th International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO)
- Historic Sweep: The 4-member Indian national student contingent achieved a historic clean sweep by winning **4 Gold Medals** at the 58th International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO 2026).
- Location: The Olympiad was held in **Tashkent, Uzbekistan** from July 10 to July 19, 2026, featuring top young chemists from over 80 countries.
- Preparation: The students were trained under the national program coordinated by the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE), Mumbai.
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
HBCSE: Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education is the nodal center for India's Olympiad programs in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Astronomy.
Global Governance
21 July 2026
World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organisation (WAICO) Headquartered in Shanghai
- WAICO Launch: The **World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organisation (WAICO)** was established by 29 founding countries in Shanghai, China, where its headquarters will be located.
- Members: Founding members include China, Russia, Pakistan, South Africa, and Brazil. **India is the only BRICS nation** that did not join as a founding member.
- Global South Support: Aims to provide capacity building and AI training opportunities for developing countries to prevent a digital divide.
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
Support Commitments: China committed to providing 5,000 AI training slots for developing countries over 5 years.
Obituary
21 July 2026
Legendary West Indies Cricketer Sir Garfield Sobers Passes Away at 89
- The Legend: Legendary West Indian cricketer Sir Garfield Sobers, widely regarded as one of the greatest all-rounders in cricket history, passed away on July 17, 2026, at the age of 89.
- Barbadose: He passed away at his home in Barbados, just 11 days before his 90th birthday.
- Legacy: Scored 8,032 runs and took 235 wickets in 93 Test matches. Famously hit 6 sixes in an over off Malcolm Nash in 1968, a first-class cricket record.
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
Knighthood: He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1975 for his services to cricket. In 1998, he was named one of the five *Wisden* Cricketers of the Century.
โก ONE-LINER QUICK REVISION POINTERS (21 JULY 2026)
- Supreme Court Strength: Government introduced a Bill in the Lok Sabha to increase SC judges from 34 to 38.
- MP UCC Bill: Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly passed its Uniform Civil Code Bill, 2026, exempting STs.
- Retired Judges: SC directed the Centre to form a committee to recommend uniform post-retirement benefits for judges.
- Khavda BESS: NTPC REL awarded India's first 100 MWh Vanadium Redox Flow Battery project contract in Gujarat.
- NITI Aayog Roadmap: A 10-year roadmap was launched aiming for a USD 691 billion bioeconomy for India by 2035.
- Dengue Vaccine: India's CDSCO approved Qdengaยฎ (TAK-003) for prevention of dengue in ages 4-60.
- Puga Valley Geothermal: Ladakh Lt. Gov. VK Saxena commissioned India's first two 1,000m deep geothermal wells.
- Shabdalok: Amit Shah inaugurated India's first immersive language museum at the National Library, Kolkata.
- Kukrail Night Safari: UP to build India's first urban night safari (855 acres) in Lucknow.
- Chhattisgarh Act: Chhattisgarh became the first state to introduce a statutory Risk-based Business Approval System.
- Agriculture Leadership: Gujarat received the Agriculture Leadership Award 2026 for Horticulture.
- Lestes paloti: A new spreadwing damselfly species discovered in the scrub vegetation of Kerala's Western Ghats.
- HEX20: Kerala-based startup launched 'KOYO' satellite on SpaceX Transporter-17 in partnership with Taiwan's NCU.
- Chemistry Olympiad: India won 4 gold medals at the 58th International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO) in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
- WAICO: The World AI Cooperation Organisation was launched in Shanghai with 29 founding countries; India did not join.
- UK PM: Andy Burnham was appointed as the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, succeeding Keir Starmer.
- FIFA World Cup: Spain won the 2026 FIFA World Cup, defeating Argentina 1-0 in New Jersey.
- International Moon Day: Celebrated on July 20 with the 2026 theme "One Moon, One Vision, One Future".
- Asian U23 Athletics: India finished 4th with 16 medals (3 Gold) at the inaugural championships in Ordos, China.
- Garfield Sobers: Legendary West Indian cricketer passed away at the age of 89 in Barbados.
- NABARD Gramodyam: NABARD launched the Gramodyam program to create 4,000 rural entrepreneurs across India.
- Operation Jal Rahat: Indian Army launched flood relief operation in Upper Assam.
- Astra Farm: Analog astronaut Aman Johari conducted microgravity research on onions and potatoes.
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 |