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29 Jul 2026, 04:36 PM
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Daily Current Affairs 23 July
DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS
23 JULY 2026
Comprehensive, exam-oriented daily compilation featuring analysis of key national and international developments.
Polity, Governance & Social Issues
Fundamental Rights
23 July 2026
Supreme Court of India Reaffirms Right to Peaceful Protest Under Article 19
- Court Declaration: The Supreme Court, led by a Bench under **CJI Surya Kant**, reaffirmed that the right to peaceful protest is an "absolutely guaranteed" constitutional right that cannot be denied.
- Constitutional Grounding: While "protest" is not explicitly in the text, it is derived directly from **Article 19(1)(a)** (freedom of speech and expression) and **Article 19(1)(b)** (right to assemble peaceably and without arms).
- Police Excesses & Rulings: The ruling came during hearings on police actions against student protests over NEET examination irregularities. The Court ruled that agitations cannot justify police excesses, ordered the release of minors, and is considering framing uniform national guidelines.
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
Reasonable Restrictions: These fundamental rights are not absolute and are subject to reasonable restrictions under **Article 19(2)** and **Article 19(3)** in the interests of sovereignty, integrity of India, security of the state, and public order.
Digital Regulation
23 July 2026
France Becomes First European Country to Ban Social Media Use for Children Under 15
- Historical Ban: France has officially passed a law completely banning social media access for children under the age of 15, becoming the first European Union nation to do so.
- Staged Implementation: The ban begins on **September 1, 2026** (preventing under-15s from opening new accounts) and will expand in **January 2027** to existing accounts, requiring age-verification checks.
- Enforcement & Fines: Platforms must implement age-verification systems approved by France's digital regulator **Arcom**. Non-compliance can attract fines of up to 1% of the platform's global turnover. Educational directories and online encyclopedias are exempted.
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
French Digital Laws: The law also expands restrictions by completely banning mobile phones in high schools (extending existing middle and elementary school bans).
Legislative Bill
23 July 2026
Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026 Introduced in Parliament
- Bill Introduction: The **Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026** was introduced in the Rajya Sabha on **July 24, 2026**, by MoS for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai.
- Proposed Amendment: The Bill seeks to amend the **Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971**, extending statutory protection to India's National Song, *Vande Mataram*, on par with the National Anthem and National Flag.
- Key Penalties: Proposes to criminalize intentionally preventing the singing of *Vande Mataram* or disturbing assemblies engaged in its singing, with penalties of up to 3 years' imprisonment, a fine, or both. Repeat offenders face a minimum of 1 year in prison.
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
Historical Context: Written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay in his novel *Anandamath* (1882), *Vande Mataram* was adopted as the National Song under the presidency of Dr. Rajendra Prasad on January 24, 1950.
International Relations, Defense & Health
Joint Military Exercise
23 July 2026
Bilateral Military Exercise 'Tiger Lightning 2026' Commences Between USA and Bangladesh
- Exercise Commencement: The 13-day annual bilateral military exercise **'Tiger Lightning 2026'** between the United States and Bangladesh officially began on **July 19, 2026**, and will run until **July 31, 2026**.
- Location: The opening ceremony was hosted by the **1st Para Commando Brigade** of the Bangladesh Army at the **Jalalabad Cantonment** in Sylhet, Bangladesh.
- Participants: Involves more than 160 military personnel, including soldiers from the **U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC)** and the **Oregon Army National Guard**, training alongside the **Bangladesh Army**.
- Training Focus: Focuses on jungle operations, counter-terrorism tactics, Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC), and joint tactical planning to enhance bilateral interoperability.
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
Bilateral Relations: First launched in 2017, Exercise Tiger Lightning is a key pillar of defense cooperation between the U.S. and Bangladesh to support a secure and stable Indo-Pacific region.
WTO Trade Treaty
23 July 2026
India Becomes the 123rd Member to Join the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies
- Acceptance Deposited: India officially deposited its Instrument of Acceptance with the World Trade Organization (WTO) on **July 20, 2026**, in Geneva, becoming the **123rd member** to ratify the agreement.
- Key Handover: Indian Commerce Secretary **Rajesh Agrawal** presented the instrument to WTO Director-General **Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala**.
- Subsidies Discipline: Adopted at the WTO's 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) in June 2022, the agreement prohibits subsidies for illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing to protect marine environment sustainability.
- National Safeguards: Marine wild capture fishing is governed by the treaty, while inland fisheries and aquaculture (protecting India's vital shrimp export sector) are excluded.
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies: Entered into force globally on **September 15, 2025**, after two-thirds of the WTO membership formally ratified the agreement. Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.
BRICS Health
23 July 2026
16th BRICS Health Ministers' Meeting Commences in Chandigarh, India
- Summit Launch: The **16th BRICS Health Ministers' Meeting** was held under India's BRICS Chairship in Chandigarh from **July 22 to 24, 2026**.
- Theme & Declaration: Focused on the theme **'Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability'**, concluding with the adoption of the 16th BRICS Health Ministerial Declaration to strengthen universal health coverage.
- Mental Wellness: Established a **BRICS Network of Centres of Excellence (CoEs) on Mental Wellness**, coordinated by Bengaluru's NIMHANS. Supported a warning system for infectious diseases and launched the "BRICS Mission for Healthy Lifestyle".
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
BRICS Membership: Expanded to 11 member nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Indonesia).
Foreign Appointment
23 July 2026
UK Appoints Bihar-Born Kanishka Narayan as Its First AI Minister with Cabinet Status
- AI Ministry Seat: Under the newly established UK government of Prime Minister Andy Burnham, **Kanishka Narayan** was appointed Minister of State (Minister for Artificial Intelligence) on **July 20, 2026**, with a seat at the Cabinet table.
- Historical Significance: This is the first time the Artificial Intelligence portfolio has held full Cabinet-level status in the United Kingdom. Narayan previously served as the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for AI and Online Safety since September 2025.
- Indian Connection: Born in Muzaffarpur, Bihar in 1989, Narayan moved to Cardiff at age 12. In 2024, he was elected Member of Parliament (MP) for the Vale of Glamorgan, becoming Wales' first-ever ethnic minority MP.
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
Narayan's Education: He is a graduate of Balliol College, Oxford, and Stanford University, before embarking on a career in civil service and politics.
World Brain Day
23 July 2026
World Brain Day 2026 Observed Globally on July 22
- Annual Observance: World Brain Day is celebrated annually on **July 22**, established by the World Federation of Neurology (WFN) in 2014.
- 2026 Theme: The theme for 2026 is **"Brain Health: Access for All"**, highlighting the urgent need to ensure equitable access to neurological diagnosis, treatment, and preventive care globally.
- Focus: Aims to raise awareness about neurological disorders, reduce the stigma associated with them, and bridge disparities in healthcare access for brain-related conditions.
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
WFN Foundation: The date July 22 was selected to mark the anniversary of the founding of the World Federation of Neurology, which was established on July 22, 1957.
Environment, Energy, Agriculture & Science
Energy Storage
23 July 2026
Delectrik Systems to Set Up India's First 100 MWh Vanadium Flow Battery Project in Gujarat
- Contract Awarded: NTPC Renewable Energy Limited (NTPC REL) awarded a contract to a consortium of **Bondada Engineering** (EPC contractor) and **Delectrik Systems** (technology partner) for India's first utility-scale flow battery project.
- Massive Scale: The **100 MWh Vanadium Redox Flow Battery (VRFB)** energy storage system will be installed at the **Khavda Solar Park** in Gujarat, supporting round-the-clock green power integration.
- Local Manufacturing: Delectrik's proprietary non-containerized flow battery architecture will be 100% designed, engineered, and manufactured in India, promoting the 'Make in India' initiative.
- Longevity & Safety: Vanadium flow batteries offer a lifespan exceeding 20 years and have zero risk of thermal runaway, making them much safer than lithium-ion for large-scale grid storage.
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
Khavda Solar Park: Located in the Rann of Kutch, Gujarat, it is set to become the world's largest hybrid renewable energy park with a total planned capacity of 30 GW.
AI Conservation
23 July 2026
India's First AI-Powered Bird Sanctuary Approved in Thane Creek, Maharashtra
- Sanctuary Approved: The Maharashtra government approved a special budget of **Rs. 45 crore** to develop India's first **AI-powered bird sanctuary** at the **Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary (TCFS)** in Mumbai.
- AI Monitoring: Spanning 20.09 hectares, the project features an AI-based detection center equipped with intelligent cameras, drones, and acoustic sensors to monitor wildlife across a 1.5-km radius.
- Smart Conservation: Uses machine learning algorithms for real-time species identification and tracking migration pathways while alerting authorities to encroachment, water contamination, or industrial pollution.
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary: Designated a Ramsar site in 2022, TCFS is one of the largest wetlands on India's west coast, hosting over 100 species of migratory birds including lesser and greater flamingos.
Agriculture Rank
23 July 2026
India Ranks First Globally in terms of Cotton Acreage and Cultivation
- Global Cotton Acreage: India continues to rank **first in the world in cotton cultivation area** for the 2025-26 season, with an estimated acreage of approximately **114.82 lakh hectares**.
- Production & Consumption: India holds the **second rank globally** in both cotton production and consumption, with provisional production estimated at **290.91 lakh bales** for the season.
- Economic Outlay: Cotton supports over 6 million farmers and 40-50 million textile industry workers in India. To boost productivity, the government launched the **Mission for Cotton Productivity (Kapas Kanti)** from 2026-2031 with a budget of Rs. 5,659.22 crore.
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
Species Diversity: India is the only country globally that commercializes and cultivates all four species of cotton: *Gossypium hirsutum*, *G. barbadense*, *G. arboreum*, and *G. herbaceum*.
River Linking
23 July 2026
Bihar's First River-Linking Project: Belwa-Minapur Link Channel Completed
- Inauguration: Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary inaugurated the **Belwa-Minapur Link Channel** (Belwadhar) on **July 19, 2026**, marking the completion of Bihar's first river-linking project.
- Key Details: Part of the Bagmati-Budhi Gandak River Interlinking Project, the channel spans **68.80 km** from Belwa Ghat in Sheohar district to Minapur in Muzaffarpur district, built at a cost of **Rs. 130.88 crore**.
- Objectives: Designed to divert surplus monsoon floodwaters from the flood-prone Bagmati River into the Budhi Gandak River, mitigating floods and providing crucial irrigation to North Bihar districts.
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
Rivers of Bihar: The Bagmati River originates in the Shivapuri Range of the Himalayas in Nepal and enters India in Bihar. The project will also promote local fisheries and groundwater recharge.
Scientific Discovery
23 July 2026
Five New Species of 'Allographa' Lichen-Forming Fungi Discovered in the Western Ghats
- Discovery: Researchers at the **MACS Agharkar Research Institute (ARI)** in Pune discovered five new species of script lichens belonging to the genus *Allographa* in the Western Ghats.
- The Species: The five newly identified species are: ***Allographa keralensis*** (named after Kerala), ***Allographa nayakae*** (honoring Indian lichenologist Dr. Sanjeeva Nayaka), ***A. paraconsanguinea***, ***A. persistinspersa***, and ***A. semicarbonisata***.
- Methodology & Value: The researchers combined traditional morphology with advanced multi-locus DNA sequencing. As lichens are highly sensitive to climate changes and pollution, they serve as crucial bioindicators for forest health.
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
Western Ghats: Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world's 36 biodiversity hotspots, stretching 1,600 km along India's west coast from Gujarat to Tamil Nadu.
National Celebrations, Awards & Sports
National Flag Day
23 July 2026
National Flag Day 2026 Celebrated Across India on July 22
- Commemoration: Celebrated on July 22 to mark the historic adoption of the Indian National Flag by the Constituent Assembly on July 22, 1947.
- Flag Design: Designed by freedom fighter Pingali Venkayya. Features Saffron (courage/sacrifice), White (peace/truth), and Green (growth/faith), with the Navy Blue Ashoka Chakra at the center.
- Code of Conduct: Regulated by the Flag Code of India, 2002, which was amended recently to permit machine-made polyester flags and flying the flag day and night.
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
Constituent Assembly: The flag was adopted under the presidency of Dr. Rajendra Prasad. The ratio of the flag's width to its length is 2:3.
Commonwealth Games
23 July 2026
The 23rd Commonwealth Games to Kick Off Today in Glasgow, Scotland
- Games Beginning: The **23rd Commonwealth Games** (officially Glasgow 2026) commence on **July 23, 2026**, and will conclude on **August 2, 2026** in Glasgow, Scotland.
- Compact Model: Features a highly sustainable, compact Games format presenting a **10-sport programme** (including integrated Para sports) hosted across **four existing venues** within an **8-mile corridor** of Glasgow.
- Venues: All events will take place at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC), Scotstoun Stadium (athletics), Tollcross International Swimming Centre (swimming), and the Glasgow International Arena (Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome).
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF): Glasgow previously hosted a highly successful Commonwealth Games in **2014**. The CGF is headquartered in London, United Kingdom.
National Security Award
23 July 2026
NSA Ajit Doval Selected for the Prestigious Lokmanya Tilak National Award 2026
- Award Selection: India's National Security Adviser (NSA) **Ajit Doval** has been selected for the prestigious **Lokmanya Tilak National Award 2026** by the Tilak Smarak Mandir Trust.
- Reason for Honor: Recognized for his exceptional contributions to India's national security framework, strategic management, counter-terrorism, and safeguarding strategic interests.
- Presentation: The award will be conferred by Union Home Minister **Amit Shah** in Pune on **August 1, 2026**, marking the 106th death anniversary of Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak.
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
Lokmanya Tilak National Award: Instituted in 1983. Awardees receive a memento, a citation, and a cash prize of Rs. 1,00,000. Past recipients include Narendra Modi, Dr. Manmohan Singh, and Indira Gandhi.
Chess Champion
23 July 2026
Grandmaster Alireza Firouzja Wins the 2026 Chennai Grand Masters Title
- Tournament Victory: French-Iranian Grandmaster **Alireza Firouzja** won the fourth edition of the **Quantbox Chennai Grand Masters 2026** with an unbeaten score of 4.5/7.
- Path to Title: Started with consecutive wins over Indian GM Pranesh M and reigning World Champion Dommaraju Gukesh, drawing his remaining five games (including the final against Arjun Erigaisi).
- Final Standings: Dmitry Andreikin (Russia) finished second on tiebreaks, and India's Arjun Erigaisi finished third.
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
Chennai Grand Masters: Held in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Previous winners: Aravindh Chithambaram (2024) and Vincent Keymer (2025). Chennai is considered the chess capital of India.
โก ONE-LINER QUICK REVISION POINTERS (23 JULY 2026)
- Tiger Lightning 2026: Bilateral U.S.-Bangladesh military training exercise began on July 19 at Jalalabad Cantonment in Sylhet, Bangladesh.
- WTO Fisheries Subsidies: India officially became the 123rd member to accept the global treaty aimed at curbing IUU fishing.
- Glasgow 2026: The 23rd Commonwealth Games kick off in Scotland with a compact 10-sport format spread across 4 existing venues.
- Right to Protest: Supreme Court CJI Surya Kant Bench ruled that the right to peaceful protest is guaranteed under Article 19(1)(a) and 19(1)(b) of the Constitution.
- 100 MWh VRFB BESS: Bondada and Delectrik systems will set up India's first utility-scale 100 MWh Vanadium Redox Flow Battery project in Khavda, Gujarat.
- France Social Media Ban: First European Union nation to pass a complete social media ban for children under the age of 15.
- 16th BRICS Health: Held in Chandigarh, concluding with a health declaration and CoE network on mental wellness at NIMHANS.
- AI Bird Sanctuary: India's first AI-powered bird sanctuary approved in Mumbai's Thane Creek with Rs. 45 crore budget.
- National Flag Day 2026: Commemorated on July 22, celebrating freedom fighter Pingali Venkayya's Tricolor design.
- Chennai Grand Masters: French Grandmaster Alireza Firouzja clinched the 2026 Quantbox Chennai Grand Masters title.
- UK AI Minister: Bihar-born MP Kanishka Narayan appointed as the UK's first-ever Minister for Artificial Intelligence with full Cabinet status.
- Lokmanya Tilak Award: National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval selected to receive the prestigious national award for 2026.
- Cotton Acreage: India ranks first globally in cotton cultivation acreage, with Kapas Kanti Mission launched to boost yield.
- National Honour Bill: The Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026 seeks to criminalize insults to National Song Vande Mataram.
- Bihar River Linking: The 68.80-km Belwa-Minapur Link Channel completed as Bihar's first river interlinking project.
- World Brain Day 2026: Celebrated on July 22 with the theme "Brain Health: Access for All" led by the World Federation of Neurology.
- Lichen Discovery: ARI Pune researchers discovered 5 new species of Allographa script lichens in the Western Ghats.
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 |