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08 Aug 2026, 06:16 AM
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Daily Current Affairs 28 July
DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS
28 JULY 2026
Comprehensive, exam-oriented daily compilation featuring analysis of key national and international developments.
Polity, Governance & Social Issues
Legislative Reforms
28 July 2026
Government Moves Public Examinations Amendment Bill with Strict Penalties
- Stricter Penalties: The Lok Sabha introduced and debated the **Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026** to amend the 2024 principal Act.
- Key Provisions: Proposes stringent punishments including imprisonment up to 10 years and fines of up to Rs. 10 crore for organized paper leaks.
- Systemic Reforms: The legislation establishes special fast-track courts in every state and mandates a strict two-month timeline for completing investigations.
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
Public Examinations Act: The principal Act was passed in early **2024** to bring transparency and prevent unfair means in public entrance tests.
Education Policy
28 July 2026
Punjab Becomes First State to Introduce AI as Core Subject for Classes 1 to 12
- Sarbat.AI: Punjab has become the first state in India to introduce Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a compulsory core subject for students from Class 1 to 12.
- Phased Implementation: Rolled out by the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB), starting with computer science integration for classes 8 to 12 in Phase I, and classes 1 to 7 in Phase II.
- UNESCO Alignment: The curriculum aligns with UNESCO's Ethical AI Framework and is benchmarked against international standards like Singapore and Finland.
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
PSEB: Punjab School Education Board, founded in **1969**, is headquartered in Mohali. It coordinates public school education standards across Punjab.
International Relations & Indices
Reports & Indices
28 July 2026
India Ranked 81st in Henley Passport Index July 2026 Update
- Global Rank: India is ranked **81st** in the newly released July 2026 update of the Henley Passport Index.
- Visa-Free Access: Indian passport holders now have visa-free, visa-on-arrival, or ETA access to **55 destinations** globally.
- Decline Factor: Represents a decrease from 57 destinations due to policy modifications in countries like Iran, Cape Verde, Bolivia, and Nicaragua.
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
Henley Passport Index: Established in **2006** by Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, it ranks world passports according to the number of destinations holders can access without a prior visa.
Science, Technology & Environment
Space Exploration
28 July 2026
NASA Unveils the 'PRAXIS Mission' Concept to Study Planetary Rings
- Mission Concept: NASA's **Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC)** program selected the **PRAXIS** mission concept for Phase I funding.
- Grazing Strategy: The Planetary Rings Autonomous Exploration with In-situ Sampling (PRAXIS) study uses a grazing technique to sample ring particles of Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.
- Key Technology: Features bio-inspired long flexible booms to grab debris and autonomous AI for safe, real-time navigation inside rings.
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
Planetary Rings: Rings are composed of dust, ice, and rock particles revolving around giant planets. Saturn has the most prominent rings, discovered by Galileo in 1610.
Deep Technology
28 July 2026
Andhra Pradesh and PNB to Establish India's First Quantum Finance Hub
- Quantum Hub: Government of Andhra Pradesh and Punjab National Bank (PNB) signed an agreement to establish India's first bank-led **Quantum Finance Hub**.
- Research Valley: Established in **Amaravati Quantum Valley (AQV)**, the hub focuses on integrating Quantum Computing and AI in finance.
- Applications: Aims to develop advanced deep-tech solutions for cybersecurity, fraud prevention, and operational banking efficiency.
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
Quantum Computing: Advanced computation utilizing quantum mechanics principles like superposition and entanglement to solve calculations much faster than traditional computers.
Material Science
28 July 2026
Dutch Scientist Develops Bacteria-Based 'Self-Healing Concrete'
- Innovative Concept: Microbiologist Professor Henk Jonkers of Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) has created a bio-concrete capable of self-healing cracks.
- Mechanism: Concrete is mixed with dormant *Bacillus* bacterial spores and calcium lactate nutrients. When cracks occur and water enters, the bacteria wake up.
- Sealing Process: The active bacteria consume calcium lactate to produce calcium carbonate (limestone), effectively sealing cracks up to 1mm wide from within.
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
TU Delft: Established in **1842** in Delft, Netherlands. It is one of the oldest and most prestigious public technical universities in Europe.
Defense & Security
Force Celebrations
28 July 2026
Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Commemorates 88th Raising Day
- 88th Anniversary: CRPF commemorated its **88th Raising Day on July 27, 2026**, celebrating 88 years of valorous service to India.
- Founding History: Originally established as Crown Representative's Police on **July 27, 1939**, it was renamed after Independence under the CRPF Act of 1949.
- Core Mandate: The CRPF is India's largest Central Armed Police Force (CAPF), serving as the backbone for internal security and counter-insurgency.
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
CRPF: Governed by the Ministry of Home Affairs, CRPF comprises special wings like **RAF (Rapid Action Force)** for riots and **CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action)** for jungle warfare.
Awards, Honours & Appointments
Science Prizes
28 July 2026
Hong Wang Wins Fields Medal 2026, Becoming Third Female Recipient
- Nobel of Math: Mathematician **Hong Wang** won the prestigious **Fields Medal in 2026**, presented at the ICM in Philadelphia.
- Research Fields: Honored for contributions to harmonic analysis and geometric measure theory, solving key aspects of the Kakeya problem.
- Pioneering Win: Becomes only the third woman to receive the medal, alongside other 2026 winners Yu Deng, John Pardon, and Jacob Tsimerman.
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
Fields Medal: Awarded every 4 years by the International Mathematical Union (IMU) to outstanding mathematicians under the age of 40. Established in **1936**.
Sports
Continental Hockey
28 July 2026
Indian Sub-Junior Men's Team Wins Gold at Youth Hockey5s Asian Championship
- Champions: The Indian sub-junior men's team won gold at the Youth Hockey5s Asian Championship in Muscat, Oman.
- Defeating Rivals: India defeated arch-rivals Pakistan 3-1 in the final match, with goals from Romit Pal, Ketan Kushwaha, and Shahrukh Ali.
- World Cup Qualification: By reaching the final, both India and Pakistan secured qualification berths for the inaugural FIH Youth Hockey5s World Cup.
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
Hockey India: Founded in **2009**, it is the governing body for field hockey in India. Headquartered in New Delhi.
Heritage & Culture
Global Inscriptions
28 July 2026
Four More International Sites Inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List
- 48th Session: The UNESCO World Heritage Committee concluded its 48th session in Busan, South Korea, adding 25 new sites globally.
- Prominent Designations: Newly inscribed sites include Greece's Mount Olympus, France's D-Day Landings Beaches, and South Sudan's Boma-Badingilo Migratory Landscape.
- First-time Nations: South Sudan, Comoros, and Sรฃo Tomรฉ and Prรญncipe obtained their first-ever designated UNESCO World Heritage sites during this session.
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
UNESCO: Headquartered in Paris, France. Founded in **1945**. Conserves world cultural and natural heritage through its landmark 1972 convention.
โก ONE-LINER QUICK REVISION POINTERS (28 JULY 2026)
- PRAXIS Mission: Early-stage NASA JPL NIAC concept utilizing bio-inspired robotics and autonomous AI to sample planetary rings.
- Hong Wang: Awarded the 2026 Fields Medal at the ICM in Philadelphia, becoming only the third woman in history to win the medal.
- Henley Passport Index: India ranked 81st in the July 2026 update, with visa-free travel privileges extended to 55 global destinations.
- Public Exams Bill 2026: Debated in Parliament, introducing strict fast-track courts, a 2-month inquiry cap, and up to 10 years jail.
- Quantum Finance Hub: India's first bank-led quantum hub established in Amaravati Quantum Valley by the AP Govt and PNB.
- Punjab AI core subject: Punjab becomes first state to include Artificial Intelligence as a mainstream subject from classes 1 to 12.
- CRPF Raising Day: The Central Reserve Police Force observed its 88th Raising Day on July 27, 2026, marking its 1939 establishment.
- Youth Hockey5s: Indian sub-junior men's team won gold after defeating Pakistan 3-1 in the finals at Muscat, Oman.
- Self-Healing Concrete: Pinned by Professor Henk Jonkers of TU Delft using Bacillus spores producing limestone to fill cracks.
- UNESCO New Inscriptions: 25 sites added in 48th session in Busan, including Greece's Mount Olympus and France's D-Day beaches.
Appendix: Indian States & UTs Reference Table (Latest 2026)
| State / UT Name | Capital | Governor / Lt. Governor / Administrator | Chief Minister |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andhra Pradesh | Amaravati | Justice (Retd.) S. Abdul Nazeer | N. Chandrababu Naidu |
| Arunachal Pradesh | Itanagar | Lt. General Kaiwalya Trivikram Parnaik | Pema Khandu |
| Assam | Dispur | Gulab Chand Kataria | Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma |
| Bihar | Patna | Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar | Nitish Kumar |
| Chhattisgarh | Raipur | Biswabhusan Harichandan | Vishnu Deo Sai |
| Goa | Panaji | P. S. Sreedharan Pillai | Pramod Sawant |
| Gujarat | Gandhinagar | Acharya Devvrat | Bhupendra Patel |
| Haryana | Chandigarh | Bandaru Dattatreya | Nayab Singh Saini |
| Himachal Pradesh | Shimla | Shiv Pratap Shukla | Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu |
| Jharkhand | Ranchi | C. P. Radhakrishnan | Hemant Soren |
| Karnataka | Bengaluru | Thaawarchand Gehlot | Siddaramaiah |
| Kerala | Thiruvananthapuram | Arif Mohammad Khan | Pinarayi Vijayan |
| Madhya Pradesh | Bhopal | Mangubhai C. Patel | Dr. Mohan Yadav |
| Maharashtra | Mumbai | Ramesh Bais | Eknath Shinde |
| Manipur | Imphal | Anusuiya Uikey | N. Biren Singh |
| Meghalaya | Shillong | Phagu Chauhan | Conrad Sangma |
| Mizoram | Aizawl | Dr. Kambhampati Hari Babu | Lalduhoma |
| Nagaland | Kohima | La. Ganesan | Neiphiu Rio |
| Odisha | Bhubaneswar | Raghubar Das | Mohan Charan Majhi |
| Punjab | Chandigarh | Banwarilal Purohit | Bhagwant Mann |
| Rajasthan | Jaipur | Kalraj Mishra | Bhajan Lal Sharma |
| Sikkim | Gangtok | Lakshman Prasad Acharya | Prem Singh Tamang |
| Tamil Nadu | Chennai | R. N. Ravi | M. K. Stalin |
| Telangana | Hyderabad | C. P. Radhakrishnan (Addl. Charge) | A. Revanth Reddy |
| Tripura | Agartala | Indrasena Reddy Nallu | Dr. Manik Saha |
| Uttar Pradesh | Lucknow | Anandiben Patel | Yogi Adityanath |
| Uttarakhand | Dehradun | Lt. General Gurmit Singh | Pushkar Singh Dhami |
| West Bengal | Kolkata | Dr. C. V. Ananda Bose | Mamata Banerjee |
| Andaman and Nicobar Islands (UT) | Port Blair | Admiral Devendra Kumar Joshi (Lt. Governor) | - |
| Chandigarh (UT) | Chandigarh | Banwarilal Purohit (Administrator) | - |
| Dadra and Nagar Haveli & Daman and Diu (UT) | Daman | Praful Patel (Administrator) | - |
| Delhi (NCT) | New Delhi | Vinai Kumar Saxena (Lt. Governor) | Atishi |
| Jammu and Kashmir (UT) | Srinagar/Jammu | Manoj Sinha (Lt. Governor) | - |
| Lakshadweep (UT) | Kavaratti | Praful Patel (Administrator) | - |
| Puducherry (UT) | Puducherry | C. P. Radhakrishnan (Addl. Lt. Governor) | N. Rangasamy |
| Ladakh (UT) | Leh | Brigadier (Retd.) Dr. B. D. Mishra (Lt. Governor) | - |