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08 Aug 2026, 06:16 AM
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Daily Current Affairs 30 July
DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS
30 JULY 2026
Comprehensive, exam-oriented daily compilation featuring analysis of key national and international developments.
Polity, Governance & Social Welfare
Welfare Schemes
30 July 2026
Delhi Government Approves 'Delhi Lakshmi Yojana' to Provide Rs. 2,500 Monthly Financial Aid to Women
- Monthly Assistance: Eligible women aged **21 to 60** will receive Rs. 2,500 per month to support financial independence.
- Savings Integration: Promotes long-term savings by depositing the amount into Recurring Deposits (RD) / Fixed Deposits (FD) or via digital rupee (CBDC) wallets.
- Strict Eligibility: Limited to families with an annual income below **Rs. 2.5 lakh**, excluding tax payers, public office holders, and families consuming over 2,400 units of electricity annually.
- Wallet Restrictions: A negative list prevents spending CBDC wallet funds on liquor, Paan, tobacco products, and online gambling.
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC): The RBI launched the pilot of the Digital Rupee (eRs. ) in **2022** as a digital token representing legal tender, leveraging secure blockchain technology.
Cultural Governance
30 July 2026
Madhya Pradesh Launches 'Samarsata Sankalp Abhiyan' to Commemorate Guru Ravidas's 650th Birth Anniversary
- Social Harmony Resolve: A nationwide campaign launched on Guru Purnima (July 29, 2026) to run until Guru Ravidas Jayanti (February 20, 2027).
- Campaign Phases: Spans 5 key phases: Samrasta Deepotsav (lighting lamps at 21,000 locations), Kalash Vandan, Samrasta Yatra, Sant Sampark, and Student Outreach (Chhatravas Sampark).
- Sacred Soil (Kalash Vandan): Kalash carrying sacred soil from Guru Ravidas's birthplace at Seer Govardhanpur, Varanasi, will be distributed across all 62 districts of Madhya Pradesh.
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
Guru Ravidas: A prominent 15th-16th century saint, poet, and social reformer of the Bhakti movement. His spiritual devotional songs are preserved in the Sikh holy scripture, **Guru Granth Sahib**.
Economy, Trade & Infrastructure
Trade Data
30 July 2026
India's Combined Exports Touch a Record High of US$ 863.1 Billion in FY 2025-26
- Combined Peak: Total exports (combined merchandise and services) for the financial year 2025-26 reached a record high of **US$ 863.1 billion**.
- Export Breakdown: Comprises **US$ 441.8 billion** in merchandise exports and **US$ 421.3 billion** in services exports.
- FTA Growth Drivers: Driven by expanding trade under key FTAs such as the India-UAE CEPA, India-Australia ECTA, and recent agreements with EFTA nations.
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
Ministry of Commerce and Industry: Headquartered in New Delhi. The department coordinates trade policies, export promotion zones, and bilateral trade agreements.
Banking & Currency
30 July 2026
RBI Receives Government Approval to Issue Rs. 10 and Rs. 20 Polymer Banknotes for Field Trials
- Field Trial Launch: The Indian Government cleared the RBI's proposal to print and distribute **one billion pieces each** of Rs. 10 and Rs. 20 polymer banknotes.
- Durability and Lifespan: Polymer banknotes (made of Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene) have a lifespan **2.5 to 4 times longer** than cotton-paper banknotes, resisting soil and water.
- Co-Circulation Trial: The notes will circulate alongside existing paper currency to evaluate durability and security, with no immediate plans to replace cotton-paper notes completely.
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
BRBNMPL: Bharatiya Reserve Bank Note Mudran Private Limited, established in **1995** as a wholly-owned subsidiary of RBI, operates key currency printing presses in Mysuru (Karnataka) and Salboni (West Bengal).
Trade & Connectivity
30 July 2026
India Launches First Direct Commercial Container Freight Train to Nepal
- Biratnagar Link: India successfully ran its first direct commercial freight train carrying 1,225 tonnes of canola from Kolkata Port to Biratnagar Customs Yard in Nepal.
- No Transshipment Needed: Operating under the updated India-Nepal Rail Transit Protocol, cargo moves directly without needing transshipment at the border.
- Corridor Infrastructure: Utilizes the broad-gauge railway line between Jogbani (Bihar, India) and Biratnagar (Nepal), operationalized following a bilateral Letter of Exchange (LoE).
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
Kolkata Port (Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port): Founded in **1870**, it is India's oldest operating port and only major riverine port, situated on the bank of the Hooghly River.
International Relations & Sports
Global Treaties
30 July 2026
Venezuela Formally Withdraws Membership from the International Criminal Court (ICC)
- Rome Statute Notification: The Venezuelan government formally notified the UN of its decision to withdraw from the Rome Statute, the treaty establishing the ICC.
- One-Year Transition: Under Article 127 of the Rome Statute, the withdrawal is not immediate and takes exactly **one year** from the notification date to become effective.
- Bias Accusation: Justified the decision by accusing the court of "geographical bias" and targeting developing nations in the Global South.
- Active Jurisdiction: The ICC retains active jurisdiction over all alleged crimes against humanity committed while Venezuela was a member.
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
International Criminal Court (ICC): Established by the Rome Statute in **1998** (entered into force on **July 1, 2002**), the ICC is headquartered in **The Hague, Netherlands**. It is separate from the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Commonwealth Games
30 July 2026
Sharmila Dhankhar Wins India's First Gold Medal in Para-Athletics at Commonwealth Games
- Historic Milestone: Sharmila Dhankhar became the **first-ever Indian athlete** to win a gold medal in para-athletics at the Commonwealth Games.
- Gold Throw: Secured the gold medal in the women's shot put F57 event at Glasgow with a season-best throw of **9.81 meters**.
- Double Podium: Shilpa K. Shyla won the bronze medal in the same shot put event, marking a double-podium success for India's para-sports contingent.
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
Commonwealth Games (CWG): Organized by the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) which was formed in **1932** (headquartered in London). The first ever edition was held in **1930** in Hamilton, Canada.
Science, Technology & Environment
Space Startups
30 July 2026
Skyroot Aerospace Leads Private Space Tech Funding in India, Tracxn Report Reveals
- Highest Funded Startup: Skyroot Aerospace leads the Indian space tech startup ecosystem with a total funding of **$150 million** raised to date.
- India's First Space Unicorn: Following a $50 million Series C round, Skyroot's valuation crossed **$1.1 billion**, securing its spot as India's first space tech unicorn.
- Ecosystem Funding: Indian space tech sector has raised a total of **$871 million** across 241 rounds, with Pixxel ($96M), Agnikul Cosmos ($76M), and Digantara ($67M) following.
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
Skyroot Aerospace: Founded in **2018** by Pawan Kumar Chandana and Naga Bharath Daka (headquartered in Hyderabad). In November 2022, it launched **Vikram-S**, India's first privately developed rocket.
Environment
30 July 2026
International Tiger Day 2026 Observed Globally on July 29
- Annual Conservations: International Tiger Day (also known as Global Tiger Day) was celebrated on **July 29** to raise awareness for the protection of tiger habitats.
- 2026 Theme: Focused on the theme **"Coexistence in action: Scaling solutions for people and tigers"**, highlighting the integration of local communities.
- St. Petersburg Commitment: Commemorates the 2010 Tiger Summit, where range countries committed to doubling the wild tiger population.
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
Project Tiger: India launched Project Tiger on **April 1, 1973**, from Jim Corbett National Park. As of 2026, India is home to over 75% of the world's wild tiger population.
Species Conservation
30 July 2026
India's Rare Malvi Breed of Camels Faces Severe Threat of Extinction
- Critical Numbers: Known as the "white camel," the Malvi breed's population has critically declined, with only **102 animals** remaining.
- Endangered Threshold: Animal geneticists classify a camel breed as endangered if there are fewer than 300 breeding females.
- Breeding Program: The National Research Centre on Camel (NRCC) in Bikaner has launched a specialized scientific breeding program under NBAGR.
- Geographical Native: Native to the Malwa region of Madhya Pradesh (Mandsaur, Neemuch, Ratlam) and parts of Rajasthan (Kota, Bundi).
STATIC GK & EXAM FACTS
National Research Centre on Camel (NRCC): Established in **1984** by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in **Bikaner, Rajasthan**.
โก ONE-LINER QUICK REVISION POINTERS (30 JULY 2026)
- Delhi Lakshmi Yojana: Delhi approved the scheme providing Rs. 2,500 monthly assistance to women, integrated with RDs/FDs and CBDC wallets.
- MP Samarsata Sankalp: A nationwide 7-month campaign launched in MP to mark Guru Ravidas's 650th birth anniversary.
- India Exports Peak: India's total combined exports (merchandise + services) touched a record high of US$ 863.1 billion in FY26.
- Polymer Currency Trials: RBI approved to print 1 billion pieces each of Rs. 10 and Rs. 20 polymer banknotes for co-circulation trials.
- India-Nepal Freight Link: First direct commercial freight container train carrying canola arrived in Biratnagar (Nepal) from Kolkata Port without transshipment.
- Venezuela ICC Exit: Venezuela formally notified the UN of its withdrawal from the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC).
- Sharmila Dhankhar: Won India's first-ever gold medal in para-athletics at the Commonwealth Games, throwing 9.81m in Women's Shot Put F57.
- Skyroot Aerospace: Top-funded private space tech startup in India, with $150M total funding and unicorn status.
- International Tiger Day: Observed globally on July 29 under the theme 'Coexistence in action: Scaling solutions for people and tigers'.
- Malvi Camel Threat: White Malvi camel Native to MP and Rajasthan faces extinction with only 102 animals remaining.
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. Radharmakrishnan (Addl. Lt. Governor) | N. Rangasamy |
| Ladakh (UT) | Leh | Brigadier (Retd.) Dr. B. D. Mishra (Lt. Governor) | - |