Current Affairs Questions with Answers

National Flag Day is observed every year on July 22, as it was on this day in 1947 that the Constituent Assembly adopted the Indian Tricolour as the national flag. The Indian Tricolour is based on the design by Pingali Venkayya, and the rules regarding its use and respect are laid down under the Flag Code of India, 2002, and the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971.

Lionel Messi became the first footballer to play in three different FIFA World Cup finals—2014, 2022, and 2026—and also became the oldest outfield player to play in a World Cup final at the age of 39. Spain won its second men's World Cup title by defeating Argentina 1–0 in extra time in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.

Indian captain Rohit Sharma made history by becoming the first Indian male cricketer to score an ODI century at Lord's Cricket Ground. With this century, he set several records, while the Rohit Sharma-Virat Kohli duo became the second most successful pair in ODI history in terms of century partnerships.

India delivered an outstanding performance at the 37th International Biology Olympiad (IBO) 2026, winning one gold and three silver medals. The competition was held in Vilnius (Lithuania), and the Indian team was selected and trained by the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE-TIFR).

The National Stock Exchange (NSE) has commenced trading in Electronic Gold Receipts (EGRs), enabling investors to invest in gold through a secure and transparent medium regulated by SEBI. An EGR serves as electronic proof of ownership of physical gold stored securely in a vault; this initiative will help make India's gold market more organized, transparent, and modern.

India created history at the 58th International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO) 2026 by winning four gold medals—one for each of its four participants—becoming the first country to achieve this feat. The competition was held in Tashkent (Uzbekistan), and the Indian team was selected and trained by the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE-TIFR).

The Government of India has appointed Harjit Singh Grewal as the new Chairperson of the National Commission for Minorities (NCM), succeeding Iqbal Singh Lalpura. Constituted under the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992, it is a statutory body that protects the rights of notified minorities and provides policy advice to the government.

Two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu won the women's singles title by defeating Akane Yamaguchi in the final of the BWF Japan Open 2026. With this victory, she became the first Indian player to win a BWF Super 750 title.

International Moon Day is observed annually on July 20 to commemorate the historic Apollo-11 moon landing (1969), an event officially recognized by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in 2021. This day promotes the peaceful and sustainable use of the Moon, space science, and global cooperation, while also highlighting India's significant achievements such as Chandrayaan-1 and Chandrayaan-3.

Indian Railways is set to launch the country's first hydrogen fuel cell train on the Jind–Sonipat rail section in Haryana; this is a clean, near-zero-emission transport system based on PEM fuel cell technology. This project is a significant initiative linked to the National Green Hydrogen Mission, India's net-zero goals, and the integrated hydrogen production and refueling facility established in Jind, Haryana.

Vikram-1, developed by Skyroot Aerospace, is India's first private orbital launch vehicle; its launch is scheduled for July 18, 2026, from Sriharikota under 'Mission Aagman'. This mission will strengthen India's private space sector, small satellite launch capabilities, and competitive position within IN-SPACe, NSIL, and the global small satellite launch market.

The Serum Institute of India (SII) and the Gates Medical Research Institute (Gates MRI) have entered into a collaboration agreement for the manufacturing and global supply of the M72/AS01E tuberculosis (TB) vaccine; if successful, it will be the first new TB vaccine developed for adults in nearly 100 years. This partnership will reinforce India's identity as the 'Pharmacy of the World' while supporting the WHO's End TB Strategy and SDG-3 goals.

On the occasion of World Youth Skills Day 2026, the Uttar Pradesh government launched the ‘Kaushal Setu’ and ‘Kaushal Sarthi’ digital platforms under UPSDM, aimed at digitizing skill development, training, and employment services. This initiative is a significant step towards industry-based training, digital governance, enhancing youth employability, and strengthening the goals of SDG-4 and SDG-8.

Operation Southern Readiness 26-2 is being conducted between July 20–23, 2026, by the Indian Navy and the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) under CTF-154, which is currently chaired by India. This multinational exercise is a significant initiative towards maritime security, interoperability, capacity building, and strengthening SAGAR and India's Indo-Pacific vision.

According to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), India's Financial Inclusion (FI) Index rose to 70 in March 2026, reflecting the increasing access to and usage of formal financial services. Launched in 2021, this index assesses financial inclusion based on access, usage, and quality; initiatives such as JAM, UPI, DBT, and financial literacy have contributed significantly to its progress.

*Note: The question refers to the figure recorded in March 2026.*

The Government of India has appointed Dr. Srinivas Kumar Tummala as the new Secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES); he is a distinguished expert in the fields of oceanography, climate services, and disaster management. He strengthened the tsunami warning system in the Indian Ocean region by making significant contributions to the development of ESSO-INCOIS, UNESCO-IOC, and the Indian Tsunami Early Warning Centre (ITEWC).

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Advanced Mother and Child Centre and the Advanced Neurosciences Centre at PGIMER, Chandigarh, and laid the foundation stone for a 150-bed critical care block under the PM-ABHIM scheme. These projects will significantly strengthen maternal and child health, neurology, medical education, research, and emergency health services in North India.

Andy Burnham has been elected as the new leader of Britain's Labour Party, and he will assume the office of Prime Minister of the United Kingdom on July 20, 2026. Under his leadership, there is a prospect of restoring public trust, improving public services, fostering regional development, and giving a new direction to bilateral relations—including trade, investment, and an FTA—between India and the UK.

Legendary West Indies all-rounder Sir Garfield Sobers, considered one of the greatest players in cricket history, passed away on July 17, 2026, at the age of 89. In 93 Test matches, he scored 8,032 runs and took 235 wickets; he played a historic innings of 365 runs and became the first batsman to hit six sixes in an over in first-class cricket.

The Maharashtra government has decided to accelerate the implementation of the National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA), which aims to make the proceedings of the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council fully digital, paperless, transparent, and more efficient. It is a mission-mode project of the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs under the Digital India program, promoting e-governance, the digitization of legislative processes, and citizen participation.