Current Affairs Questions with Answers

At the 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games, Harsh Singh and Asmita Dey won gold medals in judo, securing India's first-ever Commonwealth gold in the sport. This achievement signals the rising standard of Indian judo and strong prospects for future success at the Olympics and Asian Games.

Friendship Day is celebrated on the first Sunday of August every year in many countries, including India; in 2026, it will be celebrated on 2 August. Its origins are traced back to 1935 in the United States, whereas the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) declared 30 July as the International Day of Friendship in 2011.

Indian Railways launched the online personal luggage booking facility for passengers holding reserved tickets on July 31, 2026, enabling the advance online booking of excess luggage. This digital service has been developed by the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS), and a charge of 1.5 times the prescribed rate will be applicable for excess luggage.

On July 30, 2026, the Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) launched the Favara-UPI cross-border payment corridor, enabling Maldivian citizens to transfer funds in real-time to UPI accounts in India. This initiative, undertaken in collaboration with the MMA, RBI, and NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL), will strengthen digital payment and financial cooperation between India and the Maldives.

US President Donald Trump announced a peace proposal regarding the complete disarmament of Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza; Hamas has accepted the proposal, while Israel's formal acceptance is still pending. The plan includes provisions for the phased withdrawal of the Israeli military, the deployment of an international peacekeeping force, and the reconstruction of Gaza, with Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey playing the role of mediators.

The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) has prepared a national catalogue of India's butterflies and moths (Lepidoptera) for the first time, documenting 13,703 species. Compiled over 12 years, this catalogue is significant for biodiversity conservation and research; notably, India accounts for approximately 8.8% of the global diversity of this group, with 2,205 Geometroidea species.

According to the Competier Foundation's report, India improved its standing by 25 places in the Market Distortion Performance Index (MDPI) 2023, moving from the 82nd position in 2010 to the 57th position. According to the report, GST, the IBC, regulatory reforms, and ease-of-doing-business measures played a significant role in enhancing India's competitiveness and strengthening investor confidence.

A total of 177 countries were evaluated in the Environmental Performance Index (EPI) 2026; Estonia ranked first, while India stood at the 176th position. This index assesses the environmental performance of countries based on 12 categories and 47 indicators, highlighting challenges faced by India such as air pollution and the conservation of forests and biodiversity.

At the 2026 Commonwealth Games, India's Lovepreet Singh won the silver medal in the men's +110 kg weight category by lifting a total of 388 kg; he also set a new Games record by lifting 176 kg in the snatch event. New Zealand's David Liti secured the gold medal by lifting 389 kg, winning by a margin of just 1 kg.

World Lung Cancer Day is observed annually on August 1st to promote awareness, early detection, better treatment, and prevention of lung cancer. Tobacco use is a major risk factor for the disease, while initiatives such as WHO-FCTC, NPCDCS, and NTCP, along with SDG-3, play a crucial role in disease prevention and strengthening public health.

‘Vastra Utsav 2026’ is a premier textile and handicraft exhibition held at the DakshinaChitra Heritage Museum near Chennai, promoting handlooms, traditional craftsmanship, and sustainable fashion. This event strengthens national campaigns such as ‘Vocal for Local’, ‘Make in India’, and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ by encouraging weavers, artisans, women entrepreneurs, and Self-Help Groups (SHGs).

The Chhattisgarh government has launched the ‘DEEPTHI’ scheme, India’s first women-led distributed renewable energy policy, aimed at transforming women from Self-Help Groups (SHGs) into solar entrepreneurs. The scheme targets the creation of 5,000 solar enterprises and 50,000 green jobs, alongside providing clean energy to 5 lakh households; Kabirdham has become the first district to implement it.

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has announced the adoption of the PPI (Producer Price Index) and the double deflation method instead of WPI for real GDP estimation. The base year for the revised GDP series has been changed from 2011-12 to 2022-23, enabling a more accurate assessment of GDP and Real GVA that aligns with international standards.

Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia unveiled the theme "Scale Beyond Boundaries" for the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2026, which is scheduled to be held in New Delhi from October 7–10, 2026. The conference focuses on emerging technologies—including 5G, 6G, AI, and IoT—as well as the India 6G Alliance and the promotion of digital innovation, with the aim of establishing India as a global telecommunications hub.

OmniCard has launched India's first UPI-based flexi-benefits wallet, offering employees the convenience of accessing tax-efficient benefits and making UPI payments through a single digital wallet. It is built on an RBI-licensed PPI platform and will assist employees in availing annual tax-free benefits exceeding ₹2 lakh under the Income Tax Rules, 2026.

India delivered an impressive performance at the ISSF World Cup 2026, winning a total of 4 medals, comprising 1 gold, 1 silver, and 2 bronze. Esha Singh, Sainyam Vij, Manu Bhaker, and the duo of Sonam Maskar and Himanshu Dhillon won medals for India, thereby strengthening preparations for the upcoming Asian Games and Olympics.

Former Indian captain Ajinkya Rahane announced his retirement following an international cricket career spanning nearly 15 years. Making his debut in 2011, Rahane carved a distinct niche for himself in Indian Test cricket through his excellent batting, calm leadership, and historic contributions.

World Ranger Day is observed annually on July 31 to honor the contributions of forest rangers and to pay tribute to rangers who have lost their lives or been injured in the line of duty. It was launched in 2007 by the International Ranger Federation (IRF) in collaboration with The Thin Green Line Foundation, and it highlights the vital role rangers play in biodiversity and wildlife conservation.

India's oldest scientific research institute, the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS), is celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2026; it was established by Dr. Mahendra Lal Sircar in Kolkata on July 29, 1876. It was at IACS that C.V. Raman discovered the Raman Effect in 1928—for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930—and the institute currently operates as a premier scientific research center under the Department of Science and Technology (DST).

On the occasion of Global Tiger Day on July 29, 2026, India reported that the tiger population in the country has reached 3,682 and the number of tiger reserves has risen to 58, reinforcing India's position as a leader in global tiger conservation. On this occasion, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) launched an integrated eco-tourism webpage, even as challenges such as poaching, habitat destruction, and climate change persist.