Current Affairs Quiz - July 2026

Notes:
The Global Environment Facility approved US$1.26 million for a conservation project led by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The project will be implemented in Niokolo-Koba National Park, Senegal. The park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an International Biosphere Reserve. It is one of the largest protected Sudanian savanna ecosystems in West Africa, covering nearly 913,000 hectares. The park is located in southeastern Senegal, near the Guinea border.

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The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) 2.0 portal and the Electronic Overseas Citizen of India (e-OCI) Card were launched by the Ministry of Home Affairs. The initiatives aim to strengthen digital governance, simplify regulatory compliance, and improve citizen services. The FCRA 2.0 Portal digitises processes such as registration, renewal, annual return filing, and other services under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA). It also incorporates the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Rules, 2026, and supports future features like an AI chatbot and mobile access. The e-OCI Card enables the entire OCI application process to be completed online, including application submission, document upload, and digital card download.

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The Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare recently launched the Unified Health Interface (UHI). United Health Interface is an interoperable digital network under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM). It serves as the service layer of ABDM, enabling seamless access to digital health services. It aims to improve accessibility, transparency, and wider choice of verified healthcare providers. UHI operates through open protocols on the ABDM Gateway, developed and maintained by the National Health Authority (NHA). It enables citizens to discover, book, and access health services through any UHI-enabled application.

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SHE-LEAPS (Self-Help Entrepreneur–Livelihoods and Enterprise Application for Prosperity and Sustainability) is a digital platform launched to promote women-led rural entrepreneurship. It was launched during the Rashtriya Gramin Vikas Sammelan in New Delhi. It has been developed by the Digital India Corporation and is implemented under the LokOS platform. The platform supports Self-Help Group (SHG) women by promoting enterprise development, livelihood generation, and financial inclusion. It covers both farm and non-farm enterprises and provides real-time enterprise monitoring and performance tracking.

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The Ministry of Civil Aviation has approved India’s first Private Point-in-Space (PinS) Instrument Approach Procedure for helicopter operations at Undavalli Heliport. The procedure was developed by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and approved by the DGCA, in line with ICAO standards. PinS (Point-in-Space) uses satellite-based navigation to enable helicopters to land safely at heliports without conventional instrument landing systems. It improves all-weather operations, especially in remote areas and poor weather conditions. The initiative supports safe helicopter operations for emergency services, disaster relief, tourism, pilgrimage, offshore activities, and regional connectivity.

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The Indian gaur (bison) translocation programme to Chandaka Wildlife Sanctuary has been put on hold due to high anthropogenic pressure, especially cattle presence. Chandaka Wildlife Sanctuary is located on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar, Odisha. It represents the northeastern limit of the Eastern Ghats. The sanctuary was declared mainly to conserve wild elephants and their habitats. The Kumarkhunti Reservoir is the only permanent water source supporting wildlife during summer.

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International Renewable Energy Agency released the Renewable Power Generation Costs in 2025 report. Renewable energy projects commissioned in 2025 helped avoid an estimated 480 billion in global fossil fuel costs. More than 90% of newly added utility-scale renewable capacity generated electricity more cheaply than the cheapest new fossil fuel alternative. Fossil fuel-based electricity became more expensive due to rising gas prices and turbine shortages, with gas-fired generation nearing 100/MWh in some markets. The report highlights that expanding renewable energy improves energy security, economic resilience, and protection from fuel price volatility.

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Scientists at Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), Kochi discovered a new deep-sea fish species named Cyttopsis indica. It was found in the Arabian Sea off southern Kerala. It belongs to the genus Cyttopsis, commonly known as dories. It has been given the common name Indian Dory. It survives deep-sea pressure by storing high levels of waxy compounds, making it unsuitable for direct human consumption.

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Himachal Pradesh has added 8 new Geographical Indication (GI) tagged products, raising its total GI-registered items to 17. The recognition was facilitated to promote rural economy and protect traditional heritage. New GI products are Seabuckthorn (Spiti), Salooni Safed Makka and Chamba Metal Art (Chamba), Sirmauri Loiya (Sirmaur), Kinnauri Topi, Kinnauri Apple, Kinnauri Jewellery (Kinnaur), and Sepuvadi (Mandi).

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Recently, researchers discovered a new plant species, Canscora agni, in the fire-prone savannas of western India. It was discovered on Sus Hill in Pune district, Maharashtra. The species is named “agni” (meaning fire) because it thrives in ecosystems maintained by natural fires. It is a small dwarf herb with white petals and distinctive winged stems, clearly different from its closest relative, Canscora alata. Researchers have recommended classifying Canscora agni as Critically Endangered.