Current Affairs Quiz - July 2026

Notes:
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment launched the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR) to prevent substance abuse through awareness, treatment, rehabilitation, capacity building, and social reintegration. The Ministry has expanded its network to 768 de-addiction and rehabilitation centres and operates the toll-free de-addiction helpline 14446. A 2019 national survey found that over 7 crore people in India were affected by substance use disorder, highlighting the need for coordinated action.

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Maharashtra Assembly passed the Women Farmers’ Empowerment Bill 2026 unanimously. It aims to recognise women farmers and ensure their access to welfare schemes. The legislation focuses on addressing the gap where benefits earlier largely reached male farmers. It is the first-of-its-kind law in India for women farmers. It also includes women engaged in agriculture and allied sectors like fisheries and livestock rearing.

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Scientists at Raiganj University discovered a new bacterial species named Micromonospora shyamaprasadii. It was discovered in West Bengal from the mulberry rhizosphere (soil around mulberry roots). The species was named in honour of Syama Prasad Mookerjee on his 125th birth anniversary. The bacterium shows antibiotic potential by producing compounds that inhibit harmful bacteria.

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Recently, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency announced that the Hayabusa2 probe successfully performed a close flyby (within 800 metres) of the near-Earth asteroid Torifune. Torifune is a primitive near-Earth asteroid (NEA) with an estimated diameter of about 450 metres and is classified as a near-Earth object (NEO). It has an elongated shape and completes one rotation in about five hours. Hayabusa2 is Japan’s robotic deep-space probe, currently on its extended mission after returning asteroid samples from Ryugu in 2020.

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Recently, GalaxEye’s Mission Drishti faced an anomaly during the final stage of Launch and Early Orbit Phase (LEOP) due to a geomagnetic solar storm. Mission Drishti, India’s largest privately developed Earth observation satellite, was launched by the Bengaluru-based space technology startup GalaxEye. The satellite was deployed into orbit aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, USA. The satellite successfully completed major LEOP activities, including deployment, attitude control, onboard computing, and communication system operations. The mission helped validate critical technologies and provided valuable engineering insights for future OptoSAR satellite missions.

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Recently, the Uttar Pradesh Cabinet approved the renaming of Jalalabad in Shahjahanpur district as Parashurampuri. The approval followed clearance from the Central Government and was based on demands from local residents. The town is believed to be the birthplace of Lord Parashuram, the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. The renaming aims to reflect the town’s cultural, historical, and religious identity. Administrative and legal formalities will now be completed for the official implementation.

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India hosted the 3rd BRICS Transport Working Group (TWG) Meeting in Nagpur under its BRICS Chairship 2026. The meeting focuses on sustainable, resilient, and future-ready transport systems among BRICS member countries. India’s BRICS Chairship theme is “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.” The meeting is guided by the principle of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” (The World is One Family). India’s transport agenda includes six flagship initiatives covering sustainability in infrastructure, Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), transport decarbonisation, urban mobility, resilient logistics, and railway research cooperation.

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Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan launched a national initiative for the sustainable utilisation of India’s high-seas fishery resources at Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT). He also unveiled the Odisha Deep Sea Fishing Mission Document to strengthen the state’s deep-sea fishing ecosystem. The initiative aims to promote sustainable fisheries, marine resource conservation, and the Blue Economy. India’s seafood exports have crossed ₹73,000 crore and reach over 120 countries. The initiative encourages technology-driven fisheries through digital authorisation, vessel tracking, and internationally recognised certification standards.

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The Ashadi Palkhis of Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj and Sant Tukaram Maharaj were welcomed by thousands of devotees in Pune, Maharashtra. The annual Palkhi procession begins from Dehu and Alandi and is a centuries-old spiritual and cultural tradition of Maharashtra. Lakhs of Warkaris and hundreds of Dindis participate in the pilgrimage, carrying saffron flags and singing devotional hymns. The pilgrims march on foot towards Pandharpur to seek the Ashadhi Ekadashi darshan of Lord Vitthal and Goddess Rukmini.

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According to recent report, Gujarat ranks 1st in India in total installed renewable energy capacity with 50.386 GW. The state also ranks 1st in installed wind power capacity with 15,850.56 MW and 1st in rooftop solar installations, with over 13 lakh installations generating 7,408.10 MW. Gujarat is 2nd in installed solar power capacity with 32,302.7 MW. India aims to achieve 50% electricity from renewable energy sources by 2030 and Net Zero emissions by 2070. The Khavda Renewable Energy Park in Kutch, Gujarat, planned with a capacity of 37.35 GW, is the world’s largest renewable energy park.