Current Affairs Quiz - July 2026

Notes:
Recently, flash floods triggered by heavy rainfall caused major disruption at the under-construction Kwar Hydroelectric Power Project in Kishtwar, Jammu and Kashmir. The Kwar Hydroelectric Project is a 540 Megawatt (MW) run-of-river project on the Chenab River in Jammu and Kashmir. It is a joint venture between National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) Ltd. (51%) and Jammu & Kashmir State Power Development Corporation (JKSPDC).

Notes:
Recently, the Natural History Museum (NHM), Mizoram was notified as a Designated Repository under the Biological Diversity Act. It became India’s 21st Designated Repository, on the recommendation of the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA). It was established in 2022 under Mizoram University in Aizawl. It is located in the Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspot. The museum specialises in the taxonomy of pteridophytes, macrofungi, moths, beetles, fishes, and butterflies. It supports the conservation of endemic species, including the recently discovered Leptobrachella tamdil amphibian.

Notes:
The Office of the Development Commissioner (Handlooms), under the Ministry of Textiles, launched Handloom Hackathon 2026 – “Weaving Innovation”. It is being organised as part of the National Handloom Day 2026 celebrations. The initiative aims to promote technology, design, entrepreneurship, and sustainability in India’s handloom sector. The Hackathon is open to students, weavers, artisans, researchers, startups, entrepreneurs, designers, and innovators. It seeks practical and scalable solutions for the modernisation and global competitiveness of the handloom sector.

Notes:
Indonesia signed an MoU with BrahMos Aerospace for the phased procurement of two coastal BrahMos missile batteries worth about USD 200 million. BrahMos is a medium-range, supersonic cruise missile based on the “Fire and Forget” principle. It is the world’s fastest operational cruise missile, capable of speeds up to Mach 2.8. It is jointly developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and NPO Mashinostroyeniya (Russia) through BrahMos Aerospace. The missile provides long-range precision strike capability against land and maritime targets.

Notes:
The Indian Pickleball Association (IPA) announced India’s contingent for the Pickleball World Cup 2026. The Pickleball World Cup 2026 will be held in Da Nang, Vietnam, from 30 August to 6 September 2026. Harsh Mehta will lead the Indian team in the Pro category. Arjun Singh will represent and captain India in the Under-18 category.

Notes:
The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) Global Liveability Index 2026 assessed 173 cities worldwide based on parameters such as stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure. Among Indian cities, New Delhi ranked 120th, followed by Mumbai at 121st, Chennai at 123rd, and Bengaluru at 127th in the Global Liveability Index 2026. Copenhagen, Denmark was ranked as the world’s most liveable city, followed by Vienna, Austria at the second position and Melbourne, Australia at the third position.

Notes:
The Maharashtra Government has sanctioned ₹1 crore for the first phase of a memorial dedicated to ‘Veer’ Jivaji Mahale at the foothills of Pratapgad Fort. Pratapgad Fort is a hill fort located in the Satara district of Maharashtra. The fort is situated at an altitude of about 1,080 metres and is built on a spur overlooking the road between Par and Kinesvar villages.

Notes:
The Delhi Government has announced that from 1 August 2026, women using Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and DIMTS cluster buses will need a Pink Saheli Smart Card (National Common Mobility Card – NCMC) to avail free travel. The smart card will replace the existing paper-based pink tickets, which will continue only till 31 July 2026. The Pink Saheli Smart Card Yojana was launched by President Droupadi Murmu on 2 March 2026 to provide free bus travel to women residents of Delhi while improving transparency and preventing misuse. The card-based system follows the “One Nation, One Card” initiative and enables digital verification of beneficiaries.

Notes:
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment observed the 3rd NAMASTE Day on 14 July, marking three years of the National Action for Mechanized Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) Scheme, launched in 2023-24. The scheme promotes mechanised sanitation, dignity, safety, social security, and skill development for sanitation workers. Its key goals are zero sanitation-related fatalities, elimination of manual scavenging, establishment of Emergency Response Sanitation Units (ERSUs), and promotion of self-employment through Self-Help Groups (SHGs).

Notes:
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) released the second edition of the Digital Threat Report 2025–26 for the Banking, Financial Services and Insurance (BFSI) and payments ecosystem. The report highlights that cyber risks now threaten transaction integrity, customer trust, operational continuity, and digital infrastructure, beyond traditional data theft. It identifies AI asymmetry as a major emerging risk, enabling low-resource attackers to launch sophisticated cyberattacks rapidly.