Current Affairs Quiz - July 2026

Notes:
Recently, camera-trap evidence confirmed the return of the Dhole (Asiatic wild dog) to Bornadi Wildlife Sanctuary. Bornadi Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Udalguri and Baksa districts of Assam. It lies in the eastern Himalayan foothills and shares the India–Bhutan international border. The sanctuary is named after the Bornadi River, which forms its western boundary. The Nalapara River, originating in Bhutan, flows along the sanctuary’s eastern boundary.

Notes:
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has selected the PRAXIS Mission for NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) 2026 Phase I funding. PRAXIS stands for Planetary Rings Autonomous EXploration with In-situ Sampling. The mission aims to collect and analyse particles directly from planetary rings. It will study the ring systems of Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and ringed minor bodies like Chariklo and Chiron. The mission will use an AI-powered bio-inspired robotic explorer for autonomous navigation, particle sampling and on-site analysis. It plans to graze the ring plane to capture free-floating particles without deep entry.

Notes:
Esha Singh won the gold medal and Manu Bhaker won the bronze medal in the women’s 25m pistol event at the ISSF World Cup in Hangzhou, China. Manu topped the qualification round, while Esha qualified in second place before winning the final. Earlier this year, Esha set senior and junior world records in the 25m pistol event at the ISSF World Cup in Munich. Manu Bhaker is the first athlete from independent India to win two medals at a single Olympic Games (Paris 2024).

Notes:
World Nature Conservation Day is observed every year on 28 July to promote environmental conservation and sustainable use of natural resources. The day emphasises protecting biodiversity, conserving ecosystems and ensuring sustainable development. It encourages responsible management of water, air, soil and energy resources. It also promotes practical actions such as reducing plastic use, minimising e-waste and lowering individual ecological footprints.

Notes:
Valluri Ajaya Babu won the silver medal in the men’s 79 kg weightlifting event at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow. He hails from Andhra Pradesh. He lifted a total of 330 kg (149 kg Snatch + 181 kg Clean & Jerk). He missed the gold medal by just 1 kg. Malaysia’s Erry Hidayat Muhammad won gold with a Games record total of 331 kg. Ajaya Babu set a Commonwealth Games record in the snatch (149 kg). He won double gold at the 2024 Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships (Suva, Fiji).

Notes:
Sharmila Dhankar won a historic gold medal in the Women’s Shot Put F57 event at the Commonwealth Games 2026 held in Glasgow, Scotland. She registered a season-best throw of 9.81 metres to win the gold. She became India’s first-ever Commonwealth Games gold medallist in para-athletics. Her victory ended India’s 20-year wait for a para-athletics medal at the Commonwealth Games.

Notes:
The Bhavani River is a major tributary of the Cauvery River, flowing through Tamil Nadu and Kerala. It is the second-largest river in Tamil Nadu. The river originates in the Western Ghats (Nilgiri Hills) in Nilgiris district, Tamil Nadu. It flows through Silent Valley National Park in Kerala before re-entering Tamil Nadu. The river joins the Cauvery River at Bhavani town near the Bhavani Sangameshwarar Temple. It is a perennial river, flowing throughout the year. Recently, stretches of the river near Kooduthurai (Bhavani) were affected by the invasive water hyacinth.

Notes:
Murali Sreeshankar won the silver medal in the men’s long jump at the 2026 Commonwealth Games with a season-best jump of 8.09 m. He became the first Indian male long jumper to win two Commonwealth Games medals, after also winning silver at Birmingham 2022. Jamaica’s Tajay Gayle won the gold medal with a jump of 8.15 m, while Scotland’s Stephen Mackenzie took bronze (8.08 m). Lokesh Sathyanathan finished fifth with a best jump of 7.97 m.

Notes:
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Government of Madhya Pradesh signed an MoU to establish India’s first Telecom Manufacturing Zone (TMZ). Phase-I of the Telecom Manufacturing Zone will be set up at Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. The initiative aims to develop a world-class manufacturing ecosystem for telecom equipment and allied technologies. It will promote indigenous telecom manufacturing, attract investment, generate employment, and strengthen Aatmanirbhar Bharat. The project is expected to enhance regional industrial development, improve supply chain resilience, and position India as a global telecom manufacturing and innovation hub.

Notes:
World Ranger Day is observed annually on 31 July to honour the courage and sacrifice of frontline conservation workers. World Ranger Day 2026 marks the 20th anniversary of the observance, which was established in 2006 by the International Ranger Federation (IRF). The theme for 2026 is “Rangers: Guardians of a Changing Planet.” According to the International Ranger Federation Roll of Honour 2026, 147 rangers from 40 countries lost their lives in the line of duty between June 2025 and May 2026. Around 286,000 rangers currently serve worldwide, although experts estimate 1.5 million are needed to achieve the global 30×30 biodiversity conservation target.