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21 July 2026

18 topics really matter today — about 27 minutes. The full edition is 40 topics and 67 questions, roughly 53 minutes.

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8/10

India formally deposits instrument of acceptance for WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies

  • India formally joined the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies.
  • The agreement prohibits government support to illegal fishing activities and over-exploitation of stocks.

1 min · 1 questions · 1 prelims

8/10

Editorial: Impact of political defections on democratic institutions in India

  • Impact on Mandate: In a parliamentary democracy, voters elect representatives based on political alternatives, manifestos, and party symbols. Defection by an elected candidate unilaterally rewires the contract between the voter and representative.
  • Institutional Implications: Defection weakens opposition balance, reduces democratic competition to contests over access to power, and creates public perception of biased investigative intensity when politicians facing legal troubles switch allegiances.

1 min · 2 questions · 2 prelims

8/10

Editorial: Pedestrian safety and reclaiming urban footpaths from vehicular encroachment

  • In Maniyar Iliyaz @ Shaik Riyaz vs P. Ayyappan (2026), the Supreme Court ruled that walking on demarcated footpaths is a fundamental constitutional right under Article 19(1)(d) and Article 21.
  • The Supreme Court directed States and Union Territories to frame comprehensive policies and guidelines for the provision and maintenance of safe footpaths and footways.

2 min · 2 questions · 3 prelims

8/10

Union government introduces Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill in Lok Sabha

  • The Union government introduced the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha to replace the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Ordinance, 2026.
  • The Bill increases the sanctioned strength of Supreme Court judges from 34 to 38 (37 judges excluding the Chief Justice of India).

2 min · 2 questions · 2 prelims

7/10

Border Security Force considers physical fencing along Sundarbans eco-sensitive zone

  • Border Security Force (BSF) initiated a feasibility study to construct physical fencing along a 90-km stretch of the Sundarbans mangroves along the Indo-Bangladesh border.
  • The government has sanctioned flood-light illuminated fences as a non-physical barrier in the region.

1 min · 2 questions · 1 prelims

7/10

Need for long-duration energy storage to support India's renewable transition grid requirements

  • India recorded a peak power demand of 270.8 GW on May 21, representing a ~90 GW increase from the same window in 2019, driven significantly by nighttime air conditioning demand.
  • The 2026 Long-Term National Resource Adequacy Plan targets 80 GW of battery energy storage and 94 GW of pumped hydroelectric energy storage (PHES) by FY2035-36, with average discharge durations of 4 and 6 hours respectively.

3 min · 2 questions · 2 prelims

7/10

Houthi movement declares maritime embargo on Saudi Arabia in Bab el-Mandeb strait

  • Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi movement declared an immediate maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia in the Bab el-Mandeb strait.
  • Bab el-Mandeb is situated at the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula and acts as the gateway to the Red Sea, handling approximately 12% of global trade.

1 min · 2 questions · 2 prelims

7/10

RBI foreign currency swap facility mobilises over $20 billion

  • The Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) foreign currency swap facility mobilised a total of $20.72 billion in foreign exchange inflows up to July 17.
  • The breakdown of the inflows mobilised consists of $17.4 billion via Foreign Currency Non-Resident-Bank (FCNR(B)) deposits, $1.97 billion via Overseas Foreign Currency Borrowings (OFCBs), and $1.34 billion via External Commercial Borrowings (ECBs).

1 min · 1 questions · 1 prelims

7/10

Economic Analysis: Key factors behind rising WPI inflation in India

  • WPI Inflation Trends: WPI inflation climbed sharply from near-zero levels in late 2021 to around 10% in June, primarily driven by the 'Fuel and Power' and 'Manufactured Products' sub-categories.
  • Components of WPI: The Wholesale Price Index (WPI) is a weighted average of three sub-categories: primary articles (food, minerals), fuel and power, and manufactured products.

2 min · 2 questions · 2 prelims

7/10

Editorial: Expanding Canada-India defence and security cooperation

  • Canada-India Bilateral Defence Engagement: Accreditation of Defence Advisers in Ottawa and New Delhi, and agreement to establish a Defence Dialogue to align capacities and shared interests.
  • Joint Military Exercises: Participation of Indian and Canadian navies in the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) and Talisman Sabre exercises.

2 min · 2 questions · 2 prelims

7/10

Bengaluru to host India-US Civil Space Joint Working Group meeting

  • The India-U.S. Civil Space Joint Working Group (CSJWG) was established in 2005 to facilitate bilateral discussions and cooperation in space research.
  • Meetings of the CSJWG involve experts and officials from ISRO, NASA, and other Indian and U.S. government agencies.

1 min · 1 questions · 2 prelims

7/10

Government releases updated Index of Core Industries series with 2022-23 base year

  • The Ministry of Commerce and Industry released a new series of the Index of Core Industries (ICI), updating the base year from 2011-12 to 2022-23.
  • Iron ore has been added as a new item, expanding the total number of core sectors covered under the ICI from eight to nine.

2 min · 2 questions · 2 prelims

7/10

Supreme Court to clarify voluntary opt-out requirement for APAAR ID implementation

  • The Supreme Court agreed to direct the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to ensure that the implementation of the Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (APAAR) is voluntary on a pan-India basis.
  • A three-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant heard the petition filed by parents led by Abhishek Baxi.

1 min · 1 questions · 1 prelims

7/10

Opening day of Parliament's Monsoon Session disrupted over NEET paper leak and other issues

  • A Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha by the Union Law Minister to replace an Ordinance seeking to increase the sanctioned strength of Supreme Court judges from 34 to 38.
  • Skyroot Aerospace launched its Vikram-1 rocket from ISRO's Sriharikota launch pad on July 18, placing payloads in an orbit approximately 450 km above Earth.

2 min · 2 questions · 2 prelims

7/10

United States military strikes in Iran spark full-scale war warning

  • Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian officially stated that Iran is engaged in a 'full-scale war' with the United States.
  • United States military strikes expanded into northern and central regions of Iran, including a city hosting a nuclear power plant, moving beyond the blockaded Strait of Hormuz region.

1 min · 2 questions · 1 prelims

7/10

Madhya Pradesh government introduces draft Uniform Civil Code Bill in Assembly

  • The Madhya Pradesh government introduced a draft Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill in the State Legislative Assembly.
  • The draft UCC Bill prohibits polygamy across all faiths in the state.

1 min · 1 questions · 1 prelims

7/10

Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council raises concerns over Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026

  • The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 is scheduled to be presented in the Monsoon Session of Parliament.
  • The Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council (KCBC) reiterated concerns regarding the provisions of the proposed FCRA amendment Bill.

1 min · 2 questions · 1 prelims

7/10

Delhi Cabinet approves PARIVARTAN scheme to phase out old commercial vehicles

  • The Delhi Cabinet cleared the implementation of the Central Government's PARIVARTAN (Programme for Accelerated Renewal and Incentivization of Vehicle Assets for Reducing Transport Air Pollution and Network Emissions) scheme.
  • Objective: To reduce vehicular emissions in Delhi-NCR by incentivising the replacement of older, highly polluting commercial trucks and buses with electric and BS-VI compliant vehicles.

2 min · 2 questions · 2 prelims

6/10

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio calls for global effort to secure Strait of Hormuz

  • U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Iran is using the Strait of Hormuz as leverage to gain control over maritime transit.
  • The U.S. called on international partners to step up, apply pressure, and provide assistance to protect global shipping in the region.

1 min · 2 questions · 1 prelims

6/10

Government clarifies no decision taken to increase ethanol blending beyond 20%

  • The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas informed Parliament that no decision has been taken to increase ethanol blending in petrol beyond the 20% target.
  • No decision has been made by the government to introduce ethanol blending in diesel for commercial usage.

1 min · 1 questions · 1 prelims

6/10

Supreme Court criticises insurance companies over ambiguous policy wording

  • The Supreme Court criticized insurance companies for using 'ambiguous' and 'sloppy' terms in standard-form contracts to evade legitimate liabilities, resulting in hardships for policyholders.
  • In an appeal by Oriental Insurance Company against a Chhattisgarh High Court order awarding ₹32.67 lakh compensation for a motor accident in Nepal, the SC ruled that exclusion of cross-border coverage must be expressly stated in the policy.

2 min · 2 questions · 1 prelims

6/10

Editorial: Upholding freedom of speech and tolerance for political dissent

  • Tolerance of political dissent and upholding the rule of law are essential pillars of a functioning democracy.
  • A growing trend exists where police mechanisms, cyber crime provisions, the IT Act, and criminal defamation are invoked against individuals for social media posts and public criticism of government officials.

1 min · 2 questions · 0 prelims

6/10

Karnataka High Court rules adult unmarried daughter entitled to education expenses from father under DV Act

  • Karnataka High Court held that an adult unmarried daughter can invoke Section 20(d) of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, to seek monetary relief for education from her father.
  • The High Court upheld trial court orders directing a father to pay ₹16 lakh towards the annual fee for his daughter's postgraduate (PG) medical course.

1 min · 2 questions · 1 prelims

6/10

Supreme Court cautions against unsubstantiated corruption allegations against judges

  • The Supreme Court cautioned against levelling unsubstantiated corruption allegations against judicial officers.
  • The Court observed that the virality of content on social media could irreparably tarnish a judge's career.

1 min · 2 questions · 1 prelims

6/10

DCGI approves India's first dengue vaccine QDENGA for ages 4 to 60

  • Approval & Developer: The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) granted market authorisation to Takeda Biopharmaceuticals India for QDENGA (TAK-003), making it India's first approved dengue vaccine.
  • Target Demographic & Regimen: Approved for individuals aged 4 to 60 years as a two-dose regimen administered three months apart.

2 min · 2 questions · 2 prelims

6/10

Mumbai special court sentences 44 Somali pirates to life imprisonment

  • A Mumbai special court sentenced 44 Somali nationals to life imprisonment in two separate piracy cases involving 35 and 9 accused respectively.
  • The court emphasized the gravity of high-seas piracy offences, including vessel hijacking, holding crew hostage for ransom, using human shields, attempted murder, and disobeying lawful directions of the Indian Navy.

1 min · 2 questions · 1 prelims

6/10

Cockroach Janta Party parliament march and student protests over paper leaks

  • Right to Peaceful Protest: The Supreme Court in the 2018 Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan case upheld the fundamental right to peaceful protest as part of democratic expression, while requiring procedural guidelines to balance public convenience.
  • Surveillance vs. Fundamental Rights: Police use of continuous videography and permanent surveillance towers at protest sites raises legal debates over intrusive monitoring, deterrence, and bodily privacy versus law and order maintenance.

2 min · 2 questions · 2 prelims

5/10

Tensions escalate after Chinese coast guard confrontation with Philippine vessel in South China Sea

  • The Philippine military accused China's coast guard of injuring a Filipino sailor and damaging a vessel during an encounter at the Second Thomas Shoal.
  • China's coast guard stated that two Philippine rubber boats rammed a Chinese patrol boat and that Philippine personnel attacked using oars and long sticks.

1 min · 1 questions · 1 prelims

5/10

Bondada Engineering receives NTPC contract for vanadium redox flow battery storage in Gujarat

  • Bondada Engineering has secured an Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contract from NTPC Renewable Energy (NTPC REL).
  • The contract involves developing a 100 MWh Vanadium Redox Flow Battery Energy Storage System (VRFB BESS) at Khavda Solar Park in Gujarat.

1 min · 1 questions · 1 prelims

5/10

Technology Explainer: Principles of magnetic levitation and maglev train propulsion

  • Magnetic Levitation ('Maglev') replaces conventional wheels with electromagnetic forces to eliminate rolling friction, enabling speeds above 400 km/hr unaffected by rain or snow.
  • Fundamental physics principle: Gravity is approximately 10^39 times weaker than the electromagnetic force, allowing electromagnets to suspend trains weighing 150 to 500 tonnes.

2 min · 2 questions · 2 prelims

5/10

Karnataka high schools to introduce AI instruction in place of third language

  • The Karnataka government plans to implement Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Skill Education instead of a third language in 1,652 government high schools.
  • The program is being introduced under the National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF).

1 min · 2 questions · 1 prelims

5/10

Telangana government launches Indiramma Housing scheme in Hyderabad core urban region

  • The Telangana government launched the Indiramma Housing scheme for constructing high-rise residential buildings in the Hyderabad Core Urban Region (CURE).
  • Application window: Open from July 21 to August 10 through MeeSeva Centres, the MeeSeva portal, and its WhatsApp services.

1 min · 1 questions · 1 prelims

5/10

Karnataka launches doorstep delivery of caste and residence certificates during electoral revision

  • Karnataka initiated doorstep delivery of Permanent Residence Certificates (PRCs) and free caste certificates during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
  • PRCs are one of 11 valid documents accepted by the Election Commission of India (ECI) for voter verification under the SIR exercise.

1 min · 2 questions · 2 prelims

5/10

Delhi University's 1-year PG rollout faces seat shortage

  • National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 rollout: Delhi University (DU) introduced a 1-year Postgraduate (PG) programme for students completing the Four-Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUP) for the 2026-27 academic session.
  • Capacity and intake disparity: Over 30,000 students graduated from DU's inaugural FYUP batch, competing for approximately 1,100 seats available across 46 one-year PG disciplines (e.g., M.A. English offering 45 seats total across all categories).

1 min · 1 questions · 1 prelims

4/10

Ebola outbreak death toll in Democratic Republic of Congo reaches 930

  • The death toll from the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo reached at least 930 people, according to the country's Ministry of Health.
  • The casualties include 36 healthcare workers.

1 min · 2 questions · 1 prelims

4/10

Political rivalry over Greater Bengaluru Integrated Township project at Bidadi

  • The Greater Bengaluru Integrated Township (GBIT), also known as the Bidadi township project, is a planned urban development initiative on the outskirts of Bengaluru in the Bengaluru South district (formerly Ramanagara district).
  • The project framework envisages the acquisition of approximately 9,600 acres of land spanning across 25 villages.

1 min · 2 questions · 1 prelims

4/10

Heavy rains trigger landslides and flash floods in Jammu and Kashmir

  • Heavy rainfall triggered landslides, flash floods, and shooting-stone incidents across Jammu and Kashmir, including Poonch and Doda districts.
  • The rain-related death toll reached 21 in a 24-hour period, with casualties reported in Loran (Poonch) and Doda district.

1 min · 2 questions · 1 prelims

4/10

National Conference leadership protests in Delhi demanding J&K Statehood

  • National Conference leadership held protests in Delhi demanding the immediate restoration of full Statehood to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
  • Demands focus on fulfilling commitments made regarding the timeline for restoring statehood following the reorganisation of the region.

1 min · 1 questions · 1 prelims

4/10

Delhi L-G reviews monsoon flood preparedness with Disaster Management Authority

  • The Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) held a joint review meeting co-chaired by the Lieutenant-Governor and the Chief Minister to assess monsoon preparedness.
  • Key focus areas reviewed included the implementation of the Urban Flood Mitigation plan and the rollout of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF).

1 min · 1 questions · 1 prelims

4/10

Four Indian seafarers killed in merchant vessel attack off Ukrainian port

  • Four Indian seafarers were killed and one critically injured in an attack on the merchant vessel MV Golden Leo off the Ukrainian port of Odessa in the Black Sea.
  • This incident marks the first instance of Indian seafarers being killed since the Russia-Ukraine conflict began in February 2022.

1 min · 1 questions · 1 prelims