Current Affairs – Weekly Roundup

WEEK 3: July 22 – 31, 2026

Current Affairs & GK for Competitive Exam Aspirants

Covers: UPSC | SSC CGL | IBPS PO | RRB NTPC | State PSC | CTET | NDA | CDS

July 2026 – Important Days (Week 4: July 22 – 31)

• July 24 – Income Tax Day (167th anniversary)
• July 25 – World Drowning Prevention Day (Theme: ‘Unite to Turn the Tide’)
• July 26 – Kargil Vijay Diwas (27th anniversary)
• July 28 – World Nature Conservation Day / World Hepatitis Day
• July 30 – International Day of Friendship / World Day against Trafficking in Persons

Exam Tip: Important Days are easy scoring areas – 2-3 MCQs guaranteed in SSC CGL, RRB NTPC, IBPS PO General Awareness. Memorize theme + host body + year of institution for each day.

WEEK 4: July 22 – 31, 2026

The fourth week of July 2026 saw DRDO’s maiden Kusha long-range air-defence missile test, the commissioning of INS Malvan, a historic medal run for India at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, the 27th Kargil Vijay Diwas, and a clutch of economy and infrastructure decisions. Here are the ten most important GK topics for competitive exam aspirants.

1. DRDO Successfully Flight-Tests ‘Kusha’ Long-Range Surface-to-Air Missile [Defence / Science & Technology]

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted the maiden flight test of the indigenous Kusha Long-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (LR-SAM) from APJ Abdul Kalam Island, off the Odisha coast, on July 23, 2026. The missile successfully intercepted a simulated high-speed, high-altitude aerial target, validating India’s layered air-defence architecture. Kusha is designed to complement existing systems such as Akash and the Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MR-SAM), strengthening India’s multi-tier air defence shield.

Exam Tip: Know that Kusha follows the Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket test (Chandipur, July 8, 2026) in DRDO’s 2026 missile-testing sequence. Distinguish short-range (Akash), medium-range (MR-SAM/Barak-8) and long-range (Kusha) SAM systems – a recurring UPSC GS-III and CDS/NDA Defence topic.

2. INS Malvan Commissioned into the Indian Navy at Karwar [Defence]

INS Malvan, the second indigenously designed and built Mahe-class Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), was commissioned into the Indian Navy at Karwar on July 22, 2026. The ceremony was presided over by Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh, Chief of the Air Staff, in the presence of Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command. Built at Cochin Shipyard Limited, INS Malvan bears the name of an earlier inshore minesweeper decommissioned in 2003.

Exam Tip: Link INS Malvan with INS Mahendragiri (sixth Nilgiri-class stealth frigate, commissioned July 11, 2026, Visakhapatnam) as part of the same naval-induction wave under Aatmanirbhar Bharat. A near-guaranteed single-mark Defence MCQ for SSC CGL, CDS and NDA.

3. India’s Historic Medal Run at the XXIII Commonwealth Games, Glasgow 2026 [Sports]

At the Commonwealth Games (Glasgow, July 23 – August 2, 2026), India’s contingent delivered its most decorated week yet. Mirabai Chanu opened India’s account with weightlifting gold, becoming only the second Indian to win three successive individual Commonwealth Games golds. Judokas Asmita Dey and Harsh Singh won India’s first-ever Commonwealth Games gold medals in judo on July 31, with Yamini Mourya adding silver. In athletics, Neeraj Chopra won silver (85.83m) in the men’s javelin throw final on July 31, behind Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage (89.75m), while debutant Yash Vir Singh claimed bronze with a personal-best 85.41m. Gulveer Singh became the first Indian ever to win a Commonwealth Games medal in the men’s 10,000m (silver, July 28).

Exam Tip: Note the ‘firsts’: India’s first CWG judo gold, first CWG men’s 10,000m medal. Track defending champions who were upset – Arshad Nadeem (javelin) finished ninth. Sports current-affairs is a frequent SSC CGL, RRB and banking-exam topic.

4. Government Bars Telecom Infrastructure Providers from Sharing Data Outside India [Polity / Governance / Technology]

On July 24, 2026, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Government of India, barred communication infrastructure providers from sharing telecommunication data outside the country through a fresh notification. The move strengthens India’s data-localisation and telecom-security framework under the Telecommunications Act, 2023, aiming to secure network data generated within Indian territory from cross-border transfer.

Exam Tip: Link this to India’s broader data-localisation push (RBI payment-data rules, DPDP Act 2023). A likely UPSC GS-II/III and SSC CGL Governance/Cyber-Security topic.

5. 167th Income Tax Day Observed [Important Days / Banking & Finance Awareness]

India observed the 167th Income Tax Day on July 24, 2026, commemorating the introduction of income tax in India by Sir James Wilson on July 24, 1860. The day highlights the role of direct taxation in financing public services and promoting voluntary taxpayer compliance.

Exam Tip: Know that Income Tax Day (Aaykar Diwas) is organised by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) under the Ministry of Finance. A recurring one-mark Banking Awareness/Static-GK question.

6. Revised Index of Core Industries Launched with 2022-23 Base Year [Economy]

The Office of the Economic Adviser (OEA), Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, released the first provisional Index of Core Industries (ICI) under a revised series with base year 2022-23 on July 20, 2026, replacing the earlier 2011-12 series. Iron ore was added as a ninth core industry, and provisional ICI data for June 2026 recorded 5.0% year-on-year growth.

Exam Tip: Know the eight core industries under the old series (Coal, Crude Oil, Natural Gas, Refinery Products, Fertilizers, Steel, Cement, Electricity) versus the new nine-industry basket including Iron Ore. A recurring UPSC GS-III and IBPS/SBI Economy topic.

7. Cabinet Approves Third and Fourth Railway Lines Between Ballari and Guntakal [Infrastructure / Railways]

On July 24, 2026, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved construction of the third and fourth railway lines between Ballari (Karnataka) and Guntakal (Andhra Pradesh) at an estimated cost of Rs 1,264 crore. The project is expected to expand passenger and freight capacity, reduce congestion, and improve movement of minerals and industrial goods along the route.

Exam Tip: Track CCEA-approved railway doubling/tripling projects as a recurring Infrastructure/Economy GK theme for SSC CGL and RRB NTPC exams.

8. Maharashtra Launches ‘Bharat Taxi’ Cooperative Ride-Hailing Platform [Economy / State Governance]

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis launched Bharat Taxi at Navi Mumbai International Airport on July 23, 2026. Bharat Taxi is a cooperative ride-hailing platform in which drivers are treated as members, owners and shareholders rather than mere contract workers, positioning it as an alternative to existing app-based aggregators.

Exam Tip: Note the cooperative-ownership model as a distinguishing feature – relevant to Static GK questions on the ‘gig economy’ and cooperative-sector initiatives.

9. 27th Kargil Vijay Diwas Observed [Important Days / Defence]

India observed the 27th Kargil Vijay Diwas on July 26, 2026, marking the anniversary of the successful completion of Operation Vijay on July 26, 1999, in which the Indian Armed Forces reclaimed strategic Kargil-sector heights occupied by infiltrators along the Line of Control. Ahead of the day, Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh flagged off the 13-day, 1,900-km Shaurya Vijay Yatra motorcycle expedition from the National War Memorial, New Delhi, to the Kargil War Memorial, Dras, on July 14, 2026.

Exam Tip: Know the three service-specific operation names – Operation Vijay (Army), Operation Safed Sagar (IAF), Operation Talwar (Navy) – and that the Kargil War Memorial is located at Dras, Ladakh. A near-certain Defence/Important-Days MCQ for CDS, NDA and SSC exams.

10. HAL Awards Rs 2,205 Crore Contract to Astra Microwave for AESA Radar Antennas [Defence / Economy]

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) awarded a Rs 2,205.23 crore contract to Astra Microwave Products Ltd on July 30, 2026, for production of 122 Active Antenna Arrays used in Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar systems, as announced to the stock exchanges. The deal reinforces India’s indigenous defence-electronics manufacturing base under Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

Exam Tip: Know the basics of AESA radar – used in fighter aircraft for simultaneous multi-target tracking – and that HAL is the nodal PSU for indigenous fighter and radar production. A likely Defence/Economy GK crossover question.

– End of WEEK 4: July 22–31, 2026 –

Quick Revision – MCQ Practice

Q1. On which date did DRDO conduct the maiden flight test of the Kusha Long-Range SAM?

Ans: July 23, 2026, from APJ Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha

Q2. Where and when was INS Malvan commissioned into the Indian Navy?

Ans: Karwar, on July 22, 2026 (second Mahe-class ASW-SWC)

Q3. Who won India’s first-ever Commonwealth Games gold medals in judo (2026)?

Ans: Asmita Dey and Harsh Singh

Q4. What medal did Neeraj Chopra win in the men’s javelin throw at CWG 2026, and with what distance?

Ans: Silver, with a throw of 85.83m

Q5. Since when has the revised Index of Core Industries used 2022-23 as its base year?

Ans: Released July 20, 2026, replacing the 2011-12 base series

Q6. What is the estimated cost of the Ballari-Guntakal third and fourth railway line project?

Ans: Rs 1,264 crore, approved by CCEA on July 24, 2026

Q7. Who launched the ‘Bharat Taxi’ cooperative ride-hailing platform, and where?

Ans: Devendra Fadnavis, at Navi Mumbai International Airport

Q8. Which anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas was observed on July 26, 2026?

Ans: 27th anniversary of Operation Vijay (1999)

Q9. What is India’s 167th Income Tax Day named after historically?

Ans: Introduction of income tax by Sir James Wilson on July 24, 1860

Q10. What contract did HAL award to Astra Microwave Products on July 30, 2026?

Ans: Rs 2,205.23 crore contract for 122 AESA radar Active Antenna Arrays

Note: All content is curated for educational purposes. Aspirants are advised to cross-verify with PIB, official UPSC syllabus, and standard reference books.