Monthly current affairs for July 2026

Union Minister Amit Shah virtually inaugurated 'Sahakar Bhavan', the new headquarters of the Jamnagar District Cooperative Bank in Jamnagar, Gujarat. The project was completed at a cost of Rs 25 crore.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation has launched Hub & Spoke International Flight Operations at the Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport in Amritsar, Punjab. The initiative was virtually inaugurated by Union Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu.

It is to be noted that Amritsar is the second spoke airport in India under this framework, following the initial implementation in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the amalgamation of Go Digit Infoworks Services Pvt Ltd with Go Digit General Insurance Ltd, with the latter remaining as the surviving entity.

Additionally, the CCI has approved the acquisition of units of Oaktree Capital Group Holdings, LP (OCGH) and Oaktree Equity Plan, LP (OEP) by Brookfield Asset Management Ltd (BAM).

EbixCash World Money Ltd has become the first Authorised Dealer Category-II (AD-II) entity in India to receive authorization from the RBI to facilitate trade and family maintenance remittances, a domain previously dominated by banks.

The enhanced licence permits EbixCash to process trade remittances up to ₹25 lakh per transaction. Furthermore, the entity has received authorization to maintain Nostro accounts, enabling the direct settlement of international transactions without routing them through intermediary correspondent banks.

Engineers India LTD (EIL) has signed an MoU with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research - Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology (CSIR-IMMT) in Odisha to collaborate on mineral processing, extractive metallurgy, and the value chain of critical and strategic minerals.

Additionally, EIL has signed an MoU with the Directorate General of Maritime Administration (DGMA), formerly known as the Directorate General of Shipping, to provide engineering and technical consultancy services for the development and modernisation of maritime projects.

The government has designated cotton as "White Gold" due to its pivotal role in supporting the livelihoods of farmers and stakeholders across the textile value chain.

India ranks 1st globally in cotton cultivation area, covering 114.84 lakh hectares (ha) or 38% of the world's total cotton area, and holds the 2nd position in both cotton production and consumption.

According to the Ministry of Textiles (MoT), India's cotton production is provisionally projected at 290.91 lakh bales or 4.95 MT for the 2025-26 period. India's total cotton exports were valued at $11.49 billion in FY25. It is to be noted that the USA is the largest destination for India's cotton fabrics and made-up exports, accounting for 26.35% of the total shipments.

The Haryana government has approved a full exemption from motor vehicle tax for new Electric Vehicles (EVs) priced up to ₹30 lakh. This applies to battery-operated two-wheelers, three-wheelers, and four-wheelers at the time of registration. For EVs priced above ₹30 lakh, a 50% tax exemption is provided.

Additionally, the state has announced a 1% motor vehicle tax rebate on non-transport vehicles registered in the name of women. The existing 20% tax rebate on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles remains unchanged.

The Himachal Pradesh government has launched the 'Mukhyamantri Machhuara Samman Nidhi Yojana' to provide financial assistance and social security to fishermen engaged in reservoir fisheries during the annual fishing ban period.

Under the scheme, eligible fishermen will receive a lump-sum grant of ₹3,500. The initiative has an estimated annual expenditure of ₹1.20 crore.

Income Tax Day (Aaykar Diwas)

Day – July 24

Observed since – 2010

Commemorating – Introduction of Income Tax in India in 1860 by Sir James Wilson

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research – Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (ICAR-CMFRI) has launched a mobile application titled “DeepDATA” in Kochi, Kerala.

Developed under the “Deep Ocean Mission” of the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), the application provides scientifically verified information regarding deep-sea fish species.

The Indian Stainless Steel Development Association (ISSDA) has partnered with the Global Stainless Steel Expo (GSSE) to promote the use of stainless steel for clean energy transition and sustainable industrial growth in India.

The collaboration aims to expand the application of stainless steel across sectors such as green hydrogen, renewable energy, mobility, infrastructure, and industrial manufacturing. It is to be noted that the stainless steel market of India is projected to reach $15.8 billion (₹1.36 lakh crore) by 2030.

Microsoft India, in collaboration with the Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer (FITT) at the IIT Delhi, has launched UNNATI AI 2.0.

It is the second phase of the flagship Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative of Microsoft India, with the name signifying 'Unnati se Pragati' (progress through growth). The program aims to democratise access to AI technologies to strengthen the AI talent pipeline in India, with a special focus on fostering startups and innovation in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.

National Broadcasting Day

Day – July 23

Commemorating – The establishment of the private radio station 'Indian Broadcasting Company' (IBC) (now All India Radio) in Mumbai in 1927

Paninian India Pvt Ltd, a deep-tech and aerospace startup, has launched the Yantur 4.5 kilo-Newton (kN) Turbofan engine programme. This is India's first privately developed turbofan engine in this class. The engine is designed to power the 'Svayatt L1', a long-range autonomous cruise missile platform developed by the company.

Paras Semiconductors Pvt Ltd, a subsidiary of Paras Defence and Space Technologies Ltd (PDST), has signed an MoU with the Madhya Pradesh State Electronics Development Corporation (MPSeDC) to establish a greenfield Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) facility in the Indore–Ujjain region of Madhya Pradesh. The project involves an investment of ₹6,200 crore.

President Droupadi Murmu has completed 4 years in office. To mark the occasion, she inaugurated and laid foundation stones for various initiatives at the Rashtrapati Bhavan and the President's Estate.

She launched an application-based e-Audio Guide for visitors, available in Hindi, English, and 14 other Indian languages. She also launched the 3rd edition of 'e-Upahaar', featuring 300 curated Presidential gifts for public auction.

For children in the President's Estate, she inaugurated the 'Bachpan Bal Parisar' initiative, which includes 'Kilkari' (a play zone) and 'Samarth Anganwadi-cum-Palna' (a facility for growth and development). She also launched the Rashtrapati Bhavan Access And Heritage Interconnector (RAAHI), a fare-free electric bus service to promote green mobility.

She laid the foundation stone for a service block under the Net Zero Energy Strategy. She also inaugurated accommodation facilities at Rashtrapati Niketan (Dehradun) and Rashtrapati Nilayam (Secunderabad), and laid the foundation stone for the redevelopment of staff quarters in the President's Estate.

President Droupadi Murmu visited Romania at the invitation of NicuSor Dan, the President of Romania. She was conferred with the 'Doctor Honoris Causa' award by the Bucharest University of Economic Studies (BUES).

India and Romania signed 3 MoUs in the sectors of science and technology, education, and sports. Both nations declared 2028 as the 'India-Romania Year of Innovation' to commemorate 80 years of diplomatic relations.

SEBI has granted approval to the Mumbai-based Carnelian Asset Management & Advisors Pvt Ltd to commence its Mutual Fund (MF) business.

This authorization allows the firm to provide a wide range of active and passive equity, debt, and hybrid mutual fund schemes to retail investors.

Prem K Vora, the President of the Electric Merchants Association (EMA) for 2025-26, has been honoured with the 'Rashtriya Ashok Samman' (Bharat Samman) at the National Leadership Conclave held in New Delhi.

The Bengaluru-based Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) has signed an academic collaboration agreement with Google LLC to provide AI and other industry-relevant skill modules to its students and faculty.