Daily Current Affairs
Sunday, 12 July 2026
India achieves a five-gold sweep at the 56th International Physics Olympiad
All five members of the Indian team won gold medals at the 56th International Physics Olympiad held in Bucaramanga, Colombia, from 5 to 12 July 2026. India finished jointly first in the country-wise medal tally with China, Kazakhstan, Russia, South Korea and Taiwan.
Key Points
- All five Indian participants secured gold medals
- The olympiad was held in Bucaramanga, Colombia
- 381 students from 85 countries participated
Exam Facts
- Event: 56th International Physics Olympiad 2026
- Venue: Bucaramanga, Colombia
- India's medal tally: 5 gold medals
Sourav Ganguly, Anjum Chopra and Kevin Pietersen enter the ICC Hall of Fame
The International Cricket Council inducted former India captains Sourav Ganguly and Anjum Chopra, along with former England batter Kevin Pietersen, into its Hall of Fame as the Class of 2026. Anjum Chopra was the sole woman among the three inductees.
Key Points
- Three cricketers were inducted in the 2026 class
- Sourav Ganguly and Anjum Chopra represented India
- Kevin Pietersen represented England
Exam Facts
- Organisation: International Cricket Council
- Indian inductees: Sourav Ganguly and Anjum Chopra
- Sole woman inductee in the class: Anjum Chopra
Piyush Goyal to lead business delegation to Spain, Belgium and Finland
Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal will lead a high-level Indian business delegation to Spain, Belgium and Finland from 13 to 17 July 2026. The visit will focus on trade, investment, advanced manufacturing, clean energy, digital technologies, innovation and progress in India-European Union economic cooperation.
Key Points
- The visit is scheduled from 13 to 17 July 2026
- The three destinations are Spain, Belgium and Finland
- Goyal will co-chair the 3rd India-EU Trade and Technology Council Ministerial Meeting in Brussels
Exam Facts
- Minister: Piyush Goyal
- Portfolio: Commerce and Industry
- India-EU institutional mechanism: Trade and Technology Council
EPFO invites applications under Amnesty Scheme, 2026 for provident fund trusts
The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation invited eligible establishments to apply under the Amnesty Scheme, 2026. The scheme provides a six-month compliance window for establishments operating provident fund trusts recognised under the Income-tax Act, 1961, but lacking a formal exemption notification from the appropriate government.
Key Points
- The scheme was notified on 29 June 2026
- It remains valid for six months from notification
- It targets income-tax-recognised PF trusts without a formal government exemption
Exam Facts
- Organisation: Employees' Provident Fund Organisation
- Law linked to trust recognition: Income-tax Act, 1961
- Validity: Six months
BRICS transport ministers adopt ministerial declaration in Nagpur
The 3rd BRICS Transport Ministers' Meeting concluded in Nagpur under India's BRICS Chairship 2026 with unanimous adoption of a ministerial declaration. The framework covers sustainable transport and cooperation in infrastructure, aviation fuel, urban mobility, logistics and railway research.
Key Points
- The ministerial meeting was held on 11 July 2026 in Nagpur
- India held the BRICS Chairship in 2026
- The declaration was adopted unanimously
Exam Facts
- Meeting: 3rd BRICS Transport Ministers' Meeting
- Host city: Nagpur, Maharashtra
- Priority areas include Sustainable Aviation Fuel and transport decarbonisation
New Delhi to host All-India Water Resource Department Secretaries’ Conference
The Ministry of Jal Shakti will convene an All-India conference of senior-most secretaries of state and Union Territory water resources departments on 13 July 2026. Union Jal Shakti Minister C. R. Patil will chair the meeting at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan in New Delhi.
Key Points
- The conference will be held on 13 July 2026
- The venue is Sushma Swaraj Bhawan, New Delhi
- It brings together water-resource officials from states and Union Territories
Exam Facts
- Organising ministry: Ministry of Jal Shakti
- Chairperson: C. R. Patil
- Department: Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation
India and New Zealand endorse Strategic Partnership Roadmap to 2030
India and New Zealand elevated their relationship to a Strategic Partnership and endorsed a Roadmap to 2030 during the prime ministers' meeting in Auckland on 11 July 2026. The roadmap will guide structured cooperation across political, economic, security, technology, education, people-to-people and other priority areas.
Key Points
- The prime ministers met in Auckland on 11 July 2026
- The relationship was elevated to a Strategic Partnership
- The Roadmap to 2030 will guide joint action over the coming years
Exam Facts
- Partner country: New Zealand
- Roadmap horizon: 2030
- Meeting venue: Auckland
Indian Navy commissions Project 17A frigate INS Mahendragiri
INS Mahendragiri, the sixth frigate of Project 17A, was commissioned into the Indian Navy's Eastern Fleet at Visakhapatnam. The advanced stealth warship was designed by the Navy's Warship Design Bureau and built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders with more than 75 per cent indigenous content.
Key Points
- INS Mahendragiri is the sixth Project 17A frigate
- It joined the Eastern Fleet at Visakhapatnam
- The vessel has more than 75 per cent indigenous content
Exam Facts
- Shipbuilder: Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited
- Design agency: Warship Design Bureau
- Project: Project 17A
Department of Posts and TRAI launch village-level mobile network survey
The Department of Posts and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India signed a one-year MoU for an app-based assessment of mobile network performance across more than 5.68 lakh villages. Gramin Dak Sevaks will collect field data using TRAI's Android application through the postal network of more than 1.40 lakh rural branch post offices.
Key Points
- The survey will cover more than 5.68 lakh villages
- More than 1.40 lakh rural branch post offices will support data collection
- The partnership has a duration of one year
Exam Facts
- Regulator: Telecom Regulatory Authority of India
- Field personnel: Gramin Dak Sevaks
- Survey mode: Android app-based
Centre of Excellence on Human-Wildlife Conflict inaugurated at WII-SACON
The Union Environment Minister inaugurated a Centre of Excellence on Human-Wildlife Conflict at WII-SACON in Coimbatore and launched the National Human-Wildlife Conflict Portal. The centre will function as a national hub for research, innovation, policy support, capacity building and dissemination of best practices.
Key Points
- The Centre of Excellence is located at WII-SACON in Coimbatore
- A National Human-Wildlife Conflict Portal was launched
- The portal supports data management, knowledge sharing and decision-making
Exam Facts
- Inaugurating minister: Bhupender Yadav
- Location: Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
- Key conflict themes: elephants, big cats and technology-based mitigation
UN Women says aid cuts have deprived at least one million women and girls of critical support
UN Women reported that at least one million women and girls affected by conflict and crisis have lost access to critical services and support since January 2025 as international aid cuts weaken women-led organisations. The agency called for reliable and flexible funding for local women's organisations operating in humanitarian settings.
Key Points
- At least one million women and girls lost access to critical support
- The estimate covers losses since January 2025
- Aid reductions have affected women-led organisations in humanitarian crises
Exam Facts
- Reporting organisation: UN Women
- Reference period begins: January 2025
- Focus: Humanitarian services for women and girls
S&P Global Ratings assigns BBB-/A-3 ratings to Federal Bank
S&P Global Ratings assigned Federal Bank a 'BBB-' long-term issuer credit rating and an 'A-3' short-term issuer credit rating, with a stable outlook. The stable outlook reflects the agency's expectation that the bank will maintain its financial strength over the next two years.
Key Points
- Long-term issuer rating: BBB-
- Short-term issuer rating: A-3
- Outlook: Stable
Exam Facts
- Rated entity: Federal Bank
- Rating agency: S&P Global Ratings
- Rating action date: 9 July 2026
RBI approves N. S. Vishwanathan’s reappointment as Axis Bank non-executive chairman
The Reserve Bank of India approved the reappointment of former RBI Deputy Governor N. S. Vishwanathan as Axis Bank's non-executive part-time chairman for another three years. The term will run from 27 October 2026 to 26 October 2029, subject to his reappointment as an independent director.
Key Points
- The additional term is for three years
- The term begins on 27 October 2026
- Vishwanathan is a former RBI Deputy Governor
Exam Facts
- Bank: Axis Bank
- Position: Non-executive part-time chairman
- Term: 27 October 2026 to 26 October 2029
Pink Saheli Smart Card to become mandatory for Delhi women’s free bus travel
From 1 August 2026, women commuters in Delhi will need the Pink Saheli Smart Card to continue availing free bus travel, as paper-based pink tickets are phased out. The transition is intended to digitise the benefit, improve verification and make subsidy administration more transparent.
Key Points
- The mandatory-card rule takes effect on 1 August 2026
- Paper pink tickets will be discontinued
- The card is linked to Delhi's free bus travel benefit for women
Exam Facts
- Card: Pink Saheli Smart Card
- Effective date: 1 August 2026
- Jurisdiction: National Capital Territory of Delhi
India and Australia release Roadmap for Sports Collaboration
India and Australia released a bilateral Roadmap for Sports Collaboration during the Indian Prime Minister's visit to Australia. The framework seeks long-term cooperation across the sports ecosystem, including institutional partnerships, education, integrity, athlete and coach development, and knowledge exchange.
Key Points
- The roadmap creates a long-term framework for bilateral sports cooperation
- It encourages institutional and university partnerships
- It covers areas such as sports integrity, skills and knowledge exchange
Exam Facts
- Partner countries: India and Australia
- Document: Roadmap for Sports Collaboration
- Release venue linked to the visit: Melbourne Cricket Ground
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