Daily Current Affairs (DCA) 12&13 July, 2026

Daily Current Affairs Quiz
12&13 July , 2026

National Affairs

1. Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis)

Context:

On 9 July 2026, the 91st Meeting of the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (SC-NBWL), chaired by Union EFCC Minister Bhupender Yadav at CASFOS, Coimbatore, approved a landmark DNA-based indexing system for the Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros, alongside review of 118 infrastructure + defence proposals. This adds to the 4 wildlife projects approved at the 7th National CAMPA Governing Body meeting the same day.

Key Facts

• Species: Rhinoceros unicornis — largest of surviving rhino species.
• Distribution: Northeastern India (Kaziranga hosts ~70% of world population) + Nepal’s Terai.
• Global population: ~4,000 individuals.
• IUCN Status: Vulnerable (VU).
• Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972: Schedule I.
• CITES: Appendix I.
• State Animal of: Assam.
• Habitat: Alluvial grasslands, savannas, marshy shrublands of Indo-Gangetic + Brahmaputra plains.
• Recovery: From ~200 individuals (early 20th century) to ~4,000 today — one of Asia’s most successful conservation stories.

What is Rhino DNA Index System (RhoDIS) ?

The Rhino DNA Index System (RhoDIS) is a wildlife forensic database that stores the unique genetic fingerprints of individual rhinoceroses.

Related Initiatives

• National Rhino Conservation Strategy (2019).
• New Delhi Declaration on Asian Rhinos (2019).
• Indian Rhino Vision 2020 (IRV 2020).
• World Rhino Day: 22 September.
• Rhino Range Nations: India, Nepal, Bhutan, Indonesia, Malaysia.

2. IMAT-05 — ISRO’s Integrated Main Parachute Airdrop Test-5

Source: TOI

Context:

On 7 July 2026, ISRO successfully conducted the 5th Integrated Main Parachute Airdrop Test (IMAT-05) at the Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE) drop zone, Sheopur, Madhya Pradesh — for the Gaganyaan Mission’s uncrewed G1 flight.

Key Facts

• Test: IMAT-05 (5th in series).
• Venue: ADRDE drop zone, Sheopur, MP.
• Airlift: Indian Air Force IL-76 heavy transport aircraft.
• Payload: Dummy mass simulating crew module.
• Objective: Qualify Main Parachute for structural integrity + design margins under maximum expected load conditions.
• Joint agencies: ISRO + DRDO (ADRDE) + Indian Air Force + Indian Army.

About ADRDE

• Full form: Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment.
• Under: DRDO (Ministry of Defence).
• Location: Agra, UP (drop zone in Sheopur, MP).
• Focus: Parachutes, aerial delivery systems.

3. Gaganyaan Crew Module Systems

Source: News on Air

Why in News?

ISRO successfully completed three major qualification tests of the Gaganyaan Crew Module (CM) systems. The tests validated key safety systems required for India’s first human spaceflight mission, Gaganyaan.

What is the Gaganyaan Crew Module?

Feature	Details
Mission	Gaganyaan
Developed By	Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
Purpose	Safely carry astronauts (Gagannauts) to space and return them to Earth
Landing Method	Splashdown in the sea with recovery by the Indian Navy

Three Major Tests Conducted

Test	Purpose
Crew Module Uprighting System (CMUS) Test	Ensures the crew module automatically returns to an upright position after sea splashdown.
Umbilical Separation Mechanism Test	Validates safe separation of the umbilical connection between the Crew Module and Service Module.
Apex Cover Separation Test	Confirms the structural integrity of the crew module during apex cover separation.

About Gaganyaan Mission

Feature	Details
Mission Type	India’s first human spaceflight mission
Agency	ISRO
Objective	Send Indian astronauts into Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and safely return them
Mission Duration	About 3 days
Orbit	Approximately 400 km Low Earth Orbit
Recovery	Sea splashdown followed by Indian Navy recovery

4. PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana

Why in News?

Tier-II and Tier-III cities have emerged as leaders in rooftop solar adoption under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana. Over 36.3 lakh rooftop solar systems have been installed across India, benefiting more than 44 lakh households.

What is PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana?

Feature	Details
Scheme	PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana
Launched	February 2024
Ministry	Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE)
Duration	Till March 2027
Objective	Promote rooftop solar and provide up to 300 units of free electricity per month to households
Target	1 crore households
Total Outlay	₹75,021 crore

Leading States in Rooftop Solar Adoption

• Gujarat
• Maharashtra
• Uttar Pradesh
• Rajasthan
• Kerala
• Assam

Utility-Led Aggregation (ULA) Model

Feature	Details
Purpose	Enable low-income households to benefit from rooftop solar
Target	30 lakh households
Beneficiaries	Households unable to install rooftop solar due to financial or structural constraints
Implemented In	Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Telangana, Bihar, Kerala, Jammu & Kashmir, Tripura, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Delhi

5. Global Liveability Index 2026

Source: TE

Context

The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) released the Global Liveability Index 2026, ranking 173 cities worldwide based on the quality of living. Among Indian cities, Delhi ranked the highest.

About the Global Liveability Index

• An annual index published by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU).
• Assesses the liveability of 173 cities across the world.
• The 2026 survey was conducted in May 2026.

Assessment Parameters

The index evaluates cities across five categories:

• Stability
• Healthcare
• Culture & Environment
• Education
• Infrastructure

Key Highlights

Global Rankings

Rank	City	Country
1	Copenhagen	Denmark
2	Vienna	Austria
3	Melbourne	Australia
4	Sydney	Australia
5	Zurich	Switzerland
6	Geneva	Switzerland
7	Osaka	Japan
8	Adelaide	Australia
9	Vancouver	Canada
10	Tokyo	Japan

India’s Performance

• Delhi ranked 120th globally.
• Overall Score: 48.1
• Highest-ranked Indian city in the index.

Regional Highlights

• Western Europe remained the world’s most liveable region.
• Cities such as Copenhagen, Vienna, Zurich, and Geneva featured among the global top performers.

Bottom Five Cities

Rank	City	Country
173	Damascus	Syria
172	Tripoli	Libya
171	Dhaka	Bangladesh
170	Karachi	Pakistan
169	Algiers	Algeria

Key Findings

• Copenhagen retained the No. 1 position for the second consecutive year.
• It scored a perfect 100 in:
  • Stability
  • Education
  • Infrastructure
• The global average liveability score remained unchanged at 76.1/100 compared to 2025.

Banking/Finance

1. Govt to Interlink GeM + TReDS

Source: Business Standard

Context

On 12 July 2026, a senior government official told Business Standard that the government plans to interlink the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) with the Trade Receivables Discounting System (TReDS) so MSMEs can move seamlessly from procurement → invoice → financing without switching platforms. The move follows the MSME Ministry’s 30 June 2026 notification making it mandatory for all Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) to settle MSME invoices through RBI-regulated TReDS platforms — a deliverable of Union Budget 2026-27’s 4-pillar TReDS reform package announced by FM Nirmala Sitharaman in her 9th consecutive Budget.

About GeM (Government e-Marketplace)

• Launched: 9 August 2016.
• Nature: National public procurement portal for Central + State departments, PSUs, autonomous bodies.
• Nodal: Ministry of Commerce and Industry (DGS&D restructured into GeM SPV).
• CEO: Ajay Bhadoo (as of 2026).
• Public Procurement Policy 2012: Central government + CPSEs must source at least 25% of annual procurement from MSMEs (revised from 20% to 25% in 2018); of which:
  • 4% reserved for MSMEs owned by SC/ST entrepreneurs.
  • 3% reserved for women-owned MSMEs.

About TReDS (Trade Receivables Discounting System)

• Launched: 2017 (framework notified by RBI in Dec 2014).
• Regulator: Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
• Nature: Electronic platform for discounting of trade receivables for MSMEs supplying to large buyers.
• How it works:
  1. MSME uploads accepted invoice on TReDS.
  2. Multiple financiers (banks/NBFCs) competitively bid to discount.
  3. MSME accepts best bid; receives payment within 24-48 hours at a discount.
  4. Financier collects full invoice amount from buyer on due date.
• Registration prerequisite: MSME must be on Udyam portal.
• Nature of finance: Without recourse to seller — MSME NOT liable if buyer defaults.
• Discount rate: Typically 7-11% APR (competitive market rates).
• No collateral or minimum turnover required.

About the Account Aggregator (AA) Framework

• Regulator: RBI (2016 Master Direction, launched 2021).
• Type: Consent-based data-sharing framework.
• Purpose: Consented sharing of user financial data between FIPs (Financial Information Providers) and FIUs (Financial Information Users).

Practice MCQs

Q1. With reference to the proposed GeM–TReDS integration (July 2026):

1. GeM is the government’s digital procurement marketplace (est. 2016).
2. TReDS is regulated by RBI and facilitates invoice discounting for MSMEs.
3. The integration was announced in Union Budget 2026-27.
4. The integration is being led by SEBI.

How many are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four

(Statement 4 wrong: Led by MSME Ministry + Ministry of Commerce & Industry, NOT SEBI.)

Q2. With reference to TReDS:

1. It is an RBI-regulated electronic platform launched in 2017.
2. Currently 5 platforms are authorised: RXIL, M1xchange, Invoicemart, C2treds, DTX.
3. TReDS discounting grew from ₹40,000 crore in FY22 to ₹3.47 lakh crore in FY26.
4. MSMEs must be registered on Udyam portal to access TReDS.

How many are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four

Answer Key

1. (c) — Statement 4 wrong: Led by MSME + Commerce ministries, not SEBI.
2. (d) — All correct.

Exam Relevance

• RBI Grade B / SIDBI Grade A: CRITICAL — Direct ESI content on TReDS + Account Aggregator.

Agriculture

1. Review of Crop Statistics System 2025

Source: PIB

Why in News?

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released the “Review of Crop Statistics System” report, highlighting major gaps in India’s agricultural data collection system. The report flagged delays in crop surveys, outdated village maps, and shortage of trained personnel for crop-cutting experiments (CCEs).

What is the Review of Crop Statistics System?

Feature	Details
Report	Review of Crop Statistics System
Released By	Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI)
Purpose	Assess the quality, accuracy and timeliness of agricultural statistics in India
Importance	Supports crop production estimates and food security decisions

Why is Agricultural Data Important?

• Used by the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) to estimate cultivation costs.
• Forms the basis for Advance Estimates of Crop Production.
• Helps the government decide:
  • Export restrictions
  • Import duty changes
  • Release of buffer stocks
  • Food inflation management
  • Procurement planning

Major Findings of the Report

1. Delay in Girdawari

Season	Sample Villages Completed on Time
Early Kharif	43%
Late Kharif	46%
Rabi	48%
Summer	33%

States with alarmingly high delays:

• Andhra Pradesh
• Assam
• Bihar
• Gujarat
• Haryana
• Jharkhand
• Karnataka
• Maharashtra
• Punjab
• Telangana
• Uttar Pradesh
• West Bengal

2. Outdated Village Maps

Finding	Details
Village maps older than 20 years	63%
Impact	Difficulty in identifying updated land boundaries and crop areas

States with highest outdated maps

State/UT	Maps Older than 20 Years
West Bengal	100%
Puducherry	100%
Odisha	99%
Uttarakhand	98%
Assam	94%
Tamil Nadu	93%
Jharkhand	93%
Gujarat	5%

Crop Cutting Experiments (CCEs)

Feature	Details
Estimated CCEs (2023–24)	Around 1.2 million
Issue	Many CCEs conducted by untrained staff

States with major issues

• Jharkhand: Around 40% CCEs by untrained personnel.
• Uttar Pradesh: Around 40% CCEs by untrained personnel.
• Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and West Bengal: More than 10% CCEs conducted by junior staff.

What is Girdawari?

Feature	Details
Meaning	Official field inspection to record crops grown on agricultural land.
Conducted By	Village Revenue Officer/Patwari
Purpose	Collect crop acreage data for agricultural statistics and production estimates.

What are Crop Cutting Experiments (CCEs)?

Feature	Details
Meaning	Scientific field experiments used to estimate crop yield.
Purpose	Determine average yield for calculating total crop production.
Used In	Crop production estimates, crop insurance and policy decisions.

Role of CACP

Feature	Details
Full Form	Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP)
Ministry	Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare
Role	Recommends Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) based on production costs and other factors.

Key Terms

Term	Meaning
Advance Estimates	Preliminary estimates of crop production released before harvest completion.
Buffer Stock	Government food grain reserve maintained for food security and price stabilization.
CACP	Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices, which recommends MSPs.

Facts To Remember

1. MoEF&CC Launches Centre of Excellence on Human-Wildlife Conflict

Union Minister Bhupender Yadav inaugurated the Centre of Excellence (CoE) on Human-Wildlife Conflict at WII-SACON, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. The Centre will serve as a national hub for research, policy support, capacity building, and scientific management of human-wildlife conflicts. The National Human-Wildlife Conflict Portal and the publication Current Status of Human-Wildlife Conflict in India were also launched.

2. QCI and NSIC Sign MoU to Boost MSME Competitiveness

The Quality Council of India (QCI) and the National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC) signed an MoU to improve quality standards, competitiveness, and market access for MSMEs. The partnership will promote ZED Certification, ONDC integration, accreditation, and digital market access while strengthening quality certification and export readiness.

3. ICMR to Establish India’s First High-Altitude Medicine Centre

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) will establish India’s first Centre for High Altitude Medicine and Public Health Research at Keylong, Himachal Pradesh. The Centre will focus on high-altitude medicine, tribal health, disaster preparedness, climate-sensitive diseases, and digital healthcare solutions for remote regions.

4. Government Mandates TReDS for All CPSE Payments to MSMEs

The Ministry of MSME made it mandatory for all Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) to settle MSME invoices through Trade Receivables Discounting System (TReDS) platforms. The move aims to ensure timely payments, improve transparency, and provide MSMEs with easier access to working capital through invoice discounting.

5. PM Narendra Modi Visits Australia; India Launches PACTS Framework

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Australia from 8–10 July 2026 to strengthen bilateral cooperation. India and Australia launched the Australia-India Partnership on Cyber, Critical Technologies, and Supply Chains (PACTS) to enhance cyber security, resilient supply chains, digital infrastructure, and critical technology collaboration across the Indo-Pacific.

6. RBI Launches Three Surveys Ahead of MPC Meeting

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) launched three nationwide surveys—the Inflation Expectations Survey of Households (IESH), Rural Consumer Confidence Survey (RCCS), and Urban Consumer Confidence Survey (UCCS). The surveys will gather household feedback on inflation, employment, income, and spending to support monetary policy decisions.

7. World Bank Approves USD 890 Million for India’s Rooftop Solar Programme

The World Bank approved USD 890 million to support the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana. The financing will accelerate rooftop solar installations, strengthen domestic manufacturing, mobilize private investment, and help create around 1.7 million jobs in the renewable energy sector.

8. AU Small Finance Bank and Zaggle Launch Co-Branded Credit Card

AU Small Finance Bank partnered with Zaggle to launch the AU Zaggle Co-Branded Retail Credit Card on Visa and RuPay networks. The card offers customizable rewards, UPI payments, cashback through Zagg Coins, and contactless payment features for enhanced digital banking.

9. Government Approves Dixon-Vivo Joint Venture for Smartphone Manufacturing

The Government of India approved the Dixon Technologies–Vivo Mobile India Joint Venture for domestic smartphone manufacturing. Dixon will hold a 51% stake, while Vivo Mobile India will own 49%, supporting India’s electronics manufacturing ecosystem under the Make in India initiative.

10. DoT’s Samriddh Gram Wins WSIS Prize 2026

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) won the WSIS Prize 2026 under Action Line C6 for its Samriddh Gram initiative. Powered by BharatNet, the programme delivers healthcare, education, banking, and livelihood services through digital village centres, promoting inclusive rural development.

11. SBI Sells 1.42% Stake in SBI Funds Management Ahead of IPO

State Bank of India (SBI) sold a 1.42% stake in SBI Funds Management Ltd. for ₹1,655 crore through a pre-IPO placement. The transaction was completed ahead of the company’s proposed ₹11,700 crore Initial Public Offering (IPO).

12. China Successfully Recovers Reusable Long March-10B Rocket Booster

China achieved its first controlled recovery of the Long March-10B reusable rocket booster after successfully launching an orbital mission. The milestone strengthens China’s reusable space technology programme and advances its efforts to reduce launch costs.

13. Sourav Ganguly Inducted into ICC Hall of Fame

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly was inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame during the ICC Annual Conference in Edinburgh. He became the 12th Indian to receive the honour in recognition of his outstanding contribution to international cricket.

14. National Fish Farmers’ Day Observed on 10 July

National Fish Farmers’ Day was observed across India on 10 July 2026 to recognise the contributions of fish farmers and aquaculture professionals. The day commemorates the first successful induced breeding of Indian major carps achieved on 10 July 1957, marking a landmark achievement in India’s fisheries sector.