Daily Current Affairs Quiz
19&20 July , 2026
National Affairs
1. Exercise Pitch Black 2026
Source: News on Air
Context
An Indian Air Force (IAF) contingent — four Rafale fighter jets, two C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft, and over 120 Air Warriors — has arrived in Australia to participate in Exercise Pitch Black 2026, the Royal Australian Air Force’s premier multinational air combat exercise. This is the first time India’s Rafale jets are taking part in the exercise.
About Exercise Pitch Black 2026
What It Is
- A large-scale, premier biennial multinational air combat exercise — one of the Indo-Pacific’s largest collective air defence and strike simulation drills.
- Name derives from its emphasis on night-time (“pitch black”) flying over large, unpopulated areas.
- Host: Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF); first held in Darwin in 1983.
Key Details
- Duration: 20 July – 7 August 2026 (three weeks).
- Venue: RAAF Bases Darwin, Tindal (and Amberley), in northern Australia (Northern Territory).
- Participants: Reported as 19–20 nations (sources vary). Confirmed list includes Australia (host), USA, Japan, India, Indonesia, Singapore, France, Germany, South Korea, Thailand, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, Canada, Brunei, Fiji, Finland, Malaysia, Sweden.
2. Operation Southern Readiness 26-2
Source: TH
Context
The Ministry of Defence announced that the Indian Navy will host Operation Southern Readiness 26-2, a four-day multinational maritime security training engagement, at the Southern Naval Command, Kochi — reinforcing India’s growing role as a hub for maritime capacity building.
About Operation Southern Readiness 26-2
What It Is
- A multi-domain international maritime security training engagement — not a standard combat manoeuvre. It blends classroom instruction, simulator-based scenarios, and hands-on sea deployment to build tactical skills across partner navies.
Key Details
- Host: Indian Navy, at the Southern Naval Command (SNC), Kochi, Kerala.
- Duration: 20–23 July 2026 (four days).
- Conducted under: the Indian Navy-led Combined Task Force 154 (CTF 154) — the dedicated Training Task Force of the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF).
- Partnership: Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) — a multinational partnership of 40+ nations (some reports say 47).
3. India Commissions First Geothermal Wells at Puga Valley
Source: News on Air
Context
Ladakh Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena officially commissioned India’s first and deepest twin geothermal wells at Puga Valley, eastern Ladakh. Executed by the ONGC Energy Centre, these 1,000-metre-deep wells will serve as the technical backbone for India’s first 1 MW demonstration-scale geothermal power plant.
About the Puga Valley Geothermal Project
What It Is
- India’s pioneer breakthrough into geothermal energy — tapping clean, round-the-clock power from natural heat reservoirs beneath the Earth’s crust.
Key Details
- Location: Puga Valley, eastern Ladakh, at over 14,000 feet altitude.
- Executing agency: ONGC Energy Centre; drilling by SEROS Drilling Pvt Ltd, with Iceland geothermal experts (ÍSOR) as consultants.
- Two wells, each 1,000 m deep: First reached target depth on 22 May 2026; second spudded 3 June, completed 8 July 2026 (in just over a month).
- Temperature: 135°C recorded at 400 m depth; thermal output expected to exceed 200–240°C in the deepest reservoir sections.
- Feeds steam into India’s first 1 MWe demonstration pilot plant, foundation for future multi-megawatt commercial deployment.
How Geothermal Wells Form?
- Tectonic/volcanic heat source: The Indian plate’s collision with the Eurasian plate creates fractures, faults and deep magmatic activity along the Indus Suture Zone — bringing mantle heat close to the crust.
- Deep fluid circulation: Meteoric water (melted snow/glaciers) seeps into rock fractures and is superheated by hot rocks.
- High-pressure ascent: Hot, less-dense water rises under pressure — trapped in permeable reservoirs or erupting as hot springs and sulphur fumaroles at the surface.
Exam Relevance
- UPSC Prelims: Puga Valley = Ladakh (first geothermal wells); executing agency ONGC Energy Centre; Indus Suture Zone; India’s ~10 GW geothermal potential; other geothermal sites (Tattapani, Manikaran).
- UPSC Mains (GS-1 Geography / GS-3 Energy & Environment): Renewable energy transition; baseload vs intermittent sources; energy security for remote/border regions; Himalayan ecological fragility.
- RBI Grade B (ESI): Energy/infrastructure current affairs — clean energy transition, net-zero context.
- NABARD Grade A/B: Highly relevant — rural/remote energy access, renewable energy, environment & climate (core ARD/ESI syllabus); geothermal as clean rural power.
Practice MCQs
Q1. With reference to the Puga Valley geothermal project, consider the following statements:
- It is located in eastern Ladakh at an altitude of over 14,000 feet.
- The project is being executed by the ONGC Energy Centre.
- It will support India’s first 1 MW demonstration-scale geothermal power plant.
- The geothermal heat here is associated with the Indus Suture Zone, formed by the Indian–Eurasian plate collision.
How many of the above statements are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four (e) None
Q2. With reference to geothermal energy, consider the following statements:
- Geothermal energy can provide 24×7 baseload power, unlike intermittent solar and wind.
- Fumaroles are surface vents that emit steam and volcanic gases such as sulphur.
- The Geological Survey of India estimates India’s geothermal power potential at around 10 GW.
- Puga Valley is India’s only site with geothermal potential.
How many of the above statements are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four (e) None
Answer Key
- (d) — All four statements are correct.
- (c) — Statement 4 wrong: India has multiple geothermal sites, not just Puga Valley.
4. Vikram-1: India’s First Privately Developed Orbital Rocket
Source: The Hindu
Context
Skyroot Aerospace’s Vikram-1 rocket successfully lifted off on its inaugural flight on July 18, becoming the first commercial Indian rocket to reach orbit. With this, India became the third nation with a private orbital launch capability (after the USA and China).
About Mission Aagaman
What is it?
- Maiden orbital flight of Vikram-1, named ‘Mission Aagaman’ (Sanskrit: Arrival).
- Lifted off from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota at 12:05 p.m. IST on 18 July 2026 — delayed by 35 minutes due to a technical issue found at the T-minus 5-minute point.
- The upper stage reached its planned 450-kilometre low Earth orbit about 15 minutes after liftoff; target inclination was 60°.
- Mission declared a “grand success” — all milestones (propulsion, avionics, GNC) validated.
About Vikram-1
- A four-stage, expendable orbital small-lift launch vehicle developed by Skyroot Aerospace. Its first three stages are solid stages, while the fourth stage is a liquid stage (called the Orbit Adjustment Module — fired ~6 minutes for orbital insertion).
- Around 20 metres tall, 1.7 metres in diameter, with an all-carbon composite structure, 3D-printed engines and high-thrust solid-fuel boosters. Built to carry small satellites up to 350 kg to Low Earth Orbit.
- Named after Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, father of India’s space programme.
- Engines named after Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam (Kalam-100, Kalam-250 stages).
About Skyroot Aerospace
- Hyderabad-based space startup (HQ: MAX-Q / Infinity Campus), founded by ex-ISRO engineers Pawan Kumar Chandana & Naga Bharath Daka.
- Earlier launched Vikram-S (suborbital, Mission Prarambh, 18 November 2022) — making Skyroot the first Indian private company to launch a rocket from ISRO’s launch facilities.
Banking/Finance
1. RBI Imposes Penalties on Muthoot Finance & Five Other NBFCs
Source: Business Standard
Context
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) imposed monetary penalties on six companies, including non-bank lender Muthoot Finance, for non-compliance with various regulatory norms — with fines ranging from ₹2.70 lakh to ₹6.20 lakh.
About the Penalties
Penalty Breakdown
| Company | Penalty | Violation |
|---|---|---|
| Avail Financial Services | ₹6.20 lakh | MD held directorship in two other NBFCs-Middle Layer; breached single-party exposure limit |
| Muthoot Finance | ₹5.80 lakh | No periodic review of risk categorisation of accounts; no robust software for identifying/reporting suspicious transactions |
| Satya MicroCapital | ₹3.10 lakh | Failed to classify certain accounts as NPAs upon restructuring |
| PAN Emami Cosmed | ₹3.10 lakh | Breached credit exposure limit to a single group of parties |
| Dhani Loans and Services | ₹2.70 lakh | Failed to classify certain loan accounts as NPAs |
| Muthoot Vehicle & Asset Finance | ₹2.70 lakh | Failed to review risk categorisation of customer accounts (KYC norms) |
- RBI clarified the penalties are based on deficiencies in regulatory compliance and are not intended to question the validity of any transaction/agreement with customers.
Legal Provisions / Sections Violated
- Muthoot Finance & Muthoot Vehicle & Asset Finance: Breached the RBI’s Master Direction – Know Your Customer (KYC) Directions, 2016 (requirement to periodically review risk categorisation of accounts at least once every six months; and, for Muthoot Finance, deploy robust AML software for suspicious-transaction monitoring).
- Satya MicroCapital & Dhani Loans and Services: Violated RBI’s Income Recognition, Asset Classification and Provisioning (IRAC) norms / Master Direction on NPA classification (failure to classify accounts as NPAs, including upon restructuring).
- Avail Financial Services & PAN Emami Cosmed: Breached credit concentration / single-party & single-group exposure norms under the Scale-Based Regulation (SBR) Master Direction for NBFCs, 2023; Avail also breached rules on the MD holding directorships in other NBFCs-Middle Layer.
- Penalty imposed under: the statutory powers of the RBI — for NBFCs, under Section 58G(1)(b) read with Section 58B(5) of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (the provision empowering RBI to levy monetary penalties on NBFCs for non-compliance).
Key Concepts
- NBFC (Non-Banking Financial Company): A company engaged in lending/investment but which cannot accept demand deposits or issue cheques on itself; regulated by RBI.
- Scale-Based Regulation (SBR) — NBFC Layers: RBI’s 2022 framework classifying NBFCs into Base, Middle, Upper and Top Layer by size, activity and risk — stricter norms for higher layers.
- KYC (Know Your Customer): RBI-mandated customer due-diligence norms requiring identity verification and periodic risk-categorisation review to prevent money laundering.
- NPA (Non-Performing Asset): A loan on which interest/principal is overdue for 90+ days; classified and provisioned under RBI’s IRAC norms.
- Single-Party / Group Exposure Limit: RBI caps on lending to one borrower or connected group, to limit concentration risk.
- Section 58G, RBI Act, 1934: The provision empowering RBI to impose monetary penalties on NBFCs for contravening its directions.
Exam Relevance
- RBI Grade B (F&M + ESI): Very high relevance — NBFC regulation, SBR layers, exposure norms, IRAC/NPA classification, Section 58G penal provision; likely concept + current-affairs questions.
Practice MCQs
Q1. With reference to Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) in India, consider the following statements:
- NBFCs are regulated by the Reserve Bank of India.
- NBFCs cannot accept demand deposits.
- Under RBI’s Scale-Based Regulation, NBFCs are classified into Base, Middle, Upper and Top layers.
- NBFCs are permitted to issue cheques drawn on themselves.
How many of the above statements are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four (e) None
Q2. With reference to the recent RBI penalties, consider the following statements:
- The penalties were imposed for deficiencies in regulatory compliance and do not question the validity of customer transactions.
- Muthoot Finance was penalised partly for not having robust software to identify and report suspicious transactions under KYC norms.
- Some entities were penalised for failing to classify certain accounts as non-performing assets.
- The monetary penalties on NBFCs were imposed under the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.
How many of the above statements are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four (e) None
Answer Key
- (c) — Statement 4 wrong: NBFCs cannot issue cheques on themselves / accept demand deposits.
- (c) — Statement 4 wrong: penalties on NBFCs are under the RBI Act, 1934, not the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.
Facts To Remember
1. Article 370 Wins Best Feature Film at 72nd National Film Awards
The Hindi film Article 370 won the Best Feature Film award at the 72nd National Film Awards 2024. Yami Gautam received the Best Actress award for her performance in the film, while Mammootty (Bramayugam) and Kartik Aaryan (Chandu Champion) jointly won the Best Actor award. This marks Mammootty’s fourth National Film Award for Best Actor.
2. Study Finds Invasive Plants Support Butterfly Diversity in Assam
A study conducted in Raimona National Park, Assam, revealed that several invasive plant species play a crucial ecological role by serving as major nectar and larval host plants for butterflies. The research documented 220 butterfly species, 56 larval host plants, and 41 nectar plants, highlighting the importance of balancing invasive species management with biodiversity conservation.
3. India Wins Four Gold Medals at 58th International Chemistry Olympiad
India recorded its best-ever performance at the 58th International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO) 2026 by winning four gold medals. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the team, describing the achievement as a proud moment for the nation and a testament to India’s growing excellence in science education.
4. India Wins Four Medals at 37th International Biology Olympiad 2026
India secured one gold and three silver medals at the 37th International Biology Olympiad (IBO) 2026 held in Vilnius, Lithuania. Bhavyaa Gunwal (Haryana) won the gold medal, while Soumil Maity (West Bengal), Nishit Kalani (Rajasthan), and Anmol Kumar (Punjab) won silver medals.
5. PV Sindhu Reaches Japan Open 2026 Final
Indian badminton star P. V. Sindhu advanced to the Women’s Singles final of the Japan Open 2026 in Tokyo. She reached the final after China’s Chen Yu Fei retired during the semifinal, with Sindhu leading 21–19, 15–10. Earlier, she entered the semifinals after receiving a walkover from Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara.
6. Department of Posts Launches India Post Mascot Design Contest
The Department of Posts, under the Ministry of Communications, launched the India Post Mascot Design Contest on the Innovate India MyGov Platform. The nationwide competition invites citizens to design the official mascot of India Post, promoting creativity and public participation.
7. International Seminar ‘Saushrutam 2026’ Concludes Successfully
The three-day international seminar ‘Saushrutam 2026’, organised by the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) in New Delhi, concluded successfully. The seminar focused on Ayurvedic surgery, integrative healthcare, and medical research, bringing together experts, researchers, and academicians from India and abroad.
8. MoSPI Releases Quarterly Update of PAIMANA Dashboard
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released the latest quarterly update of the Project Assessment, Infrastructure Monitoring & Analytics for Nation-building (PAIMANA) dashboard to track the performance of India’s infrastructure sector. The updated dashboard now covers 165 indicators, including 44 new indicators, providing a comprehensive framework for monitoring key infrastructure sectors.
9. Cabinet Approves NIPU-2026, Railway Multitracking and Varanasi Elevated Corridor Projects
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved the National Investment Policy for Urea-2026 (NIPU-2026) to boost domestic gas-based urea production with an additional capacity of 1 crore metric tonnes. The Cabinet also approved two railway multitracking projects in Odisha and Jharkhand and two elevated corridor projects in Varanasi worth over ₹25,000 crore to improve connectivity and reduce congestion.
10. Chhattisgarh Becomes First State to Introduce Risk-Based Business Approval System
The Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly passed the Chhattisgarh Ease of Doing Business Act, 2026, making the state the first in India to implement a comprehensive risk-based and trust-based business approval framework. The new system provides self-certification for low-risk businesses, deemed approvals, simplified compliance, and is expected to benefit over 15 lakh MSMEs.
11. India Launches White Rabbit Technology-Based IST Distribution Network
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi inaugurated the White Rabbit Technology-based Indian Standard Time (IST) Distribution Demonstration Network at Bengaluru. The initiative aims to establish a highly precise indigenous time distribution system under the vision of “One Nation, One Time”, reducing dependence on foreign GPS-based timing systems for sectors such as banking, telecom, defence, power grids and stock exchanges.
12. Akasa Air and BPCL Sign MoU to Promote Sustainable Aviation Fuel
Akasa Air and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to accelerate the adoption of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in India. The partnership will support long-term SAF supply, encourage higher blending levels, strengthen India’s aviation decarbonisation efforts, and align with ICAO’s CORSIA framework.
13. Gujarat Receives Agriculture Leadership Award 2026
Gujarat received the Agriculture Leadership Award 2026 for its outstanding achievements in the horticulture sector during the 17th Agriculture Leadership Conclave held in New Delhi. The award recognises the state’s success in horticulture expansion through improved irrigation, modern farming practices, and farmer-centric initiatives.
14. Skyroot Aerospace Successfully Launches India’s First Private Orbital Rocket
Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace successfully launched Vikram-1 under Mission Aagaman, becoming India’s first privately developed orbital-class launch vehicle. The mission successfully placed multiple payloads into Low Earth Orbit (LEO), making India the third country after the United States and China to achieve private orbital launch capability.
15. Captain Aman Johri Conducts India’s Microgravity Crop Research Mission
Indian Analog Astronaut Captain Aman Johri completed a microgravity research mission under Project Astra Farm to study the behaviour of Maharashtra-grown onions and potatoes in reduced-gravity conditions. The project aims to advance India’s space agriculture research and develop sustainable food systems for future space missions.
16. Reliance Jio Receives IN-SPACe Approval for 1,600-Satellite LEO Constellation
Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited received technical approval from IN-SPACe to deploy a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellation comprising around 1,600 satellites. The project aims to provide satellite broadband, direct-to-device connectivity, and enterprise communication services through India’s first indigenous satellite internet network.
17. Sir Garfield Sobers Passes Away at 89
Legendary West Indies cricketer Sir Garfield Sobers, widely regarded as one of cricket’s greatest all-rounders, passed away at the age of 89. He played 93 Test matches, scored 8,032 runs, claimed 235 wickets, and was honoured with numerous accolades, including induction into the ICC Hall of Fame.
18. Day of International Criminal Justice Observed on 17 July
The Day of International Criminal Justice was observed on 17 July to commemorate the adoption of the Rome Statute in 1998, which established the International Criminal Court (ICC). The day promotes accountability for genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the crime of aggression.
19. Nelson Mandela International Day Observed on 18 July
The United Nations observed Nelson Mandela International Day on 18 July to honour the birth anniversary of Nelson Mandela, the first democratically elected President of South Africa. The 2026 theme is “It’s in our hands”, encouraging individuals to contribute towards building a better society.
20. Arunachal Pradesh Signs MoU for India’s First River Kinetic Energy Project
The Government of Arunachal Pradesh signed an MoU with Norway’s Tidal Sail AS to establish India’s first River Kinetic Energy Demonstration Project. The 500-kilowatt project will generate clean electricity from river currents without dams, promoting renewable energy and strengthening India-Norway green cooperation.
21. Telangana Partners with Microsoft to Establish Green Skills Centre of Excellence
The Government of Telangana signed an MoU with Microsoft to establish a Green Skills Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Hyderabad. The centre will provide training in Artificial Intelligence (AI), sustainable manufacturing, and green technologies, supporting Telangana’s Green Pharma City and next-generation life sciences strategy.
