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Daily Current Affairs
22 July, 2026
1. The “e200X (PT-01)” — India’s first full-scale prototype of an eVTOL (electric air taxi) — has been developed by which company?
A. Agnikul Cosmos
B. The ePlane Company
C. Skyroot Aerospace
D. Sarla Aviation
E. Archer Aviation India
View Answer
Explanation: The e200X (PT-01) was unveiled by Chennai-headquartered deep-tech startup The ePlane Company (incubated at IIT Madras), founded in 2019 by Prof. Satya Chakravarthy. An eVTOL is a zero-emission, battery-powered aircraft that lifts off vertically like a helicopter and transitions to forward winged flight. PT-01 integrates airframe, battery pack, landing gear, propulsion and avionics — moving from design/simulation into physical ground testing.
2. The Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026 — introduced by Amit Shah in the Rajya Sabha — extends statutory protection to which national symbol?
A. National Flag
B. National Anthem
C. National Song (Vande Mataram)
D. National Emblem
E. National Motto
View Answer
Explanation: The Bill (introduced 20 July 2026, first day of Monsoon Session) amends the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971 to include the National Song — plugging a statutory gap, as the 1971 Act had no penal provision for Vande Mataram. It substitutes Section 3, criminalising intentionally preventing the singing or disturbing an assembly singing it — penalty up to 3 years imprisonment or fine or both. Introduced in the 150th anniversary year of Vande Mataram (composed by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, 1875/76, published in Anandamath, 1882).
3. The RBI’s draft Foreign Exchange Management (Foreign Investment) Rules, 2026 seek to replace which existing rules?
A. FEMA (Current Account Transactions) Rules, 2000
B. FEM (Non-Debt Instruments) Rules, 2019
C. FDI Policy Circular 2020
D. FEM (Overseas Investment) Rules, 2022
E. FEM (Debt Instruments) Regulations, 2019
View Answer
Explanation: The draft rules (comments till 31 August 2026) replace the NDI Rules, 2019 with a principle-based framework — announced in Union Budget 2026-27 by FM Nirmala Sitharaman. Proposals: demarcating procedural FEMA provisions from FDI Policy requirements, investor-neutral provisions, reduced compliance burden, and conditions for direct overseas listing of Indian shares on international exchanges. Note: FDI policy is framed by DPIIT, not RBI; FDI vs FPI threshold is generally a 10% stake.
4. Under PMKSY, which component is implemented by the Department of Land Resources under the Ministry of Rural Development?
A. Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP)
B. Har Khet Ko Pani (HKKP)
C. Watershed Development Component (WDC)
D. Per Drop More Crop (PDMC)
E. CAD&WM
View Answer
Explanation: PMKSY (launched 1 July 2015, Centrally Sponsored Core Scheme; mottos “Har Khet Ko Pani” and “Per Drop More Crop”): AIBP and HKKP are under the Ministry of Jal Shakti; WDC (which subsumed the IWMP) is under the Dept. of Land Resources, Ministry of Rural Development; PDMC is under the Agriculture Ministry (now largely under RKVY). The scheme has NO specific provision for private-sector investment; NABARD administers the Long Term Irrigation Fund (LTIF) for AIBP projects.
5. What is the Centre-State funding pattern under PMKSY for North-Eastern and Hilly States?
A. 60:40
B. 75:25
C. 80:20
D. 90:10
E. 100% Central
View Answer
Explanation: PMKSY funding: 75:25 for general States and 90:10 for NE & Hilly States. Extended 2021-22 to 2025-26 with ~₹93,068 crore outlay (₹37,454 crore central assistance). 90% grant goes to two National Projects — Renukaji (HP) and Lakhwar (Uttarakhand) — vital for Delhi’s water supply and Yamuna rejuvenation. M-CADWM (₹1,600 crore, 2025-26) is a new sub-scheme of PMKSY-AIBP delivering water via pressurised piped and micro-irrigation.
6. As per the PIB feature “White Gold: India’s Cotton Story”, India holds which distinction in global cotton?
A. Rank 1 in production, Rank 2 in area
B. Rank 1 in cultivated area, Rank 2 in production and consumption
C. Rank 1 in both area and production
D. Rank 2 in area, Rank 3 in production
E. Rank 1 in exports
View Answer
Explanation: India is Rank 1 in cotton area (114.84 lakh ha ≈ 38% of global) and Rank 2 in production and consumption, contributing ~19-23% of global fibre production. India is the ONLY country cultivating all four recognised cotton species. Cotton supports ~6 million farmers (40-50 million across the value chain); 62% of cultivation is rain-fed. Zones: Northern (Punjab-Haryana-Rajasthan), Central (Gujarat-Maharashtra-MP, largest), Southern (Telangana-AP-Karnataka).
7. The Mission for Cotton Productivity is aligned with the ‘5F’ vision. What does 5F stand for?
A. Farm → Fibre → Factory → Fashion → Foreign
B. Farmer → Fibre → Fabric → Fashion → Finance
C. Field → Fibre → Factory → Finish → Foreign
D. Farm → Fabric → Factory → Fashion → Future
E. Farm → Finance → Factory → Fashion → Foreign
View Answer
Explanation: The 5F vision is Farm → Fibre → Factory → Fashion → Foreign, implemented jointly by the Agriculture and Textiles ministries with 10 ICAR institutes. Other initiatives: Kapas Kisan App (41 lakh+ farmers, Aadhaar-linked MSP payments), Kasturi Cotton Bharat (₹30 crore branding/traceability — CCI, TEXPROCIL), MSP for medium/long staple kapas targeting ≥50% return over cost, and HDPS with blockchain-based traceability.
8. Under the National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF), the output-based incentive for farmers practising natural farming is:
A. ₹2,000 per acre per year for 3 years
B. ₹4,000 per acre per year for 2 years (up to 1 acre)
C. ₹5,000 per acre per year for 2 years
D. ₹6,000 per hectare per year
E. ₹10,000 one-time grant
View Answer
Explanation: NMNF (standalone CSS launched November 2024, building on BPKP under PKVY) gives ₹4,000/acre/year for 2 years (max 1 acre/farmer) — covering practice, training, livestock upkeep, input preparation, or purchases from Bio-input Resource Centres (BRCs). Support: two Krishi Sakhis/CRPs per cluster; certification via PGS-India managed by NCONF, Ghaziabad; geo-tagged monitoring via NMNF portal.
9. As per the NITI Aayog assessment on natural farming, what percentage of adopting farmers reported increased crop productivity and improved soil health?
A. 78.5%
B. 85.3%
C. 91.2%
D. 94.6%
E. 88.4%
View Answer
Explanation: ~91.2% of farmers reported increased productivity and better soil health; 90.1% reported reduced input costs. ICAR’s AINP on Natural Farming (from 2020-21, earlier AINP-Organic Farming) runs 20 centres across 16 states evaluating 8 cropping systems; Himalayan trials showed Soil Organic Carbon rising from ~0.90% to 1.15% in 2-3 years, with richer soil microbial diversity.
10. “Angen (Invisible)” — which won Best Debut Film of a Director (Non-Feature) at the 72nd National Film Awards — became the FIRST National Award-winning film in which language?
A. Bodo
B. Santhali
C. Khasi
D. Gondi
E. Mundari
View Answer
Explanation: Angen (Invisible), directed by Ravi Raj Murmu, became the first Santhali film to win a National Film Award — the 12-minute film showcases Jharkhand’s tribal culture and indigenous storytelling. Separately, India’s fertiliser exports rose ~52% between FY24 and FY26, and Amit Shah paid tribute to Batukeshwar Dutt (1929 Central Legislative Assembly bombing with Bhagat Singh) on his death anniversary.
11. “Shabdalok”, India’s first immersive language museum showcasing ~380 Indian languages, was inaugurated at which location?
A. National Museum, New Delhi
B. National Library campus, Kolkata
C. Salar Jung Museum, Hyderabad
D. IGNCA, New Delhi
E. Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal
View Answer
Explanation: Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated Shabdalok at the National Library campus, Kolkata — showcasing nearly 380 Indian languages via digital displays, holograms, AR, VR and interactive exhibits, celebrating India’s linguistic diversity.
12. India’s first approved dengue vaccine “QDENGA (TAK-003)” protects against all four serotypes and is approved for which age group?
A. 2 to 45 years
B. 4 to 60 years
C. 6 to 65 years
D. 9 to 45 years
E. 18 to 60 years
View Answer
Explanation: QDENGA (TAK-003), cleared by the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI), is India’s first dengue vaccine — protecting against all four dengue serotypes with a two-dose schedule for ages 4-60 years.
13. The US delivered the 21st helicopter of which type to the Indian Navy under the 2020 Foreign Military Sales agreement?
A. AH-64 Apache
B. CH-47 Chinook
C. MH-60R Seahawk
D. UH-60 Black Hawk
E. SH-3 Sea King
View Answer
Explanation: The 21st MH-60R Seahawk multi-role helicopter strengthens the Indian Navy’s anti-submarine warfare, maritime surveillance, and search-and-rescue capabilities. Separately, DoLR and the RBI Innovation Hub discussed integrating digital land records with the Unified Lending Interface (ULI) for consent-based digital farm lending.
14. NSA Ajit Doval has been selected for which award, to be presented in Pune on 1 August 2026?
A. Padma Vibhushan
B. Lokmanya Tilak National Award 2026
C. Bharat Ratna
D. Gandhi Peace Prize
E. Sardar Patel National Unity Award
View Answer
Explanation: NSA Ajit Doval was selected for the Lokmanya Tilak National Award 2026 for contributions to national security, counter-terrorism and border management; presentation in Pune on 1 August 2026.
15. Who became the 59th Prime Minister of the United Kingdom after the resignation of Keir Starmer?
A. Wes Streeting
B. Angela Rayner
C. Andy Burnham
D. Rachel Reeves
E. David Lammy
View Answer
Explanation: Andy Burnham — senior Labour leader and former Mayor of Greater Manchester — became the UK’s 59th Prime Minister after winning the party leadership election and being invited by King Charles III to form the government.
16. Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye was elected Chairman of which regional grouping at its 69th summit in Sierra Leone?
A. African Union
B. ECOWAS
C. SADC
D. COMESA
E. East African Community
View Answer
Explanation: Bassirou Diomaye Faye became Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) at its 69th summit in Sierra Leone — a one-year term focused on regional cooperation and institutional reforms.
17. NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope discovered the exoplanet “Beta Pictoris d”, located ~63 light-years away. This makes Beta Pictoris only the second known system with:
A. A habitable-zone planet
B. Three directly imaged planets
C. Water vapour detection
D. A binary star with planets
E. Rings around an exoplanet
View Answer
Explanation: JWST’s discovery of giant exoplanet Beta Pictoris d makes the Beta Pictoris system only the second known planetary system with three directly imaged planets. Separately, the US Air Force’s YFQ-44A Fury drone (by Anduril Industries) fired its first live AIM-120 AMRAAM — a Collaborative Combat Aircraft designed to fly alongside F-35s and F-22s.
18. FIFA announced a record prize pool for the 2026 World Cup — the richest in football history. What was the total prize money, and how much did champions Spain receive?
A. USD 650 million; Spain USD 42 million
B. USD 871 million; Spain USD 51 million
C. USD 900 million; Spain USD 55 million
D. USD 750 million; Spain USD 45 million
E. USD 1 billion; Spain USD 60 million
View Answer
Explanation: FIFA announced a record USD 871 million prize pool for the 2026 World Cup. Champions Spain got USD 51 million, Argentina USD 34 million, and England USD 30 million.
19. Pakistan will host the 14th South Asian Federation (SAF) Games from 23-31 March 2027 across which cities?
A. Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad
B. Islamabad, Lahore, Faisalabad
C. Lahore, Multan, Peshawar
D. Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Karachi
E. Lahore, Karachi, Quetta
View Answer
Explanation: Pakistan hosts the 14th SAF Games (23-31 March 2027) across Islamabad, Lahore and Faisalabad — its third time hosting after 1989 and 2004. Separately, England football legend and two-time Ballon d’Or winner Kevin Keegan passed away at 75.
20. The book “RSS @100: A Century of Service, Unity & Sacrifice” — released by Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan — is authored by:
A. Shyam Jaju and Anupam Trivedi
B. Ram Madhav and Sunil Ambekar
C. Ratan Sharda and Dattatreya Hosabale
D. Manmohan Vaidya and Arun Anand
E. J. Nandakumar and Rajiv Tuli
View Answer
Explanation: “RSS @100: A Century of Service, Unity & Sacrifice”, authored by Shyam Jaju and Anupam Trivedi, chronicles the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s century-long journey and contributions to nation-building.
21. International Moon Day (20 July) commemorates which historic event?
A. Launch of Sputnik-1
B. Apollo 11 Moon landing (1969)
C. First lunar orbit by Luna-10
D. Chandrayaan-3 landing
E. First spacewalk
View Answer
Explanation: International Moon Day (20 July, UN) commemorates the 1969 Apollo 11 Moon landing — promoting peaceful space exploration, scientific research and sustainable use of lunar resources.
22. Transition VC’s ₹1,500 crore Fund II plans to support nearly how many startups over its four-year investment period?
A. 10 startups
B. 15 startups
C. 20 startups
D. 30 startups
E. 50 startups
View Answer
Explanation: Transition VC’s ₹1,500 crore Fund II will support ~20 engineering-led startups across clean energy, industrial deep-tech and advanced manufacturing over four years. Also in news: AP-UN-Habitat CoE for Urban Affairs at Amaravati, and UP’s Kaushal Setu & Kaushal Sarathi skill portals.
