This is the current affairs 24 to 26 July 2026. Here are questions and answers of daily current affairs for better preparation of competitive exams for government jobs.
1. Which minister of the Modi government had to resign due to the ‘Cockroach Janata Party’s’ agitation?
a. Dr. S. Jaishankar
b. Mansukh Mandaviya
c. Dharmendra Pradhan
d. Ashwini Vaishnaw
Answer: c. Dharmendra Pradhan
– Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan finally resigned on 25 July 2026.
– The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) had been staging a sit-in protest at Jantar Mantar for the last 36 days demanding his resignation over the NEET paper leak case.
– The movement had spread across the entire country. Thousands of Gen Z and other young people had taken to the streets in city after city. In fact, it was considered a Gen Z movement.
– After the resignation, Cockroach Janata Party chief Abhijeet Deepke said at Jantar Mantar, “They used to say that no one resigns in this government, but the world bows if someone can make it bow.”
– After this, the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) announced the immediate withdrawal of its movement. Following this, Jantar Mantar was vacated.
Agreement reached between the Government and CJP
– Resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan
– All cases registered against the protesters will be withdrawn.
– No action will be taken against the protesters in the future.
– A written guarantee will be provided.
Meeting to be held again after one month: Ranka
– Ashutosh Ranka also said that a five-point charter of demands regarding students’ issues had been submitted to the government, and the government had agreed to work on it.
– Ashutosh Ranka clarified that to review the progress on all these issues, the CJP team would meet the government again after one month.
First time in 12 years that a minister resigned after protests
– Since the formation of the Modi government in 2014, Dharmendra Pradhan is the first minister in its 12-year tenure who had to resign due to public protests.
– However, before this, Minister of State for External Affairs M.J. Akbar resigned in 2018 when the global ‘Me Too’ movement was underway and he faced allegations of sexual harassment from his journalism days.
– This is also only the second time in 12 years that the government had to yield before such protests. Earlier, in 2021, after the year-long farmers’ movement, the government had to repeal the three farm laws.
Wangchuk said – This is the victory of democracy
– In a post from the hospital, Sonam Wangchuk wrote, “This is the victory of democracy, direct democracy… a victory achieved from the streets. This is the victory of peace, patience, and determination.”
– Congratulations to CJP and Gen Z. Thanks to all the citizens who stood up from every corner of the country.
Why did the government bow down? Three major reasons
1. Cockroach Party’s protest at Jantar Mantar: The Cockroach Janata Party had been on a hunger strike at Jantar Mantar for 35 days. Around 20,000–30,000 young people were present there at all times. Even after the ‘police action’ during the Parliament March on 20 July, the crowd kept increasing.
2. Aggressive opposition led by Rahul Gandhi: On 21 July, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav, and several opposition leaders staged a sit-in near the Prime Minister’s residence. When Union Minister Jitendra Singh came to persuade them, Rahul said that there would be no discussion in Parliament until Dharmendra Pradhan resigned. Rahul also insisted on an apology from Prime Minister Modi. Parliament could not function for a week.
3. Rising voices from leaders and celebrities within the party: Former BJP National President Murli Manohar Joshi also supported the students’ demands and concerns. Cricketers, Bollywood celebrities, South Indian film stars, and social media influencers also began joining the youth protests. They described the paper leak as a serious issue.
Abhijeet Deepke thanked CJI Suryakant
– Deepke said, “I thank the Chief Justice of India for calling us cockroaches. If you had not called us cockroaches, Pradhan would not have resigned.”
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2. Who became the country’s new Education Minister after Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation?
a. Rajnath Singh
b. Pralhad Joshi
c. Jayant Chaudhary
d. Annapurna Devi
Answer: b. Pralhad Joshi
– Union Minister Pralhad Joshi has been given the additional charge of the Ministry of Education along with his existing portfolio.
– This step was taken on 25 July 2026, a few hours after Dharmendra Pradhan resigned following widespread protests led by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) over the NEET examination result leak.
– Pralhad Joshi already holds the Ministries of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, and New & Renewable Energy. He has now also been assigned the charge of the Ministry of Education.
– The 64-year-old leader has been representing the Dharwad Lok Sabha constituency of Karnataka since 2004.
Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation accepted
– Rashtrapati Bhavan stated in a press release, “The President of India has accepted, with immediate effect, the resignation of Shri Dharmendra Pradhan from the Union Council of Ministers under clause (2) of Article 75 of the Constitution of India, on the advice of the Prime Minister.”
– It further stated, “On the advice of the Prime Minister, the President has directed that Cabinet Minister Pralhad Joshi be assigned the charge of the Ministry of Education in addition to his existing portfolios.”
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3. Who became the interim President of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) in July 2026 (for two months)?
a. Kirsan Ilyumzhinov
b. Viswanathan Anand
c. Arkady Dvorkovich
d. D. V. Sundar
Answer: b. Viswanathan Anand
– India’s legendary chess player and five-time World Champion Viswanathan Anand assumed charge on 24 July 2026.
– He has been given this position for two months.
Viswanathan Anand’s Playing Career
– Viswanathan Anand won the World Chess Championship in 2000, 2007, 2008, 2010, and 2012.
– He also won the FIDE World Rapid Chess Championship in 2003 and 2017, and the World Blitz Cup in 2000.
– In 2006, he became the first player to cross the 2800 Elo rating.
– He remained the world’s No. 1 player for a total of 21 months.
– He has been serving as the Deputy President of FIDE since 2022.
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4. Name the host city of the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
a. Melbourne (Australia)
b. Glasgow (Scotland)
c. Birmingham (England)
d. Sydney (Australia)
Answer: b. Glasgow (Scotland)
– The 2026 Commonwealth Games began on 23 July 2026 in the city of Glasgow, Scotland.
– Following Commonwealth tradition, King Charles III formally declared the Games open.
– Glasgow hosted the Commonwealth Games for the second time. It had previously hosted the Games in 2014.
About Scotland
– Scotland is a Constituent Country of the United Kingdom (UK), with its own Parliament and administrative autonomy. However, in terms of international affairs and defense, it is not a fully sovereign nation and remains part of the United Kingdom.
Note
– Originally, the Australian state of Victoria had been awarded the hosting rights for the 2026 Commonwealth Games. However, after Australia withdrew due to rising costs and budget concerns, Glasgow (Scotland) was officially selected as the host city.
Commonwealth Games 2026
– Duration: 23 July to 2 August 2026
– Participating countries and athletes: Around 3,000 athletes from 74 countries
– Indian contingent: Around 125 athletes
– Sports and medal events: 215 medal events across 10 sports (including 47 para-sport medal events)
– Major sports not included: Cricket, Hockey, Badminton, Shooting, Wrestling, Table Tennis, and Squash are not part of Glasgow 2026. (India had won the highest number of medals in Shooting in previous Commonwealth Games.)
– The Commonwealth Mile returned in Athletics. This event was last held in 1966. It features a men’s and women’s race of one mile (1.609 km) instead of the 1500 metres.
– In 2026, para-sports have been fully integrated into six sports. This is the largest para-sport programme in Commonwealth Games history.
The medals will reflect the city’s identity and history
– The medals of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games will showcase the identity, history, and inclusiveness of the host city.
– Award-winning artist and designer Militsa Milenkova designed the medals.
– The medals are inspired by Glasgow’s landmarks, coat of arms, industrial heritage, and cultural identity.
– For the first time in Commonwealth Games history, the medals include Braille and tactile elements.
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5. Who were India’s flag-bearers at the opening ceremony of the Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2026?
a. Mirabai Chanu
b. Lovlina Borgohain
c. Rajendra Verma
d. Both a and b
Answer: d. Both a and b (Mirabai Chanu and Lovlina Borgohain)
– The opening ceremony was held on 23 July 2026 in Glasgow, Scotland.
– Olympic medallists Mirabai Chanu and Lovlina Borgohain led the Indian contingent as flag-bearers during the ‘Parade of Nations’.
– India sent a contingent of 125 members who are participating in 13 sports (including para-sports).
– Compared to the previous edition, this time the Games have been considerably downsized because sports such as Cricket, Hockey, Badminton, Shooting, Wrestling, Table Tennis, and Squash are not part of Glasgow 2026.
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6. Where was the country’s first Language Museum (Immersive Language) established, which was inaugurated by the Union Home Minister?
a. Bihar
b. Jharkhand
c. Odisha
d. West Bengal
Answer: d. West Bengal
– It was inaugurated on 19 July 2026 at the National Library campus in Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal.
– The Language Museum presents the thousands-of-years-long journey of language and words through 22 Indian languages, nine state-of-the-art digital galleries, and interactive technology.
– It has received technical support from the National Council of Science Museums.
– The most attractive section of the museum is the ‘Navras Gallery’, where holography technology has been used.
– An RFID (Radio Frequency Identification)-based interactive system has also been developed for children and youth.
– As soon as a book is placed on a special reader, the related information and digital content automatically appear on the screen.
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7. Who has been entrusted with the additional charge of Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC)?
a. Rahul Himalayan
b. Sanjay Kumar Jain
c. Adi Sharma
d. Kshitij Bhardwaj
Answer: a. Rahul Himalayan
– After the resignation of Sanjay Kumar Jain, Rahul Himalayan assumed the additional charge of CMD from 20 July 2026.
– He is already serving as the Director (Tourism and Marketing) in the corporation.
– Rahul Himalayan is a 1999-batch Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTS) officer.
– He has been a member of the company’s Board since 16 February 2024.
IRCTC
– IRCTC is a public sector enterprise under the Ministry of Railways and has been granted Miniratna status.
IRCTC includes:
– Providing online railway ticket booking services.
– Providing catering services.
– Offering tourism packages.
– Hotel booking services.
– Ensuring hospitality services during rail journeys.
– Production of packaged drinking water under the Rail Neer brand.
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8. Whom did Infosys appoint as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO)?
a. Srini Pallia
b. Sandeep Dutta
c. Ashish Kumar Das
d. Ajay Vij
Answer: c. Ashish Kumar Das
– Indian IT company Infosys has appointed Ashish Kumar Das as its new ‘CEO Designate’.
– He will replace the current CEO Salil Parekh on 1 April 2027.
– Ashish Kumar Das will hold this position for five years.
– Ashish has been associated with Infosys for 30 years.
– He is the Global Head of the company’s business portfolio.
– Along with this, he is also leading the company’s Sustainability (Sustainable Business) division.
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9. Name the country’s second Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC) of the Mahe class that has been inducted into the Western Naval Command.
a. INS Nistara
b. INS Malvan
c. INS Vikrant
d. INS Kirti
Answer: b. INS Malvan
– INS ‘Malvan’ is the second Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC) of the Mahe class.
– It was commissioned on 22 July 2026 during a ceremony held at Karwar.
– The commissioning ceremony was presided over by Air Chief Marshal A. P. Singh.
– It is capable of detecting and neutralizing submarines in shallow sea areas.
– It has been built with more than 80 percent indigenous materials and systems.
Mahe-class ships
INS Mahe (Commissioned on 24 November 2025)
INS Malvan (Commissioned on 22 July 2026)
INS Mangrol
INS Malpe
INS Mulki
INS Magdalla
INS Machilipatnam
INS Ajay
The emblem is inspired by the ‘Bagh Nakh’
– The emblem of INS Malvan features the ‘Bagh Nakh’ (Tiger Claws), symbolizing courage, combat skills, agility, and the ability to strike the enemy with precision.
– The sea waves surrounding it represent the Navy’s vigilance in protecting India’s maritime borders.
Ship’s Motto: ‘Silent Claws’.
Named after a former Minesweeper vessel
– INS ‘Malvan’ has been named after the Indian Navy’s former inshore minesweeper vessel ‘Malvan’, which was decommissioned in 2003 after 19 years of service.
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10. Which state government approved India’s first AI-powered Bird Sanctuary?
a. Bihar
b. Uttar Pradesh
c. Maharashtra
d. Rajasthan
Answer: c. Maharashtra
– The Maharashtra Government has approved its establishment near the Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary (TCFS) in Mumbai.
– This smart project will spread over an area of 20.09 hectares and will cost approximately ₹45 crore.
– Its main objective is to promote bird conservation.
– The key feature of this project will be an Artificial Intelligence-based bird identification and monitoring centre.
– AI cameras, drones, and acoustic sensors will be installed to identify birds’ calls, movements, and species.
– Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary is a Ramsar Site famous for thousands of pink flamingos and more than 200 species of birds.
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11. In which state was the Earth’s second-oldest spherical rock discovered?
a. Madhya Pradesh
b. Uttarakhand
c. Jharkhand
d. Odisha
Answer: a. Madhya Pradesh (MP)
– Orbicular granite is a rare igneous rock containing spherical structures (orbicules).
– Ten geologists from BHU, IIT Kanpur, Brazil, and Japan discovered granite rocks in the Pichhore area of Shivpuri district, Madhya Pradesh.
– Therefore, it has been named the Pichhore Orbicular Granite.
– These rocks are 2.56 billion years old.
– The oldest such rocks were discovered in Australia.
– They resemble cricket balls or the rings of trees in appearance.
– This research has been published in the *Geosystems and Geoenvironment* journal of ScienceDirect.
– The age of the rock was confirmed through the U-Pb Zircon Dating technique.
– It was found that some zircon particles are 3.5 billion years old, indicating that the Earth’s surface was forming during the Neoarchean Era.
– According to the researchers, this rock needs to be preserved.
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12. Which European countries did President Droupadi Murmu visit in July 2026?
a. Romania
b. Republic of Moldova
c. North Macedonia
d. All of the above
Answer: d. All of the above (Republic of Moldova, North Macedonia, and Romania)
– President Droupadi Murmu paid a State Visit to Moldova, North Macedonia, and Romania from 19 to 25 July.
– This was the first-ever State Visit by an Indian President to Moldova and North Macedonia, and the first State Visit to Romania in more than 30 years.
– Before this, an Indian President had visited Romania in 1994.
– During the visit, emphasis was placed on strengthening trade, technology, tourism, investment, and mutual cooperation between India and these three countries.
– On 20 July, the President arrived in Moldova at the invitation of Moldovan President Maia Sandu.
– She stayed in North Macedonia on 21 and 22 July.
– She remained in Romania from 23 to 25 July.
Republic of Moldova
– Capital: Chișinău
– Prime Minister: Vasile Tofan
– Population: 2.6 million
– Language: Romanian
– Currency: Moldovan Leu (MDL)
– Neighboring Countries: Romania and Ukraine
Romania
– Capital: Bucharest
– Prime Minister: Ilie Bolojan
– Population: 18.8 million
– Language: Romanian
– Currency: Romanian Leu
– Neighboring Countries: Ukraine, Moldova, and Bulgaria
North Macedonia
– Capital: Skopje
– President: Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova
– Prime Minister: Hristijan Mickoski
– Population: 1.8 million
– Language: Macedonian
– Currency: Macedonian Denar (MKD)
– Neighboring Countries: Greece, Bulgaria, and Albania
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13. When is World Drowning Prevention Day observed?
a. 25 July
b. 26 July
c. 27 July
d. 28 July
Answer: a. 25 July
– This day was declared through the United Nations General Assembly Resolution on “Global Drowning Prevention.”
– In other words, it is observed to prevent deaths caused by drowning in disasters, rivers, ponds, wells, and other water bodies.
– Its objective is also to promote life-saving solutions to prevent such tragedies.
– According to United Nations estimates, around 236,000 people drown every year.
– About 90 percent of these drowning cases occur in middle-income countries.
Deaths due to drowning in India
– In 2021, 36,362 people died due to drowning.
– This figure is based on data from the NCRB (National Crime Records Bureau).
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14. Which European country enacted a law in July 2026 banning social media for children below the age of 15?
a. Germany
b. France
c. Finland
d. Austria
Answer: b. France
– On 21 July 2026, the French Parliament passed a law banning the use of social media.
– Children below the age of 15 have been completely prohibited from opening new accounts on social media platforms. The law will come into effect in August 2026.
– Existing social media accounts of children below the age of 15 will be closed from January 2027.
– Children below this age will be required to obtain parental consent to continue using social media.
– To implement the law, social media platforms will have to accurately verify users’ ages (Age Verification).
– Under the new rule, the digital regulator Arcom has been entrusted with ensuring compliance with the law.
– The use of mobile phones has also been banned on high school campuses.
Countries that have already imposed social media bans
– Australia
– Greece
– Türkiye
– UAE
– Denmark
– Brazil
– Malaysia
– Austria
European Union
– It is a major political and economic bloc consisting of 27 European countries.
– There is a common market among its member countries, and they function under an integrated system.
France
– Capital: Paris
– President: Emmanuel Macron
– Population: 69 million
– Language: French
– Currency: Euro
– Neighboring Countries: Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Monaco, Spain, and Andorra.
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