This is the current affairs 21 to 23 July 2026. Here are questions and answers of daily current affairs for better preparation of competitive exams for government jobs.
1. Whom did the Central Government appoint as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NITI Aayog?
a. Srivatsa Krishna
b. Shashi Prakash Goyal
c. K.A.P. Sinha
d. Anurag Jain
Answer: d. Anurag Jain
– On 22 July 2026, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) appointed Anurag Jain as the CEO of NITI Aayog.
– Anurag Jain is the then Chief Secretary of Madhya Pradesh and a 1989-batch IAS officer.
– He was appointed as the CEO of NITI Aayog even before assuming the post of Chief Secretary.
– This appointment will remain effective for two years from the date of assuming charge or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
– Earlier, after the extended tenure of B.V.R. Subrahmanyam ended on 24 February 2026, the Central Government had appointed senior IAS officer Nidhi Chhibber as the interim Chief Executive Officer of NITI Aayog.
NITI Aayog
– NITI Aayog was established on 1 January 2015, replacing the erstwhile Planning Commission.
– Full Name: National Institution for Transforming India.
– It is the premier public policy think tank of the Government of India.
– Its primary function is to provide strategic, technical, and policy advice to the Central and State Governments.
– Nature: Non-Constitutional and Non-Statutory Body.
– Chairperson: Prime Minister of India (Ex-officio).
– Vice-Chairperson: Dr. Ashok Kumar Lahiri.
– Governing Council: Chief Ministers of all States and Lieutenant Governors/Administrators of Union Territories.
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2. Whom did the Central Government appoint as the Chairperson of the National Commission for Minorities (NCM)?
a. Iqbal Singh Lalpura
b. Justice Mohammad Shamim
c. Harjeet Singh Grewal
d. B.V.R. Subrahmanyam
Answer: c. Harjeet Singh Grewal
– Harjeet Singh Grewal was appointed on 16 July 2026.
– The post had remained vacant since April 2025 after the tenure of Iqbal Singh Lalpura ended.
– Harjeet Singh Grewal is a senior BJP leader.
– During the tenure of the Modi Government, Grewal became the second Sikh Chairperson to head the National Commission for Minorities.
– His tenure will be three years from the date of assuming office.
National Commission for Minorities (NCM)
– The National Commission for Minorities (NCM) is a Statutory Body constituted for the protection of the rights of minorities and for promoting their socio-economic development.
– It functions under the Ministry of Minority Affairs.
– Beginning: The Government of India first established the Minorities Commission in January 1978 through an Executive Resolution.
– Statutory Status: After Parliament enacted the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992, it was granted statutory status in 1993 and renamed the National Commission for Minorities.
– Under Section 2(c) of the NCM Act, 1992, the Central Government has notified six religious communities as minorities: Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, and Parsis.
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3. Who won the 2026 FIFA World Cup title?
a. Spain
b. Argentina
c. France
d. Belgium
Answer: a. Spain (Defeated Argentina 1–0)
– Spain won the FIFA World Cup title after 16 years.
– Spain became FIFA World Champion for the second time.
– Spain defeated the 2022 champion Argentina 1–0 in the final.
– Spain had previously won the trophy in 2010 by defeating the Netherlands.
– The final match was played on 19 July 2026.
– Captain of Spain: Rodri.
– FIFA President Gianni Infantino and U.S. President Donald Trump jointly presented the trophy to the Spanish team.
– Spain received a record prize money of US$50 million (approximately ₹481 crore).
Where was the final played?
– At MetLife Stadium, New Jersey, USA.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Duration
– 11 June to 19 July 2026.
Host Countries
– United States, Canada, and Mexico (for the first time, three countries jointly hosted the tournament).
– The opening match was played on 11 June in Mexico City.
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4. Which player won the ‘Golden Boot’ award at the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
a. Lionel Messi
b. Kylian Mbappé
c. Rodri
d. Hugo Lloris
Answer: b. Kylian Mbappé (France)
– The prestigious Golden Boot is awarded to the highest goal scorer of the World Cup.
– France’s Kylian Mbappé won the Golden Boot with 10 goals and 4 assists throughout the tournament.
– Mbappé became the first footballer in history to win the Golden Boot in two consecutive FIFA World Cups.
– He had also won the Golden Boot in the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
– With 10 goals, Mbappé took his overall FIFA World Cup tally to 22 goals.
– He surpassed Germany’s Miroslav Klose (16) to become the highest goal scorer in FIFA World Cup history.
– Argentina’s Lionel Messi also overtook Klose with 21 World Cup goals to move into second place.
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5. Which player won the ‘Golden Ball’ award at the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
a. Lionel Messi
b. Unai Simón
c. Rodri
d. Ángel Di María
Answer: c. Rodri (Captain of Spain)
– The Golden Ball is awarded to the best player of the tournament.
– Spain captain Rodri won the Golden Ball.
– He received the award for his outstanding performances, accurate passing, and dominant influence in midfield throughout the tournament.
Players with the Most FIFA World Cup Matches
1. Lionel Messi, Argentina (2006–2026) – 34 matches
2. Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal (2006–2026) – 27 matches
3. Lothar Matthäus, Germany (1982–2006) – 25 matches
4. Miroslav Klose, Germany (2002–2014) – 24 matches
5. Paolo Maldini, Italy (1990–2002) – 23 matches
6. Luka Modrić, Croatia (2006–2026) – 23 matches
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6. Which player won the ‘Golden Glove’ award at the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
a. Luka Modrić
b. Lionel Messi
c. Emiliano Martínez
d. Unai Simón
Answer: d. Unai Simón (Goalkeeper of Spain)
– The Golden Glove is awarded to the Best Goalkeeper.
– Spain goalkeeper Unai Simón won the award.
– Simón played a crucial role in Spain becoming World Champions by acting as a strong wall in defense.
– He conceded only one goal in eight matches throughout the tournament.
– He recorded a record seven clean sheets, the highest by any goalkeeper in a single FIFA World Cup.
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7. Who won the ‘Best Young Player’ award at the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
a. Pau Cubarsí
b. Fabián Ruiz
c. Aymeric Laporte
d. Rodri
Answer: a. Pau Cubarsí (Spain Defender)
– Nineteen-year-old Spain defender Pau Cubarsí helped Spain concede only one goal throughout the tournament.
– This award is presented to the best player under the age of 21 in the tournament.
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8. Which team won the Fair Play Trophy at the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
a. Spain
b. Netherlands
c. Germany
d. France
Answer: b. Netherlands
– This award is presented to the team that displays the best discipline, sportsmanship, and commits the fewest fouls during the tournament.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Award Winners
– Golden Ball (Best Player): Rodri (Spain)
– Golden Boot (Top Scorer): Kylian Mbappé (France) – 10 goals
– Golden Glove (Best Goalkeeper): Unai Simón (Spain)
– Best Young Player: Pau Cubarsí (Spain)
– Fair Play Trophy: Netherlands
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9. What are the names of the mascots of the FIFA World Cup 2026?
a. Maple – The Moose
b. Zayu – The Jaguar
c. Clutch – The Bald Eagle
d. All of the above
Answer: d. All of the above (Maple – The Moose, Zayu – The Jaguar, Clutch – The Bald Eagle)
– This is the first time FIFA has introduced three mascots together.
– Maple: Represents Canada. It is a moose that plays as a goalkeeper and symbolizes Canada’s natural beauty and hospitality.
– Zayu: Represents Mexico. It is a jaguar that plays as an agile striker and reflects Mexico’s ancient traditions, passion, and creativity.
– Clutch: Represents the United States. It is a bald eagle that plays as a midfielder and symbolizes America’s courage, diversity, and unity.
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10. In which country will the 2030 FIFA World Cup be held?
a. Morocco
b. Portugal
c. Spain
d. All of the above
Answer: d. All of the above (Morocco, Portugal, and Spain)
FIFA World Cup Hosts by Year
– 2026 World Cup: Canada, Mexico, and USA
– 2030 World Cup: Morocco, Portugal, and Spain
– 2034 World Cup: Saudi Arabia
About the 2030 FIFA World Cup
– This will be the second time that the tournament is jointly hosted by three countries.
– It will be the first FIFA World Cup in history to be played across three different continents (Africa, Europe, and South America).
– The opening ceremony and the first matches will be held in South America, while the remaining major matches will be played in Morocco, Portugal, and Spain.
– Additionally, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the FIFA World Cup, the first three matches of the tournament will also be played in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay.
FIFA Headquarters: Zurich, Switzerland
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11. Who unveiled the trophy at the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final?
a. Iker Casillas
b. Jung Ho-yeon (Hoyeon)
c. Carlos Alcaraz
d. Both b and c
Answer: d. Both b and c (Jung Ho-yeon and Carlos Alcaraz)
– Carlos Alcaraz is a Spanish tennis star.
– Jung Ho-yeon is a South Korean actress.
About the FIFA World Cup Trophy
– The trophy was designed by renowned Italian sculptor Silvio Gazzaniga.
– It depicts two human figures holding up the Earth (Globe).
– The trophy weighs approximately 6.175 kilograms.
– It is made of solid 18-carat gold and contains approximately 4.93 kilograms of pure gold. The base is decorated with two layers of precious malachite stone.
– The trophy is 36.8 centimeters tall.
– The winning team receives the original trophy only for the victory celebration after the final.
– After the award ceremony, FIFA officials take back the original trophy from the winning team.
– A replica trophy is then presented to the winning team (Spain).
– The replica trophy is made of bronze with a gold-plated finish.
– The estimated current material value of the original trophy is approximately US$713,000.
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12. Which Indian female shuttler became the first to win the Women’s Singles title at the Japan Open Super 750 tournament?
a. Rakshitha Ramraj
b. P. V. Sindhu
c. Nozomi Okuhara
d. Unnati Hooda
Answer: b. P. V. Sindhu
– Indian badminton player P. V. Sindhu defeated Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi 21–17, 21–17 in straight games in the final played on 19 July 2026.
– The final was held at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium.
– P. V. Sindhu is a two-time Olympic medalist.
– Prior to this, no Indian player had won the title in any category of this tournament.
– This was also P. V. Sindhu’s first major international title since becoming World Champion in 2019.
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13. When is National Flag Day celebrated?
a. 19 July
b. 20 July
c. 22 July
d. 25 July
Answer: c. 22 July
– India’s National Flag Day is observed in memory of the adoption of the Indian National Flag by the Constituent Assembly on 22 July 1947, a few days before the country attained independence from British rule on 15 August 1947.
– On 22 July 1947, the Constituent Assembly of India, under the chairmanship of Dr. Rajendra Prasad, adopted the National Flag.
Flag Code of India, 2002
– Part I: General description and dimensions of the National Flag.
– Part II: Rules for hoisting the National Flag by the general public, private organizations, and educational institutions.
– Part III: Rules for hoisting the National Flag by the Central and State Governments and their organizations/authorities.
Rules Related to the Manufacture of the National Flag
– Material: After the 2021 amendment, the National Flag may be made of hand-spun/handwoven or machine-made cotton, polyester, wool, silk, or khadi.
– Shape and Ratio: The flag must be rectangular. The ratio of its length to width must be 3:2.
– Ashoka Chakra: The white band at the center of the flag must contain a navy blue Ashoka Chakra with 24 spokes.
Major Rights and Rules for Citizens
– According to the landmark judgment of the Supreme Court in Naveen Jindal v. Union of India (2004), flying the National Flag is a Fundamental Right of citizens under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution (Freedom of Speech and Expression).
– Relaxation of Time Restriction (2022 Amendment): The National Flag may now be flown both during the day and at night (24 hours), provided it is displayed in the open or at a citizen’s residence.
– Uniform Rules: Citizens may respectfully hoist the Tricolour at their homes, offices, and factories on all days, irrespective of whether it is a special occasion.
Legal Provision and Punishment
– Under Section 2 of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, if any person burns, mutilates, defaces, defiles, desecrates, tramples upon, or insults the National Flag in public, whether by words (spoken or written) or by acts, he or she may be punished with imprisonment for up to three years, or with a fine, or with both.
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14. When is World Brain Day observed?
a. 20 July
b. 21 July
c. 22 July
d. 23 July
Answer: c. 22 July
– Theme for 2026: “Brain Health: Accessibility for All.”
– The day is organized by the World Federation of Neurology.
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15. Who became the new Prime Minister of Britain in July 2026?
a. Andy Burnham
b. Keir Starmer
c. Lisa Nandy
d. Kanishka Narayan
Answer: a. Andy Burnham
– On 20 July 2026, Andy Burnham assumed office as the new Prime Minister of Britain.
– He became Britain’s seventh Prime Minister in the last ten years.
– Former Prime Minister Keir Starmer submitted his resignation to King Charles after delivering his farewell speech outside 10 Downing Street.
– Thereafter, former Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham formally assumed the office of Prime Minister.
Andy Burnham’s Political Career
– From 1994 to 2001, he worked as a researcher and adviser for the Labour Party.
– In 2001, he was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) for the Leigh constituency in England for the first time.
– From 2007 to 2008, he served as Chief Secretary to the Treasury in the British Government.
– In 2009, he served as Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.
– In 2009, he became Secretary of State for Health and worked on important issues related to the National Health Service (NHS).
– He remained in this position until 2010.
– He contested the Labour Party leadership elections in 2010 and 2015 but was unsuccessful on both occasions.
– In 2017, he resigned as an MP and became the first directly elected Mayor of Greater Manchester.
– He was re-elected Mayor in 2021 and again in 2024.
– Due to his efforts in safeguarding the interests of Greater Manchester as its Mayor, Andy Burnham earned the nickname “King of the North.”
Britain’s Seventh Prime Minister in the Last 10 Years
– David Cameron: Resigned in 2016 after losing the Brexit referendum.
– Theresa May: Succeeded Cameron as Prime Minister but was unable to get the Brexit deal passed in Parliament and resigned in 2019.
– Boris Johnson: Resigned in 2022 during the COVID-19 lockdown period.
– Liz Truss: Became Prime Minister after Johnson, but her economic policies caused severe market instability. She remained in office for only 49 days before resigning in October 2022.
– Rishi Sunak: Became Prime Minister but resigned in July 2024 following rising inflation, economic challenges, and the Conservative Party’s defeat in the general election.
– Keir Starmer: Resigned after serving only two years.
– Andy Burnham: Became the new Prime Minister in July 2026.
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