This is the current affairs 30 & 31 July 2026. Here are questions and answers of daily current affairs for better preparation of competitive exams for government jobs.
1. Which country holds the first position in the Environmental Performance Index (EPI) 2026?
a. India
b. Estonia
c. Finland
d. Luxembourg
Answer: b. Estonia
– European countries secured the top positions in the EPI, reflecting their effective performance in environmental governance and sustainable development policies.
– Estonia secured the top position with a score of 74.79, demonstrating outstanding performance across several environmental indicators.
– Luxembourg ranked second, the United Kingdom third, and Finland fourth.
What is the Environmental Performance Index (EPI)?
– It is a biennial index.
– It was initially launched in 2002 by the World Economic Forum as the Environmental Sustainability Index (ESI).
– Later, it began to be published by the Yale Center for Environmental Law & Policy and the Columbia Center for International Earth Science Information Network. The latest report has also been released by these organizations.
– It ranks 177 countries.
– The index highlights the gap between top-performing countries that are rapidly reducing carbon emissions and lower-ranked countries struggling with severe air quality and sustainability challenges.
– Main Objective: To measure the progress of countries towards achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the targets of the Paris Climate Agreement.
Basis of the Index: The 2026 EPI includes 47 performance indicators across 12 categories under 3 policy objectives:
– Environmental Health
– Ecosystem Vitality
– Climate Change
These 12 Categories
– Climate Change Mitigation
– Air Quality
– Water Security and Quality
– Biodiversity Conservation
– Ecosystem Health
– Forest Management
– Greenhouse Gas Emissions
– Environmental Health
– Waste Management
– Environmental Protection
Top 10 Countries
1) Estonia
2) Luxembourg
3) United Kingdom
4) Finland
5) Netherlands
6) Germany
7) France
8) Norway
9) Sweden
10) Austria
Estonia
– It is a country located in the Baltic region of Northern Europe.
– Capital: Tallinn
– President: Alar Karis
– Prime Minister: Kristen Michal
– Population: 1.36 million
– Language: Estonian
– Currency: Euro
– Neighboring Countries: Russia and Latvia
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2. What is India’s rank in the Environmental Performance Index (EPI) 2026?
a. 176
b. 177
c. 178
d. 179
Answer: a. 176
– Ranking released on: 31 July 2026
India’s Score
– India ranks 176th among 177 countries in this index.
– With a score of 22.46, India is the second worst-performing country in the world.
– India was also ranked 176th in the year 2024.
Reasons for the Poor Ranking
– Poor air quality
– Decline in biodiversity
– Ecosystem degradation
– Rising greenhouse gas emissions
Areas Where India Performed Better
– India’s performance was relatively better in the areas of climate change and waste management.
– Laos ranked 177th, occupying the last position in the rankings.
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3. Who became the first woman Director General (DG) of the Geological Survey of India (GSI)?
a. Varsha Ashok Aglawe
b. Kamini Ratan Chauhan
c. Gurdeep Kaur Chawla
d. Nilakshi Saha Sinha
Answer: a. Varsha Ashok Aglawe
– Varsha Ashok Aglawe assumed charge as the 54th Director General of the organization on 31 July 2026.
– She succeeded Asit Saha, who served in the position for two years.
– Varsha is a specialist in Paleontology.
– She joined the GSI in 1992 after serving in the Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM).
GSI
– It was established in 1851.
– It functions as the national organization for geological mapping, mineral resource assessment, and geological studies in India.
– It works under the Ministry of Mines.
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4. What was the primary objective of the ‘Samudra Pradakshina’ expedition undertaken on the boat IASV Triveni?
a. Security of the Indian Ocean
b. The first global circumnavigation sailing expedition by Tri-Service women officers
c. Indian Navy anti-piracy mission
d. Testing of the tsunami warning system
Answer: b. The first global circumnavigation sailing expedition by Tri-Service women officers (Approximately 25,500 nautical miles were covered in 314 days during July.)
– Name of the expedition: Samudra Pradakshina
– Vessel: IASV Triveni (Indian Army Sailing Vessel)
– Achievement: India’s first Tri-Service women global circumnavigation sailing expedition.
– Duration and Distance: Approximately 25,500 nautical miles covered in 314 days.
– Members: 9 women officers from the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
– Defence Minister Rajnath Singh honoured these women officers.
Major Geographical Highlights:
– Crossed all meridians of longitude and the Equator twice.
– Crossed the International Date Line.
– Major capes crossed: Cape Leeuwin (Australia), Cape Horn (South America), and Cape of Good Hope (South Africa).
– Successfully crossed the challenging Drake Passage and earned membership of the “Cape Horners.”
Women’s Empowerment and Breaking Gender Stereotypes
– A powerful example: The expedition proved that physical capability, mental resilience, and leadership skills are not confined by gender.
– Inspirational role: It opens the way for women to take up challenging combat and operational roles in the Armed Forces.
Tri-Service Integration
– Jointness: Officers from the Army, Navy, and Air Force worked together on a single mission, strengthening India’s objective of theatre command (theaterisation) and coordination among the three services.
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5. Under the ‘Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026’ passed by Parliament, the 1971 Act was amended to provide legal protection to which national symbol?
a. National Flag
b. National Anthem – Jana Gana Mana
c. National Song – Vande Mataram
d. National Emblem
Answer: c. National Song – Vande Mataram (Intentionally preventing the singing of the National Song or disrupting a gathering where it is being sung will be an offence. Punishment: Up to 3 years imprisonment, a fine, or both.)
– Name of the Bill: Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026
– Related Parent Act: Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971
– Main Objective: To amend Section 3 of the Act and provide “Vande Mataram” (National Song) with the same statutory/legal protection as “Jana Gana Mana” (National Anthem).
Punishment Provisions
– Intentionally preventing the singing of the National Song or disrupting a gathering where it is being sung shall be an offence.
– Punishment: Up to 3 years imprisonment, a fine, or both.
– Repeat Offenders: Minimum imprisonment of 1 year.
150th Anniversary
– The 150th anniversary of India’s National Song “Vande Mataram” was completed on 7 November 2025.
– The Government of India organized year-long nationwide celebrations from 2025 to 2026 to commemorate 150 years (1875–2025) of Vande Mataram.
History and Origin of Vande Mataram
– Composer: Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay
– The song was first published on 7 November 1875 in the literary magazine Bangadarshan.
– It was later included in Bankim Chandra’s famous novel Anandamath (1882).
– Swadeshi Movement (1905): It became a symbol of anti-colonial nationalism during the Partition of Benga
1937 Congress Working Committee (CWC) Resolution
– Decision: Only the first two stanzas of the song would be used for national ceremonies.
– Advisor: Rabindranath Tagore (who advised that the later stanzas contained specific religious symbolism).
– Supported unanimously by Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel, Rajendra Prasad, Maulana Azad, Subhas Chandra Bose, and others.
Constitutional Provisions
– 24 January 1950: Dr. Rajendra Prasad, President of the Constituent Assembly, declared that Vande Mataram would receive the same respect as Jana Gana Mana.
– Article 51A(a) [Fundamental Duty]: Mentions only respect for the Constitution, the National Flag, and the National Anthem; it does not mention the National Song.
– Therefore, through the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, the National Song has been provided the same statutory/legal protection as the National Anthem.
Government’s Justification
– Historical equivalence: According to Dr. Rajendra Prasad’s statement in the Constituent Assembly on 24 January 1950, Vande Mataram enjoys the same honour as the National Anthem because of its contribution to India’s freedom struggle.
– Filling the legal vacuum: Although the National Song enjoys equal status, there was no specific legal framework to protect it from disruption or insult.
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6. Which former Indian Army Chief, the first officer to be commissioned after Independence, passed away on 31 July 2026?
a. Major Somnath Sharma
b. General Vishwanath Sharma
c. General K. V. Krishna Rao
d. General Bipin Rawat
Answer: b. General Vishwanath Sharma
– Introduction: Former Army Chief General Vishwanath Sharma (V. N. Sharma), aged 96, was a resident of Dadh village in Palampur Tehsil of Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh.
– Beginning of military career: He was commissioned into the 16th Light Cavalry of the Indian Army in 1950.
– Significant achievement: He became the first officer commissioned after Independence to eventually rise to the highest position in the Indian Army (Chief of Army Staff).
– Tenure as Army Chief: He served as the 15th Chief of the Indian Army from 1 May 1988 to 30 June 1990.
– 1965 War: As a Major, he led operations in the Lahore sector during the 1965 Indo-Pak War.
– Other military operations: He played a significant role in the operations of the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) in Sri Lanka, and his strategic leadership during the 1987 India-China military standoff was widely appreciated.
– Connection with the Param Vir Chakra: General V. N. Sharma was the younger brother of Major Somnath Sharma, India’s first posthumous recipient of the Param Vir Chakra.
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7. When is World Nature Conservation Day celebrated?
a. 29 July
b. 28 July
c. 27 July
d. 26 July
Answer: b. 28 July
– The day is observed to create awareness among people about the importance of natural resources.
– Environmental imbalance has increased due to technological development and modern lifestyles.
– The increasing occurrence of natural disasters around the world is an indication of this imbalance.
– Along with Asia, Europe and America are also facing severe heatwaves.
– Greenhouse gas emissions caused by burning fossil fuels such as coal, gas, and oil are making heatwaves even more dangerous.
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8. When is International Tiger Day celebrated?
a. 30 July
b. 29 July
c. 28 July
d. 27 July
Answer: b. 29 July
– Theme for 2026: Securing the Future of Tigers by Placing Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities at the Center.
– World Tiger Day was initiated in 2010 when it was recognized at the St. Petersburg Tiger Summit in Russia.
– The observance was declared by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).
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9. How many heritage sites in Ladakh were approved to be declared “Protected Monuments” in July 2026?
a. 5
b. 10
c. 15
d. 23
Answer: d. 23
– On 30 July 2026, the Lieutenant Governor (LG) of Ladakh, Vinay Kumar Saxena, approved their declaration as “Protected Monuments” under the Jammu and Kashmir Ancient Monuments Preservation Act.
– The list includes petroglyph sites, rock carvings, ancient caves, monasteries, forts, palaces, and inscriptions of Ladakh.
– Many of these sites were in a dilapidated condition and were under threat of destruction.
Protected Monument
– A protected monument is a site, structure, or object that receives legal protection under heritage laws for conservation and regulated maintenance.
– In India, such protection applies to monuments of archaeological, historical, or artistic importance.
Protected 23 Heritage Sites
– Sharnos – Petroglyph Site
– Shey – Maitreya Buddha Rock Carving (near the Indus Valley)
– Tingmosgang Fort
– Ancient Caves of Saspol
– Domkhar – Petroglyph Site
– Lehdo – Petroglyph Site
– Alchi – Petroglyph Site
– Murgi – Petroglyph Site
– Stongde Gompa
– Hunder – Onpo Meditation Cave
– Hunder Cave
– Dechen Tsomo Khar
– Stampuk Cave
– Chamba Rock Carving
– Jong Chamba (Maitreya Buddha Rock Carving)
– Hunder – Rock-Cut Buddha Statue
– Diggar – Rigsum Gonbo Rock Carving
– Diggar – Chamba Karpo (White Maitreya Buddha)
– Diggar (Tokpo) – Chamba Rock Carving
– Diggar – Pholong Singe (Lion-Faced Rock)
– Sumur Fort
– Yorbaltak, Kargil – Rock Inscription
– Mangmor, Kargil – Petroglyph Site
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10. When is International Friendship Day celebrated?
a. 28 July
b. 29 July
c. 30 July
d. 31 July
Answer: c. 30 July
– The United Nations General Assembly adopted the International Day of Friendship in 2011.
– The day was proclaimed with the idea that friendship among peoples, countries, cultures, and individuals can inspire peace efforts and build bridges between communities.
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11. When is the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons observed?
a. 28 July
b. 29 July
c. 30 July
d. 31 July
Answer: c. 30 July
– Theme for 2026: Trapped Behind the Scam
– The day has been declared by the United Nations.
– It is observed to raise awareness about the situation of victims of trafficking in persons and to promote and protect their rights.
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