Current Affairs 31 July 2026

At a glance

the top events

The most important events of this page, and how many news items each topic holds.

Top events

1. 31 Jul — The Commonwealth Peace Mediation and Rule of Law Conference was held in Jaipur from 31 July to 2 August 2026. About 30 of the 52 Commonwealth countries took part.
2. 31 Jul — Army chief General Dhiraj Seth launched the Extreme Weather Grade (XWG) diesel on 31 July 2026. Unlike ordinary diesel, it does not freeze or block fuel filters and works down to minus 42°C.
3. 31 Jul — The Union Cabinet on 31 July 2026 extended PM-KISAN for five more years, up to 2030-31, with ₹3.5 lakh crore. Eligible landholding farmer families get ₹6,000 a year in three equal instalments directly in their bank accounts.
4. 31 Jul — President Droupadi Murmu gave assent to the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Act, 2026. Prison terms for individuals rise to 5-10 years and every state must set up fast-track courts for such cases.
5. 31 Jul — The Union Cabinet approved an expanded Khelo India Scheme along with stronger help for National Sports Federations, with a combined outlay of Rs 36,441 crore for 2026-27 to 2030-31.
6. 31 Jul — The Cabinet approved the National Offshore Exploration Scheme, 'Samudra Manthan', with an outlay of Rs 84,084 crore up to 2030-31, to boost offshore oil and gas exploration and reduce import dependence.
7. 31 Jul — The Cabinet approved the Pradhan Mantri Surya Sarovar Yojana with Rs 5,070 crore to build 5,000 MW of floating solar power with battery storage, offering Rs 1 crore of central aid per megawatt.
8. 31 Jul — Varsha Ashok Aglawe took charge as the 54th Director General of the Geological Survey of India, becoming the first woman to head the 176-year-old organisation. She succeeded Asit Saha.

News by topic

Government & States

4 one-liners

Economy & Banking

3 one-liners

Science, Defence & Environment

3 one-liners

Sports, Days & Culture

1 one-liners

Awards, Appointments & Books

3 one-liners

Government & States

4 one-liners

Policy · laws · schemes · states.

National

• 31 Jul — The Commonwealth Peace Mediation and Rule of Law Conference was held in Jaipur from 31 July to 2 August 2026. About 30 of the 52 Commonwealth countries took part.
• 31 Jul — The Union Cabinet on 31 July 2026 extended PM-KISAN for five more years, up to 2030-31, with ₹3.5 lakh crore. Eligible landholding farmer families get ₹6,000 a year in three equal instalments directly in their bank accounts.
• 31 Jul — President Droupadi Murmu gave assent to the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Act, 2026. Prison terms for individuals rise to 5-10 years and every state must set up fast-track courts for such cases.
• 31 Jul — The Union Cabinet approved an expanded Khelo India Scheme along with stronger help for National Sports Federations, with a combined outlay of Rs 36,441 crore for 2026-27 to 2030-31.

Economy & Banking

3 one-liners

RBI · markets · trade · reports.

Economy & Banking

• 31 Jul — Rajasthan's new policy to lease government land for fuel outlets is to be finalised by 31 July 2026.
• 31 Jul — The Cabinet approved the National Offshore Exploration Scheme, 'Samudra Manthan', with an outlay of Rs 84,084 crore up to 2030-31, to boost offshore oil and gas exploration and reduce import dependence.
• 31 Jul — The Cabinet approved the Pradhan Mantri Surya Sarovar Yojana with Rs 5,070 crore to build 5,000 MW of floating solar power with battery storage, offering Rs 1 crore of central aid per megawatt.

Science, Defence & Environment

3 one-liners

Space · tech · forces · ecology.

Defence & Security

• 31 Jul — The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) met on 31 July 2026 and cleared arms-purchase proposals of about ₹52,000 crore for the three services.
• 31 Jul — In the DAC approvals, the Army gets an anti-UAV electronic warfare system and anti-tank missiles, the Navy gets anti-submarine mines and ship-borne drones, and the Air Force gets a high-altitude long-endurance pseudo-satellite.
• 31 Jul — Army chief General Dhiraj Seth launched the Extreme Weather Grade (XWG) diesel on 31 July 2026. Unlike ordinary diesel, it does not freeze or block fuel filters and works down to minus 42°C.

Sports, Days & Culture

1 one-liners

Results · important days · heritage.

Important Days

• 31 Jul — World Ranger Day on 31 July honours forest rangers killed or injured on duty. It was first marked in 2007 in memory of eight rangers killed at Virunga National Park.

Awards, Appointments & Books

3 one-liners

Honours · new posts · books · obituaries.

Appointments

Obituaries

• 31 Jul — General Vishwa Nath Sharma (retd), who was the 14th Chief of the Army Staff from 1988 to 1990, died in New Delhi. He was the younger brother of Major Somnath Sharma, the first Param Vir Chakra recipient.
• 31 Jul — Italian football great Franco Baresi died at 66. He played his whole career for AC Milan, captained the club for 15 seasons and led Italy to the 1994 World Cup final.

Quick quiz

test yourself

Practice questions on this period. Tap an option to check your answer.

Fill in the blank: one-liner flashcards

The Commonwealth Peace Mediation and Rule of Law Conference_____Jaipur from 31 July to 2 August 2026. About 30 of the 52 Commonwealth countries took part.

was held in

President Droupadi Murmu gave assent to the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Act, 2026_____5-10 years and every state must set up fast-track courts for such cases.

. Prison terms for individuals rise to

The Cabinet approved the National Offshore Exploration Scheme, 'Samudra Manthan'_____Rs 84,084 crore up to 2030-31, to boost offshore oil and gas exploration and reduce import dependence.

, with an outlay of

Rajasthan's new policy to lease government land for fuel outlets is to be finalised by _____.

31 July 2026

The _____ met on 31 July 2026 and cleared arms-purchase proposals of about ₹52,000 crore for the three services.

Defence Acquisition Council (DAC)

Army chief General _____ launched the Extreme Weather Grade (XWG) diesel on 31 July 2026. Unlike ordinary diesel, it does not freeze or block fuel filters and works down to minus 42°C.

Dhiraj Seth

The Union Cabinet on 31 July 2026 extended _____ for five more years, up to 2030-31, with ₹3.5 lakh crore. Eligible landholding farmer families get ₹6,000 a year in three equal instalments directly in their bank accounts.

PM-KISAN

The Union Cabinet approved an expanded _____ along with stronger help for National Sports Federations, with a combined outlay of Rs 36,441 crore for 2026-27 to 2030-31.

Khelo India Scheme

The Cabinet approved the _____ with Rs 5,070 crore to build 5,000 MW of floating solar power with battery storage, offering Rs 1 crore of central aid per megawatt.

Pradhan Mantri Surya Sarovar Yojana

_____ took charge as the 54th Director General of the Geological Survey of India, becoming the first woman to head the 176-year-old organisation. She succeeded Asit Saha.

Varsha Ashok Aglawe

MCQs

1. Who became the first woman Director General of the Geological Survey of India?

   1. Anita Karwal
   2. Monisha Chakraborty
   3. Varsha Ashok Aglawe
   4. Alka Nangia Arora
   Show answer

   Answer: Varsha Ashok Aglawe — She is the 54th DG of the 176-year-old organisation and took charge on 31 July 2026.

2. Up to what temperature does the Extreme Weather Grade (XWG) diesel work without freezing?

   1. Minus 42°C
   2. Minus 20°C
   3. Minus 60°C
   4. Minus 10°C
   Show answer

   Answer: Minus 42°C — The diesel launched by Army chief General Dhiraj Seth works down to minus 42 degrees Celsius.

3. What is the combined outlay approved by the Cabinet for the expanded Khelo India Scheme and support to National Sports Federations?

   1. Rs 36,441 crore
   2. Rs 8,000 crore
   3. Rs 15,500 crore
   4. Rs 84,084 crore
   Show answer

   Answer: Rs 36,441 crore — The Cabinet approved Rs 36,441 crore for 2026-27 to 2030-31.

4. Until which year was PM-KISAN extended by the Cabinet on 31 July 2026?

   1. 2030-31
   2. 2028-29
   3. 2029-30
   4. 2031-32
   Show answer

   Answer: 2030-31 — The Cabinet extended PM-KISAN for five more years, up to 2030-31, with ₹3.5 lakh crore.

5. Which body cleared arms-purchase proposals of about ₹52,000 crore on 31 July 2026?

   1. Cabinet Committee on Security
   2. DRDO
   3. Defence Acquisition Council
   4. National Security Council
   Show answer

   Answer: Defence Acquisition Council — The Defence Acquisition Council cleared proposals for the Army, Navy and Air Force.

6. The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Act, 2026 raised the prison term for individuals involved in paper leaks to:

   1. 1 to 3 years
   2. 3 to 5 years
   3. 10 to 14 years
   4. 5 to 10 years
   Show answer

   Answer: 5 to 10 years — The earlier term was 3 to 5 years; the amendment makes it 5 to 10 years and requires fast-track courts.

7. The 'Samudra Manthan' scheme approved by the Cabinet is meant mainly for:

   1. Deep-sea fishing
   2. Offshore oil and gas exploration
   3. Port modernisation
   4. Coastal tourism
   Show answer

   Answer: Offshore oil and gas exploration — It is the National Offshore Exploration Scheme with an outlay of Rs 84,084 crore.

8. How many new retail fuel outlets will HPCL open in Rajasthan?

   1. 304
   2. 204
   3. 404
   4. 150
   Show answer

   Answer: 304 — HPCL will invest about ₹400 crore; the land lease policy is due by 31 July 2026.

9. What is the total budget of the Mobile Phone Manufacturing Scheme?

   1. ₹1,27,500 crore
   2. ₹95,692 crore
   3. ₹3.5 lakh crore
   4. ₹62,500 crore
   Show answer

   Answer: ₹62,500 crore — The scheme, approved on 15 July 2026, has ₹62,500 crore for 2026-27 to 2030-31.

10. Which scheme with a budget of ₹1,27,500 crore was approved on 15 July 2026?

    1. Mobile Phone Manufacturing Scheme
    2. Semicon 2.0
    3. PLI-LSEM
    4. IndiaAI Mission
    Show answer

    Answer: Semicon 2.0 — Semicon 2.0 has six pillars, including design, more fabs and advanced packaging.