Current Affairs Quiz 16th July 2026 Quiz

Exp. ICMR to Establish High-Altitude Medicine Research Centre in Himachal Pradesh’s Keylong

Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda will lay the foundation stone of the ICMR Centre for High Altitude Medicine and Public Health Research at Keylong, Himachal Pradesh.

The existing ICMR field station at Keylong will be upgraded into a multidisciplinary research hub to strengthen climate-resilient healthcare, biomedical research, and innovation in India’s Himalayan region.

The centre will conduct research on high-altitude physiology, acclimatisation, maternal & child health, disaster medicine, and use telemedicine, digital health, drones, and real-time public health surveillance to improve healthcare delivery in remote areas.

The centre will collaborate with AFMS, DRDO, Himachal Pradesh Government, and national & international research institutions, supporting Atmanirbhar Bharat, tribal health, disaster preparedness, and climate-resilient health systems.

Exp. Union Cabinet Approves Additional ₹30,000 Crore Investment in NIIF

The Union Cabinet has approved an additional ₹30,000 crore investment in the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF), increasing the Government of India’s total commitment from ₹30,000 crore to ₹60,000 crore.

The additional funding will support NIIF Infrastructure Fund II, with a target corpus of around ₹30,000 crore, to invest in transportation, energy, digital infrastructure, urban infrastructure, electric mobility, and other strategic sectors.

NIIF is India’s sovereign-anchored investment platform, managed by National Investment and Infrastructure Fund Limited (NIIFL), with the Government of India holding a 49% equity stake. It has attracted investments from major global sovereign wealth funds, pension funds, and multilateral institutions.

Exp. AustralianSuper Commits AU$500 Million to India’s NIIF, Boosting Infrastructure Investment

Australia’s largest pension fund manager, AustralianSuper, has announced an investment of AU$500 million (over ₹3,300 crore) in India’s National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF).

With this latest investment, AustralianSuper’s total exposure in India across all asset classes has increased to AU$3.3 billion, reflecting strong confidence in India’s growth potential.

As of 31 December 2025, AustralianSuper managed over AU$410 billion in retirement savings for more than 3.6 million members across 485,000+ businesses, making it Australia’s largest pension fund manager.

Exp. England Women’s Cricket Legend Heather Knight Announces Retirement from International Cricket

Former England Women’s captain Heather Knight has announced her retirement from international cricket, ending a distinguished 16-year international career.

She retires as England Women’s most-capped player, having represented the country in 320 international matches. Her final international appearance came in the Test against India at Lord’s Cricket Ground, London.

Heather Knight became the first England cricketer (male or female) to score centuries in all three international formats—Tests, One-Day Internationals (ODIs), and Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is).

Recently Retired Players

• Tammy Beaumont (England) – International Cricket
• Stan Wawrinka (Swizerland) – Professional tennis
• Ben Stokes (England) – International Test Cricket
• Kane Williamson (New Zealand) – International cricket
• Vijay Shankar (India) – International Cricket

Exp. Jannik Sinner Retains Wimbledon Title, Becomes First Italian to Win Back-to-Back Championships

World No. 1 Jannik Sinner defeated Alexander Zverev in the Wimbledon 2026 men’s singles final to successfully defend his Wimbledon title.

Sinner became the first Italian and only the ninth player in the Open Era (since 1968) to win the Wimbledon men’s singles title in consecutive years.

After becoming the first Italian man to win the Wimbledon men’s singles title in 2025, Sinner retained the championship in 2026, joining the elite list of back-to-back Wimbledon champions.

Exp. Dhruva Space Becomes First Recipient of ₹60 Crore Investment from Antariksh Venture Capital Fund

Hyderabad-based Dhruva Space became the first company to receive investment from the ₹1,600 crore Antariksh Venture Capital Fund, securing ₹60 crore.

The Antariksh Venture Capital Fund is India’s sovereign space-tech fund, anchored by IN-SPACe (Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre) and managed by SIDBI Venture Capital Ltd to support private space startups.

The ₹60 crore investment is part of Dhruva Space’s ₹275 crore pre-Series B funding round and will be used to expand satellite manufacturing, space infrastructure, and critical technology development. The company currently has an order book exceeding ₹500 crore.

Exp. China Successfully Tests Reusable Rocket Retrieval System with Long March 10B

China successfully tested an experimental rocket-retrieval system, recovering the Long March 10B booster with a net mounted on an offshore platform, marking a major step toward reusable rocket technology.

The test marked China’s first successful retrieval of an orbital-class rocket. The Long March 10B also successfully placed a satellite into its preset orbit before the booster was recovered.

Developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT), the Long March 10B is comparable to SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and is designed to carry at least 16 metric tonnes to low-Earth orbit, supporting China’s efforts to advance reusable launch systems.

Exp. Jio Platforms Appoints Pankaj Pawar as New Chief Executive Officer

Jio Platforms Ltd. (JPL) has appointed Pankaj Pawar as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

Pankaj Pawar succeeds Kiran Thomas, who previously served as the CEO of Jio Platforms Ltd. (JPL).

Recent Appointments

• President of FATF – Giles Thomson; for 2026–2028 (replace Elisa de Anda Madrazo of Mexico)
• Director of NCRB – Amit Garg
• Director General of BPR&D – Alok Kumar Mittal
• Director of SVPNPA – Sujeet Pandey
• New Chief Economist and Economic Counsellor in IMF – Silvana Tenreyro (replace Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas)

Exp. Wholesale inflation in June surged to 9.9%

India’s Wholesale Price Index (WPI)-based inflation increased to 9.9% in June, up from 9.7% in May, mainly due to higher fuel and food prices.

The Producer Price Index (PPI) inflation rose to 9.6% in June, compared to 9.4% in May, reflecting higher production costs across industries.

Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry released the All India Wholesale Price Index (Base Year 2022-23).

The major contributors to the rise in WPI inflation were mineral oils (petroleum products), food articles, manufacture of basic metals, and chemicals & chemical products. The June data is the second release under the new WPI series with base year 2022–23.

Recent WPI-based Wholesale inflation in India

• January 2026 – 1.81%
• February 2026 – 2.13%
• March 2026 – 3.9%
• April 2026 – 8.3%
• May 2026 – 9.7%

Exp. NABARD Launches ‘Gramodyam’ Programme to Promote Rural Entrepreneurship

The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) launched ‘Gramodyam’, a rural entrepreneurship development programme, on the occasion of its 45th Foundation Day.

The programme was launched by NABARD Chairman Shaji K.V. and is being implemented in collaboration with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) through the Institute for Industrial Development (IID).

Gramodyam aims to identify, nurture, mentor, and empower aspiring rural entrepreneurs by providing industry-relevant skills, entrepreneurial training, and access to essential support systems.

Exp. Lakhanpur in Jammu and Kashmir Selected for PM SVANidhi Street Food Hub Initiative

Lakhanpur in Kathua district, Jammu & Kashmir, has been selected among the first towns in India for the development of a Street Food Hub under the PM SVANidhi initiative.

Led by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), the initiative aims to develop organised, hygienic, and modern vending spaces, while promoting local cuisine and supporting street vendors.

Under the scheme, up to 50 Street Food Hubs will be developed across India with ₹4 crore financial assistance for each project. The Lakhanpur hub will be developed in two clusters and will showcase Dogra cuisine, benefiting pilgrims, tourists, and local vendors.

Exp. Department of Posts and TRAI Sign MoU for India’s Largest Village-Level Telecom Network Survey

The Department of Posts (Ministry of Communications) and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to conduct India’s largest village-level telecom network performance survey.

The one-year survey will assess the mobile network performance of Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio, Vodafone Idea (Vi), and Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) across more than 5.68 lakh villages across India.

Exp. Gujarat’s Unjha Cumin and Unjha Fennel Receive Geographical Indication Tags

Unjha Cumin (Jeera) and Unjha Fennel (Variyali) from North Gujarat have been granted Geographical Indication (GI) tags by the Geographical Indications Registry of India. The registration has been made in the name of the Unjha Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) under Class 30 (Spices).

A Geographical Indication (GI) identifies products whose quality, reputation, or characteristics are linked to a specific geographical origin. In India, GI registration is governed by the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999.

Unjha, located in North Gujarat, is one of India’s major spice trading hubs, particularly known for cumin and fennel. The GI tags are expected to enhance the products’ market identity, authenticity, and value.

Exp. Nita Ambani Receives Fortune India Most Powerful Women Honour

Nita Ambani, Founder and Chairperson of the Reliance Foundation, received the Fortune India Most Powerful Women Honour at the Fortune India Most Powerful Women event held in Mumbai, Maharashtra.

Top Women Leaders: The Top Five Most Powerful Women in India include Nita Ambani (1st), Roshni Nadar (2nd), the Reddy Sisters of Apollo Hospitals (3rd), Savitri Jindal (4th), and Dr. Priti Adani (5th).

Recognition of Leadership: The Fortune India honour recognises outstanding leadership, business excellence, and contributions to social impact, highlighting the achievements of India’s most influential women leaders.

Exp. 15 July – World Youth Skills Day

World Youth Skills Day is observed every year on 15 July to highlight the importance of equipping young people with skills for employment, entrepreneurship, and sustainable development.

Theme 2026 – Skills for a shared future.

The day was designated by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in 2014 and was first observed in 2015.