Current Affairs Quiz 18th and 19th July 2026 Quiz

Exp. Bharat Tex 2026 Showcases India’s Textile Strength with Global Participation

Bharat Tex 2026, India’s largest global textile event, was held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, marking its third edition.

International exhibitors from 14 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, Portugal, Spain, New Zealand, South Korea, South Africa, and Nepal, participated in the event.

The event aims to promote India’s textile and apparel industry, boost textile exports, attract global investment, and encourage innovation and sustainability.

Exp. India Post Achieves Record ₹4,009 Crore Q1 Revenue in FY 2026–27

India Post recorded its highest-ever first-quarter revenue of ₹4,009 crore in Q1 of FY 2026–27, registering a 22% year-on-year growth, as announced by Union Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia.

India Post achieved 81% of its Q1 revenue target (₹4,009 crore against ₹4,951 crore) and has set an annual revenue target of ₹19,803 crore for FY 2026–27, reflecting its focus on modernisation, business transformation, and customer-centric services.

Exp. Mangaluru International Airport Receives ACI Level 5 Customer Experience Accreditation

Mangaluru International Airport has received Level 5 Accreditation under the Airports Council International (ACI) Airport Customer Experience Accreditation Programme, the highest global recognition for airport customer experience management.

It has become the third airport in the Adani Airport Holdings Ltd. (AAHL) network, after Mumbai and Ahmedabad, to achieve this accreditation.

The airport is the second in Karnataka, after Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru, and only the fourth airport in India to receive this prestigious global accreditation.

The ACI Airport Customer Experience Accreditation Programme is the aviation industry’s only global framework that evaluates how airports integrate customer experience into their strategy, culture, governance, operations, and service delivery.

Exp. India’s Samriddh Gram Initiative Wins WSIS Prizes 2026 for Advancing Rural Digital Transformation

India’s Samriddh Gram Initiative, launched by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) under the BharatNet Project, won the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Prizes 2026 in the Enabling Environment category.

The initiative delivers integrated phygital services through Samriddhi Kendras, providing healthcare, education, agriculture support, governance, financial inclusion, e-commerce, telemedicine, digital classrooms, and high-speed broadband connectivity in rural areas.

Union Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia inaugurated the first Samriddhi Kendra at Umri village, Guna district (Madhya Pradesh). The initiative is currently being implemented in Ari and Umri (Madhya Pradesh), Chaurawala (Uttar Pradesh), and Narakoduru (Andhra Pradesh).

What is Samriddh Gram Initiative?

• Samriddh Gram Initiative is a Department of Telecommunications (DoT) initiative under the BharatNet Project that delivers integrated rural services through a phygital model (physical infrastructure + digital platforms).
• The initiative operates through Samriddhi Kendras, which serve as one-stop service hubs providing high-speed broadband, FTTH connectivity, and public Wi-Fi in villages.
• These Kendras offer services such as telemedicine (healthcare), digital classrooms (education), agricultural advisory, online government services, financial inclusion (banking & digital payments), and e-commerce access.

Exp. Animesh Kujur Clocks Fastest-Ever 100m by an Indian on Foreign Soil

Indian sprinter Animesh Kujur recorded the fastest-ever 100m time by an Indian on foreign soil at the Fast Arms Fast Legs Meet, a World Athletics Continental Tour Challenger event.

He finished second in the men’s 100m final with a personal best timing of 10.14 seconds.

Animesh Kujur’s 10.14-second run is the second-fastest 100m time by an Indian, behind the national record of 10.09 seconds held by Gurindervir Singh, set at the Federation Cup 2026 in Ranchi.

Exp. The book ‘The Voice of Justice: Justice Gavai Speaks’ has been released

Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan released the book “The Voice of Justice: Justice Gavai Speaks” at Uprashtrapati Bhavan.

Edited by Prof. (Dr.) S. Sivakumar and published by Thomson Reuters in association with the Commonwealth Legal Education Association (C.L.E.A.), the book compiles the speeches, lectures, and reflections of former Chief Justice of India Justice B.R. Gavai.

Exp. PM Modi Flags Off India’s First Hydrogen-Powered Train, Setting a Global Benchmark

Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off India’s first hydrogen-powered train between Jind and Sonipat at Jind railway station.

The hydrogen-powered train, developed using indigenous technology, marks a major step towards clean, sustainable, and zero-emission rail mobility, with water vapour as its only by-product.

With this launch, India joins Germany, Japan, China, and the United States as countries operating hydrogen-powered trains. While countries like Germany and China typically operate 2–3 coach hydrogen trains, India has also set a global benchmark by developing a 10-coach hydrogen train with a 3,200-horsepower propulsion system, capable of carrying around 2,600 passengers.

The train is equipped with advanced multi-layer safety systems to detect hydrogen leaks, heat, flames, and smoke, while a dedicated hydrogen facility at Jind has been established to support safe and reliable operations.

Exp. Indian Navy to organise Operation Southern Readiness 26-2 in Kochi

The Indian Navy will host Operation Southern Readiness 26-2 at the Southern Naval Command, Kochi, from 20–23 July 2026, in partnership with the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) under the Indian Navy-led Combined Task Force 154 (CTF 154).

The four-day multinational training programme will include classroom sessions, simulator-based training, and practical exercises covering Maritime Law, Maritime Domain Awareness, Counter-Narcotics, Force Protection, Asymmetric Threats, maritime uncrewed systems, Damage Control, Firefighting, Survival at Sea, and Boarding procedures.

Exp. Dr. Srinivasa Kumar Tummala Appointed Secretary of Ministry of Earth Sciences

The Centre has appointed internationally renowned oceanographer Dr. Srinivasa Kumar Tummala as the Secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) to strengthen India’s capabilities in deep-ocean exploration, climate science, oceanography, and disaster early warning systems.

Currently serving as the Head of the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (IOTWMS) Secretariat under UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) in Perth, Australia, Dr Tummala has been appointed for a two-year tenure, as approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC).

Recent Appointments

• CEO of Jio Platforms Ltd. (JPL) – Pankaj Pawar (replace Kiran Thomas)
• 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

Exp. MoHUA Approves Operational Guidelines for ₹9,585 Crore Parivartan Scheme to Replace Polluting Vehicles in NCR

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has approved the operational guidelines for the  Programme for Accelerated Renewal and Incentivization of Vehicle Assets for Reducing Transport Air Pollution and Network Emissions (PARIVARTAN) Scheme to replace old, polluting trucks and buses in the National Capital Region (NCR) with BS-VI-compliant or electric vehicles.

The scheme has a total outlay of ₹9,585 crore, including ₹5,041 crore as Central Government support, and will be implemented by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) through the National Capital Region Planning Board (NCRPB).

The scheme offers multiple incentives, including motor vehicle tax concessions, registration fee waivers, 5% interest subvention on vehicle loans, and a minimum 8% OEM discount on eligible new vehicles.

Additional benefits include monthly fuel voucher support for eligible diesel/CNG replacement vehicles, one-time financial assistance for electric replacement vehicles, and Certificate of Deposit (CoD) trading to encourage vehicle scrappage and reduce transport emissions.

Exp. Centre to Invest ₹200 Crore in Ather Energy Through India-Japan Fund

The Central Government will invest ₹200 crore in Ather Energy through the India-Japan Fund (IJF) as part of the company’s proposed ₹1,200-crore preferential fundraising.

The India-Japan Fund (IJF) is a $600 million (around ₹4,900 crore) bilateral investment fund jointly established by the Government of India and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), and is managed by National Investment and Infrastructure Fund Ltd. (NIIFL).

Under the preferential issue, the India-Japan Fund will subscribe to ₹200 crore worth of equity shares, while Hero MotoCorp will invest ₹960 crore through convertible warrants, alongside fresh capital from Ather Energy’s founders.

Exp. Navi Mumbai International Airport Launches First International Flight to Abu Dhabi

Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) launched its first scheduled international flight with Air India Express’ inaugural service to Abu Dhabi, marking the start of its international operations.

The Abu Dhabi route will operate three times a week, making NMIA the Mumbai Metropolitan Region’s second international gateway and enhancing connectivity between India and the UAE.

Navi Mumbai International Airport is a joint venture between the Adani Group and CIDCO (City and Industrial Development Corporation, Maharashtra). It currently handles around 150 daily air traffic movements and connects 46 domestic destinations.

Exp. 17 July – World Day for International Justice

World Day for International Justice is observed every year on 17 July to promote international criminal justice and strengthen the fight against genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the crime of aggression.

Theme 2026 – Promoting Justice, Accountability, and Human Rights Worldwide

The day commemorates the adoption of the Rome Statute on 17 July 1998, the treaty that established the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Exp. 17 July – World Emoji Day

World Emoji Day is observed every year on 17 July to celebrate the role of emojis in digital communication and their impact on modern online conversations.

The date 17 July was chosen because it appears on the calendar emoji used on many digital platforms.

The day encourages creativity, highlights the evolution of digital expression, and recognizes emojis as a universal language connecting people across cultures.

Exp. 18 July – Nelson Mandela International Day

Nelson Mandela International Day is observed every year on 18 July to honour the birth anniversary of Nelson Mandela, the former President of South Africa and Nobel Peace Prize laureate.

The day was declared by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in 2009 and was first observed in 2010.

It encourages people to dedicate 67 minutes of community service, symbolising Mandela’s 67 years of public service in promoting peace, justice, equality, and human rights.