Current Affairs Quiz 20th July 2026 Quiz

Exp. 20 July – International Chess Day

International Chess Day is observed every year on 20 July to celebrate the game of chess and promote its role in education, culture, and international cooperation.

The day commemorates the establishment of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) on 20 July 1924 in Paris, France.

The United Nations officially proclaimed 20 July as International Chess Day in 2019, recognising chess as a game that promotes fairness, inclusion, critical thinking, and peace.

Exp. Kerala-Based HEX20 Launches Second Satellite ‘KOYO’ Aboard SpaceX Transporter-17 Mission

Kerala-based private spacetech startup HEX20 successfully launched its second satellite, KOYO (Kinetic Optical Yaw Observer), aboard SpaceX’s Transporter-17 mission.

The launch took place from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, USA, marking another milestone for India’s private space sector.

KOYO was developed for National Central University (NCU), Taiwan, and is designed as a multi-payload technology demonstration and space qualification satellite.

Exp. Indian Chess Stars Nominated for Inaugural FIDE Excellence Awards

The inaugural FIDE Excellence Awards will be held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, alongside the 46th Chess Olympiad in September to honour outstanding chess players.

World Champion D. Gukesh, R. Praggnanandhaa, and Arjun Erigaisi have been shortlisted among the 10 nominees for the Best Male Chess Player award, along with World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen.

Divya Deshmukh, Koneru Humpy, and R. Vaishali have been nominated for the Best Female Chess Player award, recognising their exceptional performances in international chess.

Exp. GAIL Signs MoU with KABIL to Strengthen India’s Critical Minerals Security

GAIL (India) Limited has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Khanij Bidesh India Limited (KABIL) to enhance cooperation in the critical minerals sector.

The partnership aims to strengthen India’s long-term resource security by ensuring access to critical and strategic minerals essential for economic growth and clean energy technologies.

Exp. RBI Grants NBFC Registration to Delhivery Financial Services

Delhivery Financial Services Private Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Delhivery Limited, has received approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for a Certificate of Registration (CoR).

The approval allows the company to operate as a Type-II Non-Banking Financial Company – Non-Deposit Taking (NBFC-ND), enabling it to provide financial services without accepting public deposits.

Exp. NITI Aayog Releases Investment Friendliness Index; Gujarat Tops Rankings with Four Other States

NITI Aayog has launched the Investment Friendliness Index (IFI) to rank States and Union Territories based on the quality of their investment ecosystem.

The IFI evaluates regions on key parameters including infrastructure, business climate, financial health, regulatory environment, and government policies.

States and UTs are classified into four categories: Top Performers (above 50), Frontrunners (45–50), Emerging Performers (40–<45), and Aspiring States (below 40).

Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Goa, and Odisha have emerged as the Top Performers in the Investment Friendliness Index.

States and Union Territories were evaluated under three peer groups: Large States, Hilly & North-Eastern States, and Union Territories & City States.

• Among the Large States, Gujarat secured the 1st rank in the Investment Friendliness Index.
• Uttarakhand emerged as the top-ranked state in the Hilly and North-Eastern States category.
• Goa ranked first among Union Territories & City States, followed by Delhi and Chandigarh.

Exp. Ukraine Parliament Approves Serhii Koretskyi as New Prime Minister

Ukraine’s Parliament approved Serhii Koretskyi as the new Prime Minister following a nomination by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a major government reshuffle.

Koretskyi previously served as CEO of Naftogaz, Ukraine’s state-owned oil and gas company, since May 2025 and was chosen for his expertise in strengthening the country’s energy sector ahead of another wartime winter.

About Ukraine

• Capital- Kyiv
• Currency – Hryvnia
• President – Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Exp. Harjit Singh Grewal Appointed Chairperson of National Commission for Minorities

Harjit Singh Grewal was appointed as the Chairperson of the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) by the Ministry of Minority Affairs, filling the vacancy left after Iqbal Singh Lalpura’s tenure ended in April 2025.

The National Commission for Minorities (NCM) is a statutory body established under the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992, to safeguard the rights and interests of minority communities in India.

Harjit Singh Grewal will serve a three-year term from the date of assuming office. Munawari Begum has been appointed as Vice-Chairperson, while Glenn E. Souza Ticlo has been appointed as a Member of the Commiss

Recent Appointments

• Secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) – Dr. Srinivasa Kumar Tummala
• 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

Exp. Pulitzer-Winning Political Cartoonist Pat Oliphant Passes Away at 90

Pulitzer Prize-winning political cartoonist Pat Oliphant passed away at the age of 90 at his home in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Born in Adelaide, Australia, Oliphant won the Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Cartooning in 1967 and became one of the world’s most influential political cartoonists, with his work syndicated in hundreds of newspapers.

Exp. Indian Navy to Commission Indigenous Mahe-Class ASW Craft INS Malvan

The Indian Navy will commission INS Malvan on 22 July 2026, the second Mahe-class Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), built by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), Kochi.

INS Malvan has over 80% indigenous content, showcasing India’s growing self-reliance in naval shipbuilding under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

Designed for coastal and shallow-water operations, the Mahe-class ASW-SWC enhances the Indian Navy’s anti-submarine warfare and maritime security capabilities with advanced indigenous technology.

Exp. Indian Navy to Host Operation Southern Readiness 26-2 Maritime Exercise in Kochi

Operation Southern Readiness 26-2, a multinational maritime security training exercise, will be held at the Southern Naval Command, Kochi, from 20–23 July 2026.

The Indian Navy will conduct the four-day exercise in collaboration with the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) under Combined Task Force (CTF) 154.

CTF 154, the CMF’s dedicated training task force, focuses on maritime security training, professional development, and operational coordination among partner navies.

Exp. MAHE and Dhruva Space Partner to Establish ASCENT Space Technology Centre in Manipa

Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) and Dhruva Space signed an MoU to establish the ASCENT (Advanced Space Capability, Engineering and New-space Technologies) Centre at the MAHE Manipal campus, Karnataka.

The ASCENT Centre will promote space systems engineering, applied research, mission development, and technology validation, with dedicated facilities for spacecraft development, integration, testing, and qualification.

Expected to be inaugurated in late 2026, the centre will support student-led satellite and hosted payload missions, offering hands-on experience from spacecraft design to launch and on-orbit operations.

Exp. IndusInd Bank Integrates with EPFO to Enable Seamless Digital PF Contributions

IndusInd Bank has integrated with the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), enabling organisations to make Provident Fund (PF) contributions directly through the EPFO portal.

Employers can now select IndusInd Bank as the payment option on the EPFO portal and complete transactions using the Bank’s Corporate Internet Banking and Mobile Banking platforms.

The integration simplifies digital statutory payments, allowing IndusInd Bank customers to remit EPFO contributions seamlessly through the EPFO portal.

Exp. FATF Updates Global Watchlists; Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iraq Added to Grey List

FATF updated its monitored jurisdictions list after the June 17–19, 2026 Plenary, removing Algeria and Namibia from the increased monitoring (Grey List) while adding Bosnia and Herzegovina and Iraq.

Myanmar continues on the High-Risk Jurisdictions subject to a Call for Action (Black List), while the status of Iran and North Korea (DPRK) also remains unchanged.

FATF urged countries to apply enhanced due diligence for high-risk jurisdictions but clarified that humanitarian aid, remittances, legitimate NGO activities, and lawful trade and business transactions should not be disrupted.

About Financial Action Task Force (FATF)

• Founded – 1989
• Headquarters – Paris, France
• Membership – 40
• President – Giles Thomson (United Kingdom)

Exp. Virendra Kumar Inaugurates 31st Divya Kala Mela in Kolkata to Promote Divyang Entrepreneurs

Union Minister Virendra Kumar inaugurated the 31st Divya Kala Mela at Ravindra Sadan, Kolkata (West Bengal).

The mela aims to promote and market products, handicrafts, and craftsmanship created by Divyang (persons with disabilities) entrepreneurs, encouraging their economic empowerment.

This is the first edition of Divya Kala Mela jointly organised by the Central Government and the Government of West Bengal, strengthening support for inclusive entrepreneurship.