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Daily Current Affairs: 16 July 2026

Current affairs of 16 July 2026: Seafarer-First Initiative for Gulf Shipping Safety; Codex Alimentarius Commission: India’s Wins at CAC49; Thukkachi Abathsahayeswarar Temple Wins UNESCO Award, and 12 more topics. Key facts for every exam, with a quiz.

Take the quiz (24 questions)July 2026

In this issue: 15 topics

Government Schemes

Seafarer-First Initiative for Gulf Shipping Safety
Semicon 2.0: ₹1.27 Lakh Crore Boost for India’s Chip Mission
Gramodyam: NABARD Rural Entrepreneurship Programme Launched
Viksit Bharat Yuva Connect Programme: Anti-Drug Drive

Banking & Finance

RBI Draft Data Governance Guidance for Regulated Entities
Japan Crypto Law: Cryptocurrency Classified as Financial Assets

Economy

Index of Services Production: MoSPI’s Trial Services Output Gauge
Q1 FY27 Exports at USD 232.73 Billion: Trade Data
US Federal Reserve Review Panels: Rajan, Chetty and Sharma Lead

International Affairs

Codex Alimentarius Commission: India’s Wins at CAC49
Codex CAC49 Adopts Seven India-Led Food Standards

Science & Technology

NIDAR 2.0: MeitY Drone Challenge on Indigenous Processors
Google India-Tripura MoU for AI Ecosystem

Reports & Indexes

IAF Holds Third Place in WDMMA Air Power Rankings 2026

Awards & Persons

Thukkachi Abathsahayeswarar Temple Wins UNESCO Award

Government Schemes

Government Schemes

1. Seafarer-First Initiative for Gulf Shipping Safety

Sarbananda Sonowal launched Seafarer-First under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
It protects Indian crew in the Gulf region amid West Asian security threats.
Attacks on two merchant vessels affected 30 Indian seafarers among 46 crew.

Full notes and 3 MCQs ›

Government Schemes

2. Semicon 2.0: ₹1.27 Lakh Crore Boost for India’s Chip Mission

The CCEA, with the Prime Minister in the chair, cleared Semicon 2.0, the next stage of the India Semiconductor Mission.
Cleared outlay: ₹1.27 lakh crore.
A six-pillar plan runs from design to supply chains; Semicon 1.0 (2021) had ₹76,000 crore and 12 projects.

Full notes and 3 MCQs ›

Government Schemes

3. Gramodyam: NABARD Rural Entrepreneurship Programme Launched

NABARD Chairman Dr. Shaji K. V. launched Gramodyam on 13 July 2026, NABARD's 45th Foundation Day.
Gramodyam is a digital-first hybrid programme of online and offline training in all States and UTs.
The three-year pilot targets about 4,000 rural entrepreneurs.

Full notes and 3 MCQs ›

Government Schemes

4. Viksit Bharat Yuva Connect Programme: Anti-Drug Drive

MY Bharat will run the Viksit Bharat Yuva Connect Programme (VBYCP) in colleges and universities.
The campaign runs from 16 July to 15 August 2026.
Theme: 'Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat'; youth icons will lead awareness sessions against substance abuse.

Full notes and 3 MCQs ›

Banking & Finance

Polity & Governance

5. RBI Draft Data Governance Guidance for Regulated Entities

RBI's draft note tells banks and other REs what it expects on data governance.
Each RE needs its own DGF that fits within its risk management approach.
The framework must scale with the entity's size, complexity, business model, technology and operations.
It must be reviewed at least yearly, or sooner after major changes.

Full notes and 3 MCQs ›

Banking & Finance

6. Japan Crypto Law: Cryptocurrency Classified as Financial Assets

Japan's Parliament passed a law classifying cryptocurrencies as financial assets.
Crypto moves from the Payment Services Act to the financial regulatory framework.
Stricter rules follow, including insider trading provisions and harsher penalties for unregistered crypto trading.

Full notes and 3 MCQs ›

Economy

7. Index of Services Production: MoSPI’s Trial Services Output Gauge

MoSPI issued the trial Index of Services Production (ISP) for April 2026.
ISP is a monthly gauge of real services output, the services counterpart of the IIP.
Base year is 2024-25; it covers 19 formal service sub-sectors, about 60% of the services economy.

Full notes and 3 MCQs ›

8. Q1 FY27 Exports at USD 232.73 Billion: Trade Data

India's total exports touched USD 232.73 billion in Q1 FY27 (April to June 2026).
Imports in the same quarter stood at USD 270.15 billion.
Merchandise exports rose to USD 129.32 billion.
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry released the figures.

Full notes and 3 MCQs ›

9. US Federal Reserve Review Panels: Rajan, Chetty and Sharma Lead

Raghuram Rajan, Raj Chetty and Asha Sharma were named by the US Federal Reserve to head task forces on its policy framework.
The panels will study balance sheet policy and the economic data used in decisions.
They will also assess how AI affects productivity and employment.

Full notes and 3 MCQs ›

International Affairs

International Relations

10. Codex Alimentarius Commission: India’s Wins at CAC49

CAC49 in Geneva adopted seven international food standards and guidelines prepared under India's leadership.
India-led: dried coriander seeds, fresh curry leaves; co-chaired: vanilla, large cardamom.
India became Co-Chair of the new NFPS working group; a cashew kernel standard was approved for development.

Full notes and 3 MCQs ›

Agriculture & Rural Development

11. Codex CAC49 Adopts Seven India-Led Food Standards

The 49th Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC49) adopted seven standards and guidelines developed under India's leadership.
The Commission approved India's proposal to draw up a global Codex standard for cashew kernels.
The outcome strengthens India's role in setting global food standards.

Full notes and 3 MCQs ›

Science & Technology

Science & Technology

12. NIDAR 2.0: MeitY Drone Challenge on Indigenous Processors

MeitY and Drone Federation India launched NIDAR 2.0 under the SwaYaan Initiative.
It promotes drones powered by indigenous VEGA processors.
The prize pool exceeds ₹65 lakh, rewarding autonomous drones and home-grown drone parts.

Full notes and 3 MCQs ›

Science & Technology

13. Google India-Tripura MoU for AI Ecosystem

Google India signed an MoU with the Government of Tripura to build the state's AI ecosystem.
Areas covered: cloud infrastructure, digital governance and workforce development.
The pact supports an AI Centre of Excellence.
It also backs the Tripura IT & Data Ecosystem Zone (TIDEZ).

Full notes and 3 MCQs ›

Reports & Indexes

Defence & Security

14. IAF Holds Third Place in WDMMA Air Power Rankings 2026

The Indian Air Force stayed third-most powerful air force in the WDMMA Global Air Power Rankings 2026.
Only the United States and Russia ranked above it.
The IAF has stayed ahead of China's Air Force for five consecutive years.

Full notes and 3 MCQs ›

Awards & Persons

History, Art & Culture

15. Thukkachi Abathsahayeswarar Temple Wins UNESCO Award

The Abathsahayeswarar Temple at Thukkachi, Tamil Nadu, won the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Award of Distinction 2024 for conservation.
A Shaivite shrine from the Later Chola era in Thanjavur district, it is still used for daily worship.
Its Kara Kovil design makes the sanctum look like a processional chariot.

Full notes and 3 MCQs ›

Test yourself

24 questions from the news of 16 July 2026, with answers and explanations.