India Becomes 123rd Member of WTO Fisheries Subsidies Agreement
On 20 July 2026, India became a party to the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies (AFS) by depositing its Instrument of Acceptance, becoming the 123rd WTO member to join the Agreement.
- Background: Adopted at the 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12), Geneva, Switzerland (June 2022), the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies (AFS) is the first WTO agreement with an environmental sustainability objective and entered into force on 15 September 2025.
- Purpose: The WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies aims to promote sustainable fisheries and marine resource conservation by prohibiting subsidies linked to illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, overfishing of depleted stocks, and harmful fishing practices.
Bharat Tex 2026 Held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi from July 14 -17, 2026
In July 2026, Union Minister Giriraj Singh, Ministry of Textiles (MoT), inaugurated the 3rd edition of Bharat Tex, India’s flagship global textile event, held from 14 to 17 July 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, Delhi.
- Key Outcomes: CITI forged a collaboration with the European Apparel and Textile Confederation (EURATEX) to establish a bilateral industry platform i.e. the European Union (EU)-India Textile and Apparel Dialogue (TAD), to support the effective implementation of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) for the textile and apparel sector.
- The Bharat Tex 2026 concluded successfully with the generation of business enquiries worth about USD 2.8 billion and the textile investment commitments worth Rs 14,300 crore across various states.
GoI Raises Windfall Tax on Diesel, ATF Exports; Lowered Tax on Petrol Exports
In July 2026, the Government of India (GoI) increased the windfall gains tax on diesel and Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) exports, while reducing the tax on petrol exports.
- As per the Ministry of Finance (MoF) notification, the revised tax rates came into effect from 16 July 2026.
- Export Duty on Petrol: The GoI has reduced the export duty on petrol from the existing Rs 4/l to Rs 2.5/l.
- Background: Amid escalating tensions in West Asia, the GoI imposed an export duty on diesel and ATF on 27 March 2026 and has been revising the rates every fortnight.
Union Minister Amit Shah Inaugurates ‘Shabdalok’, India’s First Immersive Language Museum in Kolkata, WB
In July 2026, Union Minister Amit Shah, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the Ministry of Cooperation, inaugurated the first phase of ‘Shabdalok (The Museum of Word)’, India’s first immersive language museum, developed at a cost of Rs 41 crore in the Belvedere House within the National Library campus, Kolkata, West Bengal (WB).
India Approves First Dengue Vaccine ‘QDENGA’ After DCGI Clearance
India approved its first dengue vaccine, QDENGA (TAK-003), after the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) granted market authorisation to Takeda Biopharmaceuticals India Private Limited under the New Drugs and Clinical Trials (NDCT) Rules, 2019.
- QDENGA has been approved for the prevention of dengue in individuals aged 4 to 60 years.
USA Delivered 21st MH-60R Seahawk Helicopter to Indian Navy, Strengthening India-USA Defence Partnership
The United States of America (USA) delivered 21st MH-60R Seahawk multi-role maritime helicopter, manufactured by Lockheed Martin Corporation, to the Indian Navy (IN) at Kochi, Kerala, reinforcing the India–USA defence partnership and enhancing India’s maritime security capabilities.
- IN will further enhance its operational readiness, strengthen its anti-submarine warfare capabilities, and improve interoperability with the USA Navy in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
IAF Participates in 45th Edition of Exercise ‘Pitch Black 2026’ in Australia
In July 2026, the Indian Air Force (IAF) participated in the 45th Edition of Exercise Pitch Black 2026, hosted by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) at RAAF Base Darwin in northern Australia, which starts from 20 July 2026 and continues till 7 August 2026.
- Exercise Pitch Black is the RAAF’s premier Biennial (every 2 years) multinational air combat exercise, bringing together air forces from 20 nations, including the United States of America (USA), France, Germany, Spain, Japan, and South Korea.
- 44th Edition, Exercise Pitch Black 2024 was held from 12 July to 02 August 2024 hosted by the RAAF at RAAF Base Darwin in northern Australia
DoLR & RBI Innovation Hub Explore Digital Land-Credit Infrastructure for Rural Lending
In July 2026, the Department of Land Resources (DoLR) under the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) held a high-level meeting with the Reserve Bank of India Innovation Hub (RBIH) to explore the convergence of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for land governance and digital lending.
- The initiative aims to create a secure, interoperable land-credit ecosystem to improve institutional credit access for farmers and rural citizens.
NSA Ajit Doval Selected for Lokmanya Tilak National Award 2026
In July 2026, Dr. Rohit Tilak, President of the Lokmanya Tilak Trust announced the selection of National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval for Lokmanya Tilak National Award for 2026.
- He will receive the award in recognition of his outstanding contribution to strengthening the country’s national security, counter-terrorism, and border security.
Andy Burnham Takes Charge as UK’s New Prime Minister
Andy Burnham became the 59th Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (UK) after Keir Starmer resigned from the post. He was invited by King Charles III at Buckingham Palace to form a new government in a traditional ceremony known as “kissing hands.”
- He secured nearly 55% of the vote in the leadership election, defeating Reform UK’s Robert Kenyon by a margin of more than 9,000 votes, with a record turnout of 59%.
Senegal’s President Bassirou Faye Elected As New Chairman Of ECOWAS
In July 2026, Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye, President of Senegal, was elected as the new Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) during the 69th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government held in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
- He will serve a mandatory one-year term and succeed President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone, who has served as Chairman since June 2025.
- Senegal assumes the ECOWAS top post for the first time since the bloc’s establishment in 1975.
NASA Webb Telescope Discovered New Exoplanet ‘Beta Pictoris d’
Astronomers using National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), discovered a new giant exoplanet called ‘Beta Pictoris d’ located 63 light-years from Earth and about 23 million years old.
- With this latest discovery, Beta Pictoris has become only the second known planetary system with at least three directly imaged planets.
The USA Air Force’s YFQ-44A Fury drone successfully fired its first live AIM-120 AMRAAM
In July 2026, the United States of America (USA) Air Force’s YFQ-44A Fury drone, successfully fired its first live Air Intercept Missile (AIM)-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) at a digital target at Edwards Air Force Base over the Mojave desert in California, the USA.
- This marked the 1st live missile launch by a US Collaborative Combat Aircraft.
Pakistan to Host 14th Edition of SAF Games in March 2027
In July 2026, Pakistan will host the 14th edition of the South Asian Federation (SAF) Games from March 23rd to 31st, 2027. This will be the 3rd time that Pakistan will host games after 1989 and 2004.
About SAF Games 2027:
Host Cities: Pakistan’s 3 cities namely, Islamabad, Faisalabad and Lahore, will host the SAF Games 2027.
Participation: The multi sports event is expected to witness the participation of 3500 athletes from the 8 South Asian countries.
England Football Legend Joseph Kevin Keegan Passed Away
On 20 July 2026, England football legend Joseph Kevin Keegan, former England footballer and manager who played for Scunthorpe United, Liverpool, Hamburger SV, Southampton, and Newcastle United, passed away at the age of 75 in the United Kingdom (UK). He was born in Armthorpe, Doncaster, Yorkshire, England on 14 February 1951.
- Kevin Keegan remains the only English player to have won the Ballon d’Or twice, earning football’s most prestigious individual award in consecutive years in 1978 and 1979.
VP C. P. Radhakrishnan Releases Book ‘RSS @ 100: A Century of Service, Unity & Sacrifice’
In July 2026, Vice President (VP) C. P. Radhakrishnan released the book ‘RSS @100: A Century of Service, Unity & Sacrifice’ at Uprashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi, Delhi marking the centenary journey of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
International Moon Day 2026 – July 20
International Moon Day (IMD) is observed every year on 20 July to mark the Apollo 11 Moon landing (1969), when Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to walk on the Moon. The day also promotes space exploration, scientific learning, and the peaceful and sustainable use of lunar resources.
- 20 July 2026 marks the 5th IMD and the 57th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing.