Current Affairs 20 July 2026

Foundation Stone Laid for World’s Largest Curd Manufacturing Plant in West Bengal

The proposed world’s largest curd-manufacturing facility will be established under the Amul Bengal Dairy Project in West Bengal. The project supports the government’s “Sahkar Se Samriddhi” vision and the objectives of White Revolution 2.0.

The dairy facility is being developed at Sankrail Food Park in Howrah district, near Kolkata. It is expected to have the capacity to manufacture around 10 lakh kg of curd and other fermented dairy products per day, including mishti doi, yoghurt, lassi, and buttermilk.

First Phase of ‘Museum of Word’ Inaugurated in Kolkata

The first phase of the Museum of Word was inaugurated in Kolkata on 19 July 2026. The museum has been developed as an initiative to preserve and present India’s multilingual heritage, knowledge traditions, and collective cultural memory through visual, auditory, tactile, and immersive experiences.

Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, 2025

The Union Education Ministry has reportedly agreed to amend key provisions of the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, 2025, following concerns raised by the Andhra Pradesh government about excessive centralisation of higher-education regulation. The proposed changes have been recorded in the draft report of the Joint Parliamentary Committee examining the Bill.

The VBSA Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on 15 December 2025 and referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee the following day. It proposes a single apex higher-education regulator called the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan, supported by Regulatory, Accreditation, and Standards Councils. It would replace the University Grants Commission, All India Council for Technical Education, and National Council for Teacher Education.

Andhra Pradesh objected particularly to Clause 11(4), which could allow the Regulatory Council to authorise colleges affiliated with State universities to award degrees without the State’s concurrence. The Education Ministry proposed that a higher-education institution substantially funded by a State government should receive a No-Objection Certificate from that State before being authorised to grant degrees.

Vikram-1 – India’s First Privately Developed Orbital Rocket

Skyroot Aerospace has launched Vikram-1, India’s first privately developed orbital launch vehicle, under Mission Aagaman. The launch window is scheduled between July 12 and August 4, 2026. A successful mission will mark a major milestone in India’s private space sector and validate its indigenous commercial orbital launch capabilities.

Vikram-1 is designed to place payloads weighing up to 350 kg into Low Earth Orbit. It uses an all-carbon-composite structure, solid-fuel boosters, and a three-dimensionally printed liquid engine. The mission will deploy multiple customer payloads at an altitude of approximately 450 km.

The payloads include Skyroot’s SCOPE satellite, DCUBED’s technology-demonstration payload, Grahaa Space’s SOLARAS S3 satellite, and Cosmoserve Space’s Embrace, a robotic arm designed to capture orbital debris. The mission will also carry symbolic payloads, including a floral-shaped artwork called “Cosmic Bloom” and a gold micro-rocket honouring C.V. Raman, Vikram Sarabhai, and A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.

Key Points for Exams:

• Rocket: Vikram-1
• Developer: Skyroot Aerospace
• Mission name: Mission Aagaman
• Significance: India’s first privately developed orbital launch vehicle
• Launch window: 12 July–4 August 2026
• Payload capacity: Up to 350 kg
• Target orbit: Low Earth Orbit
• Planned deployment altitude: Approximately 450 km

Exercise Pitch Black 2026

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is participating in Exercise Pitch Black 2026, hosted by the Royal Australian Air Force at RAAF Base Darwin in Australia. The multinational air-combat exercise is being conducted from 20 July to 7 August 2026.

The IAF deployed Rafale fighter aircraft and C-17 transport aircraft for the exercise. India’s participation is aimed at improving operational coordination, interoperability, and the ability to conduct complex air operations alongside friendly foreign air forces.

Manasbal Lake Records Return of Migratory Birds after Ecological Restoration

Manasbal Lake, located in Ganderbal district of Jammu and Kashmir, is showing signs of ecological recovery as migratory birds have begun returning to the water body. The lake is regarded as one of India’s deepest freshwater lakes and is an important wetland ecosystem in the Kashmir Valley.

The lake is approximately 43 feet deep, 3.5 km long, and 1.5 km wide. More than 46 bird species belonging to 23 families have been recorded in and around the lake, including the mallard, white-headed duck, Eurasian hoopoe, golden eagle, and lesser pied kingfisher.

National Film Awards 2024

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting announced the winners of the 72nd National Film Awards on 18 July 2026. The awards recognise outstanding achievements in feature films, non-feature films, and writing on cinema for the year 2024.

The Hindi film Article 370, directed by Aditya Suhas Jambhale, won the Best Feature Film award. Yami Gautam received the Best Actress in a Leading Role award for the same film. Mammootty, for the Malayalam film Bramayugam, and Kartik Aaryan, for the Hindi film Chandu Champion, jointly received the Best Actor in a Leading Role award.

The National Film Awards are among India’s highest honours in cinema.

Key Points for Exams:

• Best Feature Film: Article 370
• Best Actress: Yami Gautam for Article 370
• Best Actor: Mammootty and Kartik Aaryan
• Best Direction: Rajkumar Periasamy for Amaran
• Best Debut Director: Randeep Hooda
• Best Popular Film: Kalki 2898 AD
• Best Children’s Film: 35—Chinna Katha Kaadu
• Best Telugu Film: Committee Kurrollu
• Best Non-Feature Film: Bhangaar
• Best Documentary: Ram-Nami
• Best Male Playback Singer: Abhay Jodhpurkar
• Best Female Playback Singer: Vaikom Vijayalakshmi

P.V. Sindhu Becomes First Indian to Win Japan Open Badminton Title

Two-time Olympic medallist P.V. Sindhu created history by winning the women’s singles title at the Japan Open 2026, a Badminton World Federation Super 750 tournament. She defeated Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi in the final match. Sindhu became the first Indian badminton player to win a Japan Open title in any discipline. It was also her maiden Japan Open crown and first BWF Super 750 title.

Mangal Pandey: An Early Hero of the Revolt of 1857

Mangal Pandey was an Indian soldier in the 34th Bengal Native Infantry of the British East India Company. He is remembered for his role in an armed confrontation with British officers at Barrackpore on 29 March 1857, shortly before the outbreak of the Revolt of 1857.

The immediate background to the unrest was the introduction of the new Enfield rifle. Soldiers were required to bite open its cartridges, which were rumoured to be greased with cow and pig fat. This offended both Hindu and Muslim religious sentiments and intensified existing discontent among Indian sepoys.

At the Barrackpore cantonment, Mangal Pandey attacked British officers and called upon fellow Indian soldiers to oppose colonial authority. He was arrested, tried by a military court, and executed on 8 April 1857. His regiment was subsequently disbanded.

Although the large-scale revolt began at Meerut on 10 May 1857, Mangal Pandey’s action is considered one of its important early sparks. The uprising later spread to Delhi, Kanpur, Lucknow, Jhansi, and other regions of northern and central India.

The Revolt of 1857 resulted in the end of the East India Company’s rule. Through the Government of India Act, 1858, the administration of India was transferred directly to the British Crown.

Q1. Manasbal Lake, which recently recorded the return of migratory birds following ecological restoration, is located in which Union Territory?
A. Ladakh
B. Jammu and Kashmir
C. Chandigarh
D. Puducherry

Q2. Andhra Pradesh recently raised concerns about excessive centralisation of powers in which proposed higher-education legislation?
A. National Education Standards Bill, 2025
B. Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, 2025
C. Higher Education Financing Bill, 2025
D. National Universities Regulation Bill, 2025

Q3. Which film won the Best Feature Film award at the 72nd National Film Awards?
A. Amaran
B. Article 370
C. Kalki 2898 AD
D. Chandu Champion

Q4. Vikram-1, which is set to become India’s first privately developed orbital launch vehicle, has been developed by which company?
A. Agnikul Cosmos
B. Skyroot Aerospace
C. Dhruva Space
D. Bellatrix Aerospace

Q5. Who became the first Indian badminton player to win the Japan Open title in July 2026?
A. Saina Nehwal
B. Lakshya Sen
C. P.V. Sindhu
D. Satwiksairaj Rankireddy

Q6. Mangal Pandey, an early hero of the Revolt of 1857, belonged to which regiment?
A. 19th Bengal Native Infantry
B. 34th Bengal Native Infantry
C. 7th Madras Native Infantry
D. 3rd Bengal Light Cavalry

Q7. The proposed world’s largest curd-manufacturing plant under the Amul Bengal Dairy Project is being established in which State?
A. Gujarat
B. Maharashtra
C. West Bengal
D. Uttar Pradesh

Q8. Exercise Pitch Black 2026, in which the Indian Air Force participated with Rafale fighter aircraft, is hosted by which country?
A. France
B. Australia
C. United States
D. United Kingdom

Q9. The first phase of the ‘Museum of Word’, which preserves India’s multilingual and linguistic heritage, was inaugurated in which city?
A. New Delhi
B. Varanasi
C. Kolkata
D. Bengaluru