Daily Current Affairs- 28th July 2026

Daily Current Affairs- 28th July 2026

5 Major Rule Changes From August 1, 2026: LPG Prices, Railway Tatkal, Banking, ITR Deadline & CKYC 2.0 Explained

In the News: Several reports have grouped LPG price revision, railway Tatkal procedures, bank service charges, income-tax filing and CKYC 2.0 among the major developments around August 1, 2026. However, these measures do not have the same legal status: some are periodic revisions, some are bank-specific, while CKYC 2.0 is a phased financial-sector reform.

Key Points:

• LPG Price Revision: Oil-marketing companies ordinarily review domestic and commercial LPG cylinder prices at the beginning of each month. Therefore, revised prices may take effect from August 1, but the actual increase or reduction must be confirmed through the official price notification issued for the month.
• Railway Tatkal Rules: Reports have referred to simplification of token procedures at railway reservation counters. The officially notified Tatkal framework requires Aadhaar authentication and OTP verification, while authorised agents cannot book tickets during the first 30 minutes of the Tatkal booking window.
• Banking Changes: There is no single RBI-wide banking charge taking effect across every bank on August 1. Individual banks may revise SMS charges, account-maintenance fees or transaction charges under their respective schedules.
• ITR Filing Deadline: For Assessment Year 2026–27, taxpayers must check the filing deadline applicable to their category and return form. Different deadlines may apply to salaried taxpayers, businesses requiring audit and persons filing under specific ITR forms.
• CKYC 2.0 Rollout: Banks and insurance companies are expected to begin using CKYC 2.0 from August 2026, with mutual funds and securities-market intermediaries joining subsequently. The consent-based system will enable institutions to retrieve verified customer records through OTP authorisation.

RBI Gets Government Approval to Issue ₹10 and ₹20 Polymer Banknotes for Field Trials

In the News: The Union Government has approved the Reserve Bank of India’s proposal to introduce polymer banknotes of ₹10 and ₹20 for field trials. The proposal involves one billion notes of each denomination and is intended to test their performance under Indian climatic and circulation conditions.

Key Points:

• Scale of Field Trials: The approval covers one billion ₹10 polymer notes and one billion ₹20 polymer notes, amounting to two billion trial banknotes. Regular issuance would be considered only after the field trials are successfully completed.
• Legal Provision: The RBI submitted the proposal to the Central Government on the recommendation of its Central Board under Section 25 of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934. The provision concerns the denomination, design, form and material of banknotes.
• Nature of Polymer Notes: Polymer banknotes are printed on a synthetic polymer substrate instead of conventional cotton-based banknote paper. They are generally more resistant to moisture, dirt, tearing and repeated folding.
• Paper Notes to Continue: The approval does not mean that existing ₹10 and ₹20 paper notes will be immediately withdrawn. Polymer and paper notes may circulate simultaneously during the trial period.
• Purpose of the Trial: The RBI will assess durability, printing quality, security features, public handling and cost-effectiveness. The notes will also be tested across India’s varied temperatures, humidity levels and cash-handling conditions.

Teesta Tunnel Disaster: Methane Risks and Himalayan Infrastructure Vulnerability

In the News: A methane-related explosion inside an under-construction tunnel of the 500-MW Teesta Stage-VI Hydroelectric Project in Sikkim killed several workers in July 2026. The disaster highlighted serious concerns relating to tunnel ventilation, gas monitoring and infrastructure development in the fragile Himalayan region.

Key Points:

• Location and Project: The accident occurred at Samardung in Sikkim, around 40 kilometres south of Gangtok. It involved a tunnel connected with the Teesta Stage-VI Hydroelectric Project.
• Methane and Toxic Gases: Methane may remain trapped in fractures and underground rock pockets. Its accumulation in an inadequately ventilated tunnel can create an explosive atmosphere and may also cause suffocation.
• Rescue Challenges: High levels of toxic gases restricted the duration for which rescuers could enter the tunnel. Personnel required breathing apparatus and specialised equipment to conduct search and recovery operations.
• Himalayan Geological Vulnerability: The Himalayas consist of comparatively young, fractured and seismically active rock formations. Tunnelling may encounter weak strata, fault zones, underground water, landslides and trapped gases.
• Required Safety Measures: Himalayan tunnel projects require continuous multi-gas monitoring, forced ventilation, geological mapping, emergency exits and trained rescue teams. Construction must be suspended whenever dangerous methane concentrations are detected.   

PRAXIS Mission

In the News: NASA has selected PRAXIS, or Planetary Rings Autonomous EXploration with In-situ Sampling, for Phase I funding under the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts programme for 2026. The early-stage mission concept proposes an AI-driven robotic system capable of collecting and examining particles from Saturn’s rings. It is led by Marco Quadrelli of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Key Points:

• Purpose of PRAXIS: PRAXIS aims to make the first direct observations of millimetre- to centimetre-sized particles in a planetary ring. It would determine properties such as particle size, composition and porosity, helping scientists understand the formation and evolution of ring systems.
• AI-Based Robotic Explorer: The concept uses artificial intelligence for autonomous navigation, collision avoidance, particle identification and precision sampling. Its bio-inspired robotic architecture is designed for the highly dynamic environment of Saturn’s rings, where particles are constantly moving.
• Proposed Sampling Method: After imaging and selecting a suitable particle, the spacecraft would conduct a touch-and-go sampling operation using a long, soft and deployable boom. The system draws inspiration from sport-casting techniques and allows the main spacecraft to remain at a safer distance.
• NIAC Phase I Funding: NASA’s Innovative Advanced Concepts programme supports visionary technologies that could transform future space missions. Phase I studies generally receive $225,000 for nine months to establish technical feasibility through simulations, analyses and preliminary system design.
• Connection with Cassini: NASA’s Cassini mission extensively studied Saturn but lacked the ability to collect individual ring particles. PRAXIS could investigate features such as self-gravity wakes, propeller structures and density waves, while its technology may also support future Uranus exploration missions

International Tiger Day 2026: Date, Theme, History, Significance, Facts and Tiger Conservation in India

In the News: International Tiger Day, also known as Global Tiger Day, is observed annually on 29 July to promote tiger conservation and habitat protection. In 2026, India highlighted its position as the home of nearly 70% of the world’s wild tigers. The observance also focused on scientific monitoring, ecological connectivity and community participation in conservation.

Key Points:

• Date and 2026 Focus: International Tiger Day 2026 was observed on Wednesday, 29 July. No single universally designated global theme appeared in the official international material reviewed; India’s PIB framed the observance around “Protecting Tigers, Preserving Ecosystems” and highlighted “Thriving Tigers, Resilient Ecosystems.”
• Origin of the Day: The observance originated at the Saint Petersburg Tiger Summit held in Russia in November 2010. Leaders of 13 tiger-range countries adopted the Tx2 goal, which sought to double the global wild tiger population by 2022.
• Tiger Population in India: The All India Tiger Estimation 2022 placed India’s estimated tiger population at 3,682. The exercise covered 20 states and involved more than 6.41 lakh kilometres of foot surveys, making it one of the world’s largest wildlife assessments.
• Project Tiger and Tiger Reserves: Project Tiger was launched in 1973 as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. India currently has a network of 58 tiger reserves across 18 tiger-range states, covering approximately 84,500 square kilometres.
• Institutional Conservation Framework: The National Tiger Conservation Authority supervises Project Tiger, approves Tiger Conservation Plans and monitors reserve management. The NTCA and Wildlife Crime Control Bureau became statutory bodies through the 2006 amendments to the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

ISSF World Cup 2026: Esha Singh Wins Gold, Manu Bhaker Bags Bronze for India

In the News: Indian shooters Esha Singh and Manu Bhaker secured a double podium finish in the women’s 25-metre pistol event at the ISSF World Cup 2026 in Hangzhou, China. Esha Singh won the gold medal, while Manu Bhaker claimed bronze. China’s Zhang Yueyue secured the silver medal.

Key Points:

• Medal-Winning Scores: Esha Singh dominated the final from the opening series and won gold with 40 hits. Zhang Yueyue finished second with 37 hits, while Manu Bhaker secured bronze with 28 hits after overcoming a competitive elimination round.
• About the Tournament: The ISSF World Cup Rifle, Pistol and Shotgun competition was held in Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China, from 20 to 29 July 2026. The tournament brought together leading international shooters across Olympic shooting disciplines.
• Esha Singh’s Performance: Esha began the final with five successful hits in the first series and retained the lead throughout the competition. The victory strengthened her record as a multiple ISSF World Cup medallist and a World Championship medallist.
• Manu Bhaker’s Olympic Record: Manu Bhaker is India’s first athlete after Independence to win two medals at a single edition of the Olympic Games. At Paris 2024, she won bronze in the women’s 10-metre air pistol and the 10-metre air-pistol mixed-team event.
• About ISSF: The International Shooting Sport Federation was founded in Zurich in 1907 and serves as the global governing body for Olympic shooting events. Its headquarters is located in Munich, Germany, and it organises competitions such as the ISSF World Cups and World Championships.