Rojgar Studies

Staying aspirants preparing for SSC, UPSC, Banking, State PSCs, and Railway exams. The 1 August 2026 current affairs cover the landmark Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill 2026 providing statutory protection to Vande Mataram, Cabinet’s Samudra Manthan offshore exploration scheme (₹84,084 crore), PM-KISAN extended to 2030-31 (₹3.15 lakh crore), Khelo India revamped scheme (₹36,441 crore), PM Surya Sarovar Yojana for 5,000 MW floating solar, India-Bhutan Line of Credit ₹4,000 crore, Favara-UPI Maldives corridor launch, ZSI’s complete Lepidoptera Catalogue, HSL delivering INS Nipun, India winning CWG judo gold, Ajinkya Rahane’s retirement, and World Lung Cancer Day – all frequently appearing in the General Awareness section of government exams.

India – National Current Affairs

Daily Current Affairs 01 August 2026: Download Free PDF Now

International Current Affairs

• India and Bhutan Sign ₹4,000 Crore Line of Credit at 5th India-Bhutan Development Cooperation Talks in Thimphu – India and Bhutan signed a concessional Line of Credit (LoC) agreement worth ₹4,000 crore (Nu 40 billion) during the Fifth India-Bhutan Development Cooperation Talks in Thimphu, Bhutan on 31 July 2026. The agreement was signed between the Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) and Bhutan’s Ministry of Finance, and will support infrastructure and development initiatives in Bhutan. Exam importance: Bhutan is India’s closest bilateral partner – shares a 699 km border with India; India is Bhutan’s largest trade and development partner; Bhutan’s currency (Ngultrum) is pegged to the Indian Rupee; India provides Bhutan hydropower project support, free transit access, and development assistance; India-Bhutan Friendship Treaty was signed in 2007 (replacing the 1949 treaty); Bhutan PM: Tshering Tobgay; Bhutan PM is also called the Lyonchen; Bhutan capital: Thimphu; India’s Exim Bank provides concessional LoCs for development projects in partner countries.
• Hamas Agrees to Roadmap for Phased Disarmament Under Gaza Peace Framework – Hamas agreed on 31 July 2026 to a proposed roadmap for its phased disarmament under a Gaza peace framework overseen by the US-led Board of Peace. The plan links the surrender of weapons with the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces and the transfer of administration to a technocratic Palestinian body. Implementation remains subject to verification, agreement on sequencing, and formal acceptance by all parties. Exam importance: Hamas (Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiyya) is the Palestinian militant group that governs the Gaza Strip; the Gaza conflict began on 7 October 2023 with Hamas’s attacks on Israel; the West Asia conflict has had significant global ramifications including oil price spikes, maritime security disruptions (Iran-US conflict, Iran-US ceasefire June 2026), and global shipping disruptions; the US-led Board of Peace reflects the expanded US diplomatic role in West Asia following the Iran-US ceasefire of June 2026; this development is significant for India as it holds 4,300 UN peacekeepers in 10 active missions globally.
• Saudi Arabia to Lead Multinational Maritime-Defence Coalition Protecting Red Sea, Bab el-Mandeb Strait Routes – Saudi Arabia announced plans on 30 July 2026 to establish a multinational maritime-defence coalition to protect international shipping and energy routes in the Red Sea, Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and Gulf of Aden. Fourteen countries including Pakistan, Türkiye, Egypt, Sudan, and Djibouti supported the initiative. Saudi Arabia will lead and host the coalition. Exam importance: The Red Sea is one of the world’s most critical maritime trade routes, connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Indian Ocean via the Suez Canal; approximately 12-15% of global trade passes through the Red Sea; the Bab el-Mandeb Strait (‘Gate of Grief’ in Arabic) is a key chokepoint separating Yemen (Asia) from Djibouti and Eritrea (Africa); this coalition mirrors the existing Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) framework and the EU’s Operation Aspides launched in 2024 amid Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping; India’s Operation Sankalp protects Indian-flagged vessels in the Gulf of Oman and Arabian Sea.

Economy & Banking

• Favara-UPI Cross-Border Payment Corridor Between Maldives and India Becomes Operational – The Favara-UPI cross-border payment corridor between the Maldives and India became operational on 30 July 2026. The integration connects the Maldives Instant Payment System (Favara) with India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI). Customers of participating Maldivian banks can transfer funds in real time to UPI-enabled Indian bank accounts, supporting faster remittances, family-maintenance payments, and digital financial cooperation. Exam importance: Favara is the Maldives’ real-time digital payment system launched in 2023 by the Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA); the Maldives has approximately 25,000 Indian workers and significant Indian tourist traffic; India-Maldives bilateral relations are governed by the India-Maldives Friendship Treaty; the integration makes the Maldives the 10th country after UAE, Singapore, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, France, Cambodia, and Seychelles where UPI is live; NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) manages UPI’s global rollout; India has signed MoUs with 24+ nations for UPI expansion.
• India Climbs 25 Places to 57th in Competere Foundation’s Global Competitiveness Ranking – On July 30, 2026, India improved its position from 82nd to 57th in a global competitiveness and reform ranking released by the Competere Foundation. The 25-place rise was attributed to improvements in structural reforms, competition-oriented policies, and the overall business environment. Exam importance: The Competere Foundation is an international think tank focused on regulatory reform, competition policy, and economic governance; the ranking assesses economies on structural reforms, competition law enforcement, investment climate, and regulatory quality; India’s significant jump reflects: improvements in ease of doing business (following DPIIT’s BRAP reforms), enhanced competition policy enforcement by CCI, and reduced corporate tax rates; India also improved to 94th on the UN SDG Index 2026 (covered in earlier CA on 4 July 2026).

Science & Technology

Defence

• ACC Appoints Air Marshal Sandeep Thareja as Director General Armed Forces Medical Services – The Union Government appointed Air Marshal Sandeep Thareja as Director General Armed Forces Medical Services (DGAFMS) effective 31 August 2026. He was serving as Director General Medical Services (Air) of the Indian Air Force at the time of appointment and will succeed Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin following her retirement as the first woman DGAFMS. Exam importance: The DGAFMS is the head of integrated medical services of all three armed forces (Army, Navy, Air Force); the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) provides medical support to the Indian military; Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin was the first woman DGAFMS, a landmark appointment; the AFMS operates command hospitals, military hospitals, and medical establishments across India and in field deployments.

Sports

• India Wins First Commonwealth Games Judo Golds in Glasgow 2026 – Harsh Singh and Asmita Dey Triumph – On 31 July 2026, India won its first-ever Commonwealth Games gold medals in judo at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Harsh Singh defeated Australia’s Joshua Katz in the men’s 60 kg final, becoming the first Indian male judoka to win Commonwealth gold. Asmita Dey secured the women’s 48 kg title after winning her final through the Golden Score period. Exam importance: Judo was re-included in the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games programme after being dropped from CWG 2018 and 2022; these are India’s first-ever CWG judo gold medals; India’s CWG 2026 medal tally continues to grow with golds across shooting (Rudrankksh Patil team, Divyansh Singh Panwar, Arjun Babuta), boxing (Lovlina Borgohain), and now judo; the Glasgow 2026 CWG concludes on 2 August 2026; International Judo Federation (IJF) HQ: Budapest, Hungary.
• Ajinkya Rahane Announces Retirement from International Cricket – Former Indian Test captain Ajinkya Rahane announced his retirement from international cricket on 30 July 2026. His international career spanned nearly a decade and a half, with Rahane especially remembered for captaining India during its historic Test-series victory in Australia in 2020-21 (Gabba Test) and for his calm leadership and dependable middle-order batting. Exam importance: Ajinkya Rahane (born 6 June 1988, Ashwi Khurd, Maharashtra) played 82 Tests, 90 ODIs, and 20 T20Is for India; his Test average: 38.51 with 5 centuries and 24 half-centuries; he scored a crucial century in the Boxing Day Test at Melbourne (December 2020), leading India to a remarkable series win in Australia 2020-21; he played for Mumbai in domestic cricket and was a key part of the KKR IPL 2024 championship squad as captain; BCCI Secretary: Devajit Saikia; this is a significant sporting retirement for 2026 alongside S. Janaki (July 13), Jaspal Rana (June 2026), and Neymar Jr. (FIFA WC 2026).

Obituary

• Former Chief of Army Staff General Vishwa Nath Sharma Passes Away at 96 – Former Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Vishwa Nath Sharma passed away in New Delhi on 31 July 2026 at the age of 96 due to natural causes. He served as the 14th Army Chief from 1 May 1988 to 30 June 1990 and was commissioned into the 16th Light Cavalry in 1950 – making him the first post-Independence commissioned officer to become Army Chief. Exam importance: Under Gen. Sharma’s tenure as COAS, India conducted Operation Pawan in Sri Lanka (Indian Peace Keeping Force, 1987-1990); he oversaw the de-induction of the IPKF; he received the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM) and Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM); his biography traces India’s post-Independence Army history; PM Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh expressed condolences; India’s current COAS: General Dhiraj Seth (31st COAS, assumed charge 1 July 2026).

Important Days