Daily Current Affairs July 31, 2026

Current Affairs and GK updates 31/07/2026

Here is the Daily current affairs and GK updates of the day for UPSC,SSC,IBPS,RRB,NTPC and other competitive exams preparations.This updates particularly focus on news updates from 31st July 2026..

National

• Lok Sabha passes ‘The Registration of Births and Deaths Amendment Bill 2026’.The primary focus of the 2026 amendment is tightening the legal frameworks surrounding delayed registrations. The updated rules outline a multi-tier authorization hierarchy based on how late the report is submitted.
• Registration within 1 to 2 Years: Delayed registrations reported after one year but before two years still require the approval of executive authorities. This includes the District Magistrate (DM), Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), or an authorized Executive Magistrate.
• Registration Beyond 2 Years: Under the new stringent provision, any birth or death reported more than two years after its occurrence can now only be registered upon an official order from a Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC). This strips executive magistrates of their power for long-delayed cases to prevent fraud and identity misuse.
• Legal Alignment: The bill modifies section 13 of the 1969 Act and aligns civil registration guidelines with the provisions of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023
•  ‘Samudra Manthan’ Scheme:Union Cabinet Approves ₹84,084 Crore ‘Samudra Manthan’ Scheme.The Union Cabinet approved ‘Samudra Manthan’ – the National Offshore Exploration Scheme, a Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas.
• The scheme has an outlay of ₹84,084 crore up to FY 2030–31 and aims to accelerate offshore oil and gas exploration, strengthen domestic energy production and reduce India's dependence on imports.
• PM-KISAN Scheme Extended Till 2030–31:The Union Cabinet approved continuation of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme from 2026–27 to 2030–31 with a total financial outlay of ₹3.15 lakh crore.Under PM-KISAN, eligible landholding farmer families receive ₹6,000 per year through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) in three equal instalments. The scheme was launched in February 2019.
• Scheme: PM-KISAN
• Launched: 2019
• Annual assistance: ₹6,000
• Payment mode: DBT
• Instalments: 3
• Ministry: Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
• Pradhan Mantri Surya Sarovar Yojana Approved:The Union Cabinet approved the Pradhan Mantri Surya Sarovar Yojana (PM-SSY) for development of Floating Solar Photovoltaic (FSPV) projects with Energy Storage Systems.The scheme has a total outlay of ₹5,070 crore and aims to develop 5,000 MW of floating solar projects with co-located energy storage of at least 10,000 MWh.s
• Scheme: Pradhan Mantri Surya Sarovar Yojana
• Outlay: ₹5,070 crore
• Floating solar capacity: 5,000 MW
• Energy storage: 10,000 MWh
• Implementation: FY 2026–27 to FY 2030–31
• Estimated floating solar potential in India: 102.18 GWp
• India’s First Dedicated Department of Military Medicine:Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh virtually inaugurated India's first dedicated Department of Military Medicine in Lucknow.The initiative aims to strengthen military medical research, operational medicine, training and healthcare support for India's armed forces.
• India’s Social Security Coverage Reaches 101 Crore:Union Labour and Employment Minister Mansukh Mandaviya announced that India's social protection systems now cover approximately 101 crore people, representing more than 68% of the population.The figure was recognised by the International Labour Organization (ILO).
• Indian Navy Receives Second Indigenous Diving Support Vessel ‘Nipun’:Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) delivered ‘Nipun’, the second indigenously built Diving Support Vessel (DSV), to the Indian Navy at Visakhapatnam.The vessel is designed for deep-sea saturation diving, submarine rescue, salvage and underwater operations and has approximately 75% indigenous content
• IN-SPACe Approval for Planned Space-Object Re-entry:India issued guidelines requiring appropriate IN-SPACe authorisation for planned re-entry of space objects into Earth's atmosphere.The framework applies to planned re-entry activities involving Indian and foreign operators and is intended to improve safety and regulatory oversight.

Economy and banking

• India and Maldives Launch Favara-UPI Payment Corridor:The Favara-UPI cross-border payment corridor between India and the Maldives became operational.The system connects the Maldives' Favara instant-payment system with India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI), facilitating real-time cross-border digital payments.

Appointments

• Air Marshal Sandeep Thareja was appointed as the next Director General Armed Forces Medical Services (DGAFMS).
• Varsha Ashok Aglawe Becomes First Woman Director General of GSI:Varsha Ashok Aglawe assumed charge as the 54th Director General of the Geological Survey of India (GSI).She became the first woman to head GSI in its 176-year history.She succeeded Asit Saha and has more than three decades of experience in geoscience.

Sports and culture

• India to Play Football Friendly Against Brazil:The All India Football Federation (AIFF) announced that India will play a football international friendly against Brazil at Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (Salt Lake Stadium), Kolkata, on 3 October 2026.Brazil is a five-time FIFA World Cup champion. The match will be a major event for Indian football fans

Days Observed

• July 31:'Shaheed Udham Singh's Martyrdom Day is observed every year on July 31 to honor the brave revolutionary who gave his life for India's independence. 
• July 31:World Ranger DayWorld Ranger Day is observed every year on 31 July to honour rangers who protect wildlife, natural habitats and protected areas.The day also remembers rangers who have lost their lives while performing conservation duties
• July 31: Munshi Premchand Jayanti — Birth anniversary of Dhanpat Rai Srivastava (Munshi Premchand), the pioneer of modern Hindi-Urdu realist literature (born July 31, 1880).

Static GK for exam preparations

Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969:

• Constitutional Framework: Registration of births and deaths falls under the Concurrent List (Entry 30) of the Seventh Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
• Administration: Headed at the national level by the Registrar General of India (RGI) under the Ministry of Home Affairs, with Chief Registrars appointed at the state level.

Who Was Udham Singh?

• Birth: Born on December 26, 1899, in Sunam, Punjab.
• Mission: He dedicated his life to avenge the victims of the brutal Jallianwala Bagh massacre.
• The Act: On March 13, 1940, he shot Michael O'Dwyer in London. O'Dwyer was the former Lieutenant Governor of Punjab during the 1919 tragedy.
• Legacy and Sacrifice
• The Name: While in custody, he used the name "Ram Mohammad Singh Azad" to show the unity of India's major religions.
• Martyrdom: He was hanged on July 31, 1940, at Pentonville Prison in London.
• Public Observance: States like Punjab and Haryana observe July 31 as a public holiday to commemorate his supreme sacrifice

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