Weekly Current Affairs: July 27 – August 2, 2026 — Anti-Paper-Leak Bill Passed with 10-Year Jail Terms, Vande Mataram Gets Legal Protection, ₹84,084 Crore Samudra Manthan, PM-KISAN Extended & India 4th at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games
Your verified, exam-ready digest for the week
📌Key Points at a Glance
- 1Parliament passed the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 — Lok Sabha on July 29 and Rajya Sabha on July 30, both by voice vote. Imprisonment for individuals rises from 3–5 to 5–10 years and fines from ₹10 lakh to up to ₹50 lakh, with organised offences attracting a minimum of seven years and fines reported up to ₹10 crore.
- 2The Bill adds Special Fast Track Courts, Special Public Prosecutors, a two-month investigation deadline and property seizure. It was piloted by Dr Jitendra Singh and covers exams by UPSC, SSC, RRBs, IBPS and NTA.
- 3Parliament passed the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, extending to Vande Mataram the protection the National Anthem already had under the 1971 Act — up to three years’ imprisonment, with a mandatory minimum of one year on repeat conviction.
- 4The Union Cabinet on July 31 approved “Samudra Manthan”, the National Offshore Exploration Scheme, with a ₹84,084 crore outlay up to FY 2030-31, targeting a rise in production from about 62 MMTOE to 80 MMTOE and 50% government support for deepwater exploration wells.
- 5The Cabinet approved the Pradhan Mantri Surya Sarovar Yojana (PM-SSY) with a ₹5,070 crore outlay for 5,000 MW of floating solar with 10,000 MWh of storage; NISE estimates India’s floating solar potential at about 102.18 GWp against roughly 700 MW installed.
- 6The Cabinet extended PM-KISAN from 2026-27 to 2030-31 with a ₹3,15,614 crore outlay. More than ₹4.47 lakh crore has been transferred across 23 instalments, and women are nearly one in four beneficiaries.
- 7The Cabinet cleared a revamped Khelo India Scheme plus enhanced Assistance to National Sports Federations totalling ₹36,441 crore (₹29,054 crore + ₹7,387 crore) — nearly eight times the previous outlay, aligned with Khelo Bharat Niti 2025.
- 8Gross GST collections rose 15.4% year-on-year to ₹2.11 lakh crore in July 2026, the fastest in 14 months, with import revenue up 28.8% to ₹66,511 crore and net revenue at ₹1.81 lakh crore.
- 9The 23rd Commonwealth Games closed in Glasgow on August 2. India finished fourth with 39 medals (13 gold, 17 silver, 9 bronze) from 122 athletes in ten sports; boxing delivered a record 10 medals including seven golds, and judo produced India’s first-ever CWG gold in the sport.
- 10The Commonwealth Flag was handed to India for the 2030 centenary edition in Ahmedabad, with Neeraj Chopra passing it to IOA president P. T. Usha. Jaismine Lamboria was India’s closing ceremony flag-bearer.
- 11A magnitude 6.8 (USGS) / 7.1 (JMA) earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture on Japan’s Kyushu island on July 28; the prefectural disaster headquarters confirmed 38 deaths as of August 3, with more than 170 injured.
🏛️ National & Polity
Parliament Passes Anti-Paper-Leak Bill: Jail Up to 10 Years, Fines Up to ₹10 Crore
Parliament passed the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026. The Lok Sabha cleared it by voice vote on 29 July 2026 and the Rajya Sabha on 30 July 2026. The Bill amends the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 and sharply raises punishments for paper leaks and organised examination fraud.
Key Facts
- The Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on 27 July 2026 and piloted by Dr Jitendra Singh, Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office and for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions.
- For individuals, imprisonment rises from 3–5 years to 5–10 years and the fine from ₹10 lakh to up to ₹50 lakh. Organised offences attract a minimum of seven years and higher fines, reported up to ₹10 crore, along with seizure of the property of convicted offenders.
- The Bill provides for Special Fast Track Courts, Special Public Prosecutors, a two-month deadline for investigations and quicker disposal of appeals.
- Dr Jitendra Singh said the law is not confined to question paper leaks — it covers leakage of answer keys, tampering with answer sheets and computer systems, manipulation of examination processes, and fake websites and admit cards.
- Rajya Sabha Chairman C. P. Radhakrishnan allotted seven hours for the discussion in the Upper House.
📌 Why It Matters
This is the single most directly relevant law of the year for anyone preparing for UPSC, SSC, RRB, IBPS or NTA examinations. The old and new punishment figures are classic comparison-style question material.
🧠 Static GK Connect
The parent Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 was passed by the Lok Sabha on 6 February and the Rajya Sabha on 9 February 2024, and came into force on 21 June 2024. It covers examinations conducted by the UPSC, SSC, Railway Recruitment Boards, IBPS and the National Testing Agency, and its offences are cognizable, non-bailable and non-compoundable.
Parliament Extends National Anthem Protections to Vande Mataram
Parliament passed the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which extends to the National Song, Vande Mataram, the same statutory protection that the National Anthem, Jana Gana Mana, already enjoys. The Rajya Sabha passed the Bill on 29 July 2026.
Key Facts
- The Bill was introduced in the Rajya Sabha on 24 July 2026 and moved by Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai.
- It amends the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, which until now protected only the National Flag, the Constitution of India and the National Anthem.
- Intentionally preventing the singing of the National Song, or disturbing an assembly engaged in singing it, is now punishable with imprisonment up to three years, a fine, or both.
- A second and every subsequent conviction carries a mandatory minimum of one year’s imprisonment.
- The Union Cabinet had approved the proposal in May 2026.
📌 Why It Matters
National symbols and the 1971 Act are standard Polity and General Awareness topics. The distinction between the National Anthem and the National Song, and the exact punishment, are high-probability questions.
🧠 Static GK Connect
Vande Mataram was written in Sanskritised Bengali by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay in the 1870s and first published in 1882 in his novel Anandamath. On 24 January 1950 the Constituent Assembly adopted Jana Gana Mana as the National Anthem and resolved that Vande Mataram would be honoured equally with it. The Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act is Act No. 69 of 1971.
Cabinet Clears ₹84,084 Crore Samudra Manthan Offshore Exploration Scheme
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved Samudra Manthan — the National Offshore Exploration Scheme — a Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas with an outlay of ₹84,084 crore for implementation up to FY 2030-31.
Key Facts
- The scheme aims to raise India’s domestic oil and gas production from about 62 million metric tonnes of oil equivalent (MMTOE) to 80 MMTOE annually.
- It targets expanding the hydrocarbon resource base from 1.6 billion tonnes of oil equivalent to 2.2 billion tonnes, and is expected to catalyse reserve accretion of over 600 MMTOE.
- The government will provide financial support of up to 50 per cent of the cost of drilling deepwater exploration wells. A single deepwater exploratory well costs roughly USD 125–150 million.
- India is the world’s third-largest consumer of crude oil, with an annual import bill of nearly USD 144 billion, about ₹13 lakh crore.
- Priority frontier basins include Krishna-Godavari, Cauvery, Mahanadi and the Andaman region.
📌 Why It Matters
Scheme name, ministry, outlay and production targets are directly examinable. Energy security is also a recurring UPSC Mains and essay theme.
🧠 Static GK Connect
The name refers to the Samudra Manthan, the churning of the ocean in Hindu mythology. The scheme builds on the Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Amendment Act, 2025 and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Rules, 2025. India’s Exclusive Economic Zone extends 200 nautical miles from the baseline.
PM-KISAN Extended to 2030-31 with ₹3.15 Lakh Crore Outlay
The Union Cabinet approved continuation of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme from FY 2026-27 to FY 2030-31 with a total financial outlay of ₹3,15,614 crore. Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the decision.
Key Facts
- PM-KISAN was launched in February 2019 and provides ₹6,000 per year to eligible landholding farmer families in three equal instalments of ₹2,000 through Direct Benefit Transfer.
- More than ₹4.47 lakh crore has been transferred across 23 instalments so far.
- The 23rd instalment alone benefited over 9.49 crore farmers, releasing more than ₹18,984 crore.
- Women farmers have received more than ₹1.06 lakh crore under the scheme, with nearly one in four beneficiaries being a woman.
- A NITI Aayog Development Monitoring and Evaluation Office assessment found more than 92 per cent of beneficiaries used the assistance for agricultural activities and investment.
📌 Why It Matters
PM-KISAN is one of the most frequently asked flagship schemes across SSC, Banking and State PSC papers. The new outlay and end year are fresh, testable facts.
🧠 Static GK Connect
PM-KISAN is a Central Sector Scheme fully funded by the Union Government, administered by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. It was formally launched on 24 February 2019 at Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh.
🌐 International
Powerful Earthquake Strikes Kumamoto in Japan; Dozens Killed
An earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture on the Japanese island of Kyushu at 16:27 Japan Standard Time on 28 July 2026. The Japan Meteorological Agency officially named it the 2026 Kumamoto earthquake.
Key Facts
- The United States Geological Survey recorded a magnitude of 6.8 (Mww) with the epicentre about 5 km east of Uto city; the Japan Meteorological Agency recorded MJMA 7.1.
- The difference arises because the two agencies report different magnitude types, not because either is wrong.
- The quake was caused by shallow strike-slip faulting at a depth first given as 10 km and later revised to 16 km. No tsunami warning was issued.
- The Kumamoto prefectural disaster response headquarters confirmed 38 deaths as of 3 August 2026; more than 170 people were injured.
- Major damage included an explosion at the Aeon Mall in Kashima and a chimney collapse at a Nippon Paper Industries mill in Yatsushiro. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi led the response.
📌 Why It Matters
Earthquake magnitude scales, plate tectonics and the Pacific Ring of Fire are core Geography topics for UPSC and SSC.
🧠 Static GK Connect
Japan lies on the Pacific Ring of Fire. Kyushu is the southernmost of Japan’s four main islands. Kumamoto was previously struck by a damaging earthquake sequence in April 2016. The Japanese seismic intensity (shindo) scale runs to a maximum of 7 and measures shaking, unlike magnitude which measures energy released.
💰 Economy & Banking
July GST Collections Rise 15.4% to ₹2.11 Lakh Crore, Fastest in 14 Months
Government data released on 1 August 2026 showed gross Goods and Services Tax collections rose 15.4 per cent year-on-year to ₹2.11 lakh crore in July 2026, the fastest growth in 14 months, driven mainly by a sharp rise in revenue from imports.
Key Facts
- Gross GST collections were ₹2.11 lakh crore in July 2026, against ₹1.83 lakh crore in July 2025. This was the second time in FY 2026-27 that monthly collections crossed ₹2 lakh crore.
- Domestic gross GST revenue rose 10.1 per cent to ₹1.45 lakh crore; revenue from imports rose 28.8 per cent to ₹66,511 crore.
- Net GST revenue after refunds rose 15.8 per cent to ₹1.81 lakh crore. Total refunds were ₹29,968 crore, up 13.1 per cent.
- Cumulative gross GST collections for April–July 2026 rose 10.1 per cent to ₹8.43 lakh crore; net collections rose 9.2 per cent to ₹7.21 lakh crore.
- Maharashtra recorded the highest state collection at ₹32,210 crore, up 13 per cent; Gujarat rose 19 per cent to ₹12,923 crore.
📌 Why It Matters
Monthly GST figures are among the most frequently asked economy data points in Banking and SSC examinations.
🧠 Static GK Connect
GST was rolled out on 1 July 2017 under the 101st Constitutional Amendment Act, 2016. The GST Council is a constitutional body under Article 279A, chaired by the Union Finance Minister.
🌳 Environment
Cabinet Approves ₹5,070 Crore PM Surya Sarovar Yojana for Floating Solar
The Union Cabinet approved the Pradhan Mantri Surya Sarovar Yojana (PM-SSY), a Central Sector Scheme to develop Floating Solar Photovoltaic projects with co-located Energy Storage Systems, with a total outlay of ₹5,070 crore.
Key Facts
- The scheme targets 5,000 MW of floating solar capacity with co-located energy storage of at least two hours, that is 10,000 MWh.
- Central Financial Assistance of ₹1 crore per MW will be given after successful commissioning, plus up to ₹50 lakh per project for feasibility studies including bathymetry and hydrography assessments.
- Projects will be sanctioned from FY 2026-27 to FY 2030-31, with disbursement continuing up to FY 2032-33.
- The National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) has estimated India’s floating solar potential at about 102.18 GWp; current installed floating solar capacity is only about 700 MW.
- The government expects the scheme to cut carbon dioxide emissions by around 10 million tonnes a year and create roughly 16,000 to 17,000 full-time equivalent jobs.
📌 Why It Matters
A new named scheme with a precise outlay, capacity target and nodal assessment body — exactly the kind of item that appears in General Awareness sections within weeks.
🧠 Static GK Connect
Floating solar panels are installed on reservoirs, dams and inland water bodies, saving land and reducing evaporation. The National Institute of Solar Energy at Gurugram is an autonomous institution under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
🏆 Sports
Revamped Khelo India Scheme Cleared with ₹36,441 Crore Combined Outlay
The Union Cabinet approved a revamped Khelo India Scheme along with enhanced Assistance to National Sports Federations, with a combined outlay of ₹36,441 crore for the period 2026-27 to 2030-31.
Key Facts
- Of the total, ₹29,054 crore is for the Khelo India Scheme and ₹7,387 crore for Assistance to National Sports Federations.
- The approved outlay is nearly eight times that of the previous Khelo India Scheme.
- The existing budgetary allocation for Assistance to National Sports Federations for 2026-27 stood at ₹425 crore.
- The scheme is aligned with Khelo Bharat Niti 2025 and the National Education Policy 2020, and builds an athlete pathway from school-level sport to the Olympic podium.
- It is intended to support India’s hosting of the 2030 Commonwealth Games and its bid for the 2036 Olympic Games.
📌 Why It Matters
Sports schemes and their outlays are standard General Awareness material, and this one links directly to the Ahmedabad 2030 Commonwealth Games storyline.
🧠 Static GK Connect
Khelo India was launched in 2017 under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. The first Khelo India School Games were held in New Delhi in 2018.
India Finish 4th at Glasgow Commonwealth Games with 39 Medals
The 23rd Commonwealth Games concluded in Glasgow on 2 August 2026. India finished fourth in the medal standings with 39 medals — 13 gold, 17 silver and 9 bronze — despite a sharply reduced sporting programme.
Key Facts
- The Games ran from 23 July to 2 August 2026. India sent a contingent of 122 athletes competing in ten sports; it was India’s 19th appearance at the Commonwealth Games.
- Australia topped the table with 70 gold and 171 medals, followed by England and Canada.
- Boxing was India’s best sport with 10 medals including seven golds — the most won by any nation in boxing at a single Commonwealth Games.
- India recorded its best-ever judo performance with three medals (two gold and one bronze), including its first-ever Commonwealth Games judo gold.
- Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu was the opening ceremony flag-bearer; boxer Jaismine Lamboria, who won women’s 57 kg gold, carried the flag at the closing ceremony.
- The Commonwealth Flag was handed over to India for the 2030 centenary edition in Ahmedabad, with Neeraj Chopra passing it to Indian Olympic Association president P. T. Usha.
📌 Why It Matters
Medal tallies, host cities and next-edition hosts are guaranteed General Awareness questions across SSC, Railway and Banking papers.
🧠 Static GK Connect
India made its Commonwealth Games debut in 1934. India’s best-ever performance was at New Delhi 2010, where it won 101 medals and finished second — its highest position at any edition. India also finished fourth at Manchester 2002, Melbourne 2006 and Birmingham 2022.
🧠 Static GK Refresher
Connect this week's news with evergreen facts that exams love
| News Item | Static Fact to Remember |
|---|---|
| Parliament passed the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026. | A Bill becomes an Act only after it is passed by both Houses and receives the assent of the President under Article 111. A Money Bill cannot be introduced in the Rajya Sabha, but an ordinary Bill like this one can be introduced in either House. |
| Vande Mataram received the same statutory protection as the National Anthem. | On 24 January 1950 the Constituent Assembly declared Jana Gana Mana the National Anthem and resolved that Vande Mataram would be honoured equally with it and hold equal status. Jana Gana Mana was written by Rabindranath Tagore and first sung at the Calcutta session of the Indian National Congress on 27 December 1911. |
| The Cabinet approved the Samudra Manthan offshore exploration scheme. | India’s sedimentary basins are classified into Category I, II and III based on established production and prospects. The Directorate General of Hydrocarbons, set up in 1993, is the technical regulator under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. |
| The Cabinet cleared the Pradhan Mantri Surya Sarovar Yojana for floating solar projects. | India targets 500 GW of non-fossil fuel electricity generation capacity by 2030 under its updated Nationally Determined Contribution. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy also runs PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana for rooftop solar. |
| PM-KISAN was extended to 2030-31 with a ₹3.15 lakh crore outlay. | A Central Sector Scheme is funded entirely by the Union Government, while a Centrally Sponsored Scheme is shared with the states. Direct Benefit Transfer was launched on 1 January 2013. |
| The revamped Khelo India Scheme was approved with a ₹36,441 crore outlay. | The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports also administers the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), launched in 2014. National Sports Day is observed on 29 August, the birth anniversary of hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand. |
| July 2026 GST collections rose 15.4 per cent to ₹2.11 lakh crore. | Following the GST 2.0 rationalisation approved at the 56th GST Council meeting on 3 September 2025 and effective from 22 September 2025, the 12% and 28% slabs were removed. The structure is now 0%, 5% and 18%, with a special 40% rate for luxury and sin goods. GST is levied as CGST, SGST, IGST and UTGST, with IGST applying to inter-state supplies and imports. |
| India finished fourth at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games with 39 medals. | The Commonwealth Games are held every four years and were first held as the British Empire Games in Hamilton, Canada, in 1930. India hosted the 2010 edition in New Delhi and will host the 2030 centenary edition in Ahmedabad. |
| An earthquake of magnitude 6.8 struck Kumamoto Prefecture in Japan. | The Richter scale measures magnitude, while the Mercalli scale measures intensity of shaking. Seismic waves are of three types: Primary (P) waves, which are longitudinal and fastest; Secondary (S) waves, which are transverse and cannot pass through liquids; and surface waves, which cause the most damage. |
Parliament passed the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026.
A Bill becomes an Act only after it is passed by both Houses and receives the assent of the President under Article 111. A Money Bill cannot be introduced in the Rajya Sabha, but an ordinary Bill like this one can be introduced in either House.
Vande Mataram received the same statutory protection as the National Anthem.
On 24 January 1950 the Constituent Assembly declared Jana Gana Mana the National Anthem and resolved that Vande Mataram would be honoured equally with it and hold equal status. Jana Gana Mana was written by Rabindranath Tagore and first sung at the Calcutta session of the Indian National Congress on 27 December 1911.
The Cabinet approved the Samudra Manthan offshore exploration scheme.
India’s sedimentary basins are classified into Category I, II and III based on established production and prospects. The Directorate General of Hydrocarbons, set up in 1993, is the technical regulator under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
The Cabinet cleared the Pradhan Mantri Surya Sarovar Yojana for floating solar projects.
India targets 500 GW of non-fossil fuel electricity generation capacity by 2030 under its updated Nationally Determined Contribution. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy also runs PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana for rooftop solar.
PM-KISAN was extended to 2030-31 with a ₹3.15 lakh crore outlay.
A Central Sector Scheme is funded entirely by the Union Government, while a Centrally Sponsored Scheme is shared with the states. Direct Benefit Transfer was launched on 1 January 2013.
The revamped Khelo India Scheme was approved with a ₹36,441 crore outlay.
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports also administers the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), launched in 2014. National Sports Day is observed on 29 August, the birth anniversary of hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand.
July 2026 GST collections rose 15.4 per cent to ₹2.11 lakh crore.
Following the GST 2.0 rationalisation approved at the 56th GST Council meeting on 3 September 2025 and effective from 22 September 2025, the 12% and 28% slabs were removed. The structure is now 0%, 5% and 18%, with a special 40% rate for luxury and sin goods. GST is levied as CGST, SGST, IGST and UTGST, with IGST applying to inter-state supplies and imports.
India finished fourth at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games with 39 medals.
The Commonwealth Games are held every four years and were first held as the British Empire Games in Hamilton, Canada, in 1930. India hosted the 2010 edition in New Delhi and will host the 2030 centenary edition in Ahmedabad.
An earthquake of magnitude 6.8 struck Kumamoto Prefecture in Japan.
The Richter scale measures magnitude, while the Mercalli scale measures intensity of shaking. Seismic waves are of three types: Primary (P) waves, which are longitudinal and fastest; Secondary (S) waves, which are transverse and cannot pass through liquids; and surface waves, which cause the most damage.
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⚠️ Accuracy Note: This summary is provided for reference and quick revision only. Mistakes are possible, so always cross-check important details — dates, names, figures, and notifications — with the official source before relying on them for your exam preparation.