DAILY GK 26-27 JULY 2026

 DAILY GK 26-27 JULY 2026

1.       INTERIM PRESIDENT OF FIDE

·         Viswanathan Anand, Deputy President of the International Chess Federation (FIDE), assumed charge as the Interim President of FIDE after incumbent President Arkady Vladimirovich Dvorkovich voluntarily suspended his duties following sanctions imposed by the European Union (EU) and Switzerland over Russia’s war against Ukraine.

·         Viswanathan Anand won the World Chess Championship five times in 2000, 2007, 2008, 2010, and 2012, and remains the only Indian to have won the title multiple times.

·         He received the Arjuna Award (1985), the Padma Shri (1988), the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award (1991–92), the Padma Bhushan (2001) and the Padma Vibhushan (2008).

 

2.       NEW EDUCATION MINISTER

·         Union Minister Pralhad Venkatesh Joshi, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution (MoCAF&PD) and Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) was given additional charge as the 10th Union Minister of Education of India following the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan.

·         Acting on the advice of Prime Minister, President Droupadi Murmu accepted the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan under clause (2) of Article 75 of the Constitution of India.

 

3.       BILL TO STRENGTHEN ANTI-PAPER LEAK LAW

·         The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved a draft Bill to amend the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, proposing stricter penalties of up to 10 years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs 10 crore for organised paper leak offences, along with provisions for fast-track courts to ensure speedy disposal of examination fraud cases.

·         The proposed Bill increases the minimum imprisonment for paper leak offences to 5-10 years for individuals, while retaining a maximum punishment of 10 years and raising penalties with fines of up to Rs 10 crore for organised offences.

·         Before the amendment, the Act prescribed 3–5 years’ imprisonment alongside a fine of up to Rs.10 lakh for individuals involved in unfair means and 5–10 years’ imprisonment with a minimum fine of Rs 1 crore for organised examination fraud.

·         The amendments provide for dedicated fast-track courts to hear paper leak cases.

·         These courts are expected to complete investigations and trials within three months to ensure speedy justice.

 

4.       EXAM REFORM TASK FORCE

·         Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the constitution of six-member high-powered task force, under the leadership of Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani to recommend comprehensive reforms to the examination system in India.

·         Other Members S. Somanath, Former Chairman, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

·         Tapan Deka, Former Director, Intelligence Bureau (IB).

·         V. Kamakoti, Director, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras.

·         Anita Karwal, Former Education Secretary, Ministry of Education (MoE).

·         Amrit Lal Meena, Logistics & Administration Expert, Former Secretary, Ministry of Coal.

 

5.       INITIATIVES AT RASHTRAPATI BHAVAN 

·         Droupadi Murmu, President of India, launched various initiatives at Rashtrapati Bhavan and the President’s Estates in New Delhi, to mark the completion of four years of her presidency.

·         Key Initiatives Launched: Application-based Electronic (e-Audio) Guide, e-Upahaar (3rd Edition),Bachpan ‘Bal Parisar’,RAAHI (Rashtrapati Bhavan Access And Heritage Interconnector),Net Zero Energy Strategy service block,Accommodation & Infrastructure Development.

·         Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has published a series of books highlighting the journey and initiatives during the Presidency.

·         Rashtrapati Bhavan: Rashtra Ka Bhavan – First year of Presidency.

·         Seva Aur Samvedana – Second year of Presidency.

·         Samaveshi Sahbhagita – Third year of Presidency.

·         Bharatiyata Ka Utsav – Fourth year of Presidency.

·         Ama Rashtrapati – Ama Gourav – A dedicated collection of articles published in Odia.

 

6.       GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS REFORMS RANKING

·         Competere Foundation for Trade and Competition an independent policy and advocacy group, released its latest report titled ‘India’s Next Growth Frontier: Reducing Anti-Competitive Market Distortions (ACMDs) to Build on India’s 2010–2023 Reform Progress’. 

·         India has emerged as one of the strongest structural reformers among the economies studied, improving its overall global ranking by jumping 25 places i.e. from 82nd (in 2010) to 57th (in 2023).

·         Report tracks the country’s structural and pro-competitive reforms between 2010 and 2023.

·         The performance of countries are assessed through the foundation’s Market Distortions Performance.

·         Index (MDPI) across three main parameters which include: protection of property rights, domestic competition and international competition.

 

7.       HENLEY PASSPORT INDEX

·         India dropped to 81st position globally with access to 55 destinations, down from the 75th position (in February 2026 edition).

·         India shares the rank with countries like: Mauritania, Algeria.

·         Singapore retained its position as the world’s most powerful passport with access to 192 destinations without a prior visa.

·          Japan, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), sharing the 2nd position with access to 188 destinations.

·          Sweden which ranked at 3rd position with access to 187 destinations.

·         Afghanistan continued to be ranked lowest in the index with access to only 22 destinations, followed by Syria (ranked 103rd, 25 destinations), Iraq (ranked 102nd, 28 destinations), Pakistan (ranked 101st, 29 destinations).

 

8.       SARNATH INSCRIBED ON UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE LIST

·         The Ancient Buddhist Site of Sarnath in Uttar Pradesh (UP) was inscribed on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage List during the 48th session of the World Heritage Committee (WHC) in Busan, South Korea.

·         The inscription became India’s 45th World Heritage Site (WHS) and the fourth for UP after Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Fatehpur Sikri.

·         Sarnath was included in UNESCO’s Tentative List in 1998, and India submitted its nomination dossier in January 2025 for the 2025–26 World Heritage cycle.

 

9.       PRESIDENT VISIT TO MOLDOVA, NORTH MACEDONIA & ROMANIA

·         President of India Droupadi Murmu was on a week-long state visit to Moldova, North Macedonia, and Romania 

In Moldova  she was warmly received by Maia Sandu, President of the Republic of Moldova.

·         North Macedonia: She visited North Macedonia marking first ever visit by an Indian President to North Macedonia.

·         Romania: She visited Romania at the invitation of Nicușor Dan, President of Romania, marking the first state visit by an Indian President to Romania in nearly 30 years.

·         During the visit, she received the Doctor Honoris Causa award from the Bucharest University of Economic Studies (BUES).