Todays Current Affairs 26 July 2026: NEET Row, Education Minister Resigns, Sarnath UNESCO Tag, US Tariffs & H-1B Verdict | SSC, Banking, UPSC Special
📌 Quick Summary: Welcome back to our daily current affairs series. We are sharing all the major current news in this article. This post is very valuable for the candidates who are preparing for the competetive exams. In this news we will cover 26 July 2026 current affairs. This complete roundup will covers the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan amid the NEET-UG paper leak protests, the new Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill 2026, Sarnath's inscription as India's 45th UNESCO World Heritage Site, India's tariff relief from the US, a US court verdict against Trump's H-1B fee, and the 27th Kargil Vijay Diwas. All facts are verified against national dailies and structured for SSC CGL, IBPS PO/Clerk, UPSC Prelims, State PCS, and other competitive exams.
- Dharmendra Pradhan Resigns as Education Minister
- Public Examinations Amendment Bill 2026
- Sarnath Becomes India's 45th UNESCO World Heritage Site
- India Gets Tariff Relief from US Section 301 Action
- US Court Rejects Trump's $100,000 H-1B Fee
- 27th Kargil Vijay Diwas
- 7,310 District Judge Posts Vacant — Judiciary Data
- India–Israel FTA Talks, Round 2
- One-Liner Revision Capsule
- Practice MCQs (20 Questions)
1️⃣ Dharmendra Pradhan Resigns as Union Education Minister
On 25 July 2026, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned from his post amid a 36-day-long protest by the "Cockroach Janta Party" (CJP) at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, over the NEET-UG paper leak controversy and irregularities in CBSE's on-screen marking system. President Droupadi Murmu accepted his resignation on the advice of PM Narendra Modi. Union Minister Pralhad Joshi has been given additional charge of the Education Ministry.
- Resigning Minister: Dharmendra Pradhan (also held Skill Development portfolio earlier)
- Additional charge given to: Pralhad Joshi (existing portfolios: Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, New & Renewable Energy)
- Pralhad Joshi is a 5-time MP from Dharwad, Karnataka
- This is the first NDA minister resignation in 8 years under sustained public pressure since MJ Akbar (2018), but Pradhan is the first Cabinet-rank minister to do so
- Protesting organisation: Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) — founded by Abhijeet Dipke, triggered by CJI Surya Kant's "cockroach" remark on 15 May 2026
- Protest venue: Jantar Mantar, New Delhi — lasted 36 days
Why is this important for exams?
Questions on Union Council of Ministers, portfolio reshuffles, and important resignations are frequently asked in SSC CGL Tier-1 GK, Banking (IBPS PO/Clerk GA section), and UPSC Prelims (Polity & Current Affairs). Keep a static-cum-dynamic note on all Cabinet Ministers and their portfolios updated monthly.
📚 Related Prep Tip: If you're preparing for exams that test general awareness alongside quantitative and reasoning ability, revise your weekly progress using the Weekly Current Affairs Quiz series to lock in such dynamic GK questions before they slip from memory.
2️⃣ Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026
In direct response to the NEET-UG paper leak crisis, the Union Cabinet on 24 July 2026 approved the draft Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026. It will be introduced in the Lok Sabha by Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh on 27 July 2026 (Monday).
- Mandatory 2-month deadline for investigation into paper leak/exam-related offences
- Centre empowered to set up a special task force for probing serious offences
- For organised crimes: minimum 7-year sentence and fine up to ₹10 crore
- All States/UTs directed to set up fast-track courts completing trial within 3 months of chargesheet filing
- Covers exams by UPSC, SSC, Railway Recruitment Board, IBPS, and NTA (which conducts NEET)
This amends the original Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, which itself was passed following earlier paper leak scandals.
📚 If you're targeting government exam recruitment updates and want to stay alert about upcoming vacancies affected by such reforms, bookmark our Bank Jobs section for regularly updated notifications.
3️⃣ Sarnath Becomes India's 45th UNESCO World Heritage Site
At the 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee held in Busan, Republic of Korea, the ancient Buddhist site of Sarnath, Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh) was officially inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, taking India's total tally of World Heritage properties to 45.
- Sarnath is where Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon after attaining Enlightenment, setting in motion the Wheel of Dharma (Dharmachakra)
- Sarnath is home to the Lion Capital of Ashoka, later adopted as India's National Emblem
- India's Permanent Representative to UNESCO: Vishal V Sharma
- Session details: 48th session, Busan, South Korea
- India now has 45 UNESCO World Heritage properties — a static fact frequently tested
Static GK Tip: UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India are categorized as Cultural, Natural, and Mixed. Sarnath adds to the Cultural category. Make a habit of maintaining a running list updated each time a new site is added — this is a favourite static+dynamic combination in SSC CGL and State PCS prelims.
4️⃣ India Gets Partial Relief in US Section 301 Tariff Action
The US, on 24 July 2026, announced an additional tariff on imports from India and 60 other countries under Section 301 measures related to forced-labour practices. India was placed in the lower tariff tier, attracting an additional 10% duty instead of the initially proposed 12.5%.
- 45% of India's exports to the US remain fully exempt from the new tariff
- Remaining 55% will face the additional 10% duty
- Probe conducted by: United States Trade Representative (USTR)
- Key exempted sectors: generic pharmaceuticals, smartphones, specified products already under zero-duty
- Products under Section 232 (steel, aluminium, auto parts) — already covered, not additionally taxed
- India–US are negotiating a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA), referenced in joint statement of 7 February and commitment of 2 February
This is a crucial topic for Banking (IBPS PO/SBI PO) Economic Awareness and UPSC GS-3 (International Economic Relations).
5️⃣ US Court Rejects Trump's $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee
A US federal appeals court (First Circuit Court of Appeals, Boston) refused to stay a lower court order that struck down the Trump administration's decision to impose a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visas for skilled foreign workers. The three-judge bench upheld District Judge Leo T. Sorokin's June 8 ruling that termed the fee an unlawful tax not authorised by Congress.
- H-1B visa: a non-immigrant visa allowing US firms to employ foreign workers in specialty occupations
- A US Senate bill has been introduced separately seeking a 3-year pause on new H-1B visas and to codify the $100,000 fee
- This directly impacts Indian IT professionals — a recurring topic in Banking & SSC current affairs on international relations/economy
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6️⃣ 27th Kargil Vijay Diwas Observed on 26 July 2026
India observed the 27th anniversary of the 1999 Kargil War victory on 26 July 2026. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh attended the commemorations in Dras, Ladakh, at the Kargil War Memorial, marking India's victory in Operation Vijay.
- Kargil Vijay Diwas: observed every year on 26 July
- Operation launched in 1999 after Pakistani forces infiltrated the Kargil sector
- Operation concluded with India's victory on 26 July 1999
- Programme themes: Yudh Sansmaran, Shaurya Sandhya, Shradhanjali Samaroh, Gaurav Gatha
- Defence Minister attending 2026 event: Rajnath Singh
This is a recurring static GK / defence-related current affairs topic tested almost every year around late July in SSC, Banking, and Defence exams (CDS, AFCAT, NDA).
7️⃣ 7,310 District Judge Posts Vacant Across India
As per data shared by Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal in the Rajya Sabha, out of a sanctioned strength of 30,868 judges in district courts across the country, 7,310 posts remain vacant, with the working strength standing at 23,558.
| State | Sanctioned Posts | Filled | Vacant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Karnataka (Highest vacancy %) | 2,812 | 1,172 | 1,640 |
| Uttar Pradesh | 3,700 | 2,618 | 1,082 |
| Punjab | 834 | 696 | 138 |
| Haryana | 787 | 648 | 139 |
| Chandigarh (Lowest) | 30 | 30 | 0 |
This kind of data-based current affairs (judiciary, vacancy statistics) is important for UPSC GS-2 (Polity/Judiciary) and State PCS mains descriptive answers.
8️⃣ India–Israel Conclude Second Round of FTA Talks
India and Israel concluded the second round of negotiations for the proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) held in New Delhi from 20–23 July 2026, covering trade in goods and services, rules of origin, customs procedures, IPR, and technical barriers to trade.
- India's Chief Negotiator: Ajay Bhadoo (Additional Secretary, Ministry of Commerce)
- Israel's Chief Negotiator: Yifat Alon Perel
- Talks based on the Terms of Reference (ToR) signed in November 2025
- India–Israel merchandise trade stood at $3.93 billion in FY 2025–26
🧠 One-Liner Revision Capsule (26 July 2026)
- Union Education Minister who resigned: Dharmendra Pradhan
- New additional charge holder of Education Ministry: Pralhad Joshi
- Bill introduced in Lok Sabha on 27 July 2026: Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026
- India's 45th UNESCO World Heritage Site: Sarnath, Varanasi
- UNESCO session where Sarnath was inscribed: 48th session, Busan, South Korea
- Additional US tariff on India (Section 301): 10% (lower tier)
- % of Indian exports to US exempted from new tariff: 45%
- Court that rejected Trump's H-1B $100K fee stay: First Circuit Court of Appeals, Boston
- Kargil Vijay Diwas 2026: 27th anniversary, observed 26 July
- Total district judge vacancies in India: 7,310 out of 30,868 sanctioned
- India-Israel FTA talks Round 2 venue: New Delhi (20–23 July 2026)
- India's Chief Negotiator for India-Israel FTA: Ajay Bhadoo
📝 Practice MCQs (20 Questions)
Q1. Who resigned as the Union Education Minister on 25 July 2026?
(a) Pralhad Joshi (b) Dharmendra Pradhan (c) Dr Jitendra Singh (d) Ashwini Vaishnaw
Answer: (b) Dharmendra Pradhan
Q2. Who has been given additional charge of the Union Education Ministry in July 2026?
(a) Jitendra Singh (b) Pralhad Joshi (c) Piyush Goyal (d) Ashwini Vaishnaw
Answer: (b) Pralhad Joshi
Q3. Pralhad Joshi is a Member of Parliament from which constituency?
(a) Bengaluru (b) Dharwad (c) Mysuru (d) Hubballi
Answer: (b) Dharwad, Karnataka
Q4. The "Cockroach Janta Party" protest, linked to the NEET-UG paper leak row, was held at:
(a) India Gate (b) Ramlila Maidan (c) Jantar Mantar (d) Raj Ghat
Answer: (c) Jantar Mantar, New Delhi
Q5. Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation is significant because he is the first minister of Cabinet rank in the NDA government to resign under public pressure since:
(a) 2014 (b) 2016 (c) 2018 (MJ Akbar) (d) 2020
Answer: (c) 2018, when MJ Akbar (Minister of State) resigned
Q6. The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 was introduced in the Lok Sabha by:
(a) Dharmendra Pradhan (b) Dr Jitendra Singh (c) Amit Shah (d) Pralhad Joshi
Answer: (b) Dr Jitendra Singh
Q7. As per the 2026 Amendment Bill, investigations into paper leak cases must be completed within:
(a) 1 month (b) 2 months (c) 3 months (d) 6 months
Answer: (b) 2 months
Q8. For organised crimes related to exam paper leaks, the Bill proposes a minimum sentence of:
(a) 3 years (b) 5 years (c) 7 years (d) 10 years
Answer: (c) 7 years, with fine up to ₹10 crore
Q9. Fast-track courts set up under the new Bill must complete trials within how many months of chargesheet filing?
(a) 2 months (b) 3 months (c) 4 months (d) 6 months
Answer: (b) 3 months
Q10. Sarnath, India's 45th UNESCO World Heritage Site, is located in which state?
(a) Bihar (b) Madhya Pradesh (c) Uttar Pradesh (d) Odisha
Answer: (c) Uttar Pradesh (near Varanasi)
Q11. India's total tally of UNESCO World Heritage Sites after Sarnath's inscription is:
(a) 43 (b) 44 (c) 45 (d) 46
Answer: (c) 45
Q12. Sarnath was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List during which session of the World Heritage Committee?
(a) 46th session (b) 47th session (c) 48th session (d) 49th session
Answer: (c) 48th session, held in Busan, South Korea
Q13. The famous Lion Capital of Ashoka, adopted as India's National Emblem, is located at:
(a) Sanchi (b) Sarnath (c) Bodh Gaya (d) Nalanda
Answer: (b) Sarnath
Q14. What additional US tariff has been imposed on 55% of Indian exports under Section 301 measures?
(a) 5% (b) 10% (c) 12.5% (d) 15%
Answer: (b) 10%
Q15. What percentage of India's exports to the US remain exempt from the new Section 301 tariff?
(a) 35% (b) 40% (c) 45% (d) 50%
Answer: (c) 45%
Q16. Which US body conducted the probe leading to the Section 301 tariff action against India and 60 other countries?
(a) US Department of Commerce (b) United States Trade Representative (USTR) (c) Federal Reserve (d) US Senate Committee
Answer: (b) United States Trade Representative (USTR)
Q17. Which US court refused to stay the ruling against Trump's $100,000 H-1B visa fee?
(a) Supreme Court of the United States (b) Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals (c) First Circuit Court of Appeals, Boston (d) District Court of Columbia
Answer: (c) First Circuit Court of Appeals, Boston
Q18. Kargil Vijay Diwas is observed every year on:
(a) 15 August (b) 26 July (c) 3 December (d) 16 December
Answer: (b) 26 July
Q19. In 2026, India observed which anniversary of the Kargil War victory (Operation Vijay)?
(a) 25th (b) 26th (c) 27th (d) 30th
Answer: (c) 27th anniversary
Q20. As per Rajya Sabha data shared by Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, how many district judge posts are vacant in India against a sanctioned strength of 30,868?
(a) 5,310 (b) 6,210 (c) 7,310 (d) 8,410
Answer: (c) 7,310
📚 Want more such practice questions organised month-wise for structured revision? Check our Monthly Current Affairs Quiz archive to track your progress systematically.
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Last updated: 26 July 2026 | Category: Daily Current Affairs, SSC, Banking, UPSC
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