CURRENT AFFAIRS 13-14 July, 2026

CURRENT AFFAIRS 13-14 July, 2026

1. GREY HORNBILL RETURNS TO GUJARAT’S GIR FORESTS AFTER SIX DECADES –

• The Indian Grey Hornbill, also known as Chilotro, has been reintroduced into the Gir forests of Gujarat after an absence of more than six decades. A scientific study in the peer-reviewed journal Birds records that the reintroduced birds are surviving and breeding in the wild.

Indian Grey Hornbill

• The Indian Grey Hornbill is a bird species found in parts of the Indian subcontinent. Hornbills belong to the family Bucerotidae, which includes large birds with a distinctive curved bill and a casque on the upper mandible.

Gir Landscape and Reintroduction Programme

• The Gir landscape in Gujarat is known for the Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary, which is the only natural habitat of the Asiatic lion in India. The reintroduction programme released 40 hornbills in two phases, with 28 birds in 2021-2022 and 12 birds in 2023. Eleven male hornbills were fitted with satellite transmitters to track movement, habitat use, and breeding behaviour. Two tagged males were named LK and RSD in memory of ornithologists Lavkumar Khachar and R.S. Dharmakumarsinhji.

2. LADAKH TO FORM HILL COUNCILS IN SEVEN DISTRICTS –

• Ladakh administration decided on 13 July 2026 to constitute Autonomous Hill Development Councils for all seven districts of the Union Territory. The decision covers Leh, Kargil, Nubra, Changthang, Sham, Zanskar, and Drass, after the creation of five new districts in April 2026.

Autonomous Hill Development Councils in Ladakh

• Autonomous Hill Development Councils are district-level elected bodies in Ladakh that function under the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council Act. Leh has had such a council since 1995, and Kargil has had one since 2003.

District Reorganisation in Ladakh

• Ladakh had two districts, Leh and Kargil, before the notification of five new districts in April 2026. The new districts are Nubra, Changthang, Sham, Zanskar, and Drass, taking the total number of districts in Ladakh to seven.

3. AHMEDABAD SETS WORLD RECORD BY PLANTING 3.61 LAKH SAPLINGS IN ONE HOUR –

• Ahmedabad set a Guinness World Record on 12 July 2026 by planting 3.61 lakh, or 361,000, saplings in one hour at Bhadaj in Gujarat. The plantation drive was organised by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation and used the Miyawaki method across an area of about 76,000 square metres.

Record-setting plantation drive

• More than 25,000 volunteers took part in the campaign. The drive included 35 indigenous species and was conducted in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel.

Miyawaki method and urban afforestation

• The Miyawaki method is a dense plantation technique developed by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki. It is used for creating native, multi-layered forests in small urban spaces and for increasing plant density in limited land areas.

4. CENTRAL VISTA AREA TO BE RENAMED KARTAVYA BHAWAN AREA –

• The Central Vista redevelopment area in New Delhi is being referred to as the Kartavya Bhawan Complex or Kartavya Bhawan Area from 12 July 2026. The renamed precinct covers the government buildings, Kartavya Marg, and future structures within the Central Vista zone.

Central Vista Redevelopment

• Central Vista is the central administrative axis of India in New Delhi. It includes major government buildings and ceremonial spaces between Rashtrapati Bhavan and India Gate. The redevelopment plan includes the Common Central Secretariat, which is designed to house several Union ministries in one administrative cluster.

Kartavya Bhawan and Common Central Secretariat

• The Common Central Secretariat project includes 10 buildings under the Central Vista redevelopment plan. Three buildings have already been completed and named Kartavya Bhawans. The first building, Kartavya Bhavan, was inaugurated in August 2025 and is expected to be fully ready by September 2026.

5. JAISALMER RAILWAY STATION GETS HERITAGE MAKEOVER UNDER AMRIT BHARAT SCHEME –

• Jaisalmer Railway Station in Rajasthan has been redeveloped under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, with the project completed in July 2026 at an estimated cost of around Rs 140 crore. The station combines local architectural elements such as yellow sandstone and traditional Rajasthani designs with modern passenger facilities.

Amrit Bharat Station Scheme

• The Amrit Bharat Station Scheme is an Indian Railways station redevelopment programme for phased modernisation of railway stations across the country. The scheme includes station building upgrades, improved circulation areas, better passenger amenities, and integration of accessibility features.

Jaisalmer Station Design Features

• The redeveloped station uses yellow sandstone elements associated with Jaisalmer’s built heritage. It also includes traditional Rajasthani design motifs, modern lighting, clear signboards, and a digital passenger information system.

MCQ QUIZ

Q1.  NAMASTE Scheme, that was recently seen in news, primarily focuses on the welfare of which category of workers ?

1. a) Sanitation workers, including sewer and septic tank workers
2. b) Agricultural workers, fishermen, and dairy workers
3. c) Delivery workers, transport workers, and street vendors
4. d) Construction workers, factory workers, and industrial labourers

Q2.  Recently, the Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket (LRGR) was in the news. What is its operational strike range ?

1. a) 30–60 km
2. b) 60–120 km
3. c) 120–180 km
4. d) 150–250 km

Q3.  Recently, Unjha Cumin (Jeera) and Unjha Fennel (Variyali) received Geographical Indication (GI) tags. They are associated with which of the following states ?

1. a) Rajasthan
2. b) Gujarat
3. c) Madhya Pradesh
4. d) Maharashtra

Q4.  With reference to Geographical Indication (GI) tags in India, consider the following statements:

1. A GI tag in India is governed by the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999.
2. The GI registry is administered by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
3. The validity of a GI tag is 10 years, after which it cannot be renewed.

         Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

1. a) 1 and 2 only
2. b) 2 only
3. c) 2 and 3 only
4. d) 1, 2, and 3

Explanation-

• Statement 1 is correct: India introduced the GI framework to protect traditional products as intellectual property. It is governed by the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 and became effective in September 2003.
• Statement 2 is correct: The registration of GI is administered by the Geographical Indications Registry, which operates under the DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Overall IP rights fall under the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks.
• Statement 3 is incorrect: A GI registration remains valid for a period of 10 years. However, unlike what the statement suggests, it can be renewed periodically for further 10-year periods.

Q5.  Consider the following statements regarding the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme in India:

1. The programme aims to blend ethanol with petrol specifically to reduce dependence on fossil fuel imports and to lower carbon emissions.
2. The implementation of the EBP Programme is overseen by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
3. India successfully achieved its 20% ethanol blending (E20) target ahead of the original timeline.

         Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

1. a) 1 and 2 only
2. b) 1 and 3 only
3. c) 2 and 3 only
4. d) 1, 2, and 3

Explanation-

• Statement 1 is correct: The EBP Programme is a flagship initiative of the Government of India designed to reduce the country’s heavy reliance on crude oil imports, save precious foreign exchange, and significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions by promoting cleaner energy sources.
• Statement 2 is incorrect: The EBP Programme is implemented by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG), not the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. It operates under the broader guidelines of the National Policy on Biofuels, 2018.
• Statement 3 is correct: India made rapid progress in its clean energy transition, successfully achieving its 20% ethanol blending (E20) target in the 2025–26 Ethanol Supply Year (ESY), five years ahead of the original schedule.

Answer Key