Daily Current Affairs — 15 July 2026

📅 Published 15 July 2026 · Current affairs compiled for 15 July 2026

Daily Current Affairs · 15 July 2026

10 fully-analysed topics · 30 bilingual MCQs · 3 embedded videos · built for UPSC Prelims & Mains

📚 10 Topics
🎯 30 MCQs
🎬 3 Videos
🇮🇳 Hindi + English
Economy: 8 · Geography: 1 · History: 1

▶ Start Here — UPSC-Standard Quiz

UPSC Current Affairs MCQ — 15 July 2026

10 UPSC-standard bilingual MCQs covering today's top stories · 10-sec timer per question

Score yourself as you go. Get a feel for how UPSC-level questions are framed around the day's news.

📰 Today’s Top 5 Current Affairs
#01
Geography

Evaporation of Monsoon Rain

📰 Why in News

A study by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, revealed that nearly one-fourth of India's Southwest monsoon rain over the Western Ghats evaporates mid-air before reaching the ground.

✅ Quick Facts
  • Quantitative Evaporation Rate: On average, 25% of the monsoon rain mass evaporates mid-air over the north Western Ghats during the Southwest monsoon…
  • Mechanism and Impact on Weather Systems: When raindrops evaporate below clouds
  • For comparison, evaporation rates are roughly 40% over Zurich and 60% near Barbados (where air is drier and drops are smaller).
  • When raindrops evaporate while falling, the lighter water molecules evaporate first, leaving behind a higher proportion of heavier isotopes in the…
Show 1 more facts
  • The IITM in Pune operates a nine-site rainwater-isotope network spanning from the Himalayas to the northeast and down to Port Blair in the Andaman…
📝 Quick Check

Which statement correctly describes Evaporation of Monsoon Rain?

✅ Correct! That fact belongs to this topic.

❌ Not quite — that fact is from another headline. The green option is right.

#02
History

IMD’s New AI-Driven Weather Forecasting Systems

📰 Why in News

India Meteorological Department (IMD) unveiled two cutting-edge AI-based weather forecasting tools to provide high-precision

✅ Quick Facts
  • These developments build upon the Bharat Forecasting System (BharatFS)
  • AI-enabled Forecast of Monsoon Advance: It is India's first Artificial Intelligence-based monsoon forecasting system designed to forecast the advance…
  • The system blends AI-based forecasting models, statistical techniques and global weather models using nearly a century of meteorological data
  • The States covered fall within the monsoon core zone
Show 6 more facts
  • The initiative marks a major step towards impact-based and decision-support weather forecasting in India.
  • The forecasting model was developed using the Mithuna weather model
  • The system integrates data from Automatic Rain Gauges
  • It aims to support sectors such as agriculture
  • About: IMD officially adopted the BharatFS in May 2025
  • This marks a major upgrade from existing forecasting models such as the Coupled Forecasting System (CFS) and the Global Forecasting System (GFS)
📝 Quick Check

Which statement correctly describes IMD’s New AI-Driven Weather Forecasting Systems?

✅ Correct! That fact belongs to this topic.

❌ Not quite — that fact is from another headline. The green option is right.

#03
Economy

States Bear Disproportionate Share of India’s Welfare Spending

📰 Why in News

The Realising Rights: A Handbook of Welfare in India by Azim Premji University highlights that State governments are bearing a disproportionately…

✅ Quick Facts
  • States bear a disproportionately high share of India's welfare expenditure despite limited fiscal autonomy
  • Strengthening cooperative fiscal federalism requires higher untied transfers
  • State-Led Welfare (1950s–1980s): Welfare was linked with planned economic development and poverty reduction through programmes such as the Community…
  • Targeted Welfare (1990s): Following the 1991 economic reforms and growing fiscal constraints
Show 6 more facts
  • Rights-Based Welfare (2000s–2014): Welfare benefits were transformed into legally enforceable entitlements
  • Technology-Driven Welfare (Present): The JAM Trinity and Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) enabled targeted and technology-based delivery of welfare…
  • Expansion vs. Expenditure Gap: Despite significant coverage expansion—such as Anganwadi centres increasing to 14 lakh and subsidized food grains…
  • Social Security Lag: Collective government spending (Union and States) on welfare accounts for roughly 7% of GDP and 21% of total public expenditure
  • Disproportionate State Contribution: Combined allocations for selected welfare schemes and sectors stood at Rs 24.20 lakh crore or 6.77% of GDP in FY
  • States account for around 75.2% of total school education expenditure, making them the primary financiers of public education.
🏛️ Key Stakeholders
Supreme CourtRajya SabhaFinance Commission
📝 Quick Check

Which statement correctly describes States Bear Disproportionate Share of India’s…?

✅ Correct! That fact belongs to this topic.

❌ Not quite — that fact is from another headline. The green option is right.

#04
Economy

Competitive and Cooperative Federalism

📰 Why in News

The government has emphasized various initiatives to foster competitive and cooperative federalism and its benefits.

✅ Quick Facts
  • Competitive Federalism: It is a system of horizontal (state-state) and vertical (Centre-state) competition to attract investment
  • State-Level Reforms: Examples of state-specific welfare schemes that operate alongside central schemes include: Rythu Bandhu (Telangana): A direct…
  • KALIA (Odisha): A farmer assistance scheme complementing the central PM Kisan Yojana.
  • Vibrant Gujarat Summit: Focused on attracting global investment.
Show 6 more facts
  • FC's performance-based fund allocation encourages states to work in alignment with national SDGs
  • The All India Services (IAS and IPS) enable a uniform governance structure across states.
  • The States Reorganization Act, 1956 established five Zonal Councils for regional cooperation, facilitating discussions on inter-state issues.
  • 7th Schedule: The Seventh Schedule of the Indian Constitution divides legislative powers between the Centre and states for effective governance.
  • Full Faith and Credit Clause (Article 261): It ensures recognition of public acts
  • Inter-State Council (ISC): The ISC, established under Article 263, resolves intergovernmental disputes and became a permanent body on 28th May 1990…
🏛️ Key Stakeholders
NITI AayogParliamentFinance Commission
📝 Quick Check

Which statement correctly describes Competitive and Cooperative Federalism?

✅ Correct! That fact belongs to this topic.

❌ Not quite — that fact is from another headline. The green option is right.

#05
Economy

Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Programme

📰 Why in News

The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) programme has completed 50 years since its launch as a pilot in Karnataka

✅ Quick Facts
  • About: The ICDS is a centrally sponsored flagship programme launched on 2nd October 1975
  • Lay the foundation for psychological, physical, and social development.
  • Reduce child mortality, morbidity, malnutrition, and school dropouts.
  • Strengthen interdepartmental coordination for child development.
Show 6 more facts
  • Significance: ICDS is vital for early childhood development as it tackles malnutrition, improves health outcomes
  • By integrating nutrition, health, and education services at the community level, it strengthens human capital, reduces inter-generational poverty…
  • About: In FY 2021-22, Saksham Anganwadi and POSHAN 2.0 was launched as India's flagship Integrated Nutrition Support Programme that integrates key…
  • Supplementary Nutrition for children (6 months–6 years)
  • Early Childhood Care & Education (ECCE) for children aged 3–6, with early stimulation for ages 0–3.
  • Upgradation of Anganwadi Infrastructure, including modern Saksham Anganwadi centres.
📝 Quick Check

Which statement correctly describes Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS)…?

✅ Correct! That fact belongs to this topic.

❌ Not quite — that fact is from another headline. The green option is right.

📚 📜 Core Subject Drill — Indian History

📜 Indian History MCQ Quiz · भारतीय इतिहास

10 bilingual MCQs · Indian History · Members Only on YouTube

Today's rotation: Indian History. Take this break between news topics to sharpen the core concept.

📖 More Current Affairs Coverage
#06
Economy

Direct Benefit Transfer Scheme

📰 Why in News

Most economists advocate the conversion of all agricultural subsidies into direct income support i.e., Direct Benefit Transfer to farmers.

✅ Quick Facts
  • Aim: It has been visioned as an aid for simpler/faster flow of information and funds to the beneficiaries and to reduce the fraud in the delivery…
  • Implementation: It is a mission or an initiative by the government of India started on 1st January 2013 as a way to reform the government delivery…
  • Expanded the Coverage of Services: In a mission-mode approach
  • Instant and Easy Money Transfer: It created the Aadhaar Payment Bridge to enable instant money transfers from the government to people's bank accounts
Show 5 more facts
  • Lack of Accessibility: One of the most prominent issues faced by citizens attempting to enroll is the lack of accessibility/proximity to enrolment…
  • Shortage of Facilities: Still there are many rural & tribal areas, which don't have banking facility and road connectivity
  • Uncertainties: Delays in accepting and pushing the applications forward
  • Disruption in the Process: In terms of receiving money in their bank accounts through DBT
  • Systemising Innovation: Empowering innovation system are some of the aspects that would require continued focus
🏛️ Key Stakeholders
RBIReserve Bank
📝 Quick Check

Which statement correctly describes Direct Benefit Transfer Scheme?

✅ Correct! That fact belongs to this topic.

❌ Not quite — that fact is from another headline. The green option is right.

#07
Economy

15th Finance Commission Recommendations: Resource Allocation

📰 Why in News

Recently, the government accepted the 15th Finance Commission's recommendation to maintain the States' share in the divisible pool of taxes to 41% for the five-year period starting 2021-22.

✅ Quick Facts
  • The Commission's Report was tabled in the Parliament.
  • The Finance Commission (FC) is a constitutional body
  • Under Article 280 of the Constitution, the President of India is required to constitute a Finance Commission at an interval of five years or earlier.
  • The 15th Finance Commission was constituted by the President of India in November 2017, under the chairmanship of NK Singh
Show 6 more facts
  • Vertical Devolution (Devolution of Taxes of the Union to States): It has recommended maintaining the vertical devolution at 41% – the same as in its…
  • For horizontal devolution, it has suggested 12.5% weightage to demographic performance, 45% to income, 15% each to population and area, 10% to forest…
  • Revenue deficit grants emanate from the requirement to meet the fiscal needs of the States on their revenue accounts that remain to be met
  • Revenue Deficit is defined as the difference between revenue or current expenditure and revenue receipts, that includes tax and non-tax.
  • It has recommended post-devolution revenue deficit grants amounting to about Rs. 3 trillion over the five-year period ending FY26
  • These grants revolve around four main themes.
🏛️ Key Stakeholders
ParliamentFinance CommissionPresident of India
📝 Quick Check

Which statement correctly describes 15th Finance Commission Recommendations:…?

✅ Correct! That fact belongs to this topic.

❌ Not quite — that fact is from another headline. The green option is right.

#08
Economy

Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025

📰 Why in News

The Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act

✅ Quick Facts
  • The VB-G RAM G Act, 2025 replaces MGNREGA with a restructured rural employment framework that expands guaranteed employment to 125 days, promotes…
  • While the Act modernises rural employment, it has raised concerns over the six-fold increase in states' financial burden, dilution of the…
  • About: The VB-G RAM G Act, 2025 provides a statutory guarantee of wage employment to eligible rural households
  • Maharashtra Employment Guarantee Act, 1977 first introduced the statutory right to work, laying the foundation for MGNREGA, 2005, which provided a…
Show 6 more facts
  • Enhanced Income Security: The statutory legal entitlement is expanded from 100 days to 125 days of guaranteed wage employment per financial year for…
  • 60-Day Pause: To balance the rural economy, an aggregated 60-day no-work period (blackout) is instituted during peak sowing and harvesting seasons to…
  • Interim Minimum Wage Floor: For the first time
  • Strict Wage Timelines: To enforce fiscal accountability and income stability
  • New Identification: Workers will be issued Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Cards
  • Revised Funding Ratio: Moving away from MGNREGA's 100% central wage coverage
📝 Quick Check

Which statement correctly describes Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and…?

✅ Correct! That fact belongs to this topic.

❌ Not quite — that fact is from another headline. The green option is right.

#09
Economy

Welfare vs Development

📰 Why in News

There is growing concern over the blurring of welfare and development in political discourse, where short-term welfare schemes are increasingly projected as long-term development achievements.

✅ Quick Facts
  • This has triggered debates on welfare populism
  • The Welfare vs Development debate highlights the tension between welfare (short-term relief) and development (long-term capacity building)
  • A balanced approach is essential, where targeted welfare supports human capital and demand, while maintaining fiscal discipline and prioritizing…
  • About: Welfare refers to the state's intervention to ensure a basic safety net for its vulnerable populations
Show 6 more facts
  • About: Development goes beyond mere economic growth
  • 'Crowding Out' of Capex: Under the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act
  • For instance, in some agricultural regions like Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana have ensured basic…
  • It shifts the political economy from a "productive state" to a "rent-seeking state," creating a permanent voter dependency rather than demographic…
  • This means the current generation consumes the welfare, but the future generation pays the debt, robbing them of their developmental potential.
  • Builds Human Capital: Welfare measures like nutrition
📝 Quick Check

Which statement correctly describes Welfare vs Development?

✅ Correct! That fact belongs to this topic.

❌ Not quite — that fact is from another headline. The green option is right.

#10
Economy

Political and Economic Reforms in 1991

📰 Why in News

As India gears up for the 2024 general election, it is important to reflect on the pivotal 1991 Indian general elections, which marked a significant turning point in the country's history.

✅ Quick Facts
  • These elections led to profound political and economic changes
  • Tirunellai Narayana Iyer Seshan (T N Seshan) was appointed the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) from 1990 to 1996 and spearheaded a series of…
  • Key Reforms: Voter ID cards: Widely known as EPIC (Electors Photo Identity Card)
  • Strict enforcement of MCC: The Model Code of Conduct (MCC), existing since 1960, outlines guidelines for political parties during elections
Show 6 more facts
  • Curbing electoral malpractices: The Election Commission under Seshan's leadership listed 150 malpractices
  • He also banned excessive spending and public displays during campaigns.
  • The 1991 elections were conducted with unprecedented integrity and transparency, setting new standards for future elections.
  • Despite the prevailing political instability, a turnout of 56.73% was recorded
  • Transformed the Election Commission from a passive observer to an active enforcer of electoral laws.
  • Strengthened the autonomy and integrity of the Election Commission, ensuring free and fair elections.
🏛️ Key Stakeholders
RBIIMFElection CommissionPrime MinisterReserve Bank
📝 Quick Check

Which statement correctly describes Political and Economic Reforms in 1991?

✅ Correct! That fact belongs to this topic.

❌ Not quite — that fact is from another headline. The green option is right.

🗞️ Wrap Up — Simple CA Quiz

Simple Current Affairs MCQ — 15 July 2026

10 accessible MCQs covering the same topics · great for quick revision

End your study session with these simpler MCQs to lock in recall of today's current affairs.

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