Welcome to Plutus Academy’s Daily Current Affairs for 20 July 2026, carefully compiled from credible newspapers, news agencies and Government sources for aspirants of Bank PO, SSC, RRB and UPSC examinations. Read the summaries below, download the PDF, and test yourself with the five practice questions at the end.

National News

• The Monsoon Session of Parliament began on 20 July 2026 and will run till 13 August 2026; key bills include the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 and the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, 2025.
• India secured joint first position at the 58th International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO) 2026 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, with all four Indian students winning gold medals.
• Dr Jitendra Singh launched Phase-III of the Biomedical Research Career Programme (BRCP), a ₹1,500 crore collaborative initiative between India’s Department of Biotechnology and the UK’s Wellcome Trust.
• The Uttar Pradesh government reshuffled 20 IAS officers; Dr Sarika Mohan (UP cadre, 2006) was appointed Inspector General (Registration).
• The IMD issued heavy-to-very-heavy rainfall warnings for Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Rajasthan and Jammu & Kashmir, with extremely heavy rainfall over Meghalaya and Sub-Himalayan West Bengal & Sikkim.

International News

• Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 in extra time to win the FIFA World Cup 2026 at MetLife Stadium, New Jersey, in what is believed to be Lionel Messi’s last World Cup.
• Iran’s IRGC carried out a second wave of strikes on the Sheikh Isa Air Base in Bahrain and Prince Hassan Air Base in Jordan; the US resumed its naval blockade and announced a 20% fee on ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
• Russia launched 41 missiles and 125 attack drones across Ukraine overnight, according to the Ukrainian air force.
• A wildfire north of Madrid, Spain, has burned around 13,000 hectares and forced about 700 residents to evacuate.
• The impeachment trial of Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte began in the Senate.

News Related to Indian Banking and Finance

• The RBI approved former Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar as HDFC Bank’s part-time Chairman for a three-year term.
• The RBI unveiled its FY2026-27 agenda, including a review of the RBI Act and the launch of next-generation core banking system e-Kuber 3.0.
• India recorded a current account surplus of $4.7 billion in April 2026, reversing a $4.8 billion deficit a year earlier.
• Bank credit expanded 17.65% year-on-year as of 31 May 2026, its fastest pace in nearly two years, while deposits grew 12.21%.
• The RBI’s draft Guidance on Regulatory Principles for Model Risk Management, 2026 – requiring board-approved AI frameworks and a ‘kill switch’ – is open for public comment until 24 July 2026.

News Related to International Banking and Finance

• The IMF’s July 2026 World Economic Outlook Update projected global growth at 3.0% for 2026 and 3.4% for 2027, with inflation at 4.7%.
• The IMF flagged that the global disinflation trend has stalled, with the MENA region facing a cumulative growth downgrade of nearly three percentage points for 2026.
• The IMF Executive Board concluded its 2026 Article IV consultation with the United Kingdom on 16 July 2026.
• The IMF Executive Board concluded its 2026 Article IV consultation with the Euro Area on 16 July 2026.
• IMF staff concluded a visit to Bangladesh on 16 July 2026 as part of ongoing engagement.

International Sports Events

• Spain won the FIFA World Cup 2026, defeating Argentina 1-0 after extra time (Ferran Torres) at MetLife Stadium, New Jersey – Spain’s second World Cup title.
• Lionel Messi is believed to have played his last World Cup for Argentina, closing the tournament with 8 goals and 4 assists.
• The Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games (23 July to 2 August 2026) will see Team England field a 63-strong athletics squad and Team Scotland a 39-strong squad.
• The Open Championship (golf) concluded on 19 July 2026 at Royal Birkdale, Southport, United Kingdom.
• The Rolex Belgian Grand Prix (Formula 1) was held from 17 to 19 July 2026 at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit.

Major National or International Appointments

• IRCTC’s Rahul Himalian (Director, Tourism & Marketing) was given additional charge as Chairman & Managing Director effective 20 July 2026, for three months, following Sanjay Kumar Jain’s exit.
• Rajiv Kumar, former Chief Election Commissioner, was approved by the RBI as HDFC Bank’s part-time Chairman for three years.
• Dr Sarika Mohan (IAS, UP cadre 2006) was appointed Inspector General (Registration), Uttar Pradesh, as part of a 20-officer IAS reshuffle.
• Pankaj Malhan took charge as Managing Director & CEO of RHI Magnesita India effective 1 July 2026, succeeding Parmod Sagar.
• Manjusha Singh was appointed Deputy CEO of DIC India effective 4 July 2026.

Resignation or Dismissal

• UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer resigned as Labour Party leader, opening the path for a leadership contest and the UK’s seventh PM in a decade.
• Reform UK leader Nigel Farage resigned as an MP amid a funding scandal involving an undeclared £5 million donation, triggering a by-election.
• Sanjay Kumar Jain resigned as IRCTC Chairman & Managing Director, prompting Rahul Himalian’s appointment on additional charge.
• Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock stepped down as the state’s chief financial officer at the end of July 2026.
• SPARC AI Inc. director Justin Hanka resigned as a Non-Executive Director effective 16 July 2026.

Major Inventions and Discoveries

• Scientists at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, discovered a simple way to create optical skyrmions using a 200-year-old optical effect.
• Researchers developed a new thermodynamic framework applicable to real, evolving black holes rather than only idealised stable ones.
• Physicists at Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, working with the German Aerospace Center (DLR), found evidence that quantum mechanics may not require imaginary numbers.
• A clinical study found semaglutide (the active ingredient in Ozempic/Wegovy) slowed biological aging markers in adults with HIV – the first clinical evidence the drug may influence human aging.
• Scientists discovered a dedicated network of fine hairs and specialised nerve cells that forms a mechanical-itch sensing system in skin.

Sources: Press Information Bureau (PIB), Reserve Bank of India, IMF, World Bank, India Meteorological Department, FIFA, Reuters, AP, NPR, CNN, ESPN, Al Jazeera and other credible news agencies.

Test Yourself – 5 Practice Questions