News of The Day –  20th July 2026

The Hindu, Indian Express, Live Mint, Business Standard, Economic Times, PIB and AIR, etc

(with Syllabus Relevance)

• About National Maritime Heritage Complex ,Lothal.
• A full-scale experiential Harappan township is being developed to showcase Indus Valley urban planning.
• Features reconstructed streets, dockyards, markets and drainage systems.
• Promotes public awareness of Harappan civilisation and archaeological heritage.

• The dispute relates to claims that the Taj Mahal was originally a Shiva temple named “Tejo Mahalaya”.
• The Archaeological Survey of India stated unambiguously that the Taj was a 17th-century tomb.
• About Tejo Mahalaya/ Taj Mahal.

(GS-2: Polity & Governance)

• The Ministry of Skill Development extended special support under the Pradhan Mantri National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (PM-NAPS) for the North-Eastern Region.
• Aims to increase apprenticeship opportunities, industry participation and youth employability.
• Supports regional development and Skill India Mission objectives.

(GS-2: Polity & Governance)

• Madhya Pradesh’s Uniform Civil Code requires registration of live-in relationships
• Failure to comply may attract penal provisions under the proposed law.
• Raises debates on privacy, individual liberty and State regulation of personal relationships.

(GS-2: International Relations)

• China has proposed WAICO (World AI Cooperation Organization) to promote global AI cooperation.
• Aims to shape international AI governance and strengthen technological leadership.
• Reflects intensifying US-China competition over AI standards and digital geopolitics.

• Status of Indian Youth Population.
• Definition of Gen Z.
• India’s Gen Z faces rising unemployment despite higher educational attainment.
• Highlights skill mismatch, slow formal job creation and low female labour-force participation.
• Emphasises the need for labour-intensive manufacturing, skilling and digital economy reforms.

(GS-3: Economy)

• Futures and Options (F&O) are derivative instruments used for hedging and price discovery.
• Key highlights of India’s F&O Market. 
• SEBI has tightened regulations to curb excessive retail speculation and improve market stability.
• Important for capital market development and financial risk management.

(GS-3: Disaster Management)

• Heavy rainfall triggered flash floods and landslides across Jammu & Kashmir.
• Highlights vulnerability of Himalayan regions to extreme weather events linked to climate change.
• Underscores the importance of early warning systems and disaster-resilient infrastructure.

(GS-3: Science & Technology)

• About Skyroot’s Vikram-1 mission.
• Demonstrates the growing role of private space companies enabled by IN-SPACe.
• Strengthens India’s commercial launch capabilities and space economy ambitions.

(GS-3: Environment)

• First geothermal production and reinjection wells commissioned at Puga Valley, Ladakh.
• Harnesses geothermal energy for clean, round-the-clock power and heating in high-altitude regions.
• Supports renewable energy diversification and sustainable Himalayan development.

(Miscellaneous)

• PV Sindhu won the Japan Open title by defeating Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi.
• Strengthens India’s standing in international badminton ahead of major global tournaments.
• About the Japan Open.