July 2026 Current Affairs — Part 21
Important Current Affairs for Government Exams | National Affairs, Science & Technology
This part covers five important developments in India's transport efficiency standards, biotechnology, space technology, defence aviation and clean energy. Read the key facts carefully and attempt the quiz at the end.
36. Revised CAFE III Norms Released for Stakeholder Suggestions
The Central Government released the third draft of CAFE III (Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency) norms for passenger vehicles.
🚗 Key Facts
- Full Form: Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency
- The norms will apply to passenger vehicles from April 2027.
- The draft was released for public and industry suggestions until August 6.
- The aim is to improve fuel efficiency and reduce carbon emissions.
- Manufacturers must gradually make their vehicle fleets more fuel-efficient.
🌱 Cleaner Fuels Recognised
- Ethanol
- Compressed Biogas (CBG)
- Other biofuels
- Companies using these fuels can claim lower carbon emissions through Carbon Neutrality Factors (CNFs).
📌 Compared With Earlier Proposal
- Targets are slightly relaxed.
- The advantage given to heavier SUVs has been reduced.
- Compliance will be checked in two blocks instead of every year.
- First block: 3 years
- Second block: 2 years
37. NITI Aayog Suggests ₹50,000-Crore Fund for Biotech Growth
NITI Aayog proposed a ₹50,000-crore BioEconomy Growth Fund for the period 2026–2035.
🧬 Key Facts
- Fund: BioEconomy Growth Fund
- Proposed by: NITI Aayog
- Period: 2026–2035
- The aim is to make India one of the world's top three biotechnology countries by 2035.
- The fund will support biotechnology startups, research institutions and industries.
- It will help convert scientific research into commercial products.
💡 Fund Support
- Equity investment
- Viability Gap Funding (VGF)
- Infrastructure support
- Risk-sharing finance
📈 India's Bioeconomy
- 2025: $195.3 billion
- 2035: $691 billion
- 2047: $2.6 trillion
- The roadmap also aims to create over 30 million high-value jobs.
38. Mission Aagaman – Vikram-1
Vikram-1 is India's first privately developed orbital launch vehicle, developed by Skyroot Aerospace.
🚀 Key Facts
- Launch Mission: Mission Aagaman
- Launch Vehicle: Vikram-1
- It is India's first privately developed orbital launch vehicle.
- Developer: Skyroot Aerospace
- Payload capacity: Up to 350 kg to Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
🛰️ Important Payloads
- SCOPE satellite — Skyroot Aerospace
- SOLARAS S3 — Grahaa Space
- Embrace robotic arm — Cosmoserve Space
- Technology demonstration payload — DCUBED, Germany
🌟 Symbolic Payloads
- Cosmic Bloom artwork
- An 18-karat gold micro-rocket featuring microscopic sculptures of:
- Sir C. V. Raman
- Dr. Vikram Sarabhai
- Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
🏢 Skyroot Aerospace
- Founded: 12 June 2018
- Founders: Pawan Kumar Chandana and Naga Bharath Daka
- Headquarters: Hyderabad
39. Indian Navy Receives Another MH-60R Seahawk Helicopter
The Indian Navy received another MH-60R Seahawk multi-role helicopter from the United States.
🚁 Key Facts
- Aircraft: MH-60R Seahawk
- Operator: Indian Navy
- Source: United States
- Primary purpose: Detects and destroys submarines
- A total of 21 helicopters had been delivered out of 24 ordered.
- Deal value: About US$946 million
- The latest helicopter was delivered at Kochi, Kerala.
- Manufacturer: Lockheed Martin (Sikorsky)
40. India Flags Off Its First Green Hydrogen-Powered Train
Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off India's first Green Hydrogen-powered train from Jind, Haryana on 17 July 2026.
🚆 Key Facts
- Date: 17 July 2026
- Location: Jind, Haryana
- It is India's first hydrogen-powered passenger train.
- The train uses Green Hydrogen as fuel instead of diesel.
- The initiative supports India's clean energy and Net Zero goals.
📝 Part 21 Quiz
Answer all 5 questions. Your result will appear only after you submit the quiz.
Quiz Result
🎯 Part 21 Completed
Revise these important national, technology, defence and clean-energy developments before moving to the next part of the July 2026 Current Affairs Series.