After the July 2026 inscription of Sarnath, how many UNESCO World Heritage Sites does India now have?
Explanation
On 25 July 2026, at the 48th session of the World Heritage Committee in Busan, South Korea, the Ancient Buddhist Site of Sarnath was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is India's 45th site and Uttar Pradesh's fourth. The Varanasi serial property has two parts: Chaukhandi Stupa and the Archaeological Remains of Sarnath (Dhamekh Stupa, Ashokan Pillar). Inscribed under criteria (iii) and (vi); on the Tentative List since 1998, nominated January 2025. ASI is the nodal agency.
Q2
The 48th session of the World Heritage Committee, which inscribed Sarnath in July 2026, was held in which city?
Explanation
The 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee was held at Busan, South Korea, where on 25 July 2026 the Ancient Buddhist Site of Sarnath was inscribed as India's official nomination for the 2025-26 cycle. Last year the 47th session in Paris inscribed the Maratha Military Landscapes of India, while the 46th session was hosted by India at New Delhi in July 2024. The Committee has 21 members; each State Party may propose only one site a year.
Q3
Which became the second airport integrated into India's Hub & Spoke international flight framework in July 2026?
Explanation
On 28 July 2026 the Ministry of Civil Aviation inaugurated Hub and Spoke international flight operations from Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport, Amritsar - India's second spoke airport after Varanasi (25 June 2026). Delhi is the designated hub. Passengers complete check-in, immigration and customs at Amritsar and fly to over 20 international destinations on a single baggage tag. Minister Ram Mohan Naidu launched it. The Ministry projects USD 30 billion and 0.4 million jobs by 2030.
Q4
Who won gold in Women's Shot Put F57 to become India's first-ever Commonwealth Games gold medallist in para athletics?
Explanation
Sharmila Dhankar, a para athlete from Chhitrauli village in Mahendragarh, Haryana, won the Women's Shot Put F57 gold at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in July 2026 with a season-best throw of 9.81m. It is India's first-ever Commonwealth Games gold in para athletics and ended a 20-year wait for a medal in the sport. Ghana's Zinabu Issah took silver with 8.65m. F57 is for athletes with lower-limb impairment. Polio-affected at two, Sharmila began athletics at 34.
Q5
Who became the first Indian to win a silver medal in men's high jump at the Commonwealth Games, clearing 2.25m at Glasgow 2026?
Explanation
Sarvesh Kushare of Maharashtra cleared 2.25m to take silver in the men's high jump at Glasgow 2026, the first Indian to win a silver in the event at the Commonwealth Games. Both he and Jamaica's Romaine Beckford failed at 2.28m, and Beckford took gold on countback; England's Jack Kimani got bronze with 2.20m. India's only previous high jump medal at the Games was Tejaswin Shankar's bronze at Birmingham 2022. Kushare holds the national record of 2.31m, set at Bhubaneswar.
Q6
Who won silver for India in the men's 79kg weightlifting event at Glasgow 2026?
Explanation
Valluri Ajaya Babu of Vizianagaram district, Andhra Pradesh, won silver in the men's 79kg weightlifting at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2026. He snatched 149kg for a new Commonwealth Games record and lifted 181kg in the clean and jerk for a personal-best total of 330kg. Malaysia's Erry Hidayat Muhammad took gold with a Games record total of 331kg, just 1kg more. Ajaya's father, Valluri Srinivasa Rao, won bronze at the 2010 New Delhi Commonwealth Games.
Q7
Who won bronze for India in the Women's Shot Put F57 at Glasgow 2026 with a personal best of 7.26m?
Explanation
At Glasgow 2026 Shilpa K Shyla threw a personal best of 7.26m in the Women's Shot Put F57 and initially finished fourth. After an Indian protest and official review, the only valid mark of Nigeria's Eucharia Iyiazi was ruled a foul, lifting Shilpa to bronze. Together with Sharmila's gold, this was the first time India has won two medals in a single para athletics event at the Commonwealth Games.
Q8
Who took charge as Interim President of FIDE in July 2026 after EU sanctions on Arkady Dvorkovich?
Explanation
In late July 2026 the European Union added FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich to its 21st sanctions package against Russia. Calling the move unlawful and vowing to challenge it, he voluntarily suspended his powers and duties to protect FIDE's stable functioning. Under Article 19.2 of the FIDE Charter, Deputy President and 15th World Champion Viswanathan Anand became Interim President. Dvorkovich was Russia's Deputy Prime Minister from 2012 to 2018 and FIDE President from 2018.
Q9
FIDE, the International Chess Federation founded at Paris in 1924, is headquartered in which city?
Explanation
The International Chess Federation (FIDE) was founded in Paris on 20 July 1924, which is why 20 July is marked as World Chess Day. Its headquarters is now in Lausanne, Switzerland, where it is registered as an association under the Swiss Civil Code. Its motto is Gens una sumus, Latin for We are one family. The International Olympic Committee recognised FIDE in 1999. It has over 200 national member federations and has run the World Chess Championship since 1948.
Q10
The fare-free electric bus service RAAHI, launched at the President's Estate, is operated mainly by whom?
Explanation
On 28 July 2026, marking four years in office, President Droupadi Murmu flagged off RAAHI - Rashtrapati Bhavan Access And Heritage Interconnector. The fare-free electric bus service for staff and residents of the President's Estate is operated entirely by women drivers and conductors. The 27-seater bus is wheelchair-accessible and links the estate to the nearest Metro station. The aim is safe, convenient and inclusive mobility for women, children, senior citizens and persons with disabilities.
Q11
RAAHI stands for Rashtrapati Bhavan Access And Heritage ______. Which word completes it
Explanation
RAAHI expands to Rashtrapati Bhavan Access And Heritage Interconnector. On 28 July 2026, marking four years in office, President Droupadi Murmu launched it alongside several initiatives: the third edition of e-Upahaar (300 Presidential gifts, auction from 5 August to 5 September 2026), an e-Audio Guide in 16 languages with a sign-language module, and Bachpan Bal Parisar. She also laid the foundation stone for a service block under the Net Zero Energy Strategy.