July 2026 brought a new rural jobs law in place of MGNREGA, the India–UK trade deal coming into force, Sarnath's UNESCO listing and India's first private orbital rocket. The major items are grouped below by GS paper.

In this compilation: 30 major items, grouped by GS theme · 10-question quiz at the end.

Timeline: key events of July 2026

Places in news, July 2026

Polity & Governance

1. VB-G RAM G Act replaces MGNREGA

• The Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025 came into force on 1 July 2026.
• It replaces the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005.
• It keeps a statutory guarantee of rural wage work, with new rules on funding and planning.

Why it matters for UPSC: A major shift in rural welfare; compare the old and new laws on entitlement, funding share and planning.

Syllabus: GS2 – Welfare schemes

2. Exam reforms after paper-leak protests

• The Centre introduced the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026.
• A high-powered task force on exam reform is chaired by Nandan Nilekani; 47 NTA officials were removed.
• The PM announced fast-track courts for paper-leak cases.

Why it matters for UPSC: Integrity of public exams, the 2024 Act and NTA reform are likely Mains topics.

Syllabus: GS2 – Governance

3. SC: Special Intensive Revision is only for electoral rolls

• The Court said SIR of electoral rolls cannot be used to decide citizenship or welfare access.
• The case arose from a petition about West Bengal.
• Roll revision happens under the Representation of the People Act, 1950.

Why it matters for UPSC: Election Commission powers (Article 324) and limits.

Syllabus: GS2 – Elections