LEGAL NEWS

Lok Sabha Introduces Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026

• The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 was introduced in the Lok Sabha on 27 July 2026 to amend the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, which came into force on 21 June 2024.

• The 2024 Act is the central law to prevent paper leaks, impersonation, question paper tampering, and other examination-related unfair practices in public examinations.

• The Amendment Bill proposes imprisonment of 5–10 years and a fine of up to ₹50 lakh for individuals involved in paper leaks and other unfair means.

• For organised paper leak offences, the Bill proposes a minimum imprisonment of 7 years along with a fine of up to ₹10 crore.

• The Bill mandates that investigations in paper leak cases be completed within two months.

• It also enables States and Union Territories to establish fast-track courts to complete trials within three months of filing the chargesheet.

• The Lok Sabha is the lower House of Parliament, where government bills are introduced and debated before the legislative process continues.

• The proposed amendments aim to strengthen the legal framework against examination fraud, ensuring time-bound investigation, speedy trials, and stricter penalties for offenders.

IMPORTANT DAYS

CRPF Raising Day 2026 Observed on 27 July

• CRPF Raising Day 2026 was observed on 27 July 2026, marking the 88th anniversary of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), which was established on 27 July 1939 as the Crown Representative’s Police.

• After Independence, the force was renamed the Central Reserve Police Force under the Central Reserve Police Force Act, 1949, which provides its present legal framework.

• The CRPF is one of India’s largest Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and functions under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

• It plays a vital role in internal security, counter-insurgency operations, riot control, election security, law and order maintenance, and protection of vital installations.

• The force has been extensively deployed in Jammu & Kashmir, the North East, and Left Wing Extremism (Naxal)-affected areas, besides assisting state police during emergencies and natural disasters.

• As part of the 2026 celebrations, the CRPF Raising Day Parade was held at Sarusajai Stadium, Guwahati, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah as the Chief Guest, while the Director General’s Parade was organised in the North East for the first time.

• A Mega Blood Donation Camp was also organised by Group Centre CRPF Bengaluru, Composite Hospital CRPF Bengaluru, and the Indian Red Cross Society.

• Naxalism (Left Wing Extremism) remains a major internal security challenge, and the CRPF continues to play a leading role in anti-Naxal operations across Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh.

NATIONAL NEWS

High-Powered Task Force Constituted for NTA Examination Reforms

• The Government of India has constituted a high-powered task force to review the National Testing Agency (NTA) examination system and recommend reforms for reliability, transparency, and technology adoption.

• The task force is chaired by Nandan Nilekani, co-founder of Infosys and founding Chairman of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI).

• The NTA, established in 2017 under the Ministry of Education, conducts major national entrance examinations, including JEE and NEET.

• The committee was formed following concerns over examination irregularities, including the NEET paper leak, and will suggest structural reforms and technology-based safeguards.

• Other members include S. Somanath, Tapan Deka, V. Kamakoti, Anita Karwal, and Amrit Lal Meena, bringing expertise from science, education, administration, and logistics.

• UIDAI, established in 2009, is the statutory authority responsible for implementing the Aadhaar identification system, with Nandan Nilekani serving as its founding Chairman.

• The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 provides the legal framework against paper leaks, cheating, and other unfair practices, while the proposed 2026 Amendment Bill seeks stricter penalties and time-bound investigations.

• The task force is expected to submit its recommendations at the earliest to strengthen the credibility, security, and integrity of India's public examination system.

STATE NEWS

Gujarat Launches Cyber Financial Fraud e-Zero FIR Service

• Gujarat launched the Cyber Financial Fraud e-Zero FIR service in Gandhinagar on 27 July 2026, enabling victims to report cyber financial fraud from home through the 1930 national cybercrime helpline.

• The system automatically generates an e-Zero FIR from the complaint and forwards it to the jurisdictional police station for immediate investigation.

• The initiative integrates the 1930 helpline with the police complaint registration system, reducing reporting delays and improving the chances of recovering defrauded funds.

• The project was implemented in coordination with the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.

• Harsh Sanghavi inaugurated the facility, while Director General of Police Gyanendra Singh Malik directed police units to handle cyber fraud complaints promptly and sensitively.

• The service strengthens the use of digital policing by enabling seamless electronic complaint registration and case transfer.

• In the first reported case, the system helped prevent a ₹15.76 lakh loss in a digital arrest scam involving an Ahmedabad resident.

• I4C is the national agency for cybercrime coordination, 1930 is India’s cyber financial fraud helpline, and an FIR is the first official police record of a cognisable offence in India.

SPORTS

India Wins Three Medals at ISSF World Cup in Hangzhou

• Esha Singh won the gold medal in the women’s 25m pistol event at the ISSF World Cup (Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun) in Hangzhou, China, on 27 July 2026.

• Manu Bhaker secured the bronze medal in the same event, while India finished with three medals at the Hangzhou World Cup (1 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze).

• In the eight-woman final, Esha Singh scored 40 hits to clinch gold, while Manu Bhaker won bronze with 28 hits after a shoot-off.

• In qualification, Manu Bhaker topped the field with 586-20x, followed by Esha Singh (585-18x), Rahi Sarnobat (582-16x), Simranpreet Kaur Brar (576-20x), and Abhidnya Ashok Patil (573-16x).

• The ISSF World Cup is organised by the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF), the global governing body for Olympic shooting sports.

• The women’s 25m pistol (sport pistol) event consists of a qualification round followed by an elimination-based final decided by hit totals.

• This was Esha Singh’s second ISSF World Cup gold of the 2026 season, following her Munich victory, where she set senior and junior world records.

• Manu Bhaker is a double Olympic medallist, while the Hangzhou World Cup formed part of the ISSF World Cup circuit for rifle, pistol, and shotgun events.

India Wins Historic Para Athletics Medals at CWG 2026

• Sharmila Dhankar won the gold medal in the women’s F57 shot put event at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow on 27 July 2026, with a season-best throw of 9.81 metres.

• Her victory ended India’s 20-year wait for a Commonwealth Games para athletics medal, with the previous medal having come in 2006.

• The F57 classification is for athletes with lower limb impairments, limb deficiencies, or reduced muscle power, who compete in throwing events using a seated throwing frame.

• Shilpa K. Shyla secured the bronze medal in the same event after Nigeria’s Eucharia Iyiazi was disqualified following an official review.

• The result marked India’s first-ever double podium finish in a para athletics event at the Commonwealth Games.

• On Day 5 of CWG 2026, India won six medals across para athletics, weightlifting, and athletics.

• By 28 July 2026, India’s medal tally reached 10 medals—2 gold, 5 silver, and 3 bronze.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Sports Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya congratulated Sharmila Dhankar, highlighting India’s historic success in para athletics at the Commonwealth Games 2026.

Gyaneshwari Yadav Wins Silver at Commonwealth Games 2026

• Indian weightlifter Gyaneshwari Yadav won the silver medal in the women’s 53kg weightlifting event at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, Scotland, on 27 July 2026.

• The 23-year-old from Chhattisgarh lifted a personal best total of 199kg, comprising 88kg in the snatch and 111kg in the clean and jerk.

• Commonwealth Games weightlifting follows the Olympic format, where the total lift is calculated by adding the best successful snatch and clean and jerk attempts.

• The women’s 53kg category is a bodyweight division in which athletes compete with a maximum bodyweight of 53 kilograms.

• During the competition, Gyaneshwari Yadav briefly set Commonwealth Games records in both the snatch and clean and jerk events.

• Nigeria’s Onome Omolola Didih won the gold medal with a total lift of 206kg, while Canada’s Rebeka Groulx secured the bronze medal with 178kg.

• This achievement became India’s fifth overall medal and the fourth weightlifting medal at the Commonwealth Games 2026.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Sports Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya congratulated Gyaneshwari Yadav for her outstanding performance.