News In Short 20-07-2026

Taj Mahal

Syllabus: GS1/ History and Culture

Context

• The Allahabad High Court has issued notices to the Union Government and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on a petition seeking a survey of the Taj Mahal, claiming it is a Hindu temple called “Tejo Mahalaya.”

About

• Petitioners argue that the Taj Mahal was originally a Shiva temple known as Tejo Mahalaya.
• The Tejo Mahalaya theory was popularised by P.N. Oak, through his books Taj Mahal is a Temple Palace (1965) and Taj Mahal: The True Story (1989).
• However, historians have consistently rejected this claim due to the absence of contemporary records, archaeological evidence, inscriptions, or architectural proof linking the structure to a pre-Mughal Hindu temple.

Taj Mahal

• The Taj Mahal is a 17th-century Mughal mausoleum located on the right bank of the Yamuna River  in Agra and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.
• It was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal  (Arjumand Bano Begum) with construction starting in 1632 AD and completed in 1648 AD.
  • In Mughal records, it was referred to as “Rauza-i-Munavvara” (Illuminated Tomb).
• Chief architect: Ustad Ahmad Lahori.
• The land for the monument was acquired from Mirza Raja Jai Singh of Amber, who was compensated by Shah Jahan.
• Architectural Features: The Taj Mahal represents the zenith of Mughal architecture, combining Persian, Timurid, and Indian architectural traditions. Key features include:
  • White Makrana marble
  • Perfect bilateral symmetry
  • Charbagh garden layout
  • Quranic calligraphy
  • Islamic funerary design elements
  • Extensive Pietra dura, a decorative technique in which semi-precious stones are inlaid into marble to create intricate floral and geometric patterns.

Source: TH, UNESCO, TOI

Birth Anniversary of Mangal Pandey

Syllabus GS1/ Modern History

In Context

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi has paid tribute to the great revolutionary and freedom fighter Mangal Pandey on his birth anniversary.

Mangal Pandey

• About: Born on 19 July 1827 in Nagwa village, Ballia (present-day UP), into a Bhumihar Brahmin family. He joined the East India Company’s army at 22, serving in the 34th Bengal Native Infantry.
• The spark of Revolt: The British had just introduced the Enfield rifle, whose cartridges had to be bitten open to load  and word spread that they were greased with beef and pork fat.
  • For Hindu and Muslim sepoys alike, this was deeply offensive. Mangal Pandey refused to use it, and on 29 March 1857 at Barrackpore, he fired the first shot of rebellion at his Sergeant Major.
  • That one act set off the Revolt of 1857  variously called the Sepoy Mutiny or India’s First War of Independence. 
  • Pandey was court-martialled and hanged on 8 April 1857. His regiment was disbanded later.
• Aftermath: On 10 May 1857, sepoys in Meerut rose up, and things escalated quickly into a full-blown national revolt. They marched to Delhi and convinced the elderly Bahadur Shah II, the last Mughal emperor to become their symbolic leader.
  • The British recaptured the Red Fort by September 1857, and Bahadur Shah was exiled to Rangoon, where he died in 1862.
• As a Result: The revolt ended East India Company rule for good. The British Crown took direct charge through Queen Victoria’s Proclamation of 1858 and the Government of India Act, 1858 replacing the Governor-General with a Viceroy. Lord Canning became India’s first Viceroy.

Source: PIB

Museum of Word

Syllabus: GS2/Polity and Governance

Context

• Union Home Minister inaugurated the first phase of the ‘Museum of Word’ in Kolkata.

About

• It is developed by the National Library under the aegis of the Union Culture Ministry.
• It is the first immersive language museum in the country, also known as Shabdalok.
  • It celebrates India’s 22 official languages and traces their journey from oral traditions and ancient manuscripts to printed works and modern electronic texts.
• The museum features nine galleries exploring different facets of the history of languages and their influence on India’s civilisation and culture. 
• It seeks to present language as a living entity that has continuously shaped society while also being shaped by it.

Source: TH

Right to Protest

Syllabus: GS2/Governance  

In News

• Recently, Delhi Police stated that the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has no permission to continue the protest at Jantar Mantar or to hold the proposed march to Parliament.

Laws governing the right to protest

• In India, the right to protest is protected under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution that guarantees freedom of speech and expression and
  • Article 19(1)(b) that guarantees the right to assemble peacefully without arms. 
  • But it is subject to such reasonable restrictions as are necessary for maintaining public order, security and other constitutional interests.
    • Courts have always recognised that peaceful protest is an important part of democracy, but it must be lawful.
• Conditions : Law and order is a State subject and each state has its own rules for granting permission for protests and public gatherings.
  • The organiser will have to obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the concerned police authorities, for which applications will have to be submitted to the local police station, Commissionerate or DCP office, depending on the area covered.
    • The application shall contain details of the organisers, purpose, duration, venue, expected participants, the route of the rally and arrangements such as loudspeakers or tents.
    • Besides, applicants are to submit identity and residence proofs, photographs and other required documents. In some cases police may require further information in relation to crowd control, public facilities and co-ordination arrangements, and may require the organisers to submit an affidavit.
• Refusal of Permission: The right to protest in India is not absolute. It is subject to reasonable restrictions.
  • The authorities can refuse or withdraw permission to protest if the protest threatens public order, security, sovereignty and integrity of
  • India, morality or other legal interests such as preventing contempt of court, defamation or incitement to offences.
  • Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) too allows authorities to issue prohibitory orders and bar any continuing protests.
    • But there must be reasons for any refusal or withdrawal of permission, stating the risks or threats involved.

Source :IE

Electronic Gold Receipts (EGRs)

Syllabus: GS3/Economy

Context

• In 2026, the National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) introduced Electronic Gold Receipts (EGRs).

About

• Electronic Gold Receipts (EGRs) are exchange-traded securities representing ownership of physical gold (specified purity) stored in SEBI-regulated vaults. 
• They can be held electronically in a demat account, bought and sold in different denominations and converted into physical gold via prescribed process.
• The EGRs are available in two purity standards: 999 (99.9% pure gold) and 995 (99.5% pure gold).
  • In each purity category, investors have six different denominations such as 10 mg, 100 mg, 1 g, 10 g, 100 g and 1 kg. 
  • EGRs offer denominations to suit first-time buyers and seasoned investors.
• Those who prefer physical gold can convert EGRs into gold whenever needed. 

Significance

• EGRs combine the advantages of physical gold with the convenience of electronic investing. 
• As a SEBI-recognised security, each EGR is backed by a specified quantity of gold of a defined purity, securely stored in SEBI-regulated vaults. 
  • This offers a transparent and standardised way to own gold while removing concerns over purity and personal storage.
• EGRs enable transparent price discovery via exchange trading, ensuring uniform price across India at any given point in time. 
• EGRs offer liquidity, settlement guarantee, fungibility and can help diversify investment portfolios.

Source: TH

E-Commerce Council of India (ECCI)

Syllabus: GS3/ Economy

In News

• The Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) launched the E-Commerce Council of India (ECCI) in Bengaluru.

Need For E-Commerce Council of India (ECCI)

• India’s digital commerce market is estimated at over $120 billion and growing fast. As it expands beyond simple online retail into newer areas like quick commerce, cross-border trade, AI-powered shopping. 
• The rules around data, payments, and consumer protection are also evolving quickly. 
• IAMAI felt the sector needed a structured way to engage with government on all this, rather than reacting to regulations after they’re already written.

What ECCI Will Actually Do?

• One voice for a fragmented sector. E-commerce today gets pulled in different directions by different ministries like commerce, IT, consumer affairs, RBI, DPIIT. Instead of every company knocking on each door separately, ECCI tries to consolidate that into one coordinated conversation.
• Talk to policymakers with data, not just opinions. ECCI plans to act as a research-backed bridge between industry and government.
• Help Indian sellers go global: A big focus is on simplifying cross-border e-commerce & making it easier for Indian brands, exporters, and MSMEs to sell internationally by tapping into global supply chains.
• Bring small businesses online: ECCI wants to build frameworks that help micro, small, and medium enterprises make the digital transition, giving them a more direct route into national and global supply chains.
• Set some ground rules for AI in commerce: ECCI plans to develop best practices around this, along with quick-commerce logistics and payment infrastructure.

About Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI)

• The Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) is a not-for-profit industry body representing the digital services and mobile value-added services industry in India. 
• Established in 2004, it unifies hundreds of Indian and multinational corporations, including tech startups and e-commerce giants, to shape public policy and advocate for the digital economy.

Source: TH

RBI introduces SNFA Category

Syllabus: GS3/Economy

Context

• The RBI has issued the Third Amendment Directions, 2026 under its Commercial Banks-Resolution of Stressed Assets Directions, 2025. 

About

• The new regulations establish a comprehensive framework for how banks should acquire, value, manage and dispose of non-financial assets obtained from defaulting borrowers.
• RBI has introduced the concept of specified non-financial assets (SNFAs) in the event of loan defaults.
  • It has mandated that disposal of such assets should primarily be through public auctions under SARFAESI Act principles and prohibited resale to the original borrower or related parties.
  • This measure is expected to prevent misuse of the recovery process and improve transparency.
• SNFAs refer to immovable properties that banks acquire when borrowers fail to repay loans.
  • Such assets include residential buildings, commercial properties, industrial land or other real estate accepted by banks in settlement of outstanding debt.
• Banks may acquire an SNFA only after a borrower’s loan has been officially classified as a non-performing asset (NPA). 
  • The acquisition must involve either full or partial settlement of the bank’s outstanding exposure. 
• The amendment also requires every commercial bank to formulate a detailed internal policy governing the acquisition and disposal of SNFAs.
• SNFAs will no longer be counted as part of gross NPAs, net NPAs or stressed assets.
  • Instead, they will appear separately in bank balance sheets under the category “non-banking assets acquired in satisfaction of claims.”

Source: IE

72nd National Film Awards for the year 2024 

Syllabus: Miscellaneous

Context

• The 72nd National Film Awards, which honoured films that received certification from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) during the 2024 calendar year, were announced.

About

• National Film Awards are the most prestigious awards, which are announced annually to honor the best filmmaking talent across the country. 
• It aims at encouraging the production of films of aesthetic and technical excellence and social relevance.
• The awards are given in three sections – Features, Non-Features and Best Writing on Cinema.

History 

• The awards were first presented in 1954 and were known as the ‘State Awards’.
  • At the time, only best films in different regional languages were recognised and awarded. 
• Separate awards for artists and technicians were instituted in 1968 for the films of 1967. 
• Nargis Dutt and Uttam Kumar being the first actress and actor to get the Best Actress and Best Actor Awards respectively.

Key Recipient of the Awards

• Best Feature Film: Article 370 (Hindi)
• Best Non-feature film: Bhangaar (Marathi & English)
• Best Documentary: Ram-Nami (Hindi)
• Best Actor: Mammootty (Bramayugam) and Kartik Aaryan (Chandu Champion).
• Best Actress: Yami Gautam (Article 370)

Source: PIB