Indian Chess Grandmasters Nominated for Inaugural FIDE Excellence Awards

Indian chess prodigies D. Gukesh, R. Praggnanandhaa, and Divya Deshmukh have been nominated for the newly instituted FIDE Excellence Awards.
The winners will be announced and honored during the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, scheduled for September 2026.
In the Male Player category, nominees from India include reigning World Champion D. Gukesh, R. Praggnanandhaa, and Arjun Erigaisi.
In the Female Player category, nominees include Divya Deshmukh (FIDE Women’s World Cup Champion), Koneru Humpy, and R. Vaishali (Women’s Candidates Winner).

Key Facts / Static GK

International Chess Federation (FIDE) Founded: July 20, 1924
FIDE Headquarters: Lausanne, Switzerland
FIDE President: Arkady Dvorkovich
FIDE Deputy President: Viswanathan Anand

Q Practice Quiz — 18 July 2026

1. On which railway section has India's first hydrogen-powered train been launched?

A Jind-Sonipat section

B Kalka-Shimla section

C Ambala-Delhi section

D Rohtak-Panipat section

E Hisar-Gurugram section

Explanation: India's first hydrogen-powered train will initially operate on the Jind-Sonipat section of the Northern Railway in Haryana.

2. Which state secured the first rank among the 'Large States' category in the newly released NITI Aayog Investment Friendliness Index?

A Maharashtra

B Tamil Nadu

C Gujarat

D Odisha

E Karnataka

Explanation: Among the Large States category, Gujarat secured the first rank in the NITI Aayog Investment Friendliness Index.

3. Who has succeeded Iqbal Singh Lalpura as the new Chairperson of the National Commission for Minorities (NCM)?

A Harjit Singh Grewal

B Munawari Begum

C Taranjit Singh Sandhu

D Hardeep Singh Puri

E Iqbal Singh Chahal

Explanation: Harjit Singh Grewal has been appointed as the Chairperson of the National Commission for Minorities, succeeding Iqbal Singh Lalpura whose tenure ended in April 2025.

4. GAIL has signed an MoU with which organization to collaborate on sourcing and securing strategic critical minerals?

A Khanij Bidesh India Limited (KABIL)

B National Aluminium Company (NALCO)

C Mineral Exploration Corporation Limited (MECL)

D Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL)

E Hindustan Copper Limited (HCL)

Explanation: GAIL (India) Limited signed an MoU with Khanij Bidesh India Limited (KABIL) to strengthen collaboration in sourcing critical minerals.

5. At which location did the Indian Navy receive its 21st MH-60R Seahawk multi-role helicopter from the United States?

A Kochi, Kerala

B Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh

C Mumbai, Maharashtra

D Karwar, Karnataka

E Chennai, Tamil Nadu

Explanation: The 21st MH-60R Seahawk multi-role helicopter was delivered to the Indian Navy at Kochi, Kerala.

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