Current Affairs Questions with Answers

On August 13, 2026, ISMA and ICAR-ISRI signed an MoU for quality, disease-free, and genetically pure sugarcane planting material; the center for this ₹80 crore project will be established at the ICAR-ISRI campus in Lucknow. The center will help enhance sugarcane productivity, sugar recovery, farmers' income, and industry competitiveness through rapid multiplication, variety replacement, digital tagging, and traceability.

On August 11, 2026, the Lebanese Parliament abolished the death penalty, replacing it with provisions for life imprisonment with hard labor, making it the first abolitionist country in the Arab world; a *de facto* moratorium on the death penalty had been in place there since 2004. This decision is linked to the Right to Life, Human Dignity, the UDHR, and the ICCPR, and is considered a significant step towards human rights and criminal justice reform in West Asia.

The Prime Minister announced AI training for 1 crore youth, DPI-based free online coaching, a sports talent search for children aged 5–15, and a Civil Defence Network to address modern security challenges. India set targets for 5–8 new semiconductor plants, 100 GW of nuclear energy capacity by 2047, and 6 crore 'Lakhpati Didis,' which will promote technological self-reliance, energy security, and women-led development.

The Central Government has initiated a CBDC-based DBT scheme under PMGKAY, wherein food grains can be purchased only at authorized shops/FPS using programmable tokens of the RBI's Digital Rupee (e₹). This could foster transparency, traceability, and leakage control within the PDS; however, challenges such as the digital divide, cybersecurity, privacy, and connectivity persist.

The Hungarian Parliament elected former Supreme Court chief András Baka as the new President in a secret ballot with a 140-6 vote; he was nominated by the ruling Tisza Party. Baka is a former judge of the ECHR, and his election is considered significant in the context of the Rule of Law, judicial independence, and the end of Viktor Orbán's long political dominance.

The President approved 78 gallantry awards in 2026, comprising 9 Kirti Chakras, 19 Shaurya Chakras, and 36 Sena Medals (Gallantry); these include 13 posthumous awards. Additionally, 89 'Mention-in-Despatches' were awarded, covering 75 Army, 4 Navy, and 10 Air Force personnel.

Indonesia celebrates Independence Day on August 17 every year; on August 17, 1945, Sukarno and Mohammad Hatta declared independence following the Japanese occupation, and the Netherlands recognized Indonesia's sovereignty in 1949. India supported Indonesia's struggle for independence, and currently, both nations are key partners in the context of ASEAN, the Indo-Pacific, maritime security, the Act East Policy, and the Global South.

On August 14, 2026, Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh inaugurated the first national conference of IIHT SUTRA 2026 in New Delhi, aimed at promoting technical education, research, and innovation in the handloom sector. The conference emphasized developing IIHTs into Centres of Excellence and fostering skill development, research, internships, entrepreneurship, and leadership development in collaboration with Grasim Industries, the Northern India Textile Research Association, and IIM Sambalpur.

CSIR-IICT, Hyderabad signed a technology transfer agreement with Viridis BioPharma for an IND-ready phytopharmaceutical developed from *Gymnema sylvestre* to treat diabetic foot ulcers; it was developed under the CSIR Phytopharmaceutical Mission Phase-III. Pre-clinical and GLP safety studies for the product have been completed, and it is now moving towards clinical trials and commercial development; regulatory applications with CDSCO and US FDA are planned.

Smt. Archana Varma assumed the role of Secretary, Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation; she is a 1995-batch Assam-cadre IAS officer and previously served as the Mission Director of NWM. This appointment is significant for water security, IWRM, water conservation, river conservation, and good governance; the Ministry of Jal Shakti was formed in May 2019.

On August 10, 2026, the Karnataka government imposed a one-year ban on the manufacture, sale, distribution, storage, and transportation of tobacco and nicotine products—including gutkha and pan masala—aiming to protect public health and curb tobacco consumption. The ban will be enforced by the Food Safety and Drug Administration Department and falls under the purview of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and FSSAI regulations; Karnataka was originally formed as Mysore State in 1956 and was renamed Karnataka in 1973.

On August 12, 2026, Amit Shah launched the ‘Gramin Gyan Setu’ app in Gujarat; this app connects 752 rural libraries in the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency to provide rural youth with access to knowledge and competitive exam study materials. It is based on a 'Hub-and-Spoke' model, offering access to approximately 2.80 lakh books and a system for the fortnightly distribution and return of books via vans funded by MPLAD funds.

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) selected three 'Sanchar Mitras' for the third cohort of ITU Generation Connect Youth Envoys (2026–2030), an initiative aimed at connecting youth with ICT, digital transformation, and digital inclusion. The 'Sanchar Mitra' scheme raises awareness regarding telecom fraud, mobile security, and cybersecurity, and is implemented across more than 200 technical institutions. This initiative aligns with the International Youth Day 2026 theme, "Diverse Contexts, Shared Aspirations," and is significant for the UPSC exam in the context of Digital Inclusion, Youth Empowerment, Skill Development, and Cyber ​​Security.

On Independence Day 2026, 301 personnel received gallantry medals, comprising 272 police personnel and 29 fire service personnel; a total of 1,057 personnel were honored with gallantry and service medals. These include 92 PSM (President's Medal for Distinguished Service) and 664 MSM (Medal for Meritorious Service), recognizing distinguished service, meritorious work, acumen, and dedication to duty.

India gained independence from British rule on August 15, 1947; this freedom was the result of a long national movement, mass struggles, and the significant role of Gandhian *Satyagraha*. Independence brought challenges regarding partition and displacement, followed by the integration of princely states and nation-building; India became a Republic with the implementation of the Constitution on January 26, 1950.

According to the RBI's 101st SPF (Survey of Professional Forecasters), India's GDP growth is projected at 6.6% and CPI inflation at 5% for FY27, while projections of 7% growth and 4.5% inflation for FY28 signal a potential 'Goldilocks Economy'. For FY27, merchandise export growth is projected at 7%, import growth at 9.9%, and the Current Account Deficit (CAD) at 1.4% of GDP; the RBI's GDP forecast is 6.7%, while the IMF's is 6.4%.

The Tribunals Reforms Bill, 2026, has been approved by both Houses of Parliament; it provides for the establishment of a 5-member National Tribunals Commission (NTC) to ensure uniformity in the appointment, administration, and service conditions of tribunals. The NTC will recommend and oversee appointments, while the Central Government must make the appointment within three months of the selection committee's recommendation; the Bill covers 16 major tribunals.

In August 2026, an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.4 struck the western region of Colombia; its epicenter was near San José del Palmar in the Chocó department, and it occurred at a depth of approximately 107 km. Colombia's seismic vulnerability is linked to the interaction and subduction of the Nazca, South American, and Caribbean plates, as well as the Andes mountain range and the Pacific Ring of Fire.

The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 has been referred to a 31-member JPC; the Bill aims to strengthen the regulation, asset management, and accountability of organizations receiving foreign contributions under the FCRA, 2010. It includes a provision for a 'Designated Authority,' while the opposition has raised concerns regarding the potential impact on NGOs and minority institutions; the JPC will conduct a detailed examination and stakeholder consultations.

According to the Barclays Private Clients–Hurun India 2026 report, the combined valuation of India's top 300 family businesses has reached ₹138 lakh crore—a 27.5% increase compared to 2024—with the Ambani family topping the list at ₹25,82,800 crore. These businesses contribute significantly to capital formation, employment, investment, exports, and innovation, while the report emphasizes the need for succession planning, professional management, and corporate governance.