Current Affairs Questions with Answers

Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurated ‘Prakriti Gyan Dham’ in Lucknow, developed by CSIR-NBRI; it will serve as a ‘Live Laboratory’ for the experiential study of biodiversity and ecology. Its key attractions include the PAaVan Path, an Indian Heritage Garden, QR code-based education, and the ‘Bamboostium’ featuring 43 bamboo species, all focusing on sustainable development and green livelihoods.

Amit Shah launched ‘Bank in a Box’ and a 24×7 Security Operations Centre (SOC) in Mumbai, aimed at providing modern digital banking and cybersecurity facilities to Urban Cooperative Banks (UCBs). NUCFDC has been designated as the Umbrella Organisation for UCBs; out of approximately 1,400 UCBs, 650 are members, it has achieved a capitalization of ₹306 crore, and its headquarters will be shifted from Delhi to Maharashtra.

The e-Samudra integrated platform has been developed to digitize India's maritime administration, featuring facilities such as single-window services, online payments, digital certificates, and real-time tracking. It promotes the digitization and modernization of the maritime sector under 'Maritime India Vision 2030' and 'Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047' while simplifying seafarer-centric services.

The Government of India clarified that no charges would be levied on UPI users or P2P transactions, noting that the Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on UPI is currently zero. If MDR is implemented in the future, it may be limited to select merchant transactions and those exceeding a specified limit, in order to develop a sustainable revenue model for digital payments.

On August 9, 2026, Union Home Minister Amit Shah awarded the President’s Colour to the Puducherry Police for their gallantry, dedication, and distinguished service. The Puducherry Police played a crucial role in maintaining law and order, ensuring civil safety, and managing the COVID-19 pandemic; this honor recognizes their excellent police administration and contributions to internal security.

On August 6, 2026, the Supreme Court Collegium recommended the appointment of Justice Ravindra V. Ghuge and Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi as Chief Justices of the Calcutta and Bombay High Courts, respectively. Upon approval, Justice Tripathi will become the 50th Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court, while the final appointment will follow the Central Government's procedure and the President's notification.

Dadra and Nagar Haveli Integration Day is observed on August 11, as the territory was incorporated into the Indian Union on August 11, 1961; prior to this, it had been liberated from Portuguese rule on August 2, 1954. It was designated a Union Territory via the 10th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1961, and was merged with Daman and Diu on January 26, 2020, to form the current Union Territory.

The Central Government stated in the Supreme Court that SC/ST reservation is not based solely on economic grounds, as it encompasses factors such as historical discrimination, social backwardness, and inadequate representation; The *Indra Sawhney* case (1992) forms the primary basis for the 'creamy layer' concept. In *State of Punjab v. Davinder Singh* (2024), the Supreme Court, by a 6:1 majority, permitted the evidence-based sub-classification of SC/ST categories, aiming to extend the benefits of reservation to the most deprived groups among them.

The MSME Amendment Bill 2026 was passed by the Rajya Sabha on August 3 and the Lok Sabha on August 7, 2026; it aims to strengthen the working capital and liquidity of MSMEs by facilitating the speedy resolution of delayed payment disputes. A provision has been made for the payment of at least 50% of the amount if a challenge against a payment order in favor of an MSME remains pending for six months or more, thereby boosting the 'Ease of Doing Business' and financial stability.

According to the FAO, the Food Price Index reached 131.1 points in July 2026, the highest level since January 2023; cereal and wheat prices rose by 3.4% and 5.8%, respectively. Prices of vegetable oils and sugar also increased, while meat and dairy prices declined; key factors included climate change, geopolitical tensions, energy prices, and biofuel demand.

The Delhi Government launched the Vidya Vahini Scheme, under which free bicycles are being provided to female students in Class 9 of government schools; 3,000 bicycles were distributed in the first phase, and the scheme aims to benefit approximately 1.40 lakh female students. The scheme seeks to promote girls' education, school attendance, and safe commuting, and it aligns with SDG-4, SDG-5, and SDG-10.

The RBI issued new guidelines regarding loan recovery on August 6, 2026, proposed to come into effect from January 1, 2027; the timing for recovery calls has been set between 8 AM and 7 PM. The regulations include provisions to enhance customer protection and accountability by mandating the preservation of call recordings for six months, regulating remote locking mechanisms, and requiring IIBF certification for recovery agents.

16 FIDE-rated chess players have emerged from Ratusinh Na Muvada village in Gujarat's Mahisagar district, where mathematics teacher Sandeep Upadhyay began chess training in 2021. Under this initiative involving around 200 children, 21 students have gained admission to the district-level sports school, and Grandmaster Ankit Rajpara is fostering rural talent by providing free training.

Suraj Kumar Chand from Mumbai became the first Indian to win gold in the men's individual category at the FISU World University Squash Championship, defeating Hungary's Benedek Takacs in the final. Associated with Somaiya Vidyavihar University, Suraj won a silver medal at the 2022 National Games and an SRFI Indian Tour title in April 2026, while his highest PSA ranking was 142.

World Lion Day is observed on August 10 with the aim of raising awareness about lion conservation, the protection of natural habitats, and challenges such as human-wildlife conflict and poaching. In India, Asiatic lions are primarily found in the Gir landscape of Gujarat, and various efforts—including 'Project Lion'—are being undertaken for their conservation.

On August 6, 2026, India successfully test-fired the Agni-4 MRBM from the ITR in Chandipur, Odisha; the test was conducted under the aegis of the SFC and utilized advanced navigation and guidance technology. Developed by the DRDO, this mobile-launcher-based missile strengthens India's strategic deterrence, strategic autonomy, and defense self-reliance.

Indian Air Force Squadron Leader Bhawana Kanth became the first female fighter pilot to complete the Fighter Combat Leader (FCL) course at TACDE, Gwalior, which provides training in advanced air combat tactics and tactical leadership. Having joined the IAF in June 2016, Bhawana Kanth was among the first female fighter pilots alongside Avani Chaturvedi and Mohana Singh; her achievement reflects women's empowerment and gender equality in the military sector.

The Assam government launched the 2026-27 application process for the ‘Chief Minister’s Nijut Moina’ and ‘Nijut Babu’ schemes, aimed at promoting higher education, academic continuity, women's empowerment, and the prevention of child marriage. In 2026, the Nijut Moina scheme was extended to polytechnic students and students in the seventh semester of integrated PG courses; additionally, financial assistance of ₹15.86 crore and ₹4.26 crore was provided for 793 flood-affected schools and 21,025 students, respectively.

The RBI released the revised list of NBFCs in the 'Upper Layer' for the financial year 2026-27, comprising 17 NBFCs; REC, PFC, IRFC, and HUDCO have entered the Upper Layer for the first time. Under the RBI's Scale-Based Regulation, NBFCs are classified into Base, Middle, Upper, and Top Layers; Tata Sons remains on the list, while PNB Housing Finance and Sammaan Capital have been excluded.

The Lok Sabha passed the Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, providing a legal basis to determine MDR or other charges on certain digital payments in the future; however, charges have not been immediately imposed on all UPI transactions. In July 2026, UPI recorded 23.66 billion transactions with a total value of approximately ₹29.88 lakh crore, reflecting the growing expansion of digital payments in India.