August 2026 Current Affairs PDF (English)

About This Compilation

August 2026, built specifically for HCS, UPSC, SSC and allied state PSC aspirants. Every entry is cross-checked against multiple sources and organised subject-wise for fast, exam-focused revision.

This is Created by Sanjay' premium current affairs compilation for

Special focus this month: extended Haryana-state coverage — the state budget, new industrial and MSME policy, welfare schemes, HPSC/HCS recruitment developments, and CM-level announcements — alongside full national and international coverage.

How to use this PDF

• Read once section-wise for coverage, then revise using the Rapid Revision Table at the end.
• Bolded figures and names are the most commonly tested details — memorise these first.
• Attempt the practice MCQs at the end of each major section before checking the answer.
• The Haryana section carries extra weight — HCS Prelims typically draws 20–25 questions from state affairs.

Table of Contents

1. National Affairs & Independence Day Special

2. Cabinet Decisions & Government Schemes (Table)

3. Haryana State Affairs (Extended Coverage)

4. International Affairs

5. Economy, Banking & Business

6. Defence & Security

7. Science, Technology & Space

8. Environment, Ecology & Climate Change

9. Sports

10. Awards, Honours & Rankings

11. Appointments & Obituaries

12. Supplementary Updates (Additional Verified Items)

13. Employment News Digest — Verified Additions

14. Important Days of August 2026

15. Practice MCQs (with Answers)

16. 30-Point Rapid Revision Table

1. National Affairs & Independence Day Special

India celebrated its 80th Independence Day on 15 August 2026. PM Narendra Modi delivered his 13th consecutive address from the Red Fort — the second-longest unbroken run after Jawaharlal Nehru's seventeen. The theme was “Yuva Shakti – Leading the Journey to Viksit Bharat@2047”, coinciding with 150 years of Vande Mataram; for the first time in 80 years, the full version of the song was played at the Red Fort by the Army band.

• PM Modi announced a target of 100 GW nuclear power capacity by 2047 and 5 new reactors this decade.
• Free AI skill training for 1 crore youth within one year, plus free online coaching for competitive exams, was announced.
• A nationwide sports talent hunt for children aged 5–15 years and a new Civil Defence network were unveiled.
• Target of creating 6 crore ‘Lakhpati Didis’ under the rural women livelihood mission.
• PM Modi unveiled ‘Shakti Ki Saptadhara’ — a 7-pronged strategy spanning manufacturing, agriculture, technology, infrastructure, defence, green economy and soft power.

Key Bills & Legislative Action

• Kerala Alteration of Name Bill, 2026 passed by Lok Sabha, renaming the state ‘Keralam’.
• Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026 extends legal protection to Vande Mataram on par with the National Anthem.
• Rajya Sabha passed the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026, raising sanctioned SC strength from 34 to 38.
• Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2026 makes a Judicial Magistrate's order mandatory for registrations delayed beyond two years.
• MHA notified the Immigration and Foreigners (Amendment) Rules, 2026; India added 11 new e-visa entry points, taking the total to 88.

Infrastructure, Governance & Welfare

• PM Modi inaugurated the Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport, Bhogapuram (Andhra Pradesh) on 1 August; commercial ops began 17 August.
• CCEA approved the Rs.8,970.20 crore Guwahati–Tezpur four-lane corridor (NH-15, Assam).
• PPPAC gave in-principle approval for private operation of 11 airports across 5 bundles (Amritsar, Varanasi, Bhubaneswar, Raipur, Tirupati); Rs.8,622 crore investment over a 50-year concession.
• HAL Airport, Bengaluru operationalised India's first satellite-guided helicopter approach (RNP CAT H).
• Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana crossed 1 crore household registrations.
• Home Minister Amit Shah announced 200+ arrests in the ISI-backed ‘Shahzad Bhatti Network’ ahead of Independence Day.
• Operation Trishul: India has brought back 274 fugitives from 36 countries since 2019.
• Government blocked 3,718 fraudulent apps, deactivated 15.75 lakh SIM cards and 5.77 lakh IMEIs linked to cyber fraud.
• August Kranti Diwas (8 Aug, 84th anniversary of Quit India Movement) and Partition Horrors Remembrance Day (14 Aug) were observed nationwide.

Monsoon Session 2026 – Parliament Wrap-up

The Monsoon Session ran from 20 July to 13 August 2026. Of 12 bills introduced, 11 were passed.

• Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Act, 2026 received assent on 11 August, raising sanctioned strength to 38, applied retrospectively from 16 May 2026.
• Tribunals Reforms Bill, 2026 (passed 10 Aug) creates a National Tribunals Commission for tribunal appointments and uniformity.
• Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 (passed 13 Aug) restricts state powers to levy certain taxes on mineral-bearing lands.
• Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026 and the National Co-operative Development Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2026 were also passed.

Judicial Developments

• Union Cabinet approved a permanent Bench of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, to be located in Ladakh (20 Aug).
• A 9-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court delivered its judgment on the meaning of “industry” under Section 2(j) of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 (20 Aug).
• Follow-up directions issued for raising judicial officers' retirement age to 62 years in several states.

Independence Day 2026 honours: 1,057 Gallantry and Service Medals were announced, per Employment News — comprising 301 Medals for Gallantry (272 to police, 29 to fire services), 92 President's Medals for Distinguished Service and 664 Medals for Meritorious Service.

2. Cabinet Decisions & Government Schemes

High-yield table — scheme names and outlay figures are among the most frequently tested facts.

Other Government Initiatives

• Mission Samriddh Gaon launched by Shivraj Singh Chouhan for poverty-free villages; pilots in Budni and Khategaon (MP).
• National Campaign on Entrepreneurship-II (DAY-NRLM) to train 5 lakh SHG women (21 Aug–21 Nov 2026).
• NITI Aayog report ‘Reimagining Skilling for Viksit Bharat@2047’: 87 million Indian youth (15–29) are NEET.
• NITI Aayog VC Ashok Kumar Lahiri released ‘Key Sectors to Position India as a Global Manufacturing Hub’, naming chemicals, textiles, telecom equipment and solar PV as top-4 potential sectors.
• CKYC 2.0 framework implemented from 1 August 2026, building a ‘One KYC’ ecosystem across financial institutions.

3. Haryana State Affairs (Extended Coverage)

Haryana GK and current affairs together account for a large share of HCS Prelims questions. This section is deliberately weighted heavier for that reason.

Industry, Economy & Infrastructure

• CM Nayab Singh Saini launched the Haryana Progressive MSME and Export Promotion Policy, 2026 in Karnal on 10 August — billed as the country's first dedicated state MSME policy.
• The MSME policy targets over Rs.55,000 crore in manufacturing investment, 5 lakh new jobs, and doubling of state exports by 2031, across 60 initiatives and Haryana's 15 lakh MSMEs.
• New institutions announced: a dedicated MSME Directorate, the Haryana Niryat Centre (export documentation one-stop platform), Udaan Dwaar (international partnerships), and Haryana Udyog Saathi — an AI-powered multilingual policy assistant for entrepreneurs.
• CM Saini reviewed progress on the Integrated Multi-Modal Logistics Hub (IMLH), Nangal Chaudhary and the Hisar Integrated Manufacturing Cluster (IMC) at the Apex Monitoring Authority meeting chaired by Union FM Nirmala Sitharaman.
• Hisar IMC Phase-I EPC project value: Rs.707 crore; master plan targeted for notification by 31 August 2026.

State Budget 2026-27 (background, still relevant for GK)

• Haryana's 2026-27 budget was presented by CM Saini (as Finance Minister) at over Rs.2.23 lakh crore — 10.28% higher than the revised 2025-26 figure.
• Key allocations: Rs.5,715 crore for the Water Secure Haryana Project and Rs.474 crore for the Haryana AI Mission (targeting 1 lakh youth trained).
• New Workplace Safety Fund (Rs.5 crore) for women; HPV vaccination proposed for 3 lakh girls aged 14–15; a Green Climate Resilience Fund (Rs.100 crore) and World Bank assistance of Rs.2,716 crore for the Haryana Clean Air Project.
• 20% reservation for Agniveers returning from the Army in Haryana Police recruitment, plus special recruitment of 1,300 Agniveers.

Welfare Schemes & Public Outreach

• Deendayal Lado Lakshmi Yojana: Rs.2,100 monthly financial assistance to women; over Rs.1,415 crore disbursed to 9.76 lakh beneficiaries so far.
• Poor women receive LPG cylinders at Rs.500/month under a linked scheme; Rs.243 crore disbursed under this component.
• CM Saini inaugurated the two-day Prashikshan Maha Abhiyan-2026 in Yamunanagar for skill development and women/farmer welfare.
• Pran Vayu Devta Pension Scheme: Rs.3,000/year support for trees older than 75 years; Oxy-Vans (green lungs with walking/cycling tracks) being developed at district headquarters, launched via the Van Chetna Yatra.
• CM launched a State-Level Half Marathon in Narnaul (9 Aug) under the ‘Haryana Uday Abhiyan’ — Har Ghar Tiranga theme — promoting fitness and a drug-free Haryana; Rs.53 crore of drug-linked illegal assets seized and 111 illicit properties dismantled state-wide.
• All 24 crops procured at MSP; Rs.1,80,000 crore transferred to 12 lakh farmers; 36,000 youth given government jobs in the preceding year “without parchi-kharchi”; free solar rooftops installed on 54,958 houses.

HPSC / HCS Recruitment – Directly Relevant

• HPSC's HCS (Executive Branch) & Allied Services 2026 recruitment (Advt. No. 22/2026) covers 102 posts across 10 categories, including 24 HCS (Ex. Br.), 8 DSP, 27 Excise & Taxation Officer, and others.
• Timeline: online applications 6–26 February 2026; Preliminary exam 26 April 2026; Main written exam 27–29 June 2026; Personality Test/Interview scheduled for August–September 2026.
• Age limit: 18–42 years (18–27 for DSP) as on 1 January 2026, with standard SC/BC/PwBD/women/ESM relaxations.

4. International Affairs

Abelardo de la Espriella sworn in as 36th President of Colombia. Colombian lawyer and conservative politician Abelardo de la Espriella was sworn in as the 36th President of Colombia on 7 August 2026, succeeding outgoing President Gustavo Petro. His inauguration marked a political shift in Bogotá after a tightly contested election, and is being watched closely for its effect on Colombia's relations with neighbouring Venezuela and on US–Latin America policy more broadly.

Devastating earthquake strikes Colombia. A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck Colombia during the month, killing more than 132 people and ranking among the deadliest natural disasters recorded anywhere in the world in 2026. The scale of destruction added pressure on the newly sworn-in Espriella government, which had to coordinate an emergency disaster-response effort within days of taking office.

Iran war and Strait of Hormuz crisis continue. The 2026 Iran war, which began on 28 February 2026, and the resulting Strait of Hormuz crisis remained unresolved through August. Iran indicated it would reopen the strait to normal shipping only if the United States lifted sanctions and halted military action against it. The state oil company ADNOC reported that 15 of its vessels had been attacked in the strait since the war began. Against this backdrop, the US launched ‘Operation Economic Outcast’ to intensify economic pressure on Tehran; separately, US President Trump announced what he called an “Economic D-Day” against Iran, calling on allied nations to join a coordinated economic isolation campaign. Iran and Oman continued parallel negotiations on how to manage shipping traffic through the strait safely, even as, late in the month, US forces carried out limited strikes on Iranian rocket launchers positioned on Larak Island. The strategic stakes remain enormous: the Strait of Hormuz is estimated to carry 20–25% of the world's seaborne oil trade, so any prolonged disruption has direct consequences for global energy prices, including in India.

Mecca Joint Defence Agreement signed. Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan signed the trilateral Mecca Joint Defence Agreement on 7 August 2026, a pact that includes a mutual-defence clause explicitly modelled on NATO's Article 5 — meaning an armed attack on any one signatory is to be treated as an attack on all three. Analysts view the agreement as a notable realignment of West Asian and South Asian security architecture, deepening military and defence-industrial ties between Riyadh, Ankara and Islamabad outside traditional Western-led security frameworks; it carries strategic implications for India along its western maritime and land flanks given Pakistan's central role in the pact.

PCA rules Indus Waters Treaty remains binding. The Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled on 31 August 2026 that the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 remains fully binding on both India and Pakistan, rejecting the argument that India's earlier decision to place the treaty “in abeyance” could unilaterally suspend its legal force. Pakistan welcomed the ruling as a vindication of its position, while India rejected the PCA's jurisdiction over the matter altogether. The ruling reaffirms the treaty's legal continuity and limits either party's ability to walk away from it unilaterally, with significant implications for future water-sharing diplomacy between the two countries.

Other notable international developments. Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan signed a Treaty of Eternal Friendship on 23 August 2026, deepening cooperation between the two Central Asian and South Caucasus states. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited South Korea on 19–20 August as part of continuing efforts to revive multiparty talks on the Korean Peninsula. The Armenia–Azerbaijan peace process marked the first anniversary of the Washington Peace Summit on 10 August, a milestone in the two countries' gradual normalisation of relations.

The 2026 SCO Summit was held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan (31 Aug-1 Sep), which marked the

organisation's 25th anniversary (see Section 13.3 for PM Modi's participation and address at the summit). Former Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji passed away at the age of 97 on 14 August 2026, and American country music legend Dolly Parton passed away at 80. On the defence-cooperation front, India and Malaysia held the third edition of their joint air exercise ‘Udara Shakti 2026’ at Subang Air Base between 10 and 14 August, while an India–Maldives ‘Favara–UPI’ cross-border payment corridor was launched to enable real-time remittances via UPI between the two countries. On the sporting and cultural front, Ahmedabad was officially confirmed as host of the 2030 Commonwealth Games at the closing ceremony of the Glasgow 2026 Games — India's second time hosting the event after Delhi 2010 — and the 48th UNESCO World Heritage Committee session, held in Busan, South Korea, inscribed one Indian site among 25 new World Heritage properties. In technology news, China unveiled ‘Tiangong Ultra’, a humanoid robot that ran 100 metres in a record 9.39 seconds, highlighting the pace of Chinese

advances in robotics. Separately, India overtook the United States to become the world's second-largest solar growth market, adding 37 GW of new solar capacity over the period under review.

5. Economy, Banking & Business

RBI holds repo rate at 5.25% for a fourth straight meeting. The Reserve Bank of India's Monetary Policy Committee met from 3 to 5 August 2026 and unanimously decided to hold the policy repo rate at 5.25% — the fourth consecutive meeting without a change — while maintaining a neutral policy stance. The Standing Deposit Facility (SDF) rate was kept at 5.00%, and both the Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) rate and the Bank Rate were held at 5.50%. Looking ahead, the RBI projected real GDP growth for FY 2026-27 at 6.7% (with quarterly estimates of 7.0% in Q1, 6.4% in Q2, 6.5% in Q3 and 6.8% in Q4), and CPI inflation at 5.0% for the year (4.7% in Q2, 5.9% in Q3 and 5.5% in Q4). On the external front, both merchandise exports and imports grew strongly in July 2026, though the trade deficit widened on the back of rising electronics imports; Foreign Portfolio Investors turned net buyers in Indian equities through July–August, and forex reserves stayed comfortable at roughly 11 months of import cover. The RBI also expanded its Upper-Layer NBFC list to 17 entities for FY27, newly bringing in public-sector companies REC, PFC, IRFC and HUDCO under this tighter regulatory category.

Key banking and business developments. Ketan Merchant received a three-month extension as interim Managing Director and CEO of Fino Payments Bank, providing continuity at the leadership level while the bank finalises a permanent appointment. The Income Tax Department set 31 August 2026 as the filing deadline for non-audit ITR-3 and ITR-4 filers, a date that draws heavy exam-relevant attention every year given its administrative significance. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) eased rupee-invoicing rules for exporters under the Foreign Trade Policy 2023, a move intended to reduce currency-conversion costs and encourage more exporters to invoice international trade directly in rupees. India's steel consumption grew 7.9% during April–July 2026, reflecting continued strength in construction and infrastructure activity. In a major corporate development, Larsen & Toubro, through its LTN Compute and Vyoma.AI arms, secured an order worth Rs.10,000–15,000 crore to build India's largest single-cluster NVIDIA B300 AI factory in Chennai — a landmark project for India's AI-infrastructure ambitions. Separately, a US judge dropped criminal charges against businessman Gautam Adani, closing out a legal matter that had drawn considerable market attention. The government was also reported to be weighing a Rs.2.5 lakh crore MSME credit guarantee scheme, modelled loosely on the pandemic-era ECLGS scheme, to support exporters affected by the ongoing West Asia shipping crisis.

6. Defence & Security

Agni-4 missile successfully test-fired. India successfully test-fired the Agni-4 Medium-Range Ballistic Missile from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur, Odisha, as part of a routine user trial intended to validate the missile's reliability, accuracy and operational readiness within India's strategic deterrence arsenal.

Bhawana Kanth becomes first woman to complete FCL course. Squadron Leader Bhawana Kanth achieved a landmark for the Indian Air Force by becoming the first Indian woman fighter pilot to complete the Fighter Combat Leader (FCL) course at the Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment (TACDE) in Gwalior — widely regarded as the IAF's equivalent of the elite “Top Gun” programme, and a major milestone in the integration of women into frontline combat roles.

DRDO missile technology transfer approved. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh approved the Transfer of Technology (ToT) of all conventional missile systems developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to Indian private defence manufacturers, a move intended to help domestic companies take these systems from development into industrial-scale production, expand indigenous manufacturing capacity, and generate employment for skilled professionals in engineering, electronics, precision manufacturing, testing and advanced defence sciences (see the related item on missile-technology transfer and defence-manufacturing jobs in Section 13.1).

Other defence and security developments. India's second indigenous Diving Support Vessel, ‘Nipun’, was delivered to the Indian Navy, strengthening the Navy's deep-sea diving and underwater intervention capabilities (see also Section 12.4 for the commissioning of the sister vessel INS Nipun class detail). The Indian Coast Guard hosted the second edition of the India–Vietnam joint exercise ‘Sahyog HOP TAC’ in Chennai, reinforcing maritime cooperation between the two countries. The National Security Guard (NSG) launched its first-ever Women

Commando Conversion Course (WCCC), a rigorous 12-week special training programme designed to induct

trained women commandos into the elite counter-terrorism force. On the other side of the border, Iran unveiled its ‘Qadr-F’ medium-range ballistic missile system, a development being watched closely given the ongoing regional tensions detailed in Section 4.

7. Science, Technology & Space

‘Param Pragya’ supercomputer inaugurated. Prime Minister Modi inaugurated ‘Param Pragya’, an AI-enabled high-performance supercomputing facility, at IIT Delhi's Sonipat campus. The facility is intended to support advanced research in artificial intelligence, scientific computing and data-intensive research across disciplines, reinforcing India's push to build sovereign high-performance computing capacity.

India's first commercial Earth-observation satellite constellation approved. IN-SPACe, India's space sector regulator, approved the country's first fully commercial Earth-observation satellite constellation under a public–private partnership model, to be built by the Allied Orbits consortium comprising PixxelSpace, Dhruva Space, PierSight and SatSure. The constellation will comprise 12 satellites, represents an investment of over Rs.1,200 crore, and is targeted to become fully operational by 2029 — a significant step in opening up India's space sector to commercial, privately-built imaging infrastructure.

Skyroot's Vikram-1 reaches orbit. Skyroot Aerospace's Vikram-1 became the first privately-built Indian rocket to successfully reach orbit, a milestone that cements Skyroot's position as India's first space ‘unicorn’, with a valuation of around US$1.1 billion. The achievement is being read as a turning point for India's private space launch industry, which has grown rapidly since the sector was opened to private players.

Other science and technology developments. ISRO held the grand finale of the Bharatiya Antariksh Hackathon (BAH) 2026 at the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) in Hyderabad on 6–7 August, bringing together student and start-up teams working on space-technology applications. BHASHINI, India's Digital India language-technology mission, signed a Statement of Intent with NITI Aayog to advance the use of multilingual AI in governance and public service delivery. The AYUSH Ministry signed an MoU with IndiaAI to apply artificial intelligence to research in Ayurveda, Siddha and other traditional systems of medicine. On the international front, NASA outlined its proposed SR-1 Freedom mission and a ‘SkyFall Helicopter’ concept, targeting a 2028 launch. Domestically, the National Space Technology Conclave 2026 was held on 17–18 August at Chandigarh University in collaboration with ISRO and the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST), themed “Emerging Space Technologies for India's Future Space Missions”, with Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla — the first Indian on the International Space Station — attending as special guest; India's space economy was estimated at roughly US$9 billion, supported by about 440 registered space start-ups as of mid-2026. On the defence technology side, the US released its National Security Science & Technology Strategy in mid-August, prioritising undersea superiority, space (including counter-space capabilities) and AI/autonomy as the top battlefield domains of the coming decade, while India continued to progress its own Space-Based Surveillance programme, which envisages 52 military satellites, alongside indigenous development of High-Altitude Pseudo-Satellites (HAPS) for long-endurance intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.

8. Environment, Ecology & Climate Change

August 2026 was the hottest August on record. Global average surface air temperature reached 16.96°C — 1.65°C above the pre-industrial (1850–1900) baseline and 0.85°C above the 1991–2020 average, according to Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) data. This was the first month to cross the symbolically important 1.5°C mark since November 2025, and it stands jointly as the warmest month ever recorded, tied with July 2023. Intensifying El Niño conditions are raising the risk of a deficient Indian monsoon — the IMD had projected rainfall at around 90% of the Long Period Average (LPA) — alongside heightened wildfire risk in Indonesia and extreme-heat events more broadly.

12th BRICS Environment Ministers' Meeting

India hosted the 12th BRICS Environment Ministers' Meeting in New Delhi on 18 August, under its 2026 BRICS Chairship. The meeting adopted a Joint Ministerial Statement along with four Knowledge Compendiums covering Sustainable Lifestyles, Integrated Landscape Management (addressing desertification), Forest Fire Preparedness & Response, and People-centred Climate Adaptation. Key priorities discussed included climate finance — specifically, ensuring grant and concessional funding reaches adaptation efforts in developing countries — and a shared opposition among BRICS members to unilateral trade measures such as the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), which member states view as a disguised trade barrier.

Biodiversity & Other Notes

Several notable biodiversity developments were reported during the month. New species were discovered, including Begonia neelamorum in Arunachal Pradesh and new cascade frog species from the Northeast and West Bengal. The Himalayan Serow was recorded in the Dalhousie forests for the first time in roughly 20 years, a positive sign for the region's wildlife corridors. On the climate side, Greenland's Petermann Glacier calved a massive 76.4 sq km ice island on 4 August, one of the larger calving events recorded in recent years. Domestically, the Centre formally added Heatwave and Lightning to India's notified disaster list, taking the total number of notified natural calamities to 14 — a change expected to strengthen access to disaster-response financing for heat- and lightning-related emergencies (see the fuller item on this expansion in Section 13). India also launched its first-ever Guide to Grasslands and Open Natural Ecosystems at UNCCD COP17 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia — a document that documents the diversity, distribution and ecological importance of the country's grasslands, savannas, deserts and other open landscapes, ecosystems that support biodiversity, pastoral livelihoods and climate resilience but are often mistakenly treated as degraded land (see Section 12.5 and Section 13.1 for related coverage).

9. Sports

Ahmedabad confirmed as 2030 Commonwealth Games host. Ahmedabad was officially confirmed as host of the 2030 Commonwealth Games at the closing ceremony of the Glasgow 2026 Games — only the second time India will host the event, after Delhi in 2010. The announcement gives Indian sport a multi-year lead-in period to build infrastructure and prepare athletes across disciplines.

India finishes 4th at CWG 2026 with 39 medals. India finished fourth on the medal table at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2026, winning 39 medals in total — 13 gold, 17 silver and 9 bronze — according to Employment News's official medal table. Australia topped the standings with 171 medals (including 70 gold), followed by England with 110 medals and Canada with 62. India's campaign was led by a record-breaking boxing contingent that won 10 medals (7 gold, 3 silver) and by the country's best-ever judo performance, which yielded 4 medals including 2 historic golds, 1 silver and 1 bronze. India's para-athletes also delivered a landmark showing

with 7 medals — 3 gold, 2 silver and 2 bronze.

India–Sri Lanka Test series. India won the first Test against Sri Lanka by 165 runs at Galle, with Devdutt

Padikkal named Player of the Match for his innings of 167 runs. The second Test ended in a draw, featuring a

resilient 115-run innings from wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel that helped India secure the draw and take the

series 1–0.

Other sporting developments. The Women's T20 Asia Cup 2026 commenced in the UAE, bringing together the region's top women's cricket teams. The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports announced the creation of a National Coach Accreditation Board (NCAB), acting on the recommendation of a task force led by former badminton coach Pullela Gopichand, aimed at standardising and professionalising coach certification across sporting disciplines in India. National Sports Day was observed on 29 August, marking the birth anniversary of hockey legend Major

Dhyan Chand. In international tennis, the US Open 2026 (final on 12–13 Sept, a September event) saw men's singles won by

Alexander Zverev — his second Grand Slam title of the year following Roland Garros — and women's singles won by Elena Rybakina; total prize money at the tournament was expected to cross US$100 million for the first time, and the Grand Slams jointly announced a formal Player Advisory Council to address longstanding revenue-sharing demands from players. The FIH Hockey World Cups for both men and women were held from 15 to 30 August, co-hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands (see Section 13.4 for the new tournament format). In volleyball, Poland won the 2026 FIVB Men's Volleyball Nations League, defeating the USA in the final. The European Athletics Championships were also held in Birmingham during the month, alongside several Diamond League meets.

10. Awards, Honours & Rankings

Kazia Liz Mejo crowned Miss Universe India 2026. Kazia Liz Mejo was crowned Miss Universe India 2026, earning the right to represent India at the 75th Miss Universe pageant in Puerto Rico (see also Section 12.6, which notes she is reportedly the first winner of the title from Kerala).

Celebrity brand valuations and city rankings. According to the Kroll Celebrity Brand Valuation report, Shah Rukh Khan remained India's most valuable celebrity, with a brand valuation of US$177.9 million, while Alia Bhatt topped the rankings among female celebrities. Separately, Mumbai was the only Indian city to feature in the Work From Anywhere Index 2026, a global ranking of cities best suited to remote and flexible work. In a notable clean-energy milestone, India overtook the United States to become the world's second-largest solar growth market, adding 37 GW of new solar capacity during the period under review, while one Indian site was newly inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage property at the 48th World Heritage Committee session held in Busan, South Korea (identified in Section 12.6 as the Ancient Buddhist Site of Sarnath, India's 45th such property).

Ajit Doval receives Lokmanya Tilak Award. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval received the Lokmanya Tilak Award in Pune on 1 August, in recognition of his contribution to national security; the award was presented by

Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The Ramon Magsaysay Award 2026, announced on 31 August, goes to

on Tommy Koh of Singapore, Bo Kyi of Myanmar and Runa Khan of Bangladesh, recognising their respective contributions in the fields of diplomacy, human rights advocacy and humanitarian relief work across Asia.

PM Modi conferred Uzbekistan's highest civilian honour. During his visit to Uzbekistan in late August, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred the country's highest civilian honour for foreign leaders, the ‘Oliy Darajali Do'stlik’ (Order of Friendship), recognising his role in strengthening bilateral ties — a visit that also saw the two countries elevate their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (see Section 12.1 and Section 13.3 for full detail on the visit).

Independence Day honours. President Droupadi Murmu approved a total of 1,057 Gallantry and Service Medals ahead of the 80th Independence Day, comprising 301 Medals for Gallantry (272 to police personnel and 29 to fire-service personnel), 92 President's Medals for Distinguished Service and 664 Medals for Meritorious Service — the fuller, more reliable breakdown of this figure, sourced from Employment News, appears in Section 1.

11. Appointments & Obituaries

Key national appointments — August 2026. The table below lists the month's most significant appointments across government, defence, the judiciary and the diplomatic corps.

Alka Nangia Arora takes charge as CGDA. Alka Nangia Arora, a 1991-batch Indian Defence Accounts Service officer, assumed charge as Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA) on 1 August 2026, taking over the financial and accounting oversight function for the Ministry of Defence's vast establishment (see Section 13.1 for further detail on her background).

Other notable appointments. Satish Golcha was appointed Director General of Delhi Home Guards, and Sanjeev Jain was appointed India's Ambassador to North Korea. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, a 1989-batch Indian Foreign Service officer, received a one-year extension to his tenure, taking it through to 14 July 2027 — a decision originally taken in July but of continuing relevance for August-cycle revision. Ketan Merchant was given a three-month extension as interim Managing Director and CEO of Fino Payments Bank, and Abelardo de la Espriella was sworn in as the 36th President of Colombia on 7 August 2026 (see Section 4 for further detail on the Colombian transition).

Obituaries. Former Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji passed away at the age of 97 on 14 August 2026, having served as one of China's most influential economic reformers during the 1990s. American country music legend Dolly Parton also passed away, at the age of 80, leaving behind a decades-long legacy in both music and philanthropy.

12. Supplementary Updates (Additional Verified Items)

The items below come from additional source material and cover ground not in Sections 1–11. Where a source conflicts with earlier content instead of adding to it, that conflict is flagged rather than silently resolved — verify the flagged item independently before relying on it.

12.1 International Relations

• India–Uzbekistan ties were elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during PM Modi's visit to Tashkent (29–30 Aug), alongside talks on long-term uranium supply for India's nuclear programme and joint critical-mineral exploration in Central Asia; both sides targeted bilateral trade of US$5 billion by 2030.
• Agreements signed included a Cultural Exchange Programme (2026–30), conservation of the Fayaz Tepa & Kara Tepa Buddhist heritage sites, Ayurveda cooperation, geology/critical-minerals cooperation, archival cooperation, UPI interoperability with Uzbekistan's UZQR, US$1 million for Aral Sea afforestation, and Lal Bahadur Shastri Hindi scholarships.
• India and China held fresh border talks in Beijing (25 Aug) between NSA Ajit Doval and Chinese FM Wang Yi, covering border stability, restoration of communication channels, and a boundary settlement process.
• PM Modi's Central Asia trip also covered the 26th SCO Summit, Bishkek (31 Aug–1 Sep), marking the SCO's 25th anniversary.
• The 15th edition of India–Thailand joint military exercise ‘MAITREE-XV’ was held at Surat Thani (18–31 Aug) — 85 personnel each side, Indian contingent mainly from 9 Gorkha Rifles, focused on jungle/semi-urban counter-insurgency operations under the UN Charter's Chapter VII framework.
• India secured Dialogue Partner status in GCAP (Global Combat Air Program, the UK–Japan–Italy 6th-generation fighter programme), gaining access to stealth, sensor-fusion and uncrewed-wingman technologies.
• The Indian Army finalised a US$93 million FMS deal for FGM-148 Javelin anti-tank guided missiles from the United States.

12.2 National & Governance

• Additional Central Bills recorded with Presidential assent in August: Appropriation (No. 3) Bill, 2026 (11 Aug), Bankers' Books Evidence Bill, 2026 (13 Aug), and MSME Development (Amendment) Bill, 2026 (13 Aug).
• The Supreme Court agreed to constitute a special bench on the Centre's request to clarify its March 2026 OBC creamy-layer judgment, particularly regarding Civil Services Examination 2025 eligibility.
• The Supreme Court held a special ‘SAMADHAN SAMAROH’ Lok Adalat (21–23 Aug) for consent-based settlement of pending matters.
• Monsoon Session momentum was reported for the proposed PM-Viksit Bharat Rojgar Yojana (PM-VBRY) — wage subsidies and social-security benefits for first-time corporate employees.
• The Ministry of Communications unveiled revamped Dak Sewa and Dak MITRA apps to digitise last-mile postal logistics and support Gramin Dak Sevaks.

12.3 Economy, Banking & Finance

• India's Q1 FY2026-27 real GDP growth was reported at 7.8% (nominal 10.3%), released 31 August. Note: this is the actual Q1 print — distinct from the RBI MPC's full-year FY27 projection of 6.7% discussed in Section 5.
• July 2026 IIP growth was 6.7% (Manufacturing 7.3%, Electricity & gas supply 8.7%), released 28 August.
• UPI completed 10 years (25 Aug): annual transaction volume grew from 1.78 crore (FY 2016-17) to over 24,162 crore transactions (FY 2025-26), worth roughly Rs.314 lakh crore; 703 banks now on UPI, live in 11 countries. Government clarified P2P transactions stay free and any future MDR would apply only to a limited merchant category.
• The Mobile Phone Manufacturing Scheme (MPMS), worth Rs.62,500 crore, was formally notified — targeting roughly 60,000 direct jobs and cumulative production of about Rs.39 lakh crore.
• Citigroup partnered with Axis Bank on a cross-border liquidity framework for NRIs, enabling credit lines against FCNR deposits.
• PNGRB authorised GAIL to build an 1,800 km LPG pipeline network across six states at a cost of roughly Rs.7,000 crore.
• India's August 2026 merchandise exports (~US$43.81 billion, imports ~US$70.67 billion) were only reported in September — treat as September-released data about August, not an August event.

12.4 Science, Defence & Space

• GSLV-F17 successfully launched EOS-05 on 29 August — India's first imaging satellite placed in geosynchronous (sub-GTO) orbit; the 19th flight of GSLV.
• INS Nipun, the second Nistar-class Diving Support Vessel, was commissioned on 31 August; built indigenously by Hindustan Shipyard Limited.
• Samarthak, India's first indigenous Multi-Purpose Vessel (built by L&T, over 75% indigenous content), was delivered to the Navy on 27 August for surveillance, offshore patrol and HADR roles.
• India launched ‘Gnani Artha’, a sovereign multi-modal AI stack (Evon 3.3 and Plexus models) open-sourced under Apache 2.0 across 11 regional languages.

12.5 Environment, Ecology & Climate

• Glaw Lake (Kamlang Tiger Reserve & Wildlife Sanctuary) was declared India's 101st Ramsar Site and Arunachal Pradesh's first (3 Aug); the landscape records 150+ tree species and 49 orchid species.
• India crossed 300.50 GW of installed non-fossil electricity capacity as of 31 July 2026 — Solar 164.59 GW, Wind 58.14 GW, Hydro 57.24 GW, Bio-power 11.75 GW, Nuclear 8.78 GW — over 60% of the 500 GW target for 2030. Exam trap: nuclear is non-fossil but not renewable.
• A World Weather Attribution study examined severe Upper Assam flooding (late June–early Aug), emphasising that disaster impact depends on exposure and vulnerability, not rainfall intensity alone.
• A suspected glacier collapse near the Nepal–Tibet border (26 Aug) triggered a major flash flood (a possible GLOF — Glacial Lake Outburst Flood), causing significant human, infrastructure and hydropower damage.
• India's Guide to Grasslands and Open Natural Ecosystems (ONEs), unveiled at UNCCD COP17, mapped the Thar Desert, Banni Grasslands and Himalayan savannas to prevent their misclassification as “wastelands.”

12.6 Sports & Culture

• Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowships and Awards for 2024 and 2025 were conferred on 115 artists across music, dance, drama, folk/tribal arts, puppetry and theatre (Fellowship purse Rs.3 lakh; Award purse Rs.1 lakh).
• The Ancient Buddhist Site of Sarnath was inscribed as India's 45th UNESCO World Heritage property at the 48th World Heritage Committee session in Busan — the inscription itself was in July, but it was widely featured in August government heritage material.
• Miss Universe India 2026 winner Kaziah/Kazia Liz Mejo is reportedly the first winner from Kerala; she represents India at the 75th Miss Universe pageant in Puerto Rico.
• The Dirac Medal 2026 (ICTP, Trieste) was awarded to researchers for theoretical physics achievements.

12.7 Miscellaneous

A Japanese prefecture (Yamanashi) investment fund of roughly Rs.600 crore dedicated to MSMEs in Uttar Pradesh was also reported during the month.

13. Employment News Digest — Verified Additions

This section is sourced from Employment News (Government of India), a dated, attributed weekly publication — a materially more reliable source than the unattributed compilations used elsewhere in this document. Where it corrected or added detail to earlier content, that has been folded into the relevant section above (Sections 1, 9 and 10). Every item below is written out in fuller, exam-ready descriptive form rather than as a compressed one-liner.

13.1 National

NTA overhauls examination team and security systems. The National Testing Agency has begun a major overhaul of its examination system, removing 600 subject and process experts and onboarding an entirely new panel in their place. Going forward, question papers will pass through four-tier checking to improve scrutiny and reduce errors, and the agency will shift to new premises offering stronger physical security, including CISF deployment, secluded rooms for confidential work, air-gapped computer systems with no external network access, and stricter device-deposit rules for staff. Another 20–25 officials are expected to join over the following two to three weeks. The agency is also auditing its internal processes and strengthening expertise in cybersecurity, psychometrics and question-paper design, on the directions of the Union Education Minister — a response aimed squarely at restoring candidates' confidence in examination integrity after recent controversies.

6th Defence Indigenisation List covers 405 strategic items. The Department of Defence Production has notified its sixth Positive Indigenisation List, comprising 405 strategically important items with an estimated business potential of Rs.3,070 crore. Of these, 389 items are currently used by Defence Public Sector Undertakings and 16 by the Indian Coast Guard. The list spans components, sub-systems, spares and raw materials used across aircraft, helicopters, armoured vehicles, warships, missiles, radars, sonars and satellite communication systems. Beyond the notified date, these items may only be procured from domestic manufacturers, which is expected to open fresh opportunities for Indian industry and MSMEs while steadily reducing India's dependence on imported defence hardware.

EPFO's Employees' Enrolment Campaign 2026. The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation has launched a one-time enrolment window for employers, allowing them to formally enrol eligible employees who were left outside EPF coverage at any point between 1 April 2009 and 31 March 2026. The campaign became operational on 1 July 2026 and will remain open until 31 October 2026. Its purpose is to extend formal social-security protection to workers who slipped through the cracks of coverage, while giving employers a fair chance to voluntarily correct past omissions without facing punitive consequences.

Electronics manufacturing expansion to create 9,500 jobs. The government has approved 31 additional projects under the Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme, representing a projected investment of Rs.7,877 crore and more than 9,500 expected jobs. The approved projects will manufacture speakers, microphones, optical transceivers, capacitors, coils and other components, and are spread across ten states — seven projects in Tamil Nadu and six each in Maharashtra and Haryana. With this latest round of approvals, the scheme has now sanctioned 106 applications in total, with anticipated cumulative investment crossing Rs.69,000 crore. The scheme is expected to create opportunities across electronics production, engineering, testing, maintenance and supply-chain management.

Delhi Master Plan 2047 targets inclusive urban growth. The Government of India unveiled the Delhi Master Plan 2047 on 20 August, providing a long-term spatial, economic and institutional framework for transforming the national capital into a more inclusive, environmentally resilient and globally competitive city. The plan is designed for a projected population of nearly 3.2 crore. Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Shri Manohar Lal said approximately 30–40 lakh new residential units could be added over the coming years, with a substantial share consisting of standard housing. The plan seeks to combine economic growth and technological innovation with improved living standards and protection of Delhi's cultural heritage.

Parliament passes Bill to ensure faster payments to MSMEs. Parliament has passed the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Amendment) Bill, 2026, intended to help MSMEs receive payments more quickly and resolve payment disputes faster. Under the new law, Central Public Sector Enterprises must route payments to MSMEs through the Trade Receivables Discounting System (TReDS), an online platform that lets

small businesses receive their dues without delay. If a payment dispute cannot be settled through mediation, it must be referred to arbitration within 30 days, and the arbitration process must be completed within 90 days. In cases where a dispute continues for more than six months, at least 50 per cent of the amount awarded must be paid to the MSME before the case is resolved further — a mechanism designed to improve cash flow for small businesses and reduce long delays in receiving payments.

ST reservation law comes into force in Goa. The Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes in Assembly Constituencies of the State of Goa Act, 2025, has come into force, paving the way for the reservation of Assembly seats for the Scheduled Tribe community. The legislation enables the readjustment of Assembly constituencies to provide dedicated political representation to Scheduled Tribes, fulfilling a long-pending demand of Goa's tribal communities.

Andhra Pradesh gets new greenfield airport. India's aviation infrastructure received a major boost with the addition of another greenfield airport, as Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram in Andhra Pradesh's Vizianagaram district on 1 August 2026. Developed under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model at a cost of over Rs.5,640 crore, the airport has the capacity to handle six million passengers annually. It is equipped with modern facilities, including artificial-intelligence-based passenger processing and automated baggage handling.

Centre releases Rs.2,118 crore for flood-affected states. Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah has approved the advance release of Rs.2,117.85 crore from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) to support seven states affected by floods during the ongoing southwest monsoon — Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Gujarat,

Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Nagaland and Odisha. The assistance includes funds for both immediate relief and the

ongoing response effort. The Centre has also deployed National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams and dispatched Inter-Ministerial Central Teams (IMCTs) to assess flood damage in affected states.

Centre deploys expert team to tackle Chandipura outbreak. The Centre has deployed a National Joint Outbreak Response Team (NJORT) to Gujarat and Rajasthan to strengthen efforts to contain the ongoing Chandipura Virus Disease (CHPV) outbreak. Comprising experts from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), the team is assisting with outbreak investigation, disease surveillance and public health response. The virus, which primarily affects children during the monsoon season, is mainly transmitted by sandflies, though scientists are also investigating the possible role of other vectors.

India unveils Clouded Leopard Conservation Plan. On International Clouded Leopard Day, 4 August 2026, India launched the Clouded Leopard Conservation Action Plan (CAP) to strengthen protection of the elusive wild cat. The plan focuses on habitat protection, scientific monitoring, forest connectivity and community participation across Northeast India. It identifies 14 priority conservation landscapes and wildlife corridors, and integrates climate resilience and sustainable livelihood support into long-term conservation efforts.

Indian Standard Time made mandatory as common legal reference nationwide. The government has notified the Legal Metrology (Indian Standard Time) Rules, 2026, establishing Indian Standard Time as the country's common, legally recognised and traceable time reference — a major step towards the government's ‘One Nation, One Time’ initiative. Published in the Official Gazette on 29 August 2026, the rules will take effect 180 days after publication. This transition period allows government departments, businesses and operators in critical sectors to synchronise and test their systems, update procedures and ensure compliance before enforcement begins. The move is expected to improve the accuracy of electronic transactions, official records, telecommunications, transport operations and other time-sensitive services, while reducing discrepancies caused by the use of different time references.

Retired Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra appointed CEO of Ram Temple Trust. Retired Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra, former chief of the Western Air Command, has been appointed the first chief executive officer of the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust in Ayodhya. He will oversee the Trust's administration and key operations concerning the temple complex. A three-member search committee selected the CEO following allegations of donation theft at the temple, after receiving more than 5,500 applications for the post. Air Marshal Mishra, who played a key role in Operation Sindoor and retired on 30 April 2026, is a recipient of the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and the Vishisht Seva Medal. Three new members — Shri Madan Mohan Pandey, Shri Mahesh Bhagchandka and Dr. Nirmala Yadav — have also been appointed to the Trust.

‘RAKSHA’ — Defence Diplomacy roadmap released. Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh has released the ‘RAKSHA’ document on Defence Diplomacy — a comprehensive roadmap outlining India's strategic vision for global defence partnerships over the next ten years. The document marks a shift towards more proactive strategic engagement, aligning national security objectives with proactive global cooperation, fostering long-term stability and mutual growth. The strategic framework rests on four key pillars: strengthening bilateral and multilateral security cooperation, enhancing capacity building through joint military exercises and training programmes, promoting indigenous defence exports under the ‘Make in India’ initiative, and strengthening maritime security.

PM urges youth to explore sports careers. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addressed the Khelo India Dialogue through videoconferencing on 27 August, an interaction that connected with youth and instructional participants at over 5,000 locations across India. He said there is a sea of opportunities in the sports domain and encouraged young people to explore careers ranging from coaching and equipment design to sports science, technology, nutrition, psychology and performance analytics. He described Khelo India as nurturing young athletes through opportunities, training and support from talent identification to the international stage, and called for specialised preparation in disciplines where India has limited participation, including surfing, sport climbing and winter sports. Describing sports as a pathway to confidence, resilience and national development, the Prime Minister urged young people to pursue their potential and contribute to India's sporting future.

Indian Army raises first Baaz Drone Battalion. The Indian Army has raised its first Baaz Drone Battalion in Punjab to strengthen aerial surveillance, battlefield responsiveness and operational reach. The Vajra Corps, also known as the 11 Corps and the defenders of Punjab, has become the Army's first formation to operationalise this specialised unit. Named after a bird of prey, the battalion will serve as the Army's ‘eyes in the sky’ and provide troops with a stronger battlefield advantage. The technology-driven formation highlights expanding roles for specialists in drone operations, maintenance, data analysis and battlefield surveillance.

IICT and Netflix offer scholarships to aspiring storytellers. The Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT) and Netflix have come together to offer scholarships to 100 aspiring storytellers across India. Students and working professionals are eligible to receive up to 80 per cent financial support for six-month diploma and certificate programmes. The courses cover comics, visual effects, animation, virtual art, media technology, gaming and e-sports management, and aim to give learners industry-relevant skills, strengthen their portfolios and improve their prospects in creative careers, as part of an initiative to prepare Indian talent for opportunities in the rapidly growing Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Comics–Extended Reality (AVGC–XR) industry.

National Sports Awards 2025 announced. The government announced the National Sports Awards 2025 on 18 August, recognising outstanding performances by athletes and the contributions of coaches and sporting organisations. Leading women's doubles badminton players Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand were among 17 sportspersons selected for the Arjuna Award, alongside international boxer Narender Berwal. The Arjuna Award recognises consistent high-level performance, leadership and sporting discipline. Veteran Indian footballer Isaih Arumainayagam was selected for the Arjuna Award for Lifetime Achievement. Athletics coach Parveen Singh, boxing coach Chhote Lal Yadav and shooting coach Neha Nandkumar Chavan were named for the Dronacharya Award, which recognises coaches responsible for producing outstanding results at national and international competitions. The Army Paralympic Node in Pune was selected for the Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar, for its contribution to sports promotion and athlete development.

NITI Aayog identifies 12 sectors for manufacturing push. NITI Aayog has released a report identifying 12 sectors with the potential to drive India's manufacturing growth and strengthen its position in global value chains. The study shortlists these sectors from an initial assessment of 62 sectors, based on strategic alignment, financial viability and value-chain positioning, along with market potential, competitiveness and international benchmarks. The identified 12 sectors are electronics, telecom equipment, solar photovoltaics, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, automobiles, drones, steel, capital goods, textiles, food processing and leather and footwear. The report also examines successful manufacturing strategies adopted by leading countries to develop sector-specific recommendations for India, and is intended to provide a sector-specific roadmap for government and industry to enhance manufacturing competitiveness, deepen integration with global value chains and advance the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047.

13.2 Economy

CCEA clears Rs.13,041 crore in rail and highway projects. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved two major infrastructure proposals with a combined investment of about Rs.13,041 crore. The decisions, announced on 19 August, include four railway multitracking projects worth approximately Rs.9,450 crore. The projects will add about 410 km to the rail network across West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, scheduled for completion by 2030-31, and are expected to ease congestion, improve freight movement and provide better connectivity to around 6,448 villages. The CCEA also cleared the four-laning of the 82.58 km Muzaffarpur–Sitamarhi–Sonbarsa section of NH-22 in Bihar at a cost of Rs.3,590.73 crore. The highway will strengthen access between Muzaffarpur and the India–Nepal border while reducing congestion in several towns along the route. Both projects are planned under the PM Gati Shakti framework, with an emphasis on stronger multimodal connectivity and lower logistics costs.

India sets $100-billion gems and jewellery export target. The Department of Commerce and the Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council have initiated work on a roadmap to raise India's gems and jewellery exports to $100 billion by 2040. The proposed strategy focuses on innovation, value addition, design capabilities and the creation of globally recognised Indian brands. The government-industry dialogue also identified the goals of doubling employment in the sector to one crore and increasing its share in India's merchandise exports to 14 per cent. The roadmap seeks to move the industry beyond traditional manufacturing towards higher-value products and stronger global positioning.

India–China border trade resumes via Shipki La. Cross-border trade between India and China has resumed with effect from 1 August 2026, through the Shipki La pass in Himachal Pradesh's Kinnaur district, after a gap of nearly six years. The trade, suspended since 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, resumed with the inauguration of the Chhupan Trade Mart at Namgya and the flagging off of a group of 17 traders by the state's Revenue Minister Shri Jagat Singh Negi.

SBI Research projects 7% GDP growth in Q1 of 2026-27. India's economy was likely to grow around 7 per cent in the first quarter of 2026-27, according to an SBI Research report issued ahead of the official release. The improved outlook was backed by stronger economic indicators, with the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) growing 7.3 per cent, exports rising 15.5 per cent, industrial credit expanding 19.2 per cent, electricity demand increasing 11.5 per cent and passenger vehicle sales surging 24.1 per cent in June. The report also said improving monsoon conditions and healthy reservoir levels were expected to further support economic growth in the coming months. (The subsequently released official figure was 7.8% — see Section 12.3.)

Semicon 2.0 to create nearly 60,000 direct jobs. The government has notified the Semicon 2.0 scheme, building on the Semiconductor India Programme. With an estimated outlay of Rs.1.27 lakh crore, the scheme is expected to create almost 60,000 direct jobs and generate additional employment across electronics manufacturing, logistics, construction and allied industries. The scheme will provide fiscal and infrastructure support across the semiconductor value chain, including chip design, wafer fabrication, packaging, equipment, materials, research and talent development. It is expected to attract investment, expand domestic manufacturing and reduce dependence on imported chips. Electronics and Information Technology Minister Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw said India could capture nearly 10% of the global semiconductor market in the coming years. The country has trained 85,000 semiconductor engineers in four years and now aims to train another one lakh.

India's exports rise 13.16% to $316.42 billion during April–July 2026. India's total exports of merchandise and services rose 13.16 per cent to an estimated US$316.42 billion during April–July 2026-27, compared with US$279.63 billion in the same period last year. Merchandise exports increased 17.04 per cent to US$173.78 billion, while non-petroleum exports grew 12.79 per cent to US$143.61 billion. In July 2026 alone, total exports rose 13.31 per cent to US$80.14 billion. Key drivers of merchandise export growth in July included petroleum products (67.64%), electronic goods (57.40%), engineering goods (17.71%), chemicals (14.39%) and cotton yarn, fabrics and handloom products (8.40%). Services exports during April–July were estimated at US$142.64 billion, up from US$131.15 billion a year earlier, resulting in a services trade surplus of US$69.17 billion.

13.3 International

India and Japan expand maritime security cooperation. Japanese Defence Minister Mr. Shinjiro Koizumi met Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi during his official visit to India on 20 August. The Prime Minister called for deeper defence and security cooperation to promote peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific. He also

invited Japanese companies to partner with Indian firms and start-ups in defence co-development and co-production under ‘Make in India’. Earlier, Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh and Mr. Koizumi signed a Memorandum of Arrangement on Maritime Security Cooperation, covering maritime-domain awareness, information sharing, search and rescue, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. The two countries will also explore cooperation in naval shipbuilding, ship repair, mine-countermeasure capabilities and defence technology. Japanese fighter aircraft are scheduled to visit India for the first time for the Veer Guardian 2026 air exercise.

Bangladesh elects its twenty-third President. Veteran Bangladesh Nationalist Party leader Mr. Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir was elected Bangladesh's 23rd President on 20 August. The 78-year-old secured 255 votes in the

Jatiya Sangsad, while former army officer Oli Ahmad received 88 votes. Oli Ahmad was backed by an 11-party

opposition alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami and the student-led National Citizen Party. It was Bangladesh's first presidential election in 35 years to feature more than one candidate. Mr. Alamgir resigned as BNP secretary-general and from the party's National Standing Committee after receiving his presidential nomination. The election became necessary after outgoing President Mohammed Shahabuddin resigned on health grounds before completing his term. The BNP, which returned to power in February, holds a two-thirds parliamentary majority.

India, Uzbekistan expand strategic partnership (New Delhi talks). India and Uzbekistan agreed to expand their strategic partnership by deepening cooperation in critical minerals, mining, trade, energy, infrastructure, defence and education. During talks in New Delhi, External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar and his Uzbek counterpart Mr. Bakhtiyor Saidov reviewed bilateral ties, discussed regional developments and reaffirmed their commitment to combating terrorism. The two sides expressed confidence that bilateral trade, currently nearing US$1 billion, will grow further — laying the groundwork for the later Tashkent visit, when ties were formally elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (see Section 12.1).

Around 60 Indian vessels safely crossed the Strait of Hormuz. Around 60 Indian merchant vessels carrying cargo made safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz despite heightened tensions in West Asia, the Government informed the Rajya Sabha on 6 August 2026. It also said that 3,972 Indian seafarers were repatriated from the Gulf region and a round-the-clock crisis management system handled thousands of distress calls and emails during the crisis. Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Shri Sarbananda Sonowal chaired a high-level review meeting to assess the safety of Indian seafarers. He said the DGCOMM Centre continues to monitor distress alerts around the clock, while the government provides repatriation, medical, counselling and financial assistance to affected seafarers and their families.

India sends assistance as Nepal struggles to recover after devastating floods. In the aftermath of devastating flash floods that tore through Nepal, survivors continued searching for relatives among flattened settlements, broken roads and layers of mud. The disaster began when a massive section of a Himalayan glacier collapsed in Langtang National Park, unleashing a violent mixture of water, ice, rock and debris into connected river systems. The torrent thundered through valleys, sweeping away homes, vehicles and bridges within seconds and leaving hundreds dead and many more missing. Rescue teams evacuated stranded and injured people despite damaged infrastructure cutting off several communities. India has dispatched several tonnes of humanitarian assistance, including medicines, food packets and other essential supplies. Indian agencies have also rescued groups of stranded nationals, while efforts continue to trace others who remain uncontactable. A round-the-clock control room established by the Ministry of External Affairs is coordinating tracing, rescue and evacuation efforts with Nepalese authorities, State Governments and tour operators — corroborating the Nepal–Tibet glacier-collapse item already noted in Section 12.5.

India and Seychelles eye AI-driven growth in fisheries. India and Seychelles have decided to harness marine resources through artificial intelligence, digital fisheries, data systems and stronger monitoring, control and surveillance infrastructure. The proposals were discussed at a high-level bilateral meeting held in New Delhi on 26 August, between an Indian delegation led by Fisheries Secretary Shri Abhilaksh Likhi and a Seychelles delegation headed by Fisheries, Agriculture and Blue Economy Minister Mr. Wallace Cosgrow. The countries will expand cooperation in aquaculture, scientific research, modern hatcheries, tuna-fisheries optimisation and sustainable fish-ware management. Their proposed partnership will also strengthen tuna processing, product diversification, post-harvest engineering and sustainable fish-waste management. Knowledge-sharing, specialised training and capacity-building programmes are expected to create opportunities for skilled

professionals in marine science, technology, surveillance and food processing.

India, Nepal sign MoUs for eight development projects. India and Nepal have signed MoUs for eight development projects in the education, health and agriculture sectors, with an estimated total value of 803 million Nepali rupees. The projects will be funded through Indian grant assistance and implemented by local government bodies and institutions in Nepal. The projects have been selected under India's High Impact Community Development Projects (HICDP) framework and will be implemented across different regions of Nepal. The agreements were signed by the Embassy of India in Kathmandu, Nepal's Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives, Federal Affairs and General Administration, and the designated Nepali project authorities.

NASA invites ISRO to join Moon Base programme. NASA has invited ISRO to join its Moon Base programme under the Artemis Accords, further strengthening India–US cooperation in space. The two countries have also agreed to explore cooperation on open scientific data sharing under the Accords. The decision was discussed at the 9th India–US Civil Space Joint Working Group meeting, held in Bengaluru on 5–6 August. ISRO Chairman Dr. V. Narayanan and US Ambassador to India Mr. Sergio Gor highlighted the importance of expanding bilateral space cooperation. The two sides reviewed cooperation following the successful NASA–ISRO NISAR mission and discussed future collaborations in space science and human spaceflight technologies, reaffirming their commitment to the UN guidelines on the long-term sustainability of outer space activities.

PM Modi strengthens Central Asian ties during Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan visit. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi strengthened India's engagement with Central Asia through talks with the leaders of Uzbekistan and the Kyrgyz Republic during his visit to the region. In Tashkent, India and Uzbekistan elevated their relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and set a bilateral trade target of US$5 billion by 2030. Shri Modi and Uzbek President Mr. Shavkat Mirziyoyev agreed to expand cooperation in investment, digital payments, defence, healthcare, uranium supplies, critical minerals, agriculture, education and space. The two countries also exchanged several agreements and decided to establish a foreign-ministers-led coordination mechanism. In Bishkek, Shri Modi met Kyrgyz President Mr. Sadyr Zhaparov on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit; the leaders reaffirmed their Strategic Partnership and agreed to strengthen economic, commercial, educational and cultural ties. The engagements are expected to improve India's trade, energy and strategic connectivity with Central Asia while expanding opportunities for businesses, students and technology partnerships.

India calls for firm action against terrorism at SCO Summit. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi called for united action to dismantle the terror ecosystem and warned against double standards in combating terrorism while addressing the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. At the two-day summit, which concluded on 1 September, Shri Modi urged member countries to pursue security, connectivity and economic opportunities through concrete cooperation. He said conflicts could be resolved only through dialogue and diplomacy and stressed that connectivity projects must respect national sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Prime Minister also highlighted the potential of technology, start-ups and people-to-people exchanges to promote regional growth, and announced that India would host the inaugural SCO Civilisation Dialogue Forum later in the year. The leaders adopted the Bishkek Declaration, with more than 20 decisions and statements covering climate, nuclear energy conservation and the fight against drug addiction.

India, Belgium aim to double bilateral trade in five years. India and Belgium have agreed to double bilateral trade over the next five years and deepen cooperation in defence, renewable energy, semiconductors and critical minerals. The two countries exchanged agreements following talks between Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and his Belgian counterpart Mr. Bart De Wever in New Delhi. The agreements include a Letter of Intent on defence cooperation and memoranda of understanding covering renewable energy, cybercrime and diplomatic training. The two countries will collaborate on projects including the Zorawar tank, a green-ammonia facility in Andhra Pradesh, and the integration of Belgium's IMEC institute with India's semiconductor ecosystem. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi said the partnership could strengthen supply chains and generate new trade and investment opportunities amid global uncertainty.

13.4 Sports

Praggnanandhaa becomes first Indian to win the Grand Chess Tour. Grandmaster R. Praggnanandhaa made history by becoming the first Indian to win the Grand Chess Tour, defeating defending champion Fabiano

Caruana 15-13 in the final at St. Louis, United States. Trailing by six points at the start of the final day, the Indian staged a remarkable comeback by winning both rapid games. He then protected his advantage across four blitz games to secure the championship. Praggnanandhaa received the $200,000 first prize and earned a guaranteed place in the next edition of the tour, after Wesley So finished third defeating Vincent Keymer 18-12 in the playoff.

India wins gold and bronze at World Junior Squash Championships. India enjoyed a landmark campaign at the 2026 World Junior Squash Championships in Canada, winning one gold and one bronze medal. Anahat Singh created history by becoming the first Indian to win the women's singles title, defeating Egypt's Ruqayya Salem in the final. India also claimed the bronze medal in the men's team event, with Aryaveer Dewan, Yusha Nafees and Gurveer Singh finishing on the podium.

Kajal Dhochak retains U20 World Wrestling crown as Indian women claim six medals. India's Kajal Dhochak successfully defended her U20 World Wrestling Championship title in Bratislava, Slovakia, on 20 August 2026. Competing in the women's 76 kg category, the 18-year-old defeated China's Jingru Sun 7-0 in the final and completed her campaign without conceding a point. It was her second successive U20 world title and her fifth successive gold medal of the year. India also secured three silver medals in the women's competition. Tanu Sharma lost a closely contested 72 kg final 3-5 to Japan's Chisato Yoshida, while Savita went down 2-12 by technical superiority against Japan's Sakura Onishi in the 62 kg category. Mansi Lather narrowly missed gold in the 68 kg final after China's Chenling Song edged her 2-1. Tanvi Gundesh Magdum earned bronze in the 57 kg category with a convincing 10-4 victory over Canada's Agnia Krakovska. Komal added another bronze by defeating Hungary's Eda Balazs 5-2 in the 59 kg category. With one gold, three silver and two bronze medals, India's women wrestlers delivered a strong showing at the championships.

Pranesh M wins Kanizsa Open Chess title. India's 19-year-old Grandmaster Pranesh M won the Group A title at the Kanizsa Open 2026 in Nagykanizsa, Hungary. The Tamil Nadu player defeated Germany's Vadim Petrovskiy with the white pieces in the ninth and final round. Pranesh finished with seven points from nine rounds, sharing the lead with three other players before securing the title on a superior tiebreak. Israel's Or Bronstein, Ukraine's Andrei Volokitin and India's Karthik Venkataraman occupied the next positions. Rated 2673 and ranked 44th in the August 2026 FIDE rankings, Pranesh was congratulated by the Indian Embassy in Hungary for his achievement.

India crowned Commonwealth Fencing Champions with 35 medals. India emerged as the overall champions at the Commonwealth Fencing Championship in Lagos, Nigeria, winning 35 medals — 13 gold, 8 silver and 14 bronze — across the Under-23 and senior categories. On the final day, Indian senior fencers secured five gold medals and one silver across six events. Gold medals came in Men's Sabre, Women's Sabre, Men's Épée, Women's Épée and Women's Foil, while India also won silver in Men's Foil. India's dominant performance earned it the Wilkinson Sword Trophy, awarded by the Commonwealth Fencing Federation for the best overall team performance. Fencing Association of India Secretary-General Rajeev Mehta said winning the Commonwealth Overall Championship title for the first time reflected the talent, discipline and hard work of Indian fencers.

India wins two medals at World Athletics U20 Championships. India clinched two medals at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Eugene, USA, with Basant Kumar Meghwal winning silver in the men's high jump and Shahnavaz Khan securing bronze in the men's long jump. Meghwal, the reigning Asian U20 champion, cleared a personal-best 2.21m to become the first Indian to win a high-jump medal at the championships. Khan also created history with a 7.84m effort, becoming India's first medallist in the long jump at the event. The two medals took India's tally to three, equalling the medal haul from the 2021 and 2022 editions.

Hockey World Cup 2026 introduces new format, scraps quarter-finals. The 2026 FIH Hockey Men's and Women's World Cups will adopt a new format, with the traditional quarter-final stage scrapped. The tournament will be jointly hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands from 15 to 30 August. The 16 teams in each competition will be divided into four pools of four. After the opening pool stage, the top two teams from Pools A and D will form Pool E, while the top two from Pools B and C will enter Pool F. The top two teams from each crossover pool will qualify directly for the semi-finals. India's men will face England, Pakistan and Wales in Pool D, while the Indian women will take on China, England and South Africa in Pool D. The women's final will be played in the Netherlands on 29 August, while the men's tournament will conclude in Belgium on 30 August.

India to host inaugural Women's Champions Trophy in 2027. The International Cricket Council has named India as the new host of the inaugural Women's Champions Trophy in 2027, moving the tournament from Sri

Lanka amid governance concerns affecting cricket in the island nation. The six-team tournament will be played in Mumbai and Vadodara from 14 to 28 February. Australia, England, India, New Zealand, South Africa and Sri Lanka will compete in a round-robin league, with the top two teams advancing to the final. ICC Chairman Jay Shah said the tournament would open a new chapter for women's cricket and encourage teams to improve their

rankings. India will host the event after staging the Women's ODI World Cup in 2025, which the home team won.

Ankur Bhattacharjee wins WTT Men's Singles title. Indian table tennis player Ankur Bhattacharjee has won his maiden WTT men's singles title at the WTT Feeder Olomouc tournament in Czechia. He also secured the men's doubles gold with fellow Indian Akash Pal. World number 78 Bhattacharjee defeated third seed Slovenia's Deni Kozul 3-1 in the singles final to complete a memorable campaign. Earlier, Ankur and Akash Pal defeated Hungary's Csaba Andras Szantosi and Poland's Alan Kulczycki Zalewski 3-1 in the men's doubles final. Ankur, who was a finalist at the Europe Youth Smash in Sweden in 2025, had already reached two quarterfinals and two semifinals in 2026 before claiming his maiden WTT title in Olomouc.

Abhay Singh wins Men's Singles title at Tuanku Muhriz Trophy 2026. In squash, India's Abhay Singh won the men's singles title at the Tuanku Muhriz Trophy 2026 in Seremban, Malaysia. The top-seeded Abhay defeated third-seeded Henry Leung of Hong Kong, China, 3-2 in the final of the PSA Challenger Tour 15 event. The victory marked the 27-year-old Indian squash player's 13th PSA Tour title and his second of the year, following his win at the Indian Open in Mumbai in March. Abhay, at world No.24, is India's highest-ranked men's player. It was also Abhay Singh's third Tuanku Muhriz Trophy title, having previously won the tournament in 2022 and 2024. Abhay, who won gold in the men's team and bronze in mixed doubles at Hangzhou 2023, is also part of the Indian squash squad for the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya.

14. Important Days Of August 2026

15. PRACTICE MCQs (WITH ANSWERS)

Q1. India's 80th Independence Day theme was:

(a) Nation First, Always First

(b) Yuva Shakti – Leading the Journey to Viksit Bharat@2047

(c) Amrit Kaal ki Udaan

(d) Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas

Ans: (b)

Q2. The Samudra Manthan scheme, approved by the Union Cabinet on 31 July 2026, relates to:

(a) River-linking projects

(b) Offshore oil & gas exploration

(c) Deep-sea fishing subsidy

(d) Coastal tourism development

Ans: (b) — outlay Rs.84,084 crore

Q3. Who launched the Haryana Progressive MSME and Export Promotion Policy, 2026?

(a) Nayab Singh Saini

(b) Rao Narbir Singh

(c) Manohar Lal Khattar

(d) Anil Vij

Ans: (a) — launched in Karnal on 10 August 2026

Q4. The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026 raised the sanctioned strength of SC judges to:

(a) 34

(b) 36

(c) 38

(d) 40

Ans: (c) 38 (from 34)

Q5. Squadron Leader Bhawana Kanth is in the news for:

(a) First woman Rafale pilot

(b) First woman to complete the FCL course at TACDE, Gwalior

(c) First woman Air Marshal

(d) First woman to fly solo across the Himalayas

Ans: (b)

Q6. The Deendayal Lado Lakshmi Yojana in Haryana provides monthly financial assistance of:

(a) Rs.1,000

(b) Rs.1,500

(c) Rs.2,100

(d) Rs.3,000

Ans: (c) Rs.2,100 per month

Q7. Ahmedabad will host which edition of the Commonwealth Games?

(a) 2026

(b) 2028

(c) 2030

(d) 2032

Ans: (c) 2030 — confirmed at the Glasgow 2026 closing ceremony

Q8. Abelardo de la Espriella was sworn in, in August 2026, as President of:

(a) Chile

(b) Colombia

(c) Peru

(d) Ecuador

Ans: (b) Colombia — 36th President

Q9. The Mecca Joint Defence Agreement (7 August 2026) was signed between which countries?

(a) Saudi Arabia, UAE, Pakistan

(b) Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Turkey

(c) Iran, Turkey, Pakistan

(d) Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey

Ans: (b) — includes a mutual-defence clause modelled on NATO's Article 5

Q10. RBI's August 2026 MPC meeting held the policy repo rate at:

(a) 5.00%

(b) 5.25%

(c) 5.50%

(d) 5.75%

Ans: (b) 5.25% — fourth consecutive hold, neutral stance

Q11. The GOBARdhan National Circular Bioenergy Scheme (Rs.23,731 crore) mainly aims to boost:

(a) Solar energy parks

(b) Compressed Biogas (CBG) production

(c) EV charging infrastructure

(d) Green hydrogen production

Ans: (b)

Q12. Which Bill renamed the state of Kerala as ‘Keralam’?

(a) States Reorganisation Amendment Bill

(b) Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026

(c) Official Languages Amendment Bill

(d) None of the above

Ans: (b) — passed by both Houses, assent received in August 2026

Q13. The Permanent Court of Arbitration's 31 August 2026 ruling concerned:

(a) South China Sea

(b) Indus Waters Treaty

(c) Kashmir boundary

(d) Sir Creek

Ans: (b) — ruled the 1960 treaty remains fully binding despite India's ‘abeyance’ stance

Q14. August 2026 was recorded as the hottest August on record, at how much above the pre-industrial baseline?

(a) 1.25°C

(b) 1.50°C

(c) 1.65°C

(d) 1.80°C

Ans: (c) 1.65°C — Copernicus C3S data, global average 16.96°C

Q15. Who won the Men's Singles title at the 2026 US Open?

(a) Jannik Sinner

(b) Carlos Alcaraz

(c) Alexander Zverev

(d) Novak Djokovic

Ans: (c) Alexander Zverev — his second Grand Slam of 2026, after Roland Garros

Q16. Ajit Doval received which award on 1 August 2026?

(a) Padma Vibhushan

(b) Lokmanya Tilak Award

(c) Ramon Magsaysay Award

(d) Bharat Ratna

Ans: (b) — for contribution to national security; presented in Pune

Q17. Glaw Lake, which became India's 101st Ramsar Site in August 2026, is located in:

(a) Assam

(b) Arunachal Pradesh

(c) Sikkim

(d) Meghalaya

Ans: (b) — within the Kamlang Tiger Reserve & Wildlife Sanctuary; also the state's first Ramsar site

Q18. India's India-Uzbekistan relationship was elevated in August 2026 to a:

(a) Strategic Partnership

(b) Comprehensive Strategic Partnership

(c) Special Defence Alliance

(d) Free Trade Union

Ans: (b) — during PM Modi's Tashkent visit, 29–30 August 2026

Q19. GSLV-F17 launched which payload on 29 August 2026?

(a) Chandrayaan-4

(b) EOS-05

(c) Aditya-L2

(d) GSAT-30

Ans: (b) EOS-05 — India's first imaging satellite from geosynchronous orbit

Q20. India secured which status in the Global Combat Air Program (GCAP) in August 2026?

(a) Founding Member

(b) Dialogue Partner

(c) Observer only

(d) Lead Contractor

Ans: (b) Dialogue Partner — gains access to 6th-generation fighter technologies

Q21. India finished which position at the Commonwealth Games 2026 (Glasgow), per the official medal table?

(a) 2nd

(b) 3rd

(c) 4th

(d) 5th

Ans: (c) 4th — 39 medals (13 gold, 17 silver, 9 bronze); Australia topped the table

Q22. India's Legal Metrology (Indian Standard Time) Rules, 2026 support which government initiative?

(a) Digital India

(b) One Nation, One Time

(c) Make in India

(d) Atmanirbhar Bharat

Ans: (b) — notified 29 August, effective after a 180-day transition

Q23. Who became the first Indian to win the Grand Chess Tour, in August 2026?

(a) D. Gukesh

(b) R. Praggnanandhaa

(c) Vidit Gujrathi

(d) Arjun Erigaisi

Ans: (b) — defeated Fabiano Caruana 15-13 in the final at St. Louis

Q24. India's Q1 FY2026-27 real GDP growth, as officially released in August 2026, was:

(a) 6.7%

(b) 7.0%

(c) 7.3%

(d) 7.8%

Ans: (d) 7.8% — nominal GDP grew 10.3%; note the distinct SBI Research pre-release estimate of ~7%

16. 30-Point Rapid Revision Table

If you remember only 30 things from August 2026, remember these.

Compiled and verified by Created by Sanjay from multiple current-affairs sources for August 2026. For

personal use of the purchaser only — not for free redistribution or resale.