Current affairs relevant to GS2.
UIDAI said on 18 August 2026 that its school drive has completed over 2 crore Mandatory Biometric Updates in Aadhaar for children, covering over 1.56 lakh schools. The drive began in September 2025 using UDISE+ data. MBU is due at ages 5 and 15, and is free for children aged 5 to 17 till 30 September 2026.
18 Aug 2026
On 17 August 2026 the Central Information Commission launched AppCoMS 2.0, its upgraded Appeal and Complaint Management System for second appeals and complaints under the RTI Act, 2005. Applicants and CPIOs now get user accounts linked to e-mail and mobile. Applicants can track timelines and download notices, and the Commission can sign orders digitally.
17 Aug 2026
Union Minister of State for Science and Technology called for making diabetes prevention a national priority, saying rural India is no longer untouched by the disease. He launched the RSSDI Diabetes Rural Outreach Digital Portal and VISHWAS, a diabetes awareness video library, at an RSSDI programme held on Independence Day 2026.
16 Aug 2026
In his 80th Independence Day address on 15 August 2026, the Prime Minister announced AI training for one crore youth in a year, a free online coaching network for exams, a sports talent hunt for children aged five to 15, a modern Civil Defence network, five new nuclear reactors this decade and a new target of six crore Lakhpati Didis.
15 Aug 2026
On 15 August 2026 the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and NITI Aayog released the National Framework and the Operational Guidelines for Strengthening of ITDAs and ITDPs. They come from a nationwide consultation and score each agency on 15 parameters. Each ITDA will prepare its own Performance Improvement Roadmap, with quarterly monitoring by States.
15 Aug 2026
In his Independence Day address on 15 August 2026, the Prime Minister said social security coverage rose from 25 crore people before 2014 to 100 crore within a decade. He also cited free treatment up to ₹5 lakh for people above 70 under Ayushman Bharat and more than 2.5 lakh registered startups.
15 Aug 2026
On 14 August 2026 the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting decided to remove the 12-minute advertisement duration cap for television channels. The cap came in 2006 under the Cable Television Networks Rules, 1994. The Ministry said 900-plus channels, fully digital platforms and uncapped digital media now give enough competition.
14 Aug 2026
The Monsoon Session 2026 of Parliament began on 20 July and was adjourned sine die on 13 August 2026. It had 19 sittings over 25 days. Both Houses passed 12 Bills, including amendments on public examinations, national honour, birth and death registration, MSMEs, tribunals and minerals, and the Bill renaming Kerala as Keralam.
13 Aug 2026
On 13 August 2026 the Ministry of Tribal Affairs told Lok Sabha that reservation of Sikkim Assembly seats for the Limboo and Tamang Scheduled Tribes is sub judice before the Supreme Court in SLP (Civil) No. 26490/2023. So, under Lok Sabha rules, no details could be given. The case raises Articles 332 and 371F.
13 Aug 2026
India chairs the Indian Ocean Rim Association for 2025-2027 under the theme "Innovation, Openness, Resilience and Adaptability in the Indian Ocean Region", MEA told Rajya Sabha on 13 August 2026. India hosted the Indian Ocean Dialogue in May 2026, a senior officials' meeting in June and will host the Council of Ministers later this year.
13 Aug 2026