Current affairs relevant to GS3.
On 21 August 2026 MeitY notified the Mobile Phone Manufacturing Scheme with an outlay of ₹62,500 crore for FY 2026-27 to 2030-31. It rewards mobile phone makers and, separately, Indian-owned brands with Indian design and R&D. It expects cumulative production of about ₹39 lakh crore and around 60,000 direct jobs. It follows the PLI scheme for phones.
21 Aug 2026
On 21 August 2026 India and the Asian Development Bank signed a $230 million loan for the Chennai Climate-Resilient Water Security and Sewerage Project. It will lay over 170 km of water and sewer pipes and upgrade 7 water and 38 sewer pumping stations. Chennai will become the first Indian city with a comprehensive ring-main water system.
21 Aug 2026
A PIB Backgrounder of 21 August 2026 explains PM-AASHA, launched in September 2018 as the umbrella for MSP-based price support. It has four parts: the Price Support Scheme, the Price Stabilisation Fund, the Price Deficiency Payment Scheme and the Market Intervention Scheme. Its budget rose to ₹7,200 crore in 2026-27, from ₹5437.99 crore spent in 2024-25.
21 Aug 2026
A PIB Backgrounder of 21 August 2026 answers questions on the Ken-Betwa Link Project, the first river-interlinking project under the National Perspective Plan to reach implementation. Costing ₹44,605 crore, it moves Ken water to the Betwa basin through the 96.7 m Daudhan Dam and a 216.465 km canal. It will irrigate 10.62 lakh hectares in Bundelkhand by 2030.
21 Aug 2026
On 20 August 2026 the Ministry of Earth Sciences released the National Report on Deep-Sea and Distant-Water Fishery Resources of the Indian EEZ, marking the silver jubilee of CMLRE, Kochi. It compiles three decades of surveys across India's 2.37 million sq km EEZ, from over 400 cruises, and maps the twilight zone, deep-sea stocks and biodiversity hotspots.
20 Aug 2026
The Index of Core Industries grew 5.4 per cent in July 2026 over July 2025, as per provisional data released on 20 August 2026 on base year 2022-23. Iron ore, cement and electricity led the growth, while natural gas, crude oil and fertilisers shrank. April to July growth was 4.3 per cent, up from 1.5 per cent.
20 Aug 2026
The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2026 was notified by the Centre on 17 August 2026. Welcoming it on 20 August, SAIL said it brings clarity and uniformity in mineral taxes and levies and addresses pending retrospective levies. SAIL expects better viability of its captive mines and more iron ore for the domestic market.
20 Aug 2026
A PIB Backgrounder of 19 August 2026 traces makhana's rise from a Bihar wetland crop to a global superfood. India is the largest producer, with 80,590 tonnes in 2025-26 as per second advance estimates. A National Makhana Board was launched in Bihar in September 2025, and a ₹476.03 crore Central Sector Scheme runs from 2025-26 to 2030-31.
19 Aug 2026
On 19 August 2026 the CCEA approved upgrading the Muzaffarpur-Sitamarhi-Sonbarsa section of NH-22 in Bihar to four lanes. The 82.578 km project will be built on Hybrid Annuity Mode at ₹3,590.73 crore. It links the India-Nepal border at Sonbarsa with Muzaffarpur on the East-West Corridor and is planned under PM GatiShakti principles.
19 Aug 2026
At its 29th meeting on 18 August 2026, the Commission for Air Quality Management approved Direction No. 102, phasing in curbs on new registration of diesel, petrol and CNG light goods vehicles in Delhi-NCR from 1 January 2027. LGVs are about 1.2 per cent of vehicles but 3.3 per cent of PM emissions. Direction No. 103 targets stone crusher dust.
19 Aug 2026