Current affairs grouped by GS paper (filter view; topic-level grouping uses syllabus_topic).
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 21 August 2026 the BRICS Tourism Ministers' Meeting in Jaipur, under India's Chairship, adopted the BRICS Tourism Ministers' Communique 2026, called the Jaipur Declaration. Nine member states took part. It sets out cooperation on four themes: AI and tourism, sustainable tourism, tourism skilling, and tourism exchanges and travel facilitation.
21 Aug 2026
By 20 August 2026, 29 FDI investments worth ₹4,895.65 crore had been reported under India's revised framework for investors with small, non-controlling ownership from land-bordering countries. Since Press Note 2 of 2026, notified on 1 May 2026, such investors with up to 10 per cent LBC ownership can use the automatic route instead of seeking prior government approval.
21 Aug 2026
A PIB Backgrounder of 20 August 2026 explains the Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission, launched in 2021-22 to raise tribal income from minor forest produce. It buys MFP at MSP for 87 items and organises gatherers into Van Dhan Vikas Kendras. So far 4,172 kendras have been sanctioned, linking 12.48 lakh tribal members, with sales of about ₹168 crore.
20 Aug 2026
On 20 August 2026 the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation issued a Policy on Data Sharing, Interoperability and Stakeholder Access under the Sujalam Bharat Digital Public Infrastructure. It sets a secure, federated framework to share rural drinking water data among the Centre, States, Gram Panchayats and approved stakeholders, with a tiered access model that protects privacy and infrastructure.
20 Aug 2026
On 20 August 2026 the defence ministers of India and Japan met in New Delhi and signed a Memorandum of Arrangement on Maritime Security Cooperation. They agreed to hold the fourth 2+2 ministerial meeting in Tokyo this year, set up a joint Working Group and push the UNICORN antenna, the first defence equipment transfer project between the two countries.
20 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