Current affairs grouped by GS paper (filter view; topic-level grouping uses syllabus_topic).
NIELIT, under MeitY, launched CYBER KUSHTI 2026 on 15 August 2026. It is a national cybersecurity and AI hackathon that tests judgment rather than speed. Teams get the same flawed security report, with false, duplicate and genuine findings, and must correct and rank it. CERT-In is the Knowledge Partner; the final is on 9 October 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
Aheesa Digital Innovations, a Chennai fabless chip startup backed by the Design Linked Incentive (DLI) Scheme, achieved first-pass silicon success with VIHAAN on Independence Day 2026. VIHAAN is a networking System-on-Chip for fibre broadband built on the indigenous VEGA microprocessor. Production tape-out is targeted for 2027.
15 Aug 2026
On 15 August 2026 the Principal Scientific Adviser launched the RSVC-AMRIT platform, developed by NABARD with his office. AMRIT is the digital backbone of RuTAGe Smart Village Centres (RSVCs). It links innovators, startups, funders and rural communities to take affordable technologies to villages. NABARD now supports eight RSVCs.
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
On 14 August 2026 the Ministry of Defence signed contracts worth about ₹1,577 crore with Tata Advanced Systems Limited and NIBE Private Limited for Loiter Munition Systems for the Indian Army. The systems will add to the strength of Artillery Regiments. They are being bought under the Buy (Indian) category through the Fast Track Procedure.
14 Aug 2026
On 14 August 2026 the Centre launched Central Bank Digital Currency-based Direct Benefit Transfer under PMGKAY in Chandigarh and Dadra and Nagar Haveli. The food subsidy now goes into each beneficiary's Digital Rupee wallet as purpose-bound tokens, usable only for foodgrains at empanelled shops. It follows pilots in Gujarat and Puducherry in February 2026.
14 Aug 2026
Parliament passed the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 on 13 August 2026. It amends the MMDR Act, 1957 to bring stability to the major minerals sector. The Mines Ministry says States keep their rights on land, minerals and minor minerals, and will still get about 90 per cent of mining revenue.
14 Aug 2026