Current Affairs

Daily and monthly current affairs mapped to syllabus topics and related PYQs.

GS2 · BRICS

BRICS STI ministers adopt Chennai Declaration

On 22 August 2026 the 14th BRICS Science, Technology and Innovation Ministerial Meeting, chaired by India, unanimously adopted the Chennai Declaration. It puts a people-centred, humanity-first approach at the heart of BRICS STI cooperation. It backs shared research infrastructure through BRICS GRAIN, a BRICS Science and Research Repository and a BRICS Youth Startup Platform.

22 Aug 2026
GS3 · Social security

EPFO’s one-time Employees’ Enrolment Campaign 2026

The EPFO has urged employers to use the Employees' Enrolment Campaign 2026, notified from 29 June 2026. It is a one-time chance to enrol eligible employees who stayed outside EPF coverage between 1 April 2009 and 31 March 2026. The campaign is open until 31 October 2026 and waives the employee's share where it was not deducted.

22 Aug 2026
GS2 · Health regulation

FDCs of chlorpheniramine + phenylephrine restricted for children under 4

On 22 August 2026 the Government restricted the manufacture, sale and distribution of all fixed dose combinations containing chlorpheniramine maleate and phenylephrine hydrochloride, common in cold medicines. Labels must warn that they shall not be used in children below four years. The order, under Section 26A of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, follows Expert Committee and DTAB advice.

22 Aug 2026
GS3 · Animal husbandry

NADCP: 147 crore FMD vaccine doses administered

A PIB Backgrounder of 22 August 2026 reviews the National Animal Disease Control Programme, launched in September 2019 to control Foot and Mouth Disease and Brucellosis. It has given 147.16 crore FMD vaccine doses, benefiting 8.04 crore farmers. Reported FMD outbreaks fell from 132 in 2019 to 40 in 2025, and Brucellosis outbreaks from 22 to 15.

22 Aug 2026
GS3 · Defence

Navy receives Mangrol, third CSL-built ASW shallow water craft

On 21 August 2026 Cochin Shipyard Limited delivered Mangrol, the third Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft it has built, to the Indian Navy. The ship has over 80 per cent indigenous content. It is built for underwater surveillance, anti-submarine operations in coastal waters, low-intensity maritime operations and mine warfare.

22 Aug 2026
GS3 · Biodiversity

NBA releases ₹2.82 crore ABS to 27 SBBs, 3 UTBCs and ICAR-IIHR

On 22 August 2026 the National Biodiversity Authority released ₹2.82 crore under the Access and Benefit-Sharing mechanism. Of this, ₹2.80 crore went to 27 State Biodiversity Boards and 3 UT Biodiversity Councils, and ₹2.01 lakh to ICAR-IIHR, Karnataka. The money came from companies using Indian genetic resources in vegetable hybrids and microbial strains.

22 Aug 2026
GS2 · BRICS

BRICS tourism ministers adopt Jaipur Declaration

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
GS3 · Water resources

Ken–Betwa Link Project FAQs: water for Bundelkhand

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
GS3 · External sector

29 FDI proposals (₹4,896 crore) under revised land-border framework

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
GS3 · Industry

₹62,500-crore Mobile Phone Manufacturing Scheme notified

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