Daily Current Affairs and GK Updates (10th August, 2026) |

National News

Amit Shah Launches Bank in a Box for Cooperative Banks

Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah launched ‘Bank in a Box’ and a dedicated Security Operations Centre (SOC) for Urban Cooperative Banks (UCBs) in Mumbai.
The integrated platform will provide core banking, digital payments, cloud infrastructure, regulatory compliance and loan origination services.
It will also offer Aadhaar-based services and AI-driven fraud prevention.
The SOC will provide 24×7 cybersecurity monitoring, while MuleHunter will help identify suspicious transactions and potential mule accounts.
NUCFDC has been capitalised with about ₹306 crore, with nearly 650 of around 1,400 UCBs already joining.
Key Fact: NUCFDC signed an MoU with NFSU for cybersecurity training, digital forensics and research.

E-Samudra Platform Launched to Modernise India’s Maritime Governance

India launched E-Samudra on August 8, 2026, as a comprehensive digital maritime governance platform.
It provides single-window services for seafarers, shipping companies, ports and other maritime stakeholders.
The platform offers online payments, real-time tracking, digital certificates and streamlined digital workflows.
Supporting initiatives include 24×7 e-NAVIK grievance redressal, Seafarer Tracking Dashboard and Digital Seafarers Employment Agreement (d-SEA).
Active Indian seafarers increased from around 1.03 lakh in 2013 to over 3.23 lakh in 2025.
Key Fact: India is now the world’s second-largest seafarer supplier.

DigiLocker, AAERI Launch Digital Verification for Indian Students

NeGD under MeitY partnered with AAERI to launch AAERI Verify for Indian students seeking higher education in Australia.
The platform was unveiled at the AAERI Annual Convention in New Delhi on August 7, 2026.
It integrates with DigiLocker for secure, paperless and consent-based verification of academic, identity and financial documents.
Its two-stage process covers student credential verification before applications and sponsor financial verification after admission offers.
Digitally signed records can be shared directly from authorised issuing institutions, reducing physical paperwork and fraud risks.
Key Fact: The platform aims to simplify and speed up document verification for Indian students applying to Australian universities.

Har Ghar Tiranga Campaign Launched in Andaman and Nicobar

Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan launched the Har Ghar Tiranga Abhiyan in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands on August 9, 2026.
The launch marked August Kranti Diwas and recalled the Quit India Movement of 1942.
He hoisted the National Flag at Flag Point in Sri Vijaya Puram.
The event recalled Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s historic Tricolour hoisting at Port Blair on December 30, 1943.
The Vice-President highlighted the islands’ connection with India’s freedom struggle and the Cellular Jail.
Key Fact: The campaign promotes courage, unity, patriotism and collective responsibility through the display of the National Flag.

India Crosses 300 GW Non-Fossil Power Capacity Milestone

India’s installed non-fossil fuel-based electricity capacity reached 300.50 GW as of July 31, 2026.
Solar power leads with 164.59 GW, followed by wind at 58.14 GW and hydropower at 57.24 GW.
Bio-power accounts for 11.75 GW, while nuclear power contributes 8.78 GW.
Non-fossil sources now account for more than 54% of India’s approximately 552 GW total installed power capacity.
India added a record 55.29 GW of non-fossil capacity during 2025-26.
Key Fact: India has crossed more than 60% of its 500 GW non-fossil capacity target for 2030.

CPGRAMS Strengthens India’s Digital Public Grievance Redressal System

CPGRAMS is India’s flagship digital platform for filing and monitoring complaints related to government services.
It is developed and monitored by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG).
The platform connects citizens with Central ministries, departments, State governments and Union Territories.
Citizens receive a unique registration ID that enables online grievance tracking.
CPGRAMS provides 24×7 access and supports 22 scheduled Indian languages besides English.
Key Fact: CPGRAMS requires grievances to be resolved within a maximum of 21 days.

Asiatic Lion Population Surges to 891 After Conservation Efforts

India’s Asiatic lion population increased from 523 in 2015 to 891 in 2025.
The increase represents a rise of 368 lions, or nearly 70%.
The geographical range of the lions expanded from around 30,000 sq km in 2020 to nearly 35,000 sq km.
Project Lion, announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 15, 2020, supports habitat improvement, disease monitoring and veterinary care.
The project also promotes scientific population assessment, technology-based conservation and community participation.
Key Fact: The Greater Gir landscape in Gujarat remains the principal natural habitat of Asiatic lions in India.

State News

Tamil Nadu Makes Tamil Thai Vazhthu First at Events

The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution on August 10, 2026 to make Tamil Thai Vazhthu the first song at official events.
The rule applies to government departments, universities, educational institutions, PSUs and other public organisations.
The resolution was moved by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay and passed through a voice vote.
Members from DMK, AIADMK, Congress and BJP supported the resolution.
The decision followed controversy over the sequence of Tamil Thai Vazhthu, Vande Mataram and the National Anthem.
Key Fact: Tamil Thai Vazhthu was made Tamil Nadu’s State Song in 2021.

Puducherry Police Receives Prestigious President’s Colours Honour

Union Home Minister Amit Shah presented the President’s Colours to the Puducherry Police on August 9, 2026.
The honour recognised the force’s bravery, dedication and service.
The Puducherry Police maintains law and order across the Union Territory’s four geographically separated regions.
Shah highlighted its frontline role during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Director General of Police post in Puducherry was created on October 1, 1963.
Key Fact: ₹13,762 crore was provided to Puducherry between 2014 and 2026, according to Shah.

New Kalamati Range Office Strengthens Sonai Rupai Wildlife Protection

Assam inaugurated the new Kalamati Wildlife Range Office at Sonai Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary on August 7, 2026.
Finance Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah inaugurated the facility in Sonitpur district.
The new office will strengthen forest administration, patrolling, habitat protection and wildlife monitoring.
Sonai Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary covers about 220 sq km, including a core area of nearly 175 sq km.
The sanctuary supports elephants, Indian bison, rhinoceros, leopards, tigers and several bird species.
Key Fact: The sanctuary is important for the endangered White-winged Wood Duck, Assam’s state bird.

Banking News

Government Clarifies UPI Users Will Continue Paying No Charges

The Government clarified that UPI users will not face transaction charges, and all Person-to-Person (P2P) payments will remain free.
Any future Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) would apply only to a limited category of merchant transactions above a specified threshold.
Most merchant UPI payments are expected to remain free under the proposed framework.
The NPCI-led UPI and Services Steering Committee would decide whether MDR is introduced after Parliament’s approval of the relevant amendment.
UPI processed 2,366 crore transactions worth ₹29.9 lakh crore in July 2026.
Key Fact: UPI is currently operational in 11 foreign countries.

Appointments News

Government Extends ED Director Rahul Navin’s Tenure Until 2027

The Government extended ED Director Rahul Navin’s tenure by one year.
He will continue as Enforcement Directorate Director until August 13, 2027.
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved the extension from August 13, 2026.
Rahul Navin is a 1993-batch Indian Revenue Service officer.
As ED Director, he heads the agency investigating money laundering, foreign exchange violations and fugitive economic offences.
Key Fact: His extended tenure continues beyond his scheduled retirement date of July 31, 2027.

Supreme Court Collegium Recommends New Calcutta, Bombay Chief Justices

The Supreme Court Collegium recommended Justice Ravindra V Ghuge as Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court.
It recommended Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi as Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court.
The recommendations were made through the Collegium’s resolution dated August 6, 2026.
Justice Ghuge is currently Acting Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court and was elevated in June 2013.
Justice Tripathi, a senior Allahabad High Court judge, was also elevated in 2013.
Key Fact: Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi has been recommended as the 50th Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court.

Awards News

Deepak Dhar Receives Prestigious 2026 Dirac Medal for Physics

Indian theoretical physicist Deepak Dhar was named a recipient of the 2026 Dirac Medal on August 8, 2026.
The award was announced by the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) in Trieste, Italy.
Dhar shares the honour with Bernard Derrida, Marc Mézard and Haim Sompolinsky.
The medal recognises contributions to statistical mechanics, optimisation, theoretical neuroscience and artificial intelligence.
Dhar is particularly known for research on the sandpile model and self-organised criticality.
Key Fact: The Dirac Medal was established by ICTP in 1985 and carries a US$5,000 prize.

Defense News

India-US Navies Begin EOD Exercise 2026 in Kochi

The Indian Navy and US Navy began the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Exercise 2026 on August 10.
The five-day bilateral exercise is being conducted at the Southern Naval Command in Kochi, Kerala.
It will continue until August 14, 2026.
The exercise focuses on interoperability, operational coordination and professional cooperation between specialist EOD and diving teams.
Activities include expert exchanges, cross-training, equipment demonstrations and practical exercises.
Key Fact: EOD teams specialise in identifying, handling and neutralising explosive threats.

Exercise Talisman Sabre 2027 Expands With India’s Enhanced Participation

Exercise Talisman Sabre 2027 will be held from August 9 to August 22, 2027.
The multinational exercise will be led by Australia and the United States.
It will involve Australia, the US and 24 additional partner nations.
India is set to increase its participation, reflecting stronger India-Australia defence cooperation and Indo-Pacific engagement.
The exercise aims to improve interoperability, joint operations, multinational training and military coordination.
Key Fact: Talisman Sabre 2027 will be a 14-day multinational military exercise.

Schemes News

Delhi Lakshmi Yojana Registrations Cross Five Lakh in Week

The Delhi Lakshmi Yojana crossed five lakh registrations within one week of its launch.
The scheme was initially approved as Mahila Samriddhi Yojana and later renamed to focus on women’s welfare and economic empowerment.
Beneficiaries receive ₹2,500 per month through two savings options.
Under one option, ₹1,000 goes to a Central Bank Digital Currency wallet and ₹1,500 to an RD/FD.
The second option allows the entire ₹2,500 to be saved through an RD/FD.
Key Fact: The scheme crossed five lakh registrations within a week of its launch.

Sports News

Ashmita Chaliha Wins Maiden Korea Masters Title in 2026

Indian badminton player Ashmita Chaliha won the Korea Masters 2026 women’s singles title on August 9.
She defeated China’s fourth-seeded Han Qian Xi 14-21, 21-14, 21-14 in Asan, South Korea.
The victory secured Chaliha’s maiden BWF World Tour title.
She entered the tournament ranked World No. 50.
The 26-year-old made a comeback after a serious knee injury, surgery and rehabilitation.
Key Fact: The Korea Masters title is the biggest achievement of Chaliha’s career and her first BWF World Tour title.

Basant Kumar Meghwal Wins World U20 High Jump Silver

India’s Basant Kumar Meghwal won silver in the men’s high jump at the World Athletics U20 Championships.
He recorded a personal-best clearance of 2.21 metres.
The 19-year-old athlete is from Anupgarh in Rajasthan’s Sri Ganganagar district.
Algeria’s Younes Ayachi won gold, while Great Britain’s Otis Poole took bronze.
All three athletes cleared 2.21m, with the final positions decided through the countback rule.
Key Fact: Meghwal’s silver took India’s medal tally at the championships to two medals.

Important Days News

World Lion Day 2026 Highlights Lion Conservation Challenges Worldwide

World Lion Day is observed annually on August 10 to raise awareness about lion conservation.
Major threats to lions include habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, declining prey, poaching, illegal wildlife trade, disease and climate change.
India is especially important because it is the only country with a wild population of Asiatic lions.
Asiatic lions are primarily concentrated in Gujarat’s Gir landscape.
The Government launched Project Lion in 2020 to strengthen habitat management, monitoring, research and conflict mitigation.
Key Fact: The Greater Gir landscape includes Girnar, Pania and Mitiyala conservation areas.

International Indigenous Peoples Day 2026 Highlights Rights, Heritage

The International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples is observed on August 9 to recognise Indigenous Peoples’ rights, cultures and contributions.
The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the day in 1994.
The date recalls the first session of the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations held on August 9, 1982.
The 2026 theme is “Honouring Indigenous Midwives: Safeguarding Life and Well-being.”
The observance highlights Indigenous rights, self-determination, cultural preservation, traditional knowledge, land rights, healthcare and education.
Key Fact: The 2026 theme highlights the role of Indigenous midwives in preserving traditional knowledge related to pregnancy, childbirth and community health.