Daily Current Affairs and GK Updates (8th August, 2026) |

National News

Centre Opposes Extending Creamy Layer Principle to SCs

The Union government has told the Supreme Court that the creamy layer principle should not be extended to Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs).
It argued that SC/ST reservation is based on historical and social disadvantage, caste identity, tribal identity and inadequate representation.
The Centre said economic status alone cannot determine eligibility for SC/ST reservation.
Any income-based exclusion, according to the government, would require a comprehensive review supported by detailed empirical data.
The issue is linked to the Supreme Court’s 2024 6:1 majority judgment, which permitted evidence-based sub-classification within SCs and STs.
The Court had emphasised quantifiable data, greater disadvantage and inadequate representation while considering sub-classification.
Key Fact: The creamy layer principle originated from the 1992 Indra Sawhney judgment, primarily in the context of OBC reservations; Articles 14, 15(4), 16, 16(4A), 335 and 341 are central to the debate.

Lok Sabha Passes MSME Bill To Address Delayed Payments

The Lok Sabha passed the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Amendment) Bill, 2026 on August 7 amid opposition protests.
The Rajya Sabha had already passed the Bill on August 3.
The legislation aims to address the problem of delayed payments faced by MSMEs and improve their liquidity.
It provides for faster dispute adjudication and enables recovery of settlement agreements.
Courts may direct payment of at least 50% of the awarded amount to an MSME supplier if an application to set aside the order remains pending for more than six months.
MSMEs contribute around 31% of India’s GDP, 36% of manufacturing and 41% of exports.
Key Fact: Outstanding MSME credit increased from around ₹10 trillion in 2014-15 to over ₹38.35 trillion.

Digital Health Service Crosses 25 Crore OPD Registrations

The Scan and Register Service under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) has crossed 25 crore OPD registrations.
Launched in October 2022, the service allows patients to register for hospital OPD services through a simple QR-code scan.
The system helps reduce waiting times and improves efficiency at hospitals.
It is operational across 30,800 healthcare facilities, covering all 36 States and Union Territories and 756 districts.
The network includes 24,323 public and 6,481 private healthcare facilities, with nearly four lakh patients using the service daily.
Patient details can be automatically fetched through their ABHA accounts, simplifying registration.
Key Fact: Bihar leads with more than 7.30 crore transactions, while AIIMS New Delhi has the highest registrations among government facilities.

GI Tagged Mithila Makhana Makes First Sea Export To Australia

India completed its first-ever sea shipment of GI-tagged Mithila Makhana from Bihar to Australia in August 2026.
The consignment originated from farmers in Darbhanga district and consisted of seven containers.
The shipment travelled by rail from Bihta near Patna to Kolkata before being transported to Australia by sea.
The makhana underwent scientific testing, irradiation and international-standard packaging before export.
APEDA, under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, supported the export process.
Sea transportation is expected to lower costs compared with air freight and improve export competitiveness.
Key Fact: The shipment reportedly gave local cultivators around 18% higher profit margins than prevailing local market rates; Mithila Makhana is also known as fox nut or lotus seed.

State News

Punjab Claims Top Position In NITI Aayog School Education Index

Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains said Punjab has secured the top position in the NITI Aayog School Education Quality Index 2026.
Punjab reportedly overtook Kerala after significant improvements in government-school infrastructure and administration.
Improvements since 2022 include better infrastructure, timely textbook distribution and extensive school inspections.
The Mission Samarth foundational learning programme covers nearly 12 lakh students and more than 70,000 teachers annually.
The programme groups students according to their learning levels rather than simply by class.
Punjab has also introduced Artificial Intelligence as a core subject from Class 1 to Class 12.
Key Fact: Government-school NEET qualifiers rose from 80 in 2021 to 882 in 2026, supported by the PACE initiative.

Wayanad To Receive X Band Doppler Weather Radar

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) plans to commission an X-Band Doppler Weather Radar at Pulpally in Kerala’s Wayanad district by December 2026.
The radar will provide high-resolution weather monitoring within approximately a 100-km radius.
It will strengthen monitoring of rainfall, cloudbursts and other severe weather events.
X-Band radars operate at higher frequencies and are particularly useful for short-range, high-resolution observations.
The installation is important for Wayanad because the region lies in the Western Ghats and is vulnerable to heavy rainfall and landslides.
Land for the radar has been provided by Pazhassi Raja College, while the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority is supporting coordination.
Key Fact: IMD personnel will operate and maintain the radar under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.

Andhra Pradesh Notifies Pedestrian Safety And Accessibility Policy

Andhra Pradesh notified the Pedestrian Safety and Universal Accessibility Policy, 2026 on August 7.
The policy covers urban areas, rural stretches, satellite towns and urban fringes across the state.
It aims to create safer, accessible and obstruction-free pedestrian infrastructure.
The policy is linked to the Supreme Court’s S. Rajaseekaran vs Union of India judgment of October 7, 2025.
Infrastructure must provide a minimum two-metre clear walking zone, slip-resistant surfaces, tactile indicators and wheelchair ramps.
It also requires accessibility features such as Braille and audible signals.
Key Fact: Andhra Pradesh will prioritise 15–20 high-fatality blackspots and conduct road-safety audits covering at least 20% of roads in the first year.

HAL Airport Operationalises India’s First RNP CAT H Helicopter Approach

HAL Airport in Bengaluru became India’s first airport to operationalise the RNP CAT H satellite-guided helicopter approach procedure on August 7, 2026.
The system was developed by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and validated through flight trials by HAL test pilots.
It was approved by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
RNP uses satellite guidance and onboard avionics to maintain a specified flight path.
CAT H specifically refers to helicopter operations and improves navigation accuracy in difficult conditions.
The procedure is particularly useful in adverse weather, urban areas and terrain-constrained locations.
Key Fact: The system reduces helicopter approach time from about 12 minutes to four minutes and supports nearly 50 daily helicopter movements at Bengaluru.

Bengaluru Police Launch Operation Mukta Against Illegal Immigrants

Bengaluru City Police launched Operation Mukta on August 8, 2026, to identify and verify suspected illegal immigrants.
The operation particularly focused on suspected Bangladeshi nationals living without valid documentation.
More than 500 police personnel were deployed across over 30 locations under six police station limits in the Whitefield division.
Police teams checked identity documents, including Aadhaar and Voter ID cards, in areas such as Whitefield, Kadugodi, Marathahalli, Bellandur, Varthur and Mahadevapura.
Around 40 suspicious individuals were detained in Whitefield for verification.
Four individuals were identified as Bangladeshi nationals after foreign documents were reportedly recovered from them.
Key Fact: Police planned coordination with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) for further legal action and deportation under applicable immigration laws.

International News

World Food Prices Reach Three Year High In July

The FAO Food Price Index rose to 131.1 points in July 2026, up from 130.3 in June.
It reached its highest level since January 2023, reflecting pressure across major agricultural markets.
The Food and Agriculture Organization linked the increase to adverse weather conditions and escalating conflicts.
The cereal price index increased by 3.4%, led by a 5.8% rise in wheat prices.
Vegetable oil prices climbed 2%, reaching their highest level since June 2022, while sugar prices rose 5.6%.
Meat prices declined 2.8% and dairy prices fell 0.7% during the month.
Key Fact: Despite the July increase, the FAO Food Price Index remained 18.2% below its March 2022 peak.

Abelardo de la Espriella Sworn In as Colombia’s 36th President

Abelardo de la Espriella was sworn in as Colombia’s 36th President on August 7, 2026.
He began his 2026–2030 term after succeeding Gustavo Petro.
De la Espriella won the June 21 runoff with 12,960,166 votes or 49.66%, defeating Iván Cepeda.
The inauguration took place at Santiago de Cali University in Cali, rather than in Bogotá.
Senate President Honorio Henríquez administered the presidential oath.
De la Espriella adopted a hardline position against drug trafficking and said peace talks with armed groups had been exhausted.
Key Fact: King Felipe VI, Javier Milei, Daniel Noboa and FIFA President Gianni Infantino attended the inauguration, while the US announced $1 billion in security assistance for Colombia.

Banking News

RBI Revises Loan Recovery Rules For Lenders

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued nine circulars on August 6, 2026, introducing a unified framework for loan recovery practices.
The revised directions will come into effect from January 1, 2027, after the implementation date was deferred from October 1, 2026.
Recovery-related calls and physical visits will be allowed only between 8 AM and 7 PM.
Borrowers must receive at least one day’s notice before a recovery agent’s first physical visit.
Lenders must record recovery calls and retain the recordings for at least six months.
The rules also regulate remote locking of financed devices such as smartphones and tablets.
Key Fact: Remote locking cannot begin before an account is 30 days overdue, while complete locking is permitted only after 60 days, with emergency and communication services preserved.

Economy News

India Forex Reserves Rise Over Ten Billion Dollars

India’s foreign exchange reserves increased by $10.51 billion to $692.87 billion in the week ended July 31, 2026.
The latest increase followed a rise of $6.1 billion in the previous reporting week.
Foreign Currency Assets, the largest component, increased by $8.75 billion to $564.68 billion.
Gold reserves rose by $1.69 billion to $104.74 billion.
India’s Special Drawing Rights with the IMF increased by $48 million to $18.67 billion.
The country’s reserve position with the IMF rose by $28 million to $4.78 billion.
Key Fact: India’s record forex reserves stood at $728.494 billion in February 2026, before declining amid geopolitical tensions and pressure on the rupee.

Appointments News

Anand Prakash Appointed India’s High Commissioner to Eswatini

Anand Prakash, a 2009-batch Indian Foreign Service officer, has been appointed India’s next High Commissioner to Eswatini.
He is currently serving as a Director in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
In his new assignment, he will represent India and work to strengthen bilateral relations with Eswatini.
His responsibilities will include political, economic, development, education and capacity-building cooperation.
He will also support people-to-people relations between India and Eswatini.
Eswatini is a landlocked country in southern Africa, bordered by South Africa and Mozambique.
Key Fact: Eswatini was formerly known as Swaziland and officially adopted the name Eswatini in 2018.

Awards News

President Murmu Marks 12th National Handloom Day Celebrations

President Droupadi Murmu participated in the 12th National Handloom Day celebrations in New Delhi.
She presented the Sant Kabir Handloom Awards and National Handloom Awards 2025 to recognise contributions to the handloom sector.
Four commemorative postage stamps celebrating India’s diverse handloom traditions were also released.
Murmu highlighted handloom’s role in employment generation, women’s empowerment, cultural preservation and self-reliance.
She emphasised the importance of new technologies, e-commerce and modern training for the sector’s sustainable growth.
She encouraged young entrepreneurs, designers and startups to connect traditional crafts with modern brands and global value chains.
Key Fact: August 7 has been observed as National Handloom Day since 2015, commemorating the launch of the Swadeshi Movement on August 7, 1905.

Science & Technology News

IIT Guwahati Develops Low Cost E Eye Toxicant Detector

IIT Guwahati has developed E-Eye, a low-cost portable optical sensing device for detecting toxicants and harmful heavy metals.
The device is designed for rapid testing of water and biological samples.
It uses the Beer-Lambert law to convert chemical colour intensity into digital readings.
The device costs approximately ₹3,500, while an individual test costs around ₹2.
Laboratory validation covered more than 2,700 samples and included detection of arsenic, lead, iron, chromium, fluoride and Escherichia coli.
The research involved scientists from IIT Guwahati, KIIT Bhubaneswar and Ramakrishna Mission Residential College, Kolkata.
Key Fact: The research was published in the IEEE Sensors Journal and was led by Prof. Tapas K. Mandal and Prof. Harshal B. Nemade.

IIT Madras And Indonesia Sign MoU For Deep Tech Cooperation

IIT Madras Global Research Foundation (IITM Global) and Indonesia’s Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology signed an MoU.
The agreement aims to strengthen cooperation in higher education, research, innovation and deep technology.
It also focuses on entrepreneurship, talent development and technology commercialisation.
The partnership seeks to create collaborative research ecosystems between Indian and Indonesian institutions.
Indonesian universities will be encouraged to participate in joint research, technology commercialisation and innovation programmes.
The initiative supports the broader India-Indonesia South-South Strategic Partnership.
Key Fact: The MoU follows recent bilateral discussions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto.

PM Modi Inaugurates Param Pragya Supercomputing Facility at IIT Delhi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Param Pragya supercomputing facility at IIT Delhi’s Sonipat Campus on August 8, 2026.
The AI-powered high-performance computing facility is designed to support artificial intelligence, data science and advanced computing.
It will also facilitate interdisciplinary research and high-end technological applications.
The inauguration took place during IIT Delhi’s 57th Convocation Ceremony, where Modi was the chief guest.
More than 3,000 students graduated, including 587 doctoral scholars.
The graduating batches included the first students of B.Des., Executive MBA, M.Sc. Biological Sciences and MA in Culture, Society, Thought.
Key Fact: IIT Delhi operates under the Institutes of Technology Act, 1961.

Sports News

Suraj Kumar Chand Creates History With FISU Squash Gold

Indian squash player Suraj Kumar Chand created history by winning the FISU World University Squash Championship title.
He defeated Hungary’s Takács Benedek 3–2 in a closely contested final.
The victory earned India a historic gold medal at the university-level world championship.
Chand’s achievement represents a major milestone for Indian squash on the international university sports stage.
His performance demonstrated strong competitive resilience during a tightly fought final.
The victory adds to India’s growing presence in international squash competitions.
Key Fact: Suraj Kumar Chand became the first Indian to win the FISU World University Squash Championship title.

Ashish Yadav Wins India’s Second World U20 Javelin Medal

Indian athlete Ashish Yadav won silver in the men’s javelin throw at the World Athletics U20 Championships 2026 in Eugene, Oregon.
His best throw measured 74.09 metres, achieved during his third attempt in the final.
South Africa’s Jan-Hendrik Heymans won gold with 80.50 metres.
Dominica’s Addison James secured bronze with 73.89 metres, a national record.
India’s other finalist, T. Dharanidharan, finished sixth with a throw of 72.35 metres.
Ashish competed despite a recent knee injury and became India’s second medallist in the men’s U20 javelin.
Key Fact: Ashish Yadav became India’s first silver medallist in men’s U20 javelin; Neeraj Chopra had previously won India’s U20 gold in 2016.

Ariha Pangambam Wins India’s First Senior Aerobic Gymnastics Gold

Indian gymnast Ariha Pangambam from Imphal, Manipur, created history by winning India’s first senior gold in the individual women’s category at the Aerobic Gymnastics Asian Championships.
The championship was held in Tagaytay City, Philippines, from August 4 to 7, 2026.
Pangambam won the final with a score of 19.100.
Her score included 8.650 in artistry, 7.600 in execution and 2.850 in difficulty.
More than 400 athletes and officials from 11 countries participated in the championship.
Ariha trains under coach Yumnam Ranjan Singh and studies sports leadership at AISTS India.
Key Fact: She had finished fourth in the 2022 and 2024 Asian Championships before securing India’s first senior individual women’s gold in 2026.

Important Days News

World Brain Tumour Day Raises Awareness About Early Detection

World Brain Tumour Day is observed annually on June 8 to raise awareness about brain tumours.
The day focuses on early detection, diagnosis, treatment and support for patients and their families.
The observance was initiated by Germany’s Deutsche Hirntumorhilfe e.V., or German Brain Tumour Association.
It has been observed globally since 2000.
Brain tumours involve abnormal tissue growth in the brain or surrounding structures and may be benign or malignant.
Warning signs can include persistent headaches, seizures, speech difficulties, behavioural changes, weakness, balance problems and vision or hearing problems.
Key Fact: World Brain Tumour Day was initiated by the German Brain Tumour Association and has been marked internationally since 2000.

World Oceans Day History And 2026 Reimagine Theme

World Oceans Day is observed every year on June 8 to promote ocean conservation and sustainable use.
Its origins can be traced to June 8, 1992, when Oceans Day was declared at the Global Forum during the Rio Earth Summit.
In 2008, the UN General Assembly officially designated June 8 as World Oceans Day through Resolution 63/111.
The first official UN observance took place in 2009 with the theme “Our Oceans, Our Responsibility.”
The 2026 theme is “Reimagine: Beyond the world we know, a new relationship with our ocean.”
Oceans cover more than 70% of Earth and support biodiversity, food security, livelihoods and oxygen production.
Key Fact: SDG 14 focuses on conserving and sustainably using the oceans, seas and marine resources.

Nagasaki Day 2026 Highlights Nuclear War’s Human Cost

Nagasaki Day is observed on August 9 to remember the victims of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki on August 9, 1945.
The United States dropped the plutonium-based Fat Man bomb from the B-29 Bockscar.
The original target, Kokura, was not attacked because of poor weather conditions, leading the aircraft to Nagasaki.
The approximately 21-kiloton explosion caused widespread destruction and tens of thousands of deaths.
Radiation exposure also caused long-term health consequences for survivors, known as Hibakusha.
The day promotes peace, diplomacy, nuclear disarmament and awareness of the humanitarian consequences of nuclear warfare.
Key Fact: Japan announced its surrender on August 15, 1945, bringing World War II to an end; major disarmament frameworks include the NPT, CTBT, TPNW and IAEA safeguards.