Current affairs

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu Restores 365-Day Maternity Leave for Women Government Employees for Third Child

Tamil Nadu has announced 365 days of maternity leave for women government employees for their third child, replacing the earlier 12-week limit. The 12-week cap for women with two or more surviving children had been intro...

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National

India Optel Limited Launches Indigenous GARUD High-Resolution Binoculars for Civil Market

India Optel Limited (IOL), which functions under the Department of Defence Production, has introduced indigenous GARUD High-Resolution Binoculars for civilian buyers. The binoculars were designed and manufactured by the...

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Economy

Supreme Court Mandates 1-Year Time Limit to Conclude Election Black Money FIRs; Seizures Must Be Reported in 24 Hours

IntroductionIn a major electoral transparency ruling to curb illicit money power in democratic elections, a Supreme Court Bench authored by Justice Sanjay Karol on 18 August 2026 ruled that all electoral FIR investigatio...

2 min read

Economy

Government Introduces National Co-operative Development Corporation (Amendment) Bill 2026 to Modernize Cooperative Financing

IntroductionTo revitalize India's cooperative financing architecture under the vision of 'Sahakar Se Samriddhi', the Union Government on 18 August 2026 introduced the National Co-operative Development Corporation (Amendm...

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Economy

Andhra Pradesh Government Signs Pact with CSIR-NGRI for Deep Exploration of Critical Lithium and Gallium Deposits in Kadapa Basin

IntroductionTo secure domestic supply chains for electric vehicle batteries and advanced semiconductor manufacturing, the Government of Andhra Pradesh on 18 August 2026 signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)...

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International

140-Year-Old Historic Parichha Weir on Betwa River in Jhansi Selected as World Heritage Irrigation Structure by ICID

IntroductionIn a prestigious global recognition for India's historical hydraulic heritage, the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID) on 18 August 2026 selected the 140-year-old historic Parichha Weir...

2 min read

Environment

Central Zoo Authority Approves Blueprint for Asia's First Desert-Themed Drive-Through Night Safari at Deesa in Gujarat

IntroductionIn a major boost to wildlife tourism and arid-zone ecological education, the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) on 18 August 2026 officially approved the Master Plan for the Desert Zoological Park and Night Safari a...

2 min read

International

Saudi Arabia Launches 14-Nation Multinational Maritime Defence Coalition (MMDC) to Secure Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb

IntroductionIn response to persistent missile and drone strikes on commercial merchant vessels along vital Middle Eastern chokepoints, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on 18 August 2026 officially operationalised the Multinat...

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Science & Tech

India Hosts 8th BRICS Ocean and Polar Science and Technology Working Group Meeting in Goa Under 2026 Presidency

IntroductionAs part of India's ongoing BRICS Presidency 2026, the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) inaugurated the 8th Meeting of the BRICS Working Group on Ocean and Polar Science and Technology (OPST) in Goa on 18 Aug...

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Environment

National Biodiversity Authority Releases Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) Funds to Mustard Growing States

IntroductionIn a major victory for biodiversity conservation and sovereign genetic rights, the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) on 18 August 2026 disbursed statutory funds generated through the Access and Benefit Sh...

2 min read

Economy

BRICS Environment Working Group Senior Officers' Meeting Commences at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi

IntroductionStrengthening South-South multilateral cooperation on climate change, circular economy, and biodiversity conservation, the BRICS Environment Working Group Senior Officers' Meeting officially commenced at the...

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National

Central Information Commission Launches 'AppCoMS 2.0' Digital Portal for Streamlined RTI Appeals and Complaints

IntroductionTo enhance transparency, eliminate procedural delays, and empower citizens in accessing public information, the Central Information Commission (CIC) on 17 August 2026 officially launched 'AppCoMS 2.0' (Appeal...

2 min read