Current affairs

National

Chandigarh and Dadra & Nagar Haveli Become First UTs to Transfer Food Subsidy via CBDC-Based DBT

Chandigarh and Dadra & Nagar Haveli have become the first Union Territories to deliver food subsidy to eligible beneficiaries through Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)-based Direct Benefit Transfer. Money is credited...

1 min read

Economy

Ministry of Electronics and IT Unveils 6-Year Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS) for Passive Components

IntroductionTo overcome heavy import dependency on foreign electronic sub-assemblies and build end-to-end semiconductor and hardware supply chain resilience, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)...

2 min read

International

Indian Army Contingent Led by 9 Gorkha Rifles Departs for Bilateral Joint Military Exercise 'MAITREE 2026' in Thailand

IntroductionDeepening defence-to-defence bilateral ties under India's Act East Policy, an Indian Army contingent comprising troops primarily from the 9 Gorkha Rifles officially departed on 18 August 2026 to participate i...

2 min read

Science & Tech

Indigenous Jet-Powered Loitering Munition 'Divyastra Mk3' Successfully Clears Maiden Flight Tests in UP Defence Corridor

IntroductionIn a major leap for indigenous precision-strike military technology, India's first fully indigenous jet-powered loitering munition (kamikaze drone), 'Divyastra Mk3', successfully cleared its maiden flight tri...

2 min read

National

Ministry of Rural Development Data: Jal Jeevan Mission Connects 15.91 Crore Households; Lakhpati Didi Target Scaled to 6 Crore

IntroductionShowcasing phenomenal transformation in rural public infrastructure and women-led economic empowerment, the Ministry of Rural Development and Ministry of Jal Shakti on 18 August 2026 announced that the Jal Je...

2 min read

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...

2 min read

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)...

2 min read

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

Economy

ILO Releases 'Global Employment Trends for Youth 2026' Warning of Post-Pandemic Rebound in Youth Unemployment

IntroductionIn a sobering macroeconomic assessment of global labour markets, the United Nations' International Labour Organization (ILO) on 18 August 2026 published its flagship report titled “Global Employment Trends fo...

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

Environment

Ladakh Hosts First-Ever Black-Necked Crane Festival in Changthang to Promote Conservation of State Bird

IntroductionTo galvanize high-altitude wetland conservation and celebrate its iconic avian state symbol, the Union Territory of Ladakh on 18 August 2026 inaugurated the first-ever Black-Necked Crane Festival across the p...

2 min read