Current affairs 31 Aug 2026

Monday

Tamil Test

World Sanskrit Day observed on Shravana Purnima, August 28, 2026

World Sanskrit Day is observed every year on Shravana Purnima; in 2026 it fell on August 28. It aims to promote and preserve the Sanskrit language and its cultural heritage. Sanskrit Day has been officially…

Himachal Pradesh crossbreeds Australian Merino with Gaddi sheep to boost fine wool output

Himachal Pradesh has introduced Australian Merino sheep to improve wool quality and raise output. The ₹6-crore programme began in 2021 under the National Livelihood Mission with 240 Merino sheep imported from Australia. Crossbreeding Merino with…

Global Gas Report 2026: world gas demand hit record 4,202 bcm in 2025; India's peak power demand 271 GW

The Global Gas Report 2026, released by the International Gas Union (IGU), Snam and Rystad Energy, says global natural gas demand reached a record 4,202 billion cubic metres (bcm) in 2025, while supply hit a…

Lancet HIV Commission: people aged 50+ with HIV to reach 20.2 million by 2040

The Lancet HIV Commission on Ageing released its 2026 report on the rising number of older people living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). In 2025, about 11.5 million people with HIV were aged 50 or…

Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary in Gujarat identified as major Black-necked Stork breeding site

Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary, a Ramsar wetland in Jamnagar district, Gujarat, has been identified as a major breeding site for the Black-necked Stork, listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List. Surveys from July 2024…

Two new marine foraminifera species, Psammophaga holzmannae and P. sinhai, found on Konkan coast

Pune-based scientists have found two new species of microscopic marine organisms, Psammophaga holzmannae and Psammophaga sinhai, in intertidal sediments along Maharashtra's Konkan coast. They are single-celled protists of the genus Psammophaga, a group of benthic…

India and China reach eight-point consensus at 25th Special Representatives' talks in Beijing

India and China arrived at an eight-point consensus during the 25th round of Special Representatives' talks on the boundary question in Beijing. Both agreed to keep peace and lower tensions along the Line of Actual…

Gujarat launches India's first state-level Sports Genomics Programme through GBRC

Gujarat has started India's first state-level Sports Genomics Programme through the Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC). It will examine genetic and biological factors linked to athletes' strength, endurance, recovery and injury risk. The State plans…

Hindalco commissions India's first Superfine Precipitated Aluminium Trihydrate plant in Belagavi

Hindalco Industries has commissioned India's first Superfine Precipitated Aluminium Trihydrate (PPT ATH) plant at Belagavi, Karnataka, with an initial yearly capacity of 30,000 tonnes, expandable to 60,000 tonnes. PPT ATH is a halogen-free flame retardant…

Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission launches seven nitrosamine impurity reference standards for the first time

The Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) has released seven nitrosamine impurity reference standards for the first time. They will help laboratories accurately detect and quantify nitrosamine impurities, harmful compounds that can form during manufacture, storage or…