Current Affairs 04 August 2026

Andhra Pradesh and Australia Sign Four MoUs

The Andhra Pradesh government and Australian institutions signed four Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) on August 2, 2026, to strengthen cooperation in clean energy, advanced manufacturing, inclusive education, student mental health, and skill development.

• Under the first MoU, Andhra Pradesh’s Centre of Excellence for Energy Transition (CoEET), the Indian Institute of Technology Tirupati, and the University of New South Wales, Sydney, will establish a Centre of Excellence for Solar Manufacturing at IIT Tirupati.
• The second agreement was signed among UNSW, Sri Padmavati Mahila Visvavidyalayam, and Samagra Shiksha, Andhra Pradesh.
• The third MoU between the Andhra Pradesh State Council of Higher Education (APSCHE) and Australia’s Rebound provides for a technology-enabled student mental-health pilot.
• The fourth agreement between the Andhra Pradesh State Skill Development Corporation (APSSDC) and Australia’s Dynamic Learning Services will promote vocational education, industry-aligned training, internationally recognised professional certifications, and overseas employment pathways.

Leptospirosis

Kerala has reported a high burden of leptospirosis, a zoonotic bacterial disease caused by pathogenic bacteria of the genus Leptospira. The disease has remained endemic in the State for over three decades and receives particular attention during the monsoon. Around 50 leptospirosis-related deaths were reported in July 2026, although surveillance figures are preliminary and may change after laboratory confirmation and death audits.

Leptospira bacteria are generally transmitted through water or soil contaminated by the urine of infected animals, particularly rodents, cattle, pigs and dogs. They enter the human body through cuts or abrasions in the skin or through mucous membranes. Kerala’s heavy monsoon rainfall, floods, waterlogged areas, high humidity, canals, wetlands and close interaction between humans and animal reservoirs create favourable conditions for transmission. Extensive surveillance and diagnostic reporting may also make Kerala’s disease burden more visible than that of some other endemic States.

Key Points for Exams:

• Disease: Leptospirosis
• Disease type: Zoonotic bacterial disease
• Causative organism: Pathogenic Leptospira bacteria
• Major reservoir host: Rodents
• Transmission: Contact with urine-contaminated water or soil
• Entry into the body: Broken skin, abrasions, or mucous membranes
• High-risk groups: Farmers, dairy workers, sanitation workers, construction labourers, and gardeners
• Kerala risk factors: Heavy monsoons, floods, waterlogging, humidity, and abundant animal reservoirs
• Early molecular diagnostic method: PCR
• Protective measures: Gumboots, gloves, sanitation, and rodent control

Glaw Lake Becomes Arunachal Pradesh’s First Ramsar Site

Glaw Lake in Arunachal Pradesh was designated as India’s 101st Ramsar Site on August 3, 2026. It is the first wetland from Arunachal Pradesh to receive recognition as a Ramsar Site, marking an important step in the conservation of the State’s wetland biodiversity.

Glaw Lake is a pristine freshwater lake located within the Kamlang Tiger Reserve and Wildlife Sanctuary in the Eastern Himalayas. It is fed by perennial mountain streams and is surrounded by rich vegetation, making it an important habitat for diverse plant and animal species.

NITI Aayog Report: School Education System in India

Important for APPSC Group 1 Mains

NITI Aayog’s 2026 report, “School Education System in India: Temporal Analysis and Policy Roadmap for Quality Enhancement,” highlighted a major contraction in India’s government-school network. The number of government schools declined from 11.07 lakh in 2014–15 to 10.13 lakh in 2024–25, a reduction of approximately 94,000 schools. During the same period, recognised private unaided schools increased from 2.88 lakh to 3.39 lakh.

Total school enrolment declined from 26.95 crore to 24.69 crore, a fall of 2.26 crore. Government-school enrolment decreased from 14.66 crore in 2014–15 to 12.15 crore in 2024–25, while its share of total enrolment fell from 54.3% to 49.25%. Over the longer period beginning in 2005, the government-school enrolment share declined from 71% to 49.24%.

Many States have closed or merged schools under school rationalisation, which seeks to consolidate under-enrolled, single-teacher, multi-grade, or non-functional schools and improve the use of teachers and infrastructure. The article identifies Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir among the most affected. However, NITI Aayog recommends only phased and evidence-based rationalisation that guarantees safe access and provides transport or hostel facilities where required.

Closures can impose a greater burden on poor and rural families, Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities, migrant children and girls. When the nearest school is merged with a distant institution, longer travel, difficult terrain, transport costs, and safety concerns may reduce attendance and increase dropout risks.

Education is included in the Concurrent List, but the opening, merger, and closure of schools are primarily handled by State governments and Union Territory administrations. Sections 6 and 8 of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 require the appropriate government to ensure neighbourhood elementary schools for children aged six to 14. Weak community participation and irregular functioning of School Management Committees have limited effective enforcement at the local level.

Q1. According to the NITI Aayog’s 2026 report, the number of government schools in India declined by approximately how much between 2014–15 and 2024–25?
A. 44,000
B. 64,000
C. 94,000
D. 1.54 lakh

Q2. Leptospirosis has reported a particularly high disease burden in which of the following States?
A. Kerala
B. Punjab
C. Rajasthan
D. Haryana

Q3. Andhra Pradesh signed an MoU with IIT Tirupati and the University of New South Wales to establish which facility?
A. Centre of Excellence for Solar Manufacturing
B. National Centre for Semiconductor Testing
C. Centre for Quantum Computing
D. International Centre for Green Hydrogen

Q4. Glaw Lake, which became India’s 101st Ramsar Site in August 2026, is located in which State?
A. Assam
B. Arunachal Pradesh
C. Sikkim
D. Nagaland