Current Affairs 17 August 2026

Prime Minister’s Independence Day Speech

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing the nation from the Red Fort on India’s 80th Independence Day on August 15, 2026, announced major initiatives covering Artificial Intelligence (AI), education, sports, Civil Defence, semiconductors, nuclear energy and women-led development. The announcements form part of India’s broader push towards Viksit Bharat by 2047.

The Prime Minister announced that one crore youth will be trained in AI skills over the next year. He also announced the creation of a free online coaching network for students preparing for various examinations, using Digital Public Infrastructure and available teaching resources. A nationwide sports talent hunt will identify children aged 5–15 years across villages, cities and schools and provide specialised training, with particular attention to Olympic disciplines in which India currently has limited participation.

A new vibrant Civil Defence network will also be developed to prepare citizens for modern security threats that may affect critical infrastructure such as refineries, banks, data centres and factories. On semiconductor self-reliance, the Prime Minister said three plants had already been initiated, and chip exports had begun. In contrast, several more semiconductor plants are expected to emerge over the next seven to eight years.

On energy security, the Prime Minister reiterated India’s target of achieving 100 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2047 and announced plans to start five new nuclear reactors within this decade.

For women-led rural development, the Prime Minister said the earlier target of three crore Lakhpati Didis had been achieved and announced a new target of six crore Lakhpati Didis. This means the government aims to enable another three crore women associated largely with Self-Help Groups to achieve sustainable annual household incomes of at least ₹1 lakh.

Andhra Pradesh Relevance

The national nuclear expansion target has particular relevance for Andhra Pradesh because Kovvada in Srikakulam district is an in-principle approved nuclear power site. The planned Kovvada Nuclear Power Project consists of six units of 1,208 MW each, proposed with foreign technology and cooperation with the United States.

Key Points for Exams:

• AI skilling target: 1 crore youth in one year.
• New education initiative: Free online coaching for various examinations
• Nuclear power target: 100 GW by 2047
• New Lakhpati Didi target: 6 crore
• Andhra Pradesh nuclear project: Kovvada Nuclear Power Project, Srikakulam district

Andhra Pradesh Launches Craft Wood Banks

Andhra Pradesh started the Central Craft Wood Bank at Dowleswaram in East Godavari district on August 15, 2026. The initiative aims to provide a reliable supply of suitable timber to nearly 5,000 artisan families associated with six traditional handicraft clusters in the State. Around 40 species of wood are expected to be made available according to the requirements of different crafts.

Along with the Central Craft Wood Bank, six cluster-level Craft Wood Banks. The Forest Department plans to progressively build stocks sufficient to meet artisan requirements for about five years.

A notable feature is QR-code-based traceability for timber and handicrafts. QR codes can provide information relating to the wood’s source, species and age and help establish the provenance of the raw material used by artisans. The initiative therefore seeks to combine the preservation of traditional crafts and artisan livelihoods with sustainable and traceable sourcing of forest produce.

Craft Wood Banks and Associated Crafts

Moon Base Programme

NASA has invited the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to participate in its Moon Base Programme, which aims to establish a long-term human presence near the Moon’s South Pole. NASA plans to develop the Moon Base in stages using robotic and crewed missions. The lunar South Pole is considered strategically and scientifically important because some areas receive sunlight for relatively long periods, while permanently shadowed craters contain deposits of water ice. Lunar water could potentially support astronauts and may also be processed into oxygen and rocket propellant, making it important for sustained lunar exploration.

The programme represents a further expansion of the Artemis Programme. Under the revised mission architecture, Artemis III is planned as a crewed Earth-orbit demonstration mission in 2027, while Artemis IV is targeted to attempt the first crewed lunar landing of the programme in 2028. NASA ultimately aims to establish infrastructure that can support increasingly prolonged human stays on the Moon.

India’s possible participation builds on growing NASA–ISRO cooperation. India became a signatory to the Artemis Accords on June 21, 2023. The Accords, established in 2020, set out principles for peaceful and sustainable civil exploration of the Moon, Mars, comets and asteroids, including transparency, interoperability, emergency assistance and avoidance of harmful interference.

Key Points for Exams:

• Artemis III: Crewed Earth-orbit demonstration mission planned for 2027
• Artemis IV: Crewed lunar landing targeted for 2028
• India joined the Artemis Accords: June 21, 2023

Q1. The proposed Kovvada Nuclear Power Project, which has received in-principle approval from the Government of India, is located in which district of Andhra Pradesh?
A. Visakhapatnam
B. Srikakulam
C. Kakinada
D. Nellore

Q2. NASA recently invited ISRO to participate in which programme aimed at establishing a long-term human outpost near the Moon’s South Pole?
A. Lunar Gateway Programme
B. Moon Base Programme
C. Moon Sample Return Programme
D. Commercial Crew Programme

Q3. The Central Craft Wood Bank, established to provide raw material to traditional handicraft artisans in Andhra Pradesh, was inaugurated at which of the following places?
A. Etikoppaka
B. Kondapalli
C. Dowleswaram
D. Bobbili

Q4. Which of the following States recently launched Craft Wood Banks to ensure a reliable supply of raw material for traditional handicraft artisans?
A. Karnataka
B. Andhra Pradesh
C. Tamil Nadu
D. Odisha