Current Affairs 22 August 2026

Union Cabinet Approves High Court Bench in Ladakh

The Union Cabinet has approved the establishment of a Bench of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh in the Union Territory of Ladakh. Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the decision would improve access to justice, particularly for people living in remote areas of Ladakh.

Importantly, the decision does not create a separate High Court for Ladakh. Under Section 75 of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh is the common High Court for the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.

Key Points for Exams:

• Ladakh does not have a separate High Court.
• Section 75 of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 provides for a common High Court for Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
• Ladakh is a Union Territory without a legislature.
• Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh: Vinai Kumar Saxena.

Andhra Pradesh Assembly Passes Four Higher Education Reform Bills

The Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly unanimously passed four key higher education Bills in August 2026. Human Resources Development Minister Nara Lokesh introduced the Bills and focused on higher education regulation, private universities, skill-based education and faculty recruitment.

The A.P. Higher Education Regulatory and Monitoring Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2026 seeks to convert the existing regulatory commission into a committee, limiting its main role to fee regulation and prevention of commercialisation of higher education. The Higher Education Commissioner will handle other regulatory functions.

The A.P. Private Universities (Establishment and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 seeks to simplify regulations and encourage investment in private higher education. The A.P. State Private Skill Universities (Establishment and Regulation) Bill, 2026 provides a framework for industry-linked skill universities to bridge the gap between education and workforce requirements.

The A.P. State Educational Institutions Reservation in Teachers’ Cadre Bill, 2026 provides a legal framework for implementing reservations in university faculty recruitment. The State plans to fill 1,523 faculty posts in the first phase of recruitment.

Andhra Pradesh Proposes Six Industrial Parks under BHAVYA Scheme

Andhra Pradesh has proposed six sector-specific industrial parks under the first phase of the Centre’s Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojana (BHAVYA). The proposals have been submitted to the Central Government and are currently under consideration through the Challenge Mode selection process.

The six proposed parks:

1. AP Space City – Tirupati district
2. AP Drone City – Kurnool district
3. Tekulodu Aerospace and Defence Park – Sri Sathya Sai district
4. Makavaripalem Organic Food Park – Anakapalli district
5. Renewable Energy Manufacturing Zone – Prakasam district
6. Veldurthi Mega Textile Park – Palnadu district

BHAVYA is a Central Sector Scheme of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) aimed at developing 100 investment-ready, plug-and-play industrial parks across India over six years. It has a total financial outlay of ₹33,660 crore. In Phase-I, 50 projects are proposed to be selected.

Key Points for Exams:

• BHAVYA – Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojana.
• Implementing department: DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
• Scheme outlay: ₹33,660 crore.
• Target: 100 plug-and-play industrial parks across India.
• Selection is through Challenge Mode.

Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA)

The Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA) is the Government of India’s flagship price-support framework aimed at ensuring remunerative prices to farmers, strengthening Minimum Support Price (MSP) implementation and reducing distress sales. It was launched in September 2018.

PM-AASHA presently has four major components, Price Support Scheme (PSS), Price Stabilization Fund (PSF), Price Deficiency Payment Scheme (PDPS) and Market Intervention Scheme (MIS). Under PSS, pulses, oilseeds and copra are procured at MSP through agencies such as NAFED and NCCF when market prices fall below MSP.

Under PDPS, physical procurement is not required; eligible farmers receive the difference between MSP and the notified market price, subject to prescribed limits, directly into their bank accounts. MIS is used mainly for perishable agricultural and horticultural commodities such as tomato, onion and potato where MSP does not apply. The Price Stabilization Fund maintains buffer stocks of essential commodities to moderate price volatility.

The Union Government has allocated ₹7,200 crore for PM-AASHA in 2026–27, up from ₹6,941.36 crore in 2025–26. Digital systems such as Aadhaar-enabled authentication, e-NAM, e-Samriddhi and e-Samyukti are also being used to improve transparency and efficiency in procurement operations.

Key Points for Exams:

• Launched in September 2018.
• Objective: strengthen MSP-based price support and reduce distress sales.
• Four components: PSS, PSF, PDPS and MIS.
• PSS mainly covers pulses, oilseeds and copra.
• Major procurement agencies: NAFED and NCCF.
• Under PSS, procurement of Tur, Urad and Masur is permitted up to 100% of State production.
• MIS covers perishable commodities for which MSP is generally not applicable.
• Budget allocation for 2026–27: ₹7,200 crore.
• Digital platforms supporting implementation include e-NAM, e-Samriddhi and e-Samyukti.

Satkosia Tiger Reserve

The Odisha Government has constituted a high-level inquiry committee to examine the relocation of villages from the Satkosia Tiger Reserve (STR) following allegations of procedural violations and forced eviction. Satkosia Tiger Reserve is located in Odisha along the Mahanadi River and comprises the Satkosia Gorge and Baisipalli wildlife landscapes. It was notified as a Tiger Reserve in 2007. The 2022 All India Tiger Estimation recorded no tiger presence in Satkosia, describing the reserve as having witnessed local extirpation of tigers.

Q1. Satkosia Tiger Reserve, recently in the news over the relocation of villages, is located in which State?
A. Jharkhand
B. Chhattisgarh
C. Odisha
D. West Bengal

Q2. Under the A.P. Higher Education Regulatory and Monitoring Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2026, the existing Regulatory Commission is proposed to be converted into which of the following?
A. Higher Education Tribunal
B. Higher Education Regulatory Committee
C. State University Grants Board
D. Higher Education Finance Council

Q3. The Union Cabinet recently approved the establishment of a Bench of which High Court in Ladakh?
A. High Court of Himachal Pradesh
B. High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh
C. High Court of Punjab and Haryana
D. High Court of Delhi

Q4. How many sector-specific industrial parks has Andhra Pradesh proposed under the first phase of the Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojana (BHAVYA)?
A. Four
B. Five
C. Six
D. Eight

Q5. What is the budget allocation for the Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA) for 2026–27?
A. ₹5,000 crore
B. ₹6,500 crore
C. ₹7,200 crore
D. ₹8,000 crore