Current Affairs 03 September 2026

26th SCO Summit Held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the 26th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) held in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic, from 31 August to 1 September 2026. The summit also marked the 25th anniversary of the SCO, which was established in 2001.

At the summit, India highlighted three key pillars for cooperation within the SCO — Security, Connectivity and Opportunity. India also stressed that connectivity initiatives should respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries.

The summit adopted the Bishkek Declaration, along with four Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and more than 20 decisions and statements covering areas such as climate, nuclear safety, energy conservation and combating drug addiction. India also supported initiatives reflected in the Bishkek Declaration, including the SCO Civilisation Dialogue Forum, Young Scientist Forum, Young Author’s Conclave, and a proposal concerning English as an official language in the SCO Charter.

India announced that it would host the first SCO Civilisation Dialogue Forum later in 2026, aimed at promoting civilisational and cultural exchanges among SCO member countries. India has been a full member of the SCO since 2017.

Key Points for Exams:

• India will host the first SCO Civilisation Dialogue Forum in 2026.
• India became a full SCO member in 2017.
• SCO Secretariat is headquartered in Beijing, China.
• The SCO currently has 10 member States: Russia, Kazakhstan. Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India (joined in 2017), Pakistan (joined in 2017), Iran (joined in 2023), Belarus (joined in 2024)

Indian Statistical Institute Bill, 2026 Referred to Standing Committee

The Indian Statistical Institute Bill, 2026 has been referred to the Department-Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance for detailed examination. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla referred the Bill to the committee, which has been asked to submit its report within three months. The Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on August 2, 2026, during the Monsoon Session.

Key Points for Exams

• The Indian Statistical Institute Bill, 2026 seeks to repeal and replace the Indian Statistical Institute Act, 1959.
• It proposes to incorporate the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) as a “body corporate”.
• The objective is to strengthen the Institute’s governance, administration, academic excellence, research and accountability.
• The President of India will be the Visitor of the Institute.
• A Board of Governors will function as the principal policy and executive body of the Institute.
• The Board will be headed by a Chairperson, who will be an eminent person from fields such as academia, industry, education, public policy or statistical sciences.
• An Academic Council will function as the principal academic body.
• All full-time professors and full-time faculty members will be members of the Academic Council.

Background: Indian Statistical Institute

The Indian Statistical Institute Act, 1959 declared ISI an Institution of National Importance and empowered it to grant degrees and diplomas in statistics. The Act was amended in 1995, expanding the Institute’s degree-granting powers to subjects including:

• Statistics
• Mathematics
• Quantitative Economics
• Computer Science
• Other subjects related to statistics as determined by the Institute

According to the government, the 1959 legislation contains relatively limited provisions concerning governance, administration, finance and institutional accountability and is inadequate for the requirements of a rapidly evolving academic and research environment.

Untouchability and Article 17

Article 17 of the Constitution abolishes “untouchability”, prohibits its practice in any form, and makes the enforcement of disabilities arising from untouchability punishable by law. The Constitution itself does not define untouchability. Parliament implemented Article 17 through the Untouchability (Offences) Act, 1955, which was renamed the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 in 1976. Section 7 of the Act also covers certain insults committed on the ground of untouchability.

Key Points for Exams:

• Article 17 abolishes untouchability and prohibits its practice in any form.
• The Constitution does not define “untouchability”.
• Implementing legislation: Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955.
• Original name: Untouchability (Offences) Act, 1955.
• It was renamed the Protection of Civil Rights Act in 1976.
• Surya Narayan Choudhary v. State of Rajasthan (1988) concerned purification of Dalit devotees at the Shrinathji Temple, Nathdwara.
• Rajasthan High Court held the caste-specific purification practice violative of Articles 14, 15 and 17.
• Article 17 can operate against private individuals as well as the State.

Wakefield Accelerator

Wakefield accelerators are being studied as a compact alternative to very large particle accelerators. They can accelerate charged particles using strong electric fields created inside plasma. Plasma is a state of matter made up of Free electrons and positively charged ions.

How Does a Wakefield Accelerator Work?

• A powerful laser pulse or a beam of charged particles is passed through plasma.
• This pushes electrons away from their normal position.
• The positive ions then pull the electrons back. The electrons oscillate and create a travelling electric field called a plasma wake.
• Other electrons can be injected into this wake and gain energy, similar to a surfer riding a wave.

Advantages

• Wakefield accelerators can produce very strong electric fields over a short distance.
• Therefore, they can be much smaller than conventional particle accelerators.
• Some experimental wakefield accelerators can even fit on a laboratory table.

Q1. The 26th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) was held in 2026 in which city?
A. Astana
B. Tashkent
C. Bishkek
D. Dushanbe

Q2. Which country will host the first edition of the SCO Civilisation Dialogue Forum in 2026?
A. China
B. Kazakhstan
C. India
D. Kyrgyzstan

Q3. With reference to the Indian Statistical Institute Bill, 2026, consider the following statements:

1. It proposes to incorporate the Indian Statistical Institute as a body corporate.
2. The President of India will be the Visitor of the Institute.
3. The Academic Council will be headed by the Chairperson of the Board of Governors.
4. The Bill seeks to replace the Indian Statistical Institute Act, 1959.

Which of the statements given above are correct?
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 1, 2 and 4 only
C. 2, 3 and 4 only
D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q4. What is the main purpose of a wakefield accelerator?
A. To cool plasma to very low temperatures
B. To accelerate charged particles using electric fields generated in plasma
C. To generate electricity from nuclear fusion
D. To detect gravitational waves

Q5. Consider the following statements regarding untouchability in India:
1. The Untouchability (Offences) Act, 1955 was renamed the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 in 1976.
2. The Constitution of India does not define the term “untouchability”.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A. 1 only
B. 2 only
C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither 1 nor 2