Current Affairs 26 August 2026

7th-Century Inscription Provides Earliest Epigraphical Reference to Guntur

The earliest known epigraphical reference to Guntur has been identified in the Pune copper plates of Eastern Chalukya king Vishnuvardhana II, according to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). The copper plates were issued in the king’s first regnal year in 669 C.E.

The inscription records an early form of the name Guntur. Epigraphical evidence shows that the city’s name evolved through forms such as Kumturu, Gomturu and Gunturu before acquiring its present form.

Another important reference occurs in the 10th-century Ederu copper plate inscription, where the place is mentioned as Gomturu. According to epigraphical records, this form continued to occur in regional inscriptions from the 10th to the 14th centuries.

Parishrama Adalat

A Parishrama Adalat, organised as a conciliation conclave for delayed-payment disputes of Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs), was held at FTCCI, Hyderabad. It resolved 65 cases involving ₹8.29 crore, helping affected enterprises recover working capital and maintain business continuity.

The Parishrama Adalat uses conciliation, Online Dispute Resolution (ODR), and the MSME Samadhaan framework to facilitate settlement between MSE suppliers and buyers.

The broader legal framework is set out in the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (MSMED) Act, 2006. Under the Act, payment to an MSE supplier cannot ordinarily be delayed beyond 45 days. In case of delay, the buyer is liable for compound interest with monthly rests at three times the RBI-notified bank rate, while disputes can be referred to a Micro and Small Enterprises Facilitation Council (MSEFC).

The MSE Scheme on Online Dispute Resolution for Delayed Payments is a sub-scheme of the World Bank-supported Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP) programme. The Ministry of MSME introduced the scheme as a first-of-its-kind initiative combining legal dispute resolution with digital technology. The MSME ODR Portal was formally launched by the President of India on 27 June 2025, MSME Day.

Smart Glasses Raise Privacy and Data Protection Concerns in India

The growing use of AI-powered smart glasses has raised concerns over privacy and non-consensual recording in India. Such wearable devices can contain discreet cameras, microphones and speakers, allowing users to capture photographs, videos and audio while appearing similar to ordinary spectacles.

The concern is that people nearby may not always know that they are being recorded, particularly in public or semi-private spaces. This creates challenges involving consent, surveillance, personal data collection and protection of women and children.

Key Points for Exams:

• Smart glasses are a form of wearable technology.
• They may incorporate cameras, microphones, speakers and AI-based functions.
• Major concern: non-consensual recording and collection of personal data.
• K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India (2017) is the landmark privacy judgment.
• The Supreme Court recognised privacy as a fundamental right under Article 21 in the above case.

Supreme Court Clarifies Meaning of ‘Industry’ under Industrial Relations Code, 2020

Under the Industrial Relations Code, 2020, the term “industry” is defined in Section 2(p).

In simple terms, an industry means a systematic activity carried on through cooperation between an employer and workers for producing, supplying or distributing goods or services to satisfy human wants or wishes. It does not matter whether capital is invested or whether the activity is carried on for profit.

However, the Code specifically excludes certain activities, such as:

• Institutions mainly engaged in charitable, social or philanthropic services
• Sovereign functions of the government, including activities relating to defence research, atomic energy and space
• Domestic service
• Any other activity specifically notified by the Central Government

How is this different from the 1978 definition?

In Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board v. A. Rajappa (1978), the Supreme Court evolved the famous Triple Test. An activity was generally treated as an industry when there was:

1. Systematic activity
2. Cooperation between employer and employee
3. Production or distribution of goods or services to satisfy human wants

Profit motive was not essential. This broad interpretation brought several establishments such as hospitals, educational institutions, and municipal activities within the concept of “industry”, subject mainly to the exclusion of core sovereign functions.

World Water Week 2026

The Ministry of Rural Development represented India at World Water Week 2026 in Stockholm, Sweden, held from 23 to 27 August 2026. The theme for the 2026 edition is “Water for People and Progress”, focusing on water security, health, resilience and equitable human development. World Water Week is organised annually by the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI).

India also highlighted digital tools such as Yuktdhara, a geospatial planning platform using GIS and remote sensing, and the E-Jal Application, which supports water budgeting at the Gram Panchayat level. The country emphasised the role of Gram Panchayats, Village Water and Sanitation Committees and local communities in ensuring sustainable rural water management.

Key Points for Exams:

• World Water Week 2026 was held between 23 and 27 August 2026 in Stockholm, Sweden.
• Theme: “Water for People and Progress.
• NIWS – National Initiative on Water Security.
• Yuktdhara uses GIS and remote sensing for geospatial planning.
• E-Jal Application supports water budgeting at the Gram Panchayat level.

e-Shram Portal Completed Five Years

The e-Shram Portal completed five years on 26 August 2026. It was launched on 26 August 2021 by the Ministry of Labour and Employment to create India’s first Aadhaar-authenticated National Database of Unorganised Workers (NDUW).

Developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC), the portal provides every registered worker with a unique 12-digit Universal Account Number (UAN). It covers unorganised workers such as agricultural labourers, construction workers, domestic workers, street vendors, migrant workers, gig and platform workers.

The portal evolved into the e-Shram One-Stop Solution on 21 October 2024, integrating welfare, employment, skilling, apprenticeship and pension services. It currently brings together 15 social security and welfare schemes, while also linking workers with platforms such as the National Career Service (NCS) and Skill India Digital Hub.

As of August 2026, the portal had recorded 31.89 crore registrations. Women constituted 54.28% of registered workers. Multilingual functionality in 22 languages, powered by Bhashini, was introduced in 2025.

Q1. In which landmark case did the Supreme Court of India recognise the right to privacy as a fundamental right under Article 21 of the Constitution?
A. Shreya Singhal v. Union of India
B. K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India
C. Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India
D. Anuradha Bhasin v. Union of India

Q2. The Supreme Court recently held that the definition of “industry” under the Industrial Relations Code, 2020 must be interpreted independently of which landmark 1978 judgment?
A. Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India
B. Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board v. A. Rajappa
C. Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala
D. Minerva Mills v. Union of India

Q3. The earliest known epigraphical reference to Guntur, dated to 669 C.E., was found in the copper plates of which ruler?
A. Pulakeshin II
B. Vishnuvardhana II
C. Rajaraja Narendra
D. Kubja Vishnuvardhana

Q4. The ‘Parishrama Adalat’, recently held in Hyderabad, was organised primarily to resolve which of the following issues?
A. GST disputes involving large industries
B. Delayed-payment disputes of Micro and Small Enterprises
C. Labour disputes in Central Public Sector Enterprises
D. Insolvency cases of cooperative banks

Q5. World Water Week 2026 was held in which city?
A. Geneva, Switzerland
B. Stockholm, Sweden
C. Copenhagen, Denmark
D. Oslo, Norway

Q6. The e-Shram Portal, was launched on which date?
A. 26 August 2019
B. 26 August 2020
C. 26 August 2021
D. 26 August 2022

Q7. As of August 2026, how many registrations had been recorded on the e-Shram Portal?
A. 28.75 crore
B. 30.42 crore
C. 31.89 crore
D. 33.15 crore