Weekly Current Affairs (August 2026 – Week 3) – Exam Revision Notes
1) International Current Affairs
Hara Forests of the Persian Gulf – Mangroves at Strait of Hormuz Under Threat
The Hara forests, located around the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf, are mangrove forests dominated by the grey mangrove (Avicennia marina). These mangroves survive in highly saline water through specialised root-based salt filtration mechanisms. Recent satellite images have revealed a major environmental threat to these forests due to West Asia conflicts.
Largest Wildfire in Belgium – High Fens Nature Reserve; ~3,000 Hectares Scorched
Belgium battled its largest wildfire on record, breaking out in the High Fens (Hautes Fagnes) Nature Reserve in eastern Belgium near the German border. By 17 August 2026, the fire had scorched around 3,000 hectares. Around 500 firefighters and emergency personnel, supported by aircraft and neighbouring European countries, were deployed to contain the blaze.
2) National Current Affairs
Independence Day 2026 – PM Modi’s Key Announcements from Red Fort; India’s 80th Independence Day
PM Narendra Modi addressed the nation from the Red Fort on India’s 80th Independence Day, 15 August 2026, announcing major initiatives covering AI, education, sports, Civil Defence, semiconductors, nuclear energy, and women-led development — part of India’s push towards Viksit Bharat by 2047.
| Announcement | Key Detail |
|---|---|
| AI Skilling | 1 crore youth to be trained in AI skills over the next year |
| Free Online Coaching | Free online coaching network for students preparing for examinations, using Digital Public Infrastructure |
| Sports Talent Hunt | Nationwide talent hunt for children aged 5–15 years across villages, cities and schools; specialised training with focus on Olympic disciplines where India has limited participation |
| Civil Defence Network | New vibrant Civil Defence network to prepare citizens for modern security threats affecting critical infrastructure (refineries, banks, data centres, factories) |
| Semiconductors | Three semiconductor plants already initiated; chip exports begun; several more plants expected in the next 7–8 years |
| Nuclear Energy Target | 100 GW nuclear power capacity by 2047; five new nuclear reactors to be started within this decade |
| Lakhpati Didi Target | Earlier target of 3 crore achieved; new target of 6 crore Lakhpati Didis (SHG women with annual household income of at least ₹1 lakh) |
Union Cabinet Approves High Court Bench in Ladakh – Section 75, J&K Reorganisation Act 2019
The Union Cabinet approved the establishment of a Bench of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh in the Union Territory of Ladakh. The decision improves access to justice for people in remote areas of Ladakh.
3) Andhra Pradesh Current Affairs
AP Launches Craft Wood Banks – Six Clusters; Kondapalli, Etikoppaka, Bobbili Veena and More
Andhra Pradesh launched the Central Craft Wood Bank at Dowleswaram, East Godavari district on 15 August 2026. It aims to provide reliable timber supply to nearly 5,000 artisan families across six traditional handicraft clusters. Around 40 species of wood will be made available. Six cluster-level Craft Wood Banks are also being set up. The Forest Department plans to build stocks sufficient for ~five years of artisan requirements. A key feature is QR-code-based traceability — providing information on wood’s source, species, and age.
| Craft Cluster | District | Craft / Wood |
|---|---|---|
| Kondapalli | NTR | Kondapalli toys – Tella Poniki wood |
| Etikoppaka | Anakapalli | Etikoppaka toys – Ankudu wood |
| Settigunta / Lakshmigaripalli | Annamayya | Traditional woodcraft / toys |
| Madhavamala | Tirupati | Wood carving – multiple species |
| Udayagiri | Nellore | Traditional wooden cutlery |
| Bobbili | Vizianagaram | Bobbili Veena – jackfruit wood |
AP Cabinet Approves BC Reservation – 34% in Rural Local Bodies; 33.33% in Urban Local Bodies
The AP Cabinet, chaired by CM N. Chandrababu Naidu, approved BC reservation in local bodies and direct elections for urban local body heads on 18 August 2026.
| Decision | Detail |
|---|---|
| BC Reservation – Rural Local Bodies (RLBs) | 34% — aligns with the Andhra Pradesh Panchayat Raj Act, 1994 |
| BC Reservation – Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) | 33.33% |
| SC & ST Reservations | Existing reservations remain unchanged |
| Election of Mayors | Direct election by voters (not indirect election by councillors) for Mayors of Municipal Corporations |
| Chairpersons – Municipalities & Nagar Panchayats | Direct election by voters |
AP Assembly Passes Four Higher Education Reform Bills – Nara Lokesh
The AP Legislative Assembly unanimously passed four higher education Bills in August 2026. Introduced by HRD Minister Nara Lokesh, covering regulation, private universities, skill universities, and faculty reservation.
| Bill | Key Purpose |
|---|---|
| A.P. Higher Education Regulatory and Monitoring Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2026 | Converts the existing regulatory commission into a committee; main role limited to fee regulation and prevention of commercialisation; other regulatory functions shifted to the Higher Education Commissioner |
| A.P. Private Universities (Establishment and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 | Simplifies regulations; encourages investment in private higher education |
| A.P. State Private Skill Universities (Establishment and Regulation) Bill, 2026 | Framework for industry-linked skill universities; bridges gap between education and workforce requirements |
| A.P. State Educational Institutions Reservation in Teachers’ Cadre Bill, 2026 | Legal framework for reservations in university faculty recruitment; 1,523 faculty posts to be filled in Phase 1 |
AP Proposes Six Industrial Parks under BHAVYA Scheme – Space City, Drone City, Aerospace, Textile and More
Andhra Pradesh proposed six sector-specific industrial parks under the first phase of the Centre’s Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojana (BHAVYA). Submitted to the Central Government; under consideration through Challenge Mode selection.
| Proposed Park | District |
|---|---|
| AP Space City | Tirupati |
| AP Drone City | Kurnool |
| Tekulodu Aerospace and Defence Park | Sri Sathya Sai |
| Makavaripalem Organic Food Park | Anakapalli |
| Renewable Energy Manufacturing Zone | Prakasam |
| Veldurthi Mega Textile Park | Palnadu |
4) Economy
India’s Makhana Sector – World’s Largest Producer; National Makhana Board; ₹476.03 Crore Scheme
India is the world’s largest producer of makhana (Euryale ferox), an aquatic crop grown mainly in shallow ponds, lakes, and wetlands. Bihar is the leading producer, contributing nearly 80–85% of global supply. Cultivation is concentrated in North Bihar, including the Kosi basin districts of Supaul, Saharsa and Madhepura.
| Detail | Fact |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Euryale ferox |
| India’s Global Rank | World’s largest producer |
| Bihar’s Share | ~80–85% of global makhana supply; ~three-fourths of India’s production |
| Production (2024–25) | 63,910 MT | Estimated 2025–26: 80,590 MT (Bihar: ~60,000 MT) |
| National Makhana Board | Announced in Union Budget 2025–26 | Formally launched in Bihar on 15 September 2025 |
| Central Sector Scheme | ₹476.03 crore for 2025–26 to 2030–31 | Focus: research, quality seeds, farmer training, value addition, branding, marketing and exports |
| Improved Varieties | Swarna Vaidehi and Sabour Makhana-1 |
| Exports (2025–26) | 7,264.89 MT | Top markets: USA, Canada, UAE (together 77% of exports) |
5) Science & Technology
NASA Invites ISRO to Join Moon Base Programme – Artemis Accords; Artemis III and IV
NASA has invited ISRO to participate in its Moon Base Programme, aiming to establish a long-term human presence near the Moon’s South Pole. The lunar South Pole is strategically important: some areas receive sunlight for long periods, while permanently shadowed craters contain deposits of water ice — which could support astronauts and potentially be processed into oxygen and rocket propellant.
| Mission / Detail | Fact |
|---|---|
| Artemis III (Revised) | Crewed Earth-orbit demonstration mission planned for 2027 |
| Artemis IV | First crewed lunar landing of the programme targeted for 2028 |
| India Joined Artemis Accords | 21 June 2023 |
| Artemis Accords | Established in 2020 | Set principles for peaceful and sustainable civil exploration of the Moon, Mars, comets and asteroids | Key principles: transparency, interoperability, emergency assistance, avoidance of harmful interference |
Friedreich’s Ataxia – Rare Inherited Genetic Disorder; Affects Nervous System and Heart
Friedreich’s Ataxia (FRDA) is a rare inherited genetic disorder that progressively damages the nervous system and the heart. It commonly affects coordination, balance, speech, and movement. Symptoms often begin during childhood or adolescence. A recent study by researchers at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center explained why FRDA is found mainly in people of European, North African, West Asian and South Asian ancestry, while being rare or unreported in several other populations.
6) Environment
Satkosia Tiger Reserve, Odisha – High-Level Inquiry; Tigers Locally Extinct Since 2022 Estimation
The Odisha Government constituted a high-level inquiry committee to examine the relocation of villages from Satkosia Tiger Reserve (STR) following allegations of procedural violations and forced eviction.
7) Schemes
PM-AASHA – Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan; MSP Price Support Framework; ₹7,200 Crore (2026–27)
PM-AASHA is the Government of India’s flagship price-support framework for farmers, aimed at ensuring remunerative prices, strengthening MSP implementation, and reducing distress sales. Launched in September 2018. Budget allocation for 2026–27: ₹7,200 crore (up from ₹6,941.36 crore in 2025–26).
| Component | How It Works |
|---|---|
| Price Support Scheme (PSS) | Physical procurement of pulses, oilseeds and copra at MSP through NAFED and NCCF when market prices fall below MSP | Tur, Urad and Masur: procurement up to 100% of State production |
| Price Deficiency Payment Scheme (PDPS) | No physical procurement; eligible farmers receive the difference between MSP and the notified market price directly in bank accounts (subject to prescribed limits) |
| Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) | Used mainly for perishable agricultural and horticultural commodities such as tomato, onion, and potato where MSP does not apply |
| Price Stabilisation Fund (PSF) | Maintains buffer stocks of essential commodities to moderate price volatility |
8) Awards & Honours
National Sports Awards 2025 – Arjuna Award (17 Sportspersons), Dronacharya Award, Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports announced the National Sports Awards 2025 on 18 August 2026. A total of 17 sportspersons were selected for the Arjuna Award.
| Arjuna Award 2025 | Sport |
|---|---|
| Tejaswin Shankar | Athletics |
| Muhammed Ajmal V | Athletics |
| Priyanka Goswami | Athletics |
| Treesa Jolly | Badminton |
| Pullela Gayatri Gopichand | Badminton |
| Narender | Boxing |
| Vidit Santosh Gujarathi | Chess |
| Divya Jitendra Deshmukh | Chess |
| Dhanush Srikanth | Deaf Shooting |
| Lalremsiami | Hockey |
| Rajkumar Pal | Hockey |
| Surjeet | Kabaddi |
| Pooja | Kabaddi |
| Rudransh Khandelwal | Para-Shooting |
| Ekta Bhyan | Para-Athletics |
| Arvind Singh | Rowing |
| Akhil Sheoran | Shooting |
Dronacharya Award 2025 – Regular Category: Parveer Singh (Athletics) | Chhote Lal Yadav (Boxing) | Neha Nandkumar Chavan (Shooting)
Dronacharya Award 2025 – Lifetime Category: Dharmendra Singh Yadav (Boxing) | Virender Kumar (Wrestling)
Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar 2025: Army Paralympic Node, Pune
9) Committees & Conferences
COP17 – UNCCD Conference; India Launches First Guide to Grasslands and Open Natural Ecosystems; Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
India launched its first-ever Guide to Grasslands and Other Open Natural Ecosystems (ONEs) of India on 17 August 2026 at the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
About UNCCD: Established in 1994 | One of three Rio Conventions (along with UNFCCC and CBD) | Focuses on combating land degradation and desertification and addressing drought | Secretariat: Bonn, Germany.
10) Person in News
Gurajada Venkata Apparao (1862–1915) – Pioneer of Modern Telugu Literature; Kanyasulkam
Gurajada Venkata Apparao (21 September 1862 – 30 November 1915) was a celebrated Telugu poet, playwright, writer, and social reformer. Regarded as one of the pioneers of modern Telugu literature, he strongly advocated the use of spoken Telugu (Vyavaharika Bhasha) in literary writing.
| Detail | Fact |
|---|---|
| Born | 21 September 1862, Rayavaram, Andhra Pradesh |
| Associated With | Vizianagaram | Worked at Maharajah’s College, Vizianagaram |
| Famous Play | Kanyasulkam — criticised social evils including child marriage, bride-price, and exploitation of women; used satire and realistic characters to highlight the need for social reform |
| Famous Patriotic Poem | “Desamunu Preminchumanna” — famous idea: a nation is defined by its people rather than merely by its land |
| Literary Contribution | Promoted Vyavaharika Bhasha (spoken Telugu) over classical Sanskrit-influenced Telugu in literature; helped promote social consciousness and modernisation in Telugu literature |
Historian Sumit Sarkar Passes Away – Age 87; Author of ‘Modern India 1885–1947’
Sumit Sarkar, eminent historian and one of India’s influential scholars of modern Indian history, passed away on 13 August 2026 at the age of 87. His scholarship shaped the study of colonial India, nationalism, social history, and popular participation in the freedom struggle. Major works: Modern India 1885–1947 (on colonial India and the Indian national movement) and The Swadeshi Movement in Bengal (on the Swadeshi Movement and Bengal Partition).
Quick Revision Table
| Topic | One-Line Summary |
|---|---|
| Independence Day 2026 – Key Announcements | PM Modi addressed nation from Red Fort on India’s 80th Independence Day (15 August 2026); key announcements: AI skilling of 1 crore youth in one year; free online coaching network using Digital Public Infrastructure; sports talent hunt for children aged 5–15; new Civil Defence network; three semiconductor plants initiated, chip exports begun; nuclear power target 100 GW by 2047; five new reactors within this decade; earlier 3 crore Lakhpati Didi target achieved; new target: 6 crore Lakhpati Didis. |
| Kovvada Nuclear Power Project – AP | India’s 100 GW nuclear target by 2047 has special AP relevance; Kovvada in Srikakulam district is an in-principle approved nuclear power site; planned Kovvada Nuclear Power Project: six units of 1,208 MW each, proposed with US technology and cooperation. |
| Ladakh – High Court Bench | Union Cabinet approved a Bench of the High Court of J&K and Ladakh in Ladakh UT; this does NOT create a separate High Court for Ladakh; Section 75 of the J&K Reorganisation Act, 2019 provides for a common High Court for both UTs of J&K and Ladakh; Ladakh is a UT without a legislature; LG of Ladakh: Vinai Kumar Saxena. |
| AP Craft Wood Banks – Six Clusters | AP launched Central Craft Wood Bank at Dowleswaram, East Godavari on 15 August 2026 to supply timber to ~5,000 artisan families in six clusters; ~40 wood species available; six cluster-level banks also set up; QR-code-based traceability of timber; key clusters: Kondapalli (NTR, Tella Poniki wood for toys), Etikoppaka (Anakapalli, Ankudu wood), Bobbili (Vizianagaram, jackfruit wood for Bobbili Veena), Udayagiri (Nellore, wooden cutlery), Madhavamala (Tirupati), Settigunta/Lakshmigaripalli (Annamayya). |
| AP BC Reservation – Local Bodies | AP Cabinet (CM Chandrababu Naidu) approved on 18 August 2026: BC reservation in Rural Local Bodies — 34% (aligns with AP Panchayat Raj Act, 1994); BC reservation in Urban Local Bodies — 33.33%; SC and ST reservations remain unchanged; Mayors of Municipal Corporations and Chairpersons of Municipalities and Nagar Panchayats to be directly elected by voters. |
| AP – Four Higher Education Bills | AP Legislative Assembly unanimously passed four higher education Bills introduced by HRD Minister Nara Lokesh: (1) AP Higher Education Regulatory and Monitoring Commission (Amendment) Bill — converts commission to committee, limits role to fee regulation; (2) AP Private Universities Amendment Bill — simplifies regulations; (3) AP State Private Skill Universities Bill — industry-linked skill universities framework; (4) AP State Educational Institutions Reservation in Teachers’ Cadre Bill — reservations in faculty recruitment; 1,523 posts in Phase 1. |
| AP – BHAVYA Scheme (Six Industrial Parks) | AP proposed six sector-specific industrial parks under BHAVYA (Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojana) Phase I: AP Space City (Tirupati), AP Drone City (Kurnool), Tekulodu Aerospace and Defence Park (Sri Sathya Sai), Makavaripalem Organic Food Park (Anakapalli), Renewable Energy Manufacturing Zone (Prakasam), Veldurthi Mega Textile Park (Palnadu); BHAVYA is a Central Sector Scheme of DPIIT; outlay: ₹33,660 crore; target: 100 plug-and-play industrial parks across India; Phase-I: 50 projects through Challenge Mode. |
| India’s Makhana Sector | India is the world’s largest producer of makhana (scientific name: Euryale ferox); Bihar contributes ~80–85% of global supply; concentrated in Kosi basin districts (Supaul, Saharsa, Madhepura); production 2024–25: 63,910 MT; estimated 2025–26: 80,590 MT; National Makhana Board launched in Bihar on 15 September 2025 (announced Union Budget 2025–26); Central Sector Scheme: ₹476.03 crore (2025–26 to 2030–31); improved varieties: Swarna Vaidehi and Sabour Makhana-1; exports 2025–26: 7,264.89 MT; top markets: USA, Canada, UAE (77% of exports). |
| NASA – ISRO Moon Base; Artemis | NASA invited ISRO to join its Moon Base Programme for long-term human presence near the Moon’s South Pole; South Pole: sunlit areas + permanently shadowed craters with water ice (potential for oxygen and rocket propellant); Artemis III (revised): crewed Earth-orbit demonstration mission, 2027; Artemis IV: first crewed lunar landing, 2028; India joined Artemis Accords on 21 June 2023; Accords established in 2020; principles: transparency, interoperability, emergency assistance, avoidance of harmful interference. |
| Satkosia Tiger Reserve – Odisha | Odisha Government constituted high-level inquiry committee over village relocation issues from Satkosia Tiger Reserve; located along the Mahanadi River in Odisha; comprises Satkosia Gorge and Baisipalli wildlife landscapes; notified as Tiger Reserve in 2007; 2022 All India Tiger Estimation recorded no tiger presence — described as having witnessed local extirpation of tigers. |
| PM-AASHA – MSP Support Scheme | PM-AASHA (Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan) launched September 2018; flagship price-support framework to ensure remunerative prices and reduce distress sales; four components: PSS (physical procurement of pulses, oilseeds, copra via NAFED/NCCF at MSP; Tur, Urad, Masur up to 100% of State production), PDPS (no procurement; direct bank payment of MSP–market price difference), MIS (perishable commodities like tomato, onion, potato), PSF (buffer stocks); 2026–27 budget: ₹7,200 crore; digital platforms: e-NAM, e-Samriddhi, e-Samyukti. |
| National Sports Awards 2025 – Key Arjuna Awardees | Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports announced National Sports Awards 2025 on 18 August 2026; 17 Arjuna Awards: Tejaswin Shankar and Muhammed Ajmal V and Priyanka Goswami (Athletics), Treesa Jolly and Pullela Gayatri Gopichand (Badminton), Narender (Boxing), Vidit Gujarathi and Divya Deshmukh (Chess), Dhanush Srikanth (Deaf Shooting), Lalremsiami and Rajkumar Pal (Hockey), Surjeet and Pooja (Kabaddi), Rudransh Khandelwal (Para-Shooting), Ekta Bhyan (Para-Athletics), Arvind Singh (Rowing), Akhil Sheoran (Shooting); Arjuna Lifetime: I. Arumainayagam (Football); Dronacharya Regular: Parveer Singh, Chhote Lal Yadav, Neha Nandkumar Chavan; Dronacharya Lifetime: Dharmendra Singh Yadav, Virender Kumar; Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar: Army Paralympic Node, Pune. |
| COP17 – UNCCD; India’s Grasslands Guide | India launched its first-ever Guide to Grasslands and Other Open Natural Ecosystems (ONEs) of India at COP17 of UNCCD in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on 17 August 2026; guide documents: Himalayan and Terai grasslands, Thar and Banni landscapes, Deccan savannas, deserts, scrublands, rocky plateaus, ravines; UNCCD established 1994; one of three Rio Conventions (UNFCCC, CBD, UNCCD); secretariat: Bonn, Germany. |
| Gurajada Venkata Apparao | Gurajada Venkata Apparao (21 September 1862 – 30 November 1915); pioneer of modern Telugu literature; born in Rayavaram AP; associated with Vizianagaram; worked at Maharajah’s College, Vizianagaram; famous play: Kanyasulkam (criticised child marriage, bride-price, and exploitation of women through satire and realistic characters); famous poem: “Desamunu Preminchumanna” (nation defined by people, not land); advocated Vyavaharika Bhasha (spoken Telugu) in literary writing. |
| Sumit Sarkar – Historian | Eminent historian Sumit Sarkar passed away on 13 August 2026 at age 87; major works: Modern India 1885–1947 (on colonial India and Indian national movement) and The Swadeshi Movement in Bengal (on the Swadeshi Movement and Bengal Partition). |
