In Defence Current Affairs for 21 August 2026, we will see the latest national and international current affairs news. These important current affairs will be beneficial for your upcoming NDA, CDS, CDS OTA, AFCAT, TA, Agniveer Army, Agniveer Navy, Agniveer Air Force, Women Military Police, INET, MNS, ACC exams, SCO, PCSL, CAPF, and SSB interviews, and direct entries for Army, Navy, and Air Force like SSC Tech, TGC, JAG, NCC, TES, 10+2 Cadet. Download a PDF file about current events at the end of this article. Let us now see the Current Affairs.
Defence Current Affairs 21 August 2026
India and Japan Deepen Defence Cooperation
India and Japan continued to strengthen their strategic and defence partnership during a bilateral meeting between Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh and Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi in New Delhi on 20 August 2026.
The two sides reviewed the steady expansion of defence cooperation under the Japan-India Special Strategic and Global Partnership, which both countries regard as an important pillar for peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.
Maritime Security Cooperation
A major outcome of the meeting was the signing of a Memorandum of Arrangement on Maritime Security Cooperation between the defence ministries of India and Japan.
The arrangement seeks to strengthen cooperation between the Indian Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force in areas including:
- Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA)
- Information sharing
- Search and Rescue (SAR)
- Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR)
- Naval exercises and professional exchanges
- Logistical support
- Port access, maintenance and repair facilities
Both sides also agreed to improve coordination for protecting Sea Lines of Communications (SLOCs) through naval ship visits, joint exercises and exchanges of personnel and subject-matter experts.
Expanding Military Exercises
India and Japan welcomed the progress of their regular military exercises, including:
- Dharma Guardian – Army exercise
- JAIMEX – Maritime exercise
- Veer Guardian 26 – Air Force exercise
The upcoming Veer Guardian 26 is particularly significant because Japanese Air Self-Defence Force fighter aircraft are scheduled to visit India and participate in the exercise for the first time.
BRICS Ocean and Polar Science Meeting Held in Goa
The 8th Meeting of the BRICS Working Group on Ocean, Polar Science and Technology (OPST) was held in Goa from 12–14 August 2026 during India’s BRICS Presidency.
The meeting was organised by the Ministry of Earth Sciences and hosted by the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR).
The gathering provided a platform for BRICS countries to discuss scientific cooperation, knowledge sharing, capacity building and joint research in ocean and polar sciences.
Key Areas of Discussion
The discussions focused on several important areas:
- Protection and resilience of coastal cities
- Strengthening the Global Ocean Observing System
- Development of reliable ocean information services
- Joint polar research
- Inclusive participation in Antarctic expeditions
- Capacity building for young researchers
- Protection of marine and polar biodiversity
The participating countries agreed to work together on coastal resilience, joint polar-ocean biodiversity studies, preparations for International Polar Year-5, and opportunities for developing young researchers.
Significance
The initiative highlights the importance of scientific collaboration among BRICS members in understanding oceans, polar ecosystems and the challenges posed by environmental changes.
Armenia Set to Acquire Indian Pralay Missiles
Armenia is reportedly moving towards acquiring more than 50 Pralay tactical surface-to-surface missiles from India, with negotiations on pricing and other aspects underway.
The development could represent an important expansion of India-Armenia defence cooperation, particularly in the field of strategic strike capabilities.
What Is the Pralay Missile?
Pralay is a solid-fuelled, canisterised and road-mobile tactical missile developed by India’s DRDO.
Its mobility allows it to be rapidly deployed, while its precision-strike capability makes it suitable for engaging important battlefield targets.
The domestic version is described as having a range of approximately 150–500 km, while the export configuration is limited to around 290 km in accordance with the stated export-control framework.
Key Features
According to the provided information, Pralay features:
- Solid-fuel propulsion
- Road mobility
- Canisterised launch system
- High-speed flight exceeding Mach 6
- High accuracy
- Advanced manoeuvrability
- Warhead capacity of approximately 350–1,000 kg
The missile can reportedly be configured for different types of warheads and can be employed against targets such as command centres, radar installations and airfields.
India-Armenia Defence Partnership
Armenia has already acquired several Indian defence systems, including:
- Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launchers
- Akash surface-to-air missile systems
- Swathi weapon-locating radars
- Anti-drone systems
The provided material states that Armenian defence contracts involving Indian systems have crossed $1.5 billion.
Australia Agrees to Supply Uranium to India
Australia has agreed to supply uranium to India, marking a major development in bilateral cooperation in the nuclear-energy sector.
The move is significant because India has historically faced restrictions in international nuclear commerce due to its position outside the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) framework.
India’s Nuclear Energy Ambitions
India is seeking to significantly expand its nuclear power capacity as electricity demand increases.
The country has set an ambitious goal of reaching 100 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2047.
Despite expanding its nuclear capacity, nuclear energy currently accounts for only a relatively small share of India’s overall electricity generation.
Why Uranium Supply Matters
A reliable supply of nuclear fuel is important for expanding India’s nuclear-energy programme.
Australia’s decision therefore has significance for:
- India’s long-term energy security
- Nuclear power generation
- Diversification of energy sources
- India-Australia strategic relations
- Clean-energy development
India and Australia also maintain substantial economic relations. According to the provided information, bilateral trade in goods and services reached A$54.4 billion in 2024–25.
India’s Defence and Aviation Market May Reach $60 Billion by 2033
India’s combined defence and aviation market is projected to reach approximately $60 billion by 2033.
The defence sector is expected to benefit significantly from India’s emphasis on indigenisation, domestic procurement and defence exports.
Growth of Domestic Defence Procurement
India has increasingly shifted towards domestic procurement to reduce dependence on foreign suppliers.
According to the provided information, the share of domestic procurement increased from approximately 54% in FY2019 to more than 70%.
The government has also set an ambitious defence-export target of ₹500 billion by FY2029.
Increasing Defence Opportunities
The sharp rise in Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) approvals indicates a growing pipeline of defence acquisitions.
The provided material estimates that this could translate into approximately ₹6.5–7 trillion in new orders during FY2027–29.
Indian companies are therefore expected to benefit from:
- Greater domestic defence procurement
- Indigenous weapons development
- Rising defence exports
- Increased demand for advanced military systems
- Expansion of private-sector participation
Defence vs Aviation
While defence manufacturing is increasingly being driven by domestic indigenisation, the aviation sector continues to face greater dependence on imports because of limitations in domestic manufacturing capabilities.
The projected growth of the overall market nevertheless highlights India’s expanding role in the global defence and aerospace ecosystem.
Review Questions
- Who held the India-Japan bilateral defence meeting in New Delhi on 20 August
2026?
A) Rajnath Singh and Shigeru Ishiba
B) Rajnath Singh and Shinjiro Koizumi
C) Amit Shah and Shinjiro Koizumi
D) Rajesh Kumar Singh and Shinjiro Koizumi
Answer: B) Rajnath Singh and Shinjiro Koizumi - Which agreement was signed by India and Japan to strengthen maritime security
cooperation?
A) Agreement on Naval Logistics Cooperation
B) Memorandum of Arrangement on Maritime Security Cooperation
C) Indo-Pacific Defence Cooperation Treaty
D) Maritime Technology Sharing Agreement
Answer: B) Memorandum of Arrangement on Maritime Security Cooperation - The 8th BRICS Working Group Meeting on Ocean, Polar Science and Technology
was held in which Indian state?
A) Kerala
B) Tamil Nadu
C) Goa
D) Odisha
Answer: C) Goa - Which Indian missile is reportedly being considered for acquisition by Armenia?
A) Akash
B) BrahMos
C) Pralay
D) Astra
Answer: C) Pralay - Australia has agreed to supply which strategic resource to India?
A) Lithium
B) Uranium
C) Cobalt
D) Rare-earth elements
Answer: B) Uranium - India’s defence and aviation market is projected to reach approximately what
value by 2033?
A) $40 billion
B) $50 billion
C) $60 billion
D) $75 billion
Answer: C) $60 billion - Consider the following statements regarding the Rim of the Pacific Exercise
(RIMPAC): 1. RIMPAC 2026 is the 30th edition of the exercise, held under the theme “Partners:
Integrated and Prepared.” 2. It is the world’s largest international naval exercise hosted by the U.S. Pacific Fleet and has been conducted since 1971.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A) (A) Only 1
(B) Only 2
(C) Both 1 and 2 (D) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: C - Consider the following statements regarding India–France defence cooperation: 1. France is India’s second-largest arms supplier. 2. India and France conduct the exercises Shakti, Varuna and Garuda.
Which of the statements is/are correct?
(A) Only 1
(B) Both 1 and 2
(B) Only 2
(D) Neither 1 nor 2 Answer: C - Consider the following statements regarding Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth: 1. He become the first officer from the Armoured Corps to serve as Chief of the Army Staff in nearly three decades. 2. He is the third Army Chief to emerge from the 2nd Lancers regiment.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(A) Only 1
(B) Only 2
(C) Both 1 and 2 (D) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: C - Consider the following statements regarding Exercise Pitch Black 2026: 1. It is a bilateral naval exercise conducted exclusively between India and Australia. 2. The exercise is hosted by Australia and focuses on enhancing interoperability among participating air forces.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(A) Only 1
(B) Only 2
(C) Both 1 and 2 (D) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: B - War Cry Of MECHANISED INFANTRY REGIMENT Is
A. Bol Bajrang Bali Ki jai
B. Raja Ramachandra ki jai
C. Bolo Bharat Mata ki jai
D. None of the above
ANSWER: C - CRPF Motto Is
A. Service Before Self
B. Service and Loyalty
C. We Protect
D. Touch the sky with glory
ANSWER: B - ICGS Saksham Is A
A. Destroyer
B. Aircraft Carrier
C. OPV
D. Refueling Ship
ANSWER: C - “Nuclearization of Asia” Book Written By
A. Rene Naba
B. VR Chaudhari
C. Gen Parvez Musharraf
D. APJ Abdul Kalam
ANSWER: A - Indian Coast Guard Formed On
A. August 18, 1978
B. September 18, 1978
C. March 18, 1976
D. April 18, 1976
ANSWER: A - ‘MBT Bhishma’ Is The Name Of :
A. Fighter aircraft
B. Tank
C. Armoured vehicles
D. Infantry regiments
ANSWER: B - Barak Is A
A. Surface-to-air Missile
B. Surface-to-Surface Missile
C. Air-to-air Missile
D. Surface-to-Sea Missile
ANSWER: A - INS Valsura Located At
A. Jamnagar, Gujrat
B. Mumbai, M.H
C. Kochi, Kerala
D. A & NC
ANSWER: A - Exercise Maitree Conducted B/w India &
A. Thailand
B. Nepal
C. Bangladesh
D. Bhutan
ANSWER: A - Officers Training Academy Is At
A. Chennai
B. Bhopal
C. Gaya
D. Both A & C
ANSWER: D - DF-41 ICBM Is A Missile Of
A. India
B. Russia
C. China
D. North Korea
ANSWER: C - The IAI Heron UAV Developed By
A. USA
B. South Korea
C. Israel
D. China
ANSWER: C
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