In Current Affairs for 22 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.
Current Affairs 22 August 2026
Madras Day 2026
Madras Day 2026 is being observed on 22 August to commemorate the historical foundation of Madras, the city now known as Chennai.
The history of Madras dates back to 1639, when the English East India Company obtained land at Madraspatnam from local rulers. This enabled the establishment of an English settlement along the Coromandel Coast.
A major landmark in the development of the settlement was the construction of Fort St George, which became the centre around which the city gradually developed.
Francis Day and Andrew Cogan arrived at Madraspatnam on 20 February 1640. Over the following years, additional agreements and political developments expanded the influence of the English in the region.
The settlements eventually developed into White Town and Black Town, which together came to be associated with the larger settlement of Madras.
Why Madras Day is Important?
Madras Day provides an opportunity to remember the historical evolution of Chennai and its contribution to India’s cultural, educational, economic and social landscape.
Supreme Court Reduces Practice Requirement for Judicial Service
The Supreme Court of India has reduced the mandatory legal-practice requirement for candidates appearing in entry-level judicial service examinations from three years to one year.
The decision was delivered by a three-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant.
The judgment provides relief to law graduates and young lawyers who had been affected by the earlier requirement of three years of legal practice.
The latest decision came while dealing with review petitions against the Supreme Court’s May 2025 judgment, which had introduced three years of mandatory legal practice for candidates seeking entry into the judicial service.
Significance
The reduction in the practice requirement is expected to make entry-level judicial examinations more accessible to young law graduates while retaining a practical-experience component.
Exam Point:
Three years → One year is the key change introduced by the latest judgment.
India Gets Its First Soil Texture Map
India has developed its first-ever Soil Texture Map, providing detailed digital information about soil characteristics across the country.
The map has been prepared by the National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning (NBSS&LUP), an institution functioning under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
The map was launched on 16 July 2026 and provides soil-texture information on a hectare-wise basis.
Technology Used
The development of the map involved multiple techniques, including:
- Field studies
- Remote sensing
- Artificial intelligence
The resulting digital database provides information on the distribution and characteristics of different soil textures across various parts of India.
Applications of the Soil Texture Map
The new resource can support:
- Crop planning
- Irrigation planning
- Soil classification
- Land-use planning
- Agricultural decision-making
The initiative can help improve understanding of India’s soil resources and support more efficient agricultural planning.
Key Fact
Organisation: NBSS&LUP
Parent organisation: ICAR
Location mentioned: Nagpur, Maharashtra
Launch: 16 July 2026
Karnataka Bans Analogue Paneer for One Year
The Food Safety Division of Karnataka has prohibited the manufacture, storage, distribution and sale of analogue paneer marketed as paneer across the state.
The prohibition will remain in force from 17 August 2026 to 17 August 2027.
The order has been issued under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and targets non-dairy products that are marketed using a dairy-product name.
What is Analogue Paneer?
Analogue paneer is a product designed to resemble conventional dairy paneer but may use vegetable oil, vegetable fat or other non-dairy ingredients instead of milk fat or milk solids, either completely or partially.
The state’s directive applies to products that imitate paneer in terms of appearance, texture or usage but do not satisfy the composition requirements applicable to milk-based paneer.
Legal Provisions
The order refers to provisions including:
- Section 30(2)(a)
- Section 18
- Section 29
of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
The notification also clarifies that the prohibition does not cover separately regulated standardised food categories such as processed cheese, frozen desserts and mixed-fat spreads.
Important Exam Fact
Karnataka’s analogue paneer ban:
17 August 2026 – 17 August 2027
Sophie Adenot Becomes First French Woman to Conduct a Spacewalk
European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Sophie Adenot achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first French woman to conduct a spacewalk.
She performed the extravehicular activity on 18 August 2026 outside the International Space Station (ISS) alongside NASA astronaut Anil Menon.
The spacewalk lasted 6 hours and 23 minutes and was designated U.S. Spacewalk 97.
Main Objective of the Spacewalk
The primary task was to replace a malfunctioning Space-to-Ground Antenna (SGANT) located on the ISS Z1 truss.
The antenna is responsible for supporting high-speed data communication between the International Space Station and Mission Control in Houston.
However, the astronauts encountered difficulties involving stuck bolts and electrical cables. Because of these complications, Mission Control instructed them to secure the failed antenna using a long-duration tie-down before concluding the EVA.
Support from the ISS Crew
NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway assisted the spacewalkers from inside the ISS.
Their responsibilities included helping the astronauts prepare their spacesuits and operating the Canadarm2 robotic arm.
The mission became the 282nd spacewalk associated with the assembly, maintenance and upgrading of the International Space Station.
Key Facts
- Astronaut: Sophie Adenot
- Organisation: European Space Agency
- Historic achievement: First French woman to conduct a spacewalk
- Date: 18 August 2026
- Duration: 6 hours 23 minutes
- Location: International Space Station
- Spacewalk partner: Anil Menon
- Main task: Replacement of SGANT antenna
National Teachers Award 2026
The provided material also contains a list of 48 teachers representing different States, Union Territories and educational organisations. The list includes teachers from government schools, CBSE, CISCE, Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti, Sainik Schools and Eklavya Model Residential Schools.
The selected teachers include representatives from Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Ladakh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Puducherry, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and West Bengal, among others.
The list highlights the geographical diversity of India’s teaching community and the contribution of educators working across different school systems and regions.
Review Questions
1. Madras Day is observed every year on which date?
A. August 15
B. August 20
C. August 22
D. September 5
Answer: C. August 22
2. Madras was historically known by which name?
A. Bombay
B. Madraspatnam
C. Calicut
D. Trichinopoly
Answer: B. Madraspatnam
3. Which fort became the focal point of the English settlement in Madras?
A. Fort William
B. Fort St David
C. Fort St George
D. Agra Fort
Answer: C. Fort St George
4. The Supreme Court recently reduced the mandatory legal practice period for candidates appearing in entry-level judicial service examinations from three years to:
A. Six months
B. One year
C. Two years
D. Five years
Answer: B. One year
5. India’s first-ever Soil Texture Map was developed by which organisation?
A. ISRO
B. DRDO
C. NBSS&LUP
D. Survey of India
Answer: C. NBSS&LUP
6. NBSS&LUP functions under which organisation?
A. Ministry of Agriculture
B. Indian Council of Agricultural Research
C. Ministry of Earth Sciences
D. NITI Aayog
Answer: B. Indian Council of Agricultural Research
7. Karnataka has prohibited the sale of analogue paneer for which period?
A. Six months
B. One year
C. Two years
D. Three years
Answer: B. One year
8. Sophie Adenot became the first woman from which country to perform a spacewalk?
A. Germany
B. Italy
C. France
D. Spain
Answer: C. France
9. Sophie Adenot performed the spacewalk outside which space station?
A. Tiangong Space Station
B. Mir Space Station
C. International Space Station
D. Skylab
Answer: C. International Space Station
10. What was the main task of the spacewalk involving Sophie Adenot and NASA astronaut Anil Menon?
A. Repairing solar panels
B. Replacing a failed Space-to-Ground antenna
C. Installing a new robotic arm
D. Collecting lunar samples
Answer: B. Replacing a failed Space-to-Ground antenna
