In Monthly Current Affairs for 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.
Monthly Current Affairs August 2026
Asmita Dey Becomes First Indian to Win Commonwealth Games Judo Gold
- Indian judoka Asmita Dey scripted history by becoming the first Indian to win a gold medal in judo at the Commonwealth Games. She achieved the feat after defeating Heidi Quach of Canada in the Women’s 48 kg final held in Glasgow.
- Key Highlights
- First Indian woman to win Commonwealth Games judo gold.
- Defeated Canada’s Heidi Quach in the final.
- Victory is expected to encourage greater participation in judo across India.
- Significance
- Asmita Dey’s success represents a landmark achievement for Indian judo and is expected to inspire young athletes to pursue the sport.
- Key Points
- Athlete: Asmita Dey
- Event: Women’s 48 kg Judo
- Achievement: First Indian Judo Gold at Commonwealth Games
Harsh Singh Becomes First Indian Man to Win Commonwealth Games Judo Gold
- Indian judoka Harsh Singh created history by becoming the first Indian man to win a gold medal in judo at the Commonwealth Games. He defeated Joshua Katz of Australia in the Men’s 60 kg final.
- Career Highlights
- Before his Commonwealth Games success, Harsh Singh represented India in several international competitions, including:
- Zagreb Grand Prix 2025
- Qazaqstan Barysy Grand Slam 2026
- Various International Judo Federation events
- Significance
- The victory marks a significant milestone for Indian judo and showcases the country’s improving standards in combat sports.
- Key Points
- Athlete: Harsh Singh
- Event: Men’s 60 kg Judo
- Achievement: First Indian man to win Commonwealth Games Judo Gold
Tejaswin Shankar Wins Historic Decathlon Bronze
- Indian athlete Tejaswin Shankar became the first Indian to win a medal in the decathlon at the Commonwealth Games by securing the bronze medal in Glasgow.
Performance Highlights
- Despite competing with a knee injury, Tejaswin accumulated 7,976 points across the ten events to finish third.
- The event was won by Lindon Victor (Grenada), while Damian Warner (Canada) secured silver.
Significance
- The achievement highlights India’s growing presence in multi-event athletics and reflects Tejaswin’s resilience and determination.
· Key Points
- Athlete: Tejaswin Shankar
- Event: Decathlon
- Medal: Bronze
- Points: 7,976
Commonwealth Games 2026: India Finishes Fourth with 39 Medals
- India delivered an impressive performance at the Commonwealth Games 2026, finishing fourth in the overall medal standings with a total of 39 medals. Although India matched Scotland’s medal tally, it secured a higher position due to a superior count of silver medals. The campaign highlighted India’s growing strength across multiple sporting disciplines, particularly in boxing and athletics.
- Key Highlights
- India secured 4th position in the overall standings.
- The contingent won 39 medals in total.
- Boxing emerged as India’s most successful sport with 10 medals, including 7 gold medals.
- Mirabai Chanu became the first Indian woman to win three consecutive Commonwealth Games gold medals.
- Asmita Dey created history as India’s first Commonwealth Games Judo Champion.
- Gulveer Singh became the first Indian track and field athlete to win two individual medals at a single Commonwealth Games.
- Tejaswin Shankar became India’s first Commonwealth Games decathlon medallist.
- India’s para-athletes recorded their best-ever Commonwealth Games performance by winning 7 medals.
- Neeraj Chopra returned to the Commonwealth Games after missing the Birmingham 2022 edition and won a silver medal.
- Significance
- India’s performance reflects the country’s growing excellence in international sports and showcases the success of investments in athlete development and sports infrastructure.
Ankur Bhattacharjee, Yashaswini Ghorpade Win CWG TT Singles Titles
- Indian paddlers Ankur Bhattacharjee and Yashaswini Ghorpade won the men’s and women’s singles titles at the 22nd Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships, reinforcing India’s dominance in Commonwealth table tennis. The Indian contingent enjoyed a remarkable campaign by winning four of the five available gold medals.
- Key Highlights
- Ankur Bhattacharjee won the men’s singles title.
- Yashaswini Ghorpade claimed the women’s singles championship.
- India secured four out of five gold medals in the tournament.
- In the women’s doubles, Sreeja Akula and Syndrela Das defeated Yashaswini Ghorpade and Divyanshi Bhowmick in an all-Indian final.
- Manav Thakkar and Taneesha Kotecha won the mixed doubles title after defeating Malaysia in the final.
- Significance
- The outstanding performance highlights India’s emergence as a major force in Commonwealth table tennis and reflects the country’s depth of talent across multiple events.
Ahmedabad Officially Begins Journey Towards Hosting Commonwealth Games 2030
- India took a significant step towards hosting the Commonwealth Games 2030 as Ahmedabad officially received the Commonwealth Games Flag and Host Baton during the closing ceremony of the 2026 Games in Glasgow. The handover marks the beginning of preparations for the historic centenary edition of the Games.
- Key Highlights
- Ahmedabad will host the Commonwealth Games 2030.
- The Commonwealth Games Flag and Host Baton were officially handed over during the closing ceremony.
- The 2030 Games will mark the 100th anniversary of the Commonwealth Games.
- India previously hosted the Games in New Delhi in 2010.
- India will become the second country, after Australia, to host the Commonwealth Games twice.
- Significance
- Hosting the Commonwealth Games 2030 is expected to boost sports infrastructure, tourism, international recognition, and economic activity while encouraging greater participation in sports across the country.
Nathan Thomas Becomes the World’s Youngest Male Professor
- Nathan Thomas, an engineering educator from the United States, has earned recognition as the world’s youngest male professor, achieving this distinction at the age of 18 years and 346 days. His remarkable accomplishment reflects exceptional academic excellence and dedication to higher education at a very young age.
- Background
- Nathan Thomas was appointed to teach the COP 2270: C for Engineers course at Miami Dade College in August 2023. He surpassed the long-standing record held by Scottish mathematician Colin Maclaurin, who became a professor at the age of 19.
- Key Highlights
- Recognised as the youngest male professor in the world.
- Appointed at 18 years and 346 days.
- Teaching C for Engineers (COP 2270) at Miami Dade College.
- Currently pursuing a Juris Doctor (Law) degree at the University of Miami School of Law.
- Expected to complete his law degree in 2028.
- Significance
- Nathan Thomas’s achievement demonstrates that dedication, talent, and academic excellence can lead to extraordinary accomplishments regardless of age.
Glaw Lake Becomes Arunachal Pradesh’s First Ramsar Site
- Glaw Lake, situated in the Kamlang Tiger Reserve and Wildlife Sanctuary in Lohit district, Arunachal Pradesh, has been designated as India’s 101st Ramsar Site on 3 August 2026. It is the first Ramsar wetland in Arunachal Pradesh, marking a significant milestone in India’s wetland conservation efforts.
- Background
- The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty adopted in 1971 at Ramsar, Iran, for the conservation and wise use of wetlands. India became a party to the convention in 1982.
- Key Highlights
- India’s 101st Ramsar Site.
- First Ramsar site in Arunachal Pradesh.
- Located in Kamlang Tiger Reserve and Wildlife Sanctuary.
- Situated in the Eastern Himalayas, a globally recognised biodiversity hotspot.
- India’s Ramsar Site count increased from 26 in 2014 to 101 in 2026.
- Significance
- The Ramsar recognition strengthens wetland conservation, biodiversity protection, and sustainable ecosystem management in India’s northeastern region.
Annapurni Subramaniam Wins COSPAR Vikram Sarabhai Medal 2026
- Renowned Indian astrophysicist Dr. Annapurni Subramaniam has been honoured with the COSPAR Vikram Sarabhai Medal 2026, becoming the first Indian woman and the fourth Indian scientist to receive this prestigious international recognition. The award acknowledges her outstanding contributions to space science and astrophysics.
- Background
- The COSPAR Vikram Sarabhai Medal is jointly conferred by the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to recognise scientists from developing countries for their remarkable contributions to space research.
- Key Highlights
- First Indian woman to receive the medal.
- Fourth Indian overall to win the honour.
- Third woman scientist globally to receive the award.
- Director of the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bengaluru.
- Also serves as Director of the Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS).
- Her research focuses on stellar populations, star clusters, and galaxy evolution.
- Significance
- The award highlights India’s growing contribution to global space research and serves as an inspiration for young scientists, especially women pursuing careers in astrophysics.
Operation Trishul Brings Back 274 Fugitives Since 2019
- Operation Trishul is India’s coordinated fugitive-tracking and extradition initiative that has successfully facilitated the return of 274 fugitives from 36 countries since 2019. The operation targets individuals involved in terrorism, organised crime, financial fraud, murder, narcotics trafficking, human trafficking, and other serious offences.
- Background
- The operation relies on close coordination among the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Intelligence Bureau (IB), Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), state police forces, and Interpol. Advanced technologies, including satellite imagery, surveillance systems, and digital intelligence, are used to locate fugitives hiding abroad.
- Key Highlights
- 274 fugitives returned since 2019.Individuals brought back from 36 countries.
- 70 fugitives returned during 2025.45 fugitives returned by July 2026.
- CBI has established a Special Global Operations Centre.
- Uses extradition treaties and international police cooperation.Significance
- Operation Trishul strengthens India’s efforts to combat transnational crime, improve international law enforcement cooperation, and ensure that offenders are brought to justice regardless of where they attempt to evade the law.
Ladakh to Launch India’s First High-Altitude Wildlife Safari
- The Union Territory of Ladakh has approved India’s first guided high-altitude wildlife safari, aimed at promoting eco-tourism while ensuring wildlife conservation. The safari will cover several important wildlife habitats, including Hemis National Park, Changthang, Karakoram Wildlife Sanctuary, Nubra, Zanskar, Sham, Kargil, and Drass.
- Background
- The initiative was approved during the first governing body meeting of the Snow Leopard and High-Altitude Nature Conservation Society (SHAN Conservation Society) under the chairmanship of the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Vinai Kumar Saxena.
- Key Highlights
- India’s first guided high-altitude wildlife safari.Approved on 6 August 2026.Special open-back safari vehicles will be used.Tours will be operated by trained local drivers and wildlife guides.Covers major wildlife habitats across Ladakh.Ladakh is home to approximately 477 snow leopards, along with 340 bird species, 38 mammal species, and 1,800 vascular plant species.Significance
- The project promotes responsible tourism, supports local livelihoods, enhances wildlife conservation, and showcases Ladakh’s unique biodiversity while protecting its fragile Himalayan ecosystem.
Suraj Kumar Chand Becomes First Indian to Win FISU World University Squash Gold
- Indian squash player Suraj Kumar Chand created history by becoming the first Indian to win the men’s individual gold medal at the FISU World University Squash Championship.
- The 25-year-old Mumbai-based player defeated Hungary’s Benedek Takacs in a closely contested five-game final on 6 August 2026.The match saw several momentum shifts. Takacs won the opening game 11–5, but Chand responded by taking the second and third games. The Hungarian levelled the contest by winning the fourth game, but Chand dominated the deciding game 11–4 to secure the championship.
- Chand had also performed strongly earlier in 2026, winning the HCL PSA Indian Tour event in Chennai without dropping a game.Key FactsPlayer: Suraj Kumar ChandSport: SquashAchievement: First Indian men’s individual FISU World University Squash championFinal opponent: Benedek Takacs
- Final score: 11–5, 8–11, 11–5, 6–11, 11–4
R Praggnanandhaa Wins Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz 2026
- Indian chess Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa won the Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz 2026, part of the Grand Chess Tour. The 20-year-old Indian produced a dominant performance and finished with 23.5 points out of 36.
- Praggnanandhaa finished 1.5 points ahead of Uzbekistan’s Javokhir Sindarov, who secured second place with 22 points. He sealed the championship one round before the conclusion after drawing against Sindarov.
- The victory earned Praggnanandhaa $50,000 and 13 Grand Chess Tour points, strengthening his position in the race for the 2026 GCT Finals.
- Final Standings
| Rank | Player | Country | Points |
| 1 | R Praggnanandhaa | India | 23.5 |
| 2 | Javokhir Sindarov | Uzbekistan | 22.0 |
| 3 | Wesley So | USA | 20.5 |
| 4 | Levon Aronian | USA | 19.0 |
| 5 | Fabiano Caruana | USA | 17.0 |
Deepak Dhar Wins 2026 Dirac Medal
- Indian theoretical physicist Deepak Dhar was named a recipient of the prestigious 2026 Dirac Medal by the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) on 8 August 2026
- Dhar shared the award with Bernard Derrida of France, Marc Mézard of Italy, and Haim Sompolinsky of Israel and the United States. The Dirac Medal was established in 1985 by ICTP and is presented annually on 8 August, the birth anniversary of renowned physicist Paul Dirac. The award carries a prize of US$5,000.
- Dhar is known for important work in statistical mechanics, including research related to the sandpile model. His 2026 citation recognised contributions spanning equilibrium and non-equilibrium statistical mechanics, optimisation, theoretical neuroscience and artificial intelligence.
- He graduated from the University of Allahabad in 1970, completed his MSc at IIT Kanpur in 1972 and obtained his PhD from the California Institute of Technology in 1978. He was also awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2023. Key FactsAward: Dirac Medal 2026Recipient: Deepak DharOrganisation: ICTPEstablished: 1985Award date: 8 AugustField: Statistical mechanics and related theoretical sciences
- Indian civilian honour: Padma Bhushan, 2023
Ashmita Chaliha Wins Korea Masters 2026
- Indian badminton player Ashmita Chaliha won the women’s singles title at the Korea Masters 2026, creating history as the first Indian to win the Korea Masters. The victory also gave her her maiden BWF World Tour Super 300 title.
- The tournament was held in Asan, South Korea. Chaliha defeated China’s fourth-seeded Han Qian Xi in the final at the Yi Sun-sin Gymnasium.After losing the opening game 14–21, Chaliha made a strong comeback and won the next two games 21–14, 21–14, completing the victory in 53 minutes.Her achievement is particularly notable because she had previously suffered a right knee medial meniscus injury during the 2024 Korea Open.
- Key Facts
- Player: Ashmita Chaliha
- Tournament: Korea Masters 2026
- Category: Women’s Singles
- Level: BWF World Tour Super 300
- Opponent: Han Qian Xi
- Achievement: First Indian to win Korea Masters
Indian Institutions Rise to 52 in QS Rankings
- India has significantly increased its presence in the QS World University Rankings 2027, with 52 Indian higher-education institutions featuring in the global ranking. This is a substantial increase from just 11 Indian institutions listed in the 2015 edition.
- The QS World University Rankings are published annually by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS). The ranking evaluates universities using several indicators, including academic reputation, employer reputation, faculty-student ratio, research citations and internationalisation.
- IIT Delhi Leads Indian Institutions
- The Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi) emerged as India’s highest-ranked institution in the 2027 edition, securing 118th position globally. It improved by five places and equalled the best-ever global position achieved by an Indian institution.
- Other leading Indian institutions included:
- IIT Bombay – 134th
- IIT Madras – 170th
- IIT Kharagpur – 205th
- IISc Bengaluru – 221st
- IIT Kanpur – 221st
- University of Delhi – 322nd
- Of the 52 Indian institutions, 26 improved their rankings, nine remained at the same positions, 15 declined and two entered the ranking for the first time. Eighteen institutions achieved their best-ever QS positions.
- Significance
- The growing representation of Indian institutions reflects the expansion of India’s higher-education and research ecosystem and the increasing international visibility of its universities.
Gujarat to Get Asia’s First Desert-Themed Night Safari
- Gujarat has received approval for a Desert Zoological Park and Night Safari at Juna Deesa in Banaskantha district.
- The project has been approved by the Central Zoo Authority and is planned over approximately 103 hectares of government land. It is proposed as Asia’s first desert-themed drive-through night safari.
- The estimated cost of the project is ₹542.14 crore. The park is expected to house around 2,700 animals and birds belonging to nearly 83 species, including native, exotic and avian species.
- The design will include a separate day zoo and five dedicated night-safari enclosures. The night safari concept will allow visitors to observe nocturnal species after sunset in controlled habitats.
- Exam Points
- Location: Juna Deesa, Banaskantha, Gujarat
- Project: Desert Zoological Park & Night Safari
- Special feature: Asia’s first desert-themed drive-through night safari
- Area: About 103 hectares
- Estimated cost: ₹542.14 crore
- Expected animals/birds: Around 2,700
- Species: Nearly 83
Sprite Tejas Express Becomes India’s First Brand-Named Train
- The Lucknow–New Delhi Tejas Express, operating as train numbers 82501 and 82502, is set to run under the name Sprite Tejas Express through a commercial branding arrangement.
- The branding arrangement is managed by the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), while Indian Railways continues to own the railway infrastructure and collect standard hauling charges.
- The Tejas Express is an air-conditioned superfast train. The Lucknow–Delhi service was India’s first private corporate train when IRCTC took responsibility for its operation and service management.
- Sprite, a beverage brand owned by Coca-Cola, secured the branding and advertising rights for the route. The arrangement includes exterior vinyl wraps and advertisements inside the train, representing a non-fare revenue model for the railway sector.
PM Modi Announces ₹85,000 Crore for ‘Samudra Manthan’ Offshore Exploration Scheme
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an allocation of ₹85,000 crore for the Samudra Manthan scheme during his Independence Day address on 15 August 2026 at the Red Fort in New Delhi. The initiative is aimed at expanding India’s exploration of offshore oil and gas resources and strengthening the country’s energy security.
- Samudra Manthan is the National Offshore Exploration Scheme under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. The Union Cabinet approved it on 31 July 2026 as a Central Sector Scheme extending up to FY 2030–31.
- The scheme covers several major activities, including seismic mapping, deepwater and ultra-deepwater exploration, scientific drilling in frontier basins and shared offshore infrastructure. It also proposes an integrated Oil & Gas Manufacturing and Services Zone.
- The approved Phase-I outlay was ₹84,084 crore, while the Independence Day announcement referred to an enhanced allocation of ₹85,000 crore for accelerated implementation.
- India has an Exclusive Economic Zone extending over approximately 23.6 lakh square kilometres. The scheme is significant because India currently imports around 88.5% of its crude oil requirements and about half of its natural-gas requirement.
- The programme is expected to contribute to the discovery and development of domestic energy resources, with the material linking it to potential reserve accretion of more than 600 Million Metric Tons of Oil Equivalent (MMTOE).
PM Modi’s ‘Sapta Dhara’ Vision for Viksit Bharat
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced ‘Sapta Dhara’, a seven-point development framework, during his 80th Independence Day address on 15 August 2026. The framework identifies seven areas considered important for India’s future economic and strategic development.
- The seven streams are:
- Manufacturing
- Agriculture and Food Processing
- Technology and Innovation
- Gati Shakti
- Defence
- Green and Blue Economy
- Soft Power
- The framework is connected with the broader objective of Viksit Bharat 2047, which refers to India’s goal of becoming a developed nation by the centenary of Independence.Gati Shakti focuses on integrated planning for transportation, logistics and infrastructure. Meanwhile, the blue economy covers areas such as fisheries, ports, shipping, offshore energy and marine resources.
- The framework combines economic growth with technological development, defence capability, sustainable development and India’s cultural influence.
Vignesh Vermula and Saranya Devi Win Asian Junior Blitz Chess Titles
- Indian chess players Vignesh Vermula and Saranya Devi won the Open and Girls’ gold medals respectively at the Asian Junior Blitz Chess Championship held in Mumbai on 17 August 2026.
- The tournament was organised at the ITC Maratha Sheraton in Mumbai under the aegis of the Maharashtra Chess Association.
- Vignesh Vermula Wins Open Blitz Title
- Vignesh Vermula, who was the 23rd seed, secured the Open blitz championship on tie-break scores after finishing level on points with other players.
- Indian players dominated the top positions in the Open category. Sharnarthi Viresh finished second, while Nandish V S secured third place.
- Saranya Devi Wins Girls’ Title
- In the Girls’ section, Saranya Devi, the ninth seed, emerged victorious after displaying tactical skills throughout the tournament.
- Prishita Gupta won the silver medal, while Shanmathi Sree secured the bronze medal.
- Turkmenistan’s top seed Lala Shohradova finished fourth.
- What is Blitz Chess?
- Blitz chess is a fast format of chess in which players have a very short time control. When players finish with equal points, tie-break scores are used to determine their final positions.
National Sports Awards 2025 Announced
- The National Sports Awards 2025 were announced by the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports on 18 August 2026.
- The awards were finalised on the recommendations of a selection committee chaired by Justice (Retd.) Arun Kumar Mishra, a former Judge of the Supreme Court of India.
- Arjuna Awardees
- The PPT lists the following sportspersons among the Arjuna Award recipients:
| Sport | Awardee |
| Chess | Divya Deshmukh |
| Badminton | Gayatri Gopichand |
| Badminton | Treesa Jolly |
| Chess | Vidit Gujurathi |
| Athletics | Tejaswin Shankar |
| Boxing | Narender |
| Shooting | Dhanush Srikanth |
No Khel Ratna AwardA notable feature of the National Sports Awards 2025 announcement was that no awardee was announced for the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. Arjuna Award for Lifetime AchievementMr. I Arumainayagam, a former football player who was part of India’s gold-winning team at the 1962 Asian Games, was selected for the Arjuna Award in the Lifetime Achievement category. Dronacharya AwardThe PPT lists the following recipients under the Dronacharya Award for Best Coaches:Parveer Singh – Athletics Chhote Lal Yadav – Boxing Neha Nandkumar Chavan – Shooting Rashtriya Khel Protsahan PuruskarThe Pune-based Army Paralympic Node was selected for the Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar 2025.
Meyyappan Becomes Youngest CA
- Lakshmanan Meyyappan has been awarded the title of a Chartered Accountant, having received the Guinness World Record as the world’s youngest male Chartered Accountant at the age of 16 years and 141 days in Dubai.
- Already at the age of 15, Meyyappan has started studying for ACCA. He finished the qualification within about one year and established the groundwork for his career in finance.
- This achievement was later recognised by Guinness World Records as being the youngest male Chartered Accountant at the age of 16 years and 141 days.
- The record has been established in Dubai, where Meyyappan continues developing his academic and professional career.
India to Host SEMICON India 2026 in New Delhi
- SEMICON India 2026 will be held from September 17 to September 19, 2026, at Yashobhoomi, also called the India International Convention & Expo Centre, in Dwarka, New Delhi. The fifth edition of the semiconductor conference will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 17, 2026.
- SEMICON India is a semiconductor industry conference and exhibition organised in India with participation from global chipmakers, equipment suppliers, and policy stakeholders.The 2026 edition is being jointly organised by the India Semiconductor Mission, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, and SEMI, the global electronics supply chain industry association.The official theme for the 2026 event is “Silicon to Systems: Building the Ecosystem”.
- The theme is linked with India’s semiconductor manufacturing, design, packaging, and supply-chain development framework.The 2026 edition will feature more than 500 exhibitors and over 290 overseas companies. Delegations from more than 40 countries are expected, along with six country-focused pavilions for Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Germany, and the Netherlands.
- The India Semiconductor Mission is the nodal programme for semiconductor and display ecosystem development in India. The Union Cabinet has cleared “ISM 2.0”, a second-phase programme that covers chip design, equipment, materials, fabs, advanced packaging, research and development, and manufacturing talent.
Rotating Detonation Engines
- India-based defence start-up D-Propulse successfully demonstrated India’s first indigenous 5 kN air-breathing Rotating Detonation Engine (RDE), at a DRDO facility in Hyderabad, achieving Technology Readiness Level-5 (TRL-5).
- The milestone marks a significant step towards strengthening India’s indigenous next-generation air-breathing propulsion capabilities.Rotating Detonation Engine (RDE): A RDE is advanced propulsion technology that uses continuous supersonic detonation waves, potentially offering higher thermodynamic efficiency and a more compact combustor than conventional engines.Conventional Combustors (Deflagration): The flame front travels at subsonic speeds (below the speed of sound) at constant pressure, allowing the fuel-air mixture to expand as it heats up, resulting in significant heat loss.
- Detonation Engines (Detonation): The flame front propagates at supersonic speeds (above the speed of sound), creating a high-energy shock wave at constant volume; this compresses the unburned mixture immediately before combustion, converting significantly more chemical energy directly into pressure and thrust.RDEs offer 10% to 25% higher thermodynamic efficiency than traditional rocket engines.
- A 20% gain in thermodynamic efficiency translates to requiring roughly 17% less fuel, which directly lowers launch costs and allows vehicles to carry larger satellite payloads or heavier missile warheads.
Mirza Fakhrul Alamgir Elected Bangladesh’s 23rd President
- Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has been elected as the president of Bangladesh by getting a majority vote in the parliamentary elections as this is a huge career leap for one of the senior Bangladesh Nationalist Party leaders.
- The presidential election of Bangladesh grabbed attention due to more than one presidential candidate contesting the polls for the first time in 35 years.
- The election became a necessity when Mohammed Shahabuddin tendered his resignation on July 24 due to ill health. Shahabuddin was serving as the 22nd President of Bangladesh since April 2023, who had been elected unopposed as the Awami League candidate. His term of five years would have continued up till April 2028.
Ashutosh Parida to Receive 47th Sarala Puraskar
- Odia poet, essayist and former CSIR-IMMT scientist Dr. Ashutosh Parida has been selected for the 47th Sarala Puraskar for his poetry collection Bishwas De Pruthwi.
- The award ceremony is scheduled in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, on 25 October 2026, and the honour carries a citation, a copper plaque and a cash prize of Rs 7 lakh.
- The Sarala Puraskar is a literary award associated with Odisha and is presented by the Indian Metals Public Charitable Trust (IMPaCT), the charitable arm of IMFA. The award recognises works in Odia literature and is among the prominent literary honours in the state.
- Dr. Parida’s book was chosen from a final shortlist of seven books compiled in 2026. The shortlist included works by Aparna Mohanty, Padmaja Pal and Archana Nayak, along with other writers considered by the jury.
- IMPaCT also announced the 2026 Ila-Bansidhar Panda Kala Samman for lifetime excellence in the arts. The recipients are Odissi maestro Guru Durga Charan Ranbir and sculptor Damodar Behera, and each award carries a citation, a copper plaque and a cash prize of Rs 2.5 lakh.
Sowcar Janaki Dies at 94 in Chennai
- Veteran South Indian actress Sankaramanchi Janaki, known as Sowcar Janaki, died at the age of 94 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, on 21 August 2026. She was associated with Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam cinema, and her debut film was the 1950 Telugu film Shavukaru.
- Sankaramanchi Janaki became widely known by the screen name Sowcar Janaki after her debut in Shavukaru, directed by L. V. Prasad. The film title was rendered as Sowcar in some references, and the name remained attached to her career in South Indian cinema.
- Her film career extended across several decades and included work in multiple South Indian languages. News references placed her film count at nearly 400 films in some accounts and over 450 films in others, which reflects a factual variation in published filmography totals.
- Janaki received the Padma Shri in 2022, which is India’s fourth-highest civilian award. She also received the Kalaimamani award in 1969 and multiple Nandi Awards, which are state-level honours associated with Telugu cinema and the Government of Andhra Pradesh.
Dutch Grand Prix 2026
- Lando Norris won his second successive win in the 2026 Formula 1 season after holding on to victory in a thrilling and exciting Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort. The McLaren driver beat Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes by 11.536 seconds, with George Russell finishing third.
- Max Verstappen went off the road early in the race, crashing out after completing only one lap. Strategical games, Virtual Safety Cars, and Ferrari pressure made the final Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort a thrilling race.
- Top 5 Finishers
- Lando Norris – McLaren
- Kimi Antonelli – Mercedes
- George Russell – Mercedes
- Lewis Hamilton – Ferrari
- Charles Leclerc – Ferrari
Mitchell Starc Becomes Leading Wicket-Taker in WTC History
- Mitchell Starc, left arm fast bowler of Australia, has managed to enter the record books of ICC World Test Championship and become the biggest wicket taker in the tournament history.
- Currently, the bowler has 234 wickets in WTC matches, surpassing both Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon, who have 228 wickets each. Australian three bowlers still have the exclusive right to be the only bowlers with more than 200 wickets in WTC matches. Starc took his 234 wickets with an average of 24.25.
- The bowler has eleven four-wicket hauls and eight five-wicket hauls. The best WTC match figures of the player are 7/58.
Kaziah Liz Mejo Crowned Miss Universe India 2026
- Miss Universe India 2026 is 19-year-old Kaziah Liz Mejo of Keralam who has won the right to be the representative of India at the Miss Universe 2026 in Puerto Rico that will take place in November this year.
- The winner was declared among 52 contestants after the final round that took place in Zee Studios, Jaipur on August 23. The crown of Miss Universe India 2025 was given by Manika Vishwakarma to her successor. This win for Kaziah Liz Mejo comes after almost three years of preparations.
- As Miss Universe India 2026, Kaziah will represent India in the 75th Miss Universe contest set to take place in Puerto Rico in November 2026.
- Several other contestants were also recognized in the contest,
- Vaishnavi Gannesh – First Runner-up and Miss International India 2026
- Anushri Satavlekar – Second Runner-up
- Tejaswini Shrivastava – Third Runner-up
- Anubha Vashist Chaudhary – Fourth Runner-up
GM Pranesh M Wins Kanizsa Open 2026 Title
- Grandmaster Pranesh M, the young chess talent from India, has claimed victory in the Kanizsa Open 2026 Group A event that was played in Nagykanizsa, Hungary.
- The 19-year-old Grandmaster from the state of Tamil Nadu ended up winning the championship from a tie on superior tie-break scores after being tied in the first position after nine rounds of play.
- Pranesh was playing the final round as there was still some uncertainty over the winner of the championship. In the last round, he managed to beat German Grandmaster Vadim Petrovskiy and got a score of 7 points out of 9 rounds.
- Pranesh M is an Indian Grandmaster aged 19 years who belongs from Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu. He began his participation in the event with an FIDE rating of 2673 and ranked 44th in the August 2026 FIDE rankings.
UPI Completes 10 Years
- Unified Payments Interface (UPI). Introduced on 25 August 2016 by the NPCI (National Payments Corporation of India) under the regulatory authority of the RBI (Reserve Bank of India), UPI is a revolutionary system that has transformed the way people and organizations conduct their payments.
- UPI has witnessed phenomenal growth over the years. The annual transaction volume grew from 1.78 crore in FY 2016-17 to more than 24,162 crore in FY 2025-26.
- That is a 13,000 times rise in annual transaction volume within less than a decade. The transaction value has risen too, from ₹0.07 lakh crore in FY 2016-17 to ₹314 lakh crore in FY 2025-26.
- Nowadays, the influence of UPI has significantly expanded beyond the borders of India. Based on the information shared by the government, UPI was responsible for almost 49% of the global transaction volume for real-time payments in 2025.
- According to IMF, UPI became the world’s biggest real-time payment system in terms of transaction volumes thanks to India’s digital payments infrastructure.
- Today, UPI works in 11 different countries,
- United Arab Emirates
- France
- Bhutan
- Sri Lanka
- Nepal
- Singapore
- Mauritius
- Qatar
- Cambodia
- Greece
- MaldivesThe coming decade seems to be as crucial for UPI as the previous one. Since transaction volume is already extremely high, the key challenges in the following years will be the increase of both users and merchants who participate in the process and the improvements of innovation, security and convenience.
Praggnanandhaa Becomes First Indian to Win Grand Chess Tour
- Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa made history recently by becoming the first-ever Indian to win the Grand Chess Tour. R Praggnanandhaa made an incredible comeback from six points down against American Grandmaster Fabiano Caruana and won 15-13 on the decisive day at the Saint Louis Chess Club.
- This has enabled him to claim his first Grand Chess Tour title and USD 200,000 as prize money. It is one more landmark event for Praggnanandhaa who has already stunned everyone with his Norway Chess victory.
- Earlier in the year, he won the Norway Chess for the first time and that too without being seeded. In the tournament, he won two games against world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen.
Review Questions
- Who became the first Indian to win a gold medal in judo at the Commonwealth
Games, according to the source material?
A) Harsh Singh
B) Tulika Maan
C) Asmita Dey
D) Linthoi Chanambam
Answer: C) Asmita Dey - Tejaswin Shankar created history by becoming the first Indian to win a
Commonwealth Games medal in:
A) Pole Vault
B) High Jump
C) Heptathlon
D) Decathlon
Answer: D) Decathlon - Who became the first Indian to win the Grand Chess Tour?
A. D. Gukesh
B. R. Praggnanandhaa
C. Viswanathan Anand
D. Arjun Erigaisi
Answer: B. R. Praggnanandhaa - Whom did Praggnanandhaa defeat in the decisive Grand Chess Tour match?
A. Magnus Carlsen
B. Hikaru Nakamura
C. Fabiano Caruana
D. Ian Nepomniachtchi
Answer: C. Fabiano Caruana - India finished at which position in the Commonwealth Games 2026 medal tally?
A) 2nd
B) 3rd
C) 4th
D) 5th
Answer: C) 4th - Which sport emerged as India’s most successful sport at the Commonwealth
Games 2026?
A) Athletics
B) Wrestling
C) Shooting
D) Boxing
Answer: D) Boxing - Who became the first Indian woman to win three consecutive Commonwealth
Games gold medals?
A) PV Sindhu
B) Nikhat Zareen
C) Mirabai Chanu
D) Lovlina Borgohain
Answer: C) Mirabai Chanu - Which Indian paddlers won the men’s and women’s singles titles at the 22nd
Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships?
A) Manav Thakkar and Sreeja Akula
B) Sharath Kamal and Manika Batra
C) Ankur Bhattacharjee and Yashaswini Ghorpade
D) Sathiyan Gnanasekaran and Syndrela Das
Answer: C) Ankur Bhattacharjee and Yashaswini Ghorpade - Nathan Thomas became the world’s youngest male professor after being
appointed to teach at:
A) Harvard University
B) Stanford University
C) University of Miami
D) Miami Dade College
Answer: D) Miami Dade College - Glaw Lake, recently designated as India’s 101st Ramsar Site, is located in:
A) Namdapha National Park
B) Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary
C) Kamlang Tiger Reserve and Wildlife Sanctuary
D) Pakke Tiger Reserve
Answer: C) Kamlang Tiger Reserve and Wildlife Sanctuary - India became a party to the Ramsar Convention in:
A) 1971
B) 1975
C) 1982
D) 1992
Answer: C) 1982 - Dr. Annapurni Subramaniam became the __ Indian scientist to receive the
COSPAR Vikram Sarabhai Medal.
A) Second
B) Third
C) Fourth
D) Fifth
Answer: C) Fourth - India’s first guided high-altitude wildlife safari will be launched in:
A) Himachal Pradesh
B) Uttarakhand
C) Sikkim
D) Ladakh
Answer: D) Ladakh - Which national park is one of the major destinations included in Ladakh’s wildlife
safari?
A) Jim Corbett National Park
B) Kaziranga National Park
C) Ranthambore National Park
D) Hemis National Park
Answer: D) Hemis National Park - Who became the first Indian to win the men’s individual gold medal at the FISU
World University Squash Championship?
A) Saurav Ghosal
B) Abhay Singh
C) Suraj Kumar Chand
D) Ramit Tandon
Answer: C) Suraj Kumar Chand - Who won the Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz 2026?
A) Javokhir Sindarov
B) Wesley So
C) Fabiano Caruana
D) R Praggnanandhaa
Answer: D) R Praggnanandhaa - Who was awarded the 2026 Dirac Medal from the Abdus Salam International
Centre for Theoretical Physics?
A) C. N. R. Rao
B) Deepak Dhar
C) K. Radhakrishnan
D) Venkatraman Ramakrishnan
Answer: B) Deepak Dhar - The Dirac Medal is awarded by which organisation?
A) CERN
B) UNESCO
C) Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP)
D) International Union of Pure and Applied Physics
Answer: C) Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) - Who became the first Indian to win the Korea Masters badminton title?
A) PV Sindhu
B) Lakshya Sen
C) Anmol Kharb
D) Ashmita Chaliha
Answer: D) Ashmita Chaliha - Colombia is located near the meeting zone of which three tectonic plates?
A. Indian, Eurasian and Pacific
B. Nazca, South American and Caribbean
C. African, Eurasian and Arabian
D. Pacific, Philippine and Eurasian
Answer: B. Nazca, South American and Caribbean - The Pacific Ring of Fire is also known as the:
A. Circum-Pacific Belt
B. Pacific Seismic Zone
C. Pacific Volcanic Belt
D. Circum-Atlantic Belt
Answer: A. Circum-Pacific Belt - Which train has been associated with the ‘Sprite Tejas Express’ branding
arrangement?
A) Mumbai–Ahmedabad Tejas Express
B) Delhi–Varanasi Tejas Express
C) Lucknow–New Delhi Tejas Express
D) Mumbai–Goa Tejas Express
Answer: C) Lucknow–New Delhi Tejas Express - The Samudra Manthan scheme is primarily associated with which sector?
A) Defence manufacturing
B) Renewable energy
C) Offshore oil and gas exploration
D) Fisheries development
Answer: C) Offshore oil and gas exploration - Who won the Open gold medal at the Asian Junior Blitz Chess Championship
2026?
A. Sharnarthi Viresh
B. Nandish V S
C. Vignesh Vermula
D. Lala Shohradova
Answer: C. Vignesh Vermula - Where will SEMICON India 2026 be held?
A) Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi
B) Yashobhoomi, New Delhi
C) Pragati Maidan, New Delhi
D) HITEX, Hyderabad
Answer: B) Yashobhoomi, New Delhi - Which Indian defence start-up demonstrated a 5 kN indigenous air-breathing
Rotating Detonation Engine?
A) Agnikul Cosmos
B) Skyroot Aerospace
C) D-Propulse
D) Bellatrix Aerospace
Answer: C) D-Propulse - Sophie Adenot became the first woman from which country to perform a
spacewalk?
A. Germany
B. Italy
C. France
D. Spain
Answer: C. France - 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 - Who became the leading wicket-taker in World Test Championship history with
234 wickets?
A) Pat Cummins
B) Nathan Lyon
C) Mitchell Starc
D) Josh Hazlewood
Answer: C) Mitchell Starc - What is the theme of India’s BRICS Chairship 2026?
A. One Earth, One Future
B. Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability
C. Partnership for Global Peace
D. Inclusive Growth and Global Development
Answer: B. Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability
