Current affairs
News for UPSC, SSC and defence exams, with the reason it matters.
India and China hold first Corps Commander talks in the Eastern Sector, in Arunachal
- On 6 September 2026, India and China held their first Corps Commander-level meeting in the Eastern Sector.
- It took place at the Vacha-Damai Border Personnel Meeting Point in Arunachal Pradesh.
- Lt Gen Girish Kalia of 3 Corps (Spear Corps) led India's 12-member delegation.
Why it matters
[First] The meeting extends the Corps Commander mechanism beyond Ladakh to the eastern LAC. It came amid reports of Chinese activity in the Taksing area of Upper Subansiri. It was held days before India hosted the 18th BRICS Summit.
GSLV-F17 launches EOS-05, India’s first imaging satellite for geosynchronous orbit
- On 4 September 2026, GSLV-F17 launched the 2,367-kg EOS-05 satellite from Sriharikota.
- EOS-05 is India's first imaging satellite designed to watch Earth from geosynchronous orbit, about 36,000 km up.
- It is the heaviest satellite a GSLV has launched so far.
Why it matters
[First] A satellite in geosynchronous orbit can keep watching the same region. That helps disaster management, farming and strategic monitoring. Most imaging satellites fly in low orbits and pass over an area only now and then.
UN General Assembly adopts ‘Correct the Map’ resolution for equal-area world maps; India votes in favour
- The UN General Assembly adopted the 'Correct the Map' resolution on 4 September 2026.
- The vote was 164 in favour and 1 against, the United States. Six countries abstained.
- The African Group, led by Togo, brought the resolution.
Why it matters
[Geography] The Mercator projection keeps directions correct but enlarges areas near the poles. So Greenland looks almost as big as Africa, though Africa is about 14 times larger.
Ganga Water Treaty with Bangladesh expires on 31 December 2026; Centre to weigh Bihar’s concerns
- The 1996 India-Bangladesh Ganga Water Treaty expires on 31 December 2026.
- EAM S. Jaishankar said India will keep Bihar's interests in mind before deciding on renewal.
- JD(U) MP Sanjay Jha had asked the Centre not to renew it, saying it hurt Bihar.
Why it matters
[Mains] The treaty shares the Ganga's water at Farakka in the dry season. Its renewal is a major item in India-Bangladesh ties this year. It also shows how states can shape India's water diplomacy.
Asked before: CAPF 2022 asked with which country India shares Ganga water at Farakka.
Rajnath Singh releases ‘Raksha’, a 10-year framework for India’s defence diplomacy
- On 3 September 2026, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh released 'Raksha', a 10-year defence diplomacy framework.
- It covers defence partnerships, joint exercises, training and capacity building with friendly countries.
- It aims to grow defence exports and make India a reliable defence manufacturing partner.
Why it matters
[Policy] This is a written long-term roadmap for defence diplomacy. It ties exports, exercises and maritime security into one plan. 'Net Security Provider' and 'First Responder' are common GS-II and GS-III terms.
31-member Joint Parliamentary Committee formed to examine the FCRA Amendment Bill, 2026
- A 31-member Joint Parliamentary Committee has been formed on the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026.
- Lok Sabha MP Sanjay Jaiswal chairs it.
- Both Houses agreed on 12 August 2026 to refer the Bill to a JPC.
Why it matters
[Polity] A JPC has members from both Houses. Usually two-thirds come from the Lok Sabha and one-third from the Rajya Sabha.
Japan’s JCR upgrades India’s sovereign credit rating to ‘A-‘
- On 2 September 2026, the Japan Credit Rating Agency raised India's rating one notch, from BBB+ to A-.
- The upgrade covers India's long-term foreign- and local-currency issuer ratings.
- JCR cited growth near 7%, digital public infrastructure, GST and bank NPAs below 2%.
Why it matters
[Data] A higher sovereign rating can lower the cost of government borrowing. The move lifts India out of the BBB band with JCR. Exams test which agencies rate India and why ratings matter.
Asked before: CDS (II) 2016 asked which of the listed bodies are credit rating agencies in India.
Shakti Sharma becomes first non-medical woman officer to reach Air Vice Marshal rank
- On 1 September 2026, Shakti Sharma became the first non-medical woman officer to reach Air Vice Marshal rank.
- The first counts all three armed forces, including equivalent ranks in the Army and Navy.
- She took charge as Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Education) at Air Headquarters.
Why it matters
[First] Women had reached this level before only through the medical branch. Air Vice Marshal equals Major General in the Army and Rear Admiral in the Navy. Defence exams often ask about women's firsts in the forces.
26th SCO Summit in Bishkek adopts 28 documents; Pakistan takes over the 2026-27 chair
- The 26th SCO Heads of State Council met in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on 1 September 2026.
- It approved 28 documents, including the Bishkek Declaration and a protocol amending the SCO Charter.
- It also approved an MoU with the African Union Commission.
Why it matters
[International Relations] The SCO was founded in 2001 and now has 10 full members. India became a full member in 2017.
India’s GDP grows 7.8% in April-June 2026 quarter (Q1 FY27)
- India's GDP grew 7.8% in April-June 2026, the first quarter of FY27.
- It was faster than 6.9% in Q1 of last year.
- It was slower than 8.6% in January-March 2026.
Why it matters
[Data] Quarterly GDP data is released by the NSO under MoSPI. A high base can make one sector shrink, as in mining.
Asked before: UPSC Mains 2021 (GS-III) asked how India's GDP computing method changed after 2015.
India’s forex reserves hit a record $729.3 billion
- India's foreign exchange reserves rose by $12.4 billion to a record $729.3 billion in the week ended 21 August 2026.
- Foreign currency assets, the largest part, rose to $591.3 billion.
- Gold reserves rose to $114.2 billion.
Why it matters
[Indian Economy] Forex reserves have four parts: foreign currency assets, gold, SDRs and the IMF reserve tranche. The RBI uses them to steady the rupee and pay for imports.
Heatwaves and lightning added to India’s list of notified natural calamities
- The Home Ministry told the Lok Sabha on 4 August 2026 that heatwaves and lightning are now notified calamities.
- This takes the list of notified natural calamities to 14.
- The change follows the Sixteenth Finance Commission's recommendation.
Why it matters
[Policy] Under Article 280, the Finance Commission recommends disaster fund arrangements. FC-XVI set ₹2.04 lakh crore for State disaster funds for 2026-31.
Asked before: CDS (II) 2020 asked which Ministry the National Disaster Management Authority works under.
Centre notifies Legal Metrology (IST) Rules, 2026, making IST the single legal time reference
- The Consumer Affairs Ministry notified the Legal Metrology (Indian Standard Time) Rules, 2026 on 27 August.
- IST becomes the single reference for legal, official and commercial purposes.
- The rules come into force 180 days after publication in the Gazette.
Why it matters
[Policy] This is part of the 'One Nation, One Time' push. Banking, telecom, power grids and railways need exact, synced time stamps.
Asked before: CDS (I) 2021 asked which longitude is the standard meridian of India.
India, China agree to push ‘early harvest’ of boundary delimitation after 25th SR talks
- The 25th round of Special Representatives talks on the boundary was held in Beijing on 25 August 2026.
- NSA Ajit Doval led India. Foreign Minister Wang Yi led China.
- An eight-point outcome document said both sides will push an 'early and substantial harvest' of boundary delimitation.
Why it matters
[Policy] The SR mechanism was set up in 2003 to settle the boundary question. An 'early harvest' means settling the easier sections first. River data matters for the Brahmaputra floods.
Gross FDI inflows hit a 15-year high of $30.7 billion in April-June 2026
- India got $30.7 billion in gross FDI in April-June 2026, as per RBI data.
- It is the highest quarterly inflow in data going back 15 years.
- Net FDI for the quarter was $7.8 billion, the highest since June 2022.
Why it matters
[Data] Gross and net FDI are different measures. Gross counts all money coming in. Net subtracts repatriation and outward FDI by Indian firms.
Asked before: CDS (I) 2022 asked which kind of investment counts as Foreign Direct Investment.
India’s domestic defence production hits a record Rs 1.78 lakh crore in 2025-26
- India's domestic defence production reached a record Rs 1.78 lakh crore in 2025-26.
- It was about Rs 43,000 crore in 2013-14.
- Defence Production Secretary Sanjeev Kumar gave the figure at a national aerospace and defence manufacturing conference in New Delhi.
Why it matters
[Indian Economy] Higher home production means India buys fewer weapons abroad and saves foreign exchange. It is the core aim of Atmanirbhar Bharat in defence.
IAF completes Exercise Pitch Black 2026 in Australia and Udara Shakti 2026 in Malaysia
- The Indian Air Force completed two overseas air exercises: Pitch Black 2026 and Udara Shakti 2026.
- Pitch Black is hosted by the Royal Australian Air Force. Air forces from over 20 nations took part.
- The IAF sent its Rafale fighters to Pitch Black for Large Force Employment missions.
Why it matters
[International Relations] Exercise names and partner countries are a common exam question. Pitch Black is multinational and held in Australia. Udara Shakti is a two-nation drill with Malaysia.
National Biodiversity Authority releases Rs 2.82 crore under Access and Benefit-Sharing
- The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) released Rs 2.82 crore under the Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS) mechanism.
- Rs 2.80 crore went to 27 State Biodiversity Boards and 3 Union Territory Biodiversity Councils.
- About Rs 2.01 lakh went to ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Karnataka.
Why it matters
[Environment] ABS means that whoever earns money from India's biological resources shares a part with the local people who conserved them. India's Biological Diversity Act, 2002 sets up a three-tier system: the NBA, State Biodiversity Boards and local BMCs.
Nine-judge SC Bench: 1978 ‘industry’ definition will not automatically apply to Industrial Relations Code
- A nine-judge Constitution Bench led by CJI Surya Kant ruled on the meaning of 'industry'.
- The 1978 Bangalore Water Supply v. A. Rajappa verdict had given 'industry' a very wide meaning.
- The majority held it will not automatically apply to the Industrial Relations Code, 2020.
Why it matters
[SC Ruling] The 1978 test covered hospitals, schools and even municipalities. That gave many workers a legal remedy. Future disputes under the new Code start from a clean slate.
Asked before: UPSC Mains 2024 GS-III asked about the merits and demerits of the four Labour Codes.
29 FDI projects worth Rs 4,896 crore come in under eased Press Note 3 rule allowing 10% land-border ownership
- Press Note 3 of 2020 required government approval for FDI from countries sharing a land border with India.
- A March 2026 amendment lets firms with up to 10% land-border ownership use the automatic route.
- By 20 August 2026, 29 investments worth Rs 4,895.65 crore had come in under the revised rule.
Why it matters
[Policy] China is the largest investor among India's land neighbours. The 2020 rule caught even tiny Chinese stakes. The 10% threshold keeps security screening for big stakes but speeds up small ones.
Asked before: UPSC CSP 2020 asked about the major characteristic of FDI in India.
India and Japan sign Memorandum of Arrangement on Maritime Security Cooperation
- Defence Ministers Rajnath Singh and Shinjiro Koizumi met in New Delhi on 20 August 2026.
- They signed a Memorandum of Arrangement (MoA) on Maritime Security Cooperation.
- It covers information sharing, naval exercises, ship repair and logistics support.
Why it matters
[Policy] It builds on the Special Strategic and Global Partnership. It backs a free and open Indo-Pacific. Ship repair in India also helps Indian shipyards.
Asked before: UPSC Mains 2019 GS-II asked about building a strong India-Japan global and strategic partnership.
BRICS Environment Ministers in New Delhi oppose EU’s carbon border tax (CBAM) as ‘unilateral’
- The 12th BRICS Environment Ministers' Meeting was held in New Delhi on 18 August 2026, under India's chairship.
- Its joint statement opposed 'unilateral, punitive, discriminatory and protectionist' climate measures, including the EU's CBAM.
- CBAM entered its definitive phase on 1 January 2026. It covers iron and steel, aluminium, cement, fertilisers, hydrogen and electricity.
Why it matters
[Policy] CBAM taxes the carbon in imports. The EU says it stops 'carbon leakage'. Developing countries call it a trade barrier. India's steel exports face the biggest hit, just as the India-EU FTA starts.
Asked before: UPSC CSP 2025 asked a statement-based question on BRICS.
President gives assent to Kerala (Alteration of Name) Act; State to be called Keralam
- The Lok Sabha passed the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026 on 11 August.
- The Rajya Sabha passed it on 12 August 2026.
- President Droupadi Murmu gave assent, so it is now law.
Why it matters
[Polity] Article 3 lets Parliament change a State's name by a simple majority. The Bill needs the President's recommendation and the State's views first. Earlier renames include Orissa to Odisha in 2011.
Asked before: CDS II 2019 asked about Parliament's power to alter the name and boundaries of a State.
Supreme Court: no State can block elephant corridors; orders nationwide survey
- The Supreme Court gave the order on 17 August 2026.
- It said no State can block elephant corridors.
- The Centre must conduct a fresh nationwide survey of the corridors.
Why it matters
[Environment] Elephants are Schedule I animals under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Herds move across many States. Blocked corridors push them into villages and raise human-elephant conflict.
Asked before: UPSC Prelims 2020 asked a statement question on Indian elephants.
ONGC gets US OFAC licence to resume full operations in Venezuela
- ONGC received a licence from the US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
- It allows ONGC to resume full operations in Venezuela.
- ONGC had limited activity there for years due to sanctions risk.
Why it matters
[Energy] Venezuela has the world's largest proven oil reserves. The licence helps India diversify crude supply. That matters after the Hormuz disruption in 2026.
CBDT notifies FAST-DS, a foreign asset disclosure scheme for small taxpayers
- The Foreign Assets of Small Taxpayers-Disclosure Scheme (FAST-DS) opened on 16 August 2026.
- Declarations can be made online until 31 December 2026.
- Undisclosed assets up to ₹1 crore attract an effective 60% tax.
Why it matters
[Economy] It targets students, young professionals and returning NRIs. Declarants get immunity from prosecution under the Black Money Act, 2015. It was announced in the 2026-27 Budget.
Asked before: UPSC Prelims 2021 asked about the main worry caused by black money in India.
Census 2027 notifies 40 questions; caste to be counted for all for the first time
- The Registrar General notified 40 questions on 14 August 2026.
- They are for Population Enumeration, the second phase of Census 2027.
- Caste will be recorded for all, not only SCs and STs, for the first time since Independence.
Why it matters
[Society] Caste data shapes reservation and welfare debates. The last full caste count was in 1931. The first phase, House Listing, ends by 30 September 2026.
Asked before: CDS 2024 asked when the first All-India Census was attempted.
India’s defence production reaches record ₹1.78 lakh crore in 2025-26
- Defence production rose from ₹46,000 crore in 2014 to ₹1.78 lakh crore in 2025-26.
- Public sector units made about 76%; the private sector made 24%.
- Defence exports hit a record ₹38,424 crore in 2025-26.
Why it matters
[Security] Higher home production cuts import dependence. India now has 145 defence exporters selling to over 80 countries. Rajnath Singh shared the data on 14 August 2026.
WPI inflation eases to 9.78% in July 2026, first fall under the new base year
- WPI inflation eased to 9.78% in July 2026 from 9.87% in June.
- It is the first month-on-month fall under the new 2022-23 base year.
- Fuel and power inflation fell to 20.05% from 27.41%.
Why it matters
[Economy] The West Asia war and the Hormuz blockade pushed up crude and fertiliser prices. WPI tracks producer-level prices. The gap with CPI at 4.45% shows costs not yet passed on to shoppers.
Asked before: CDS II 2023 asked which factors raised Wholesale Price Inflation in 2021-22.
Parliament passes MMDR Amendment Bill limiting State taxes on mineral rights
- The Lok Sabha passed the Bill on 12 August and the Rajya Sabha on 13 August 2026.
- It restricts States' powers to tax mineral rights and mineral-bearing land.
- The Centre says it ensures uniform mineral rates across the country.
Why it matters
[Federalism] The Opposition said the Bill hurts fiscal federalism. The Centre said States now get about 88% of mineral revenue. The debate links to the 2024 Supreme Court ruling that let States tax mineral rights.