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250 words
56 topics

12 August 2026

16 topics really matter today — about 20 minutes. The full edition is 56 topics and 94 questions, roughly 62 minutes.

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8/10

Green Energy Corridor third phase

  • The Green Energy Corridor (GEC) is a scheme designed to evacuate electricity from renewable sources (solar and wind) by synchronizing them with conventional power grids.
  • The third phase of the intra-state GEC is currently in the final planning stages and awaiting Union Cabinet approval.

1 min · 2 questions · 2 prelims · 2-day story

8/10

Periodic Labour Force Survey on unemployment

  • The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) is released by the Union Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.
  • The unemployment rate for persons aged 15 years and above reached 5.4% in the April-June 2026 quarter.

1 min · 1 questions · 2 prelims · 17-day story

8/10

Criticism of Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission

  • The Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) has replaced the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
  • Data from the Union Rural Development Ministry indicates that person-days generated in July 2026 under the new scheme were 49.94% lower than those generated under MGNREGA in July 2025.

1 min · 2 questions · 1 prelims · 17-day story

8/10

Tribunals Reforms Bill

  • The Tribunals Reforms Bill, 2026, aims to replace the Tribunals Reforms Act, 2021.
  • The Bill proposes the establishment of a National Tribunals Commission (NTC) headquartered in New Delhi.

1 min · 2 questions · 2 prelims · 2-day story

7/10

Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve eviction notices

  • Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve (ABR) spans 3,500 sq. km across Kerala and Tamil Nadu, covering multiple tiger reserves and wildlife sanctuaries.
  • Supreme Court directed a time-bound eviction plan for forest land encroachers in ABR based on Central Empowered Committee (CEC) reports.

2 min · 2 questions · 2 prelims · 3-day story

7/10

China's reaction to India's naming of places in Arunachal Pradesh

  • China has officially termed India's recent identification of 27 places and features in Arunachal Pradesh as 'illegal, null and void'.
  • China refers to the region of Arunachal Pradesh as 'Zangnan'.

1 min · 1 questions · 1 prelims · 6-day story

7/10

Russia's share in India's oil imports

  • Russia's share in India's total crude oil imports reached an all-time high of 48% in June 2026.
  • India's total crude oil imports in June 2026 were 18.2 MMT, a 16.5% decline from May 2026 and 13% lower than June 2025.

2 min · 2 questions · 2 prelims · 10-day story

7/10

Handloom industry in India

  • National Handloom Day is observed on August 7, commemorating the 1905 Swadeshi Movement.
  • The sector employs over 35 lakh weavers and allied workers across 31 lakh households.

1 min · 2 questions · 1 prelims · 3-day story

7/10

Nurses Registration and Tracking System

  • The Nurses Registration and Tracking System (NRTS) was established over seven years ago to create a national registry and streamline registration services for nurses.
  • Data indicates only 14.24 lakh out of 46.02 lakh registered nursing personnel are enrolled in the NRTS, representing less than one-third of the total workforce.

1 min · 2 questions · 1 prelims · 3-day story

7/10

Stalemate in Parliament monsoon session

  • Parliamentary monsoon session characterized by a lack of substantive deliberations and legislative outcomes.
  • Key areas of contention include proposed amendments to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) and lack of transparency regarding delimitation proposals.

1 min · 2 questions · 0 prelims · 10-day story

7/10

Supreme Court proposal for special courts in Manipur

  • The Supreme Court has proposed the establishment of special courts to exclusively handle cases related to the 2023 Manipur ethnic violence.
  • The proposal directs the Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court to constitute these courts for cases investigated by the CBI and NIA.

1 min · 2 questions · 1 prelims · 26-day story

7/10

Bangladesh request for Sheikh Hasina's extradition

  • Bangladesh has formally requested India to expedite the extradition of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who has been in India since 2024.
  • The request was discussed during a meeting between the Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh and the Prime Minister of Bangladesh.

1 min · 2 questions · 0 prelims · 7-day story

7/10

Rajya Sabha legislative business and UPI charges

  • Rajya Sabha passed the Bankers’ Books Evidence Bill and returned the Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill.
  • The Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, includes an amendment to Section 10A of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007.

1 min · 2 questions · 1 prelims · 9-day story

7/10

Allahabad High Court ruling on religious conversion

  • Allahabad High Court ruled in favor of two adult women who voluntarily converted to Islam, declaring them free to choose their faith, residence, and personal affairs.
  • The court identified the father's actions as unlawful confinement and an exceptionally grave violation of constitutional rights.

1 min · 2 questions · 1 prelims · 2-day story

7/10

Cauvery water dispute

  • Tamil Nadu has moved the Supreme Court seeking an early hearing regarding the Cauvery water allocation dispute with Karnataka.
  • The dispute centers on the implementation of the July 30 decision by the Central Water Management Authority (CWMA).

1 min · 2 questions · 2 prelims · 26-day story

7/10

Protests against NEET in Tamil Nadu

  • Protests demanding the abolition of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) have been ongoing in Tamil Nadu for ten consecutive days.
  • Protesters are demanding that the State government pass a legislative Bill to exempt the state from the NEET examination.

1 min · 1 questions · 0 prelims · 84-day story

6/10

TRAI directive on 1601-series for transactional calls

  • TRAI has issued a directive mandating the use of a dedicated 1601-series for transactional and service calls.
  • The directive excludes entities in the Banking, Financial Services & Insurance (BFSI) and Government sectors.

1 min · 1 questions · 1 prelims · 4-day story

6/10

Airport-airline cross-ownership restriction waiver

  • The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has received a formal request seeking a waiver of existing provisions that restrict cross-ownership between airport operators and airlines.
  • Current concession agreements for Delhi and Mumbai airports limit aggregate airline ownership in the airport operator to 10%.

1 min · 2 questions · 1 prelims · 4-day story

6/10

World Lion Day quiz

  • World Lion Day is observed annually on August 10.
  • The Asiatic Lion subspecies found in India is scientifically known as Panthera leo persica.

1 min · 1 questions · 1 prelims · 2-day story

6/10

Kerala pension delivery row

  • Kerala government proposes shifting social security pension delivery from doorstep (Direct-To-Home) to Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) via Aadhaar-linked bank accounts.
  • Current system: 60 lakh total pensioners; 23 lakh receive ₹2,000 monthly via Direct-To-Home (DTH) through primary agricultural credit societies.

1 min · 2 questions · 1 prelims · 4-day story

6/10

High-Level Committee on Demographic Changes in Jammu

  • The Union Home Ministry has constituted a High-Level Committee on Demographic Changes (HLCDC) to study demographic shifts in border areas of Jammu.
  • The committee is chaired by former Supreme Court judge Justice Prakash Prabhakar Naolekar (retd).

1 min · 2 questions · 1 prelims · 4-day story

6/10

Telangana electoral rolls revision

  • Telangana is currently undergoing a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of its electoral rolls.
  • The enumeration phase of the SIR concluded on August 10, following two extensions from the original July 24 deadline.

1 min · 1 questions · 1 prelims · 76-day story

6/10

Karnataka electric vehicle charging infrastructure

  • As of July 29, 2024, India has 52,718 electric vehicle charging stations (EVCS).
  • Karnataka ranks second in India with 6,805 EVCS, accounting for approximately 13% of the national total.

1 min · 2 questions · 1 prelims · 2-day story

6/10

Tamil Nadu Assured Pension Scheme (TAPS)

  • The Tamil Nadu Assured Pension Scheme (TAPS) is a proposed initiative by the state government.
  • Implementation of TAPS is contingent upon the Union government granting approval for the state to borrow ₹11,000 crore.

1 min · 1 questions · 1 prelims

6/10

Tamil Nadu medical reservation review

  • Tamil Nadu government is constituting a new commission, led by a retired judge, to review the 7.5% horizontal reservation for government school students in medical admissions.
  • The review will assess the efficacy of the current reservation, determine its duration, evaluate potential increases (such as to 10%), and consider extending it to allied health courses.

1 min · 2 questions · 1 prelims

5/10

European heatwave

  • Multiple European nations are experiencing a series of summer heatwaves.
  • Extreme heat warnings have been issued for parts of Britain and France.

1 min · 1 questions · 1 prelims · 7-day story

5/10

Under-recovery on domestic LPG

  • Under-recovery on domestic LPG refers to the difference between the cost of production/procurement and the retail selling price.
  • The under-recovery per cylinder decreased from over ₹700 in June to ₹500 in July, and further to ₹188 in August.

1 min · 1 questions · 1 prelims · 14-day story

5/10

Google AI satellite images safety concerns

  • Google launched an AI feature in Google Earth in late July allowing users to generate imagery overlays on satellite maps using 'Nano Banana' technology.
  • The feature was intended for creative use cases like visualizing historical landmarks or real estate mock-ups.

1 min · 2 questions · 1 prelims · 2-day story

5/10

Relevance of international law

  • International law is defined by rules and legal principles based on consensus, rather than power alone.
  • States continue to justify their actions through international law, citing the UN Charter, sovereignty, and international humanitarian law, indicating its ongoing relevance.

1 min · 2 questions · 2 prelims · 2-day story

5/10

Debate on English language in India

  • The debate over English in India is often framed as a binary between English and Indian languages, which is historically misleading and politically unhelpful.
  • English, while not indigenous in the historical sense, has been used by Indians for over two centuries for political, intellectual, and creative expression.

2 min · 2 questions · 1 prelims · 2-day story

5/10

Nehru's essay on personality cults

  • In 1937, Jawaharlal Nehru wrote an anonymous essay titled 'The Rashtrapati' under the pseudonym 'Chanakya' to warn against the dangers of personality cults in a nascent democracy.
  • Nehru argued that the elevation of a leader into an object of worship leads to a 'stunted' democracy, where citizens lose the habits of scepticism, argument, and responsibility.

1 min · 2 questions · 1 prelims · 2-day story

5/10

Kerala sea rescue mechanism

  • Kerala government is developing a comprehensive sea rescue mechanism to enhance the safety of fishermen.
  • The initiative follows recent maritime accidents involving boat capsizes off the coast of Neendakara.

1 min · 1 questions · 1 prelims

5/10

Incentives for Tamil Nadu farmers

  • Tamil Nadu government announced increased special incentives for paddy and sugarcane farmers.
  • Paddy procurement incentive: ₹289 per quintal for fine varieties and ₹159 per quintal for general category.

1 min · 2 questions · 1 prelims · 13-day story

5/10

Tamil Nadu Anti-Narcotics Task Force

  • Tamil Nadu government has established an Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) to address the drug menace.
  • The initiative is supported by a financial sanction of ₹264 crore.

1 min · 2 questions · 1 prelims · 6-day story

5/10

Social media impact on society

  • Social media platforms facilitate the creation of echo chambers, where users are exposed only to information that aligns with their existing biases.
  • The rapid, constant flow of information on social media creates a 'virtual deluge' that complicates the verification of facts.

1 min · 2 questions · 1 prelims

5/10

Controversy over Speaker's participation in pro-life rally

  • The Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act, 1971, provides the legal framework for abortion in India under specific conditions.
  • The Act mandates that pregnancy termination must be performed by authorised medical practitioners.

1 min · 2 questions · 1 prelims

5/10

Chennai biodiversity and urban environment

  • Chennai's urban landscape is historically rooted in hydraulic structures, reflecting a city carved out of water.
  • Recent faunal and floral discoveries in Chennai suggest that the city's biological wealth remains under-researched and undervalued.

1 min · 2 questions · 1 prelims

5/10

Greater Chennai Corporation initiatives and policies

  • Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) proposes a ₹25,000 fine for abandoning pet dogs to curb the rising stray dog population.
  • GCC has registered 1,15,548 pets, with 78,328 issued microchipped licenses.

1 min · 2 questions · 2 prelims · 2-day story

5/10

Parliamentary debate on student protests and pellet gun usage

  • Parliamentary deadlock persists over demands for a statement regarding police conduct during student protests.
  • RTI responses from Lady Hardinge Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital indicate at least 10 individuals sustained injuries from pellet-like projectiles during a July 20 protest in Delhi.

1 min · 2 questions · 1 prelims

5/10

Jharkhand student protests and recruitment irregularities

  • Protests in Ranchi by students and job aspirants regarding alleged irregularities in JSSC-CGL and JPSC recruitment examinations.
  • Protesters demand cancellation of exams, systemic reforms, and a CBI investigation into recruitment processes.

1 min · 2 questions · 0 prelims · 84-day story

4/10

Sharks used for hurricane predictions

  • University of Delaware researchers are using sharks as mobile, near-real-time ocean-data observers to improve hurricane intensity predictions.
  • Sharks are equipped with CTD (Conductivity, Temperature, and Depth) tags that measure ocean salinity, temperature, and depth.

1 min · 2 questions · 2 prelims · 2-day story

4/10

Patents that changed industries

  • Nikola Tesla received a patent on May 1, 1888, for an induction motor using a rotating magnetic field, facilitating AC power transmission.
  • Eli Whitney was granted a patent on May 14, 1794, for the cotton gin, which increased production but entrenched slavery in the US.

1 min · 1 questions · 2 prelims

4/10

Saudi Arabia-Pakistan-Turkiye defence pact

  • A trilateral defence pact has been signed between Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and Pakistan.
  • Iran's Foreign Ministry has characterized this agreement as a shift in regional perception regarding the United States.

1 min · 1 questions · 1 prelims · 9-day story

4/10

Taiwan war exercise and internet throttling

  • Taiwan conducted its first-ever internet throttling drill during the annual Han Kuang war games.
  • The exercise took place in the central metropolis of Taichung, simulating communication disruptions caused by potential Chinese military attacks or natural disasters.

1 min · 2 questions · 1 prelims · 2-day story

4/10

Purvah Green Power solar deal

  • Purvah Green Power Pvt. Ltd. (a subsidiary of RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group and renewable platform of CESC Ltd.) to acquire 1.4 GWp solar portfolio from ReNew Solar Power Pvt. Ltd.
  • Deal value is ₹4,859 crore.

1 min · 1 questions · 1 prelims · 2-day story

4/10

Life insurers' new business premium growth

  • Life insurers' new business premium (NBP) grew by 20% in July, reaching ₹47,004.84 crore.
  • LIC (State-owned) recorded a 23% increase in NBP, totaling ₹27,993.61 crore.

1 min · 1 questions · 1 prelims · 3-day story

4/10

Valuation discipline for IPOs

  • Valuation discipline in IPOs has increased in H1 2026 due to market volatility caused by geopolitical uncertainties.
  • Investors are prioritizing companies with strong fundamentals and clear earnings visibility over aggressively priced IPOs.

1 min · 2 questions · 1 prelims · 2-day story

4/10

English language usage and water shortage in Chennai

  • Chennai faces an acute water shortage, impacting social interactions and daily living conditions.
  • Water scarcity is a critical resource management issue that influences public behavior and hospitality norms.

1 min · 1 questions · 0 prelims

4/10

Expansion of e-visa entry points

  • The Union Home Ministry has expanded the e-visa regime by adding 11 new entry points for foreign nationals.
  • The expansion includes 9 land ports and 2 airports.

1 min · 1 questions · 1 prelims · 2-day story

4/10

Somasimaara Nayanar and Peria Puranam

  • Peria Puranam was composed by Sekkizhaar, the Chief Minister of Kulothunga Chola II.
  • The text aims to highlight the philosophy of life during a period of high material prosperity.

1 min · 2 questions · 2 prelims · 2-day story

4/10

Karnataka BJP stand on Bidadi farmers

  • The Bidadi Township Project has become a focal point for concerns regarding land acquisition and farmer compensation in Karnataka.
  • The issue involves the balance between large-scale infrastructure development and the protection of agricultural land rights.

1 min · 2 questions · 0 prelims · 6-day story

4/10

Contamination in Mettur dam catchments

  • Reports of water contamination in the catchment areas of Mettur dam, specifically near Eriyur in Dharmapuri district, Tamil Nadu.
  • Contamination is characterized by a foul smell in the vicinity.

1 min · 1 questions · 1 prelims

4/10

Co-optex brand makeover

  • Co-optex, a 90-year-old cooperative federation, is undergoing a brand transformation to target Gen Z consumers.
  • The initiative involves diversifying product lines, specifically expanding into the men's segment with silk ties, designer dhothis, linen shirts, and kurtas.

1 min · 2 questions · 1 prelims

4/10

Petroleum dealers' protest against police harassment

  • The Tamil Nadu Petroleum Dealers Association (TNPDA) has raised concerns regarding the detention of fuel dealers by state police during cybercrime investigations.
  • Dealers argue that they act only as providers of payment infrastructure for digital transactions and cannot verify the source of funds or the background of customers.

1 min · 2 questions · 0 prelims · 2-day story

4/10

Fishermen issues in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh

  • Fishermen from Kasimedu, Chennai, have initiated a protest regarding the impounding of seven fishing boats by Andhra Pradesh authorities.
  • The boats have been held at Juvvaladinne harbour in Andhra Pradesh for over 60 days.

1 min · 1 questions · 1 prelims · 3-day story

4/10

Tamil Nadu Assembly resolution on Tamil Thai Vazhthu

  • The Tamil Nadu Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution mandating the rendition of 'Tamil Thai Vazhthu' (the State song) before the commencement of programmes at all educational institutions, universities, government offices, and public sector undertakings.
  • The resolution asserts that the song is an expression of respect for Tamil language and culture, aligning with linguistic and cultural rights under the Constitution of India.

2 min · 2 questions · 2 prelims · 16-day story

250words.in · https://250words.in/daily/2026-08-12