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250 words
63 topics

16 August 2026

10 topics really matter today — about 14 minutes. The full edition is 63 topics and 107 questions, roughly 68 minutes.

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9/10

Creamy layer exclusion for SC/STs

  • The Union government opposes the introduction of 'creamy layer' exclusion for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST), arguing it is inapplicable to these categories.
  • The 2024 'Davinder Singh' Supreme Court judgment recognized the heterogeneity and graded backwardness within SC/ST communities.

2 min · 2 questions · 2 prelims · 5-day story

9/10

Women's Reservation Act implementation

  • The Women's Reservation Act was passed by the Parliament in 2023.
  • The Act mandates a 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies.

1 min · 1 questions · 1 prelims · 24-day story

8/10

CAG audit on railway passenger amenities

  • CAG audit of 512 non-suburban railway stations revealed that 89% (458 stations) lacked one or more minimum essential amenities.
  • Key deficiencies identified: fans (42%), water coolers (40%), drinking water taps (27%), urinals (22%), seating (15%), platform shelters (13%), latrines (12%), and clocks (12%).

1 min · 2 questions · 2 prelims

8/10

CAG audit on Green India Mission

  • The Green India Mission (GIM) was launched in 2014 by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change as one of eight missions under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC).
  • Objectives of GIM include protecting, restoring, and enhancing forest cover, improving ecosystem services (biodiversity, water, carbon sequestration), and increasing forest-based livelihoods.

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

8/10

PM Modi's 80th Independence Day Address

  • PM's 80th Independence Day address outlined a 'Saptadhara' (seven-stream) economic reform plan focusing on manufacturing quality, agriculture/food processing, technology/innovation, PM GatiShakti, armament production, green/blue economy, and soft power projection.
  • Government targets 100 GW of nuclear energy capacity by 2047, with five new reactors to be operational in the next six to seven years.

1 min · 3 questions · 2 prelims

7/10

US-Iran tensions over Strait of Hormuz

  • The Strait of Hormuz is a critical energy waterway currently subject to a blockade by Iran.
  • Iran maintains that the Strait is under its sovereign control, rejecting claims of U.S. authority over the passage.

1 min · 1 questions · 1 prelims · 54-day story

7/10

Geopolitics of the Moon

  • The Moon is increasingly becoming an extension of Earth's geopolitics, driven by U.S.-China competition.
  • NASA's 'Moon Base' programme, linked to the Artemis Accords, aims for a lunar south pole outpost by 2030.

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

7/10

India's space launch costs

  • A peer-reviewed analysis in Economics Letters indicates India has the highest per-unit space launch cost among major spacefaring nations at $13,302 per kg to low-earth orbit in 2025.
  • Global average launch cost is $3,868 per kg; U.S. costs are $3,225 per kg.

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

7/10

Concentration of income in family businesses

  • A World Bank Economic Review study titled 'Business Groups, Concentration and Market Power in India' analyzed corporate income trends from 2001 to 2020.
  • The top five family business groups (Reliance, Adani, Birla, Om Prakash Jindal, and Tata) collectively controlled over 60% of business revenue in corporate India during the study period.

2 min · 2 questions · 2 prelims

7/10

UPI transaction charges and cash usage

  • The Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, allows the government to levy a Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on UPI and RuPay debit card transactions.
  • Cash with the public is defined as total cash in circulation minus cash held by banks.

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

6/10

NCLAT order on Nyka Steel

  • The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) has upheld an order by the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) regarding insolvency proceedings.
  • The case involves a plea filed by UCO Bank under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC).

1 min · 1 questions · 1 prelims

6/10

Assam flood rehabilitation plan

  • Assam government is developing a comprehensive rehabilitation plan to transition from flood relief to long-term flood resilience.
  • Key focus areas: rebuilding infrastructure, restoring livelihoods, and improving early-warning forecast systems.

1 min · 2 questions · 1 prelims · 18-day story

6/10

UP Youth Policy announcement

  • Uttar Pradesh government has announced an integrated Youth Policy aimed at leveraging the state's demographic dividend.
  • The policy focuses on four key pillars: skill development, employment generation, artificial intelligence (AI), and entrepreneurship.

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

6/10

Omar Abdullah on J&K federalism

  • Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister emphasized federalism as a core strength of the Indian nation.
  • Advocacy for the restoration of pre-2019 status and powers for the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

1 min · 2 questions · 0 prelims · 13-day story

6/10

Vande Mataram controversy

  • The rendition of the full six stanzas of Vande Mataram at public events has become a subject of debate regarding national protocol and historical precedent.
  • Historical context: In 1937, the Congress Working Committee, following the advice of Rabindranath Tagore, decided that only the initial stanzas of Vande Mataram should be sung at official sessions.

1 min · 2 questions · 1 prelims · 16-day story

6/10

Karnataka HC on casteist abuse

  • The Karnataka High Court observed that casteist abuse directed at members of Scheduled Castes (SC) or Scheduled Tribes (ST) by individuals in positions of political power carries a graver dimension of indignity.
  • The court emphasized that such conduct contradicts the constitutional mandate which prohibits untouchability and guarantees equality, dignity, and fraternity.

1 min · 1 questions · 1 prelims

6/10

Job creation and AI education in Karnataka

  • Karnataka government announced the 'Young Karnataka–New India' vision targeting a $3 trillion economy by 2047.
  • Launch of 'Chief Minister Udyoga Sankalpa' and 'Udyoga Nidhi' schemes to boost employment.

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

6/10

Telangana electoral rolls verification

  • Telangana electoral roll verification process involves 94 lakh electors requiring verification following the publication of draft electoral rolls.
  • 32 lakh voters are classified as 'unmapped' due to failure to submit details from the 2002 final electoral rolls via Enumeration Forms.

1 min · 2 questions · 1 prelims · 76-day story

6/10

Foreign Assets of Small Taxpayers-Disclosure Scheme (FAST-DS)

  • The Foreign Assets of Small Taxpayers-Disclosure Scheme (FAST-DS) is a voluntary disclosure initiative for small taxpayers to declare undisclosed foreign assets and income.
  • The scheme is targeted at students, young professionals, technology employees, and relocated non-resident Indians.

1 min · 1 questions · 2 prelims

5/10

Global impact of West Asia conflict

  • West Asia conflict is causing global economic instability, specifically inflating food prices like bread.
  • The conflict has led to widespread fear and humanitarian suffering, impacting ordinary life beyond the immediate battlefield.

1 min · 2 questions · 0 prelims · 54-day story

5/10

Reflections on citizenship and state violence

  • Josy Joseph's 'Birth of a Nation: The Twenty-One Days That Made India' documents the critical period between July 25 and August 14, 1947.
  • The integration of princely states involved a complex mix of negotiation, coercion, and strategic pressure by the States Department led by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and V.P. Menon.

2 min · 2 questions · 1 prelims

5/10

Rohingya refugee repatriation

  • Myanmar's military-backed government has verified over 300,000 Rohingya refugees for potential repatriation.
  • The verified individuals are identified as former residents of the western Rakhine state of Myanmar.

1 min · 1 questions · 1 prelims

5/10

Taliban regime's 5th anniversary

  • August 15, 2024, marked the fifth anniversary of the Taliban taking control of Kabul.
  • The Taliban regime's takeover in 2021 followed a rapid military offensive coinciding with the withdrawal of U.S.-led forces.

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

5/10

Natural dyes industry

  • Natural dyes are experiencing a resurgence due to global bans on synthetic dyes and growing health and environmental awareness.
  • Synthetic dyes are associated with high pollution and health risks, particularly from heavy metals like mercury, cadmium, and lead.

1 min · 2 questions · 2 prelims

5/10

Traditions of the Nihang Singhs

  • Nihang Singhs are an armed warrior tradition within Sikhism, originating from the creation of the Khalsa Panth by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699.
  • Known as 'Guru ki fauj' (Guru's army), the term 'Nihang' is linked to fearlessness or the Persian word 'nahang' (crocodile).

1 min · 2 questions · 2 prelims

5/10

Lifecycle emissions of electric vehicles

  • Replacing functional fossil-fuel vehicles with electric vehicles (EVs) is climate-positive even if the replaced vehicle is new.
  • EV manufacturing involves an initial 'carbon debt' due to production processes.

1 min · 1 questions · 2 prelims

5/10

Export duty changes on fuel

  • The Union government conducts fortnightly reviews of export levies on fuel to ensure domestic availability.
  • The current review has reduced the export duty on petrol to nil.

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

5/10

Jharkhand recruitment exam protests

  • Ongoing protests in Jharkhand regarding alleged irregularities in state recruitment examinations, specifically the JPSC and JSSC-CGL.
  • Protesters demand a CBI inquiry into examination processes and the cancellation of exams conducted by specific private agencies.

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

5/10

School education reform campaign

  • The 'School theek karo' campaign highlights systemic neglect of government schools in rural India.
  • Key issues identified include dilapidated school infrastructure and significant teacher vacancies.

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

5/10

PRC verification issues in Karnataka

  • The Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) is conducting a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
  • The enumeration phase of the SIR is nearing completion.

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

5/10

Death of student in Gadchiroli tribal school

  • Incident: Death of three tribal students due to common krait snakebite at a private, aided residential Ashram School in Japtalai, Gadchiroli, Maharashtra.
  • Context: Gadchiroli is a remote, underdeveloped district with over 75% forest cover; 99 snakebite deaths reported in the district over the last five years.

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

5/10

Odisha flood management probe

  • The Odisha government has initiated an official probe into the unauthorized discharge of excess water by a private power generation company into the Baitarani river.
  • The incident occurred during a flood event in the Keonjhar district of Odisha.

1 min · 1 questions · 1 prelims · 8-day story

5/10

Welfare schemes in Telangana

  • Telangana government is implementing a food security initiative providing six kg of fine-quality rice per person monthly to over 3.42 crore beneficiaries.
  • The state currently has approximately 1.06 crore ration card-holding families out of a total of 1.15 crore families.

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

5/10

Viksit Delhi and regional development goals

  • Viksit Bharat 2047 vision serves as the overarching framework for state-level development goals across India.
  • Delhi administration priorities: Cleaning the Yamuna, air pollution mitigation, housing, affordable healthcare, public safety, traffic management, and heritage rejuvenation.

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

5/10

Rainfall and landslides in Arunachal Pradesh

  • Heavy rainfall in Arunachal Pradesh has triggered multiple landslides and flash floods, resulting in at least five confirmed deaths and several missing persons.
  • Incidents reported across Upper Subansiri, Anjaw, and Dibang Valley districts.

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

5/10

Chamoli tunnel disaster

  • Incident occurred at the THDC Vishnugad-Pipalkoti hydroelectric project in Mayapur, Chamoli district.
  • Cause of disaster: Landslides and subsidence resulted in debris and water inundating a 3-km under-construction tunnel.

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

4/10

Satire on political forgiveness

  • The concept of political forgiveness is increasingly being used as a rhetorical tool in public discourse.
  • The act of 'forgiving' is often performative, where individuals in positions of power claim to absolve others of perceived wrongs, even when the power dynamic is asymmetrical.

1 min · 2 questions · 0 prelims

4/10

Travel to Hazaribagh

  • Hazaribagh, Jharkhand, is noted for artisans who paint cave painting-inspired murals on home walls during the harvest season.
  • Craft-based tourism involves visiting rural areas to document and support indigenous craft traditions.

1 min · 2 questions · 1 prelims

4/10

Cycling project across India

  • A five-year cycling expedition across India covered approximately 21,000 kilometres, spanning 28 states and over 180 villages.
  • The project utilized photography as a medium to document diverse cultural practices, daily routines, and social interactions across rural and urban India.

1 min · 1 questions · 1 prelims

4/10

Independence Day trivia

  • India was a Dominion under British rule from August 15, 1947, until the Constitution came into effect on January 26, 1950.
  • The Indian National Anthem, 'Jana Gana Mana', was originally written by Rabindranath Tagore as the Bengali hymn 'Bharoto Bhagyo Bidhata'.

2 min · 2 questions · 3 prelims

4/10

Travel and toilet accessibility

  • Lack of accessible and hygienic public sanitation facilities remains a significant barrier to inclusive tourism and mobility in India.
  • Gender-disparity in sanitation access: Women face greater challenges due to longer wait times, lack of maintenance, and the need for safe, private facilities.

1 min · 1 questions · 0 prelims

4/10

Qurratulain Hyder's literary work

  • Qurratulain Hyder is a pioneer in modern Urdu literature, known for her novels, short stories, and translations.
  • A Tilt in Time: Partition & Pakistan is an English translation by Fatima Rizvi of parts 12-15 of Hyder’s autobiographical work, Kar-e Jahan Daraz Hai (Volume II).

1 min · 2 questions · 1 prelims

4/10

Literary review of city life and riots

  • Geetanjali Shree is the author of 'Once Elephants Lived Here' (original Hindi title: 'Yahan Hathi Rahte The'), a collection of short stories.
  • Daisy Rockwell is the translator of the collection, having previously collaborated with Shree on the International Booker Prize-winning 'Tomb of Sand' (2022).

1 min · 2 questions · 1 prelims

4/10

Student protest resources

  • Protest sites in India have evolved from mere platforms for political dissent into shared public spaces for cultural exchange and social solidarity.
  • Everyday interactions and personal connections at protest sites help bridge socio-economic, caste, and religious divides, fostering trust between diverse groups.

1 min · 2 questions · 0 prelims

4/10

South Korea's proposal to end Korean War

  • South Korea has proposed formal talks with North Korea to officially end the Korean War.
  • The Korean War (1950-53) concluded with an armistice, not a formal peace treaty, leaving the two nations technically at war.

1 min · 1 questions · 1 prelims

4/10

Earthquake in Indonesia

  • A magnitude 7.7 earthquake occurred off the coast of Indonesia.
  • The event resulted in at least 40 fatalities and numerous injuries.

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

4/10

Anthropic IPO plans

  • Anthropic is reportedly planning an IPO with a valuation target of $2 trillion by September.
  • Anthropic's AI product, Claude, is widely used for advanced coding tasks and agent-based workflows.

1 min · 2 questions · 1 prelims

4/10

Biological clock research

  • The human biological clock is a network of genes and proteins operating in a roughly 24-hour cycle.
  • The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), a cluster of neurons in the hypothalamus, acts as the central biological clock.

1 min · 1 questions · 2 prelims

4/10

Webb telescope black hole discovery

  • The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has identified a supermassive black hole existing 660 million years after the Big Bang, during the 'cosmic dawn'.
  • The black hole is surrounded by a dense, thick envelope of hydrogen gas, which indicates a phase of rapid growth.

1 min · 1 questions · 1 prelims

4/10

TB vaccine and Alzheimer's research

  • Inflammaging: A state of chronic, low-grade inflammation in the aging immune system that contributes to neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s.
  • Mechanism: Alzheimer’s is associated with the accumulation of toxic amyloid-beta protein plaques in the brain.

1 min · 2 questions · 2 prelims

4/10

Wipro onboarding delays

  • NITES (Nascent Information Technology Employees Senate) has petitioned the Union Labour Minister regarding onboarding delays for over 200 freshers at Wipro Ltd.
  • The affected candidates were selected under the 'Elite Hiring 2025' process, with recruitment rounds occurring in February 2025.

1 min · 1 questions · 1 prelims

4/10

Death of jail inmate in Bihar

  • A 19-year-old inmate, Roshan Yadav, died in Rampatti jail, Bihar.
  • Official police claim states the cause of death as suicide.

1 min · 2 questions · 1 prelims

4/10

Nagaland miners' body on flood blame game

  • Floods and landslides in Assam and Nagaland resulted in at least 115 deaths between April and August 14, 2026.
  • Allegations have been raised regarding unregulated and unscientific mining (sand, stone, and coal) along the inter-state border contributing to flood damage in downstream Assam districts like Sivasagar and Charaideo.

1 min · 2 questions · 1 prelims · 18-day story

4/10

Global greetings on India's Independence Day

  • India celebrated its 80th Independence Day.
  • Global leaders from France, Russia, Australia, the United States, and Israel extended formal greetings.

1 min · 1 questions · 1 prelims · 8-day story

4/10

RSS Chief on youth and employment

  • India's large youth population is described as a 'demographic dividend' that can either drive national growth or become a societal burden.
  • Effective utilization of the youth requires proper nurturing, skill development, and employment opportunities.

1 min · 2 questions · 0 prelims · 5-day story

4/10

CJI address on youth and technology

  • CJI Surya Kant emphasized the role of the younger generation in the legal profession, highlighting their resilience, adaptability to technology, and awareness of social realities.
  • The judiciary acknowledges that the legal profession has become increasingly competitive with a steeper learning curve for young lawyers.

1 min · 2 questions · 1 prelims

4/10

Poaching incident in Chamarajanagar

  • Incident: Three suspected poachers killed in an exchange of fire with Forest Department personnel in Chikkallur Reserved Forest, Cauvery Wildlife Division, Chamarajanagar district, Karnataka.
  • Seized items: Two country-made guns and four bags containing deer meat were recovered by the Forest Department.

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

4/10

Kerala CM on communalism

  • Democracy is defined as a system founded on open-mindedness, tolerance, and debate, rather than a monoculture.
  • The concept of a 'monoculture' in democracy is rejected, specifically regarding the imposition of a single language, belief, or lifestyle.

1 min · 2 questions · 0 prelims

4/10

Corruption-free governance in Tamil Nadu

  • The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu has identified the establishment of a corruption-free government as a primary mission.
  • The administration emphasizes the need for public participation in governance to ensure the effective implementation of welfare measures.

1 min · 2 questions · 0 prelims · 3-day story

4/10

Attack on Sukhbir Singh Badal

  • Sukhbir Singh Badal, president of a major regional party in Punjab, was attacked with a dagger in Nanded, Maharashtra, in August 2025.
  • This incident marks the second assassination attempt on the leader within two years, following an earlier incident in December 2024 at the Golden Temple.

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

4/10

Political discourse on 'Urban Naxals' and youth

  • Political discourse in India has increasingly utilized terms like 'Urban Naxals' and 'Dimagi Naxals' (intellectual Naxals) to describe ideological dissenters.
  • Government representatives argue that while armed Naxalism has declined, an ideological form of subversion persists within the system, posing a threat to national stability.

1 min · 2 questions · 1 prelims

4/10

Ankita Bhandari murder case

  • The Ankita Bhandari case (2022) involves the murder of a 19-year-old resort receptionist in Uttarakhand.
  • Allegations suggest the victim was killed by drowning after resisting the demands of a 'VIP' guest.

1 min · 2 questions · 0 prelims

4/10

BCI Chairperson's apology to law students

  • The Bar Council of India (BCI) is the statutory body responsible for regulating the legal profession and legal education in India.
  • The BCI chairperson issued a formal apology regarding recent directives that sought to restrict law students from enrolling with State Bar Councils following student-led protests.

1 min · 1 questions · 1 prelims · 5-day story

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