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250 words
61 topics

18 August 2026

17 topics really matter today — about 21 minutes. The full edition is 61 topics and 96 questions, roughly 64 minutes.

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8/10

Ken-Betwa river-linking project resistance

  • The Ken-Betwa river-linking project involves transferring surplus water from the Ken river to the Betwa river via a 231-km canal to address water scarcity in the Bundelkhand region.
  • The project spans 13 districts across Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.

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

8/10

E20 fuel regime challenges

  • India transitioned to a nationwide E20 fuel regime (20% anhydrous ethanol, 80% petrol) effective April 1, 2026, with a minimum Research Octane Number (RON) of 95.
  • The policy aims to reduce crude oil import dependency, save foreign exchange, and lower carbon emissions.

2 min · 2 questions · 2 prelims · 21-day story

8/10

CAG audit of Green India Mission

  • CAG performance audit of Green India Mission (GIM) reveals significant underachievement against targets.
  • GIM target: improve forest quality over 1.4 million hectares; actual achievement: 0.11 million hectares.

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

8/10

Supreme Court on black money in elections

  • The Supreme Court has emphasized that the presence of black money in the electoral process compromises democracy, the rule of law, and the integrity of elections.
  • The Election Commission of India (EC) bears the primary responsibility for ensuring the electoral process remains free from the influence of black money.

2 min · 2 questions · 2 prelims

8/10

SHANTI Act and nuclear disaster compensation

  • The Supreme Court is examining the constitutional validity of the SHANTI Act, 2025, specifically regarding provisions that limit liability for nuclear accidents.
  • The Act caps the government’s residual liability at 300 million Special Drawing Rights (SDR).

1 min · 2 questions · 1 prelims

8/10

Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026

  • The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, introduces new restrictions on the taxation powers of State governments regarding mineral rights and mineral-bearing lands.
  • Section 9D of the Bill limits the ability of States to impose taxes, cesses, or levies on mineral-bearing lands, requiring them to operate within parameters prescribed by the Union government.

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

7/10

Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS) projects

  • MeitY approved ₹7,877 crore worth of new projects under the Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS).
  • Cumulative approvals under ECMS have reached ₹69,548 crore.

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

7/10

Validity of transgender identity cards

  • The Union government has assured the Supreme Court that transgender identity cards issued prior to the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Act, 2026, remain valid.
  • The 2026 Amendment Act came into force on March 30.

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

7/10

Indian Professional Nurses Association plea on NNMC Act

  • The Delhi High Court has directed the Union government to take action on a representation by the Indian Professional Nurses Association (IPNA) within two months.
  • The IPNA representation concerns the implementation of the National Nursing and Midwifery Commission (NNMC) Act, 2023.

1 min · 1 questions · 1 prelims

7/10

Vizhinjam port operations

  • Vizhinjam port has commenced full-fledged land-based export-import (EXIM) cargo operations.
  • The port initiated trial operations on July 12, 2024, and commercial operations on December 3, 2024.

1 min · 2 questions · 1 prelims · 8-day story

7/10

OBC category exclusion from Census

  • Concerns raised regarding the exclusion of a specific OBC column in the Census questionnaire.
  • Arguments suggest that the absence of a dedicated column hinders the accurate determination of the OBC population size.

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

7/10

Renaming Kerala to Keralam

  • President Droupadi Murmu has granted assent to the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026, officially renaming the state to Keralam.
  • The legislation was passed by the Lok Sabha on August 11, 2026, and the Rajya Sabha on August 12, 2026.

1 min · 1 questions · 2 prelims

7/10

Cauvery water sharing dispute

  • The Cauvery water sharing dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu is currently being monitored by the Supreme Court.
  • The Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) directed Karnataka to release 12,000 cusecs of water daily for 15 days starting August 12.

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

7/10

Supreme Court on elephant corridors

  • The Supreme Court has directed the Union government to conduct a nationwide survey of traditional elephant corridors to ensure free passage for wild herds.
  • The Court emphasized that no State has the authority to block elephant pathways, noting that elephant migration is inter-State and not confined to specific jurisdictions.

1 min · 2 questions · 1 prelims

7/10

Counter-terror operation against ISI-backed network

  • Security agencies dismantled the Pakistan-based 'Shahzad Bhatti Network' in a nationwide operation across 14 States/UTs.
  • Over 200 operatives arrested and 253 individuals detained; more than 80 FIRs registered.

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

7/10

UGC-NET examination irregularities and reforms

  • NTA to conduct re-exams for UGC-NET (English, Sociology, Commerce) on September 9-10 due to identified defects in question papers.
  • Union Education Ministry has directed NTA to perform a comprehensive audit of all examination processes and submit a corrective action report.

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

7/10

Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls

  • Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls is a periodic exercise conducted by the Election Commission of India to update voter databases.
  • The process involves an enumeration phase where Booth Level Officers (BLOs) collect and digitize voter information.

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

6/10

Closing Auction Session (CAS) mechanism

  • SEBI has introduced the Closing Auction Session (CAS) mechanism to determine closing prices in the stock market.
  • The CAS replaces the previous Volume-Weighted Average Price (VWAP) method for calculating closing prices.

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

6/10

Indian REITs distribution

  • Six publicly listed REITs in India distributed ₹3,136 crore to over 4.85 lakh unitholders in Q1 FY27.
  • The Indian REITs Association (IRA) reports a total gross Assets Under Management (AUM) of over ₹3.17 lakh crore for the sector as of Q1 FY27.

1 min · 2 questions · 1 prelims

6/10

Rotating detonation engines technology

  • Rotating Detonation Engine (RDE) is an advanced propulsion design offering higher fuel efficiency compared to conventional rocket engines.
  • RDEs utilize detonation (supersonic combustion) rather than deflagration (subsonic combustion) to convert chemical energy into useful work.

1 min · 2 questions · 2 prelims

6/10

Science funding and taxation debate

  • The proposal to fund scientific research by taxing 'frivolous' industries like sports or cinema is economically flawed as it ignores the trickle-down employment and economic benefits these sectors generate.
  • Wealth is not a zero-sum game; progress in one sector does not inherently come at the expense of another.

1 min · 2 questions · 1 prelims

6/10

India leases MQ-9B Sea Guardian drones

  • The Defence Ministry signed a contract worth ₹1,943 crore with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (USA).
  • The contract involves leasing two MQ-9B Sea Guardian High-Altitude Long-Endurance (HALE) remotely piloted aircraft systems.

1 min · 1 questions · 1 prelims

6/10

Supreme Court on AAP Gujarat social media accounts

  • The Supreme Court directed the restoration of Instagram and Facebook accounts of a political unit that had been geo-blocked.
  • The Court's interim order is subject to the removal of any objectionable content identified.

1 min · 2 questions · 1 prelims

6/10

Supreme Court on Rahul Gandhi assets case

  • The Supreme Court has stayed proceedings initiated by the Allahabad High Court regarding allegations of disproportionate assets against a public figure.
  • The Supreme Court emphasized that courts must adhere to the 'principles of natural justice' when issuing directions for investigations.

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

6/10

APPSC Group-I recruitment irregularities

  • SIT investigation into APPSC Group-I recruitment (Notification: Dec 31, 2018) revealed procedural irregularities.
  • Exam scale: 1.14 lakh applicants, 9,679 qualified for mains, 165 final selections.

1 min · 1 questions · 1 prelims

6/10

Supreme Court plea against AAP MLA election

  • The Supreme Court has agreed to hear an appeal challenging the election of a legislative assembly member.
  • The challenge pertains to the 2020 Delhi Assembly elections.

1 min · 2 questions · 1 prelims

6/10

Delhi Lakshmi Yojana recovery of funds

  • Delhi Lakshmi Yojana provides monthly financial assistance of ₹2,500 to eligible women aged 21-60.
  • Eligibility criteria include obtaining an endorsement letter from the local MLA or MP and a limit of one beneficiary per family.

1 min · 1 questions · 2 prelims · 12-day story

6/10

Jharkhand recruitment exam irregularities

  • Jharkhand government cancelled the JSSC-CGL examination following 24 days of student protests.
  • All examinations conducted by TSR Data Processing Private Ltd. (TDPL) since 2014 have been cancelled.

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

5/10

Trump threats regarding Iran and Oman

  • The Strait of Hormuz is a critical maritime chokepoint for global oil transit.
  • U.S. foreign policy rhetoric has recently included explicit threats regarding military intervention in the region.

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

5/10

Taliban victory day event in Delhi

  • The Afghanistan Embassy in New Delhi hosted its first 'Taliban victory day' event, marking the 2021 takeover.
  • Mufti Noor Ahmad Noor, Chargé d’Affaires of the Afghanistan Embassy, stated that Afghanistan aims for stability, reconstruction, and economic growth under an Islamic system.

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

5/10

Rupee depreciation against U.S. dollar

  • The Indian Rupee depreciated by 19 paise to close at 95.61 against the U.S. dollar.
  • Key factors contributing to the depreciation include weak domestic equity markets and rising global crude oil prices.

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

5/10

India's merchandise exports growth

  • India's merchandise exports in July 2026 reached $44.2 billion, a 20% increase year-on-year.
  • Merchandise trade deficit widened to $32 billion in July 2026 from $28 billion in July 2025 due to higher import growth.

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

5/10

AI model selection and leaderboards

  • AI industry focus is shifting from leaderboard rankings to workload-specific deployment strategies.
  • Key considerations for AI deployment include cost, governance, data residency, IP protection, and operational complexity.

1 min · 2 questions · 2 prelims

5/10

Delhi HC on Rajiv Gandhi Foundation RTI plea

  • The Delhi High Court dismissed a 2011 petition seeking to bring the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation (RGF) under the ambit of the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
  • The petition challenged a 2010 Central Information Commission (CIC) order which ruled that the foundation does not qualify as a 'public authority' under the RTI Act.

1 min · 1 questions · 1 prelims

5/10

Bihar Police affidavit on NEET-UG protest violence

  • Bihar Police submitted an affidavit to the Supreme Court regarding the use of force during NEET-UG protest violence.
  • Police admitted to the use of an AK-47 rifle by a trapped constable, firing four rounds in the air.

1 min · 2 questions · 1 prelims · 25-day story

5/10

Ram Temple donations misappropriation case

  • The Supreme Court of India has adopted a non-interventionist approach regarding the investigation into the alleged misappropriation of donations for the Ram Temple.
  • A Special Investigation Team (SIT) was constituted by the Uttar Pradesh government via an office memorandum dated July 25, 2026, and taken on record by the Supreme Court on July 27, 2026.

1 min · 2 questions · 1 prelims · 28-day story

5/10

Karnataka 'Eat Right' campaign

  • Karnataka government launched the 'Eat Right' campaign to promote healthy eating habits.
  • The initiative involves the formation of citizen-led food safety watch teams at the taluk level.

1 min · 1 questions · 1 prelims

5/10

Tamil Nadu crop loan waiver

  • Tamil Nadu government announced an enhanced crop loan waiver for farmers.
  • The waiver applies to marginal, small, and other categories of farmers.

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

5/10

Odisha flood situation

  • Northern Odisha districts of Jajpur, Bhadrak, Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Kendrapara, and Keonjhar are experiencing severe flooding.
  • Approximately 7.85 lakh people have been affected by the flood situation.

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

5/10

Political discourse on 'dimagi Naxals'

  • The term 'dimagi Naxal' was used in an Independence Day address to describe a specific category of intellectual discourse.
  • Census process 2026: Data collection is foundational for national planning and understanding ethno-religious demographics.

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

4/10

AI-generated wildlife imagery concerns

  • Proliferation of AI-generated wildlife imagery creates 'dangerous misinformation' by depicting unrealistic animal behaviors, such as animals acting as pets or humans.
  • Experts warn that hyper-realistic AI visuals distort public perception, leading to unsafe human-wildlife interactions and potential physical harm.

1 min · 2 questions · 1 prelims

4/10

Houthi attack on Saudi military vessel

  • Yemen-based Houthi rebels have claimed a ballistic missile attack on a Saudi military vessel and four accompanying boats in the Red Sea.
  • The incident occurred off the coast of Mokha, Yemen.

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

4/10

Ebola outbreak in Congo

  • The Democratic Republic of Congo is currently experiencing its deadliest Ebola outbreak on record.
  • The outbreak has resulted in 4,945 confirmed cases and 2,325 deaths over a three-month period.

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

4/10

Russian strikes on Ukraine port infrastructure

  • Russian forces conducted overnight strikes targeting port infrastructure in the Izmail district, Odesa region, Ukraine.
  • Russia claims the strikes targeted military assets, including a berthing terminal for military cargo, hangars for Western equipment, and naval drone depots.

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

4/10

Juniper Hotels expansion plans

  • Juniper Hotels Ltd is a joint venture between Saraf Hotels and Hyatt Hotels Corporation.
  • The company has announced a capital expenditure plan of ₹2,000 crore.

1 min · 1 questions · 1 prelims

4/10

Tata Sons AGM quorum issues

  • Tata Sons Pvt. Ltd. AGM faces potential adjournment due to lack of quorum.
  • The quorum issue arises because Sir Ratan Tata Trusts (holding 23.56% stake) is under a regulatory curb from the Maharashtra Charity Commissioner, preventing the nomination of representatives.

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

4/10

Ather Energy EV exports to Nepal

  • Bengaluru-based Ather Energy has expanded its electric vehicle (EV) operations in Nepal with the launch of the Ather 450X Overtones Series.
  • Ather Energy entered the Nepalese market in November 2023, marking its first international expansion.

1 min · 1 questions · 1 prelims

4/10

Soyoil import records

  • India's soyoil imports are projected to reach a record 6,20,000 metric tonnes in August.
  • The current import volume represents a 46% increase over the monthly average of 4,24,549 tonnes for the marketing year starting November.

1 min · 2 questions · 1 prelims

4/10

Letters to the editor on political discourse

  • Concerns regarding the decline in the quality of political discourse in India, characterized by a shift from reasoned policy debate to personal exchanges.
  • The role of electronic media in amplifying trivial political conflicts rather than focusing on substantive governance issues.

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

4/10

Seizure of journalist Ravi Nair's devices

  • Gujarat Police executed search warrants issued by a magistrate court against independent journalist Ravi Nair.
  • Seizure operations were conducted at premises in both Kerala and Delhi.

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

4/10

Hanuman's devotion discourse

  • The Ramayana is a foundational text in Indian cultural and literary tradition.
  • Hanuman is characterized by qualities including sauryam (heroism), dakshyam (skill), balam (strength), dhairyam (courage), and prajna (wisdom).

1 min · 1 questions · 2 prelims

4/10

General Dhiraj Seth conferred honorary rank in Nepal

  • Indian Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth was conferred the honorary rank of General of the Nepalese Army.
  • The investiture ceremony was held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in Kathmandu, presided over by Nepal President Ramchandra Paudel.

1 min · 1 questions · 1 prelims

4/10

Tarapith hotel fire

  • Location: Hotel Bideshini, Tarapith, Birbhum district, West Bengal.
  • Incident: Fire broke out at 4.30 a.m. on the ground floor, resulting in 8 fatalities and multiple injuries.

1 min · 1 questions · 1 prelims

4/10

Supreme Court on land compensation in J&K

  • The Supreme Court directed the J&K administration to pay compensation and rent for land forcibly acquired for a police station in Kangan, Ganderbal, in 1953.
  • The land area involved is seven kanals and 18 marlas.

1 min · 1 questions · 1 prelims

4/10

Allahabad HC on Sugriv Kila temple land acquisition

  • Allahabad High Court addressed a dispute involving the acquisition of a 1,512-square-metre plot of land belonging to the Sugriv Kila temple in Ayodhya.
  • The State authorities took possession of the land in December 2023 for development projects related to the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple.

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

4/10

UPSSSC recruitment result declaration

  • The Uttar Pradesh Subordinate Service Selection Commission (UPSSSC) is responsible for conducting recruitment examinations for state-level posts.
  • Recent administrative actions include the declaration of final results for 1,468 Village Panchayat Officer posts following candidate protests.

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

4/10

Rajasthan school security and privacy restrictions

  • Rajasthan government issued a circular restricting entry of outsiders into government schools.
  • Entry is prohibited without prior permission from the principal or head of the institution, except for authorized government officials.

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

4/10

Corruption case against former CPA head

  • Dr. Vinod Kumar Ranga, former head of the Central Procurement Agency (CPA), had his bail plea dismissed by a Delhi court.
  • The arrest occurred on June 18 following an investigation into irregularities in the procurement of medicines, surgical items, consumables, and equipment.

1 min · 1 questions · 1 prelims

4/10

Har Ghar Tiranga campaign

  • The 'Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign is a national initiative aimed at encouraging citizens to display the national flag.
  • The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) organized a 'Tiranga Yatra' in Connaught Place as part of the campaign.

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

4/10

Bihar temple stampede

  • Location: Ashok Dham temple, Lakhisarai district, Bihar.
  • Incident: Stampede resulting in 7 deaths and over a dozen injuries.

1 min · 1 questions · 1 prelims

4/10

Kalyanpuri murder case

  • Incident: A 27-year-old sanitation worker, Anil Kumar, was fatally stabbed in Kalyanpuri, East Delhi.
  • Accused: Nihal, 52, a fellow sanitation worker, arrested by Delhi Police.

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

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