Current Affairs Today

We are here for you to provide the important Recent and Latest Current Affairs August 21 2026, which have unique updates of Latest Current Affairs 2026 events from all newspapers such as The Hindu, The Economic Times, PIB, Times of India, PTI, Indian Express, Business Standard and all Government official websites.

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NATIONAL AFFAIRS

Cabinet Approved Railways and Highway Projects worth Rs 13,041 Crore Across 5 States
In August 2026, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi, approved 5 key infrastructure projects worth Rs 13,041 crore, including 4 multi-tracking railway projects  with an estimated cost Rs 9,450 crore and 4-Laning of  of National Highway (NH-22) in Bihar at an estimated cost of Rs 3,590.73 crore.
Key Details of Projects: 
Multi-tracking Projects: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) under the chairmanship of  PM  Narendra Modi, approved four multitracking projects across 8 districts in West Bengal (WB),  Odisha, Tamil Nadu (TN) and Andhra Pradesh (AP).
Districts-wise Coverage: The proposed projects include 173 -km long 4th line between Kharagpur and Bhadrak (Ranital) in WB and Odisha (with estimated cost of around Rs 3,352 crore); the 75-km 4th  line between Bhadrak and Haridaspur in Odisha (at a cost of nearly Rs 1,583 crore); the 90 km 3rd and 4th lines between Gummidipundi-Gudur across AP and TN (Rs 2,229 crore); and 72-km 3rd and 4th lines between Cuttack and Paradeep (Badabandha) in Odisha (2,286 crore).
Upgradation of NH-22 in Bihar: The CCEA approved the upgradation of the 82.578-km Muzaffarpur-Sitamarhi-Sonbarsa section of NH-22 to four-lane standard in Bihar.
Development Mode: The proposed corridor will be developed under the Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM), connecting the India-Nepal border at Sonbarsa with Muzaffarpur via NH-27, part of the East-West Corridor.

President Droupadi Murmu Assent to Taxation & Payment and Settlement Systems (Amendment) Laws, 2026
In August 2026, the President of India (PoI) Droupadi Murmu gave her assent to the Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Act, 2026, and another law to amend the Payment and Settlement Systems (PSS) Act of 2007, paving the way for changes in taxation rules and the framework governing charges on electronic payments.

• The amendments seek to attract foreign capital, promote domestic electronics manufacturing, facilitate the use of Indian data centres by foreign cloud companies and modify the legal framework governing charges on specified digital payment modes.

Taxation and Other Laws Act, 2026 Amendment
Replacement: The Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Act replaces the Income-tax (IT) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026, which had provided tax exemptions on interest income and capital gains earned by foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) from investments in government securities.
IT Exemption: The Bill exempts foreign institutional investors (FIIs) and the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) from paying income tax on:

• Interest earned on investments in government securities, and
• Capital gains arising from sale, exchange or transfer of such securities.

UNHCR, SICCI & Ethiraj College Join Hands to Advance Refugee Education and Inclusion
In August 2026, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the UN Refugee Agency, Southern India Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI) and Ethiraj College for Women (Autonomous), Chennai, Tamil Nadu (TN) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration in education, research, and community engagement for promoting refugee self-reliance and inclusion in India.
Key Details of MoU:
Signatories: The agreement was signed by P. Ganapathi, Former President, SICCI; V.M. Muralidharan, Chairman, Ethiraj College for Women and S. Uma Gowrie, Principal and Secretary, Ethiraj College for Women in the presence of Valan Michael, Head of Field Office, UNHCR.
Implementation: Under the MoU, the Department of Social Work, Ethiraj College for Women will act as the nodal department for coordinating and implementing collaborative activities.
Focus: The partnership will undertake initiatives in education, research, community engagement, and livelihood support to enhance self-reliance among refugees.
SICCI-UNHCR Partnership Forum: The forum works towards promoting the self-reliance and socio-economic inclusion of refugee communities in India, with a focus on supporting initiatives for refugees, including Sri Lankan refugees living in TN.
About UNHCR: Established in 1950 and headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, the UNHCR is a UN agency responsible for protecting refugees, forcibly displaced people, and stateless persons.

NCW Organises ‘Yashoda AI’ Programme in Jalandhar to Promote Women’s Digital Empowerment 
In August 2026, the National Commission for Women (NCW) organised the “Yashoda AI – Women’s Path to AI Empowerment” programme at Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Jalandhar, Punjab, to promote Artificial Intelligence (AI) literacy, digital empowerment, cyber safety and greater participation of women in emerging technologies.

• Yashoda AI was originally launched on 22 May 2025 at Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Rohilkhand University, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh(UP).

Highlights of Yashoda AI Initiative:
Launch:  The initiative was launched by Vijaya Rahatkar, Chairperson of the National Commission for Women (NCW), during her visit to Jalandhar, Punjab to equip women with AI skills and encourage their participation in technology-driven fields.

• She chaired a review meeting with senior district administrative officials to assess women’s safety and protection issues, highlighting women’s safety as an important measure of good governance.

She Serves Programme:  The NCW Chairperson inaugurated the “She Serves” programme at a women’s college in Jalandhar, Punjab to encourage young women to explore career opportunities in the Armed Forces.
About NCW:  Established in 1992 and headquartered in New Delhi(Delhi), It’s a statutory body working to protect and promote women’s rights in India. It is headed by Vijaya Rahatkar, Chairperson.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

Overview of COAS General Dhiraj Seth’s 3-Day Official Visit to Nepal
General Dhiraj Seth, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) of Indian Army (IA) undertook a three-day official visit to Nepal from August 17 to August 19, 2026, at the invitation of Ashok Raj Sigdel, COAS of the Nepal Army.

• The visit  aimed at  further strengthening defence cooperation and military-to-military ties between the two countries.

Key Highlights of Visit:
Key Engagements: During his visit to Nepal, he held bilateral talks with his Nepali counterpart Sigdel at Nepal Army headquarters, where army chiefs of both countries discussed matters of mutual interest and ways to strengthen military relations. He  was also  briefed by the Director General Military Operations (DGMO) of the Nepali Army.
Guard of Honour: The IA Chief laid a wreath at the Army Pavilion in Tundikhel, Kathmandu and received a Guard of Honour at the Nepali Army Headquarters.
Honorary Rank Conferment: General Seth was conferred the rank of honorary rank of General of the Nepali Army by Ramchandra Paudel, President of Nepal, during an investiture ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhawan (Sheetal Nowas)in Kathmandu.

BANKING & FINANCE

Paul Merchants Finance Becomes India’s First NBFC to Set Up Exclusive Silver Loan Branches 
In August 2026, Paul Merchants Finance Private Limited (PMFPL), a diversified Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) and part of the Paul Merchants Group, launched its Loan Against Silver product and became the first NBFC in India to establish exclusive branches dedicated to silver loans.

• The initiative follows the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)’s Lending Against Gold and Silver Collateral Directions, 2025, which brought lending against eligible silver collateral into the formal regulated lending framework.

Key Details:
Phase-wise Implementation: As of now, the NBFC has started its Silver loan operations from the Union Territory (UT) Chandigarh. It further plans to expand the new loan offering to other locations in a phased-manner.
Credit Facility Range: As per the company, interested customers can avail loans ranging from Rs 2,000 to Rs 15 lakh under this new offering, against eligible silver jewellery, ornaments and approved silver coins, in accordance with the company’s lending policies and regulatory norms.
About  PMFPL: Founded in 2010, PMFPL is a fastest growing NBFC regulated by RBI with its headquarters in Chandigarh. It offers secured Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) loans, Loans Against Property (LAP), corporate loans, among others.

Paramotor Digital Partners with NSDL Payments Bank to Issue Prepaid Cards
In August 2026, Paramotor Digital Technology Limited , a financial technology (fintech) company, entered into a co-branded partnership agreement with NSDL Payments Bank Limited to issue co-branded prepaid cards across India.

• The collaboration will combine Paramotor’s technology capabilities with NSDL Payments Bank’s banking infrastructure and prepaid card issuance services to provide secure and compliant prepaid payment solutions.

Highlights of the Partnership: 
Partnership Purpose:  The partnership will support Paramotor’s consumer spend management, digital gifting, and rewards & loyalty platforms, including SpendPro, Yayyy.shop, and RewardOn.
Regulatory Compliance:  The partnership will facilitate secure and Reserve Bank of India (RBI)-compliant prepaid payment solutions across payment networks.
IPO Update:  Paramotor Digital filed confidential draft papers with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) in May 2026 to raise funds through an Initial Public Offering (IPO).
About Paramotor Digital Technology Ltd:  Founded in 2016, Paramotor Digital Technology Limited is a Mumbai(Maharshtra) based fintech company focused on consumer spend management, digital gifting, rewards and loyalty, and technology services. Rahul Anand serves as its Managing Director(MD).

ECONOMY & BUSINESS

Ind–Ra Raised India’s FY27 Economic Growth Forecast By 10 Bps To 6.8% 
In August 2026, India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Fitch Group, raised India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth forecast by 10 basis points (bps) to  6.8% for Financial Year 2026-27(FY27), from its previous estimate of 6.7%, due to lower crude oil prices.

• It further outlined certain risks that may dampen India’s growth, including geopolitical developments, particularly ongoing West Asia conflict; high headline inflation; a depreciating currency; and weaker-than-expected Capital Expenditure (Capex), especially by the central government to mitigate fiscal risks.

Key Projections:
Nominal GDP: Also, Ind-Ra projected India’s nominal GDP growth at 10.4% for FY27, higher than 8.9% (in FY26).
Inflation: The rating agency estimated India’s Wholesale Price Index (WPI) inflation to increase significantly to 8.5% (in FY27), while Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation is projected to average at 4.9% for the current fiscal year.

• In addition, retail inflation is estimated to average at 4.9% in FY27 (over 2% in FY26).

Fiscal & External Risks: The agency noted that the Government of India (GoI) set fiscal deficit target of 4.3% for the current financial year remains challenging due to subsidies on Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and fertilisers.

• It further estimated the Current Account Deficit (CAD) to widen to 1.5% of GDP in FY27 from 0.6% in FY26.

RIL Collaborated with Rolls-Royce  to Develop Indigenous Engine for India’s AMCA Programme
In August 2026, Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) entered into a strategic partnership with British luxury car company, Rolls-Royce Limited to design, develop and manufacture and deliver a sovereign indigenous combat engine for India’s Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme.
Key Details of Collaboration:
Setting Up CoE in India: Under this new strategic partnership, both companies will explore setting up a dedicated Aerospace Gas Turbine Complex in India that will serve as Centre of Excellence (CoE) for power and propulsion technology.
Integration: The collaboration seeks to integrate Rolls-Royce’s technology and expertise in advanced propulsion with RIL’s industrial and manufacturing capabilities to support the joint development of AMCA engine in India.
About AMCA Programme: The programme aims to build India’s 5th-generation stealth multi-role aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF). The aircraft will incorporate stealth, supercruise, advanced avionics, and Artificial Intelligence (AI)-assisted systems.

• The programme is managed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), an autonomous body which works under the Department of Defence Research and Development (DoDR&D), Ministry of Defence (MoD).

About RIL: Established in 1958 and headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra, is India’s largest private sector corporation and has operations spanning  energy, petrochemicals, telecommunications, retail, among others and is led by Mukesh Ambani.

Google Acquires Spirit Airlines’ Business Data for AI Development 
In August 2026, Alphabet Inc.’s Google emerged as the winning bidder in a bankruptcy auction with a USD 10 million bid to acquire a portion of Spirit Airlines internal enterprise data and software assets for product development and Artificial Intelligence (AI) model training. The proposed sale remains subject to approval by a United State of America(USA) bankruptcy court.
Highlights of the Acquisition: 
Background:  Spirit Airlines shut down operations in May 2026 after financial difficulties caused by high debt and rising fuel costs and began selling its assets through bankruptcy proceedings.
Data Acquisition:   Google will acquire Spirit Airlines’ internal enterprise data, including employee emails, Microsoft Teams messages, spreadsheets, calendars, marketing, productivity and operations data.
Purpose:  The acquired dataset will be used for product development and AI model training. The data will be de-identified before transfer and will not include customer information or personally identifiable information.
Bankruptcy Auction:  Google emerged as the highest bidder, defeating Mercor, an AI data company that submitted a US$7.5 million bid. The sale requires approval from a U.S. bankruptcy court.
About Google:  Google, a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., is headquartered in Mountain View, California, USA, and is led by CEO (Chief Executive officer) Sundar Pichai. It was founded in 1998 and Alphabet Inc. was established in 2015.

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

Indian-origin Lakshmanan Meyyappan becomes World’s Youngest Male CA at 16 Years 
In August 2026, Indian-origin Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE)-based finance professional Lakshmanan Meyyappan was recognised by the Guinness World Records as the World’s Youngest Male Chartered Accountant (CA) after achieving the feat at the age of 16 years and 141 days (in June 2021).
About Lakshmanan Meyyappan: 
Qualification: Meyyappan completed the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) qualification at the age of 16, having started the course at 15 and finishing it in nearly one year.
Achievement: He further achieved the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Charterholder designation in 2025.
Career: Meyyappan is pursuing a Master of Science (MSc) in Finance from American University of Sharjah, while working as a Senior Research Analyst at Century Financial in Dubai, UAE where he conducts investment research and supports financial market decision-making.

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Dr. Eluri Sreedhar Appointed as Honorary Advisor to BRICS CCI
In August 2026, Dr. Eluri Sreedhar was appointed as an Honorary Advisor to the Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BRICS CCI), with the appointment letter presented by Sameep Shastri, Chairman of BRICS CCI and grandson of former Prime Minister (PM) of India Lal Bahadur Shastri.
About Dr. Eluri Sreedhar:
Profile: He is a prominent educator, technocrat and enterprise strategist recognised for his contributions to social development, entrepreneurship, community empowerment, and para-sports management.
Career: He founded the renowned competitive examination training platform Sreedhar’s CCE (College of Competitive Exams)
Advisor Role: He will contribute to initiatives focused on economic collaboration, strategic partnerships, inclusive development, community empowerment, and development-oriented programmes in collaboration with government stakeholders.
About BRICS CCI: Established in 2012 and headquartered in New Delhi, Delhi, BRICS CCI is an apex parent organisation registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 and empanelled with National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog), Government of India (GoI).

ACQUISITIONS & MERGERS

LIC Gets RBI Approval to Increase Stake up to 9.99%  in HDFC Bank 
In August 2026, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) to acquire an aggregate holding of up to 9.99% of the paid-up share capital or voting rights of HDFC Bank Limited, one of India’s leading private-sector banks.

• LIC currently holds a 4.11% stake in HDFC Bank as per the latest beneficial position on 14 August 2026.

Key Highlights of the Approval: 
Regulatory Compliance: The approval is subject to compliance with the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, RBI (Commercial Banks – Acquisition and Holding of Shares or Voting Rights) Directions, 2025, Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999, Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) regulations and other applicable laws.
Institutional Investment: The move will provide LIC greater flexibility to increase its exposure to India’s largest private sector bank and strengthen its position as a major institutional investor in the financial sector.
No Immediate Increase: The RBI approval does not mean LIC will immediately raise its stake to 9.99%; any acquisition will be carried out according to RBI conditions and other regulatory norms.
About LIC: LIC, founded in 1956 and headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra, operates in insurance and financial services under Chief Executive Officer(CEO) & Managing Director(MD) R. Doraiswamy.

CCI Approved Prudential’s Proposed Majority Stake Buy in Bharti Life Insurance
In August 2026, the Competition Commission of India (CCI), under Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), approved the proposal of Prudential Corporation Holdings Limited (Acquirer), subsidiary of British financial firm, Prudential plc, to acquire a majority stake in Bharti Life Insurance Company Limited (Target), an Insurance Regulatory Authority of India (IRDAI)-licensed insurer.

• However, the acquisition remains subject to other applicable regulatory and statutory approvals.

Key Details of Acquisition:
Acquisition Process: As per the proposed arrangement, Prudential Corporation Holdings will buy the majority 75% stake from Bharti Life Insurance from Bharti Life Ventures Pvt. Ltd. and 360 ONE Asset Management for Rs 3,500 crore (around USD 389 million).
Condition: In order to meet the regulatory requirements, Prudential which currently holds 22% stake in its life insurance venture with ICICI Bank Limited, is required to reduce its holdings in the existing venture.
Post-Acquisition Changes: Once the transaction is completed, Prudential’s Indian operations will hold majority-owned Bharti Life Insurance Company and Prudential HCL Health Insurance Ltd.
Other Key Approval: In addition, CCI has also approved Tata Steel’s proposal to acquire an additional 23% stake in TM International Logistics Limited (TMILL), a public listed company which was established as a Joint Venture (JV) (51:23:26) between Tata Steel, IQ Martrade and NYK Europe, to cater to the logistics and cargo transportation requirements of Tata Steel.

• As per the proposed arrangement, Tata Steel Limited will acquire the entire shareholding of IQ Martrade Holding Und Management GmbH (23%) in TMILL.
• Following the completion of the transaction, Tata Steel and NYK Europe will hold 74% and 26% equity stake in TMILL, respectively.

About CCI: CCI, established in October 2003 under the CCI Act, 2002, is the main national market regulatory body in India, with key mandate to prevent unfair business practices, promote fair  trade and protect buyer interests across the country.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

AkinAnalytics Launches Indigenous NIKA2 Kisan Medium Drone for Farmers
In August 2026, Hyderabad (Telangana)-based women-led DeepTech and Defence  Technology startup AkinAnalytics launched its indigenous NIKA2 Kisan Medium Drone to provide technology-driven solutions for farmers and field-intensive industries.

• The drone was unveiled by Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare (MoA&FW) and the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), in New Delhi, Delhi.

About NIKA2 Kisan Medium Drone:
Significance: The launch of NIKA2 supports India’s indigenous drone ecosystem, technology-driven farming solutions, and automation in field-intensive sectors, while advancing the vision of “Make in India, Go Global”
Capability: NIKA2 is designed with a 16-litre spraying payload and 12-litre spreading payload, along with advanced features such as terrain-following capability, fail-safe systems, and night-operation capability.
Applications: The drone platform is designed for multi-sectoral applications across agriculture, aquaculture, plantations, mining, energy, infrastructure, and defence, including use cases such as aquaculture feed distribution.
About AkinAnalytics: Led by Founder and Cheif Executive Officer (CEO) Janaki Pulaparthi, it has been recognised among the Forbes 40 Under 40 India Leaders (2025) and by various national innovation platforms for its DeepTech and indigenous technology initiatives.

ENVIRONMENT

Himalayan Bloom names ‘Impatiens nimspurjae’ to Honours Mountaineer Nirmal Purja
In August 2026,  Himalayan plant species was named Impatiens Nimspurjai to honour of legendary Nepali mountaineer Nirmal “Nimsdai” Purja for his outstanding contributions to mountaineering and high-altitude environmental conservation.

• The species was discovered in Myagdi district of Nepal by researchers Bhakta Bahadur Raskoti and Rita Ale.
• The species was formally described in a 57-page study published in the peer-reviewed journal PLOS ONE and was first encountered in western Myagdi district of Nepal in 2011.

About Impatiens Nimspurjai:
Taxonomy: Impatiens Nimspurjai belongs to the genus Impatiens of the Balsaminaceae family, a large group of flowering plants locally known as Tiuri in Nepal.
Habitat: The species grows on humid slopes and forest margins at an altitude of approximately 2,800m to 2,900m (metres) above sea level
About Nirmal ‘Nimsdai’ Purja: He climbed all 14 peaks of the world’s 8,000-metre peaks in 2019 in record time of 6 months and 6 days and was part of the first winter K2 ascent (2021).
Honours: Appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) by Queen Elizabeth II in 2018 and was recognised by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) as a Mountain Advocate.

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Mosquito Day 2026 – August 20 
World Mosquito Day (WMD) is annually observed across the globe on 20 August to commemorate the discovery by Sir Ronald Ross in 1897 that female Anopheles mosquitoes transmit malaria between humans.
Discovery of Malaria Transmission:  
Malaria Discovery:  On 20 August 1897, Sir Ronald Ross discovered malaria parasites in the stomach of female Anopheles mosquitoes in Secunderabad, (Telangana) India.
Research Publication: His findings were published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) on 18 December 1897 in the paper “On some peculiar pigmented cells found in two mosquitoes fed on malarial blood.”
Nobel Recognition: In 1902, Ronald Ross received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, becoming the first Briton recognised for malaria research.

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