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Today's UPSC current affairs digest covers 12 stories across GS Papers I–III — each with the key facts worth remembering, a Prelims MCQ, and a Mains practice question. All facts are sourced directly from PIB, RBI and NITI Aayog (see the source link under each story).

GS-III Environment Ecology

India Launches Its First-Ever Guide to Grasslands and Open Natural Ecosystems

At the UNCCD COP17 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, India released its first formal Guide to Grasslands and Other Open Natural Ecosystems (ONEs) — reclassifying grasslands as valuable ecosystems rather than "wastelands."

☐ Facts worth boxing
  • Launched 17 August 2026 at a UNCCD COP17 side event under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC).
  • Organised by ATREE with IUCN, the Centre of Excellence on Sustainable Land Management, ICFRE and ISRO's Space Applications Centre.
  • ONEs include Himalayan/Terai grasslands, Thar & Banni landscapes, Deccan savannas, rocky plateaus, ravines and scrublands.
  • The Guide carries dedicated sections on pastoralism, fire ecology and carbon sequestration.
  • Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav stressed conserving these landscapes on par with forests, via a video message to the launch event.
◆ Why it matters for the exam
Links Environment (GS-III) with Land Degradation Neutrality and India's UNCCD/CBD commitments — a favourite prelims cluster on classification of ecosystems.
Prelims MCQ · Test Yourself
Mains Practice Question
✎ Points a good answer would cover
    Source PIB — Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
    GS-I / III Environment Wildlife

    Asiatic Lion Population Rises to 891, Up 32% Since 2020

    Marking World Lion Day, the Environment Ministry reported that India's Asiatic lion population has grown to 891 individuals in the 16th population estimation (May 2025), with the Prime Minister sharing the achievement nationally.

    ☐ Facts worth boxing
    • Population: 674 (2020) → 891 (2025) — a 32% rise; up from 523 in 2015 (a ~70% rise over a decade).
    • The Asiatic lion (Panthera leo persica) survives in the wild only in Gujarat's Greater Gir landscape.
    • Lions have dispersed beyond the traditional Gir core into notified forests, river corridors and revenue wastelands.
    • Project Lion, announced by the PM on 15 August 2020, covers roughly 60,000 sq km across Saurashtra with a landscape-level conservation approach.
    • Monitoring uses satellite telemetry to track lion ecology, corridor use and seasonal movement patterns.
    ◆ Why it matters for the exam
    A clean single-species conservation success story for GS-I/III — pairs well with Project Cheetah and Project Tiger for comparative conservation-model questions.
    Prelims MCQ · Test Yourself
    Mains Practice Question
    ✎ Points a good answer would cover
      Source PIB — PM shares article on India's Asiatic lion comeback
      GS-III Economy Banking

      RBI Closes Its Special FCNR(B) Forex Swap Window Early After $52.3 Billion Response

      The RBI is prematurely closing its special US dollar-rupee forex swap facility for fresh FCNR(B) deposits on 31 August 2026 — a month ahead of schedule — after the scheme drew a far stronger response than expected from NRI depositors.

      ☐ Facts worth boxing
      • FCNR(B) = Foreign Currency Non-Resident (Bank) deposit account for NRIs/PIOs; principal & interest are fully repatriable and tax-exempt in India.
      • The swap facility (introduced 8 June 2026) mobilised $52.3 billion via FCNR(B) deposits alone, as of 13 August 2026.
      • Total inflows across FCNR(B), ECBs and OFCBs: about $56.85 billion.
      • New FCNR(B) deposit mobilisation deadline: 31 August 2026 (from 30 September); swaps against these deposits allowed with RBI till 11 September 2026.
      • The ECB and OFCB windows are unaffected and remain open till 31 December 2026.
      ◆ Why it matters for the exam
      Tests understanding of external-sector management and rupee stability — a recurring GS-III economy theme, echoing RBI's 2013 forex-crisis playbook.
      Prelims MCQ · Test Yourself
      Mains Practice Question
      ✎ Points a good answer would cover
        Source Reserve Bank of India — Press Releases
        GS-III Defence Maritime Security

        MoD Signs ₹1,943 Crore Deal to Lease Two More MQ-9B Sea Guardian Drones for the Navy

        The Ministry of Defence signed a contract with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) to lease two additional MQ-9B Sea Guardian High-Altitude Long-Endurance RPAS for the Indian Navy for 30 months.

        ☐ Facts worth boxing
        • Contract signed 17 August 2026 at Kartavya Bhawan-2, New Delhi, worth approximately ₹1,943 crore, for a 30-month lease.
        • MQ-9B Sea Guardian is a HALE (High-Altitude Long-Endurance) RPAS capable of over 40 hours of continuous flight.
        • Purpose: strengthen the Navy's Maritime Domain Awareness with persistent ISR coverage across the Indian Ocean Region.
        • This lease bridges the gap until deliveries begin under India's separate 2024 government-to-government deal for 31 armed MQ-9B drones (15 for the Navy, 8 each for the Army and IAF).
        • The Navy has operated two MQ-9B Sea Guardians on lease since 2020; this new contract effectively doubles the leased fleet for an overlap period.
        ◆ Why it matters for the exam
        High-Altitude Long-Endurance RPAS and Maritime Domain Awareness are recurring GS-III defence-technology terms — know the lease-vs-procurement distinction here.
        Prelims MCQ · Test Yourself
        Mains Practice Question
        ✎ Points a good answer would cover
          Source PIB — Ministry of Defence
          GS-II Governance Schemes

          Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0: Rural Tap Coverage Crosses 82%, Extended Till December 2028

          The Jal Jeevan Mission, launched by the PM on 15 August 2019 to provide tap water to every rural household, has now moved into its 2.0 phase — Cabinet-approved on 10 March 2026 with an outlay of ₹8.69 lakh crore.

          ☐ Facts worth boxing
          • Coverage risen from 16.72% (Aug 2019) to over 81–82% of rural households today.
          • JJM 2.0 total outlay: ₹8.69 lakh crore, including Central assistance of ₹3.59 lakh crore, extending the Mission till December 2028.
          • Implemented by the Dept. of Drinking Water & Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme.
          • Funding pattern: 90:10 for Himalayan/NE states, 100% Centre-funded for UTs, 50:50 for other states.
          • Over 2.7 lakh villages have been certified 'Har Ghar Jal.'
          ◆ Why it matters for the exam
          A frequently tested flagship-scheme fact set — funding pattern, nodal ministry, and the JJM 2.0 outlay figures are classic prelims-trap details.
          Prelims MCQ · Test Yourself
          Mains Practice Question
          ✎ Points a good answer would cover
            Source PIB — Ministry of Jal Shakti
            GS-II / III Economy Services

            NITI Aayog Flags Regulatory Barriers Holding Back India's Professional Services Sector

            NITI Aayog released the third report in its Services Thematic Series, assessing India's regulatory regime for professional services and proposing a four-pronged reform strategy.

            ☐ Facts worth boxing
            • Report title: "India's Services Sector: Insights on Regulatory Regime in Professional Services."
            • Launched by Ashok Kumar Lahiri, Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog, on 10 August 2026, with CEO Nidhi Chhibber and MOSPI Secretary Saurabh Garg present.
            • India's revealed comparative advantage in professional & management consulting services rose from 0.95 (2005) to 3.0 (2024).
            • Key finding: India lacks a uniform regulatory regime — medicine, law and accounting are tightly regulated, while engineering and urban planning are lightly regulated.
            • Four-pronged strategy: harness emerging trends, elevate services in the value chain, adopt global best practices, and promote continuous professional development.
            ◆ Why it matters for the exam
            Services-sector reform is a growing GS-III theme as India pushes services exports — pairs well with questions on ease-of-doing-business rankings.
            Prelims MCQ · Test Yourself
            Mains Practice Question
            ✎ Points a good answer would cover
              Source NITI Aayog — Official Report (PDF)
              GS-III Defence Indigenisation

              MoD Signs ₹1,577 Crore Deal for Loiter Munition Systems Under 'Buy (Indian)'

              The Ministry of Defence signed contracts with Tata Advanced Systems (TASL) and NIBE Ltd for Loiter Munition Systems for the Indian Army, to be delivered within 12 months.

              ☐ Facts worth boxing
              • Contracts inked in New Delhi on 14 August 2026, in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh.
              • Procured under the 'Buy (Indian)' category via the Fast Track Procedure (FTP); covers 84 loiter munition systems and 840 loitering munitions.
              • TASL (L1 vendor): 64% of the order — 54 munition systems, 540 loitering munitions, worth about ₹1,000 crore.
              • NIBE (L2 vendor): 36% of the order — 30 munition systems, 300 loitering munitions.
              • Aim: strengthen artillery precision-strike capability and boost indigenous manufacturing under Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
              ◆ Why it matters for the exam
              Loitering munitions ('suicide drones') are an emerging GS-III/security topic — know the difference from conventional UAVs and missiles.
              Prelims MCQ · Test Yourself
              Mains Practice Question
              ✎ Points a good answer would cover
                Source PIB — Ministry of Defence
                GS-II / III Governance Digital Rupee

                PMGKAY Food Subsidy Now Paid via Digital Rupee (CBDC) in Chandigarh and Dadra & Nagar Haveli

                The government inaugurated CBDC-based Direct Benefit Transfer of food subsidies under PMGKAY on 14 August 2026 — the first large-scale, fully-saturated use of India's Central Bank Digital Currency in a welfare scheme.

                ☐ Facts worth boxing
                • Chandigarh and Dadra & Nagar Haveli are the first UTs to move all PMGKAY beneficiaries to CBDC (Digital Rupee) wallets.
                • Launched by Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, with Governor/Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria and Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan present.
                • Subsidy is purpose-bound — usable only to buy foodgrain from empanelled merchants via a QR-code transaction.
                • Builds on earlier CBDC-PDS pilots in Puducherry (Feb 2026) and Gujarat.
                • PMGKAY covers over 80 crore beneficiaries; managed by the Dept. of Food & Public Distribution.
                ◆ Why it matters for the exam
                A rare real-world CBDC use case — connects Digital Rupee (e₹) pilots with DBT reform, a hot GS-III/technology-in-governance topic.
                Prelims MCQ · Test Yourself
                Mains Practice Question
                ✎ Points a good answer would cover
                  Source PIB — Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution
                  GS-III Science & Tech PSU

                  MIDHANI Becomes First Indian Firm to Win GE Aerospace's S400 Lab Approval

                  Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited (MIDHANI), a Government of India defence PSU, became the first Indian company to secure GE Aerospace's S400 approval for testing high-performance metallic and aerospace-grade alloys.

                  ☐ Facts worth boxing
                  • S400 is GE Aerospace's certification programme approving Certified Material Test Laboratories (CMTLs) worldwide.
                  • Enables MIDHANI to expand into superalloys and titanium-alloy testing for aerospace-grade qualification.
                  • MIDHANI: est. 1973, a Miniratna Category-I Schedule-B PSU under the Ministry of Defence, headquartered in Hyderabad.
                  • The company's order book stood at ₹2,329 crore as of 1 July 2026; the announcement was made via an official stock-exchange filing.
                  • Signals rising global recognition of India's state-owned defence-materials manufacturing ecosystem.
                  ◆ Why it matters for the exam
                  A good example of a Miniratna PSU story — expect prelims questions testing category (Miniratna/Navratna/Maharatna) and parent ministry.
                  Prelims MCQ · Test Yourself
                  Mains Practice Question
                  ✎ Points a good answer would cover
                    Source MIDHANI (Government of India Enterprise) — Official Exchange Filing
                    GS-II Polity Health

                    West Bengal Becomes the 36th State/UT to Implement Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY

                    West Bengal formally rolled out Ayushman Bharat – PM-JAY from 16 August 2026 (observed as 'Ayushman Diwas'), alongside its own Mukhyamantri Swasthya Yojana, completing the scheme's nationwide rollout.

                    ☐ Facts worth boxing
                    • PM-JAY: launched by the Centre in September 2018; provides ₹5 lakh/family/year health cover for secondary & tertiary care.
                    • Implemented by the National Health Authority under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
                    • West Bengal became the 36th State/UT to join PM-JAY, benefiting an estimated 1.24 crore eligible families.
                    • Nearly 15.95 lakh families of senior citizens (70+) and 3.03 lakh families of ASHA/Anganwadi workers are covered.
                    • Nationally, PM-JAY beneficiaries have availed over 12 crore treatments worth more than ₹1.82 lakh crore.
                    ◆ Why it matters for the exam
                    Cooperative federalism in health governance — a good Mains example of Centre-state scheme convergence completing a nationwide rollout.
                    Prelims MCQ · Test Yourself
                    Mains Practice Question
                    ✎ Points a good answer would cover
                      Source PIB — Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
                      GS-II / III International Trade Economy

                      DRI Busts ₹2,500 Crore SAFTA Fraud in Areca Nut Imports, Nine Arrested

                      The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) dismantled a network that falsely declared South-East Asian areca nuts as Bangladeshi-origin to fraudulently claim SAFTA duty exemptions.

                      ☐ Facts worth boxing
                      • Areca nut imports attract 100% Basic Customs Duty; genuine Bangladesh-origin imports are fully exempt under SAFTA if Rules of Origin are met.
                      • Syndicates routed South-East Asian areca nuts (from Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia) through an Export Processing Zone in Bangladesh, then falsely certified them as Bangladeshi-origin.
                      • Revenue loss estimated at over ₹2,500 crore; nine persons arrested; ~160 MT of areca nuts and ₹75 lakh cash seized.
                      • A Customs Broker firm's licence has been suspended for facilitating the fraudulent clearances.
                      • DRI is the apex anti-smuggling agency under the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), Ministry of Finance.
                      ◆ Why it matters for the exam
                      Tests both IR (regional trade blocs) and Economy (rules of origin, customs fraud) — a classic interlinked GS-II/III prelims theme.
                      Prelims MCQ · Test Yourself
                      Mains Practice Question
                      ✎ Points a good answer would cover
                        Source PIB — Ministry of Finance / CBIC (DRI)
                        GS-II International Relations

                        India Gears Up for Its BRICS 2026 Chairship as the New Delhi Summit Approaches

                        India holds the BRICS Chairship for 2026, with preparatory ministerial and working-group meetings under way across Indian cities ahead of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi in September 2026.

                        ☐ Facts worth boxing
                        • 2026 marks 20 years since BRICS' inception (2006); India is hosting the Summit for the fourth time (after 2012, 2016, 2021).
                        • As of August 2026, BRICS comprises 11 full members and 10 partner countries.
                        • India concluded the 16th BRICS Trade Ministers' Meeting and the 10th BRICS Industry Ministers' Meeting in Jaipur in August 2026.
                        • India is hosting the 7th BRICS ICT Working Group Meeting in Pune (17–21 August 2026) and BRICS Environment Working Group meetings in New Delhi.
                        • Chairship theme: 'Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.'
                        ◆ Why it matters for the exam
                        IR essentials for prelims: member count, chairship rotation and summit host history are commonly tested; for Mains, link to de-dollarisation debates and Global South cooperation.
                        Prelims MCQ · Test Yourself
                        Mains Practice Question
                        ✎ Points a good answer would cover
                          Source Government of India — BRICS India 2026 Official Portal

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