Current Affairs One-liners — 08 August 2026

Sat, 08 Aug 2026

• The XI BRICS Culture Ministers' Meeting, held in Bhopal on 8 August 2026 under India's BRICS Chairship, concluded with the adoption of the Bhopal Declaration on cultural cooperation.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a phone call from US Vice President J.D. Vance on 8 August 2026, in which they reviewed the India–US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership.
• Ports, Shipping and Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal launched E-Samudra, an integrated digital platform for seafarers, shipping companies and ports, in Mumbai on 8 August 2026.
• The Competition Commission of India hosted the meeting of Heads of BRICS Competition Authorities in Udaipur, Rajasthan, on 8 August 2026, where a joint statement on fair competition, including in renewable energy markets, was adopted.
• The Finance Ministry said on 8 August 2026 that UPI users will face no transaction charges and person-to-person payments will stay free, with any merchant discount rate limited to some merchant transactions above a threshold.
• Cooperation Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the new Mumbai premises of NUCFDC, the umbrella organisation for urban cooperative banks, on 8 August 2026 and launched its 'Bank in a Box' service.
• APEDA facilitated the first-ever commercial sea shipment of 18 tonnes of GI-tagged Mithila Makhana from Bihta, Bihar, to Australia, the Commerce Ministry said on 8 August 2026.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the 57th Convocation Ceremony of IIT Delhi on 8 August 2026, urging graduates to keep their curiosity alive and turn challenges into opportunities.
• Union Minister Jitendra Singh dedicated to the nation a first-of-its-kind 'Eco-Educational Hub' developed by CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute in Lucknow on 8 August 2026.
• Union Minister J.P. Nadda released a knowledge paper, 'AI in MedTech: Revolutionizing Healthcare Through Artificial Intelligence', at the 9th edition of India Medical Device 2026 in New Delhi on 8 August 2026.
• Oil Marketing Companies said on 8 August 2026 that nationwide intensive testing of E20 petrol found fuel quality within prescribed limits and did not validate claims of 500 ppm chloride or moisture.