Current Affairs — 17 August 2026
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
Mon, 17 Aug 2026
MoD signs ₹1,943 crore lease for two MQ-9B Sea Guardian drones for Navy
The Ministry of Defence on 17 August 2026 signed a contract with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. to lease two MQ-9B Sea Guardian HALE remotely piloted aircraft systems for the Indian Navy for 30 months.
MMDR Amendment Act, 2026 notified to cap State levies on mining
The Centre on 17 August 2026 notified the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2026, which bars States from levying fresh taxes on mineral rights and mineral-bearing lands except within conditions set by the Centre.
PLFS July 2026: labour force participation rises to 55.4%
The PLFS monthly bulletin for July 2026, released on 17 August 2026, showed the labour force participation rate for persons aged 15+ rising to 55.4% from 54.4% in June.
Supreme Court orders every State to set up an SIT on fraudulent motor accident claims
The Supreme Court on 17 August 2026 directed all States to constitute dedicated State-level SITs to investigate suspected fraudulent motor accident insurance claims.
India launches first-ever guide to grasslands and open natural ecosystems at UNCCD COP17
India on 17 August 2026 launched its first-ever Guide to Grasslands and Other Open Natural Ecosystems (ONEs) of India at UNCCD COP17 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
Army contingent leaves for India–Thailand exercise MAITREE-XV
An Indian Army contingent left on 17 August 2026 for Thailand for the 15th edition of the India–Thailand joint military exercise MAITREE, to be held from 18 to 31 August 2026 in Surat Thani.
Shivraj Singh Chouhan hands over 2.89 lakh PMAY-G houses to Rajasthan at Baran
Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on 17 August 2026 delivered 2.89 lakh pucca houses worth ₹3,473 crore to Rajasthan under PMAY-G at a state-level event in Baran.
MeitY approves 31 more ECMS proposals; 106 projects approved so far
The Ministry of Electronics and IT on 17 August 2026 approved 31 more proposals under the Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS), taking total approvals to 106 projects worth ₹69,548 crore.
Hotel fire in Tarapith, West Bengal, kills nine pilgrims
A pre-dawn fire at a hotel in the temple town of Tarapith in West Bengal's Birbhum district on 17 August 2026 killed nine people, five of them from one Meghalaya family.
India hosts 8th BRICS Youth Energy Summit virtually
India hosted the Eighth BRICS Youth Energy Summit virtually on 17 August 2026 under its BRICS Chairship, with more than 100 participants.
Stampede at Ashok Dham temple in Bihar's Lakhisarai kills at least seven
A stampede at the Ashok Dham temple in Lakhisarai, Bihar, on 17 August 2026, the third Monday of Shravan, killed at least seven women devotees.
Sitharaman chairs 3rd Apex Monitoring Authority meeting of NICDIT
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on 17 August 2026 chaired the 3rd meeting of the Apex Monitoring Authority of the National Industrial Corridor Development and Implementation Trust (NICDIT) in New Delhi.