Defence Current Affairs — Last 6 months
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
Fri, 21 Aug 2026
Thu, 20 Aug 2026
India and Japan sign maritime security pact at Defence Ministers' Meeting
Rajnath Singh and Japan's Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi met in New Delhi on 20 August 2026 and signed a Memorandum of Arrangement on Maritime Security Cooperation.
India-Mauritius oil and gas MoU; IOCL to meet all Mauritius fuel imports
India and Mauritius exchanged an oil and gas MoU and a five-year IOCL-STC fuel supply agreement on 20 August 2026 during Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri's visit.
Core sector grows 5.4% in July 2026
The Index of Core Industries (base 2022-23) grew 5.4% year-on-year in July 2026, slightly below June's 6.0%, the Commerce Ministry said on 20 August 2026.
CMLRE releases national report on deep-sea fishery resources of India's EEZ
The Centre for Marine Living Resources & Ecology (CMLRE) released the National Report on Deep-Sea and Distant-Water Fishery Resources of the Indian EEZ on 20 August 2026, marking its silver jubilee.
Piyush Goyal joins 4th India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal called on Singapore PM Lawrence Wong and took part in the 4th India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable in Singapore on 20 August 2026.
Aadhaar App crosses 5 crore downloads
The Aadhaar App crossed 5 crore (50 million) downloads, MeitY said on 20 August 2026, with over 60 lakh mobile number updates done through it.
Wed, 19 Aug 2026
World Humanitarian Day 2026 honours families of fallen aid workers
World Humanitarian Day was observed on 19 August 2026 with the OCHA-led campaign theme 'Families of Fallen Humanitarians'.
RBI publishes minutes of 62nd MPC meeting; repo held at 5.25%
The RBI on 19 August 2026 published minutes of the Monetary Policy Committee's 62nd meeting (3-5 August), which unanimously kept the repo rate at 5.25% with a neutral stance.
India to host 5th Coast Guard Global Summit in February 2027
The Indian Coast Guard said on 19 August 2026 that India will host the 5th Coast Guard Global Summit in New Delhi in February 2027, coinciding with the force's golden jubilee.
Tue, 18 Aug 2026
National Sports Awards 2025 announced: 17 Arjuna awardees
The Sports Ministry on 18 August 2026 announced the National Sports Awards 2025, naming 17 Arjuna awardees and five Dronacharya awardees on the recommendation of a committee chaired by Justice (Retd.) Arun Kumar Mishra.
Hakainde Hichilema re-elected President of Zambia
Zambia's Electoral Commission on 18 August 2026 declared Hakainde Hichilema re-elected President for a second five-year term with about 60% of the vote.
Centre approves incentive scheme to expand household PNG connections
The Centre on 18 August 2026 approved an Incentive Scheme for Promotion of Domestic PNG Connections, effective 1 September 2026, giving city gas firms extra low-priced APM gas for each new billed household connection.
Defence Ministry notifies 6th Positive Indigenisation List of 405 items
The Department of Defence Production notified the sixth Positive Indigenisation List of 405 strategically important items worth an estimated ₹3,070 crore on 18 August 2026.
India and Armenia sign defence MoU during Defence Secretary's visit
Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh concluded a two-day visit to Armenia on 18 August 2026, during which the two defence ministries signed an MoU on joint collaboration, innovation and research.
India and Malaysia hold 2nd JWG on public administration reforms
India and Malaysia held the 2nd Joint Working Group meeting on cooperation in public administration and governance reforms on 18 August 2026.
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.
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.
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.
Sun, 16 Aug 2026
Army Chief Gen Dhiraj Seth leaves for Nepal visit; to be made Honorary General of Nepali Army
Chief of the Army Staff General Dhiraj Seth left on 16 August 2026 for an official visit to Nepal from 17 to 19 August, during which the President of Nepal is to confer on him the Honorary Rank of General of the Nepali Army.
Women's Hockey World Cup 2026: India hold Olympic silver medallists China 2-2 in opener
The Indian women's hockey team drew 2-2 with Olympic silver medallists China in its FIH Women's Hockey World Cup 2026 Pool D opener at the Wagener Stadium in Amstelveen, Netherlands, on 16 August 2026.
DRI busts ₹2,500 crore SAFTA misuse in areca nut imports; nine arrested
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence said on 16 August 2026 it had dismantled a network that imported South-East Asian areca nuts as Bangladeshi-origin to claim SAFTA duty exemption, causing a revenue loss of over ₹2,500 crore.
Jared Kushner meets Hamas leaders in Egypt to push 15-point Gaza road map that Israel rejected
US envoy Jared Kushner held a rare meeting with Hamas leaders in Egypt on 16 August 2026 to push the US-backed 15-point road map for the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire, which Israel had rejected the previous week.
Vajpayee death anniversary: PM pays homage at Sadaiv Atal; 21-foot statue unveiled in Chittorgarh
Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid homage to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at his memorial Sadaiv Atal on 16 August 2026, his death anniversary, while Amit Shah unveiled a 21-foot statue of Vajpayee in Chittorgarh.
INS Sudarshini concludes Lokayan 2026 port call at Ponta Delgada, Azores
The Indian Navy's sail training ship INS Sudarshini concluded its port call at Ponta Delgada in the Azores, Portugal, on 16 August 2026 as part of Lokayan 2026.