Asia Current Affairs — Last 12 months
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
Sun, 16 Aug 2026
West Bengal launches Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY, becoming the 36th State to implement it
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on 16 August 2026 launched Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY in the State, along with a State health insurance scheme for families not covered by it.
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.
Sat, 15 Aug 2026
80th Independence Day: PM announces AI skilling for 1 crore youth, 100 GW nuclear goal and 'Sapt Dhara'
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing the nation from the Red Fort on India's 80th Independence Day on 15 August 2026, announced AI skilling for one crore youth in a year, a 100 GW nuclear power target by 2047 and a new goal of 6 crore Lakhpati Didis.
Tamil Nadu CM Vijay announces ₹755.83 crore gold-ring scheme for newborns in first I-Day speech
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, in his first Independence Day address at Fort St. George on 15 August 2026, announced a ₹755.83 crore gold-ring gift scheme for newborns in State-run hospitals from 15 September.
Odisha scraps six-attempt cap for civil services exam, extends free textbooks to Classes IX–X
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced on Independence Day 2026 that the six-attempt limit for the Odisha Civil Services exam is removed and free textbooks will now cover Classes IX and X.
Har Ghar Tiranga 2026: Suryapath Tiranga relay crosses 54 missions; 8.24 crore selfies
On 15 August 2026 the Suryapath Tiranga global relay, part of the fifth Har Ghar Tiranga campaign, carried the Tricolour across 54 Indian missions and posts from Fiji to San Francisco.
Red Fort ceremony on 80th Independence Day: 21-gun salute from indigenous guns, Mi-17 petal shower and 5,000 special guests
The 80th Independence Day ceremony at the Red Fort on 15 August 2026, coordinated by the Indian Army, featured a 21-gun salute from indigenous 105 mm Light Field Guns, an IAF Mi-17 petal shower and about 5,000 special guests including Olympiad medallists and PM Vishwakarma artisans.
Karnataka CM Shivakumar announces AI education from Class 6 and a government AI university
Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, in his first Independence Day speech on 15 August 2026, announced AI education in schools from Class 6 and said the State is working on India's first government-owned AI university in Bengaluru.
Telangana targets $1 trillion economy by 2034, extends pensions to 2.25 lakh more: CM Revanth Reddy at Golconda Fort
Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, speaking at Golconda Fort on 15 August 2026, set targets of a $1 trillion state economy by 2034 and $3 trillion by 2047 and extended social security pensions to 2.25 lakh more people.
Chennai startup Aheesa's VIHAAN broadband chip, built on VEGA processor, achieves first-pass silicon
MeitY said on 15 August 2026 that DLI Scheme-backed Chennai startup Aheesa Digital Innovations achieved first-pass silicon success with VIHAAN, a fibre broadband chip built on the indigenous VEGA microprocessor.
UP CM Yogi Adityanath announces integrated Youth Policy for skill, innovation and employment
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced a new integrated 'Youth Policy' at the state's Independence Day function at Vidhan Bhavan, Lucknow, on 15 August 2026.
Qatar–India postal remittance service powered by UPI goes live
A Qatar–India remittance service based on PosTransfer and powered by UPI became available at Qatar Post outlets on 15 August 2026, letting customers send money directly to UPI-enabled bank accounts in India.
Madhya Pradesh to observe 2027 as 'Year of Youth', CM Mohan Yadav announces on Independence Day
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav announced at Lal Parade Ground, Bhopal, on 15 August 2026 that the state will observe 2027 as the 'Year of Youth', after 2025's Year of Investment and Employment and 2026's Year of Farmers' Welfare.
Tribal Affairs Ministry releases National Framework for strengthening ITDAs and ITDPs
Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram and NITI Aayog Member R. Balasubramaniam on 15 August 2026 released a National Framework and Operational Guidelines for strengthening Integrated Tribal Development Agencies and Projects.
Men's Hockey World Cup 2026: India beat Wales 3-1 in opener at Amstelveen
The Indian men's hockey team beat Wales 3-1 in its FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 Pool D opener at the Wagener Hockey Stadium in Amstelveen, Netherlands, on 15 August 2026, with captain Harmanpreet Singh scoring twice.
PSA launches NABARD-built RSVC-AMRIT platform for rural technology transfer
Principal Scientific Adviser Ajay Kumar Sood on 15 August 2026 launched the RSVC-AMRIT platform, developed by NABARD with his office, as the digital backbone of the RuTAGe Smart Village Centre ecosystem.
NIELIT launches CYBER KUSHTI 2026 national cybersecurity and AI hackathon
The National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT) launched CYBER KUSHTI 2026, a national cybersecurity and AI hackathon, on 15 August 2026.
Nagaland commissions 10 MW Hovukhu Solar Power Plant on Independence Day
Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on 15 August 2026 virtually commissioned the 10 MW Hovukhu Solar Power Plant in Niuland district during the State's 80th Independence Day celebration.
Fri, 14 Aug 2026
President Murmu's eve-of-Independence Day address: women won 8 of India's 13 CWG golds, 25 crore lifted out of poverty
President Droupadi Murmu addressed the nation on 14 August 2026, the eve of the 80th Independence Day, highlighting women's achievements, 25 crore people lifted out of poverty and the 200th birth anniversary of Mahatma Jyotiba Phule.
President approves 78 gallantry awards including 9 Kirti Chakras on eve of Independence Day 2026
President Droupadi Murmu approved 78 gallantry awards, 13 of them posthumous, and 89 Mention-in-Despatches for the Defence Forces and Central Armed Police Forces on the eve of Independence Day 2026.
1,057 police, fire, home guard and correctional personnel get gallantry and service medals on Independence Day 2026
The Ministry of Home Affairs announced on 14 August 2026 that 1,057 personnel of Police, Fire, Home Guard & Civil Defence and Correctional Services have been awarded gallantry and service medals for Independence Day 2026, including 301 Medals for Gallantry.
Eighth IN–USN Explosive Ordnance Disposal exercise concludes at Kochi
The eighth edition of the Indian Navy–US Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Exercise 2026 concluded at the Southern Naval Command, Kochi, on 14 August 2026.
Jal Jeevan Mission completes 7 years: rural tap water coverage rises from 16.7% to over 82%
The Ministry of Jal Shakti said on 14 August 2026 that Jal Jeevan Mission, launched on 15 August 2019, has raised rural tap water coverage from 16.72% to 82.24% of households, with 2.04 lakh villages certified Har Ghar Jal.
Government removes 12-minute advertisement cap for TV channels
The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting announced on 14 August 2026 that the 12-minute advertisement duration cap for television channels, introduced in 2006 under the Cable Television Networks Rules, 1994, will be removed.
Partition Horrors Remembrance Day 2026 observed in Delhi, Amritsar and Kolkata
Partition Horrors Remembrance Day (Vibhajan Vibheeshika Smriti Divas) was observed on 14 August 2026, with the Ministry of Culture holding programmes in Delhi, Amritsar and Kolkata and PM Modi recalling the courage of those impacted by Partition.
CBDC-based DBT under PMGKAY launched in Chandigarh and Dadra & Nagar Haveli
The Government of India launched Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)-based Direct Benefit Transfer of food subsidy under PMGKAY in the Union Territories of Chandigarh and Dadra & Nagar Haveli on 14 August 2026.
Indian Army contingent won 16 of India's 39 medals at Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2026
Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh met the Indian Army contingent on 14 August 2026, which won 16 medals, including 8 gold, of India's total of 39 medals at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
WPI inflation eases slightly to 9.78% in July 2026; fuel and power at 20.05%
All-India Wholesale Price Index (WPI) inflation was 9.78% year-on-year in July 2026, down from 9.87% in June, with fuel and power inflation at 20.05%, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said on 14 August 2026.
MoD signs ₹1,577 crore contracts with Tata Advanced Systems and NIBE for loiter munition systems
The Ministry of Defence signed contracts worth about ₹1,577 crore with Tata Advanced Systems Limited and NIBE Private Limited on 14 August 2026 for loiter munition systems for the Indian Army's artillery regiments.
Logistics Data Bank crosses 10 crore EXIM containers tracked
The Logistics Data Bank (LDB), launched in 2016, has tracked 10 crore EXIM containers using RFID-based technology, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said on 14 August 2026.