World Current Affairs — Last 6 months
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
Tue, 18 Aug 2026
Har Ghar Tiranga 2026 ends with concert marking 150 years of Vande Mataram
The Culture Ministry closed Har Ghar Tiranga 2026 with a Tiranga Concert by singer B Praak at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, on 18 August 2026, dedicated to 150 years of Vande Mataram.
Gauge-converted Kailaras-Sabalgarh-Birpur rail section opened in Madhya Pradesh
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on 18 August 2026 virtually inaugurated the gauge-converted Kailaras-Sabalgarh-Birpur rail section in Madhya Pradesh and extended the Gwalior-Kailaras train to Birpur.
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.
NHAI extends online FASTag Local Pass to 121 toll plazas
NHAI on 18 August 2026 extended the online FASTag Local Pass facility to 121 toll plazas, letting eligible commuters buy monthly passes through the Rajmargyatra app.
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.
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.
Amit Shah launches ₹6,453 crore Rajasthan projects in Alwar, including dairy plants
Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on 16 August 2026 inaugurated and laid foundation stones for Rajasthan Government projects worth ₹6,453 crore across 17 districts from Alwar.
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.
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.