Weekly Current Affairs Test : 1st to 7th August 2026

The Union Cabinet approved the Pradhan Mantri Surya Sarovar Yojana (PM-SSY) to promote floating solar power projects in India. The scheme has a financial outlay of ₹5,070 crore. It aims to develop 5,000 MW of floating solar capacity with 10,000 MWh of co-located energy storage. Projects will be sanctioned from FY 2026–27 to FY 2030–31, while financial assistance will continue till FY 2032–33. The Centre will provide ₹1 crore per MW as Central Financial Assistance after successful commissioning.

Russian Kh-101 cruise missile violated Polish airspace and crashed in Poland’s eastern Lublin region during a massive Russian air assault on Ukraine The crash created a 10-metre crater, raising security concerns in the NATO region. The Kh-101 (NATO reporting name: AS-23 Kodiak) is a Russian strategic air-launched cruise missile. It is designed with stealth features and carries a conventional warhead of about 450 kg. The missile has a range of 2,500–3,000 km. Its guidance system combines Inertial Navigation System (INS), GLONASS satellite navigation, and Optical-Electronic Terrain Contour Matching (OTCM).

India won both the men’s and women’s team titles at the Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships 2026. The championship was held at Thyagraj Stadium, New Delhi from 27 July to 2 August 2026. India’s men’s team defeated Malaysia by 3-2 in the final to defend its title. India’s women’s team defeated Malaysia by 3-0 in the final. Both Indian teams remained unbeaten throughout the tournament.

The Environmental Performance Index (EPI) 2026 rankings have been released. The EPI 2026 ranks 177 countries on environmental sustainability. It is developed by the Yale Center for Environmental Law & Policy, CIESIN (Columbia University), and the Yale Center for Geospatial Solutions. The index evaluates 47 indicators under 12 environmental issue categories. It measures performance in climate change, ecosystem vitality, and environmental public health. Estonia ranked 1st with a score of 74.79. India ranked 176th out of 177 countries, with a score of 22.46. Laos ranked last (177th) in the index.

Lovepreet Singh won the silver medal in the men’s 110 kg weightlifting event at the Commonwealth Games 2026. He set a Commonwealth Games record by lifting 176 kg in the snatch. Lovepreet lifted 212 kg in the clean and jerk, finishing with a total of 388 kg. David Liti (New Zealand) won the gold medal with a total lift of 389 kg. Andrew Griffiths (England) won the bronze medal with 356 kg.

eROSITA is a space-based X-ray telescope that maps the Universe by detecting X-ray emissions from high-energy celestial objects. Its second public data release contains nearly two million X-ray sources, making it one of the largest X-ray sky maps ever created. A team from the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune, discovered the first known X-ray binary system in the Magellanic Bridge. The Magellanic Bridge is a stream of stars and gas connecting the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds. The newly discovered system consists of a white dwarf accreting gas from a giant star, producing bright X-rays.

A massive Dhimsa dance performance at Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport, Bhogapuram (Andhra Pradesh) entered the Guinness World Records. 13,000 tribal girls from Classes VIII, IX, and X participated in the event. Dhimsa is a traditional tribal folk dance of the Araku Valley in Andhra Pradesh. It symbolises nature, unity, and community life.

In a major conservation milestone, the Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia) was photographed for the first time in the Dhauladhar Wildlife Sanctuary. The Snow Leopard, known as the “Ghost of the Mountains,” is an endangered species. Dhauladhar Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh. It is home to wildlife such as Himalayan black bear, leopard, musk deer, and rare pheasants. The discovery highlights the sanctuary’s rich Himalayan biodiversity.

Tejaswin Shankar won the bronze medal in the men’s decathlon at the Commonwealth Games 2026. He became the first Indian to win a medal in the men’s decathlon at a major international multi-sport event. He is also the first Indian athlete to win Commonwealth Games medals in two different athletics disciplines. Tejaswin had earlier won bronze in men’s high jump at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022. He is the Asian champion in the decathlon and heptathlon. He is India’s national record holder in the decathlon.

The Indian Navy launched DSC A24, the fifth and final vessel under the Diving Support Craft (DSC) Project. The vessel was launched at Titagarh Rail Systems Limited (TRSL), Kolkata, West Bengal. The DSCs feature a catamaran-hull design with a displacement of 300–400 tonnes. The vessels are built according to the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) Naval Rules. They will enhance the Navy’s diving support, underwater inspection, salvage assistance, and coastal operations.

TakeMe2Space, a Hyderabad-based space startup, developed the PowerBank-50, India’s first satellite battery to achieve “flight heritage” status. The battery successfully flew on Skyroot Aerospace’s Vikram-1 mission (Mission Aagaman) launched on 18 July 2026. It powered Cosmoserve Space’s experimental payload at an altitude of 450 km. PowerBank-50 stores more than 50 Wh of energy, weighs 380 g, and supports missions of up to 5 years in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). It features high-energy-density lithium-ion cells, an intelligent Battery Management System (BMS), and cell heaters for operation in extreme space conditions.

Cholanaikkan is one of Asia’s last surviving cave-dwelling indigenous tribes. The tribe lives in the Karulai Reserve Forest and Vadakkekotta Hills in Malappuram district, Kerala. Tribe members recently came out of the forest to receive government documents at a special camp (Adalat) organised by the district administration. They were provided health cards, caste certificates, ration cards, and bank accounts. The Cholanaikkans mainly depend on collecting forest produce for their livelihood and rarely leave the forest.

Scientists discovered a new species of blind, blood-red eel named Rakthamichthys anchi in Goalpara district, Assam. The species was found in dug-out groundwater wells and is phreatobitic, living exclusively in groundwater aquifers. The eel is blind and lacks body pigment; its blood-red colour is due to visible blood vessels beneath transparent skin. The word “anchi” means “blood” in the Garo language. Rakthamichthys is an endemic Indian genus of swamp eels. Rakthamichthys anchi is the second species of the genus discovered in Northeast India.

Aadi Perukku is a traditional festival celebrated in Tamil Nadu on the 18th day of the Tamil month of Aadi. The festival is dedicated to Goddess Amman and celebrates the importance of water for agriculture and prosperity. Devotees offer prayers on riverbanks and near water bodies, especially along the Cauvery River. Major celebrations take place in Tiruchirappalli (Tiruchi) and Dharmapuri.

The Union government released an additional tax devolution instalment of ₹1,09,019 crore to states on 1 August 2026. The funds were released to strengthen liquidity for capital expenditure and developmental activities. Uttar Pradesh received the highest allocation of ₹19,208 crore. The early release was supported by strong GST collections, which crossed ₹2.11 lakh crore in July 2026.

ICAR–National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (ICAR-NIHSAD), Bhopal has developed India’s first indigenous live attenuated African Swine Fever (ASF) vaccine. The vaccine is based on the MA-104 cell line. It was field-validated with the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD). It is recommended for healthy pigs above 8 weeks of age. African Swine Fever (ASF) is a viral disease affecting domestic and wild pigs. It is caused by the African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV). ASF was first detected in India in 2020. There is no effective treatment for ASF.

PM-PRANAM stands for PM Programme for Restoration, Awareness Generation, Nourishment and Amelioration of Mother Earth. It was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on 28 June 2023. The scheme is implemented from 2023–24 to 2025–26. It promotes balanced fertilizer use and reduces dependence on chemical fertilizers. States reducing fertilizer use receive 50% of the fertilizer subsidy saved as an incentive. 95% of the incentive goes to the State/UT, while 5% is retained by the Central Government. The information was provided by Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers Anupriya Patel in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.

Indian astrophysicist Annapurni Subramaniam has been awarded the COSPAR Vikram Sarabhai Medal 2026 at the 46th COSPAR Scientific Assembly in Florence, Italy. Annapurni Subramaniam is the Director of the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bengaluru. The COSPAR Vikram Sarabhai Medal is awarded to scientists from developing countries for outstanding contributions to space research. COSPAR is an international scientific body affiliated with the International Science Council (ISC) and the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UN-COPUOS). The medal was instituted in 1990 in honour of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, the father of India’s space programme.

Russia has recently inducted the S8000 Banderol lightweight air-launched cruise missile into serial production after completing its trials. The S8000 Banderol is a lightweight, low-cost air-launched cruise missile developed by Russia for long-range precision strikes. It is designed to attack stationary targets such as ports, logistics hubs and military infrastructure. The missile can be launched from the Orion (Inokhodets) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and the Mi-28 attack helicopter. It has also been linked to possible ground-based launchers. It is powered by a Chinese-made Swiwin turbojet engine and carries a high-explosive fragmentation warhead.

Recently, Nagaland proposed a joint river basin management plan for the Dikhow River with Assam. The plan aims to improve flood management, erosion control, and disaster preparedness. The Dikhow River is a left-bank tributary of the Brahmaputra River. It originates in Zunheboto district, Nagaland, flows through Sivasagar district, Assam, and joins the Brahmaputra at Dikhowmukh.

NITI Aayog released a report titled “Reimagining Care: Strategies for Empowering Caregivers in Viksit Bharat@2047.” The report presents a roadmap to build an organised, professional, accessible, and future-ready caregiving ecosystem in India. It recognises caregiving as a skilled and dignified profession and emphasises quality care, workforce welfare, professional recognition, and institutional support. The report highlights the need to develop a trained caregiver workforce to meet rising domestic demand and tap into global employment opportunities. It recommends a National Policy on Caregiving and the establishment of a National Caregiver Council to strengthen the caregiving ecosystem.

The Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) is observing World Breastfeeding Week 2026 from 1–7 August 2026 under the POSHAN Abhiyaan. The theme is “Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works.” The campaign highlights the importance of the first 1,000 days of a child’s life (from pregnancy to 24 months) for healthy growth, brain development, immunity and lifelong wellbeing. The Ministry recommends initiating breastfeeding within the Golden Hour (the first hour after birth). Colostrum, the first milk, is called the baby’s first natural vaccine because it is rich in antibodies and nutrients.

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari conferred the Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Padak on 12 rat miners for their exceptional courage during the Silkyara Tunnel rescue operation in Uttarakhand. The award recognises their role in rescuing workers trapped after the Silkyara Tunnel collapse. The rat miners manually removed debris from a narrow passage after other engineering methods, including vertical drilling, were attempted, leading to the successful rescue of all trapped workers. Each awardee received the Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Padak, a certificate, a miniature medal, and a ₹2 lakh lump-sum cash award. The Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Padak is India’s highest civilian life-saving award, presented for conspicuous courage and self-sacrifice in saving human life.

The Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, in collaboration with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), organised the 9th edition of India Medical Device 2026 on 7–8 August 2026 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. The theme is “Towards Viksit Bharat: Advancing India as a Global Hub for Quality Medical Devices.” The conference aims to strengthen India’s medical devices manufacturing ecosystem, promote innovation, quality production, exports, and support Atmanirbhar Bharat in the MedTech sector.

Under India’s BRICS Chairship 2026, the 13th BRICS Education Ministers’ Meeting and the 3rd BRICS Senior Officials’ Meeting were held from 5–7 August 2026 in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. The meetings brought together Education Ministers, senior officials and delegates from BRICS member countries to strengthen cooperation in the education sector. The meetings were organised under India’s BRICS Chairship theme: “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.”

Scientists at the Bose Institute, Kolkata, an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), have developed a new theoretical framework called General Concurrence Percolation (GCP) to improve quantum communication networks. GCP strengthens quantum entanglement over long distances without removing intermediate network nodes, making communication more efficient and resource-friendly. The new protocol lowers the minimum entanglement required to establish a connected quantum network, improving the feasibility of real-world quantum communication.

The Union Cabinet approved the GOBARdhan (Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan) National Circular Bioenergy Scheme with an outlay of ₹23,731 crore. The scheme will be implemented from FY 2026–27 to FY 2035–36 by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. It aims to convert agricultural residue, cattle dung, press mud, municipal organic waste, and other biomass into Compressed Biogas (CBG) and organic manure. The scheme seeks to increase domestic CBG production nearly tenfold and promote a circular bioeconomy.

Hockey India announced an 18-member Indian junior women’s squad, along with two alternate players, for the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) Junior Asia Cup 2026. The tournament will be held in Moqi, China, from 30 August to 13 September 2026. Khaidem Shileima Chanu will lead the team as captain. The team is coached by Tim White, who took charge earlier in 2026.

Mission for Advancement in High-impact Areas (MAHA) is an Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) programme that supports mission-oriented, solution-based research in priority sectors. The MAHA Water Programme, launched on 1 June 2026, is a joint initiative of ANRF and the Ministry of Jal Shakti. The programme focuses on Water Resource Assessment and Sustainable Management, Drinking Water, Water Quality, Human and Ecological Health, Water Use Efficiency & Circular Economy, and Climate Resilience & Adaptation. The information was provided by the Minister of State for Jal Shakti, Shri Raj Bhushan Choudhary, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.

The Republic of Nauru recently introduced the Nauru Economic and Climate Resilience Citizenship Program (ECRCP). This is a unique climate-funded citizenship-by-investment (CBI) scheme. The program sells citizenship to international investors to raise capital for the country’s national relocation and climate-adaptation efforts. The initiative aims to raise funds to relocate around 90% of Nauru’s households and critical infrastructure to higher ground due to rising sea levels, bypassing traditional debt-driven multilateral climate finance.