WEEK 1: August 01 – 09, 2026
Current Affairs & GK for Competitive Exam Aspirants
Covers: UPSC | SSC CGL | IBPS PO | RRB NTPC | State PSC | CTET | NDA | CDS
August 2026 — Important Days (Week 1: August 1–9)
- August 1 — World Lung Cancer Day
- August 6 — Hiroshima Day (Anti-Nuclear Day, 81st anniversary)
- August 7 — National Handloom Day (12th edition, Swadeshi Movement 1905)
- August 8 — Quit India Movement Day (84th anniversary of the ‘Do or Die’ call)
- August 9 — Nagasaki Day / International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples
Exam Tip: Important Days are easy scoring areas — 2-3 MCQs guaranteed in SSC CGL, RRB NTPC, IBPS PO General Awareness. Memorize theme + host body + year of institution for each day.
WEEK 1: August 1–9, 2026
The first week of August 2026 saw DRDO’s Agni-4 ballistic missile test, the conclusion of India’s historic 39-medal run at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, the RBI’s third bi-monthly policy of FY27, three major Union Cabinet approvals, and India hosting the 16th BRICS Trade Ministers’ Meeting. Here are the ten most important GK topics for competitive exam aspirants.
- DRDO Successfully Test-Fires Nuclear-Capable Agni-4 Ballistic Missile [Defence / Science & Technology]
India successfully test-fired the nuclear-capable Agni-4 medium-range ballistic missile from the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, Odisha, on August 6, 2026. The launch, carried out jointly by the Strategic Forces Command (SFC) and DRDO, validated all operational and technical parameters of the weapon system. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh described it as a “textbook mission launch”, reaffirming India’s strategic deterrence and combat readiness.
Exam Tip: Distinguish Agni-series ranges: Agni-1 (700 km) to Agni-5 (5,000+ km, MIRV-capable). Agni-4 is a medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM) with a range of about 3,500-4,000 km. A recurring UPSC GS-III and CDS/NDA Defence topic.
- India Concludes Commonwealth Games 2026 Campaign with 39 Medals, Finishes 4th [Sports]
India concluded its campaign at the XXIII Commonwealth Games, Glasgow (23 July – 2 August 2026), with 39 medals — 13 gold, 17 silver and 9 bronze — finishing fourth in the standings. Boxing delivered India’s biggest haul with seven golds on a single day, led by Preeti Preeti (W54kg) and Jaismine Jaismine (W57kg). Gulveer Singh became the first Indian track-and-field athlete to win two individual medals at a single Commonwealth Games (10,000m silver, 5,000m bronze), while Tejaswin Shankar won India’s first-ever Commonwealth Games decathlon medal (bronze).
Exam Tip: Note the ‘firsts’: India’s first CWG decathlon medal (Tejaswin Shankar), Gulveer Singh’s double individual athletics medal. Neeraj Chopra’s javelin silver and the judo golds (Asmita Dey, Harsh Singh) from late July remain relevant carry-over facts. Sports current affairs is a frequent SSC CGL, RRB and banking-exam topic.
- RBI Keeps Repo Rate Unchanged at 5.25%, Raises FY27 GDP Forecast [Economy / Banking Awareness]
The Reserve Bank of India’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), in its third bi-monthly meeting of FY 2026-27 (August 3–5, 2026) under Governor Sanjay Malhotra, unanimously kept the policy repo rate unchanged at 5.25%, with the Standing Deposit Facility (SDF) at 5.00% and the MSF/Bank Rate at 5.50%, retaining a ‘Neutral’ stance. The MPC raised its FY27 real GDP growth forecast to 6.7% (from 6.6%) and lowered its CPI inflation projection to 5.0% (from 5.1%), citing resilient domestic demand despite geopolitical uncertainty in West Asia.
Exam Tip: Know all four key rates — Repo (5.25%), SDF (5.00%), MSF & Bank Rate (5.50%) — and the MPC’s six-member composition. The next MPC meeting is scheduled for October 5-7, 2026. A near-certain Banking Awareness question for IBPS PO, SBI and RBI Grade B.
- Cabinet Approves Rs 84,084-Crore ‘Samudra Manthan’ National Offshore Exploration Scheme [Economy / Energy]
The Union Cabinet on August 1, 2026, approved the Rs 84,084-crore ‘Samudra Manthan’ National Offshore Exploration Scheme to fund deepwater and ultra-deepwater oil and gas exploration, with government support of up to Rs 650 crore per well. The scheme, first announced by PM Modi in his 2025 Independence Day address, aims to boost domestic hydrocarbon output and cut import dependence.
Exam Tip: Link ‘Samudra Manthan’ with India’s exploration-policy evolution from Production Sharing Contracts (PSCs) to revenue-sharing models. A likely UPSC GS-III Economy/Energy-Security topic.
- Cabinet Approves Revamped Khelo India Scheme with Rs 36,441-Crore Outlay [Sports / Governance]
On August 1, 2026, the Union Cabinet approved the restructured Khelo India Scheme along with enhanced support to National Sports Federations (ANSF) for 2026-27 to 2030-31, with a combined outlay of Rs 36,441 crore — about eight times the previous Khelo India investment and the largest sports investment in independent India’s history.
Exam Tip: Note the scheme period (2026-27 to 2030-31) and its stated aim of strengthening India’s Olympic-medal pipeline. A likely Sports/Governance crossover MCQ for SSC CGL and RRB exams.
- Cabinet Approves GOBARdhan National Circular Bioenergy Scheme, Rs 23,731 Crore [Economy / Environment]
The Union Cabinet on August 6, 2026, approved GOBARdhan (Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan), the National Unified Scheme for Compressed Biogas (CBG), with an outlay of Rs 23,731 crore for FY 2026-27 to FY 2035-36. The scheme aims for nearly ten-fold growth in domestic CBG production by converting agricultural residue, cattle dung and municipal organic waste into clean fuel, with a CBG blending obligation of 3% in FY27, 4% in FY28 and 5% from FY29 onward.
Exam Tip: Know GOBARdhan’s full form and blending-obligation trajectory (3% → 4% → 5%). Link to India’s broader clean-energy and waste-to-wealth push under Aatmanirbhar Bharat – a recurring UPSC GS-III Environment/Economy topic.
- India Hosts and Concludes 16th BRICS Trade Ministers’ Meeting in Jaipur [International Relations]
India, under its BRICS Chairship 2026, successfully concluded the 16th BRICS Trade Ministers’ Meeting (TMM) in Jaipur, Rajasthan, on August 7, 2026, chaired by Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal under the theme ‘Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability’. Member nations finalised the Strategy for BRICS Economic Partnership 2030, to be presented for endorsement at the BRICS Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi in September 2026. The meeting followed the Third Meeting of the BRICS Contact Group on Economic and Trade Issues (CGETI) held in New Delhi on August 3–4.
Exam Tip: Know that India holds the BRICS Chairship in 2026 and will host the BRICS Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi in September 2026. A likely UPSC GS-II International Relations/Static-GK crossover topic.
- Maharashtra Launches ‘Maha AI’ – Indigenous Multilingual AI Language Model [Economy / State Governance / Technology]
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis launched ‘Maha AI’, the state’s indigenous multilingual AI language model, on August 2, 2026. Designed to assist government service delivery in Marathi and other regional languages, Maha AI will support healthcare, agriculture, welfare-scheme discovery and citizen grievance redressal.
Exam Tip: Note the state-led AI initiative trend as a distinguishing Static/Current-GK theme, alongside Maharashtra’s earlier ‘Bharat Taxi’ cooperative ride-hailing launch (July 2026) — both under CM Devendra Fadnavis.
- 84th Anniversary of Quit India Movement Observed [Important Days / History]
India observed Quit India Movement Day on August 8, 2026, marking the 84th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’s historic ‘Do or Die’ call given at the Bombay session of the All India Congress Committee on August 8, 1942, launching the Quit India Movement to demand an immediate end to British colonial rule.
Exam Tip: Know that Quit India Movement Day is also called ‘August Kranti Din’. Link with the Cripps Mission (1942) that preceded it and the arrest of top Congress leaders that followed. A near-certain Modern History MCQ for UPSC, SSC CGL and State PSC exams.
- 12th National Handloom Day Observed [Important Days / Culture & Economy]
India observed National Handloom Day on August 7, 2026, commemorating the Swadeshi Movement launched on August 7, 1905, in protest against the partition of Bengal. The day recognises the handloom sector’s contribution to rural livelihoods and promotes indigenous textile production.
Exam Tip: Know that National Handloom Day was first observed in 2015, with 2026 marking its 12th edition. It is organised by the Ministry of Textiles. A recurring one-mark Static-GK/Banking Awareness question.
Quick Revision – MCQ Practice
Q1. From where and on what date was the Agni-4 ballistic missile test-fired?
Ans: Integrated Test Range, Chandipur, Odisha, on August 6, 2026
Q2. How many total medals did India win at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2026, and what was its final rank?
Ans: 39 medals (13 gold, 17 silver, 9 bronze); 4th place
Q3. At what level did the RBI MPC hold the repo rate in its August 2026 policy?
Ans: 5.25%, with a Neutral stance (meeting held August 3–5, 2026)
Q4. What is the total outlay of the ‘Samudra Manthan’ National Offshore Exploration Scheme?
Ans: Rs 84,084 crore, approved by the Cabinet on August 1, 2026
Q5. What is the combined outlay of the revamped Khelo India Scheme and ANSF support (2026-27 to 2030-31)?
Ans: Rs 36,441 crore, approved on August 1, 2026
Q6. What is the total outlay of the GOBARdhan National Circular Bioenergy Scheme?
Ans: Rs 23,731 crore, for FY 2026-27 to FY 2035-36, approved August 6, 2026
Q7. Where was the 16th BRICS Trade Ministers’ Meeting held, and who chaired it?
Ans: Jaipur, Rajasthan, on August 7, 2026; chaired by Piyush Goyal
Q8. What indigenous AI model did Maharashtra launch on August 2, 2026?
Ans: ‘Maha AI’ — a multilingual AI language model, launched by CM Devendra Fadnavis
Q9. Which anniversary of the Quit India Movement was observed on August 8, 2026?
Ans: 84th anniversary of Gandhi’s ‘Do or Die’ call (August 8, 1942)
Q10. Since when has National Handloom Day been observed, and what event does it commemorate?
Ans: Observed since 2015 (12th edition in 2026); commemorates the Swadeshi Movement of August 7, 1905