Current Affairs - August 5, 2026 Current Affairs

IIT Delhi hosted the successful conclusion of the Ministry of Textiles Handloom Hackathon 2.0, themed “Weaving Innovations,” on August 2, 2026. The event was held at the Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer (FITT) and witnessed participation from more than 2,500 participants and 100 shortlisted teams. Innovations were recognised across four categories, including weaver livelihoods, digital market access, sustainability, and design and operations. The hackathon aimed to combine India’s traditional handloom heritage with modern technology to improve the livelihoods of weavers and artisans. IIT Delhi, established in 1961, is located in Hauz Khas, New Delhi.

REC Limited was designated as the lead financer for the ₹26,850 crore loan facility for the expansion of the Meja Thermal Power Project Stage-II in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. The loan agreement was signed by REC Limited and Power Finance Corporation (PFC) with Meja Urja Nigam Private Limited (MUNPL) on July 31, 2026. The debt facility is funded equally by REC and PFC. The project involves constructing three ultra-supercritical units of 800 MW each, adding a total of 2,400 MW to the state grid. REC Limited is a Maharatna Central Public Sector Enterprise under the Ministry of Power, established in 1969.

Uzbekistan’s Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov visited New Delhi on August 5, 2026, to deepen the strategic partnership between India and Uzbekistan in critical minerals, mining, trade, and defence. Bilateral trade between the two countries has reached nearly $1 billion, with both sides aiming for further expansion. Cooperation is also being strengthened in infrastructure, energy, defence, and digital technology. Uzbekistan supported India’s BRICS Presidency in 2026, while India backed Uzbekistan’s candidacy to chair the Non-Aligned Movement for 2027–2029. Uzbekistan’s capital is Tashkent, and its currency is the Uzbekistani Soʻm.

IIT Patna developed an innovative hybrid magneto-rheometer to advance the testing and application of Magnetorheological (MR) fluids. The research team, led by Prof. Chiranjit Sarkar, developed a custom-built instrument along with nano iron powder-based MR fluids. Supported by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), the instrument can measure both rheological properties, such as flow and deformation, and tribological properties, including friction and wear. It can also evaluate performance under simultaneous compression and shear forces. The technology has potential applications in aerospace, defence, healthcare, industrial automation, shock absorbers, vibration control systems, dampers, and actuators.

ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research) developed India’s first indigenous African Swine Fever (ASF) vaccine. The live attenuated vaccine was developed using the MA-104 cell line at ICAR–National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (ICAR-NIHSAD), Bhopal. It was officially launched by Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on ICAR Foundation Day 2026. The vaccine is expected to strengthen livestock biosecurity, reduce pig mortality and support pig farmers, particularly in the North-Eastern states that have faced severe ASF outbreaks since 2020.

Monisha Chakraborty was appointed as the Executive Director (ED) of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), effective August 3, 2026. Before her promotion, she served as Chief General Manager-in-charge in the Department of Supervision. In her new role, she will oversee the Foreign Exchange Department and the Financial Markets Regulation Department, two important areas of the central bank’s operations. Chakraborty has more than three decades of experience at the RBI, with professional expertise in supervision, foreign exchange, and government and bank accounts. The RBI was established on April 1, 1935, and was nationalised on January 1, 1949.

Hyderabad, Telangana, hosted the Second BRICS Anti-Corruption Working Group (ACWG) meeting on August 4–5, 2026. The meeting was organised by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) under India’s BRICS Presidency 2026. It focused on strengthening transparency, accountability, international cooperation, asset recovery, and measures to combat cross-border corruption. The event also addressed emerging corruption risks associated with FinTech and digital assets. Alongside the ACWG meeting, the Second BRICS Expert Network on Asset Recovery meeting was conducted. A special side event on ethical governance through technology was also scheduled during the gathering.

Maharashtra government mandated five major administrative reforms on August 4, 2026, through a Government Resolution to improve public service delivery under the “Zero Bureaucracy” model. The reforms include increasing administrative departments from 33 to 45, limiting decision-making to three administrative tiers, and introducing Government Process Re-engineering (GPR). The state will also use Aadhaar, Maha Samanvay, DigiLocker, and API-based systems to reduce physical documentation. A state-level GPR Approval Committee chaired by the Chief Secretary will supervise implementation. Maharashtra’s Right to Public Services Act, enacted in 2015, aims to ensure transparent and time-bound delivery of notified public services.

Vishwesh Negi was appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Islamic Republic of Iran by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on August 3, 2026. He is a 2002-batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer and is currently serving as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi. He is expected to assume charge in Tehran and oversee India-Iran strategic and trade relations. Iran’s capital is Tehran, and Chabahar Port is an important strategic asset for India, providing a maritime gateway to Central Asia.

World Breastfeeding Week 2026 was observed globally from August 1 to 7 to promote awareness about breastfeeding, child health, nutrition, and poverty reduction. The global theme for 2026 was “Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works”. The observance was coordinated by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA), World Health Organisation (WHO), and UNICEF. Key recommendations include initiating breastfeeding within the first hour after birth, exclusively breastfeeding infants for the first six months, and continuing breastfeeding for two years or beyond alongside appropriate complementary foods.