Current Affairs - August 11, 2026 Current Affairs

Dr Srinivasa Kumar Tummala has assumed charge as the Secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Government of India. He is a noted oceanographer and distinguished scientist with more than three decades of experience in remote sensing, satellite oceanography, coastal hazard mitigation, and disaster management. He played a key role as Project Manager of India’s Tsunami Early Warning System at INCOIS following the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. He has also served as Director of ESSO-INCOIS, Hyderabad, since August 2020, and has contributed significantly to ocean information services and disaster preparedness.

India donated five Indian peacocks to the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG) on August 7, 2026, reviving a diplomatic tradition that began in 1981. The donation included four blue peafowl and one rare white-feathered male, symbolising the blue and white colours associated with the United Nations. The birds were formally handed over by India’s Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, Arindam Bagchi, and received by UNOG Director-General Tatiana Valovaya. The peacocks will be housed in Ariana Park and cared for by Geneva Bioparc zoo staff. India’s first such donation was made by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1981.

The Government of India’s debt-to-GDP ratio stood at 58.2% in FY26, according to data presented in Parliament. This was 210 basis points higher than the government’s target of 56.1% for the year. The Union government’s outstanding liabilities had declined from 61.5% of GDP in FY21 to 58.2% in FY26. For FY27, the government has set a lower debt-to-GDP target of 55.6%, requiring a reduction of around 260 basis points. The ratio is an important indicator of fiscal sustainability, as a lower debt burden provides greater flexibility for government borrowing during economic downturns or emergencies.

Karnataka has approached the Supreme Court challenging a Karnataka High Court ruling concerning the registration of motorcycles as transport vehicles and their operation as bike taxis. The state has raised concerns about passenger safety, insurance coverage, traffic congestion, pollution and the absence of a specific regulatory framework for bike-taxi services. Karnataka has also argued that the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 does not expressly provide for motorcycles to be used as taxis. The Supreme Court’s decision could have wider implications for bike-taxi operators, mobility companies, insurance providers and state transport authorities across India.

Ludhiana launched the Maitri Sanskar Value Education Programme on August 10, 2026, as a three-year pilot initiative in 12 government schools. The programme is being implemented through a partnership between the District Administration and the MaitriBodh Parivaar Charitable Trust. It aims to develop values such as integrity, compassion, responsibility, and respect among students. The initiative uses workbooks, storytelling, experiential activities, teacher training, and continuous assessment to strengthen emotional well-being and life skills. Ludhiana is located in Punjab and is a major industrial centre, popularly known as the “Manchester of India.”

R Praggnanandhaa won his maiden Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz championship on August 7, 2026, finishing with 23.5 points. The Indian Grandmaster secured the title with one round remaining and scored 11.5 points out of a possible 18 in the blitz section. He lost only one game during the entire blitz segment. Uzbekistan’s Javokhir Sindarov finished second with 22 points, while Wesley So of the United States secured third place with 20.5 points. The victory also helped Praggnanandhaa move to second place in the overall Grand Chess Tour standings. He became a Grandmaster in 2018 at the age of 12.

Australia has announced that Exercise Talisman Sabre 2027 will be conducted from August 9 to 22, 2027. The exercise is hosted jointly by Australia and the United States and will involve 24 additional partner nations. India is also confirmed to participate in the 2027 edition, following discussions during the second India-Australia Defence Ministers' Dialogue held in June. Talisman Sabre is the largest military exercise conducted by the Australian Department of Defence. Originally established as a bilateral Australia-US exercise, it focuses on strengthening military interoperability and supporting a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

India has added 11 new international ports that allow foreign citizens with valid Indian e-Visas to enter the country. The new additions comprise 9 land ports and 2 airports, taking the total number of designated international ports for e-Visa entry to 88. These include 37 airports, 38 seaports and 13 land ports. The move is aimed at making international travel to India more convenient, supporting tourism, improving regional connectivity and expanding visa infrastructure. The newly added airports are Bhopal and Tirupati, while the nine land ports include Agartala, Darranga, Gede, Ghojadanga, Haridaspur, Jaigaon, Dawki, Moreh and Attari (Road).

The RBI’s 101st Survey of Professional Forecasters, conducted in July 2026, projected India’s real GDP growth for FY27 at 6.6%. This was an upward revision from the earlier estimate of 6.5%, reflecting expectations of continued support from domestic demand, manufacturing, services, and exports. The survey also projected FY27 retail inflation at 5%, merchandise export growth at 7%, and a current account deficit of 1.4% of GDP. The RBI itself later raised its FY27 GDP growth forecast to 6.7%, which was 0.1 percentage point higher than the SPF estimate.

SBI Life entered into a strategic corporate agency partnership with J&K Bank on August 6, 2026, to distribute life insurance products through the bank’s extensive network. More than 1,000 branches of J&K Bank will offer SBI Life’s insurance solutions across Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, and other parts of India. The product portfolio includes protection, savings, retirement, and child plans. The partnership aims to improve insurance penetration and financial awareness while supporting the IRDAI’s vision of “Insurance for All by 2047.” SBI Life Insurance was established in 2001 and is a joint venture between the State Bank of India and BNP Paribas Cardif.

Rahul Navin received a one-year extension as the Director of the Enforcement Directorate (ED), following approval by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) on August 9, 2026. His extended tenure is effective beyond August 13, 2026, and continues until August 13, 2027, or until further orders, whichever is earlier. The extension was formally processed through an order issued by the Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT). The Enforcement Directorate operates under the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, and is responsible for enforcing important laws such as the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 and the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999.