Daily Current Affairs – 04-08-2026

Sports News

Harshitha Jakhar Creates History at Tour de France Femmes

Harshitha Jakhar (19) from Rajasthan became the first Indian cyclist to participate in the Tour de France Femmes, an international women's cycling event. She was one of the 8 cyclists selected by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) under an initiative to provide international exposure to cyclists from countries where cycling is an emerging sport. During Stage 2 of the event, held from Aigle to Geneva, Switzerland, covering 147.9 km, the selected cyclists participated in a 4.5 km neutral (non-competitive) ride. The event was attended by UCI President David Lappartient.

India Wins 13 Medals at U-17 World Wrestling Championships

India won 13 medals at the U-17 World Wrestling Championships organised by United World Wrestling (UWW) in Baku, Azerbaijan, and also secured a bronze medal in the Freestyle (FS) team event. In the 60 kg category, Sitender Malik successfully defended the World Championship title he had won in 2025 by defeating Sergei Kramiran of Russia to win the gold medal. With this achievement, he became the second Indian wrestler to win two Cadet World Championship titles, after Sushil Kumar, who won the titles in 1998 and 1999. In the 45 kg category, Hanumant Rajendra won a bronze medal, while Saksham secured a bronze medal in the 92 kg category.

Vozinha Joins Colo-Colo

Vozinha, the Cape Verde football player, arrived in Chile to join the Colo-Colo football club. Colo-Colo had announced his signing on 24 July 2026. His arrival in Chile was delayed three times due to documentation issues and personal reasons before completing the transfer.

Personalities, Awards and Events

Justice M.S. Liberhan Passes Away

Justice Manmohan Singh Liberhan (87), who headed the one-man inquiry commission that investigated the circumstances leading to the Babri Masjid demolition at Ayodhya, passed away in Chandigarh. He began his legal practice at the Punjab and Haryana High Court in 1964 and was elevated as a judge of the same High Court on 11 February 1987. He was appointed Chief Justice of the Madras High Court on 7 July 1997 and later became the Chief Justice of the Andhra Pradesh High Court on 28 February 1998. On 16 December 1992, he was appointed as the head of the inquiry commission into the Babri Masjid demolition.

National News

Bihar By-Election 2026 – Prashant Kishor Wins Bankipur

In the Bihar by-election held on 30 July 2026, the Jan Suraaj Party founder and former election strategist Prashant Kishor won the Bankipur Assembly constituency by defeating BJP candidate Neeraj Kumar Sinha by 19,324 votes. The seat became vacant after BJP MLA Nitin Nabin was elected to the Rajya Sabha and resigned as MLA. Prashant Kishor secured 64,151 votes, while Neeraj Kumar Sinha received 44,827 votes. Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) candidate Rekha Kumari finished third with 14,273 votes. The victory ended the BJP's 31-year hold over the Bankipur constituency, where the party had remained undefeated since 1995, and marked the first electoral victory of Prashant Kishor and the entry of the Jan Suraaj Party into the Bihar Legislative Assembly. In the other by-elections held on the same day, the BJP retained Manjalpur constituency in Gujarat, while the Congress retained Datia constituency in Madhya Pradesh.

MSME Development Amendment Bill, 2026 Passed in Rajya Sabha

The MSME Development Amendment Bill, 2026 was passed in the Rajya Sabha on 3 August 2026 by voice vote. The Bill amends the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Development Act to prevent delayed payments to MSMEs, ensure speedy resolution of payment-related disputes, and simplify the digital registration process. It prescribes strict timelines for resolving payment delays and disputes, provides for the establishment of additional tribunal benches, and replaces imprisonment with simple fines and warnings for certain minor violations. The Bill was moved by Union Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Jitan Ram Manjhi.

Supreme Court Judges (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026

The Supreme Court Judges (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026 was passed by the Lok Sabha on 3 August 2026 through a voice vote. The Bill replaces the ordinance issued by the Central Government to increase the sanctioned strength of Supreme Court judges from 34 to 38. The Union Cabinet had approved this proposal in May 2026, following which an ordinance was promulgated and five new judges were appointed to the Supreme Court. The Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on 20 July 2026 by Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal to replace the ordinance within the prescribed time. During the same sitting, Union Minister Rao Inderjit Singh introduced the Indian Statistical Institute Bill, 2026 to convert the Indian Statistical Institute into a modern statutory body and improve its administration, while Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman introduced the Bankers' Books Evidence Bill, 2026 to recognise digital and electronic bank records as admissible evidence in courts and replace the 125-year-old British-era law.

Central Government to Sell 6.5% Stake in LIC

The Central Government has decided to sell a 6.5% stake in the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC). At present, the government holds a 96.5% stake in LIC. Earlier, in 2022, it sold a 3.5% stake through an Initial Public Offering (IPO) and raised around ₹21,000 crore. The proposed sale involves more than 82.22 crore shares at a floor price of ₹382 per share, and if fully subscribed, it is expected to raise about ₹31,000 crore. The announcement was made by Arunish Chawla, Secretary, Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) under the Union Ministry of Finance. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has granted time until 16 May 2027 for LIC to achieve the minimum 10% public shareholding requirement.

TRAI Launches Upgraded MyCall App

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has launched an upgraded version of the MyCall mobile application to strengthen the monitoring of voice call quality and enable users to report issues such as call drops, poor audio quality, echo, voice clarity problems, interference from other calls, and delayed call connection. The 9-year-old application also allows users to rate call quality using a 1 to 5-star system and provide feedback on the action taken by telecom service providers. The upgraded MyCall app is currently available for Android users through the Google Play Store, while it has not yet been launched for Apple users. The app was launched by TRAI, headed by Chairman Anil Kumar Lahoti.

Ayush Services Integrated into Ayushman Arogya Mandir

Under the National Ayush Mission (NAM), 12,500 existing Ayush Dispensaries and Sub Health Centres (SCs) have been upgraded as Ayush Health & Wellness Centres, which are now renamed as Ayushman Arogya Mandir (Ayush) [AAM (Ayush)]. These centres provide Ayurveda consultations, Yoga therapy, Naturopathy treatments, OPD services, Prakriti Parikshan, community yoga activities and awareness on medicinal plants by integrating Ayush services with the existing public healthcare system and involving ASHA workers. The quality and implementation of these centres are monitored through NABH assessments, third-party reviews, and Central team visits. Under NAM, financial assistance of ₹16.22 lakh is provided for upgrading each Ayush Dispensary and ₹15.744 lakh for upgrading each Sub Health Centre into an AAM (Ayush).

National Ayush Mission Strengthens Ayush Infrastructure

As Public Health is a State Subject, the establishment of new Ayush institutes, integrated Ayush hospitals, and strengthening of Ayush infrastructure are the responsibility of the respective State/UT Governments. The Ministry of Ayush implements the Centrally Sponsored Scheme – National Ayush Mission (NAM) to provide financial assistance for establishing new Ayush colleges, setting up 50-, 30-, and 10-bedded integrated Ayush hospitals, upgrading existing Government Ayush hospitals and Ayush dispensaries, constructing new Ayush dispensary buildings, and operationalising Ayushman Arogya Mandir (Ayush). Under NAM, based on State Annual Action Plans (SAAPs), the Central Government released ₹6,40,699.24 lakh to States and Union Territories, including Odisha, during the period 2014–15 to 2025–26 for approved activities, including the strengthening of Ayush infrastructure.

Indigenous ASF Vaccine Developed by ICAR

Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), through ICAR–National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (ICAR-NIHSAD), Bhopal, has developed India's first indigenous MA-104 Cell Line-Based Live Attenuated African Swine Fever (ASF) Vaccine for pigs. African Swine Fever (ASF), caused by the African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV), was first detected in India in 2020 and has affected several States and Union Territories, especially the North-Eastern region. The vaccine has successfully completed laboratory evaluation and field validation in collaboration with the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD) under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying. It is recommended for healthy pigs above eight weeks of age, administered as a 1 mL intramuscular injection followed by a booster dose after 14 days. Developed using the MA-104 cell line, the vaccine enables large-scale production, reduces manufacturing costs, strengthens India's animal health and biosecurity, and supports the sustainable growth of the pig farming sector.

Industrial Townships under NICDP

The Government of India is developing industrial townships under the National Industrial Corridor Development Programme (NICDP) through Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) formed jointly with State Governments. Under this model, State Governments provide land and prepare project plans, environmental clearances and detailed designs, while the Central Government provides support through equity and/or debt. A total of 20 industrial nodes have been approved under NICDP, of which 12 projects were approved during the last five years. The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has sanctioned and released ₹16,172.95 crore to the National Industrial Corridor Development and Implementation Trust (NICDIT), which has further released ₹14,569.97 crore to project SPVs. Out of the 20 approved projects, 4 projects have been completed, while 16 projects are under implementation, with a construction timeline of 36–48 months. External infrastructure planning is carried out through the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan (NMP) portal.

Investment for India’s First Telecom Manufacturing Zone

Union Minister for Communications and Development of North Eastern Region Jyotiraditya M. Scindia and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav co-chaired the second Investors' Meet in Mumbai for India's first Telecom Manufacturing Zone (TMZ) to be established in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. The meeting secured fresh investment commitments of ₹2,000 crore from nearly 18 telecom industry companies, which are expected to generate around 4,000 jobs. With these commitments, the Telecom Manufacturing Zone (TMZ) has attracted a cumulative investment commitment of ₹5,500 crore and is expected to create over 18,000 employment opportunities. Earlier, the first Investors' Roundtable held in New Delhi secured ₹3,500 crore in investment commitments and 14,000 jobs. The project aims to attract more than ₹10,000 crore in total investments.

Promotion of Organic Farming through PKVY and MOVCDNER

The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has been promoting Organic Farming since 2015-16 through the Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) in all States and Union Territories, including Assam, and through the Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER) in the North Eastern States. Both schemes provide end-to-end support for production, processing, certification, and marketing of organic produce and promote the formation of organic clusters with priority to small and marginal farmers. Under PKVY, financial assistance of ₹31,500 per hectare is provided over 3 years, including ₹15,000 per hectare through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) for organic inputs. Under MOVCDNER, assistance of ₹46,500 per hectare is provided over 3 years, including support for Farmers Producer Organizations (FPOs) and ₹32,500 per hectare for organic inputs, of which ₹15,000 is provided through DBT.

Tamil Nadu News

Tamil Nadu Tops in Organ Donation and Transplantation

Tamil Nadu has been recognised as the best-performing state in India for organ donation and transplantation activities, receiving the award for the third consecutive time at the Organ Donation Awareness Day event organised by the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO) in New Delhi. The award was presented by Union Minister of State for Health Anupriya Patel to Tamil Nadu Health Minister Dr. K.G. Arunraj. According to the Tamil Nadu Health Department, 266 organ donors contributed during the previous year, including 154 in government hospitals and 112 in private hospitals, resulting in the utilisation of 1,476 organs. These included 450 kidneys, 220 livers, 68 hearts, 90 lungs, 399 corneas, and 48 heart valves. Between September 2023 and July 2026, the mortal remains of 798 organ donors were accorded State honours in Tamil Nadu. The State had also ranked first in organ donation for six consecutive years from 2015 to 2020.