Daily Current Affairs – 11-08-2026

Sports News

India’s Performance at the 2026 Commonwealth Games

India finished fourth at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, which concluded on 2 August 2026, winning 39 medals comprising 13 gold, 17 silver and 9 bronze. India’s Commonwealth Games journey began at the 1934 London Games, where wrestler Rashid Anwar won India’s first medal, a bronze. In 1958, Milkha Singh in the 440-yard race and Lila Ram in wrestling won India’s first Commonwealth Games gold medals. The 2002 Commonwealth Games marked a major milestone as India won 69 medals and finished fourth, crossing the 50-medal mark for the first time. At the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India achieved its best-ever medal tally of 101 medals and finished second in the overall standings. Historically, shooting, wrestling and weightlifting have been major contributors to India’s Commonwealth medal tally, accounting for a large share of India’s total 603 medals across editions. At Glasgow 2026, women won 41% of India’s total medals. Australia finished first in the Glasgow 2026 medal standings.

Science and Technology News

Green Energy Corridor Phase III Awaits Cabinet Approval

The Green Energy Corridor (GEC) Phase III is in the final planning stage and has been sent to the Union Cabinet for approval, with a proposed outlay of over ₹50,000 crore. The third phase aims to strengthen transmission infrastructure in renewable-energy-rich States and is targeted to transmit about 135 GW of renewable energy. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) submitted these details to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Energy on 6 August 2026. The GEC aims to transmit electricity generated from renewable sources such as solar and wind energy to distant locations through the power grid. Delays in the first two phases have been associated with Right of Way (RoW), contract award, forest clearances and Great Indian Bustard (GIB)-related clearances, while the second phase also faced issues related to State participation, tender and regulatory matters. Under Phase I, seven of eight States, excluding Gujarat, had completed the work.

Environment News

Forest Rights Act and Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve

The Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve (ABR) in Tamil Nadu has been associated with issues concerning forest-land occupation and the implementation of the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006. The FRA recognises the forest rights of Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers who were occupying forest land before 13 December 2005, subject to the conditions prescribed under the Act. The Central Empowered Committee (CEC) examined alleged encroachments in forest areas including Srivilliputhur–Megamalai Tiger Reserve and Kalakad–Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve. The implementation of forest-right claims in areas such as the Manjolai tea estate has also been considered in relation to the FRA. The issue involves the protection of forest ecosystems, recognition of legitimate forest rights and the regulation of forest-land use.

International News

Bangladesh Seeks Extradition of Sheikh Hasina

Bangladesh has urged India to expedite the extradition of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who took shelter in India after leaving office in 2024. The issue was discussed during a meeting between Dinesh Trivedi, India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh, and Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in Dhaka. Bangladesh also sought the extradition of suspects linked to the assassination of Shaheed Osman Hadi. The two sides discussed bilateral relations and matters of mutual interest. India has invited Tarique Rahman to attend the BRICS Summit in September 2026 and for a bilateral visit.

National News

India Donates Five Peacocks to UN Office in Geneva

India donated five peacocks, including one white-feathered male peacock, to the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG), reviving a decades-old tradition. Arindam Bagchi, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, formally handed over the peacocks to Tatiana Valovaya, Director-General of UNOG, at a special ceremony in Geneva. The donated birds comprise four blue peafowl and one white-feathered male peacock.

Rajya Sabha Passes Two Bills and UPI Charges Remain Free for Consumers

The Rajya Sabha passed the Bankers’ Books Evidence Bill and the Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill in August 2026. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated that UPI (Unified Payments Interface) transactions would remain free for consumers. The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) may determine the Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) applicable to certain categories of merchant transactions. Low-value UPI payments, including payments made to roadside vendors, will continue to be free for consumers.

Tribunals Reforms Bill, 2026 Passed by Lok Sabha

The Lok Sabha passed the Tribunals Reforms Bill, 2026 by voice vote to establish a National Tribunals Commission for overseeing the appointment of chairpersons and members of various tribunals. The Bill was introduced by Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal and provides for a commission headquartered in New Delhi, comprising one Chairperson, two judicial members and two technical members. A retired Supreme Court judge or retired Chief Justice of a High Court is eligible to head the commission. The proposed law provides for the qualifications, selection, appointment, tenure, salary, allowances, resignation and removal of tribunal members. Once passed by both Houses of Parliament, it will repeal the Tribunals Reforms Act, 2021. The Bill follows the Supreme Court’s earlier interventions concerning tribunal appointments, tenure and judicial independence.

High-Level Committee to Study Demographic Changes in Border Areas

The High-Level Committee on Demographic Changes (HLCDC) conducted its first field visit to Jammu in August 2026 to study demographic changes in border areas, as directed by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. The committee is headed by retired Supreme Court judge Justice Prakash Prabhakar Naolekar. Its members include Census Commissioner Mritunjay Kumar Narayan, former Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary Durga Shanker Mishra, former Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D) Director General Balaji Srivastava, and Shamika Ravi, a member of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council. The Joint Secretary (Foreigners-I), Ministry of Home Affairs, is the Member Secretary. The committee is examining border settlements in Kathua and Samba districts and demographic issues in Jammu.

Delimitation and Parliamentary Consensus

Delimitation refers to the readjustment of the boundaries of electoral constituencies. In India, delimitation has been linked to the Census and constitutional provisions governing the allocation of seats in Parliament and State Legislative Assemblies. Major decisions on delimitation were taken in 1976 and 2001, during which the exercise was frozen for specified periods. The forthcoming delimitation is expected to have a significant impact on the distribution of representation in the Lok Sabha. The issue has also been discussed in the context of the FCRA amendments and parliamentary functioning. An all-party meeting has been proposed as a mechanism for wider consultation on delimitation.

States’ News

Kerala to Establish Comprehensive Sea Rescue System

Kerala is set to establish a comprehensive sea rescue mechanism to improve the safety of fishermen. The initiative follows a boat-capsize incident near Neendakara, Kollam, in which a 26-year-old fisherman, Gautam Krishnan, went missing at sea on 31 July 2026. The State government also plans to develop a model weather forecasting framework and has allocated funds for the initiative in the State Budget. V.D. Satheesan, Chief Minister of Kerala, and Shibu Baby John, Forest Minister, were involved in reviewing the search operations.

Supreme Court to Hear Tamil Nadu’s Cauvery Water Plea

The Supreme Court of India has listed Tamil Nadu’s application on the Cauvery water dispute with Karnataka for hearing on 13 August 2026. Tamil Nadu has sought directions to Karnataka to implement the 30 July 2026 order of the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) for releasing 3,500 cusecs of water for 15 days from the Kabini and Krishnaraja Sagar reservoirs. Tamil Nadu has sought the release of 4.536 TMC ft of water on or before 12 August 2026 and has also requested measures to address a shortfall of 26.954 TMC ft at the inter-State water measurement point of Biligundulu for the period from 1 June to 12 August 2026. The State has further sought regular monitoring of Karnataka’s reservoir flows and stipulated water releases at Biligundulu by the CWMA.

Tamil Nadu News

Tamil Nadu to Review 7.5% Reservation for Government School Students

The Tamil Nadu Government plans to review the existing 7.5% horizontal reservation for government school students in MBBS/BDS admissions through a new commission headed by a retired judge. The commission will examine the benefits of the reservation, its duration, whether the quota should be increased, and whether it should be extended to allied health courses. The earlier Justice P. Kalaiyarasan Commission, constituted in 2020 by the then AIADMK government, examined the reasons for the low admission of government school students to MBBS courses. For the 2026–27 academic year, counselling for MBBS/BDS admissions will begin on 13 August 2026. The Tamil Nadu Selection Committee received 41,726 applications for government-quota MBBS/BDS seats, of which 35,926 were accepted. Under the 7.5% reservation, 4,860 applications were received and 3,625 were accepted. A total of 9,999 MBBS seats will be filled through counselling. Tamil Nadu has 2,000 BDS seats, while the 7.5% reservation provides 537 MBBS seats and 104 BDS seats for government school students.

Tamil Nadu Forms Anti-Narcotics Task Force

The Tamil Nadu Government has established an Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) to strengthen action against drug-related crimes, with an allocation of ₹264 crore. The ANTF will function under the direct control of the Chief Minister and will be headed by an officer of the rank of Additional Director General of Police (ADGP). A total of 65 ANTF units and dedicated police stations will be established across the State. The government has sanctioned 65 Inspector posts, 260 Sub-Inspector posts and 1,300 police personnel for the force. The ANTF will undertake intelligence collection, registration of cases, financial investigations and prosecution related to drug trafficking and sale. A 24×7 control room will be established at the ANTF headquarters in Chennai. The government will also implement the Drug and Tobacco Free Campus initiative and the Anti-Drug Pledge programme for students. The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s Police Medal will be awarded for outstanding work in preventing drug production and illicit trafficking.

Tamil Thai Vazhthu Recognised as Tamil Nadu’s State Song

Tamil Thai Vazhthu, taken from Manonmaniam, written by Manonmaniam Sundaranar in 1891, was prescribed to be sung first at government functions through a Government Order that came into effect on 23 November 1970. The Tamil Nadu Government officially recognised Tamil Thai Vazhthu as the State Song through an order issued on 12 December 2021. In a letter dated 9 July 2026, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs made observations regarding the singing of the State Song. The issue was discussed following an incident at the convocation of Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli, where Vande Mataram, the National Song of India, was sung at the beginning of the event. The matter has also led to demands for a special law to provide statutory status to the requirement that Tamil Thai Vazhthu be sung first at government functions.

Miscellaneous News

Google Withdraws AI Image Feature from Google Earth

Google withdrew its AI image-generation feature from Google Earth within about a day of its launch in late July 2026 because of concerns over the creation and misuse of fake satellite imagery. The feature allowed users to generate AI images based on satellite imagery using the “Create Image” option and Nano Banana image-generation technology. On 30 July 2026, Bryan Horowitz, Product Manager of Google Earth, announced the feature, and on 31 July 2026, Google confirmed its rollback following possible policy violations. AI-generated satellite deepfakes can be misused for misinformation, real-estate fraud, and false representations of conflicts, humanitarian crises and natural disasters.