Daily Current Affairs - 31-08-2026

Economy News

OBC Creamy Layer Income Test

The Supreme Court of India is considering constituting a Bench to hear the Union Government’s application seeking clarification on its March 11 judgment concerning the income test for excluding the creamy layer among OBCs. In Union of India vs Rohith Nathan, a Division Bench comprising Justice P.S. Narasimha and Justice R. Mahadevan held that salary income cannot be used to exclude OBC candidates whose parents are employed in PSUs or private companies where equivalence of posts with government service has not been established. The creamy layer concept originated from the 1992 Indra Sawhney judgment, following which the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) issued an Office Memorandum in September 1993 prescribing exclusion criteria based on status and income/wealth tests, while excluding salary and agricultural land income from the calculation. A DoPT clarificatory letter of October 2004 allowed parental salary income of PSU and private-sector employees to be considered, which the Supreme Court held violated Article 14 of the Constitution. The Union Government has sought permission to temporarily use the earlier framework for allocating services to more than 950 candidates recommended in the Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2025, stating that retrospective implementation from 2012 would have wider consequences.

Miscellaneous News

Website on Chola and Pallava Empires

Krishna Seshadri from Mumbai launched www.bharatrajya.com, a website providing information about lesser-known ancient empires of India, including the Chola Empire, Pallava Empire, Karkota dynasty of Kashmir, and Ahom dynasty of Assam. During the ‘Mann Ki Baat’ programme, Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with Seshadri. Seshadri identified Raja Raja Chola and Rajendra Chola as historical personalities he would like to converse with and referred to the Thanjavur Big Temple and Gangaikonda Cholapuram as major Shiva temples associated with the Chola rulers.

National News

J&K Statehood and Article 370

Srinagar, August 30: The Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory BJP stated that Jammu and Kashmir would regain statehood, but special status would not be restored. Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, political leader and Chief Cleric of Jammu and Kashmir, called for restoration of special status. Altaf Thakur, BJP spokesperson, stated that Article 370 of the Constitution, which provided special status to Jammu and Kashmir, would not be restored.

Ganga Water Sharing Treaty Renewal

The Ganga Water Sharing Treaty was signed between India and Bangladesh for a period of 30 years for sharing the waters of the Ganga River flowing through West Bengal into Bangladesh. The existing agreement is set to expire in December 2026, and India and Bangladesh are holding bilateral negotiations to renew it. Representatives of the West Bengal State Government held discussions with officials of the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti regarding water allocation for drinking water and industrial requirements.

26th SCO Summit in Bishkek

The 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit is scheduled to be held on August 31 and September 1, 2026, in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and other leaders are expected to participate. The SCO member countries mentioned are India, Russia, China, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Belarus. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval participated in the 25th meeting of the Special Representatives of India and China on border affairs. India and China share a 3,488-km-long border, and talks between their Special Representatives continue on border demarcation and management issues. The BRICS Summit is scheduled to be held in New Delhi on September 12 and 13, 2026.

Prime Minister’s Call for a Drug-Free India: Highlights from the 113th ‘Mann Ki Baat’

In the 113th episode of the ‘Mann Ki Baat’ radio programme broadcast on August 30, Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to all citizens to unite to make India a drug-free nation. He stated that drug addiction affects not only individuals but also their families and society, and encouraged people to share awareness efforts using the hashtag #NashaMuktYuva. The Prime Minister noted that 46% of the beneficiaries of the PM SVANidhi scheme are women. The scheme has provided financial support to women street vendors selling vegetables, fruits and flowers, who had previously faced capital shortages. Under the ‘ShaktiSat’ project, approximately 12,000 girl students from 108 countries are being integrated and provided training in satellite technology and space science. The objective of the initiative is to launch a satellite developed by these students into space. The Prime Minister praised Chandrasekaran, a farmer from Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, for successfully cultivating avocados on half a hectare of land. He noted that the high demand for avocados in premium markets has significantly increased the farmer’s income. Referring to upcoming festivals such as Krishna Janmashtami and Vishwakarma Puja, the Prime Minister urged citizens to give priority to and purchase local indigenous products.

Personalities, Awards and Events

Shivani Mehrotra Scales Mount Elbrus

Shivani Mehrotra, from Uttar Pradesh, reached the summit of Mount Elbrus, the highest mountain in Europe. She is 43 years old and the mother of an 18-year-old daughter.

India-Uzbekistan Trade Target and PM Modi’s Award

During the bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Tashkent, India and Uzbekistan set a target of increasing their annual bilateral trade from the present $1 billion (₹9,538 crore) to $5 billion (₹47,750 crore) by 2030. The two countries signed 11 agreements covering sectors such as minerals, handicrafts, culture, education, tourism and Ayurveda, and agreed to enhance cooperation in trade, investment, infrastructure, rare minerals, defence, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, information technology, education and UPI infrastructure. A Coordination Council at the Foreign Ministers’ level and a Business Forum are to be established, along with long-term arrangements for uranium supply. Prime Minister Modi was also conferred Uzbekistan’s highest civilian honour, the Order of Outstanding Friendship (Dostlik), by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, taking the total number of international awards received by him to 35. Prime Minister Modi subsequently travelled to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, to participate in the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit scheduled for August 31 and September 1.

Palmyra Festival at Auroville

A two-day Palmyra Festival was held at Isai Ambalam School in Auroville International Township, Villupuram district, under the guidance of Jayanthi S. Ravi, Secretary of the Auroville Foundation and Additional Chief Secretary of the Gujarat State Government. The festival integrated traditional Tamil knowledge, science and technology with classroom education and included students and parents from Auroville and Puducherry. Exhibitions featured palmyra fruit jam, palmyra porridge, palmyra tuber flour laddu, biscuits, health cakes, palm jaggery, adhirasam and paniyaram, while students received practical training in palm-leaf mat weaving, making earrings, key rings and wall hangings, along with activities such as Villuppattu, Kummipattu, seed throwing, palm-leaf basket filling, balance walking on palm logs and basic palm-tree climbing.

Aranmula Uthrattathi Boat Race and Aranmula Kannadi

Aranmula Uthrattathi Boat Race and Aranmula Kannadi: Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan inaugurated the Aranmula Uthrattathi Boat Race at Aranmula, Pathanamthitta district, Kerala. Aranmula is associated with the ancient Parthasarathy Temple, which has a heritage of nearly 1,800 years, and is also known for the GI-tagged Aranmula Kannadi, a traditional metal mirror. The boat race features traditional Palliyodams, with more than 100 oarsmen rowing in unison. The Vice-President also noted that the Bill to rename the State as “Keralam” was passed during a Rajya Sabha session presided over by him.

Science and Technology News

NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope

NASA is preparing to launch the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, a flagship space observatory designed to study dark energy, dark matter, large-scale gravity, and planets beyond the Solar System. The approximately $4-billion telescope is scheduled to launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Florida, aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket. It is named after Nancy Grace Roman, NASA’s first chief astronomer. The telescope follows the Hubble Space Telescope, launched in 1990, and the James Webb Space Telescope, launched in 2021. Its main survey is expected to last more than one year and cover more than two billion galaxies, helping scientists study the growth and evolution of stars, galaxies and galaxy clusters and measure the expansion of the universe over time. After launch, it will travel to Lagrange Point 2 (L2), about 1.6 million km from Earth, where the James Webb Space Telescope is also located.

States’ News

Uttarakhand AYUSH Policy: Key Actions and Incentives

AYUSH has remained an important part of Uttarakhand’s culture and tradition. The state has natural and cultural resources supporting AYUSH, including rare medicinal herbs, an established AYUSH manufacturing sector, a community of traditional practitioners, and destinations suitable for AYUSH healing. Under the policy, Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), quality standards, and technologies such as drones will be promoted for medicinal-plant cultivation and monitoring, along with cold-storage facilities, aggregation platforms, assured buy-back mechanisms, and the development of a distinct Uttarakhand/Himalayan brand for key medicinal plants. Eligible AYUSH manufacturing units will receive additional capital subsidies, while cluster-based manufacturing, WHO-GMP, AYUSH Premium, and AYUSH Standard certifications will be promoted. Common testing laboratories and a dedicated Homeopathic Drug Testing Laboratory will be established. In healthcare, National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH) accreditation of AYUSH hospitals and clinics will be encouraged through financial support and easier empanelment under state health schemes. Government AYUSH hospitals, teleconsultation, digital healthcare services, Yoga for preventive healthcare, private investment in AYUSH healthcare infrastructure, and AYUSH Grams will be promoted. In the wellness sector, additional capital incentives will be provided for eligible wellness centres, hotels and resorts in hill regions, while AYUSH parks, yoga and meditation centres, and wellness destinations will be promoted through Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) and private investment. Domestic and international campaigns will be undertaken to position Uttarakhand as a leading global wellness destination. In education and research, National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) accreditation will be incentivised, along with apprenticeships, internships and research programmes through collaborations with leading national and international institutions. Research in Yoga, Naturopathy, and the integration of traditional and modern medicine will be promoted, while faculty training, professional upskilling, and documentation of Uttarakhand’s traditional AYUSH knowledge will be strengthened.

Uttarakhand New MSME Policy and Action Plan

The Uttarakhand Government has introduced a new MSME Policy and Action Plan to strengthen the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector, with emphasis on startups, green industries, local products, sustainable enterprises and employment generation. The policy provides for One District One Product (ODOP) and One District Two Products (ODTP) initiatives supported by GI-tagging, along with alignment with Startup India, Stand-Up India, Make in India and MUDRA programmes. Financial incentives include up to 100% stamp duty reimbursement, up to 50% capital subsidy on plant and machinery, additional capital investment subsidy of up to 5% for Priority categories and up to 10% for Most Priority categories, an additional 5% subsidy for SC, ST, women and Divyang entrepreneurs, and interest subsidy reimbursement up to ₹21 lakh. New enterprises with a sanctioned electricity load of up to 500 KW are eligible for electricity duty reimbursement for five years. MSMEs are also encouraged to obtain Zero Defect Zero Effect (ZED) certification, with certified units in Gold, Silver and Bronze categories eligible for monetary awards of up to ₹75,000 per unit. District Industry Centres (DICs) are being modernised, while a single-window clearance system and an Investment Promotion and Facilitation Centre have been established to support entrepreneurs and investors. The policy also promotes training in manufacturing techniques, product design and packaging, marketing and branding, while the Uttarakhand Handloom and Handicraft Development Council is involved in promoting state products in national and international markets through e-commerce and online platforms.

Uttarakhand Pumped Storage Project Policy

The Uttarakhand Government has introduced a new policy to promote Pumped Storage Projects (PSPs) to meet the state’s growing energy demand sustainably. PSPs are classified into On-stream projects, located on river streams and eligible for allocation to Central or State PSUs on a nomination basis and to private developers through competitive bidding, and Off-stream sites, which are not located on river streams and for which developers can identify suitable sites and submit proposals on viability and storage potential. The policy aims to harness Uttarakhand’s PSP potential, attract public and private investment, integrate renewable energy sources into the power grid, and use storage capacity for drinking water and irrigation needs where feasible. For projects commencing before the end of FY 2033-34, PSP developers will pay no more than 50% of intra-state transmission charges for five years. Off-stream projects will receive exemption from the Local Area Development Fund where the state government purchases the power, and the state government will not collect any free royalty power from PSPs.