Current affairs — 5 August 2026

Prelims pointers

• The AI CoEs for agriculture, sustainable cities and healthcare are led respectively by IIT Ropar, IIT Kanpur and IISc Bangalore, with a combined outlay of Rs. 990 crore.
• The AI Centre of Excellence for Education was announced in Union Budget 2025-26 with an outlay of Rs. 500 crore and established at IIT Madras.
• The education CoE has developed models for automatic speech recognition, optical character recognition, machine translation and text-to-speech supporting Indian languages.
• The agriculture CoE developed models for crop, pest and disease identification, while the sustainable-cities CoE developed air-pollution attribution and urban-flood prediction models.
• Monitoring uses an Apex Committee, independent Project Monitoring and Review Committees, and external-expert reviews organised by the Central Project Management Unit.

Prelims pointers

• UGC says EdTech franchise arrangements for degree or diploma programmes in ODL or online mode are impermissible and the resulting qualifications lack UGC recognition.
• Students are advised to verify a programme's recognition or entitlement status on the UGC Distance Education Bureau website before enrolling.
• The latest list cited in the release, published in February 2026, identified 32 institutions as fake universities.
• UGC established its Anti-Mal-Practice Cell on 30 May 1996 to deal with fake or unrecognised institutions acting contrary to the UGC Act, 1956.
• UGC requests State Governments and Union Territories to act against fake institutions and to lodge FIRs wherever necessary.

Prelims pointers

• Vidyanjali connects volunteers and community institutions directly with government and government-aided schools through a dedicated portal for resources and support.
• During the last one year, 1,27,884 schools, 32,581 volunteers and 1,126 CSR organisations, NGOs and institutions were newly registered on the portal.
• NGOs are onboarded using a NITI Aayog-issued NGO DARPAN Unique ID verified through the DARPAN portal.
• Vidyanjali offers CSR Bulk Engagement for supporting needs across several schools and an Adopt-a-School Model for sustained support to one school.
• States and Union Territories approve NGO and CSR registrations, whereas Central Public Sector Enterprises are approved at the Central level.

Prelims pointers

• UGC has online systems for granting autonomous status to colleges and deemed-to-be-university status.
• UGC's Distance Education Bureau portal covers open and distance learning and online programmes across Indian Higher Educational Institutions.
• After stakeholder feedback, UGC developed a unified online portal for the grant of 2(f) and 12B status.
• The Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, 2025 proposes technology-driven single-window interactive regulation based on public self-disclosure by institutions.
• The Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, 2025 had been referred to a Joint Committee of both Houses of Parliament for examination.

Prelims pointers

• NCERT and CBSE introduced a Computational Thinking and Artificial Intelligence curriculum for Classes III to VIII from academic year 2026-27.
• Curriculum for Grades IX to XII in artificial intelligence and allied subjects had also been finalised.
• The curriculum develops logical reasoning, pattern recognition, algorithm design and data literacy while emphasising responsible and ethical AI.
• SOAR provides students in Classes VI-XII with three progressive 15-hour modules and educators with a separate 45-hour module called AI for Educators.
• State and Union Territory governments are responsible for AI and Robotics Laboratories in schools under their jurisdiction because most schools fall within their administration.

Prelims pointers

• Development and ground testing of every propulsion stage and structure of the Human Rated Launch Vehicle, HLVM3, were completed.
• TV-D1 completed in-flight validation of the Crew Escape System, while IADT-01 and IADT-02 validated the deceleration system.
• The first uncrewed experimental mission, including the Vyommitra half-humanoid, is targeted for Q4 2026.
• Two further uncrewed missions and the first crewed Gaganyaan mission are targeted by 2027.
• Bharatiya Antariksh Station is configured as five modules and is targeted for operationalisation by 2035.

Prelims pointers

• The Antariksh Venture Capital Fund began operating after receiving SEBI approval on 31 October 2025.
• The fund is registered with SEBI as a Category II Alternative Investment Fund.
• IN-SPACe's total contribution stood at ₹188.93 crore on 24 July 2026, including ₹182.87 crore in FY 2026-27.
• The fund's Investment Committee had selected three space-technology startups for investment.
• No quantified estimate was available for space-economy growth attributable solely to the venture capital fund.

Prelims pointers

• The reply described Low Earth Orbit as below 2,000 km and more collision-prone because of its denser object population.
• Twenty of India's 22 active satellites operating in Low Earth Orbit were said to face higher collision risks.
• ISRO executed 20 Collision Avoidance Manoeuvres in 2025 and nine up to the date of the 2026 reply.
• India announced its intent for a Debris Free Space Mission initiative in 2024.
• The NETRA optical telescope at Hanle is intended to track objects of 30 cm or larger at geostationary altitude.

Prelims pointers

• Gaganyatris completed generic training at Glavkosmos in Russia and are undergoing mission-specific training in Bengaluru.
• All propulsion stages and structures of the Human Rated Launch Vehicle completed development and ground testing.
• TV-D1 was completed, while work towards the second Test Vehicle mission, TV-D2, remains in progress.
• The first crewed Gaganyaan mission is targeted for 2027.
• The five-module Bharatiya Antariksh Station is targeted for operationalisation by 2035, with BAS-01 approved for development and launch.

Prelims pointers

• The Nuclear Energy Mission for Viksit Bharat targets nuclear power capacity of 100 GW by 2047.
• The reply stated that nuclear power projects generally have a project and construction period of 10 to 12 years.
• RAPP-8 at Rawatbhata is a 700 MW unit in advanced commissioning and was expected to be operational in 2026.
• Kudankulam units 3 and 4 are 1,000 MW each and were listed for completion in June 2027 and June 2028 respectively.
• The 500 MW Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor at Kalpakkam attained criticality on 6 April 2026.

Prelims pointers

• The Nuclear Energy Mission allocated ₹20,000 crore for Small Modular Reactor design, development and deployment.
• The mission aims to develop and operationalise at least five indigenous Small Modular Reactors by 2033.
• BSMR-200 is a 220 MWe indigenous Pressurised Water Reactor proposed at Tarapur, Maharashtra.
• SMR-55 is a 55 MWe Pressurised Water Reactor with Tarapur approved as its site.
• BARC's high-temperature gas-cooled reactor is designed for up to 5 MWth of process heat linked to hydrogen production.

Prelims pointers

• The Nuclear Energy Mission combines a target of at least five indigenous SMRs with a 100 GWe nuclear-capacity objective for 2047.
• BARC is developing BSMR-200, SMR-55 and a high-temperature gas-cooled demonstration reactor of up to 5 MWth.
• The SHANTI Act, 2025 was notified on 21 December 2025 and enables licensed public and private participation in peaceful nuclear activities.
• The SHANTI Act gives statutory status to the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board.
• The mission provides ₹20,000 crore for SMR research, development and deployment, with construction estimated at 60-72 months from receipt of financial approval.

Prelims pointers

• The indigenous 500 MW Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor at Kalpakkam attained first criticality on 6 April 2026.
• PFBR uses uranium-plutonium mixed-oxide fuel and a uranium-238 blanket to breed fissile plutonium-239.
• The source identifies PFBR as India's first commercial fast reactor and the forerunner of the nuclear programme's second stage.
• Nearly 90% of PFBR equipment and systems were manufactured domestically through collaboration with Indian industries.
• India's installed nuclear capacity was projected to rise from 8,780 MW to 22,480 MW by 2031-32, including the 500 MW PFBR.

Prelims pointers

• Commercial coal mining was opened in 2020 without restrictions on sale or end use, with 100% FDI allowed under the automatic route.
• The National Coal Index supports market-linked pricing under percentage revenue-share auctions for coal blocks.
• Mission Coking Coal targets coal-washery capacity of 58 MT by FY 2030.
• Domestic coal production reached 1,047.52 MT in FY 2024-25 and 1,039 MT in FY 2025-26, crossing one billion tonnes in both years.
• The Coal Exchange Rules, 2026 provide for a regulated online platform offering delivery-based contracts in coal and its processed forms.

Prelims pointers

• The framework was operationalised under FTP 2023 through Notification 27/2026-27 and Public Notice 25/2026-27 dated 5 August 2026.
• A registered Exporter-on-Record procures from Indian Sellers-on-Record against confirmed overseas orders and exports in its own name.
• Speculative export inventory is prohibited; goods must be distinctly identified, segregated and maintained in a digital repository.
• Export inventory cannot be diverted to the domestic market, and sellers must receive timely payment irrespective of overseas-buyer payment.
• Export rebates and refunds must be passed to Sellers-on-Record in proportion to the FOB value attributable to their goods.

Prelims pointers

• TRAI notified the consolidated access and broadband Quality of Service regulations on 2 August 2024.
• The 2024 regulations came into force on 1 October 2024 and cover both wireline and wireless access and broadband services.
• The framework uses technology-agnostic performance standards, strengthened reporting and consumer-transparency measures.
• The draft is titled 'The Standards of Quality of Service of Access (Wireline and Wireless) and Broadband (Wireline and Wireless) Service (First Amendment) Regulations, 2026'.
• TRAI invited written comments by 26 August 2026 and counter-comments by 7 September 2026.

Prelims pointers

• The National Cooperation Policy, 2025 emphasises stronger cooperatives for marginalised groups and value addition, processing and marketing of minor forest produce.
• The National Cooperative Database is used to identify cooperative-coverage gaps and support district-wise planning.
• TRIFED spearheads the Van Dhan programme for collection and sale of minor forest produce in predominantly forest-dwelling tribal districts.
• Government provides 100% assistance to tribal collectives formed as self-help groups or Van Dhan Kendras for Van Dhan Vikas Kendra Clusters.
• NCOL supports organic certification and Bharat Organics marketing, while NCEL provides a platform for exporting surplus cooperative produce.

Prelims pointers

• The one-time ₹2 lakh grant allocates ₹0.50 lakh for IT infrastructure and ₹1.50 lakh for furniture and fixtures.
• Normal incentives equal 20% of monthly purchases up to ₹20,000 per month, linked to stocking 200 high-demand medicines.
• PACS-based Jan Aushadhi Kendras receive a 30% trade margin on maximum retail price under the existing PMBJP guidelines.
• Medicine sales through PACS-based Kendras rose from ₹1.44 crore in 2023-24 to ₹9.94 crore in 2025-26 at MRP value.
• The cumulative number of PACS-based Jan Aushadhi Kendras reached 836 in 2025-26 after 106 new Kendras opened that year.

Prelims pointers

• The PACS computerisation project expanded from 63,000 to 79,630 PACS with a revised national outlay of ₹2,925.39 crore.
• Karnataka has 5,894 sanctioned PACS under the project and received ₹27.58 crore in central assistance during 2023-24 to 2025-26.
• PACS Ekamba in Bidar was selected for a grain-storage pilot covering a 1,000 MT godown, processing unit, auction hall and oil-extraction unit.
• Thirteen Karnataka DCCBs operate on the TCS C-Edge core-banking platform, while the remaining eight use other CBS solutions.
• Karnataka formed 267 new multipurpose PACS between 15 February 2023 and 28 July 2026.

Prelims pointers

• Sahakar Se Samriddhi seeks wider cooperative coverage, higher member income, transparent digital governance and greater inclusion of weaker sections.
• As of 15 July 2026, Himachal Pradesh had registered 1,002 new societies: 136 multipurpose PACS, 854 dairy and 12 fishery societies.
• Of 1,885 Himachal PACS sanctioned for computerisation, 1,789 had hardware, 1,598 were on the common ERP and 1,168 were e-PACS.
• During 2025-26, cooperative institutions in Himachal Pradesh provided ₹611.86 crore in loans to 2,23,928 members.
• NCDC disbursed ₹40.98 crore to Himachal Pradesh for cooperative development activities from 2021-22 through 2025-26.

Prelims pointers

• White Revolution 2.0 targets the formation of 75,000 new Dairy Cooperative Societies and strengthening of 46,422 existing societies.
• The release reports that 24,097 new Dairy Cooperative Societies had been formed and 31,394 existing societies strengthened.
• Infrastructure support covers Bulk Milk Coolers, Automatic Milk Collection Units, milk testing, processing and chilling facilities, working capital and technical assistance.
• Gomay Sahkari Samiti Multi-State Limited was formed to promote scientific manure management, including biogas and organic fertilisers.
• National Cooperative Inputs and Services Delivery Multi-State Limited is intended to improve access to feed, fodder, animal health, breeding and technical support.

Prelims pointers

• The Ministry of Cooperation launched the Cooperative Ranking Framework on 24 January 2025 using parameters such as audit compliance, financial performance and operational activity.
• As of 15 July 2026, Jammu and Kashmir had registered 1,611 new societies: 232 multipurpose PACS, 1,339 dairy societies and 40 fishery societies.
• The release reports that 760 existing Dairy Cooperative Societies and one Fishery Cooperative Society in Jammu and Kashmir had been strengthened.
• Jammu and Kashmir had 708 PACS sanctioned for computerisation, of which 537 had received hardware, joined the ERP platform and been declared e-PACS.
• Model Bye-laws enable PACS to undertake more than 25 business activities, while PACS are also being enabled as Common Service Centres and agricultural-input service centres.

Prelims pointers

• Lalit Kala Akademi is the National Academy of Art under the Ministry of Culture and celebrated its 72nd Foundation Day at Rabindra Bhavan, New Delhi.
• The Akademi was established in 1954 and promotes visual arts through exhibitions, camps, workshops, scholarships, publications, documentation and research.
• The publications 'Chitrakar Kanu Desai' and 'Kalaguru Ravishankar Raval', authored by Kanaiyalal Fakirchand Patel, were released during the celebration.
• The Kolkata Regional Centre inaugurated the exhibition 'Maryada Purushottam Shri Ram' and felicitated senior artists and cultural personalities.
• At Agartala, a serigraphy workshop involving artists and research scholars produced 250 cloth bags bearing the Lalit Kala Akademi logo.

Prelims pointers

• Pawan Hans Limited signed a non-binding MoU with Norway's Noemi Aerospace, also identified as Elfly AS, on electric seaplane cooperation.
• The proposed cooperation covers electric seaplane technology, skills and capacity building, technical workshops and feasibility studies.
• The release says Union Budget 2026 proposed incentives to indigenise seaplane manufacturing and a Seaplane VGF Scheme.
• Noemi Aerospace is headquartered in Bergen, Norway, and is developing next-generation electric seaplane technology.
• The exploratory MoU creates no financial, procurement, investment or exclusivity commitment; future work needs separate agreements and approvals.