Current affairs — 8 August 2026

Prelims pointers

• Praxis Global Alliance developed the AI-in-MedTech knowledge paper in association with FICCI, and it was released at the ninth India Medical Device event.
• The paper examines AI in diagnostics, clinical decision support, operational efficiency and medical-device innovation.
• It identifies the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, IndiaAI Mission, SAHI, BODH and National Medical Devices Policy, 2023 as foundations already created in India.
• The three ecosystem gaps highlighted are AI-ready data and evidence, lifecycle-based regulation, and procurement and reimbursement that recognise AI-enabled value.
• The report expects AI-enabled diagnostics to be the first large-scale application, extending specialist expertise to primary and secondary care.

Prelims pointers

• E-Samudra integrates digital services for seafarers, shipping companies, ports and other maritime stakeholders through a single window.
• The platform supports end-to-end workflows, online payments, real-time tracking and digitally issued certificates under a Digital First and Faceless Governance model.
• Associated measures include e-NAVIK for 24×7 grievance redressal, an upcoming Seafarer Tracking Dashboard, d-SEA and the Seafarers Welfare Fund Society.
• The Merchant Shipping Act, 2025 recognises seafarers as Key Workers and is one of the three policy pillars cited for India's maritime administration.
• India's active seafarer workforce grew from about 1.03 lakh in 2013 to more than 3.23 lakh in 2025, according to the ministry.

Prelims pointers

• The two Dr. Ambedkar Foundation schemes were merged into a centrally sponsored implementation scheme with effect from 31 March 2023 to avoid duplication.
• The merged schemes concerned incentives for social integration through inter-caste marriages and relief for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe victims of atrocities.
• The receiving framework implements the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.
• Central assistance goes to State Governments and Union Territory Administrations, while those governments and administrations are responsible for implementation.
• A special backlog initiative released incentives in 385 inter-caste-marriage cases, with the total amount stated as approximately ₹9 crore.

Prelims pointers

• The Government launched GeM on 9 August 2016 as a unified, end-to-end digital platform for public procurement.
• Eligible government buyers include Central and State bodies, PSUs, autonomous bodies, local bodies, Panchayats and cooperatives.
• GeM connects more than 1.37 lakh buyer organisations with nearly 25 lakh sellers and service providers; cumulative procurement exceeds ₹20 lakh crore.
• The marketplace lists more than 10,660 product categories and 350 service categories and supports direct purchase, comparison, e-bidding and reverse auctions.
• SWAYATT promotes inclusive procurement, while GeMSahay offers eligible proprietorship sellers instant, paperless and collateral-free working-capital loans.

Prelims pointers

• NeGD under MeitY partnered with the Association of Australian Education Representatives in India to launch AAERI Verify.
• AAERI Verify was unveiled at the AAERI Annual Convention in New Delhi on 7 August 2026.
• The platform uses DigiLocker for consent-based verification of academic, identity and financial documents for applicants to Australian universities.
• Its two-stage workflow comprises Student Check before university applications and Sponsor Check after an admission offer.
• DigiLocker is a Digital India initiative under NeGD, and the release says it serves more than 72 crore registered users.

Prelims pointers

• The government said consumers and all person-to-person UPI transactions would continue to face no transaction charge.
• Any future merchant discount rate would be nominal, threshold-based and limited to some merchant transactions rather than applied across the board.
• The 2026 amendment Bill proposes to amend Section 10A of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007.
• After Parliament passes the Bill, a UPI and Services Steering Committee headed by NPCI would decide on any MDR, according to the release.
• UPI processed 2,366 crore transactions worth ₹29.9 lakh crore in July 2026 and was live in 11 foreign countries.

Prelims pointers

• New initiatives related to artificial intelligence were launched at IIT Delhi during its 57th convocation ceremony.
• The address named space, semiconductors and drones among sectors creating new opportunities for Indian youth.
• Drone applications specifically cited in the address included agriculture, medicine delivery, defence and security.
• The Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship and the Anusandhan National Research Foundation were identified as mechanisms supporting research.
• One Nation One Subscription was described as providing access to prestigious global research journals even in smaller cities without extra cost.

Prelims pointers

• The shared article on the med-tech ecosystem was written by Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda.
• The PIB release identifies domestic manufacturing as one driver of self-reliance in medical technology.
• Reduced import dependence is presented as another component of India’s med-tech self-reliance effort.
• PLI and Medical Device Parks are the two policy instruments explicitly named in the release.
• The stated global positioning combines trusted med-tech partnership with affordable and accessible healthcare.

Prelims pointers

• APEDA facilitated an 18-metric-tonne commercial sea shipment of GI-tagged Mithila Makhana from Bihar to Australia.
• The makhana was sourced directly from growers in Darbhanga district and packed at the BIADA Industrial Area in Bihta, Bihar.
• Farmers involved in the export realised nearly 18% higher returns than prevailing market rates, according to the release.
• Bihar accounts for nearly 85% of India’s makhana production, and a separate HS Code for makhana took effect in July 2025.
• In FY 2025–26, India exported over 7,000 tonnes of makhana and value-added products to more than 20 international destinations.

Prelims pointers

• Bank in a Box combines core banking, digital payments, cloud services and regulatory-compliance support for Urban Cooperative Banks on one platform.
• NUCFDC and the National Forensic Sciences University exchanged an MoU on cybersecurity and digital-forensics support for cooperative banks.
• The release says ₹306 crore was mobilised to establish the umbrella organisation and initiate its services and activities.
• About 650 of roughly 1,400 Urban Cooperative Banks had joined NUCFDC, while sector deposits were stated at nearly ₹6 lakh crore.
• The release says the Priority Sector Lending target for Urban Cooperative Banks was reduced from 75% to 60%.

Prelims pointers

• The Bhopal Declaration was adopted at the XI BRICS Culture Ministers’ Meeting in Bhopal on 8 August 2026.
• The 2026 BRICS Culture Track held working-group meetings virtually on 29–30 April, in Varanasi on 4–5 June, and in Bhopal on 5–6 August.
• The ministerial meeting involved 14 countries: 10 BRICS member countries and four partner countries, with 55 delegates in the meetings.
• The declaration covers UNESCO multinational nominations, provenance research, cultural-property restitution and possible AI-enabled tracing tools.
• India announced a pilot Voluntary Artist Registry to support cultural exchanges, professional networks and opportunities for creative practitioners.

Prelims pointers

• MSS+ stands for Modified Mix Seal Surfacing Plus and was developed indigenously by CSIR-Central Road Research Institute.
• CSIR-CRRI conducted a live MSS+ demonstration on a Jaipur city road on 7 August 2026.
• Smart Mix Pro is described as India’s first indigenous automatic mobile mixing plant designed for Modified Mix Seal Surfacing.
• The plant automates material proportioning and mixing while reducing manual intervention and material wastage.
• CSIR-CRRI said MSS+ had already been implemented on more than 100 kilometres of roads in Uttar Pradesh.

Prelims pointers

• ‘Prakriti Gyan Dham’ was developed by CSIR-NBRI at the Maharishi Parashar Bioresource Centre, Banthra, Lucknow, as an eco-educational facility.
• PAaVan Path expands to Plants and Associated Vegetations for Appreciating Nature and serves as the Hub's main interpretive heritage trail.
• The Indian Heritage Garden includes propagated heritage trees linked to Fatehpur, Lucknow, Prayagraj, Bhitiharwa in Champaran and the Dandi March route.
• Vibhav Enclave presents rare, endangered and threatened plants, while Bhairav Enclave brings together designated State Plants of States and Union Territories.
• The Bamboosteum houses 43 indigenous and exotic bamboo species and explains bamboo's environmental, livelihood, craft and infrastructure applications.

Prelims pointers

• More than 100 randomly selected refinery petrol samples had chloride levels at or below 1 ppm.
• An OMC–Centre for High Technology task force tested ethanol from 80 distilleries in ten days; all samples were below 3 ppm chloride.
• More than 80 samples collected from OMC terminals across India showed chloride content below 3 ppm.
• Among 160 analysed retail-outlet reports, chloride was in the 0–3 ppm range; four isolated elevated cases were suspended for corrective action.
• About 90,000 retail outlets began underground-tank inspections 8–12 times daily, with no water ingress reported.

Prelims pointers

• India Medical Device 2026 was organised by the Department of Pharmaceuticals with FICCI at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
• More than 40 CEOs from global and domestic MedTech companies and MSMEs participated in the CEO Roundtable.
• The meeting discussed innovation, investment, domestic manufacturing and the global expansion of Indian medical-device companies.
• ICMR Director General Dr Rajiv Bahl said regulation, reimbursement and procurement should be underpinned by robust clinical evidence.
• Participants linked wider adoption to transparent Health Technology Assessment, realistic pricing, sustainable reimbursement, clinician participation and training.