LEGAL NEWS
Centre Opposes Creamy Layer in SC/ST Reservations
• On 6 August 2026, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court opposing the extension of the "creamy layer" principle to Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs).
• The Centre stated that SC/ST reservations are based on historical and social backwardness, not solely on economic criteria, under Articles 15 and 16 of the Constitution.
• It argued that introducing an income-based exclusion within SC/ST reservations would require detailed empirical studies and a policy decision by Parliament.
• The government relied on Indra Sawhney v. Union of India (1992) and Ashoka Kumar Thakur v. Union of India (2008) to contend that the creamy layer doctrine applies only to OBCs, not SCs or STs.
• The Centre further submitted that reservation policy falls within the legislative domain, and courts should not redesign quota policies, citing the principle of separation of powers.
• It noted that while many SC/ST welfare schemes use means tests to identify beneficiaries, reservation in education and public employment does not follow income-based exclusion.
• Key Facts: Articles 341 and 342 of the Constitution provide for the recognition of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, respectively.
• Current Status: The Supreme Court is examining whether economic criteria can be used to exclude advanced sections within SC/ST reservation categories, raising important constitutional and social justice issues.
Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026
• On 6 August 2026, the Lok Sabha passed the Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, introduced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
• The Bill replaces the Income-tax (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026 promulgated on 5 June 2026 and amends the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, Income-tax Act, 2025, and Finance Act, 2026.
• It extends income tax exemptions until FY 2040–41 for eligible foreign companies using contract manufacturers in India for electronics production and those storing components in customs warehouses.
• The Bill provides legal backing to the Central Government to modify the zero-Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) framework for UPI and RuPay transactions and determine which digital payment modes remain free.
• It grants income tax exemption to Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) and the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) on interest and capital gains from investments in Government securities with effect from 1 April 2026.
• Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) is the fee charged to merchants for accepting digital payments through cards or electronic payment systems.
• Key Facts: UPI is India's real-time digital payment system, RuPay is India's domestic card payment network, and the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007 regulates payment systems in India.
• Constitutional Provision: Money Bills, including taxation-related legislation, are governed by Article 110 of the Constitution of India.
APPOINTMENTS
Squadron Leader Bhawana Kanth Becomes First Woman Fighter Combat Leader
• On 6 August 2026, Squadron Leader Bhawana Kanth became the first woman pilot in India to successfully complete the Fighter Combat Leader (FCL) course.
• She completed the 20-week advanced course at the Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment (TACDE), Gwalior, the Indian Air Force's premier centre for air combat tactics.
• The FCL course is one of the most selective professional training programmes in the IAF, preparing fighter pilots to lead complex frontline combat missions.
• Bhawana Kanth was commissioned into the Indian Air Force in June 2016 as part of India's first batch of women fighter pilots, alongside Avani Chaturvedi and Mohana Singh.
• In May 2019, she became the first Indian woman fighter pilot qualified for daytime combat missions.
• She has flown the MiG-21 Bison and later transitioned to the Su-30 MKI fighter aircraft.
• Bhawana Kanth received the Nari Shakti Puraskar on 8 March 2020 and became the first female fighter pilot to participate in the IAF Republic Day parade tableau on 26 January 2021.
• Key Fact: TACDE, located in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, is the Indian Air Force's premier institution for advanced air combat training and tactical leadership.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Hiroshima Marks 81st Anniversary of Atomic Bombing
• On 6 August 2026, Hiroshima marked the 81st anniversary of the atomic bombing carried out by the United States on 6 August 1945 during the Second World War.
• The Peace Memorial Ceremony was held at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, with a minute of silence at 8:15 AM, the exact time the bomb was dropped.
• Around 50,000 people, including representatives from about 120 countries and regions, attended the ceremony.
• Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui delivered the Peace Declaration, calling for the abolition of nuclear weapons, while Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi reaffirmed Japan’s Three Non-Nuclear Principles.
• Hibakusha, the survivors of the atomic bombing, continue to advocate for nuclear disarmament; their average age now exceeds 86 years.
• Nagasaki was bombed on 9 August 1945, three days after Hiroshima.
• Key Facts: The Hiroshima Peace Memorial (Atomic Bomb Dome) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site; Japan’s Three Non-Nuclear Principles are not possessing, not producing, and not permitting the introduction of nuclear weapons.
• The annual Toro Nagashi lantern-floating ceremony on the Motoyasu River commemorates the victims of the atomic bombing and promotes the message of peace.
Massachusetts Declares 15 August 2026 as India Day
• Massachusetts declared 15 August 2026 as India Day across the state, while the City of Boston issued a similar proclamation, coinciding with the 79th anniversary of India’s Independence.
• Governor Maura Healey issued the Massachusetts proclamation on 1 August 2026, and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu also proclaimed 15 August as India Day in the city.
• The proclamation recognises the contributions of the Indian diaspora, which comprises over five million people of Indian origin in the United States.
• It highlights the achievements of Indian-Americans in medicine, science, technology, education, business, and public service.
• The 2026 observance also welcomed the opening of the new Indian Consulate in Boston and acknowledged the visit of INS Sudarshini during the SAILBOSTON-250 event.
• Key Facts: 15 August marks India’s Independence Day (1947); Massachusetts is a U.S. state with Boston as its capital; INS Sudarshini is a sail training ship of the Indian Navy.
• The Foundation of Indian Americans – New England is associated with organising the International India Day Parade in Boston.
• Previous Year: Massachusetts had also declared 15 August 2025 as India Day, following the 4th International India Day Parade held at Boston Harbor.
New Mexico Court Orders Meta to Pay $567 Million for Youth Safety
• On 6 August 2026, the First Judicial District Court, Santa Fe (New Mexico) ordered Meta to pay US$567 million into an abatement fund for child psychological harm and sexual exploitation linked to Facebook and Instagram.
• The fund will be paid over five years, with US$420 million earmarked for youth mental health treatment and US$147 million for prevention campaigns, screening, and oversight programmes.
• The court held that Facebook and Instagram created a public nuisance by using engagement-driven systems that were found harmful to teenagers' health and safety.
• Meta was directed to implement five years of youth-safety measures, including limits on teen usage, notification restrictions, AI chatbot safeguards, and stronger review of child abuse reports.
• The court did not mandate stricter age verification for children under 13, citing limitations under the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).
• The order followed a March 2026 jury verdict that found Meta liable under consumer protection laws in a case brought by New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez.
• Meta has stated that it disagrees with the ruling and plans to appeal.
• Key Facts: An abatement fund is created to remedy or reduce a public harm, while public nuisance is a legal doctrine addressing conduct that interferes with public health, safety, or community welfare.
NATIONAL NEWS
Territorial Army (TA): Citizen-Soldier Reserve Force
• On 6 August 2026, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh chaired a Parliamentary Consultative Committee meeting to review the Territorial Army (TA) and its future role.
• The Territorial Army is a part-time reserve force of the Indian Army, enabling trained personnel to continue their civilian professions while remaining available for military service during emergencies.
• Known as the "Citizen-Soldier" force, the TA has around 44,400 personnel organised into 59 units, providing rapid mobilisation during war, disasters, and internal security operations.
• The TA's Ecological Task Forces (ETFs) have planted nearly 10 crore saplings with an 80–85% survival rate, supporting Mission LiFE and India's Panchamrit climate commitments.
• The TA has played a key role in disaster relief, including rescue and rehabilitation during the Kerala floods, Odisha cyclone, and Assam floods, besides assisting in internal security and border-related duties.
• The Citizen-Soldier concept allows members to serve the nation without giving up their civilian careers permanently.
• The meeting was attended by MoS Defence Sanjay Seth, CDS Gen N. S. Raja Subramani, Army Chief Gen Dhiraj Seth, and Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh.
• Key Fact: The Territorial Army serves as an important component of India's defence preparedness, disaster response, environmental conservation, and national security support.
Har Ghar Tiranga 2026 Campaign
• On 6 August 2026, the Ministry of Culture launched the Har Ghar Tiranga 2026 campaign in New Delhi.
• The nationwide campaign will be observed from 9 August to 17 August 2026, marking the fifth year of the initiative launched in 2022 under Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.
• The 2026 edition is dedicated to the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram, with mass singing and a five-step online tutorial for its correct rendition available on the Har Ghar Tiranga portal.
• Partition Horrors Remembrance Day will be observed on 14 August 2026 as part of the campaign.
• The Ministry of External Affairs will organise Suryapath Tiranga, a global relay involving Indian embassies and consulates in 54 countries to digitally broadcast flag-hoisting ceremonies from 14–15 August 2026.
• Citizens can participate by uploading a "Selfie with Tiranga" on the official campaign portal.
• Key Facts: Har Ghar Tiranga was launched in 2022; Vande Mataram was adopted as India's National Song in 1950; Partition Horrors Remembrance Day is observed on 14 August.
• Previous Achievement: The campaign recorded over 10 crore "Selfie with Tiranga" uploads during the previous year's edition.
STATE NEWS
Ladakh Approves India’s First Guided High-Altitude Wildlife Safari
• On 6 August 2026, Ladakh approved India’s first guided high-altitude wildlife safari, covering Hemis National Park, Changthang, Karakoram Wildlife Sanctuary, Nubra, Zanskar, Sham, Kargil, and Drass.
• The safari will focus on snow leopard sightings and bird-watching, using open-back jeep vehicles similar to those used in Kaziranga and Ranthambore National Parks.
• Only trained local drivers and wildlife guides will be permitted to operate the safari, promoting responsible eco-tourism.
• The decision was taken by the Snow Leopard and High-Altitude Nature Conservation Society (SHAN Conservation Society) during its first governing body meeting, chaired by Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena.
• Ladakh is home to 1,800 vascular plant species, 340 bird species, over 38 mammal species, and 477 of India's estimated 718 snow leopards.
• The administration will train 20 local youth in birdwatching and wildlife interpretation and establish 10 bird-watching hides at important ecological sites.
• The wildlife safari is scheduled to begin in winter, coinciding with the peak snow leopard sighting season.
• Key Fact: Hemis National Park is one of India’s most important habitats for the snow leopard, a threatened high-altitude big cat of the Himalayas.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Indian-Origin NASA Astronaut Anil Menon Completes First Spacewalk
• On 6 August 2026, Indian-origin NASA astronaut Anil Menon successfully completed his first Extravehicular Activity (EVA) during US Spacewalk 96 outside the International Space Station (ISS).
• The spacewalk lasted 6 hours 27 minutes, ending at 3:00 p.m. EDT (12:30 a.m. IST, 7 August 2026).
• During the EVA, Anil Menon and Jessica Meir worked on the Starboard 6 truss of the ISS, installing hardware for the 3B power channel, routing cables for future iROSA (Roll-Out Solar Arrays), and adding multi-layer insulation.
• Extravehicular Activity (EVA) refers to work performed by astronauts outside a spacecraft for maintenance, repairs, assembly, and installation of equipment.
• iROSAs (Roll-Out Solar Arrays) are advanced deployable solar panels designed to increase the ISS's power generation capacity.
• This was Jessica Meir's sixth spacewalk, while it marked Anil Menon's maiden EVA.
• The mission was the 281st spacewalk dedicated to the assembly and maintenance of the International Space Station.
• Key Fact: Anil Menon, a member of NASA's 2021 astronaut class, is a physician and former SpaceX medical director, and this EVA was the first of three planned spacewalks for the Expedition 75 crew in August 2026.
