INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Virender Singh Basoya Extradited from UAE to India in Narcotics Case

• Virender Singh Basoya was extradited from the United Arab Emirates to India on 14 August 2026 following coordinated action by the Narcotics Control Bureau and diplomatic authorities.

• He was brought to India on Air India flight 4310 from Dubai and is linked to a major narcotics case involving the trafficking of cocaine and mephedrone.

• Extradition means the formal surrender of a person by one country to another country for prosecution or punishment for an offence.

• The extradition process may involve a Non-Bailable Warrant (NBW), Red Corner Notice (RCN), diplomatic communication and coordination between law-enforcement agencies and the Ministry of External Affairs.

• A Red Corner Notice is issued through Interpol to seek the location and provisional arrest of a wanted person pending extradition or similar legal proceedings.

• The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) is India’s central drug-law enforcement agency under the Ministry of Home Affairs and operates under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985.

• India follows a multi-agency approach to narcotics investigations involving agencies such as state police, the Delhi Police Special Cell, customs authorities and central investigative agencies.

• The case highlights the importance of international cooperation, extradition, Interpol assistance, diplomatic coordination and cross-border investigation in tackling organised drug-trafficking networks.

US Report Names India in “Shadow Transhipment Network” Linked to Chinese Goods

• The United States named India in a “shadow transhipment network” allegedly used to route Chinese goods into the US market through third countries.

• The White House Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy released a report titled “The Great Transshipment Scam” on 11 August 2026.

• India was placed in Tier 1, described as “Diversified Scale Leaders”, along with Canada, the European Union, Israel, Japan, Mexico, South Korea and Taiwan.

• Transhipment refers to routing goods through an intermediate country before their final export, potentially allowing exporters to evade tariffs, customs duties or rules of origin.

• The report estimated the annual value of potentially illegal transhipments at around $60 billion, while other modelling estimates placed the figure between $40 billion and $303 billion.

• The US report identified the Pune–Gujarat–Chennai industrial production belt as a possible route for China-linked pumps and compressors entering the American market.

• The US administration announced plans to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to detect, track and penalise shipments associated with suspected transhipment networks through cargo screening, risk assessment and shipment tracing.

• The issue emerged amid ongoing US–India trade negotiations in August 2026 and wider US concerns over Chinese trade flows and tariff evasion.

Iran and Oman Agree on Shipping Route Map for Strait of Hormuz

• Iran and Oman reached an agreement on a shipping route map for traffic through the Strait of Hormuz on 15 August 2026.

• The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow maritime passage between Iran and Oman that connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.

• The strait is one of the world’s most important oil transit chokepoints, carrying substantial tanker and commercial vessel traffic between the Persian Gulf and international waters.

• The agreement was described as an independent bilateral arrangement aimed at protecting commercial shipping while safeguarding the sovereignty of both Iran and Oman.

• The technical plan involved Iranian defence, security and environmental authorities, along with representatives from Oman.

• Bilateral maritime negotiations began on 18 June 2026, following a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) concerning safe navigation routes.

• Iran stated that the full reopening of the shipping lane and restoration of maritime security depended on the United States lifting its naval blockade and ending military movements.

• The International Maritime Organization (IMO) had reported 65 confirmed vessel incidents and 17 seafarer deaths in the Strait of Hormuz and the wider Middle East by 11 August 2026, highlighting the region’s maritime-security challenges.

NATIONAL NEWS

NIELIT Launches CYBER KUSHTI 2026 National Cybersecurity Hackathon

• NIELIT, under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), launched CYBER KUSHTI 2026 on 15 August 2026.

• The national hackathon is associated with the 3rd National Conference on Cyber Security, Digital Forensics and Intelligence (NCCDFI 2026) and focuses on cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence.

• The competition is open to Indian students and independent researchers aged 16 years and above. Registration is free from 15 August to 10 September 2026, with teams of three members.

• CYBER KUSHTI 2026 is co-organised with the Information Sharing and Analysis Center (ISAC) Foundation under the National Security Database (NSD), while CERT-In is the Knowledge Partner.

• Level 1 – Akhada begins on 15 September 2026, requiring teams to analyse and correct an intentionally flawed Security Assessment Package containing genuine and false AI-generated findings.

• Level 2 – Dangal will be held online on 24 September 2026. The top 50 teams will qualify for this round, which focuses on adversarial cybersecurity reasoning.

• Level 3 – Kesari is the physical final scheduled for 9 October 2026 in New Delhi, where finalist teams will defend their technical decisions before the organisers.

• The hackathon will conclude with a valedictory ceremony on 10 October 2026 at the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi.

Massive Modern Civil Defence Volunteer Force Announced on Independence Day 2026

• On 15 August 2026, the Prime Minister announced a “massive, modern” Civil Defence volunteer force during the 80th Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort, Delhi.

• The proposed force aims to strengthen civilian protection against modern security challenges, disasters and other emergency situations.

• Civil Defence in India is governed by the Civil Defence Act and Rules, 1968, which provide the legal framework for organisation, training and deployment of Civil Defence volunteers.

• Civil Defence activities include warning systems, evacuation, rescue assistance, first aid, fire-fighting support and protection of critical infrastructure.

• The proposed volunteers will receive training in modern systems and advanced emergency-response protocols and will generally be drawn from local communities.

• Home Guards are a related auxiliary force functioning under state control and assist the police, disaster-response teams and civil administration during emergencies.

• The Prime Minister’s 2026 Independence Day address was his 13th consecutive Independence Day speech from the Red Fort and also referred to the “Sapta Dhara” seven-stream development vision.

• Former IPS officer Kiran Bedi has supported stronger state-level Civil Defence and Home Guards systems working with local communities for effective emergency response.

Sapta Dhara Framework for Viksit Bharat 2047

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi introduced the seven-pillar Sapta Dhara framework, also called Shakti Ki Saptadhara, during the 80th Independence Day address on 15 August 2026 at the Red Fort.

• The framework aims to achieve Viksit Bharat by 2047, the centenary year of India’s Independence, through seven major development streams.

• The seven streams are manufacturing; agriculture and food processing; technology and innovation; Gati Shakti; self-reliance in defence; green and blue economy; and India’s soft power.

• The manufacturing pillar focuses on cost, quality and scale, while the technology pillar includes a mission to train 1 crore youth in Artificial Intelligence within one year.

• Gati Shakti focuses on integrated transport, logistics and infrastructure planning, while defence self-reliance emphasises domestic production of military equipment and systems.

• Under energy security, India has set a target of 100 GW of nuclear energy capacity by 2047, with five new nuclear reactors expected to become operational in the next six to seven years.

• India’s piped natural gas network has expanded from around 70 cities to more than 700 cities over 12 years, with approximately 1.75 crore households connected.

• The green economy focuses on low-carbon development, the blue economy on sustainable use of marine resources, and soft power on India’s global influence through culture, education, values and diplomacy.

India Reduces Windfall Gains Tax on Petroleum Exports

• The Ministry of Finance reduced the Special Additional Excise Duty (SAED), or windfall gains tax, on exports of petrol, diesel and aviation turbine fuel (ATF) through a notification issued on 15 August 2026.

• The export duty on petrol was reduced to nil from ₹3.5 per litre.

• The SAED on diesel exports was reduced to ₹24 per litre from ₹25.5 per litre.

• The duty on ATF exports was lowered to ₹19.5 per litre from ₹22 per litre.

• The latest changes partially reversed the sharp increase notified on 3 August 2026, when the duties were raised on petrol, diesel and ATF.

• SAED is India's windfall gains tax on selected petroleum exports, with rates generally revised fortnightly according to international crude oil and petroleum-product prices.

• India first introduced windfall taxes on petroleum exports in July 2022. They were withdrawn in 2024 and reintroduced in March 2026 amid rising oil prices linked to the West Asia conflict.

• The government clarified that the reduction in export duties did not change the domestic excise duties on petrol and diesel meant for consumption within India.

18 Monuments Delisted from Centrally Protected List Since 2021

• The Central Government has delisted 18 monuments from the list of centrally protected sites since 2021.

• Following these delistings, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) maintains 3,688 centrally protected monuments and sites across India.

• Centrally protected monuments are sites of national importance protected under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (AMASR) Act, 1958.

• The Archaeological Survey of India functions under the Ministry of Culture and is responsible for the conservation, protection and maintenance of centrally protected monuments.

• Section 35 of the AMASR Act, 1958 provides the legal basis for removing monuments from the protected list when they cease to be of national importance.

• A Gazette notification dated 8 March 2024 initiated the delisting process for the 18 monuments on the ground that they were no longer considered to be of national importance.

• Examples of delisted sites include the Nicholson Statue in Delhi, Kos Minar No. 13 in Gurugram, Kos Minar in Shahabad, Bara Khamba Cemetery, Gunner Burkill’s Tomb, and Telia Nala Buddhist ruins.

• Separately, the Ministry of Culture reported that 662 historical artefacts had been retrieved from foreign countries up to June 2026, including 589 artefacts from the United States.

40 Questions Notified for Population Enumeration Phase of Census 2027

• The Union Government notified 40 questions for the Population Enumeration phase of Census 2027 on 14 August 2026.

• The questionnaire covers demographic, educational and socio-economic details under the Household Schedule, along with selected identification details.

• Where applicable, respondents will be asked for identification details such as Aadhaar number, Voter ID, Driving Licence and Passport number.

• Census operations are conducted under the Census Act, 1948, with the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India overseeing the exercise.

• Census 2027 is India’s first digital census, with data collection using electronic devices instead of traditional paper schedules in many areas. The House Listing and Housing Census began on 1 April 2026.

• Question 10 contains an open-ended field for “Scheduled Caste (SC)/Scheduled Tribe (ST)/Caste”, marking the first comprehensive caste enumeration of all communities in independent India.

• The questionnaire also collects information on digital literacy, the total number of bank accounts and the place where COVID-19 vaccination was received, along with other household and individual particulars.

• Population Enumeration will begin on 17 August 2026 in Ladakh and snow-bound areas of Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, while enumeration in the rest of India is scheduled for February 2027.

India Targets 100 GW Nuclear Power Capacity by 2047

• India has set a target of 100 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2047, combining indigenous reactors, Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and increased private-sector participation.

• India follows a three-stage nuclear power programme based on Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs), Fast Breeder Reactors (FBRs), and thorium-based systems.

• PHWRs use natural uranium as fuel and heavy water as both moderator and coolant, while SMRs are compact reactors designed for modular deployment.

• The Atomic Energy Commission approved Tarapur, Maharashtra, for the lead units of the 220 MWe Bharat Small Modular Reactor and 55 MWe SMR-55.

• The Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu, achieved first criticality in 2026, marking progress in India’s fast breeder reactor programme.

• The SHANTI Act, 2025 repealed the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 and Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010, while introducing provisions relating to insurance, licensing and foreign-designed reactors.

• Adani Power incorporated two nuclear-focused subsidiaries—Rawatbhata-Raj Atomic Energy Ltd. and Coastal-Maha Atomic Energy Ltd.—for potential projects in Rajasthan and Maharashtra.

• India’s nuclear expansion is also linked to rising electricity demand from Artificial Intelligence, semiconductor manufacturing and data centres, with both 700 MWe PHWRs and SMRs being considered for future capacity.

1,057 Gallantry and Service Medals Announced on Independence Day Eve 2026

• The Government of India announced 1,057 Gallantry and Service Medals on 14 August 2026, on the eve of the 80th Independence Day.

• The awards recognised personnel from the police, fire services, Home Guard and Civil Defence, and correctional services under the medal system administered by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

• 301 Medals for Gallantry (GM) were awarded, including 272 to police personnel and 29 to fire service personnel.

• Of the 301 Gallantry Medals, 197 were awarded for service in Left Wing Extremism-affected areas, 51 in Jammu and Kashmir, 12 in the North-East, and 41 in other regions.

• Chhattisgarh Police received the highest number of Gallantry Medals among state police forces, with 141 awards, followed by Jammu and Kashmir Police with 38.

• Telangana Police personnel received 15 Gallantry Medals, including awards to junior commandos B. Sathya Rao, K. Sandeep Kumar and J. Vamshi Krishna.

• The three major police and fire service medal categories include the Medal for Gallantry (GM), President’s Medal for Distinguished Service (PSM), and Medal for Meritorious Service (MSM).

• The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had 21 personnel recognised: 6 received the President’s Medal for Distinguished Service and 15 received the Medal for Meritorious Service.

SPORTS

India Wins Maiden Overall Title at Commonwealth Fencing Championships 2026

• India won its maiden overall title at the Commonwealth Fencing Championships 2026 in Lagos, Nigeria, with a total of 35 medals.

• India’s final tally comprised 13 gold, 8 silver and 14 bronze medals, earning it the Wilkinson Sword Trophy for the best overall performance.

• The championship was held in Lagos from 9 to 12 August 2026 and featured individual and team events in foil, épée and sabre for men and women.

• India began with 17 Under-23 individual medals on 9 August, with gold medals won by Nikhil Wagh, Joys Ashita, Prachi Lohan and Jeferlin.

• On 10 August, Taniksha Khatri won gold in Senior Women’s Épée, defeating Khushi Dabhade 15–7 in an all-Indian final.

• On 11 August, India secured five senior individual medals, including golds for Kanaglakshmi (Women’s Foil), Rajendran Shanthimol Sherjin (Men’s Épée) and Karan Singh (Men’s Sabre).

• India won gold in five of the six Senior Team events on 12 August—Men’s Sabre, Women’s Sabre, Men’s Épée, Women’s Épée and Women’s Foil—and won silver in Men’s Foil.

• The Wilkinson Sword Trophy has been awarded by the Commonwealth Fencing Federation since 1982 to the nation achieving the best overall performance at the championships.