Top News
1. Launch of Orunodoi 3.0 in Assam
On August 1, 2026, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma launched the first disbursement of Orunodoi 3.0 at the Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakshetra in Guwahati. This flagship social welfare scheme aims to provide monthly financial assistance of Rs. 1,250 to over 37 lakh women via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). Notably, an Aadhaar-linked payment system has been introduced to prevent duplication. As a special measure, beneficiaries in flood-affected districts (Sivasagar, Charaideo, Golaghat, and Jorhat) received Rs. 2,500 each to aid in recovery efforts.
2. Flood Situation in Assam and Government Response
By early August, the flood situation in Assam began to improve slightly, though around 1.35 lakh people across five districts (Charaideo, Dhemaji, Golaghat, Jorhat, and Sivasagar) remained affected. Sivasagar was the worst hit, with over 55,000 residents impacted. Tragically, three more deaths in Sivasagar pushed the death toll of this year's deluge to 85. The Chief Minister emphasized focusing on healthcare, power restoration, and sanitation in the affected areas while authorities managed 335 inundated villages and over 15,000 hectares of damaged farmland.
3. Assam Begins Self-Enumeration for Census 2027
The Assam government has initiated a self-enumeration facility in preparation for the upcoming Census 2027. This digital push allows citizens to register and verify their demographic data independently, streamlining the data collection process and ensuring greater accuracy ahead of the official nationwide census rollout.
4. Assam Activist Detained Under NSA
The use of the National Security Act (NSA) against land rights activist Pranab Doley by the Assam state government drew sharp criticism from the opposition Congress party on August 2, 2026. Doley was detained under the stringent NSA shortly after being granted bail, a move the opposition decried as an attempt to suppress democratic dissent and intimidate activists.
5. Devastating Rains and Landslides Hit Kerala
Intense rainfall overnight from July 31 to August 1 triggered severe flash floods and landslides across Kerala, particularly in its hilly regions. The Kerala Chief Minister confirmed that at least eight people died, eight were reported missing, and 13 were injured. Over 5,700 people were evacuated to more than 200 relief camps as the rains destroyed 27 houses and damaged nearly 200 others, compounding the tragedy of a deadly debris slip in Wayanad just a month prior.
6. IMD Issues Highest Alert for Gujarat Amidst Intense Monsoon
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a high alert for Gujarat on August 1 as a depression over Vidarbha and South Madhya Pradesh moved west-northwestwards. Heavy to exceptionally heavy rainfall warnings were also issued across large swaths of the country, including Northwest India, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and the northeastern states, prompting advisories for residents to avoid travel and waterlogged areas.
7. Implementation of the PM Vidyalaxmi Scheme
The Union Ministry of Education operationalized the PM Vidyalaxmi Scheme, providing a 3% interest subvention on education loans up to ₹10 lakh for students from families earning between ₹4.5 lakh and ₹8 lakh annually. Capped at 1 lakh fresh slots per year for a single degree level, the subsidies will be disbursed via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) into the student's PM Vidyalaxmi Digital Rupee App (CBDC Wallet) to ensure direct and efficient financial support.
8. Anti-Paper Leak Bill Receives Presidential Assent
President Droupadi Murmu gave her assent to the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, after it cleared both Houses of Parliament. The amended law empowers state governments to establish fast-track courts for speedy trials and introduces enhanced, stricter punishments for those convicted of involvement in public examination question paper leaks.
9. Launch of Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyan
Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually launched the 'Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyan' on August 2, 2026. This initiative marks the beginning of a massive 100-week nationwide public-participation campaign against substance abuse. Engaging over 10,000 locations, the program involves MY Bharat and NSS volunteers, educational institutions, NGOs, and spiritual organizations conducting awareness activities every Sunday.
10. Cabinet Approves Major 'Samudra Manthan' Scheme
The Union Cabinet approved the 'Samudra Manthan' scheme with a massive outlay of ₹84,084 crore to boost India's offshore oil and gas exploration. The initiative aims to add over 600 MMTOE of reserves and lower investment risks by co-funding costly deepwater wells in the KG, Cauvery, Mahanadi, and Andaman basins. This strategic move is designed to reduce crude oil imports and strengthen India's long-term energy security.
11. Inauguration of Development Projects at Bhogapuram, Andhra Pradesh
Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for development projects worth over ₹17,900 crore in Bhogapuram, Vizianagaram district, Andhra Pradesh. The package covers airport infrastructure, road connectivity, and energy-security works, including the newly named Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport. At the event, a massive performance of the traditional Dhimsa tribal dance by 13,000 girls entered the Guinness World Records.
12. Ladakh Declares 23 New Protected Heritage Sites
The Union Territory of Ladakh declared 23 new heritage sites as protected monuments, significantly boosting the region's cultural preservation efforts. The newly notified sites include the Petroglyph Site at Sharnos, the Maitreya Buddha Rock Carving at Shey, Tingmosgang Fort, and various ancient caves and petroglyph sites spread across Leh, Kargil, and Zanskar regions.
13. Establishment of 350 Advanced Drone Skill Centres
The National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and AVPL International signed a strategic pact to establish 350 Advanced Skill Centres (ASCs) for Drone Technology across India over the next three years. Starting with 75 centers in private universities and engineering colleges, the ASCs will train the youth in drone piloting, manufacturing, assembly, AI applications, and data analytics.
14. Uzbekistan Foreign Minister Visits India
Uzbekistan's Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov arrived in New Delhi on August 2 for a four-day official visit aimed at cementing the strategic partnership between the two nations. His itinerary included meetings with President Droupadi Murmu, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, and a special Business Forum. Discussions focused on deepening cooperation in trade, investment, energy, and security.
15. US Defers Planned Strike on Iran
In a significant de-escalation of West Asian tensions, US President Donald Trump announced on August 1 that he was putting on hold a planned military strike against Iran. The decision came as the two nations reportedly entered a peace deal that included terms for the immediate opening of the Hormuz Strait and the cessation of Iran's nuclear threat. However, Iranian media subsequently denied claims that Tehran had asked the US not to strike.
16. UNESCO Adds 25 New World Heritage Sites
The 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee concluded in Busan, South Korea, inscribing 25 new sites (19 cultural, 5 natural, and 1 mixed). Notably, this session witnessed the first-ever World Heritage inscriptions for Comoros, Sao Tome and Principe, and South Sudan. Three sites were added on an emergency basis, and six sites were placed on the World Heritage in Danger list.
17. India Introduces SHANTI Framework for Bay of Bengal
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar introduced the SHANTI (Securing Holistic Advancement through Norms, Trust, and Integrity) framework to establish a rules-based maritime order in the Bay of Bengal. Shifting from unilateral military dominance to cooperative regional stewardship through BIMSTEC, the framework aims to build resilience against transnational threats like illegal fishing and cyber threats, while countering aggressive naval expansion in the region.
18. Launch of India-Maldives Favara-UPI Payment Corridor
The Maldives Monetary Authority successfully integrated its Instant Payment System, 'Favara', with India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI). This cross-border payment corridor enables real-time transfers between the Maldives and India, expanding the global footprint of India's Digital Public Infrastructure and facilitating smoother remittances and bilateral commerce.
19. Historic Medal Haul by Indian Boxers at CWG 2026
August 1 proved to be India's most successful day at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, driven by a record-breaking performance in boxing. Indian pugilists secured seven gold medals in a single day, with victories by Preeti Pawar, Jaismine Lamboria, Sakshi Chaudhary, Priya Ghanghas, Arundhati Choudhary, Sachin Siwach, and Ankush Panghal. This propelled India to fourth place in the overall medal standings.
20. First Indian Medals in Decathlon and 5000m at CWG
Indian athletes broke new ground at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games. Tejaswin Shankar won bronze in the men's decathlon, becoming the first Indian to medal in this grueling event at a major multi-sport competition. Meanwhile, Gulveer Singh scripted history by winning silver in the men's 5000m, making him the first Indian to win a CWG medal in this event and the first to win two track medals in a single CWG edition.
21. Cabinet Approves Expanded Khelo India Scheme
The Union Cabinet approved a revamped and expanded Khelo India Scheme alongside an enhanced Assistance to National Sports Federations (ANSF) scheme for the 2026-31 period, with a total outlay of Rs. 36,441 Crore. The new framework introduces Khelo India Feeder Schools (KIFS) and Khelo India Utkrishta Vidyalayas (KIUV) to integrate sports with education and creates a new 'Emerging Khelo India Athletes' category to expand the talent pool tenfold.
22. Discovery of First X-ray Binary System in Magellanic Bridge
A team from the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune, utilizing data from the eROSITA space-based telescope, discovered the first known X-ray binary system in the Magellanic Bridge. The system, located in the stream of gas connecting the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds, consists of a white dwarf accreting gas from a giant star and producing bright X-rays.
23. New Space Re-entry Guidelines by IN-SPACe
The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) issued new guidelines for space re-entries to ensure safety and debris management. Indian entities require IN-SPACe approval, while foreign entities must apply through an Indian partner. Companies must maintain a casualty risk below 1 in 10,000, secure third-party liability insurance, and conduct the re-entry entirely at their own risk.
24. Snow Leopard Sighted in Dhauladhar Wildlife Sanctuary
In a major conservation milestone, a Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia), an endangered species often called the "Ghost of the Mountains," was photographed for the first time in the Dhauladhar Wildlife Sanctuary. Located in the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh, this discovery highlights the sanctuary's rich biodiversity and expands the known habitat range of the elusive feline.
25. Launch of PM-SSY for Floating Solar Projects
The government detailed the PM Surya Sarovar Yojana (PM-SSY) to promote floating solar power generation co-located with energy storage on reservoirs, dams, and industrial ponds. Supported financially until FY 2032-33, the scheme aims to utilize India's estimated 102.18 GWp floating solar potential. It is expected to cut 10 million tonnes of CO₂ annually while generating clean energy without causing land-use conflicts.
1-3 August 2026 Top News for APSC | Most Important Updates, Schemes & Reports You Must Know