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14 August 2026 Current Affairs (With PDF)

We bring you the most relevant and important news updates from around the world and India, specially curated for competitive exams and different entrance exams. Today's Current Affairs cover all significant national and international headlines, legal updates, economic news, and environmental highlights to boost your preparation. With our crisp, to-the-point coverage, you can confidently tackle current affairs questions in your exam.

National Co-operative Development Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2026

Context

Parliament passed the National Co-operative Development Corporation (NCDC) (Amendment) Bill, 2026, seeking to amend the National Co-operative Development Corporation Act, 1962 and expand NCDC’s role in financing and promoting cooperative development.

Key Features of the Bill

1. Expanded Role of NCDC

NCDC will be empowered to plan, promote and finance cooperative development programmes in specified areas.
Assistance may be provided directly or through intermediaries to cooperative societies.

2. Broader Definition of Foodstuffs

The Bill expands “foodstuffs” to include:
- Processed food and other edible products
- Other food items notified by the Central Government.
The earlier framework primarily covered products such as eggs, milk, meat and vegetables.

3. Wider Scope for Industrial Goods

NCDC’s activities relating to industrial goods will no longer be restricted to entities located in rural areas.
This expands the potential reach of NCDC-funded industrial cooperative activities.

4. Wider Funding and Investment Eligibility

State Governments may extend NCDC assistance to any entity engaged in cooperative development.
NCDC may provide loans and grants directly to cooperative societies or other eligible entities.
With Central Government approval, NCDC may also participate in the share capital of cooperative societies operating within a State or entities involved in cooperative development.

5. Credit and Information-Sharing Powers

NCDC may collect and furnish credit and other relevant information for efficiently performing its functions.
Information may be exchanged with Central Government, RBI, Banking companies, Other financial institutions notified by the Central Government.

India’s Cooperative Sector

India has one of the world’s largest cooperative networks.
More than 8 lakh cooperative societies have around 30 crore members.
Around 80,000 Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) are being computerised.
Computerised PACS have been enabled to undertake around 25 different types of business activities.

Southern African Customs Union (SACU)

Context

India and the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) signed Terms of Reference (ToR) to resume negotiations for a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA), which were initially launched in 2007.

About SACU

Established: 1910
Headquarters: Windhoek, Namibia
Members: Five Southern African countries – South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini (formerly Swaziland)
It is regarded as the world’s oldest continuously functioning customs union.

How SACU Works

Members maintain a Common External Tariff (CET) on imports from non-member countries.
Goods produced within the union enjoy duty-free and quota-free movement among member states, subject to the union’s rules.
Customs and excise revenues are pooled into South Africa’s National Revenue Fund and subsequently distributed among members according to a revenue-sharing formula.

India–SACU Trade Relations

India’s trade with SACU is around $16.81 billion.
India currently runs a trade deficit with the bloc.
The proposed PTA could provide Indian exporters with improved access to Southern African markets.

Challenges for India

Protectionist measures, particularly in South Africa, can restrict Indian market access.
Chinese trade dominance in the region creates strong competition for Indian exporters.
Differences in tariff structures and market regulations may complicate PTA negotiations.

Significance of the Proposed PTA

Diversification of export markets beyond traditional partners.
Greater opportunities for Indian sectors such as pharmaceuticals, automobiles, engineering goods, textiles and machinery.
Can strengthen India’s economic engagement with Africa and complement its broader Global South outreach.
May help deepen India–Africa supply chains and reduce dependence on concentrated export markets.

Sanchar Mitra Scheme

Context

Three Indian students serving as Sanchar Mitras have been selected by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) as Generation Connect Youth Envoys for 2026–2030.

About Generation Connect

Generation Connect is the ITU’s youth strategy for involving young people in building an inclusive, safe and sustainable digital ecosystem.
Under its Young Leadership Programme, developed in partnership with Huawei, fellows aged 18–28 years undertake community-based digital development projects.
ITU: Headquartered in Geneva, it coordinates global telecommunications, manages radio-frequency spectrum and promotes digital connectivity across its 194 Member States.
Founded in 1865 as the International Telegraph Union, it is the oldest specialised agency of the United Nations.

About Sanchar Mitra Scheme

Launched: 2025
Ministry: Ministry of Communications
Implementing Department: Department of Telecommunications (DoT)
Nature: Volunteer-based digital outreach initiative.
Objective: Engage university students as digital ambassadors to promote digital literacy and grassroots awareness.

Key Features

Eligibility: Students of technical institutions pursuing telecom, electronics, computer science, cybersecurity and related disciplines.
Implementation: Conducted through DoT’s Licensed Service Area (LSA) field offices.
Role of Sanchar Mitras: Conduct awareness campaigns on Citizen-centric telecom services, Mobile and digital security, Telecom fraud prevention, Responsible use of digital services
Opportunities: Outstanding volunteers may gain exposure to national telecom projects, internships and international platforms, including ITU-related programmes.

Ahilyabai Holkar

Context

Union Home Minister and Defence Minister paid tributes to Ahilyabai Holkar on her death anniversary, observed on 13 August.

About Ahilyabai Holkar

Born: 31 May 1725
Died: 13 August 1795
Dynasty: Holkar dynasty of the Maratha Confederacy
Reign: Ruled the Malwa kingdom from 1767 to 1795
Capital: Maheshwar, situated on the banks of the Narmada River in present-day Madhya Pradesh.
She is remembered for combining effective administration, welfare-oriented governance, religious patronage and economic development.

Major Contributions

1. Administrative Governance

Personally supervised civil administration and state finances.
Appointed Tukoji Rao Holkar to lead military operations.
Maintained relatively low taxation, accessible justice and stable administration.

2. Temple Restoration & Cultural Patronage

Supported the reconstruction and restoration of numerous important religious sites across India.
Among the best-known projects associated with her patronage was the reconstruction of the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi.
Her patronage extended to ghats, temples and pilgrimage infrastructure in several regions.

3. Public Welfare

Developed a wide network of Ghats, Wells, Roads, Rest houses and dharmashalas
Her public works supported pilgrimage, trade and local connectivity.

4. Maheshwar Textile Industry

Promoted Maheshwar as a centre of handloom production.
Encouraged skilled weavers to settle in the region.
Her patronage contributed to the development and wider recognition of Maheshwari textiles and sarees.

5. Social Concerns

Her reign is associated with measures supporting widows and women, including opposition to certain oppressive social practices.
She is widely remembered for her emphasis on social welfare and humane administration.

6. Tribal Engagement

Developed arrangements with Bhil communities to protect important routes and facilitate secure movement of traders.
This represented an approach of integration and negotiated local governance rather than purely coercive control.

Dr. Vikram Sarabhai

Context

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla paid tribute to Dr. Vikram Sarabhai on his 107th birth anniversary on 12 August 2026, remembering his foundational contribution to India’s space programme.

About Dr. Vikram Sarabhai

Born: 12 August 1919, Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Died: 30 December 1971
Profession: Physicist and astronomer
Widely regarded as the “Father of the Indian Space Programme.”

Contribution to India’s Space Programme

1. Foundation of India’s Space Programme

Established the Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR) in 1962.
INCOSPAR laid the institutional foundation for India’s organised space programme.
It was succeeded by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), established on 15 August 1969.

2. Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station

Played a key role in establishing TERLS at Thumba, Kerala, close to the magnetic equator.
India launched its first sounding rocket from Thumba in 1963.

3. Space Technology for Development

Sarabhai envisioned space technology not merely for scientific prestige but as an instrument for national development, particularly in Education, Communication, Weather and meteorological services, Resource mapping, Rural development
He conceptualised India’s first indigenous satellite, Aryabhata, which was eventually launched in 1975.
He pioneered the Satellite Instructional Television Experiment (SITE) in collaboration with NASA, using satellite communication to deliver educational content to rural communities.

Atomic Energy

After the death of Dr. Homi Jehangir Bhabha in 1966, Sarabhai became Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission.
He contributed to the development of India’s nuclear-energy programme.

International Contributions

Served as President of the 14th General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna in 1970.
Served as Vice-President of the Fourth UN Conference on the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy in 1971.

Institutions Associated with His Legacy

Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad
Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIM-A)
Darpana Academy of Performing Arts
Ahmedabad Textile Industry’s Research Association (ATIRA)

Year	Honour
1962	Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Medal
1966	Padma Bhushan
1972	Padma Vibhushan — posthumously

Legacy

India’s principal space research and launch-vehicle centre at Thiruvananthapuram, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), is named after him.

Amendments to SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Rules

Context

A Government task force and the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) have recommended amendments to the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Rules to strengthen relief, rehabilitation and support for victims of atrocities.

SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989

Aims to prevent atrocities against members of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
Provides for Special Courts, speedy trial, and relief and rehabilitation of victims.
The Rules prescribe procedures relating to investigation, prosecution, relief and rehabilitation.

Key Recommendations

Enhanced Relief: Revise the existing relief and rehabilitation amounts, currently ranging from ₹85,000 to ₹8.25 lakh, fixed in 2016.
Counselling Support: Introduce counselling facilities for victims, accused persons and their dependants.
Dedicated Cells: Establish specialised relief and rehabilitation cells in States and Union Territories.
Faster Communication: Require FIRs and chargesheets to be forwarded to concerned government authorities within 24 hours.
Livelihood Protection: Allow tribal communities dispossessed of land and engaged in prolonged litigation to continue using the land for livelihood, subject to legal safeguards.
Counter-FIR Scrutiny: Create mechanisms to scrutinise counter-FIRs against persons reporting atrocities to prevent intimidation and misuse of criminal proceedings.

One-Liners

Karkkidaka Vavu: Devotees across Kerala observed Karkkidaka Vavu by performing Pithru Tharpanam, offering prayers and ritual oblations to deceased ancestors.
It is observed on the new moon (Amavasya) of the Malayalam month Karkkidakam and is traditionally associated with honouring ancestors.
NGOPV Shruti: The Indian Navy launched Shruti, an indigenously built Next-Generation Offshore Patrol Vessel (NGOPV) constructed at GRSE, Kolkata.
It is part of an 11-vessel NGOPV programme; Shachi was the first and Sanghmitra the second vessel.
NGOPVs support anti-piracy, search-and-rescue and offshore asset protection operations.
One Herb, One Standard: A MoU was signed to implement the One Herb, One Standard initiative, aimed at establishing uniform quality standards for medicinal herbs and strengthening the quality, safety, consistency and credibility of traditional medicines.
Triumph of the Indian Republic: My Life, My Struggles: Prime Minister released the autobiography of former President Ram Nath Kovind. Kovind served as the 14th President of India (2017–2022) and earlier served as Governor of Bihar (2015–2017) and a Rajya Sabha member from Uttar Pradesh.

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