PRAGYESH IAS • DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS

Daily Current Affairs — 31 August 2026

BPSC & UPSC Prelims-focused notes with key facts, exam traps and interactive MCQs.

CURRENT AFFAIRS • 31 AUGUST 2026

SCO Summit 2026: Structure, Membership and India’s Strategic Interests

The 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, described in the supplied transcript as being hosted in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, brings renewed focus to the SCO’s security, connectivity and Central Asia agenda.

Key Facts

SCO: Shanghai Cooperation Organisation — a Eurasian intergovernmental organisation.
Established: 2001; it evolved from the Shanghai Five created in 1996.
Founding members: China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
Current full members: China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India, Pakistan, Iran and Belarus — 10 members.
India and Pakistan: Became full members in 2017.
Latest entrant: Belarus, which joined as a full member in 2024.
SCO headquarters: Beijing, China.
RATS: Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure, the SCO’s permanent anti-terror body; headquarters at Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
RATS focus: The “three evils” — terrorism, separatism and extremism.
Core agenda: Regional security, counter-terrorism, political cooperation, connectivity, trade and economic cooperation.

Prelims Focus

Turkmenistan is not a full member of the SCO.
The SCO is not a NATO-style military alliance.
India uses the platform for engagement with Central Asia, including energy security and critical minerals.
Connectivity discussions include Chabahar Port and the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC).
India supports connectivity initiatives that respect sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Why It Matters

For India, the SCO provides an institutional route to Central Asia while also enabling dialogue on terrorism, Afghanistan, Eurasian geopolitics, energy and alternative connectivity routes that bypass Pakistan.

CURRENT AFFAIRS • 31 AUGUST 2026

India–US Javelin ATGM Deal: Fire-and-Forget Anti-Tank Capability

India and the United States have agreed on procurement of Javelin anti-tank guided missile systems, strengthening portable anti-armour capability and defence cooperation.

Key Facts

System: Javelin is a man-portable / shoulder-fired anti-tank guided missile (ATGM).
Guidance: Fire-and-forget — the operator can relocate after launch.
Attack modes: Includes top-attack, useful against the relatively weaker upper armour of tanks.
Soft launch: Allows firing from more confined positions compared with conventional launch systems.
Range stated: About 4 km; weight mentioned as about 22.3 kg.
Deal: The transcript states procurement of 60 Javelin missile systems at an estimated cost of about ₹292 crore.
Delivery: Expected to begin from December 2026, as stated in the transcript.
Manufacturers: Lockheed Martin and RTX are associated with the Javelin programme.
Background: India had explored Javelin acquisition since around 2010; earlier technology-transfer issues stalled progress.

Prelims Focus

Milan ATGM — associated with France; Konkurs — associated with Russia; Spike — procured from Israel.
DRDO has developed an indigenous Man-Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM).
Javelin is useful against tanks, armoured vehicles and fortified positions across varied terrain.
The deal is linked in the transcript with deeper India–US defence cooperation and possible future co-production.

Why It Matters

The system adds highly mobile anti-armour capability for mountainous as well as plains terrain and supports India’s broader effort to diversify defence sourcing while expanding domestic production partnerships.

CURRENT AFFAIRS • 31 AUGUST 2026

Bihar to Manufacture Medicines and Medical Equipment at Fatuha and Hajipur

Bihar is entering pharmaceutical and medical-device manufacturing with new industrial units planned at Fatuha and Hajipur.

Key Facts

Locations: New industrial units are proposed at Fatuha and Hajipur.
Fatuha: Plot area mentioned as 3,277 sq m; proposed investment about ₹55 crore.
Hajipur: Plot area mentioned as 1,254 sq m; proposed investment about ₹5.47 crore.
Total land: Around 1.12 acres, as stated in the transcript.
Production: Expected to begin from 2027.
Employment: The project is expected to support around 5,000 jobs.
Surgical products: Scissors, blades, forceps and retractors.
Diagnostic devices: BP monitors, thermometers, glucometers and stethoscopes.
Critical-care equipment: Ventilators, nebulisers and oxygen concentrators.
Medical furniture: Wheelchairs, Fowler beds and medical trolleys.

Prelims Focus

The units will manufacture medicines, medical devices and medical furniture — not medicines alone.
The transcript estimates that local manufacturing could make medicines and medical items about 20% cheaper.
Shorter supply chains may reduce dependence on outside hubs such as Delhi and Mumbai.
Potential markets mentioned include Bihar, eastern Uttar Pradesh, Nepal Terai, Bhutan, Meghalaya, Assam and parts of West Bengal.

Why It Matters

Local pharmaceutical and medical-device production can lower logistics costs, improve availability, create jobs and build an industrial ecosystem around health-care manufacturing in Bihar.

CURRENT AFFAIRS • 31 AUGUST 2026

Lion Breeding Centre Proposed at Rajgir Zoo Safari

Bihar has proposed a dedicated Asiatic lion breeding centre at Rajgir Zoo Safari after strong breeding outcomes and a reported 100% cub survival rate.

Key Facts

Proposal: A dedicated lion breeding centre is proposed at Rajgir Zoo Safari.
State action: The Bihar government has granted an NOC and approval from the Central Zoo Authority is awaited.
Current lions: The transcript states Rajgir Zoo Safari currently has 13 lions.
Population history: It began with five lions and the number rose to 16 over five years; two were transferred to Patna Zoo and one to Haryana, leaving 13.
Cub survival: Seven cubs born up to 2024–25 reportedly survived, giving a 100% cub survival rate.
Lion safari area: About 20.54 hectares.
Other safari areas: Tiger — about 20.5 ha; leopard — 20.63 ha; bear — 20 ha; deer — 45 ha; bird aviary — 10 ha; butterfly park — 0.38 ha.
Wildlife count stated: 13 lions, five tigers, 12 bears and about 270 deer.

Prelims Focus

Asiatic lion: Its only natural wild population in India is found in and around the Gir landscape of Gujarat.
A dedicated breeding centre can support scientific breeding, genetic management and long-term conservation.
Rajgir Zoo Safari is emerging as an important conservation and wildlife-tourism centre in Bihar.

Why It Matters

A specialised breeding centre can strengthen ex-situ conservation of the Asiatic lion while building Bihar’s capacity in scientific wildlife management and conservation tourism.

CURRENT AFFAIRS • 31 AUGUST 2026

Bihar Water Tourism Plan: 276 Water Sources to Be Developed

Bihar plans to develop lakes, ponds, dams and rivers as water-tourism destinations through a large master plan led by the Environment, Forest and Climate Change Department.

Key Facts

Nodal department: Environment, Forest and Climate Change Department — not the Tourism Department, as emphasised in the transcript.
Scale: 276 water sources are proposed for tourism-oriented development.
First phase: More than 70 sites are proposed to be developed.
Mode: Projects are proposed through PPP (Public-Private Partnership).
Navigation aid: A dedicated water-tourism map is proposed for visitors.
Major rivers: Ganga, Gandak, Kosi, Son and Punpun are among the river systems mentioned.
Important sites: Kanwar/Kabar Tal in Begusarai, Ghora Katora in Nalanda, Kakolat in Nawada, Falgu in Gaya and the Ganga riverfront in Patna.
Activities: Boating, cruise rides, water sports, jet skiing, river safari, bird watching, floating jetties and floating restaurants.
Employment: The transcript projects more than 10,000 jobs.
Tourist target: Around 12 lakh visitors per month, as stated in the transcript.

Prelims Focus

The plan seeks tourism diversification beyond traditional destinations such as Bodh Gaya and Nalanda.
Wetlands and water bodies can support bird watching and eco-tourism alongside recreation.
Rohtas eco-tourism sites highlighted include the Kaimur Hills, Tutla Bhawani and Rohtasgarh Fort.
Water tourism can create markets for local food, handicrafts, guides, hotels and transport services.

Why It Matters

The initiative connects tourism with employment, local enterprise and conservation-oriented use of Bihar’s water landscapes, potentially broadening the state’s tourism economy.

CURRENT AFFAIRS • 31 AUGUST 2026

12 Years of Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana (PMJDY)

Launched on 28 August 2014, PMJDY has completed 12 years as the foundation of India’s mass financial-inclusion architecture.

Key Facts

Launch date: 28 August 2014.
Purpose: Universal access to formal banking and financial services for previously unbanked sections.
Accounts: The transcript states that nearly 59 crore accounts have been opened over 12 years.
Deposits: Around ₹3.16 lakh crore deposited in these accounts, as stated in the transcript.
Geographic reach: About 78% of accounts are described as being in rural and semi-urban areas.
Women: Around 56% of account holders are women.
Account feature: Basic accounts can be opened with zero balance and no minimum-balance requirement.
RuPay: Eligible account holders receive a RuPay debit card and accident-insurance benefits.
DBT: Accounts serve as a key channel for Direct Benefit Transfer of government payments.

Prelims Focus

PMJDY is India’s flagship financial inclusion programme.
It helped move banking access from “banking for a few” toward broader universal access.
Its architecture supports DBT, digital payments, formal savings and access to other financial services.
For State PCS exams, the launch date — 28 August 2014 — is a high-value factual point.

Why It Matters

PMJDY created the account layer needed for direct welfare transfers and digital financial participation, especially for women and rural/semi-urban households.

CURRENT AFFAIRS • 31 AUGUST 2026

India–China Boundary Talks: Sector-wise and Phased Resolution Approach

The latest Special Representatives talks discussed a phased approach to the India–China boundary question, beginning with relatively less-disputed sectors before tackling the most contentious areas.

Key Facts

Talks: The transcript refers to the 25th round of Special Representatives talks in Beijing between India’s NSA Ajit Doval and China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
Approach: A sector-wise / phased resolution is being explored rather than trying to settle the entire boundary at once.
Initial focus: The relatively less-disputed Sikkim sector and Middle Sector.
Middle Sector: Primarily Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand; length stated as about 545 km.
Sikkim + Middle Sector: Together around 765 km, described as roughly 22% of the disputed boundary.
Total disputed boundary stated: About 3,488 km.
Western Sector: Mainly Ladakh; described as the most complex and contentious. Friction areas mentioned include Depsang, Pangong Tso and Chumar.
Eastern Sector: Includes Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh; sensitive areas mentioned include Tawang and Yangtse.
Confidence-building: Proposals include expert mechanisms, stronger border-management working groups, additional military-level meetings and hotlines.
Ground reality: The transcript mentions 23 sensitive areas, of which 14 are especially disputed due to differing perceptions of the LAC.

Prelims Focus

Four-stage pathway described: Disengagement → de-escalation → clarification of the LAC → final boundary settlement.
Disengagement: Withdrawal of frontline troops from face-off positions.
De-escalation: Reduction of additional troops and military build-up.
Final settlement: Requires technical delimitation, ground demarcation and political approval.
The Western Sector in Ladakh is not the least-disputed sector; it is the most contentious.

Why It Matters

Starting with less-disputed sectors can generate confidence and create a practical pathway toward a broader settlement while keeping border-management mechanisms active in more sensitive areas.