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BPSC Current Affairs: 12 August 2026

Seven examination-relevant topics covering demographic change, non-fossil power capacity, border highways, tropical cyclone geography, the President's At Home invitation, invasive fish removal and indigenous peoples.

12 August 2026 • UPSC + BPSC • Prelims Focus
Governance and Demography

1. High-Level Committee on Demographic Changes Begins Field Work in Jammu

The transcript states that the High-Level Committee on Demographic Changes, constituted in May 2026, began field work with a visit to Jammu and interactions with local groups.

May 2026Committee constituted
JammuFirst field visit
JagtiMigrant township visited
5,000Kashmiri Pandits stated to live there
  • The chairperson is stated as Justice Prakash Prabhakar Naolekar, described in the narration as a retired Supreme Court judge.
  • Members mentioned are Mrityunjay Kumar, Durga Shankar Mishra, Balaji Srivastava and Shamika Ravi.
  • The stated purpose is to study demographic changes in different parts of India, with focus areas including illegal immigration and other causes.
  • The panel visited Jagti Migrant Township in Nagrota, Jammu, where the narration links the settlement to Kashmiri Pandit displacement during the militancy of the 1990s.
  • It also inspected a Rohingya settlement in Narwal and met civil society representatives.
  • The narration says the panel met the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary and DGP and a delegation of refugees from Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
Exam Focus: Remember the committee's stated constitution month, chairperson and first field-visit location.

Governance Current Affairs MCQ

Question 1 • Select the correct answer

Question 1

With reference to the High-Level Committee on Demographic Changes, consider the following statements:

  1. It was constituted by the Central Government to study demographic changes arising from illegal migration and other factors.
  2. It is headed by Justice Prakash Prabhakar Naolekar.
  3. Its first field visit included Jagti Migrant Township in Nagrota, Jammu.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

Score: 0/1
Energy and Climate

2. India Crosses 300 GW of Non-Fossil Electricity Capacity

According to the narration, India's installed non-fossil electricity capacity crossed 300 GW by 31 July 2026, placing the country above 60% of its stated 500 GW target for 2030.

300.50 GWTotal non-fossil capacity stated
164.59 GWSolar capacity
500 GW2030 target
54%+Share of installed capacity stated

Capacity Mix Mentioned in the Transcript

Solar

164.59 GW, described as the largest component.

Wind

58.14 GW of installed capacity.

Hydro

57.24 GW, including small and large hydropower.

Nuclear + Bio-power

11.75 GW nuclear and 8.78 GW bio-power.

  • The transcript states that 55.29 GW of non-fossil capacity was added in FY 2025–26, including roughly 44.6 GW of solar and 6 GW of wind.
  • Electricity generation from the segment is stated to have risen from 190.96 billion units in 2014–15 to 477.79 billion units in 2025–26.
  • Policy initiatives mentioned include PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, PM-KUSUM, floating solar initiatives and the GOBARdhan Scheme.
  • The narration mentions a target of 5,000 MW for floating solar installations under a scheme referred to in the transcript as PMSSY.

Energy Current Affairs MCQ

Question 2 • Select the correct answer

Question 2

With reference to India's recent progress in non-fossil electricity capacity, consider the following statements:

  1. Installed non-fossil electricity capacity crossed 300 GW by July 2026.
  2. Solar power constitutes the largest component of the stated non-fossil capacity.
  3. India has a stated target of 500 GW of non-fossil electricity capacity by 2030.
  4. Non-fossil sources account for less than 40% of installed electricity capacity.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

Score: 0/1
Infrastructure and Strategic Connectivity

3. Centre Plans 5,000+ km Border Highway Push for Military Mobility and Trade

The transcript describes a plan for more than 5,000 km of highways in border regions over the next three to five years, with a dual focus on defence mobility and economic connectivity.

5,000+ kmNew highway push
3–5 yearsPlanned period
₹2 lakh croreOutlay stated
1,748 kmArunachal Frontier Highway
  • The highways are described as serving both military mobilisation and better access to trade, tourism, education, healthcare, markets and economic activity in border areas.
  • Border countries mentioned are China, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar and Bangladesh.
  • The narration says 3,318 km of projects were awarded in the previous five years, of which 1,301 km had been constructed.
  • The project can be linked, in the narration, to PM Gati Shakti.
  • Road transport is stated to handle about 65% of freight and 90% of passenger traffic in India.
Prelims Hook: The Arunachal Frontier Highway is described as about 1,748 km long and broadly parallel to the LAC.

Infrastructure Current Affairs MCQ

Question 3 • Select the correct answer

Question 3

With reference to the proposed border highway expansion programme, consider the following statements:

  1. The Government plans to build more than 5,000 km of highways in border regions over the next three to five years.
  2. The programme is stated to involve an investment of more than ₹2 lakh crore.
  3. The proposed highway push will focus only on India's borders with China and Pakistan.
  4. The Arunachal Frontier Highway is described as about 1,748 km long and broadly parallel to the LAC.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

Score: 0/1
Geography and Disaster Management

4. Typhoon Dolphin Hits China after Affecting Okinawa

The narration identifies Typhoon Dolphin as a major tropical cyclone affecting China after moving through Okinawa in southern Japan.

~1 millionPeople evacuated
1,500+Flights cancelled
ZhejiangLandfall province stated
OkinawaEarlier affected area
  • The transcript says landfall occurred on China's eastern coast in Zhejiang at about 5:30 AM.
  • Major hazards mentioned are strong winds, flooding and landslides.
  • Heavy rain was discussed across several eastern and central Chinese provinces in the narration.

Tropical Cyclone Naming by Region

North-Western Pacific

Generally called a typhoon.

North Atlantic / North-Eastern Pacific

Generally called a hurricane.

Indian Ocean

Generally called a cyclone.

Core Concept

The narration stresses that these are the same broad tropical-cyclone phenomenon with different regional names.

Geography Current Affairs MCQ

Question 4 • Select the correct answer

Question 4

With reference to Typhoon Dolphin and tropical cyclone geography, consider the following statements:

  1. Typhoon Dolphin made landfall in Zhejiang Province on China's eastern coast.
  2. Tropical cyclones occurring in the north-western Pacific Ocean are generally called typhoons.
  3. Before reaching China, Typhoon Dolphin had affected Okinawa in southern Japan.
  4. Tropical cyclones in the North Atlantic Ocean are generally called typhoons.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

Score: 0/1
Art, Culture and Institutions

5. President's Independence Day “At Home” Invitation Highlights Crafts from Four States

The transcript describes the President's Independence Day “At Home” reception as highlighting regional diversity, with Maharashtra, Goa, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh as the focus states for 2026.

4 states2026 focus
650Guests stated
100Eminent citizens stated
NID AhmedabadInvitation design collaboration
  • The four focus states are Maharashtra, Goa, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
  • The narration says the event combines culture, handicrafts, sustainability and traditional ecological knowledge.
  • Notable invitees mentioned include Didam Daimari, Hemlata Suryavanshi and Tashi Namgyal Yagji, with their work described around conservation, disaster training and community welfare.

Crafts and Cultural Elements Mentioned

Maheshwari Stole

Associated in the narration with Madhya Pradesh.

Pithora Art

Linked in the narration with tribal tradition in Madhya Pradesh.

Loha Shilp

Associated with Bastar, Chhattisgarh and made from recycled iron scrap.

Azulejo Tiles

Associated with Goa and shown depicting Khazan lands.

Khazan Lands

Described as community-managed coastal wetlands used for paddy cultivation, fishing and salt panning.

Kaavi Art

Associated with the Konkan region of Goa in the narration.

Art and Culture Current Affairs MCQ

Question 5 • Select the correct answer

Question 5

With reference to cultural elements featured in the President's Independence Day “At Home” invitation, consider the following pairs:

  1. Maheshwari stole — Madhya Pradesh
  2. Loha Shilp — Bastar, Chhattisgarh
  3. Khazan lands — Goa; paddy cultivation, fishing and salt panning
  4. Kaavi art — Punjab

Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

Score: 0/1
Environment and Biodiversity

6. Fisherman-Driven Invasive Fish Removal Initiative at Ujjani Reservoir

The narration presents a community-led effort at Ujjani Reservoir in Maharashtra to remove invasive suckermouth catfish while supporting native biodiversity and fisher livelihoods.

97%Catch stated to be invasive species
30–40%Suckermouth catfish share stated
20,000+People stated to depend on reservoir
36+ tonnesRemoved so far
  • Invasive species mentioned are suckermouth catfish, tilapia and African catfish.
  • Suckermouth catfish is described as native to the Amazon region of South America and as having entered India mainly through the aquarium trade.
  • The initiative is described as being supported by the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS).
  • The narration calls it India's first organised fisherman/community-driven invasive fish removal initiative.

How the Removal Model Works

1. CatchFishers are incentivised to remove invasive fish.
2. CollectionCatch is brought to a collection centre at a fish market for sorting and weighing.
3. IncentiveThe narration mentions an additional per-kilogram payment above the prevailing auction rate.
4. ProcessingCaptured fish is sent for processing, with by-products described as being used for organic fertiliser.
Transcript Boundary: Some incentive amounts and processing terms are unclear in the speech-to-text transcript, so this page preserves only the parts that are unambiguous.

Environment Current Affairs MCQ

Question 6 • Select the correct answer

Question 6

With reference to the invasive suckermouth catfish removal initiative at Ujjani Reservoir, consider the following statements:

  1. The initiative involves the Bombay Natural History Society.
  2. Suckermouth catfish is native to the Amazon River region of South America.
  3. The species entered India mainly through the aquarium trade.
  4. Fishers are encouraged to release captured suckermouth catfish back into the reservoir after recording their weight.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

Score: 0/1
Tribes, Culture and International Observances

7. International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples and Komu Koya Dance

The transcript links a Komu Koya tribal dance performance to the observance of the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples, celebrated annually on 9 August.

9 AugustAnnual observance
1994UN proclamation year stated
1995First observance stated
1982First UN Working Group meeting stated
  • The day is stated to have been proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1994 through Resolution 49/214.
  • The date 9 August is linked in the narration to the first meeting of the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations in 1982.
  • The UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples is stated to have been adopted in 2007.
  • Komu Koya dance is associated with the Koya tribal community, particularly the Andhra Pradesh–Telangana/Godavari tribal belt.
  • The narration broadly mentions Koya presence in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Odisha.

Tribes and Culture Current Affairs MCQ

Question 7 • Select the correct answer

Question 7

With reference to the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples and Komu Koya tradition, consider the following statements:

  1. The International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples is observed every year on 9 August.
  2. It was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1994 through Resolution 49/214.
  3. Komu Koya dance is associated with the Koya tribal community, particularly in the Andhra Pradesh–Telangana tribal belt.
  4. 9 August commemorates the adoption of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

Score: 0/1
Source boundary: This page is built only from the supplied 12 August 2026 transcript. No external fact-checking or additional factual material has been inserted.
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