Mangalore IAS - Current Affairs 2026
1. MAITREE-XV 2026
India and Thailand will strengthen their military cooperation through Exercise MAITREE-XV 2026, it will be the 15th joint military exercise between the two nations. The Indian Army team flew out to Thailand on August 17, 2026, for Exercise MAITREE-XV 2026, which will take place from August 18 to 31 at Vibhavadi Rangsit Camp in Surat Thani, Thailand. With 85 participants from both countries, the exercise will entail joint counter-insurgency and counter-terror operations in the jungle and semi-urban environment.
2. Subhas Chandra Bose
Subhas Chandra Bose Death Anniversary 2026 observed on August 18 and commemorates the passing of 81 years since the death of one of the leading figures in India’s freedom movement. Often addressed as Netaji, Subhas Chandra Bose was in favour of total independence of India from the British rule and used a more aggressive strategy to attain freedom. The leadership of Indian National Army (INA) and the formation of Azad Hind Government are important aspects in the career of Bose.
3. Teesta Barrage Project
A 12-member high-powered committee has been formed in India for the assessment of the restoration and management of Teesta Barrage Project (TBP) in West Bengal as the Teesta River is gaining strategic importance. The committee will look into water availability, existing utilization, future demands and the status of the barrage and infrastructure. In addition, it will study climate change impact and the steps required to increase the resilience of the river basin. The move has come at a time when Bangladesh has increased dialogue with China regarding the management of the Teesta River.
What is the Teesta Barrage Committee?
The committee was constituted on July 10, with the Chairman of the Central Water Commission as its chairman.
It has been given six months to submit its report, including representatives from both Sikkim and West Bengal at the Joint Secretary level or equivalent.
4. FAST-DS Scheme
The Income Tax department has come up with a one-time voluntary disclosure facility called the Foreign Assets of Small Taxpayers – Disclosure Scheme (FAST-DS) running from August 16 to December 31, 2026. The disclosure includes foreign bank accounts, properties, jewelry, stocks, securities, and other foreign assets up to certain monetary ceilings. Taxpayers with the unreported foreign income/assets have a chance of regularising to some of their omissions.
What Is FAST-DS Scheme?
The FAST-DS is a one-time voluntary disclosure procedure for taxpayers who wish to disclose certain foreign assets/income which have been unduly omitted previously.
There are two broad categories of this scheme,
- Undisclosed and never-taxed foreign income or assets: up to Rs 1 crore.
- Foreign assets which have already been taxed, or foreign assets acquired during the time when the taxpayer was a non-resident but not declared in the ITR: up to Rs 5 crore.
- These amounts of Rs 1 crore and Rs 5 crore are ceiling amounts and not tax slabs. Just because an asset/income exceeds these limits, it cannot be included in these categories by simply paying taxes up to these amounts.
Which Foreign Assets Can be Revealed?
The scheme applies to certain kinds of foreign assets or income such as,
- Certain other foreign assets or income
- RSUs and ESOPs not disclosed earlier
This could especially be important for professionals who have received foreign equity compensation due to their work with multinationals.
5. India’s Fighter Jet Engine
India’s push to develop an indigenous aero-engine ecosystem for its next generation fighter jets has been given a significant push as Reliance Industries has decided to form a partnership with Rolls-Royce from the UK to manufacture engines for India’s Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme.
The initiative will be helpful in India’s bid to reduce its reliance on foreign-made defence equipment and build up its own aerospace manufacturing industry. The AMCA is designed as a twin-engine stealth fighter that is expected to form an important part of India’s air-combat capability in the future.
6. Books Written by Freedom Fighters Themselves
There are several famous freedom fighters who have also been prolific writers, journalists and political thinkers. Their writings reflect their perspective on colonialism, nationalism and independence movement.
Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi was one of the most important freedom fighters who used literature extensively to express his political and social ideas. Important writings and publications of Gandhi include,
- My Experiments with Truth
Jawaharlal Nehru
Important writings of Jawaharlal Nehru include,
- Glimpses of World History
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad
Important writings and publications of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad are,
Bhagat Singh
Bhagat Singh was a revolutionary freedom fighter, thinker and writer. Important essay of Bhagat Singh include,
Subhas Chandra Bose
Important writings of Subhas Chandra Bose include,
Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Important writings and publications of Bal Gangadhar Tilak include,
Lala Lajpat Rai
Important writings of Lala Lajpat Rai include,
- The Story of My Deportation
Sarojini Naidu
Sarojini Naidu was not only a freedom fighter but also an accomplished poet. Important literary works of Sarojini Naidu include, The Golden Threshold.
7. Bangladesh’s 23rd President
Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has been elected as the president of Bangladesh by getting a majority vote in the parliamentary elections as this is a huge career leap for one of the senior Bangladesh Nationalist Party leaders. Alamgir won 255 votes in the election held on 20th August against opposition leader Oli Ahmed who managed only 88 votes.
This election was a very important event for the country since it was the first time in the last 35 years when Bangladesh had a contested presidential election which marked the end of temporary presidency after the resignation of former President Mohammed Shahabuddin.
8. Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bench in Ladakh
The Union Cabinet has cleared the setting up of a bench of the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court in Ladakh. This development to have far-reaching implications for ensuring that citizens gain access to justice. Union Minister for Home Affairs Amit Shah stated that this would make it easier for citizens to get their cases heard by the High Court as they would not have to cover long distances at present.
9. World Mosquito Day 2026
World Mosquito Day 2026 is celebrated on August 20 to bring attention to the dangers of mosquito bites, including various diseases that these insects carry. Dengue fever, malaria, and chikungunya are just a few mosquito-borne diseases that are a serious concern for public health. This day also marks a great breakthrough made in medicine in 1897 by Sir Ronald Ross, who discovered how mosquitoes spread malaria. This holiday is an important reminder that awareness, timely visits to a doctor, personal protection, and mosquito control in one’s community are crucial.
10. World Lake Day 2026
World Lake Day is celebrated annually on August 27.
The World Lake Day celebration will be on Thursday, August 27 in 2026. The day will be the second United Nations observance of the World Lake Day after the first global observance of the day in 2025.
The observance of the day was estalished by the United Nations General Assembly under Resolution 79/142, which was adopted by the consensus on December 12th, 2024.
August 27th was chosen in order to commemorate the convening of the first World Lake Conference in Shiga Prefecture, Japan, in 1984.
11. SCO Summit 2026
The SCO Summit 2026 is scheduled to feature leaders and representatives of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) from Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, during the period of August 31 – September 1, 2026. The importance of this particular summit lies in the fact that the organisation celebrates its 25 years since its creation. It shows that SCO has become an important actor in ensuring regional security, cooperation and connectivity in the region of Eurasia.
The SCO Summit 2026 will be held under the theme of “25 years of the SCO: Together Towards Sustainable Peace, Development and Prosperity.” As follows from the name of the summit, the issues of security, counterterrorism, transport connectivity, trade and energy cooperation are expected to be discussed at the summit.
12. Relief Aid to Nepal
The Indian government has sent 10 tons of the disaster relief and humanitarian aid to Nepal as a result of floods which have claimed lives and resulted in numerous people being reported missing. The materials, which include medicine and emergency supplies, were delivered using the Indian Air Force C-130J plane as part of the ongoing efforts for rescue and relief operations. In his statement, Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar affirmed India’s readiness to support Nepal and its citizens during this time.
13. Bankers’ Book Evidence Bill 2026
The Parliament has passed the Bankers’ Book Evidence Bill 2026 and paved the way for the introduction of a legal recognition of electronic and digital banking records in court cases. While the Rajya Sabha had approved the bill through voice vote on August 10, it had been passed by the Lok Sabha a week earlier. The Bankers’ Book Evidence Bill 2026 replaces the Bankers’ Book Evidence Act of 1891 which was passed during the colonial era and was meant for a time where banking records were kept in paper form.
What Is the Bankers Book Evidence Bill 2026?
The Bankers’ Book Evidence Bill 2026 replaces the nearly 135-year-old Bankers’ Book Evidence Act of 1891.
It creates a technology neutral legal framework for bankers’ books and recognizes records kept in electronic and digital format.
The Finance Minister of India Nirmala Sitharaman responded to the debate in Rajya Sabha by stating that there was a need for a change in law due to technological advancement in the field of banking since the time of its enactment.
The banks of the modern world keep large volumes of data digitally including their transactions and other information related to finance.
14. National Space Day 2026
National Space Day 2026 celebrated on 23rd August, 2026 in in honor of one of the most notable events in India’s scientific history the landing of the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft near the southern pole of the moon. This day has been chosen to mark the historical moon landing that was carried out by the ISRO on 23 August 2023. National Space Day honors the increasing progress of India in space science and aims to motivate students, researchers, inventors, and young entrepreneurs to join India’s space odyssey.
What is the Theme of National Space Day 2026?
The theme for National Space Day 2026 is,
“Towards Viksit Bharat – Innovating, Collaborating and Aspiring Global Space Leadership.”
The theme embodies India’s aspiration for increasing its presence in the global space sector by way of innovations, technological independence, scientific studies and collaborations.
Moreover, it seeks to motivate young innovators, institutions of higher learning, scientists, startups and private firms for addressing future challenges in space exploration.
The theme is linked to the overall concept of Viksit Bharat in relation to the significance of advanced science and technology for the future national development of India.
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