Best August Current Affairs 2026 With Free, Downloadable PDF

Before we start this August Current Affairs 2026 article, let me ask you one question. How many hours did you spend studying current affairs this month? 10, maybe 20? And how much of it can you actually recall, right now without looking?

That’ll tell you exactly where the gap is. It is probably not a lack of effort but recall. That’s why you need to create some mental maps to help you link things behind different aspects and not look at them in isolation. Anyway here is what happened in August and why it matters for your paper.

Modi gave his 150th Independence Day speech on the 15th. We celebrated the 80th year of our independence and he announced an AI Skill Mission to train one crore youth in AI in next twelve months. There is also a free government coaching for competitive exams and both are responses to the student protests that happened. Three semiconductor plants have started exporting chips and seven or eight more will be set up within next two years.

RBI held their rates at 5.25% and raised the FY27 growth forecast to 6.7%. The Sports Ministry announced the National Sports Awards and named zero Khel Ratna winners which is the first time since 2014.

India signed for Javelin missiles from the US and tested Agni-4. We also flew Rafales with Malaysia at Subang. Andhra Pradesh approved the country’s first Quantum and AI University. And our Vice President launched Gnani Artha which a 30-billion-parameter AI model built in India, on our own Indian languages.

That’s a lot. And most of it will show up on your paper. So remember to go through these questions thoroughly. Let’s go!

August Current Affairs 2026

Topic 1: Independence Day

1. India celebrated which Independence Day on 15 August 2026?

a) 81st

b) 79th

c) 80th ✅

d) 78th

2. PM Modi’s Red Fort address on 15 August 2026 was his how many-th consecutive Independence Day address?

a) 12th

b) 13th ✅

c) 11th

d) 14th

3. PM Modi’s 80th Independence Day address noted the country was celebrating 150 years of which national song?

a) Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon

b) Saare Jahan Se Achha

c) Jana Gana Mana

d) Vande Mataram ✅

4. PM Modi built his 80th Independence Day address around seven priority areas, which he collectively named:

a) Sapt Dhara ✅

b) Sapt Kranti

c) Sapt Rishi

d) Sapt Setu

5. Under the AI Skill Mission announced on 15 August 2026, how many youth will be trained in Artificial Intelligence within one year?

a) 10 lakh

b) 50 lakh

c) 1 crore ✅

d) 5 crore

6. PM Modi announced a nationwide free coaching platform for competitive examinations built on which framework?

a) Bharat Skill Grid

b) Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) ✅

c) Unified Learning Interface

d) National Education Network

7. In his 80th Independence Day address, PM Modi stated how many domestic semiconductor plants are already operational and exporting chips?

a) Three ✅

b) Two

c) One

d) Five

8. PM Modi announced that how many additional semiconductor production facilities would become operational within 1-2 years?

a) 10 to 12

b) 4 to 5

c) 2 to 3

d) 7 to 8 ✅

9. Mission Sudarshan Chakra, reiterated in the 2026 address, targets nationwide deployment of an indigenous defence shield by which year?

a) 2047

b) 2040

c) 2035 ✅

d) 2030

10. Mission Sudarshan Chakra draws its name from the divine weapon of which deity?

a) Lord Indra

b) Lord Vishnu ✅

c) Lord Ganesha

d) Lord Shiva

11. Under the National Critical Minerals Mission highlighted on 15 August 2026, exploration is underway at approximately how many sites?

a) More than 1,200 ✅

b) More than 300

c) More than 600

d) More than 2,500

12. PM Modi appealed to all political parties to facilitate implementation of which Act providing 33% reservation for women in legislatures?

a) Nari Samman Adhiniyam, 2024

b) Women’s Empowerment Act, 2022

c) Mahila Adhikar Adhiniyam, 2023

d) Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023 ✅

13. PM Modi reiterated that India has entered which phase of governance reform in his 80th Independence Day speech?

a) Reform Yatra

b) Reform Express ✅

c) Reform Setu

d) Reform Bharat

14. On the occasion of the 80th Independence Day, the President approved how many Gallantry Awards?

a) 56

b) 92

c) 78 ✅

d) 64

15. Along with the Gallantry Awards, how many Mention-in-Despatches were approved on Independence Day 2026?

a) 89 ✅

b) 67

c) 45

d) 112

16. The RBI Monetary Policy Committee met on which date in August 2026?

a) 1 August 2026

b) 8 August 2026

c) 12 August 2026

d) 5 August 2026 ✅

17. At its August 2026 meeting, the RBI kept the repo rate unchanged at what level?

a) 6.00%

b) 5.25% ✅

c) 5.50%

d) 5.00%

18. What monetary policy stance did the RBI retain in August 2026?

a) Accommodative

b) Calibrated tightening

c) Neutral ✅

d) Withdrawal of accommodation

19. The RBI raised its GDP growth forecast for FY27 to what figure in August 2026?

a) 7.0%

b) 6.5%

c) 6.3%

d) 6.7% ✅

20. The RBI lowered its inflation forecast to what level in the August 2026 policy?

a) 5.0% ✅

b) 5.5%

c) 4.5%

d) 4.0%

21. Who is the RBI Governor who announced the August 2026 monetary policy?

a) Shaktikanta Das

b) Sanjay Malhotra ✅

c) Urjit Patel

d) Michael Patra

22. The RBI noted that inflation rose above the 4% target in June 2026 for the first time in how many months?

a) 17 months ✅

b) 24 months

c) 9 months

d) 12 months

23. India’s Index of Industrial Production (IIP) recorded what growth rate in July 2026?

a) 4.2%

b) 8.1%

c) 6.7% ✅

d) 5.4%

24. The Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana completed how many years in August 2026?

a) 15 years

b) 11 years

c) 10 years

d) 12 years ✅

25. How many accounts had been opened under PMJDY as of its 12th anniversary in August 2026?

a) 42.50 crore

b) 59.09 crore ✅

c) 51.20 crore

d) 65.75 crore

26. The Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana was originally announced by PM Modi on which date?

a) 26 January 2014

b) 15 August 2015

c) 15 August 2014 ✅

d) 2 October 2014

Topic 3: National Sports Awards 2025

27. The National Sports Awards 2025 were announced by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports on which date?

a) 18 August 2026 ✅

b) 12 August 2026

c) 22 August 2026

d) 15 August 2026

28. What was unusual about the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award in the National Sports Awards 2025?

a) It was awarded posthumously

b) Four recipients were named

c) It was renamed

d) No recipient was named ✅

29. The 2025 Khel Ratna decision marked the first time since which year that the award was not conferred?

a) 2012

b) 2010

c) 2014 ✅

d) 2018

30. How many sportspersons received the Arjuna Award in the National Sports Awards 2025?

a) 15

b) 17 ✅

c) 24

d) 12

31. The National Sports Awards 2025 selection committee was headed by which former Supreme Court judge?

a) Justice (Retd.) U.U. Lalit

b) Justice (Retd.) Ranjana Desai

c) Justice (Retd.) D.Y. Chandrachud

d) Justice (Retd.) Arun Kumar Mishra ✅

32. Which organisation received the Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar 2025?

a) Army Paralympic Node, Pune ✅

b) Sports Authority of India

c) Indian Olympic Association

d) Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports

33. Which decathlete was among the 17 Arjuna Award recipients for 2025?

a) Murali Sreeshankar

b) Tejaswin Shankar ✅

c) Neeraj Chopra

d) Avinash Sable

34. Which two badminton players received the Arjuna Award 2025?

a) Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty

b) P.V. Sindhu and Saina Nehwal

c) Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand ✅

d) Lakshya Sen and H.S. Prannoy

35. Which two chess players were named for the Arjuna Award 2025?

a) Vidit Gujarathi and Divya Deshmukh ✅

b) Arjun Erigaisi and Nihal Sarin

c) Koneru Humpy and Harika Dronavalli

d) D. Gukesh and R. Praggnanandhaa

36. Boxer Narender Berwal, an Arjuna Award 2025 recipient, won which medal at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow?

a) Gold in men’s 90+kg

b) Bronze in men’s 80kg

c) Silver in men’s 75kg

d) Silver in men’s 90+kg ✅

37. The Khel Ratna Award was renamed as the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award in which year?

a) 2018

b) 2021 ✅

c) 2020

d) 2022

38. The Union Cabinet approved the expanded Khelo India Scheme along with enhanced ANSFs with a combined outlay of:

a) Rs 36,441 crore ✅

b) Rs 12,500 crore

c) Rs 24,800 crore

d) Rs 48,000 crore

Topic 4: Defence

39. India signed a Letter of Offer and Acceptance on 28 August 2026 to procure which weapon system from the United States?

a) Stinger surface-to-air missile

b) HIMARS rocket system

c) Javelin anti-tank guided missile ✅

d) Patriot air defence system

40. The Javelin missile procurement is being routed through which US mechanism?

a) Direct Commercial Sales

b) Defence Technology Trade Initiative

c) Strategic Trade Authorization

d) Foreign Military Sales (FMS) ✅

41. India’s Strategic Forces Command validated which ballistic missile in an operational user trial on 6 August 2026?

a) Agni-4 ✅

b) Agni-5

c) Agni-Prime

d) Prithvi-II

42. Agni-4 is classified as which category of ballistic missile?

a) Submarine-launched ballistic missile

b) Intercontinental ballistic missile

c) Medium-range ballistic missile ✅

d) Short-range ballistic missile

43. In August 2026, France submitted a detailed technical and commercial proposal to India for how many Rafale fighters?

a) 126

b) 114 ✅

c) 36

d) 66

44. A joint fighter-engine proposal reported before the Cabinet Committee on Security in August 2026 involved GTRE and which French company?

a) Dassault

b) Airbus

c) Thales

d) Safran ✅

45. The Safran-GTRE fighter engine proposal is for an engine of which thrust class?

a) 120 kN ✅

b) 75 kN

c) 98 kN

d) 150 kN

46. Who is the Chief of Defence Staff who addressed the new higher defence course in August 2026?

a) General Bipin Rawat

b) General Anil Chauhan ✅

c) General Manoj Pande

d) Admiral R. Hari Kumar

47. Exercise Udara Shakti 2026, held from 10-14 August 2026, was a bilateral air exercise between India and which country?

a) Thailand

b) Indonesia

c) Singapore

d) Malaysia ✅

48. Exercise Udara Shakti 2026 was conducted at which air base?

a) Changi Air Base

b) Don Muang Air Base

c) Subang Air Base ✅

d) Halim Air Base

49. Which two IAF assets were deployed for Exercise Udara Shakti 2026?

a) Su-30MKI and IL-76

b) Rafale fighters and C-17 aircraft ✅

c) MiG-29 and An-32

d) Tejas and C-130J

50. The first meeting of the India-Kuwait Joint Defence Committee was held in New Delhi on which date?

a) 28 August 2026 ✅

b) 30 August 2026

c) 12 August 2026

d) 20 August 2026

Topic 4: Science & Technology

51. Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan launched ‘Gnani Artha’ on 28 August 2026. What is it?

a) A quantum computing mission

b) A digital payments platform

c) A sovereign AI technology stack ✅

d) A semiconductor fabrication programme

52. Gnani Artha comprises which two core components?

a) Krutrim and Sarvam

b) Bhashini and Aadhaar AI

c) Param and Anusandhan

d) Evon 3.3 and Plexus ✅

53. Evon 3.3, part of the Gnani Artha stack, is a foundation Large Language Model with how many parameters?

a) 7 billion

b) 30 billion ✅

c) 70 billion

d) 13 billion

54. Andhra Pradesh approved India’s first dedicated Quantum and AI University campus on 27 August 2026. Where will it be located?

a) Amaravati ✅

b) Vijayawada

c) Visakhapatnam

d) Tirupati

55. What is the approved cost of the Quantum and AI University campus in Amaravati?

a) Rs 350 crore

b) Rs 1,200 crore

c) Rs 500 crore

d) Rs 730 crore ✅

56. Which institute will develop the Amaravati Quantum and AI University campus?

a) ISRO

b) C-DAC

c) NIELIT ✅

d) IIT Madras

57. The Department of Telecommunications said in August 2026 that the Sanchar Saathi platform traced and returned how many lost or stolen mobile handsets in a single month?

a) More than 25,000

b) More than 75,000 ✅

c) More than 1,00,000

d) More than 50,000

58. Which Union Minister credited the coordination behind Sanchar Saathi’s record handset recovery?

a) Jyotiraditya M. Scindia ✅

b) Amit Shah

c) Piyush Goyal

d) Ashwini Vaishnaw

59. The Digital India BHASHINI Division signed a Statement of Intent in August 2026 with which body to advance multilingual AI for governance?

a) MeitY

b) UIDAI

c) TRAI

d) NITI Aayog ✅

Topic 5: Governance, Law & Polity

60. President Droupadi Murmu promulgated a Regulation on 27 August 2026 providing for a High Court bench in which Union Territory?

a) Lakshadweep

b) Andaman and Nicobar Islands

c) Ladakh ✅

d) Jammu and Kashmir

61. The new bench in Ladakh will be a bench of which High Court?

a) Himachal Pradesh High Court

b) Punjab and Haryana High Court

c) Delhi High Court

d) High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh ✅

62. Which Union Minister announced the decision to set up a High Court bench in Ladakh on 20 August 2026?

a) Nitin Gadkari

b) Amit Shah ✅

c) Rajnath Singh

d) Arjun Ram Meghwal

63. Cabinet Secretary T.V. Somanathan and Home Secretary Govind Mohan received extensions of what duration in August 2026?

a) One year ✅

b) Two years

c) Six months

d) Three years

64. Justice R.V. Ghuge and Justice M.C. Tripathi were recommended in August 2026 as Chief Justices of which two High Courts?

a) Allahabad and Patna

b) Delhi and Madras

c) Calcutta and Bombay ✅

d) Karnataka and Kerala

65. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare presented its 176th Report in August 2026 on which subject?

a) Ayushman Bharat implementation

b) Pharmaceutical pricing policy

c) National Medical Commission reforms

d) Affordability and accessibility of healthcare facilities ✅

66. According to the 176th Health Committee Report, the average cost of hospitalisation in a private facility was approximately how many times higher than in a public hospital?

a) Eight times ✅

b) Five times

c) Three times

d) Twelve times

67. As per the 176th Health Committee Report, what was the average cost of hospitalisation in a private facility?

a) Rs 25,340

b) Rs 50,508 ✅

c) Rs 38,720

d) Rs 72,150

68. Operation Trishul, highlighted in August 2026, relates to which activity?

a) Counter-terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir

b) Anti-narcotics operations at sea

c) Bringing back fugitives from foreign countries ✅

d) Cybercrime enforcement

69. Under Operation Trishul, India brought back 274 fugitives from how many countries between 2019 and August 2026?

a) 25

b) 52

c) 18

d) 36 ✅

Topic 6: International Affairs

70. PM Modi undertook a visit from 29 August to 1 September 2026 to which two Central Asian countries?

a) Kazakhstan and Tajikistan

b) Uzbekistan and Kyrgyz Republic ✅

c) Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan

d) Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan

71. India and the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) signed Terms of Reference in August 2026 for negotiations towards which agreement?

a) Preferential Trade Agreement ✅

b) Free Trade Agreement

c) Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement

d) Customs Union Agreement

72. India and which country are aiming to conclude a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) by 2026?

a) Australia

b) United Kingdom

c) Canada ✅

d) New Zealand

73. The United States and which country announced a major oil agreement on 28 August 2026 involving more than 65 billion barrels of proven reserves?

a) Nigeria

b) Venezuela ✅

c) Saudi Arabia

d) Iran

74. Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan approved the National Defense Autonomy and Unmanned Vehicle Industry Development Act on 27 August 2026, authorising a budget over how many years?

a) Three years

b) Four years

c) Ten years

d) Six years ✅

75. India despatched 210 peacekeepers who received a UN medal in August 2026 while serving in which country?

a) South Sudan ✅

b) Mali

c) Lebanon

d) Democratic Republic of Congo

76. PM Modi condoled the passing of King Harald V, the monarch of which country, in August 2026?

a) Denmark

b) Sweden

c) Norway ✅

d) Netherlands

Topic 7: Environment

77. Tamil Nadu notified three new elephant corridors on 28 August 2026 in which wildlife sanctuary?

a) Sathyamangalam Wildlife Sanctuary

b) Cauvery North Wildlife Sanctuary ✅

c) Anamalai Wildlife Sanctuary

d) Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary

78. The three new Tamil Nadu elephant corridors notified in August 2026 fall under which forest division?

a) Erode Forest Division

b) Coimbatore Forest Division

c) Dharmapuri Forest Division

d) Hosur Forest Division ✅

79. The Spoon-tailed Duskhawker, in the news in August 2026, was recorded in which Indian state?

a) Nagaland

b) Meghalaya

c) Arunachal Pradesh ✅

d) Sikkim

80. Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs), in the news in August 2026, are caused when which of the following fails?

a) Natural dams holding glacial lakes ✅

b) River embankments during monsoon

c) Concrete hydroelectric dams

d) Coastal sea walls

81. The PARIVARTAN Scheme, discussed in August 2026, promotes what?

a) Waste-to-energy plants

b) Rural electrification

c) Cleaner commercial vehicles ✅

d) Organic farming

82. Telangana launched a gold and copper mining exploration programme on 27 August 2026 at Lingadahalli village, located in which district?

a) Raichur ✅

b) Koppal

c) Ballari

d) Kalaburagi

Topic 8: Awards & Appointments

83. The National Teachers Awards 2026 were announced in August 2026 with how many awardees?

a) 42

b) 56

c) 36

d) 48 ✅

84. Ashutosh Parida was selected for the Sarala Puraskar 2026 in which literary category?

a) Novel

b) Poetry ✅

c) Short story

d) Drama

85. The Sarala Puraskar is a prestigious literary award associated with which language?

a) Assamese

b) Maithili

c) Odia ✅

d) Bengali

86. According to a NITI Aayog report released in August 2026, how many Indian youth are Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET)?

a) 8.7 crore ✅

b) 3.2 crore

c) 5.5 crore

d) 12.4 crore

87. Bank of America signed a deal with Jio Credit in August 2026 valued at approximately:

a) Rs 8,500 crore

b) Rs 18,268 crore ✅

c) Rs 25,400 crore

d) Rs 12,750 crore

88. In a significant legal development in August 2026, a US judge dropped criminal charges against which Indian industrialist?

a) Mukesh Ambani

b) Sajjan Jindal

c) Anil Agarwal

d) Gautam Adani ✅

Topic 9: Important Days

89. World FinTech Day is observed annually on which date?

a) 20 August

b) 12 August

c) 1 August ✅

d) 5 August

90. World FinTech Day commemorates the death anniversary of which Italian banker and politician?

a) Amadeo Giannini

b) Cosimo de’ Medici ✅

c) Lorenzo de’ Medici

d) Luca Pacioli

91. Hiroshima Day is observed on which date every year?

a) 6 August ✅

b) 15 August

c) 2 August

d) 9 August

92. National Handloom Day is observed in India on which date?

a) 5 August

b) 15 August

c) 12 August

d) 7 August ✅

93. Quit India Movement Day is observed on which date?

a) 15 August

b) 9 August

c) 8 August ✅

d) 6 August

94. International Youth Day is observed on which date?

a) 15 August

b) 12 August ✅

c) 10 August

d) 19 August

95. National Sports Day is observed in India on which date?

a) 23 August

b) 26 August

c) 31 August

d) 29 August ✅

96. National Sports Day in India marks the birth anniversary of which sporting legend?

a) Major Dhyan Chand ✅

b) Kapil Dev

c) P.T. Usha

d) Milkha Singh

97. World Breastfeeding Week is observed annually during which period?

a) 1-7 August ✅

b) 10-16 August

c) 5-11 August

d) 15-21 August

Topic 10: Miscellaneous

98. NITI Aayog in August 2026 identified how many sectors to develop India as a global manufacturing hub?

a) 10

b) 12 ✅

c) 15

d) 8

99. SBI Life entered a corporate agency partnership in August 2026 with which bank?

a) Canara Bank

b) Punjab National Bank

c) Jammu & Kashmir Bank ✅

d) Bank of Baroda

100. Who is the Vice President of India who launched Gnani Artha in August 2026?

a) Hamid Ansari

b) Jagdeep Dhankhar

c) Venkaiah Naidu

d) C.P. Radhakrishnan ✅

Download Your Free August 2026 Current Affairs PDF (100 MCQs with Explanation)

Supplementary Resources

July 2026 Current Affairs

June 2026 Current Affairs

Mistakes That Cost You Marks

I’ve seen these exact errors in lots of coaching notes this month. You should not make these mistakes and lose your marks

1. You’re mixing up 2025 and 2026 Independence Day.

Mission Sudarshan Chakra? It was announced in the 79th address, 2025. And the Demography Mission? That was also 2025. The 80th address in 2026 mentioned Sudarshan Chakra again, but the new announcements were the AI Skill Mission, the free DPI coaching platform, and Sapt Dhara.

Examiners will mix these on purpose. So be clear with what happened when.

2. The Khel Ratna traps.

Remember that the award year is 2025 but the announcement date is 18 August 2026. The 2025 awards were delayed by roughly eight months because the ministry has to run a re-evaluation process before finalising the list.

For comparison, the 2024 awards were announced back in January 2025, with four Khel Ratna winners: Gukesh, Manu Bhaker, Harmanpreet Singh and Praveen Kumar. So if a question says “Khel Ratna 2025”, remember no recipient. If it says “the awards announced in August 2026” it is the same answer, different framing. Don’t let the year mismatch throw you.

Also, Hardik Singh was nominated for the Khel Ratna at the recommendation stage. He is not on the final list.

3. You remember the RBI numbers but not the direction.

Three numbers with three different movements:

• Repo rate is unchanged at 5.25%
• GDP forecast is raised to 6.7%
• Inflation forecast has been cut to 5.0%

4. You think Agni-4 was a new missile test.

It wasn’t. The 6 August event was an operational user trial of an existing system. Agni-4 is a medium-range ballistic missile. Don’t confuse it with Agni-5 or Agni-Prime.

5. You can’t split Gnani Artha into its parts.

Gnani Artha = Evon 3.3 + Plexus. Evon 3.3 is the 30-billion-parameter language model. Plexus is the agentic orchestration platform.

Frequently Asked Questions

One Last Thing

August is when things start to heat up. Two-thirds of the year gone. The exam close enough to feel real. The syllabus somehow seems bigger than it was in January.

If you’re tired right now, that’s not a sign you’re doing it wrong. It’s a sign you’re far enough in that it’s costing you something. That’s how it’s supposed to feel.

Here’s what I’d tell you: don’t try to be perfect this month. Try to be consistent. The people who clear these exams aren’t the ones who studied hardest in August. They’re the ones who were still studying in November. Read the 100. Do the three passes. Then close the laptop and go do something that isn’t this. Then start with the PDF.

Go get it. 💪

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