Current Affairs for Competitive Exams: 19 August 2026, Daily Roundup

Current Affairs – 19 August 2026

National Affairs

1. NHA Reviews Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY & ABDM: National Health Authority (NHA) concluded a two-day National Review Meeting on:

• Ayushman Bharat–Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY)
• Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM)

2. UIDAI Crosses 2 Crore Mandatory Biometric Updates: UIDAI completed more than 2 crore mandatory biometric updates for schoolchildren.

3. UP Increases Benefits for PRD Personnel: Uttar Pradesh increased the daily duty allowance of Provincial Armed Guard (PRD) personnel from ₹500 to ₹600. Personnel and their families will receive free treatment up to ₹5 lakh annually.

4. Kailaras–Sabalgarh–Birpur Rail Section Inaugurated: Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw inaugurated the gauge-converted Kailaras–Sabalgarh–Birpur rail section in Madhya Pradesh.

5. Himachal Pradesh Plans Reduction in All-India Services Cadre

• Proposal to reduce:
  • IAS: 153 → 130
  • IFS: 118 → 83
  • IPS reduction is yet to be specified.

6. Desert Night Safari Approved in Gujarat: The Central Zoo Authority (CZA) approved Asia’s first desert night safari in Gujarat. The project will be implemented by the Gujarat Forest Department.

7. Andhra Pradesh Seeks 47 TMC Krishna Water: Andhra Pradesh sought permission to use 47 TMC ft of Krishna water from Srisailam and Nagarjunasagar. Reason: drinking-water requirements and poor monsoon inflows.

8. SC to Form High-Powered Committee on Police Excesses: The Supreme Court said it would constitute a committee comprising:

• Retired Supreme Court/High Court judges
• Former DGP
• Former CBI Director
• It will examine allegations of police excesses against student protesters and violence against police personnel.

9. NTA Reforms Examination System: NTA removed 600 experts and inducted new experts. A four-tier question-paper checking system will be introduced. 20–25 officials are also expected to be inducted within the next 2–3 weeks.

10. Satyendar Jain Arrested in Delhi Jal Board Case: Delhi ACB arrested former Delhi minister Satyendar Kumar Jain, former Delhi Jal Board CEO Udit Prakash Rai and four others. The case concerns alleged irregularities and criminal conspiracy in tendering for sewage-treatment plant projects.

11. Supreme Court on Cancer as a Notifiable Disease: SC directed 19 States/UTs to consider declaring cancer a “notifiable disease.” 17 of 36 States/UTs had already done so.

Defence Update

1. Sixth Positive Indigenisation List (PIL): Ministry of Defence notified the 6th Positive Indigenisation List containing 405 strategically important items.

• Estimated business potential: ₹3,070 crore.
• Includes 16 Coast Guard items and 389 DPSU items.

2. ‘Aparajita–Parang La 2026’ NCC Trek: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh flagged off the All India Girls High Altitude Long Trek Aparajita–Parang La 2026.

• Parang La: 5,578 m / 18,300 ft.
• Connects Spiti Valley with Changthang, Ladakh.

International Current Affairs

1. 12th BRICS Environment Ministers’ Meeting: BRICS countries adopted a Joint Ministerial Statement reaffirming cooperation on:

• Environmental protection
• Sustainable development
• Climate resilience

2. India Launches Grasslands & ONEs Guide: India launched its first Guide to Grasslands and Other Open Natural Ecosystems (ONEs) at UNCCD COP17, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

Global Geopolitical Developments

1. Strait of Hormuz Remains Closed: Iran stated that the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed to maritime traffic until Iranian conditions under the 14-point MoU with the US are fulfilled.

2. Zambia Re-elects President Hakainde Hichilema: Hakainde Hichilema won a second five-year term with more than 51% votes.

3. Gaza Ceasefire Diplomacy: US Special Envoy Jared Kushner reported significant progress after discussions with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu regarding a proposed Gaza ceasefire plan.

4. Pakistan–Occupied Jammu & Kashmir: The United Kashmir People’s National Party raised concerns regarding alleged human-rights violations, including arrests, disappearances, communication restrictions and civilian casualties.

Science & Technology

1. NHA–ABDM Digital Health Ecosystem: Review of ABDM implementation highlights India’s continuing shift towards interoperable digital health records and technology-enabled healthcare delivery.

2. Grasslands & Open Natural Ecosystems: India’s new ONEs guide strengthens recognition of non-forest ecosystems in conservation and land-management policy.

Sports Update

1. National Sports Awards 2025 Announced: Government announced the National Sports Awards 2025. Badminton doubles pair Treesa Jolly and Pullela Gayatri Gopichand are among the sportspersons selected for the Arjuna Award.

2. Lakshya Sen Advances at BWF World Championships: Lakshya Sen defeated Austria’s Collins Filimon to enter the men’s singles second round.

Important Observance Day

World Humanitarian Day – 19 August: Dedicated to humanitarian workers who risk their lives during conflicts and disasters. Associated with the 2003 Canal Hotel bombing in Baghdad, which killed UN humanitarian personnel.

World Photography Day – 19 August: Celebrates photography and commemorates the Daguerreotype process, whose patent was acquired by the French government in 1839.