Current Affairs Quiz - August 2026

Notes:
Operation Trishul has facilitated the repatriation of 274 fugitive criminals from 36 countries since 2019. The achievement was highlighted in official government updates released in August 2026. Operation Trishul is led by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in coordination with Interpol. It aims to trace and repatriate fugitives and economic offenders who have fled India. The operation uses digital-footprint analysis, satellite imagery, and Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties (MLATs). It targets offenders involved in financial fraud, terrorism, narco-terrorism, and other serious crimes.

Notes:
The Dr. M. S. Swaminathan Award for Environment Protection 2026 was presented to P. Pechiyammal and Govindhammal. P. Pechiyammal was honoured for pioneering ghost gear (abandoned fishing gear) collection from the coast of Ramanathapuram, Tamil Nadu. Govindhammal was recognised for promoting sustainable agriculture in Villupuram, Tamil Nadu. The award recognises grassroots contributions to environmental protection and sustainable development. The awards were presented by Virendra Tiwari, Chairman of the National Biodiversity Authority.

Notes:
Google was ranked India’s Most Attractive Employer Brand in the Randstad Employer Brand Research (REBR) 2026. Tata Group secured the second position, followed by Amazon. The study was based on responses from over 1.75 lakh people across 34 markets, including around 3,500 respondents in India. The report highlights the rise of the “Balanced Employer”, where employees value the overall Employee Value Proposition (EVP) rather than salary alone. Career growth, work-life balance, and reliable pay and benefits emerged as the top priorities for employees.

Notes:
The Odisha Government signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Centre for Research in Schemes and Policies (CRISP) and the NSE Foundation to implement Project BLESS. Project BLESS is a three-year initiative to prevent distress migration by promoting livelihood opportunities, skill development, entrepreneurship, and financial inclusion. The project will be implemented through the Mission Shakti Department in collaboration with the Odisha Livelihoods Mission (OLM). It will cover 69 blocks across eight districts and is expected to benefit 8.81 lakh rural families and 86,468 Self-Help Groups (SHGs).

Notes:
BIOFACH INDIA 2026 was organized at the India Expo Centre & Mart (IEML), Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh. The event was jointly organized by APEDA (Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority) and NuernbergMesse India. It promoted India’s certified organic products and strengthened the country’s organic exports. The event featured over 200 exhibitors, including Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), startups, women entrepreneurs, and organic enterprises. More than 35 international buyers from 13 countries participated in Buyer-Seller Meets (BSMs).

Notes:
Researchers at IIT Guwahati developed E-Eye, a portable optical sensing device for rapid detection of toxicants in water and biological samples. The innovation supports the Jal Jeevan Mission by enabling on-site water quality monitoring. E-Eye detects arsenic, lead, iron, chromium, fluoride, and Escherichia coli (E. coli) using the Beer–Lambert law. It wirelessly transmits data to water treatment facilities and delivers results comparable to standard laboratory instruments. The device costs about ₹3,500, with a per-sample testing cost of around ₹2. It can also test soil, milk, food products, vegetables, tea, herbal products, and environmental samples.

Notes:
Sonai-Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Sonitpur district of Assam, at the foothills of the Great Himalayan Range. The sanctuary is bordered by the Gabhoru and Panchnoi rivers, Rowta Reserve Forest, and Kameng Reserve Forest of Arunachal Pradesh. It has four perennial rivers—Dolsiri, Gabharu, Gelgeli and Belsiri—along with wetlands locally known as “bheels. Assam Environment and Forest Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah inaugurated the newly constructed Kalamati Wildlife Range Office at the sanctuary.

Notes:
Qadr-F missile was recently in the news amid heightened Middle East tensions and Iran–Israel military exchanges. Qadr-F is a medium-range ballistic missile developed by Iran. It has an estimated range of around 2,000 km and is derived from the Shahab-3 missile family. The missile is a key long-range asset of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). It is deployed alongside Iran’s Emad and Kheiber missiles as part of its strategic missile capabilities.

Notes:
Australia is set to become the first international buyer of the US-made AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile (JATM). AIM-260 JATM is an American beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile developed by Lockheed Martin for the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy. It is designed to have a longer range than the AIM-120 AMRAAM and counter advanced threats such as China’s PL-15. The missile features a wingless supersonic design and is approximately 4 metres long. Its estimated range is more than 180–200 km, making it an important component of the U.S. long-range air-combat capability.

Notes:
The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) recently disbursed nearly ₹3.79 crore under the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) mechanism. Madhya Pradesh received the highest state-wise allocation of ₹46.93 lakh. West Bengal received the second-highest amount of ₹44.76 lakh, followed by Odisha with ₹44.08 lakh. The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) is a statutory body established in 2003 under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002. It is headquartered in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The NBA works for the conservation of biological diversity, sustainable use of biological resources, and fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from their use.