Current Affairs Quiz - August 2026

Notes:
Indian shuttler Ashmita Chaliha won the Korea Masters 2026 women’s singles title by defeating China’s Han Qian Xi. She made a strong comeback after losing the opening game and won the final 14–21, 21–14, 21–14 in 53 minutes. The victory gave Ashmita her first BWF title. Earlier, she defeated fellow Indian Rakshitha Ramraj in the semifinal to reach the final. Ashmita had previously won gold at the 2024 Asia Team Championships and two gold medals at the 2019 South Asian Games.

Notes:
Ujani Reservoir in Maharashtra is facing an ecological crisis due to invasive alien fish such as suckermouth catfish, tilapia and African catfish. The suckermouth catfish, native to South America’s Amazon River, entered India mainly through the aquarium trade. It is also known as “helicopter fish” because of its appearance and can damage ecosystems by feeding on fish eggs, competing with native bottom-feeders and burrowing into riverbanks. Around 97% of the fish catch in Ujani is now made up of alien species, while native fish account for only about 3%; suckermouth catfish alone represents roughly 30–40% of the total fish population.

Notes:
Mae Wong National Park is a protected area located in the western-northern region of Thailand. It is a rugged, mountainous park characterized by high-altitude montane evergreen forests, with elevations rising above 1,300 meters. The park recently gained international attention following the scientific description of Acanthosaura syrax, a novel species of mountain horned dragon lizard found in its restricted high-altitude habitats. The park is a critical conservation zone within Thailand, hosting various endemic and threatened species of flora and fauna.

Notes:
V.O. Chidambaranar Port (formerly Tuticorin Port), located in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, became India’s first major port to achieve Scope-2 Emission-Free status in August 2026. This milestone was achieved after an independent audit verified that the port’s renewable energy generation exceeded its total electricity consumption during the final quarter of 2025–26. In the 2025-26 fiscal year, renewable energy sources, specifically wind and solar power, met 93.89% of the port’s total electrical energy demands, significantly minimizing its indirect carbon footprint.

Notes:
The Ministry of Textiles organised ‘Srijan: Voices from the Loom’ in New Delhi. The programme celebrates women handloom weavers and their contribution to preserving India’s weaving heritage. More than 100 women weavers from six handloom clusters will participate. The event highlights their resilience, creativity and role in sustaining traditional weaving traditions.

Notes:
Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched the ‘Gramin Gyan Setu’ app through video conferencing. The app integrates libraries in the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency of Gujarat. It was launched on the birth anniversary of S. R. Ranganathan, observed as National Library Day. Around 63 village libraries have been established, while 752 libraries are connected through the app. Four major libraries, with around 2.8 lakh books, have been linked with rural libraries. The initiative aims to promote reading and improve access to books for children in villages.

Notes:
The Chhattisgarh Forest Department launched the YUVAN (Yuva and Van) initiative to connect young people with nature, wildlife and local biodiversity. The programme promotes experiential environmental education through hands-on outdoor activities rather than classroom-based learning alone. Youth participate in activities such as bird watching, wildlife tracking and ecosystem observation. It provides practical training in areas including wildlife photography, wetland conservation and eco-tourism. YUVAN aims to develop empathy towards forests and create a network of young local green leaders.

Notes:
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) facilitated the selection of three Indian Sanchar Mitras as Generation Connect Youth Envoys (GCYE) of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). The selection recognises the contribution of Indian youth through the Sanchar Mitra Scheme. The scheme is a youth-focused initiative of the Department of Telecommunications under the Ministry of Communications. It trains student volunteers, called Sanchar Mitras, to spread awareness on digital safety, telecom fraud prevention, and government telecom initiatives. Eligible students from technical institutes receive expert training through the National Communications Academy-Technology.

Notes:
The BWF Badminton World Championships 2026 will be held at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, New Delhi. India is hosting the World Championships after 17 years. Indian shuttlers leading the contingent include P. V. Sindhu, Lakshya Sen, Ayush Shetty, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, Chirag Shetty, Treesa Jolly and Gayathri Gopichand. India has two entries in each of the five disciplines at the championship.

Notes:
California has reported 592 cases of silicosis among engineered-stone countertop workers between January 2019 and June 2026. 65 workers required lung transplants, while 31 died due to the disease. Silicosis is a progressive and incurable lung disease caused by inhaling respirable crystalline silica dust. Engineered stone, also called artificial stone or quartz, can contain more than 90% crystalline silica. Workers are particularly exposed during cutting, grinding and polishing of engineered-stone slabs.