UPSC current affairs — 15 August 2026

The 8 exam-relevant stories for 15 August 2026.

  1. Parliamentary Panel Flags Slow Pace of Digitisation under Gyan Bharatam Mission (Governance)
    A parliamentary panel highlighted that only 7.5 lakh manuscripts have been digitised so far against the Gyan Bharatam Mission's target of one crore texts by 2030.
  2. States Divert Power Subsidies to Fund Rooftop Solar Installations (Economy)
    Several Indian states are restructuring agricultural and domestic power subsidies into capital expenditure to finance rooftop solar schemes, aiming to reduce discom losses.
  3. India Engages U.S. Over Proposed Sanctions Bill on Russian Oil Buyers (IR)
    India held reassuring bilateral discussions with the U.S. following a Senate bill proposing up to 100% tariffs on countries importing substantial quantities of Russian crude oil.
  4. New Global Plastic Treaty Draft Faces Criticism for Diluted Ambitions (Environment)
    Environmental groups have raised concerns over the weakened draft of the legally binding UN Global Plastics Treaty amid substantial global health and pollution costs.
  5. Supreme Court Pulls Up FSSAI Over Delays in Front-of-Pack Warning Labels (Governance)
    The Supreme Court reprimanded the FSSAI for failing to implement mandatory front-of-pack nutrition labelling on ultra-processed packaged food products to protect public health.
  6. India's Domestic Defence Production Surges to ₹1.78 Lakh Crore (Security)
    India recorded a near four-fold increase in annual indigenous defence manufacturing under the 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' and 'Make in India' initiatives.
  7. Government Modifies and Expands Questionnaire for the Upcoming National Census (Polity)
    Fourteen out of forty questions in the forthcoming Census schedule feature additions or modifications compared to 2011, incorporating queries on digital IDs and migration patterns.
  8. Meteorologists Warn of Strong El Niño Event and Potential Impact on Indian Weather (Environment)
    Climate models indicate the potential onset of a powerful El Niño phase by year-end, which could affect winter precipitation patterns and agricultural prospects across India.

All stories for 15 August 2026 · ← 14 August 2026 · 16 August 2026 →