UPSC current affairs — 23 August 2026

The 8 exam-relevant stories for 23 August 2026.

  1. Sowing the seeds of a solar power intervention (Environment)
    India’s emerging agrivoltaics model allows farmers to grow crops beneath solar panels, offering a dual source of income but facing challenges like high upfront costs and financing constraints.
  2. What are the U.S.’s latest allegations against India? (IR)
    The United States has accused India of violating fair trade practices in relation to the 'Great Transhipment Scam,' raising questions about its impact on India's trade relations and growth story.
  3. Cheaper crude, dearer ethanol: India’s maize bind (Environment)
    Maize has rapidly become the source of nearly half of the ethanol blended into petrol in India, presenting new economic and agricultural dynamics amid fluctuating crude prices.
  4. Supreme Court sets aside NGT order against Art of Living on Yamuna floodplains (Environment)
    The Supreme Court set aside the National Green Tribunal's order holding the Art of Living Foundation responsible for damaging the Yamuna floodplains, directing the DDA to refund the ₹5 crore fine.
  5. Justice Nagarathna’s dissent warns of tearing the safety net of labour law (Polity)
    Supreme Court Justice Nagarathna's dissenting opinion highlights the importance of maintaining an expansive definition of 'industry' to protect labour welfare and balance corporate bargaining power.
  6. India eases FDI rules, allows 10% automatic route stake for land-border sharing nations (Economy)
    The Indian government relaxed Foreign Direct Investment rules to allow up to 10% stake from entities in countries sharing a land border, including China, through the automatic route.
  7. U.K. forecasts strongest El Niño in a century, warning 2027 could be hottest year (Environment)
    Britain’s national weather agency has warned that a powerful El Niño climate event could make 2027 the hottest year ever recorded globally.
  8. Gaganyaan's Crew Escape System: India's last line of defence for astronauts (S&T)
    ISRO's Gaganyaan mission features a Crew Escape System designed with powerful motors to safely pull the crew module away from the launch vehicle in case of a failure.

All stories for 23 August 2026 · ← 22 August 2026 · 24 August 2026 →