Current Affairs : 27th August to 31st August 2026

1. ISRO to Launch EOS-05 Satellite on September 4

• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is preparing to launch EOS-05, also known as GISAT-1A, aboard the GSLV-F17 rocket.
• The launch is scheduled for the night of September 3/early September 4 from the Second Launch Pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.
• The satellite will be placed into a Sub-Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit before reaching geostationary orbit.
• EOS-05 is described by ISRO as a state-of-the-art Earth-observation spacecraft and India’s first imaging satellite designed to operate from geosynchronous orbit.
• It will provide rapid, wide-area imaging for disaster monitoring, environmental observation and other Earth-observation applications.

2. NASA Launches Roman Space Telescope on Falcon Heavy

• NASA successfully launched the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy on August 30, 2026.
• The launch took place at 7:26 a.m. EDT from Launch Complex 39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida.
• Roman is NASA’s next-generation flagship observatory and will travel roughly one million miles to its final orbit near the Sun-Earth L2 point.
• Its wide-field infrared observations will investigate dark matter, dark energy and exoplanets, while surveying enormous portions of the universe.
• NASA says Roman combines a wide field of view with high-resolution infrared vision, enabling astronomers to study cosmic history on an unprecedented scale.

3. Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan Hold First Defence Pact Meeting

• Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan are holding their first high-level meeting under the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, signed on August 7, 2026.
• Foreign and defence ministers and military chiefs are meeting in Istanbul to discuss military interoperability, defence capabilities, technology and production cooperation.
• The pact contains a collective-defence principle under which an armed attack on one member is regarded as an attack on all three, drawing comparisons with NATO’s Article 5.
• The agreement comes amid heightened regional tensions, particularly involving Iran and Gulf security.
• Turkey has indicated that other countries could potentially join the arrangement while existing international alliances remain unaffected.

4. PM Modi Receives Uzbekistan’s Oliy Darajali Do‘stlik Order

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi has received Uzbekistan’s highest state honour, the Order of Oliy Darajali Do‘stlik, from
• President Shavkat Mirziyoyev during his visit to Tashkent on August 30, 2026.
• The award recognises Modi’s contribution to strengthening India-Uzbekistan relations.
• Modi dedicated the honour to the enduring friendship between the two countries.
• The decoration is particularly significant because the visit also produced a major diplomatic breakthrough: India and Uzbekistan agreed to elevate their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
• The honour became Modi’s 36th international award, reflecting the growing diplomatic engagement between India and Uzbekistan.

5. India Emerges as Key Petrol Supplier to Russia

• India has emerged as an important supplier of refined petrol to Russia amid fuel shortages caused by repeated Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian oil refineries. Russia, despite being one of the world’s largest crude-oil producers, has faced refining disruptions that have affected domestic petrol supplies.
• A gasoline cargo loaded at Vadinar, India, was delivered to Russia’s Arctic port of Vitino in August. Indian refiner Nayara Energy is among the suppliers involved.
• Additional Indian cargoes were also expected. The development highlights an unusual energy trade pattern: Russia supplies crude to India, while India refines some of that crude into petroleum products and exports fuel back to Russia.

6. India and Uzbekistan Upgrade Ties to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership

• India and Uzbekistan have elevated their bilateral relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, marking a significant upgrade in political, economic and strategic cooperation.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced the decision during Modi’s visit to Tashkent.
• The two sides have set an ambitious target of increasing bilateral trade to more than $5 billion by 2030.
• Cooperation will expand across areas including infrastructure, digital public infrastructure, artificial intelligence, agriculture, healthcare, education, tourism and traditional medicine.
• The countries also announced a long-term arrangement for uranium supplies from Uzbekistan to India, strengthening cooperation in civil nuclear energy and supporting India’s long-term energy-security objectives.

7. India, China Agree on Eight-Point Boundary Consensus

• India and China reached an eight-point consensus during the 25th round of talks between their Special Representatives on the boundary question in Beijing on August 25, 2026.
• India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and China’s Wang Yi held discussions aimed at maintaining peace and tranquillity along the border.
• The two sides reaffirmed the importance of existing agreements and agreed to continue negotiations toward a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable settlement of the boundary question.
• The consensus also seeks to create conditions for stable bilateral relations. The development is significant after years of tensions along the Line of Actual Control and represents continued diplomatic engagement on unresolved border issues.

8. President Murmu Clears Way for Ladakh High Court Bench

• President Droupadi Murmu has promulgated the Union Territory of Ladakh (Sitting of Bench of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh in Ladakh) Regulation, 2026, enabling a High Court Bench to sit in Ladakh.
• The regulation was notified in the Gazette of India on August 27, 2026, shortly after the Union Cabinet approved the proposal.
• The move fulfils a long-standing demand for easier access to justice for people living in the Union Territory.
• The Ladakh administration said the notification came within seven days of the Cabinet decision.
• The new arrangement will bring High Court judicial services closer to residents of Leh, Kargil and surrounding areas.

9. India Signs Javelin Missile Deal with United States

• India has finalised an agreement with the United States to procure Javelin anti-tank missile systems for the Indian Army.
• The agreement was announced by the U.S. Embassy in India on August 28, 2026, although the financial value and exact quantity of missiles were not disclosed.
• The Javelin is a man-portable, precision-guided anti-armour weapon designed to engage armoured vehicles and other battlefield targets.
• The acquisition is expected to strengthen the Indian Army’s anti-tank capabilities and support ongoing military modernisation.
• The agreement also reflects deepening India-U.S. defence cooperation and the growing role of American-origin systems in India’s efforts to enhance battlefield preparedness.

10. Trump Announces Major Venezuela Oil Deal Worth $100 Billion

• U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a major oil arrangement involving Venezuela that could generate around $100 billion in investment.
• Under the proposed structure, a new private company would develop 17 Venezuelan oil fields, with the United States holding a reported 55% operational share and purchasing oil at cost.
• Venezuela could potentially receive about $209 billion in tax revenue, according to figures cited by Trump’s administration.
• The agreement involves control over development of Venezuela’s enormous oil reserves, estimated at about 65 billion barrels in the announcement.
• The deal aims to increase oil production, strengthen U.S. energy supplies and attract investment into Venezuela’s struggling petroleum infrastructure.

11. Kaziah Liz Mejo Crowned Miss Universe India 2026

• Kaziah Liz Mejo, a 19-year-old law student and model from Kerala, has been crowned Miss Universe India 2026.
• She won the national title at the grand finale in Jaipur on August 23, defeating 52 finalists. Mejo, from Mavelikkara, had previously represented India at Miss Teen International 2025, where she finished as first runner-up.
• Vaishnavi Gannesh of Tamil Nadu was the first runner-up, while Anushri Satavlekar of Gujarat finished as second runner-up and won the Miss International India title.
• Mejo will now represent India at the 75th Miss Universe pageant in Puerto Rico in November 2026, seeking India’s fourth Miss Universe crown.

12. Germany Retain Hockey World Cup Title With 1-0 Win

• Germany successfully defended its FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup crown, defeating Spain 1-0 in the final in Wavre, Belgium, on August 30, 2026.
• The victory made Germany the first men’s team to win back-to-back World Cup titles on two separate occasions.
• The final was tightly contested, with both teams creating opportunities but failing to score during the first half.
• Germany eventually broke the deadlock late in the third quarter when Michel Struthoff finished a move into an empty net after the Spanish goalkeeper committed early.
• Spain pushed hard for an equaliser in the final quarter, but Germany’s defence held firm to secure another world title.

13. India Finish Eighth at FIH World Cup After Belgium Shootout Win

• India finished eighth at the 2026 FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup after losing to co-hosts Belgium 3-4 in a penalty shootout in the seventh-place classification match.
• The match at the Belfius Hockey Arena in Wavre ended 3-3 in regulation time.
• India’s Abhishek opened the scoring, while captain Harmanpreet Singh scored twice, including a dramatic equaliser with only 26 seconds remaining.
• Belgium’s goals came through Roman Duvekot, Hugo Labouchere and Nicolas de Kerpel.
• In the shootout, Shilanand Lakra, Dilpreet Singh and Abhishek scored for India, but Belgium prevailed. Harmanpreet finished the tournament with eight goals.

14. India’s Forex Reserves Hit Record $729.3 Billion

• India’s foreign exchange reserves reached a record $729.3 billion as of August 21, 2026, strengthening the country’s external financial position.
• The increase was driven significantly by banks mobilising Non-Resident Indian deposits under the Reserve Bank of India’s concessional swap window.
• The effort intensified in the final weeks before the scheme’s August 31 deadline. A strong foreign-exchange reserve position provides
• India with a larger cushion against external shocks, global market volatility and sudden capital outflows.
• It also strengthens confidence in the rupee and improves the country’s ability to manage external-payment pressures.
• The latest figure represents an all-time high for India’s forex reserves.

15. Gujarat Launches India’s First Sports Genomics Programme

• Gujarat has launched India’s first state-level Sports Genomics Programme, combining genomics, sports science, physiology and nutrition to improve athlete identification and high-performance training.
• The initiative is being driven by the Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC) under the Department of Science and Technology, in coordination with the Sports Authority of Gujarat.
• The programme aims to create scientific profiles of athletes, identify promising talent at an early stage, understand genetic factors linked to performance and injury risks, and develop personalised training and rehabilitation programmes.
• It is also intended to strengthen Gujarat’s long-term sporting ecosystem and contribute to India’s preparations for major international competitions, including the Commonwealth Games 2030.

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