Daily Current Affairs 17th August 2026
Daily Current Affairs 17th August 2026
1. Census 2027 Begins in Snow-Bound Areas
The second phase of Census 2027 population enumeration began in snow-bound areas of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh on 17 August 2026. Digital self-enumeration has also been made available, with the window continuing until 31 August.
2. Budha Amarnath Yatra Begins
The first batch of pilgrims for the annual Shri Budha Amarnath Ji Yatra was flagged off from Jammu on 17 August 2026 by J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.
3. NTA Announces Re-Examination for Three UGC-NET Subjects
The National Testing Agency (NTA) announced a fresh examination for three UGC-NET June 2026 subjects—English, Commerce and Sociology—following an expert review that identified errors in the question papers.
The re-examination is scheduled for 9 and 10 September 2026, with no additional examination fee for candidates.
4. Indian Army Chief Receives Honorary Rank in Nepal
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Indian Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth was conferred the honorary rank of General of the Nepali Army by Nepal President Ram Chandra Paudel in Kathmandu on 17 August 2026.
Exam Point: The honour reflects the longstanding military relationship between India and Nepal.
5. NIELIT Launches CYBER KUSHTI 2026
The National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT) launched CYBER KUSHTI 2026, a national cybersecurity and AI hackathon.
The initiative focuses on areas such as human judgement, risk assessment and prioritisation of cyber threats.
Ministry: Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)
6. BRICS Environment Meetings in New Delhi
India is hosting the BRICS Environment Working Group meetings in New Delhi on 17–18 August 2026.
The meetings focus on environmental and climate-related cooperation among BRICS countries.
7. India Post Uses Drone Technology
India Post used drone technology to deliver the National Flag from Mandi to Rehardhar in Himachal Pradesh ahead of Independence Day.
The initiative highlighted the potential of drones for postal delivery in remote and difficult-to-reach areas.
8. Srinagar-Jammu Highway Hit by Landslide
Traffic on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway was disrupted following a landslide on the Darmathal-Dewal stretch in Udhampur on 17 August.
9. Supreme Court Seeks Clarification on Nuclear Accident Compensation
The Supreme Court asked the Centre whether the SHANTI Act, 2025, which caps private operator liability at ₹3,000 crore in nuclear accidents, prevents courts from awarding compensation beyond that amount.
The Court is also examining issues concerning the appointment process of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Body (AERB) under the legislation.
10. RBI Forex Swap Facility in Focus
The Reserve Bank of India had announced that its discounted forex swap facility for banks would close on 31 August 2026, earlier than originally planned.
The facility had attracted nearly $57 billion in total, while markets were also watching the RBI’s upcoming policy meeting minutes.
One-Liners for Competitive Exams
Census 2027 Phase-II: Population enumeration begins in snow-bound J&K and Ladakh.
Budha Amarnath Yatra: Flagged off by LG Manoj Sinha.
Budha Amarnath Shrine: Poonch, Jammu & Kashmir.
UGC-NET Re-examination: English, Commerce and Sociology.
UGC-NET Re-exam: 9–10 September 2026.
CYBER KUSHTI 2026: Launched by NIELIT.
BRICS Environment Meetings: New Delhi, 17–18 August 2026.
Indian Army Chief: General Dhiraj Seth.
Honorary Rank: General of the Nepali Army.
India Post Initiative: Drone-based National Flag delivery in Himachal Pradesh.
Srinagar-Jammu Highway: Landslide reported in Udhampur.
Nuclear Liability Issue: Supreme Court examining compensation under the SHANTI Act.