Daily briefing
Current Affairs — 2 August 2026
The day's source-attributed current affairs for UPSC, organized for fast revision.
Articles from 2 August 2026
- Technology must be backed by process reforms: EPFO CEOEPFO CEO Ramesh Krishnamurthi links EPFO’s Social Security Code, 2020-era reforms to process simplification—single system, UAN-linked identity, and simplified withdrawal eligibility and payouts—rather than relying on technology alone.Read analysis →
- DMK moves Supreme Court to direct Karnataka to release T.N.’s share of Cauvery waterDMK has moved the Supreme Court seeking enforcement of Cauvery water release directions tied to CWRC/CWMA monitoring at Biligundlu.Read analysis →
- Over 3,000 serving officers move Supreme Court against CAPF (General Administration) Act, 2026More than 3,000 serving Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) officers challenged the CAPF (General Administration) Act, 2026 on IPS deputation and constitutional validity grounds.Read analysis →
- CM compromising Odisha’s interests in Mahanadi dispute: BJDBiju Janata Dal accused Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi of compromising Odisha’s interests in the Mahanadi river water dispute with Chhattisgarh after Majhi’s New Delhi meetings.Read analysis →
- Collegium’s unexplained recommendations risk bad appointments, says SC judgeSupreme Court judge Justice Ujjal Bhuyan criticised the Supreme Court Collegium’s limited transparency in judicial appointments and supported livestreaming with misuse safeguards.Read analysis →
- Eight killed as extremely heavy rain lashes KeralaExtremely heavy rainfall struck Kerala from Friday night into Saturday, triggering landslips and flash-/mudflow-type flooding and causing eight deaths with several people missing.Read analysis →
- Is China’s AI bet turning U.S. AI labs into new Apple?Chinese AI firms released open-weight models, and open-weight licensing is reshaping U.S. model distribution and pricing dynamics while tying into China’s AI data-centre build-outs amid chip export limits.Read analysis →
- Punjab’s Dalits power politics with the purseDalit political assertion in Punjab is increasingly linked to overseas migration and remittances, and to community funding for the Shiromani Shri Guru Ravidass Mandir at Chak Hakim near Phagwara, amid election-year outreach ahead of early 2027.Read analysis →
- Dog’s tongue inspires new cooling tech for electronicsScientists used beagle tongue micro-features to design a biomimetic cooling material (BioCCS) aimed at faster evaporation for electronics.Read analysis →
- Delhi High Court grants interim protection to Yuvraj Singh against AI/digital misuse of his identityDelhi High Court granted interim protection to Yuvraj Singh, restraining unauthorised use of his identity traits through AI and digital misuse without consent.Read analysis →
- China holds drills near disputed shoal in South China SeaChina carried out joint naval and air drills near Scarborough Shoal and issued rules for a nature reserve around the shoal amid tensions with the Philippines.Read analysis →
- Spain to put containment fence on Ceuta’s borderSpain announced a 500-metre containment barrier on the sea border of Ceuta with Morocco after a week of increased crossings.Read analysis →
- The climate diplomatEd Miliband, appointed UK Foreign Secretary on 20 July 2026, is making international development and climate action central priorities.Read analysis →
- A slice of Europe in Africa (Ceuta migrant crisis)Spain reported a surge of attempted migrant entry through Ceuta and a sudden reversal of pushbacks linked to a 29 June Supreme Court ruling on “physical border” for sea arrivals.Read analysis →
- What does the new Bill to prevent exam fraud say?The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 proposes faster investigation, faster trials, and higher penalties for exam-fraud networks after NEET-UG 2026 question-paper leak and earlier anti-cheating law gaps.Read analysis →
- Why did NCISM clarify the use of the term ‘quack’?NCISM clarified that properly qualified, registered ISM practitioners (Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa) cannot be branded “quacks” merely for practising within these recognised Indian systems of medicine.Read analysis →
- Europe pioneers ‘firefighter donkeys’ to prevent wildfiresSpanish grassroots initiatives use donkey-based grazing to reduce flammable dry grass and scrub as an add-on wildfire mitigation method.Read analysis →
- Colonists brought smallpox to S. America, study findsGenomic evidence reported European smallpox introduction into South America soon after recovery of early ancient smallpox genomes from Chile.Read analysis →
- SEBI fines Zee ₹1.5 crore for corporate misgovernanceSEBI penalised Zee Entertainment Ltd and promoters Subhadh Chandra and Punit Goenka ₹1.5 crore and imposed a one-year stock market bar for alleged corporate misgovernance.Read analysis →
- Record green power reduces coal’s shareRenewable power reached a record level in July, lifting renewables to about 20% of India’s power mix and reducing coal’s share to 65.7%.Read analysis →
- India’s balancing act to boost China, U.S. investments, tradeIndia’s anti-dumping outcomes and selective foreign investment permissions are evolving in parallel with China- and U.S.-linked trade and compliance concerns.Read analysis →
- RBI says $40.82 bn mobilised via concessional swap facility till July 31RBI reports that its concessional forex swap facility mobilised $40.82 billion up to July 31, with forex inflows strengthening since June 8.Read analysis →
- L-G seeks to protect migrant workers as one more dies in Kulgam attackJammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha ordered a security SOP review and directed employer insurance and registration steps after a Kulgam attack reportedly killed two non-local brick-kiln labourers from Chhattisgarh.Read analysis →
- Downpour eases tension over Cauvery water sharingCWRC’s 15-day Cauvery release order for Karnataka faces less immediate pressure as heavy rain improves catchment inflows and reservoir levels.Read analysis →
- Leaders urge Vijay to hold all-party meet on water rowDMK president M.K. Stalin and CPI leader R. Mutharasan urged Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay to convene an all-party meeting on the Cauvery water dispute.Read analysis →
- AAP chief to lead protest march over E20 fuelAAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal announced a 100-person protest march to the Prime Minister’s residence against E20 fuel.Read analysis →
- Gupta launches Lakshmi Yojana; over 30,000 register on first dayDelhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta launched the Delhi Lakshmi Yojana; the Delhi government reported 33,730 registrations on the first day after the portal went live.Read analysis →
- Russia pounds Kyiv, kills 9 people; Ukraine appeals for Patriot missilesRussia launched a ballistic missile and drone attack on Kyiv; President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Patriot interceptor missiles were unavailable.Read analysis →
- Gor calls on Bangladesh to join Pax Silica initiative and discusses bilateral relationsU.S. Special Envoy for South and Central Asia Sergio Gor urged Bangladesh to join the U.S.-led Pax Silica initiative in talks with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.Read analysis →
- India to be biggest stop for Japanese capital: SikkaAMFI chairman Sundeep Sikka projects India will become the largest destination for Japanese capital over the next decade, with Japanese interest shifting toward financial services and broader services.Read analysis →