Daily Current Affairs - 31 August 2026

Germany defeated Spain 1-0 in the final of the FIH Men's Hockey World Cup 2026 at Wavre, Belgium; Michel Struthoff scored the only goal as Germany won its fourth title.

Argentina defeated the Netherlands 3-1 in a penalty shoot-out in the Women's FIH Hockey World Cup final at Amstelveen to win its third title, ending the Netherlands' bid for a fourth consecutive and 10th overall title.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred the 'Oliy Darajali Do'stlik' Order (Order of Highest Friendship), Uzbekistan's highest honour for foreign leaders, by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Tashkent on 30 August 2026.

India and Uzbekistan elevated their Strategic Partnership to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during PM Modi's State Visit; they agreed on a long-term uranium supply framework, set a bilateral trade target of USD 5 billion by 2030, and decided to raise the Inter-Governmental Commission to ministerial level.

PM Modi announced the Lal Bahadur Shastri Scholarship for Hindi language for Uzbek students, comprising 100 scholarships; 2026 marks 80 years of Hindi teaching at Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies.

PM Modi laid a wreath at the Shastri Memorial in Tashkent on 30 August 2026, marking the 60th anniversary of former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri's death in Tashkent.

India announced a USD 1 million grant for environmental rehabilitation and afforestation in the Aral Sea region of Uzbekistan, linking India's 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' with Uzbekistan's 'Yashil Makon' green initiative.

NPCI International Payments Ltd (NIPL) signed a commercial agreement with Uzbekistan's National Interbank Processing Centre (NIPC) to enable Indian UPI apps to scan UZQR for merchant payments in Uzbekistan.

India and Uzbekistan signed a Letter of Intent for restoration and conservation of the Buddhist sites Fayaz Tepa and Kara Tepa, and an MoU to set up an ICCR Sanskrit Chair at Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies.

Prime Minister Modi will participate in the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Kyrgyzstan on 31 August–1 September 2026; India's priorities are 'Security, Connectivity and Opportunity', and the summit marks the 25th anniversary of SCO.

India will host the 18th BRICS Summit at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi on 12-13 September 2026.

The Department of Consumer Affairs notified the Legal Metrology (Indian Standard Time) Rules, 2026 on 27 August; IST will be the common time reference, and a White Rabbit Technology-based IST dissemination network was commissioned at RRSL Bengaluru under 'One Nation, One Time'.

According to AISHE 2023-24, universities in India increased from 760 in 2014-15 to 1,289, and Gross Enrolment Ratio rose from 23.7% to 30%; NEP 2020 targets 50% GER by 2035.

AISHE 2023-24 shows female enrolment in higher education grew 42.2% from 1.57 crore in 2014-15 to 2.24 crore, and PhD enrolment grew 192.89% from 1.17 lakh to 3.43 lakh.

NEET-PG 2026 was conducted by NBEMS on 30 August 2026 in 1,111 centres across 339 cities for 2,73,096 candidates; PIB Fact Check debunked a fake paper-leak claim, and the re-exam for 2,445 Jaipur-affected candidates will be on 5 September 2026.

Flash floods in central Nepal killed 781 people and left over 2,500 missing by 30 August 2026; India sent 68.5 tonnes of relief materials and technical/rescue teams, and WHO released $150,000 from the SEARHEF.

NASA launched the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope from Florida; the $4.3 billion observatory has a 2.4-metre primary mirror and a coronagraph to study exoplanets and dark energy.

The 4th Tri-Services Future Warfare Course concluded at Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi on 30 August 2026; the 5th edition will be held from 16 November to 11 December 2026.

Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh performed Bhoomi Pujan for 14 development projects worth over ₹100 crore at Lucknow Cantonment; Royal Artillery Bazar was renamed Ekta Bazar and British Cavalry Bazar renamed Uda Devi Bazar.

Rajnath Singh addressed the PM-SETU Industry Conclave in Lucknow; under the scheme, 1,000 Government ITIs are being upgraded on a 200 hubs and 800 spokes model.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy claimed 'decisive control' over the Strait of Hormuz, rejecting US CENTCOM's claim that the sea route was open; under Operation Economic Outcast, the US Treasury proposed revoking Banque Misr UAE's correspondent access over $1.8 billion linked to Iranian shadow banking.

Iceland's voters rejected a proposal to resume EU membership negotiations, with 53% voting against it in a referendum on 30 August 2026.

The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) disbursed ₹5.68 crore under the Access and Benefit-Sharing mechanism, including ₹3.51 crore for Okra to 32 State Biodiversity Boards/UT Biodiversity Councils.

Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan will release the 'Mission Rangeen Machhli 2031' Strategic Action Plan for Ornamental Fisheries Development at Agatti, Lakshadweep on 31 August 2026; Lakshadweep's EEZ is nearly 4 lakh sq km.

The Integrated Fertilizer Management System (iFMS) connects over 14 crore Aadhaar-linked buyers and 2.5 lakh retailers, covering about 7 crore metric tonnes of annual fertilizer sales and nearly ₹2 lakh crore subsidy.

Foreign Portfolio Investors invested ₹30,919 crore in Indian stock markets in August 2026 so far—₹18,791 crore via stock exchanges and ₹12,128 crore via the primary market.

President Droupadi Murmu will be the Chief Guest at the NIFT Combined Convocation 2026 in New Delhi on 31 August; NIFT was established in 1986 under the Ministry of Textiles.

In the 137th episode of 'Mann Ki Baat', PM Modi said women account for about 46% of PM SVANidhi beneficiaries, translating to around 35 lakh women.

PM Modi highlighted Mission ShaktiSAT in 'Mann Ki Baat', under which around 12,000 girl students from 108 countries are learning satellite technology; its second phase was launched at Gautam Buddha University, Greater Noida on National Space Day.

Prime Minister Modi launched the 'Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyan' on 2 August 2026, connecting over 28,000 locations with more than 1 crore youth; it aims for a drug-free India by 2047.

Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan inaugurated the Aranmula Uthrittathi Vallamkali on the River Pamba on 30 August 2026; the Onam-associated festival features over 100 oarsmen rowing decorated Palliyodams.

Kerala Kaumudi, founded in 1911 by C.V. Kunhiraman, celebrated its 115th anniversary at Alappuzha; Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan presented the Kerala Kaumudi Excellence Awards.

The Bill to rename Kerala as 'Keralam' was passed in Rajya Sabha on 12 August 2026, with Vice President and Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan presiding.

Lallianzuala Chhangte was named Indian Footballer of the Year 2026; the 29-year-old moved from Mumbai FC to Mohun Bagan, and the award was organised by the Football Players Association of India.

India began its Women's T20 Asia Cup campaign against Thailand at Dubai International Cricket Stadium; Harmanpreet Kaur leads India and Smriti Mandhana is vice-captain, with India the most successful team with three titles in five editions.

India's Operation Sindoor targeted Pakistan Air Force installations, including destroying two mobile mission control centre units at Nur Khan Airbase.

Between 19-21 August 2026, Turkish and Chinese military transport aircraft conducted a 60-hour airlift into Pakistan, delivering Bayraktar TB-2/Akinci UAVs and HQ-series surface-to-air missile systems; earlier, Pakistan, Turkiye and Saudi Arabia signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement on 7 August 2026.