UPSC Daily Current Affairs 6 August 2026 | UPSC CSE GS Prelims & Mains Current Affairs

1. Money Bill Route Before the Supreme Court: Govt Raises SC Judges’ Strength

GS Paper: GS Paper II – Indian Polity and Constitution (Parliament, Judiciary, Money Bill)

What Happened

The Rajya Sabha passed the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026, raising the sanctioned strength of Supreme Court judges from 34 to 38, including the Chief Justice of India. The Bill had already cleared the Lok Sabha and was passed as a Money Bill — a route the government had also used in 2019 when SC strength was last raised to 34.

The catch: the constitutionality of the Money Bill route itself is currently pending before the Supreme Court, since a larger bench is yet to examine whether laws such as the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the Aadhaar Act, and the 2017 Tribunal service-conditions amendments were validly certified as Money Bills.

The Constitutional Angle

• Article 110 of the Constitution defines a Money Bill — a Bill that, in the Speaker of the Lok Sabha’s opinion, deals exclusively with taxation, borrowing, or appropriation of funds from the Consolidated Fund of India or Contingency Fund of India.
• A Money Bill can be introduced only in the Lok Sabha, and once the Speaker certifies a Bill as a Money Bill, the Rajya Sabha cannot reject or amend it — it can only recommend changes within 14 days.
• In the landmark 2018 Aadhaar verdict, Justice D.Y. Chandrachud was the lone dissenter, famously calling the government’s certification of the Aadhaar Act as a Money Bill a “fraud on the Constitution” and a “subterfuge.”
• While the PMLA and Aadhaar Act were substantially upheld, the Supreme Court struck down the 2017 Tribunal amendments as unconstitutional — yet in neither ruling did the Court conclusively settle the larger question of when the Money Bill route can be used.

Why It Matters for UPSC

This is a classic separation of powers and legislative process theme — testing your understanding of bicameralism, the Speaker’s discretionary powers, and the checks (or lack thereof) on Money Bill certification. Expect Prelims questions on Article 110’s exact text, and Mains questions on whether the Money Bill route undermines the Rajya Sabha’s role as a revising chamber.

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2. RBI Monetary Policy: Repo Rate Unchanged, Growth Forecast Raised

GS Paper: GS Paper III – Indian Economy (Monetary Policy, Inflation, RBI)

Key Highlights

The RBI’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), in its August review, kept the repo rate unchanged at 5.25%, maintaining a neutral policy stance amid volatile crude oil prices, geopolitical tensions in West Asia, and an uncertain global outlook.

Indicator	Previous Forecast	Revised Forecast
GDP Growth (FY27)	6.6%	6.7%
Inflation Projection	5.1%	5.0%

Governor’s Rationale

RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra noted that headline inflation has moved above the RBI’s medium-term target, but this rise is driven largely by food and fuel prices rather than broad-based demand pressures. He indicated the RBI is not inclined to tighten or ease policy until there is greater clarity on the inflation trajectory, with inflation expected to peak in Q3 before moderating.

Continuing conflict in West Asia has kept crude oil prices volatile, posing inflationary risk given India’s heavy dependence on crude imports — a risk that could feed into transportation and production costs.

Static Linkages

• MPC composition: 6 members (3 RBI + 3 external), headed by the RBI Governor, mandated under the RBI Act, 1934 (amended 2016).
• Inflation target: CPI inflation of 4% (+/- 2%) under the flexible inflation-targeting framework.
• Repo rate vs reverse repo rate vs policy stance (neutral/accommodative/hawkish) — a recurring Prelims distinction.

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3. RBI to Launch Polymer (“Plastic”) Banknotes from FY 2027-28

GS Paper: GS Paper III – Economy (Currency Management, Banking)

The RBI announced plans to introduce polymer banknotes starting the beginning of the next financial year (FY28), beginning with the lower-denomination Rs 10 and Rs 20 notes, which see higher circulation velocity and hence more wear and tear.

Key Facts

• Polymer notes last 2–4 times longer than paper currency, per Governor Malhotra.
• A trial run will introduce 100 crore pieces each of Rs 10 and Rs 20 polymer notes, totalling Rs 3,000 crore.
• The RBI’s subsidiary, Bharatiya Reserve Bank Note Mudran Private Limited (BRBNMPL), has floated a global tender for 3.4 crore polymer sheets.
• This is the RBI’s second attempt at polymer notes — an earlier 2014-15 trial of 100 crore Rs 10 notes across cities like Kochi and Shimla failed due to “certain technical infirmities.”

Why It Matters

A high-yield Prelims fact-based topic: know the difference between paper-based currency (cotton-based substrate) and polymer/plastic currency, the issuing authority for currency notes (RBI under Section 22 of the RBI Act), and India’s currency management architecture.

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4. Mass Outreach Camps for Doorstep Delivery of Tribal Welfare Schemes

GS Paper: GS Paper II – Social Justice / Governance (Welfare Schemes for Vulnerable Sections)

What Happened

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) has directed all state chief secretaries to organise “Jan Sunwai” (public grievance and entitlement camps) at Adi Sewa Kendras between 13–15 August, ahead of Independence Day, to ensure last-mile delivery of tribal welfare schemes.

Key Schemes and Numbers

• These camps fall under the Adi Karmayogi Abhiyan, launched by PM Narendra Modi in September last year to build a volunteer-led grassroots tribal leadership of about 2 million people across 1 lakh villages.
• 38,509 Adi Sewa Kendras have already been established nationally; 41,454 more are at the proposal stage.
• The outreach also widens coverage for two flagship programmes:
  • PM-JANMAN (Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan): aims to improve the socio-economic status of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) by bridging gaps in health, education, and livelihoods.
  • DAJGUA (Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan): aims at the holistic development of tribal villages.
• Two similar Jan Sunwai events were held earlier, in November 2025 and May 2026.

UPSC Relevance

A recurring Mains theme on PVTGs, tribal development schemes, and the government’s saturation-approach model of welfare delivery (similar to Ayushman Bharat, Har Ghar Jal saturation drives).

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5. Lok Sabha Passes the Bankers’ Books Evidence Bill, 2026

GS Paper: GS Paper II/III – Polity (Legislation) and Economy (Banking Reforms)

What Happened

The Lok Sabha passed the Bankers’ Books Evidence Bill, 2026 by voice vote amid Opposition uproar, without debate. The Bill repeals and replaces the Bankers’ Books Evidence Act, 1891.

Key Provisions

• Allows an authentic digital record of a banker’s book to be used as legally enforceable evidence in court, without requiring production of the original physical documents.
• Brings legal evidentiary requirements in sync with digital banking realities, as explained in PRS Legislative Research’s analysis.

Why It Matters

Tests your awareness of legislative modernisation of colonial-era laws — a broader Mains theme (similar to the replacement of IPC/CrPC/Evidence Act with the new criminal codes). Also connects to digital evidence, Information Technology Act provisions, and ease of doing business reforms in the banking sector.

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6. India–Sri Lanka Ties: Foreign Secretary Misri Meets President Dissanayake

GS Paper: GS Paper II – International Relations (India’s Neighbourhood Policy)

What Happened

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in Colombo, with discussions focused on bilateral development projects, trade, and connectivity.

Key Outcomes

• Agreement to fast-track the India-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement (FTA) update and to soon sign a Social Security pact.
• India reiterated the December 2024 Joint Statement commitment that Sri Lankan territory will not be used in any manner inimical to India’s security.
• Both sides exchanged agreements on INR-denominated Lines of Credit worth USD 350 million, part of the USD 450 million reconstruction package extended by India after Cyclone Ditwah.
• Discussions on the Sampur Solar Power Project, Trincomalee Port modernisation (as an energy hub), and the electricity grid interconnection project.
• Agreement to conclude an MoU on the rehabilitation and modernisation of Kankesanthurai Harbour, backed by a USD 61.5 million grant.
• Progress noted on the Sri Lanka Unique Digital Identity project and the expansion of the 1990 Suwa Seriya ambulance service.
• India also called on Sri Lanka to hold Provincial Council elections and implement the 13th Amendment to address Tamil political aspirations.

UPSC Relevance

Central to India’s “Neighbourhood First” policy and SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) doctrine. Connects with past Mains questions on India–Sri Lanka relations, Tamil ethnic reconciliation, and China’s presence in Sri Lankan infrastructure (Hambantota comparison).

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7. Kerala’s Worsening Floods: Silt, Sediment, and Urbanisation

GS Paper: GS Paper I/III – Geography and Disaster Management (Floods, Urbanisation, Environment)

What Happened

Extremely heavy rainfall in early August triggered flash floods across Kerala, with Kottayam, Pathanamthitta, and Alappuzha among the worst-hit districts. 26 people were killed, 4 were missing, and over 27,000 people were sheltering in around 460 relief camps.

Human-Made Factors Behind the Crisis

a) Declining carrying capacity of rivers

• Studies by Kerala’s Irrigation Department found that sedimentation has significantly reduced rivers’ water-holding capacity over the last decade.
• The 2018 Kerala floods deposited huge volumes of sediment into rivers; landslides in hilly and forest areas added further silt to riverbeds, and sediment accumulation has led to the formation of deltas that obstruct floodwater flow.

b) Sedimented reservoirs

• A CAG report (2021) found a significant fall in dam storage capacity due to sedimentation — the Kallarkutty dam lost 47% of gross storage in 45 years, while Anayirankal dam lost 30.92% in 33 years.

c) Disappearance of wetlands

• Rapid urbanisation has shrunk paddy fields, marshlands, and wetlands that once absorbed excess rainfall.
• Kerala’s paddy land fell from 7.93 lakh hectares (1979-80) to 2.05 lakh hectares (2020-21) and further to 1.80 lakh hectares (2023-24).
• Wetland area shrank from 5,950 hectares (2005-06) to 2,937 hectares (2023-24); marshland fell from 974 hectares to a mere 11 hectares by 2019-20.

d) Altered natural hydrology

• Kerala’s dense network of concrete roads, tarred lanes, and paved (impervious) surfaces channels stormwater rapidly into rivers, causing water levels to rise within hours.

Government Response

Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan announced plans to desilt rivers and reservoirs urgently, prepare an asset register for rivers, streams and lakes, and conduct land auditing to prevent encroachment. Sand mining — earlier banned over environmental concerns — is being considered as a possible desilting/revenue source.

UPSC Relevance

A high-value GS I (Geomorphology/Drainage) and GS III (Disaster Management) topic — connect this with urban flooding case studies (Chennai 2015, Bengaluru), wetland conservation (Ramsar sites), and the Disaster Management Act, 2005 framework.

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8. Indian Statistical Institute Bill, 2026: Autonomy Row

GS Paper: GS Paper II – Governance (Institutional Autonomy, Statutory Bodies)

What Happened

Days after the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) Bill, 2026 was introduced in the Lok Sabha, ISI faculty and the government clashed publicly. Faculty members allege the Bill erodes institutional autonomy, while government officials accused faculty of wanting to cling to power like “local satraps.”

Key Provisions and Concerns

• The Bill proposes replacing the existing 33-member Governing Council with an 11-member Board of Governors, changing ISI’s legal structure from a society to a body corporate.
• Faculty argue the transition risks a five-year limbo with the Centre exercising complete control over the institute’s future.
• The proposed Board excludes the Dean of Academic Affairs, a member who is currently part of decision-making.
• Economist Prabhat Patnaik called the Bill an “insult to P.C. Mahalanobis,” the statistician who founded ISI in 1931.
• The new Bill would repeal the ISI Act, 1959.

Background on ISI

• Declared an Institute of National Importance in 1959.
• Headquartered in Kolkata; operates under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).
• Engaged in research, teaching, and application of statistics, natural sciences, and social sciences; has contributed heavily to India’s official statistics.

UPSC Relevance

Connects to the broader Mains theme of autonomy of academic/statutory institutions (similar debates around IIMs, IITs, RBI autonomy) — a good example for answers on institutional governance and academic freedom.

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9. NITI Aayog Report: “Reimagining Care” — Empowering Caregivers for Viksit Bharat@2047

GS Paper: GS Paper II – Social Justice (Care Economy, Social Security)

What Happened

NITI Aayog launched a report titled “Reimagining Care: Strategies for Empowering Caregivers in Viksit Bharat@2047,” positioning caregiving as a critical pillar of India’s social and economic transformation on the path to Viksit Bharat.

Key Recommendations

The report structures its recommendations around several strategic pillars:

• Policy frameworks for caregiving
• Professional recognition of caregivers
• Workforce development
• Global cooperation (leveraging India’s demographic dividend to meet global caregiver demand)
• Social security for caregivers
• Family and community-based care models

It proposes a roadmap for an organised, professional caregiving ecosystem through a National Policy on Caregiving and a National Caregiver Council.

UPSC Relevance

Relevant to the care economy debate, women’s unpaid labour, demographic dividend, and ageing population discourse — all recurring Mains themes under Social Justice and Indian Society.