Table of Contents
- NASA Invites ISRO to Join Moon Base Programme
- Government Clears One Billion Polymer Banknotes of Rs 10 and Rs 20
- Monsoon Revived, But Kharif Sowing Still Lags
- El Niño Threat and Global Food Price Hardening
- Pilot Drug Testing: Process and Punishment Explained
- RBI and BRICS in Talks to Link Payment Systems and CBDCs
- Government Extends PM E-DRIVE Scheme Timeline
- MSME Development (Amendment) Bill, 2026
- World Elephant Day 2026
- Practice MCQs for UPSC Prelims
1. NASA Invites ISRO to Join Moon Base Programme
Why in News: The US space agency NASA has invited ISRO to join its Moon Base programme, aimed at returning humans to the Moon and eventually setting up a permanent lunar settlement. The offer was made during the ninth meeting of the India-US Civil Space Joint Working Group held in Bengaluru on August 5-6.
Key Facts
- India joined the Artemis Accords in 2023 as the 27th country to sign; the alliance now has 70 member countries.
- The Artemis Accords is a US-led framework establishing common principles for the civil exploration of outer space, including the Moon.
- India-US space cooperation has produced major milestones: NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) mission, and Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla’s Axiom flight to the ISS in 2025.
- The two countries also have a “strategic framework for human spaceflight cooperation,” under which NASA has agreed to train Indian astronauts at its facilities.
- ISRO continues to pursue Gaganyaan, its own human spaceflight programme, and has plans for an Indian human Moon landing by 2040.
UPSC Relevance
This topic is important for Prelims (Artemis Accords, NISAR mission, Gaganyaan) and Mains GS-III (Science & Technology, space policy, India’s international scientific collaborations).
2. Government Clears One Billion Polymer Banknotes of Rs 10 and Rs 20
Why in News: The Government of India has approved the introduction of one billion polymer banknotes each of Rs 10 and Rs 20 for field trials, as informed to Parliament by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
Key Facts
- The proposal was sent by the RBI, based on recommendations of its central board, under Section 25 of the RBI Act, 1934.
- Polymer notes will be issued alongside existing paper-substrate banknotes, not as a replacement.
- Retail inflation trend cited: 5.4% (2023-24) → 4.6% (2024-25) → 2.1% (2025-26), before rising to 3.9% in Q1 of 2026-27 — still below the RBI’s 4% target.
- The inflation uptick is linked to commodity price shocks, elevated global energy prices due to the West Asia crisis, seasonal vegetable price increases, and anticipated unfavourable El Niño conditions.
- The 56th GST Council meeting introduced a two-rate GST structure: a standard rate of 18%, a merit rate of 5%, and a special de-merit rate of 40% for select goods and services.
UPSC Relevance
Relevant for Prelims (currency issuance powers under the RBI Act, 1934) and Mains GS-III (monetary policy, inflation, banking reforms).
3. Monsoon Revived, But Kharif Sowing Still Lags
Why in News: Despite a revival in monsoon activity, the total area sown under Kharif crops remains significantly below last year’s levels, raising concerns about India’s agricultural output.
Key Facts
- As per Agriculture Ministry data, farmers had planted only 350.85 lakh hectares by July 6 in the current Kharif season — 20.8% lower than the 442.80 lakh hectares sown in the same period of 2025.
- Acreage shortfalls were sharper for specific crops: oilseeds (39.3%), pulses (21.8%), and cotton (23%).
- India’s combined imports of oilseeds, pulses, and cotton were close to $25 billion in 2025-26, a figure that could rise further this fiscal due to El Niño-linked supply constraints.
- June rainfall was 38% below the Long Period Average (LPA) — no Low Pressure System (LPS) formed in June at all, making it the sixth-driest June since 1901.
- The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted a fresh LPS over the north Bay of Bengal/West Bengal-Bangladesh coast around August 12, which should sustain the monsoon’s active phase at least till the third week of August.
UPSC Relevance
Key for Mains GS-III (agriculture, cropping patterns, food security) and Prelims (LPA, LPS, Kharif crop terminology).
4. El Niño Threat and Global Food Price Hardening
Why in News: Meteorological agencies expect El Niño conditions to intensify into a “very strong” event between October-December 2026, potentially persisting through winter and spring till March 2027, threatening Rabi crop output.
Key Facts
- A short, warm winter caused by El Niño is unfavourable for wheat, mustard, and potato yields (Rabi crops).
- The UN Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) Food Price Index hit a three-and-a-half-year high in July.
- Rising vegetable oil prices in India are primarily linked to diversion of edible oils (palm, rapeseed, soyabean) toward biofuel production (fatty acid methyl esters), driven by high international petroleum prices.
- On the positive side, India’s food security buffer remains strong: government stocks of rice and wheat stood at 92.6 million tonnes as of July 1, well above the required minimum of 41.1 million tonnes, plus over 4 million tonnes of pulses — offering room to control food inflation through open market offloading.
UPSC Relevance
Connects to Mains GS-III (food security, buffer stock policy, climate impact on agriculture) and GS-I (climatology — El Niño/ENSO).
5. Pilot Drug Testing: Process and Punishment Explained
Why in News: A second drug test of the pilot-in-command of the Air India Phuket-Delhi flight (which experienced a 300-feet altitude drop, injuring 24 people) reportedly returned positive for marijuana, putting the spotlight on aviation drug-testing protocols.
Key Facts
- The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is probing the incident, initially attributed to turbulence, though hydraulic/control system snags in the Airbus A320 are also being examined.
- The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) established a stringent psychoactive-substance testing protocol for flight crew over four years ago.
- Disciplinary escalation ladder for confirmed drug use:
- First offence: Referral to a specialist doctor/de-addiction centre; return to duty requires fresh negative test and fitness certificate.
- Second offence (post-return): Licence suspended for three years.
- Third offence: Licence cancellation.
- The Airline Pilots’ Association of India (ALPA India) has advised pilots against self-medicating with common cold, cough, allergy, or sleep-aid formulations, as these may contain tested psychoactive substances.
UPSC Relevance
Useful for Prelims (DGCA, AAIB functions) and Mains GS-II/III (aviation safety regulation, governance of public safety institutions).
6. RBI and BRICS in Talks to Link Payment Systems and CBDCs
Why in News: RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra announced that the RBI is working with BRICS nations to link payment systems and explore Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs), aiming to boost local-currency trade and cheaper cross-border transactions.
Key Facts
- RBI has a dedicated task force on payments under BRICS, exploring linking of payment systems (especially for retail transactions) and possible use of CBDCs.
- The Governor cited India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) as a model for near-instantaneous domestic payments, in contrast to cross-border remittances that currently take hours to days.
- RBI has already signed local-currency trade arrangements with the UAE, Mauritius, the Maldives, and Indonesia.
- The broader objective: internationalise the rupee and promote local currencies for cross-border trade and payments, as central banks worldwide explore alternatives to traditional correspondent banking arrangements.
UPSC Relevance
Important for Mains GS-III (Indian economy, banking, international trade) and GS-II (India’s role in BRICS, international institutions).
7. Government Extends PM E-DRIVE Scheme Timeline
Why in News: The Centre has extended the PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM E-DRIVE) Scheme for electric two-wheelers till March 31, 2028.
Key Facts
- Incentives for the electric two-wheeler segment have been halved — from Rs 5,000 per kWh to Rs 2,500 per kWh.
- Under the revised structure (Ministry of Heavy Industries), registered electric two-wheelers can avail an incentive of Rs 2,500 per kWh, capped at Rs 5,000 per vehicle, applicable for purchases between April 1, 2025, and March 31, 2028.
UPSC Relevance
Relevant for Prelims (government scheme names/ministries) and Mains GS-III (electric mobility, green energy transition).
8. MSME Development (Amendment) Bill, 2026
Why in News: Parliament is considering the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Amendment) Bill, 2026, aimed at modernising the MSME regulatory ecosystem.
Broader Objectives
- Incentivise MSME growth
- Enable MSME scale-up
- Augment ease of doing business
- Promote compliance
Key Provisions
- Updated MSME classification and registration norms
- Payment through TReDS (Trade Receivables Discounting System)
- Revised MSEFCs (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Facilitation Councils) framework
- Mediation and arbitration provisions for dispute resolution
- Strengthened recovery of dues mechanisms
- Decriminalisation of offences under the Act
UPSC Relevance
High-yield for Mains GS-III (industrial policy, MSME sector, ease of doing business reforms) and Prelims (TReDS, MSEFC).
9. World Elephant Day 2026
Why in News: World Elephant Day, observed on August 12, celebrates elephants, their ecosystems, and coexistence with humans.
Key Facts
- India is home to nearly 60% of the world’s wild Asian elephants.
- As per the Synchronous All India Population Estimation of Elephants (SAIEE) 2021-25, India’s wild elephant population is estimated at 22,446.
- Elephants are protected across 33 Elephant Reserves and 150 identified corridors in India.
- As a keystone species, elephants sustain forest ecosystems, support biodiversity, and maintain ecological balance.
UPSC Relevance
Important for Prelims (environment and biodiversity conservation, government schemes like Project Elephant) and Mains GS-III (wildlife conservation, human-animal conflict).
Practice MCQs for UPSC Prelims
Q1. Consider the following statements regarding the Artemis Accords:
- India signed the Artemis Accords in 2023 as the 27th signatory nation.
- The Artemis Accords is a United Nations-led initiative.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (a) — The Artemis Accords is a US-led initiative, not UN-led.
Q2. The Synchronous All India Population Estimation of Elephants (SAIEE) estimates India’s wild elephant population at approximately:
(a) 18,000
(b) 22,446
(c) 27,000
(d) 30,000
Answer: (b)
Q3. Under which Section of the RBI Act, 1934, can the government approve the issuance of new currency notes?
(a) Section 22
(b) Section 24
(c) Section 25
(d) Section 26
Answer: (c)