Karnataka & Group C Current Affairs – August 15th to 25th, 2026

Awards

1. Independence Day 2026 Gallantry Awards

Context: On the eve of India’s 80th Independence Day, President Droupadi Murmu, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, approved 78 gallantry awards and 89 Mention-in-Despatches for personnel of the Armed Forces and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF).

Salient Features & Key Exam Facts:

• Total Gallantry Awards: 78 (including 13 posthumous honours).
• Total Mention-in-Despatches: 89 (recognising distinguished service across operations including Rakshak, Snow Leopard, and Meghdoot).
• Highest Peacetime Award Conferred: Kirti Chakra (India’s 2nd-highest peacetime gallantry award), awarded to 9 personnel (7 posthumously).
• Notable Kirti Chakra Awardees: Personnel from 2 Para (Special Forces) such as Havildar Gajendra Singh (posthumous), along with members of the Jammu and Kashmir Police/CAPF.
• Mention-in-Despatches Breakdown: Comprises 75 from the Army, 4 from the Navy, 10 from the Air Force, and an Army dog named ‘Tyson’ from the Remount Veterinary Corps.

Breakdown of the 78 Gallantry Awards:

2. National Sports Awards 2025

Context: The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports officially announced the National Sports Awards 2025 to honour standout achievers across the Indian sporting ecosystem.

Salient Features & Key Exam Facts:

• Khel Ratna Status: No sportsperson was selected for India’s highest sporting honour for 2025 (the first time since 2014).
• Arjuna Awardees: Conferred to 17 athletes for outstanding performance over a four-year period.
• Prize Money Structure: Khel Ratna (₹25 lakh), Arjuna Award & Dronacharya Lifetime (₹15 lakh), and Dronacharya Regular (₹10 lakh).

Key Awardees (2025):

3. 47th Sarala Puraskar 2026

Context: An eminent Odia poet and former CSIR scientist was selected for Odisha’s premier literary honour in recognition of his distinguished contribution to modern Odia poetry.

Key Highlights:

• Award: 47th Sarala Puraskar (2026).
• Awardee: Dr. Ashutosh Parida (Odia poet, essayist, and former scientist at CSIR-IMMT).
• Issuing Authority: Indian Metals Public Charitable Trust (IMPaCT), the charitable wing of IMFA.
• Presenter: Annual investiture ceremony organised by IMPaCT.
• Key Achievement: Conferred for his acclaimed poetry collection ‘Bishwas De Pruthwi’ (published in 2024); carries a cash prize of ₹7 lakh, a copper plaque, and a citation.

About the Award:

• Instituted in 1979 by prominent industrialist Dr. Bansidhar Panda and Mrs. Ila Panda under the aegis of IMPaCT.
• Regarded as the foremost and most prestigious non-governmental literary honour in Odia literature, named after the legendary 15th-century poet Sarala Das.

4. Partition Horrors Remembrance Day

• Observed Date: August 14
• Observing Organisation: Government of India
• Objective: To honour the victims of the 1947 partition of India, remember the unprecedented human suffering, loss of lives, and mass displacement endured during one of the largest migrations in history, and reinforce the values of social harmony, communal unity, and national integration.

5. Subhas Chandra Bose Death Anniversary

• Observed Date: August 18
• Observing Organisation: Government of India / National Observance
• Objective: To commemorate the 81st death anniversary of the great revolutionary leader Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, honour his supreme sacrifices for India’s independence, and remember his pivotal role in forming the Forward Bloc and leading the Indian National Army (INA) against British colonial rule.

6. Sadbhavana Diwas

• Observed Date: August 20
• Observing Organisation: Government of India / National Observance
• Objective: To commemorate the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, and to promote national integration, communal harmony, peace, and goodwill among citizens of all religions, languages, and regions.

7. Indian Akshay Urja Day 

• Observed Date: August 20
• Observing Organisation: Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India
• Objective: To raise public awareness about the development and adoption of renewable energy sources (such as solar, wind, hydro, and biomass), reduce dependence on traditional fossil fuels, and promote sustainable energy practices across India.

8. National Space Day

• Observed Date: August 23
• Observing Organisation: Government of India / Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
• Objective: To commemorate the historic soft landing of the Chandrayaan-3 ‘Vikram’ lander near the Moon’s south pole on August 23, 2023, honour India’s achievements in space exploration, and inspire the next generation to pursue science, technology, and innovation.
• Theme: “Towards Viksit Bharat: Innovating, Collaborating and Aspiring Global Space Leadership”

Obituaries

1. Veteran Bengali Filmmaker Raja Sen Passes Away

Three-time National Award-winning director Raja Sen passed away at the age of 70 in Kolkata on August 21, 2026, leaving behind a rich legacy in regional cinema and television.

Notable Works & Achievements:

2. Veteran Actress Sowcar Janaki Passes Away

Legendary South Indian actress and Padma Shri awardee Sankaramanchi Janaki, popularly known as ‘Sowcar’ Janaki, passed away due to age-related health issues at the age of 94 in Chennai on August 21, 2026. A pioneering figure in Indian cinema, she enjoyed an illustrious acting career spanning over seven decades and more than 400 films across the Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam film industries.

Notable Works & Achievements:

Sports

1. Asian Junior Blitz Chess Championship 2026

Why in News: Indian chess players Vignesh Advaith Vemula and Saranya Devi Narahari won gold medals in their respective categories at the Asian Junior Blitz Chess Championship 2026 in Mumbai.

Key Highlights:

• Open Section Gold:– Vignesh Vermula secured the Open title on superior tie-break scores after finishing level on points, marking an impressive victory after starting as the 23rd seed.
• Girls Section Gold:– Saranya Devi Narahari, seeded 9th, scored an unbeaten 6.5/7 to clinch the Girls title with a half-point lead.
• Indian Dominance:– India made a strong start on the opening day by sweeping all three podium spots in the Open category and securing the top and third spots in the Girls category.

Asian Junior Blitz Chess Championship 2026: Key Indian Performers

2. Mitchell Starc Becomes Leading Wicket-Taker in WTC History

Why in News: Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc created a major record in international cricket by becoming the highest wicket-taker in the history of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC).

Key Highlights:

• Record Milestone:- Achieved a total of 234 wickets in WTC matches, surpassing Australian teammates Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon (both tied at 228 wickets).
• Venue & Match:- Reached the landmark during Australia’s second Test against Bangladesh at Mackay, Queensland.
• Match Performance:- Starc claimed a match-winning 10-wicket haul (including exceptional first-innings figures of 6/12) to help Australia win by an innings and 51 runs.
• Historic Test Wicket Tally:- His performance also elevated him to the top 10 all-time wicket-takers in Test cricket history, surpassing South African legend Dale Steyn to reach 445 career Test wickets.

WTC History: Leading Wicket-Takers

Miscellaneous

Izmail Port: Ukraine’s Danube Grain Corridor Under Attack 

Context: A recent Russian military strike targeted vital port infrastructure in Ukraine’s Izmail district, located in the southern Odessa region. Izmail is strategically positioned near the Romanian border and hosts Ukraine’s largest port on the Danube River.

Course of the Danube River. Source: Britannica

Geographical & Ecological Significance of the Danube River:

• Global Standing: The Danube is a major international inland waterway connecting Central and Eastern Europe to the Black Sea. It is the second-longest river in Europe (after the Volga in Russia), stretching approximately 2,850 kilometers.
• Origin: The river originates in the Black Forest mountains of southwestern Germany.
• Transnational Course: It holds the record for passing through or bordering the most countries in the world—flowing through ten nations: Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova, and Ukraine.
• Ecological Importance: The Danube basin is recognized for its unique and rich biodiversity. It serves as a critical habitat for numerous endangered species and is a vital route and nesting ground for migratory birds.

Military Exercise

India to Host 2030 Centenary Commonwealth Games

Context: India has been officially awarded the hosting rights for the 2030 Centenary Commonwealth Games (CWG), which will be held in Ahmedabad. This historic milestone makes India the first Asian nation to host the prestigious multi-sport event twice.

Salient Features & Key Exam Facts:

• Historical Genesis: The Games were first held in 1930 in Hamilton, Canada, originally known as the “British Empire Games”. The event is held every four years.
• The 2030 Centenary Edition: The Ahmedabad games will mark exactly 100 years since the inaugural edition.
• India’s CWG Journey: India made its debut at the 2nd edition in 1934 (London). India previously hosted the event in 2010 in New Delhi.
• The Commonwealth Origins: The political association traces its roots to the 1926 Balfour Declaration and was formally established by the 1949 London Declaration.

CWG & Commonwealth Structural Overview:

Miscellaneous

Exercise MAITREE-XV

Context: The Indian Army contingent departed for Thailand to participate in the joint military exercise MAITREE-XV, aimed at enhancing bilateral defence cooperation and tactical interoperability between the two nations.

Salient Features & Tactical Focus:

• Operational Mandate: Focuses on combined Counter-Insurgency and Counter-Terrorist (CI/CT) operations in jungle and semi-urban environments under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter.
• Tactical Drills: Encompasses joint planning, tactical combat casualty care, weapon handling, and the sharing of standard operating procedures (SOPs) developed during modern counter-terror scenarios.
• Strategic Significance: Serves as a vital component of India’s ‘Act East’ Policy, fostering regional security architecture and sustained military diplomacy in Southeast Asia.

Exercise Overview: