Prelims Current Affairs includes World Lion Day 2026, Upi Charges Bill 2026, Heatwaves And Lightning Declared Notified Natural Calamities, India Moves Towards French-Led Sixth-Generation Fighter Programme , Bhawana Kanth Becomes India’s First Woman Fighter Combat Leader, Anil Menon Completes Maiden Iss Spacewalk  & Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Padak

IMPORTANT DAYS 

1. WORLD LION DAY 2026

Current Context: World Lion Day is observed on 10 August to raise awareness about lion conservation and the urgent need to protect lion populations worldwide.

ABOUT WORLD LION DAY

• It draws attention to threats such as habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, poaching, prey depletion, and illegal wildlife trade.

LIONS: KEY FACTS

• Scientific name: Panthera leo.
• Family:
• Lion Status under IUCN: Vulnerable.

LIONS IN INDIA

• India is home to the Asiatic Lion (Panthera leo persica).
• Its only wild population is found in Gujarat, primarily in the Gir landscape.
• The Asiatic lion is smaller and has a distinctive belly fold compared with the African lion.
• Project Lion (2020):Government of India initiative for Asiatic lion conservation

ECONOMY

2. UPI CHARGES BILL 2026

Current Context: The Lok Sabha passed the Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026 on 6 August 2026. One important provision amends the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, creating a legal framework under which the government can permit charges, including Merchant Discount Rate (MDR), on notified digital payment transactions such as UPI.

ABOUT THE PROVISION

• UPI currently operates without MDR for ordinary transactions.
• The amendment does not immediately impose a charge on UPI users.
• Instead, it provides the legal basis for the government to notify charges on specified digital payment transactions in the future.

WHAT IS MDR?

• It is a fee paid by a merchant to the payment ecosystem for processing a digital payment.
• Therefore, MDR is not automatically a charge on the customer.

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?

• UPI has become India’s dominant instant digital payment system.
• The amendment could provide a mechanism to make the UPI ecosystem financially sustainable.
• Revenue from MDR could support banks and payment service providers in maintaining and expanding digital payment infrastructure.
• However, introducing charges could affect the attractiveness of UPI, particularly for small merchants and low-value transactions.

IMPORTANT POINT

• More than 95% of UPI transactions are below ₹2,000, and current reporting indicates these low-value transactions are expected to remain exempt from any potential MDR.
• High-value transactions account for a much larger share of the total transaction value, making them a potential focus for future fee arrangements.

ABOUT PAYMENT AND SETTLEMENT SYSTEMS ACT, 2007

• Provides the legal framework for regulation and supervision of payment systems in India.
• Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is the key regulator under the Act.
• The Act provides for regulation of payment systems to ensure safety, efficiency and stability.

DISASTER MANAGEMENT 

3. HEATWAVES AND LIGHTNING DECLARED NOTIFIED NATURAL CALAMITIES

Current Context: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has included heatwaves and lightning in the list of notified natural calamities eligible for assistance under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) guidelines for 2026-2031.

ABOUT THE NOTIFICATION

• Previous Disasters:12 categories
• New Total:14 categories
• The move recognises heatwaves and lightning as major disaster risks requiring structured financial and institutional support.
• States can use SDRF resources for eligible relief measures related to these hazards.
• NDRF support can be provided in cases meeting the prescribed conditions for disasters of severe nature.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?

• Heatwaves are becoming more frequent, intense, and prolonged due to climate variability and climate change.
• Lightning causes significant deaths, injuries, and damage to property, particularly in rural areas.

Regions Impacted:

• Lightning Belt:Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal
• Heatwave Core Zone:Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, UP, MP
• High Heat-Humidity:Maharashtra (Vidarbha), Telangana, Karnataka

DEFENCE

4. INDIA MOVES TOWARDS FRENCH-LED SIXTH-GENERATION FIGHTER PROGRAMME

Current Context: India has begun efforts to join the French-led Future Combat Air System (FCAS), a next-generation combat-air programme aimed at developing sixth-generation fighter capabilities.

ABOUT FCAS

• It is a French-led European programme centred on developing a next-generation combat aircraft system.
• The programme is associated with France, Germany and Spain.
• It is designed as a system of systems, rather than simply a new fighter aircraft.

KEY COMPONENTS

• Next-generation fighter aircraft – the central crewed combat aircraft.
• Uncrewed combat aircraft – designed to operate alongside the fighter.
• Combat Cloud – connects aircraft, drones, satellites, sensors and command systems to share information in real time.
• Advanced sensors, artificial intelligence, electronic warfare and communications.

WHAT IS A SIXTH-GENERATION FIGHTER?

• A sixth-generation fighter is expected to combine:

Stealth.

• Advanced sensors and sensor fusion.

Artificial intelligence-assisted decision-making.

• High-end connectivity through a combat cloud.
• Greater range, survivability and situational awareness.

India’s Combat Programmes:

• AMCA:Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (5th generation indigenous)
• Su-30MKI:Fleet upgrades ongoing
• Rafale:114 jets proposal (₹3.25 lakh crore)

DEFENCE

5. BHAWANA KANTH BECOMES INDIA’S FIRST WOMAN FIGHTER COMBAT LEADER

Current Context: Squadron Leader Bhawana Kanth became India’s first woman Fighter Combat Leader (FCL).

ABOUT THE ACHIEVEMENT

• A Fighter Combat Leader is an experienced fighter pilot qualified to undertake advanced operational leadership and combat-related responsibilities.
• Institution:Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment (TACDE), Gwalior
• Significance:First Indian woman to complete this course

About FCL Course:

• One of IAF’s toughest professional milestones
• Completed by select few fighter pilots
• Responsible for shaping combat tactics for frontline squadrons

PERSON IN NEWS

6. ANIL MENON COMPLETES MAIDEN ISS SPACEWALK

Current Context: Indian-origin NASA astronaut Anil Menon completed his first extravehicular activity (spacewalk).

ABOUT

• A spacewalk is the period when an astronaut leaves the spacecraft or space station to perform work in the vacuum of space.
• Anil Menon is a NASA astronaut, physician, engineer and U.S. Space Force colonel.
• He was selected by NASA in 2021 as part of its 23rd astronaut class.
• Before becoming an astronaut, he served as a flight surgeon for NASA and SpaceX.
• He was SpaceX’s first flight surgeon and helped support the company’s first human spaceflight mission.
• Designation:US Spacewalk 96
• Duration:6 hours 27 minutes

AWARDS & HONOURS

7.  SARVOTTAM JEEVAN RAKSHA PADAK

Current Context: Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways conferred Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Padak on 12 rat-hole miners in New Delhi.

ABOUT THE AWARD

• The 12 rat-hole miners were awarded the Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Padak for their role in the Silkyara-Barkot Tunnel Rescue Operation in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand, in November 2023.
• Their recognition highlights the contribution of specialised rescue workers and miners in high-risk emergency situations.
• Rat-hole mining expertise involves working in narrow underground passages, making such rescue operations particularly hazardous.
• Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Padak is India’s highest category of Jeevan Raksha Padak.
• The award can be given to civilians as well as members of the Armed Forces, Police and other organisations when they perform life-saving acts.

THREE CATEGORIES OF JEEVAN RAKSHA PADAK

• Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Padak: highest category.
• Uttam Jeevan Raksha Padak: second category.
• Jeevan Raksha Padak: third category.
• Type:Highest tier of Jeevan Raksha Padak series
• Administered by:Ministry of Home Affairs
• Instituted:30 September 1961

Download Pdf | Study Material | Downloads | Daily Quiz  | FREE Youtube Videos