Daily filter — 5 August 2026
12 exam-worthy stories from the day's PIB releases · interactive view
🇮🇳 Polity & Governance · UPSC track
Seven Years Since Abrogation of Articles 370 and 35(A)
The Prime Minister marked seven years since the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35(A) on **August 5, 2019**.
- Abrogation of Articles 370 and 35(A) occurred on August 5, 2019.
- The Prime Minister marked seven years of this event on August 5, 2026.
- It enabled full application of the Constitution of India in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
- This year also marks the 125th birth anniversary of Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee.
💡 Remember: August 5, 2019 for abrogation of Articles 370 and 35(A), marking 7 years and aligning with Dr. Mookerjee's 125th birth anniversary.
Source: Prime Minister's Office · PIB PRID 2294765
⚖️ Law & Judiciary · LAW track
Anti-Piracy Enforcement Strengthened; Thousands of URLs Disabled
The government has enhanced legal and institutional frameworks to combat online film piracy, leading to significant content takedowns.
- The Cinematograph Act, 1952 was amended in 2023 to curb unauthorized recording and exhibition.
- Section 7(1B)(ii) empowers action against intermediaries under IT Act, 2000 for pirated content.
- IT Rules, 2021 mandate intermediaries remove content upon government or court notice.
- 7,393 URLs, including 1,263 websites and 4,996 Telegram channels, were disabled.
- Joint Secretary (Films) can issue takedown notices under both Acts and Rules.
💡 Anti-piracy relies on Cinematograph (Amendment) Act, 2023 and IT Act, 2000/Rules, 2021 to disable pirated content via government notices.
Source: Ministry of Information & Broadcasting · PIB PRID 2294899
⚖️ Polity & Governance · LAW track
EWS Reservation: Objective, Eligibility, and Implementation Status
The Central Government clarified the objective and eligibility criteria for the 10% EWS reservation, enabled by a 2019 Constitutional Amendment.
- EWS reservation provides benefits to economically weaker persons not covered by existing SC, ST, or SEBC schemes.
- The Constitution (103rd Amendment) Act, 2019 inserted Articles 15(6) and 16(6).
- Up to 10 per cent reservation is for admissions and civil posts/services.
- Gross annual family income below ₹ 8.00 lakh is a key criterion for EWS.
- Specific land/property holdings, e.g., five acres or more of agricultural land, exclude individuals from EWS.
- No proposal to amend existing EWS reservation provisions is under consideration.
- The Chhattisgarh Public Services (Amendment) Bill, 2022 for EWS is not yet approved.
💡 Remember: 103rd Amendment (2019) introduced 10% EWS reservation via Articles 15(6) & 16(6) for incomes below ₹8 lakh (with property exclusions).
Source: Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment · PIB PRID 2295093
🌳 Law & Judiciary · UPSC track
Forest Rights Act Claims: Recent Status and Rejection Reasons
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs released data on claims filed, approved, and rejected under the Forest Rights Act.
- From 01.04.2023 to 31.03.2026, 8,56,159 claims were filed under the Forest Rights Act, 2006.
- During this period, 2,34,352 claims were approved and titles distributed.
- A total of 14,462 claims were rejected due to reasons like lack of evidence.
- The Act does not prescribe a time-limit for disposing of claims.
💡 Remember: FRA 2006 saw 2.34 lakh approvals, 14k rejections from 2023-26, with no time limit for disposal.
Source: Ministry of Tribal Affairs · PIB PRID 2294713
🏨 Economy · LAW track
CCI Approves Hotel Mergers with InterGlobe Hotels
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved a proposed combination involving share acquisitions and the merger of several entities into InterGlobe Hotels Private Limited.
- The CCI approved the merger of AAPC India, Triguna, Caddie, SMPL, Techpark, and Accent into InterGlobe Hotels.
- These entities are jointly owned/controlled by the Bhatia Family Group and Accor Group.
- InterGlobe Hotels owns and develops Accor-branded hotels managed by AAPC India in India.
💡 For the exam: Remember CCI approved InterGlobe Hotels' merger of six entities, involving the Bhatia and Accor groups.
Source: Competition Commission of India · PIB PRID 2295120
🚀 Science & Tech · UPSC track
Gaganyaan Mission Advances, Bharatiya Antariksh Station by 2035
India's human spaceflight program is progressing, with major milestones for Gaganyaan and plans for a space station.
- First uncrewed experimental mission targeted in Q4 of 2026.
- Two more uncrewed missions and the first crewed mission are targeted by 2027.
- Operationalisation of Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) is targeted by 2035.
- Union Cabinet approved ₹20,193 Cr for 8 missions in September 2024.
- Collaborations with ESA, ASA, CNES, and Roscosmos are ongoing.
💡 Remember: Gaganyaan's first crewed mission by 2027, Bharatiya Antariksh Station by 2035, and ₹20,193 Cr budget.
Source: Department of Space · PIB PRID 2294771
👨🚀 Science & Tech · UPSC track
Gaganyaan Mission Aims for Crewed Flight by 2027
India's first human spaceflight mission, Gaganyaan, is progressing with multiple tests and infrastructure developments.
- The Gaganyaan mission's first crewed flight is targeted for 2027.
- Development activities for Human Rated Launch Vehicle (HLVM3) are completed.
- The first test mission, TV-D1, successfully validated the Crew Escape System (CES).
- Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) operationalization is targeted by 2035.
💡 For the exam: Gaganyaan crewed flight by 2027; BAS by 2035.
Source: Department of Space · PIB PRID 2294770
⚛️ Science & Tech · UPSC track
India's Small Modular Reactor (SMR) Program Progress
India is advancing its SMR program with a ₹20,000 crore allocation to develop five indigenous SMRs by 2033.
- BARC is designing BSMR-200, SMR-55, and HTGCR for power and hydrogen.
- BSMR-200 and SMR-55 will be sited at Tarapur, Maharashtra.
- The HTGCR for hydrogen production is proposed for BARC, Vizag.
- The SHANTI 2025 Act aims for 100GW nuclear power by 2047.
💡 Remember: 20000 crore by 2033 for 5 SMRs via BARC at Tarapur/Vizag; SHANTI Act targets 100GW by 2047.
Source: Department of Atomic Energy · PIB PRID 2294814
⛏️ Economy · UPSC track
India's Coal Sector Reforms Bolster Production and Efficiency
The government has implemented structural and procedural reforms over five years to enhance transparency, efficiency, and scientific methods in coal mining and allocation.
- Commercial coal mining opened with 100% FDI under the automatic route.
- Auctions migrated to a revenue-share model using the National Coal Index.
- Domestic coal production crossed 1 Billion Tonnes for two consecutive years, reaching 1047.52 MT in FY 2024-25.
- Target to enhance coal washery capacity to 58 MT by FY 2030 under 'Mission Coking Coal'.
- Target of 100 MT gasification capacity by 2030 with schemes worth ₹8,500 crore and ₹37,500 crore.
- Coal Exchange Rules, 2026 notified to establish a regulated online trading platform for coal.
💡 Remember key reforms: 100% FDI, revenue-share model, 1 Billion Tonne production, 58 MT washery target, 100 MT gasification target, and Coal Exchange Rules, 2026.
Source: Ministry of Coal · PIB PRID 2294736
🛍️ Economy · UPSC track
New Framework for Inventory-based Cross-border E-Commerce Exports
India has operationalised a framework under FTP 2023 to facilitate inventory-based cross-border e-commerce exports by Indian manufacturers and MSMEs.
- The framework was operationalised on August 5, 2026, under FTP 2023.
- It allows export-only inventory operations via a registered Exporter-on-Record (EOR).
- EORs procure goods from Indian Sellers-on-Record (SORs) for overseas orders.
- Safeguards include digital repository and no diversion to domestic market.
- Timely payments to SORs and pass-through of export benefits are ensured.
💡 Remember: The new e-commerce export framework uses EORs to boost global market access for Indian sellers by easing compliance and ensuring payments.
Source: Ministry of Commerce & Industry · PIB PRID 2294775
🌊 Science & Tech · UPSC track
Deep Ocean Mission Progress: MATSYA-6000 and Exploration Successes
The **Deep Ocean Mission (DOM)**, launched in 2021, has made significant progress across its six verticals, as detailed in a recent parliamentary update.
- MATSYA-6000's design is complete, with wet harbour trials conducted from 22nd January 2025 to 14th February 2025.
- Over 100 kg of polymetallic nodules were collected from 1173m depth in the Andaman Sea in 2024.
- 2038 deep-sea microbes were isolated, with 43 new species potentially found.
- India's first imaging of an active hydrothermal vent was achieved during deep-sea expeditions.
- 145 collaborative research projects are ongoing with nearly 70 national institutions.
💡 For the exam: Remember DOM's 2021 launch, MATSYA-6000 for human exploration, and successful polymetallic nodule collection.
Source: Ministry of Earth Sciences · PIB PRID 2294734
🇮🇳 Schemes & Welfare · UPSC track
Digital India: Empowering Citizens Since 2015
Launched in July 2015, the **Digital India** programme aims to strengthen digital infrastructure, deliver digital government services, and empower citizens.
- BharatNet has made 2.21 lakh Gram Panchayats service-ready by June 2026.
- Data costs plummeted from Rs. 269 per GB in 2014 to Rs. 8-10 per GB in 2025-26.
- Aadhaar has generated over 1.44+ billion numbers for secure identity.
- UPI serves 55.49+ crore individuals, 6.5 crore merchants, and 731 banks.
- PMGDISHA trained over 6.39 crore persons in digital literacy nationwide.
💡 Remember key numbers: 2015 launch, 2.21 lakh GPs for BharatNet, Rs. 8-10 data cost, 1.44+ billion Aadhaar, and 6.39 crore PMGDISHA trainees.
Source: Ministry of Electronics & IT · PIB PRID 2294910