CURRENT AFFAIRS

The President of India will confer the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowships (Akademi Ratna) and Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards (Akademi Puraskar) for the years 2024 and 2025 on 13 August 2026 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.

Despite receiving the Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2010, Punjab's traditional embroidery Phulkari continues to face challenges such as declining artisan incomes, competition from machine-made products, and inadequate market recognition. The issue has once again highlighted the need to preserve India's traditional handicrafts and support artisan livelihoods.

The Pithora Painting, a centuries-old ritual wall painting tradition of Gujarat's tribal communities, particularly the Rathwa tribe, has been awarded the Geographical Indication (GI) Tag in 2026. 

Recently, the Union Minister for Culture informed the Lok Sabha about the implementation of the Kala Sanskriti Vikas Yojana (KSVY), highlighting its role in promoting India's cultural heritage, supporting artists, preserving traditional art forms, and strengthening the country's cultural and creative economy.

After defeating England 2-1 in the semi-final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Argentine players displayed a banner reading "Las Malvinas son Argentinas" ("The Falkland Islands/Malvinas are Argentine").

During the recent visit of Narendra Modi to Indonesia, his visit to Prambanan Temple drew significant attention. The visit highlighted the deep civilizational, cultural, and historical ties between India and Southeast Asia, making the temple.

The Telangana government has announced the restoration of Hyderabad's historic Char Kaman. The government has granted administrative approval for the project and will soon issue a tender and appoint an expert consultant. The aim is to preserve the original architecture of these historic gates while protecting their structure.

Four traditional tribal crops of Madhya Pradesh have recently received Geographical Indication (GI) Tags.

Recently, the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, interacted with members of the Sahariya tribe at Kuno National Park.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented an exquisite hand-crafted Mahabharata-themed Kalamkari painting to Emmanuel Macron. This traditional artwork from Andhra Pradesh beautifully showcases India's rich cultural and artistic heritage.