UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS

India and Mauritius have significantly strengthened their energy partnership by signing a Government-to-Government (G2G) Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in the oil and gas sector. Alongside the MoU, Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) and Mauritius’ State Trading Corporation (STC) concluded a five-year Sales and Purchase Agreement for petroleum products.

India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi held a bilateral defence dialogue in New Delhi during Koizumi’s maiden visit to India.

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Iturup Island in the disputed Kuril Islands on August 13, 2026, triggering strong protests from Japan.

The world observed World Humanitarian Day on 19 August 2026. This year's global campaign is built around the theme "Families of Fallen Humanitarians", while the World Health Organization used the occasion to renew its call for greater protection of health care in conflict zones.

India and the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) have signed the Terms of Reference (ToR) to begin negotiations for a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA). 

Members of the BRICS grouping are discussing the possibility of linking their respective fast payment systems and Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) to make cross-border payments faster, cheaper and more efficient.

The Governor of Massachusetts, Maura Healey, and Michelle Wu have officially declared 15 August 2026 as "India Day" to commemorate India's 79th Independence Day and recognize the contributions of the Indian-American community.

6 August and 9 August are observed globally to commemorate the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan during World War II. 

The ongoing US–Iran confrontation has triggered major strategic shifts in West Asia (Middle East). Gulf Arab countries are strengthening defence partnerships with Pakistan, hostilities between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis have resumed, and tensions around the Strait of Hormuz and Bab-el-Mandeb Strait have intensified. These developments have significant implications for regional security, global energy markets, and India's strategic interests.

India's External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr. S. Jaishankar participated in the 33rd ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Ministerial Meeting held in Manila, Philippines, where he emphasized zero tolerance for terrorism, stronger maritime security, enhanced disaster resilience, cyber security cooperation, responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), and the need for a free, open, inclusive, and rules-based Indo-Pacific. He described the ASEAN Regional Forum as a vital platform for addressing political and security challenges in an increasingly complex geopolitical environment.