Daily Current Affairs- 10th August 2026

Daily Current Affairs- 10th August 2026

What is Prakriti Gyan Dham? CSIR-NBRI’s First Eco-Educational Hub Inaugurated

In the News: Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh dedicated Prakriti Gyan Dham, a first-of-its-kind eco-educational hub developed by the CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute (CSIR-NBRI). It is located at the Maharishi Parashar Bioresource Centre, Banthra, Lucknow, and combines botanical science, conservation, heritage and public education.

Key Points:

• Purpose of the Hub: Prakriti Gyan Dham has been designed as a living repository of India's botanical and cultural heritage. It combines scientific research, environmental education, biodiversity conservation and experiential learning for students, researchers and the general public.
• PAaVan Path: A major feature is the PAaVan Path, short for Plants and Associated Vegetations for Appreciating Nature. The interpretive heritage trail showcases curated plant collections representing different ecological regions and vegetation types.
• Indian Heritage Garden: The garden contains propagated trees linked with historically important places, including the Bawan Imli Tamarind Tree, Mother Dussehri Mango, Patalpuri Banyan and descendants of trees associated with the Dandi March. QR-enabled audio systems provide botanical and historical information.
• Plant Conservation: The Vibhav Enclave focuses on rare, endangered and threatened plants, while the Bhairav Enclave showcases officially designated State Plants of Indian States and Union Territories. These sections highlight biodiversity conservation and plant genetic resources.
• Bamboosteum: Another attraction is the Bamboosteum, which houses 43 indigenous and exotic bamboo species. It demonstrates bamboo's significance for carbon sequestration, soil conservation, ecological restoration, green infrastructure and sustainable livelihoods.

E-Samudra Launched as India Accelerates Digital Transformation of Maritime Governance

In the News: Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal launched E-Samudra on 8 August 2026 in Mumbai. The platform seeks to bring services for seafarers, shipping companies, ports and other maritime stakeholders under a comprehensive single digital window.

Key Points:

• Single-Window Platform: E-Samudra provides end-to-end digital workflows, online payments, real-time application tracking and digitally issued certificates. It is intended to shift maritime administration towards Digital First and Faceless Governance.
• Implementing Authority: The launch programme was organised by the Directorate General of Maritime Administration (DGMA) under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. The initiative focuses particularly on seafarer welfare, safety and service delivery.
• Associated Digital Initiatives: The government also highlighted e-NAVIK, a 24×7 grievance-redressal system, the upcoming Seafarer Tracking Dashboard and the Digital Seafarers Employment Agreement (d-SEA). These aim to improve transparency and welfare protection.
• Merchant Shipping Act Link: India's maritime-policy framework includes the Merchant Shipping Act, 2025, which recognises seafarers as Key Workers, alongside the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 and the principle of Minimum Government, Maximum Governance.
• India's Seafarer Strength: India's active seafarer workforce increased from about 1.03 lakh in 2013 to over 3.23 lakh in 2025. The government states that India has emerged as the world's second-largest supplier of seafarers.

V.O.C. Port Becomes India’s First Scope-2 Emission-Free Major Port

In the News: The V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority (VOCPA) at Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, has been recognised as India's first major port to achieve Scope-2 emission-free operations. The achievement marks an important milestone in India's green-port and maritime decarbonisation strategy.

Key Points:

• What are Scope-2 Emissions? Under the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, Scope-2 covers indirect emissions resulting from purchased or acquired electricity, steam, heat and cooling consumed by an organisation. It differs from Scope-1, which relates to direct emissions from sources controlled by the organisation.
• Renewable-Energy Achievement: During Q4 of FY 2025-26, renewable-energy generation at VOC Port exceeded its total electricity consumption, enabling Scope-2 emission-free operations.
• Renewable Share: During FY 2025-26, 93.89% of the port's electricity consumption was reportedly met through renewable-energy sources. Its renewable infrastructure includes rooftop and ground-mounted solar plants as well as wind-energy capacity.
• Green Port Initiatives: VOC Port has developed a Green Hydrogen Hub and commissioned India's first green-hydrogen pilot project at a major port. It is also developing larger green-hydrogen production and green-methanol bunkering facilities.
• Broader Decarbonisation: The port has reported a substantial decline in net carbon emissions and carbon intensity per tonne of cargo. These measures position VOCPA as an important example of India's green maritime transition.

18 injured, 4 critical: How latest clash highlights Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border

In the News: At least 18 Assamese villagers were reported injured, four critically, following firing during a confrontation at Mingmang Basti in Assam's Dhemaji district, along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border. Initial reports linked the clash to allegations of land encroachment.

Key Points:

• Border Dispute: Assam and Arunachal Pradesh share a boundary of roughly 800 km. The dispute has historical roots in boundary changes involving the former North East Frontier Agency (NEFA) and Assam during the 1950s.
• Historical Background: Following recommendations of the 1951 Bordoloi sub-committee, around 3,648 sq km of plain areas in the Balipara and Sadiya foothills were transferred from NEFA to Assam. Arunachal Pradesh later disputed parts of this transfer.
• Namsai Declaration, 2022: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu signed the Namsai Declaration on 15 July 2022. Of the 123 villages forming the core of the dispute, differences concerning 37 were resolved in principle.
• 2023 Border MoU: On 20 April 2023, the two states signed an MoU that resolved disputes involving another 34 villages. Thus, an understanding was reached concerning 71 of the original 123 disputed villages.
• Regional Committees: Twelve regional committees were constituted to examine disputed areas using factors such as historical perspective, administrative convenience, geographical contiguity and people's will. The latest clash highlights the importance of completing local-level boundary demarcation.

The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement

In the News: Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement at the Makkah Al-Mukarramah Summit. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif signed the agreement.

Key Points:

• Three Signatories: The trilateral agreement brings together the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Republic of Türkiye and Islamic Republic of Pakistan in a framework aimed at strengthening collective security and defence cooperation.
• Collective Defence Clause: The agreement provides that an armed attack against any one of the three states will be regarded as an attack against all three. This mutual-defence provision is one of the most important examination-oriented features of the pact.
• Venue and Date: The summit was held at Al-Safa Palace in Makkah on 7 August 2026. The three leaders reviewed bilateral and trilateral relations as well as wider regional-security developments.

Scientists Discover Unusual Ozone Layer Above North Bay of Bengal

In the News: Indian scientists have detected an unusually high concentration of stratospheric ozone over the North Bay of Bengal. Rather than a completely new ozone layer, the finding concerns an unusual ozone-rich enhancement at about 21-23 km altitude, which persisted for more than a day.

Key Points:

• Unusual Altitude: The enhanced ozone-rich layer was detected at approximately 21-23 km, whereas ozone generally reaches its maximum concentration at around 25-30 km altitude. This made the observation scientifically unusual.
• Role of ARIES: The Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES), an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology, was a major participant. Its indigenously developed 206.5 MHz Stratosphere-Troposphere Radar contributed important observations.
• NetRAD-ASMA Campaign: The discovery was made during the Phase-I NetRAD-ASMA campaign, a nationwide programme involving atmospheric-research institutions. Radar observations were coordinated from Nainital, Haringhata, Gadanki and Kochi.
• Satellites Used: Researchers combined weather- and ozone-balloon measurements with observations from the Aura Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) and India's INSAT-3DR satellite, along with atmospheric models and radar networks.
• Cause of Enhancement: Scientists concluded that the anomaly was mainly caused by transport of ozone-rich air followed by downward atmospheric motion and compression, rather than primarily by sunlight-driven photochemical production.

World Lion Day 2026: Importance, Threats and Conservation Efforts

In the News: World Lion Day was observed on 10 August 2026 to raise global awareness about lion conservation and threats facing the species. In India, the occasion is especially significant because Gujarat contains the world's only wild population of the Asiatic lion (Panthera leo persica).

Key Points:

• History of the Day: World Lion Day is observed annually on 10 August. The initiative was started in 2013 by conservationists Derek and Beverly Joubert to draw attention to declining wild-lion populations and the need for habitat protection.
• India's Lion Population: India's Asiatic lion population increased from 674 in 2020 to 891 in 2025, recording a significant rise. Their natural range has expanded across approximately 35,000 sq km in 11 districts of Saurashtra, Gujarat.
• Major Threats: Lions face habitat fragmentation, reduction of natural prey, poaching and illegal wildlife trade, disease and increasing human-lion conflict as their range overlaps with human settlements and economic activities.
• Project Lion: Project Lion was announced on 15 August 2020 for the long-term conservation of Asiatic lions. A 10-year project with an outlay of ₹2,927.71 crore has also been approved for lion conservation.
• Beyond Gir: Barda Wildlife Sanctuary, spread across Porbandar and Devbhumi Dwarka districts, is emerging as another important Asiatic-lion landscape. Natural lion movement towards Barda helps reduce conservation dependence on a single geographical habitat.