Daily Current Affairs- 1st August 2026

Daily Current Affairs- 1st August 2026

Gujarat’s Pithora Painting Receives GI Tag, Empowering Rathwa Tribal Artisans

In the News: Pithora painting recently featured in current-affairs reports as a newly GI-tagged tribal art. However, the official GI Registry confirms that the Gujarat handicraft was registered in September 2021. The recognition legally protects the ritual art associated primarily with the Rathwa tribal community of eastern Gujarat.

Key Points:

• GI Registration: Pithora is registered as a handicraft under GI Application No. 644. Its registration certificate was issued on 14 September 2021 and remains valid until 22 January 2029, subject to renewal under the applicable GI law.
• Applicant and Geographical Area: The application was filed by the Rathwa Adivasi Samuday Trust, located at Pavi Jetpur in Gujarat’s Chhota Udepur district. The GI Registry identifies Gujarat as the protected geographical area of the handicraft.
• Cultural Significance: Pithora murals are traditionally created as offerings to Pithora, regarded as the deity associated with food grains and prosperity. They are painted during occasions such as weddings, childbirth and festivals to seek divine blessings.
• Traditional Technique: The paintings traditionally use pigments mixed with milk and liquor prepared from the mahuda tree. Bamboo sticks, cotton and wooden stencils are among the materials used by artists to produce the murals.
• Importance of the GI Tag: GI recognition helps prevent unauthorised commercial imitation and enables consumers to identify authentic products. It can improve branding, market access and income opportunities for Rathwa artisans while helping preserve their traditional knowledge.

Cabinet Approves Revamped Khelo India Scheme and Enhanced ANSF Support with ₹36,441 Crore Outlay

In the News: The Union Cabinet approved the expanded Khelo India Scheme and enhanced Assistance to National Sports Federations with a combined outlay of ₹36,441 crore. The programme will operate from 2026–27 to 2030–31 and seeks to create a continuous pathway from grassroots talent identification to international sporting excellence.

Key Points:

• Financial Allocation: Of the combined outlay, approximately ₹29,054 crore has been allocated to the revamped Khelo India Scheme and ₹7,387 crore to assistance for National Sports Federations. The overall allocation is nearly eight times that of the previous Khelo India Scheme.
• School-Level Initiatives: Two new components—Khelo India Feeder Schools and Khelo India Utkrishta Vidyalayas—will integrate organised sports with mainstream education. They will facilitate early identification and systematic development of talented schoolchildren.
• Emerging Athlete Category: The scheme introduces the Emerging Khelo India Athletes, or E-KIAs, category alongside the existing Khelo India Athletes programme. This is expected to expand the structured athlete-development pool nearly tenfold.
• Institutional and Digital Framework: The programme links National Centres of Excellence, SAI Training Centres, Khelo India academies and Armed Forces Youth Sports Companies. A unified digital platform will integrate data relating to athletes, coaches, competitions, infrastructure and funding.
• Coaching and Federation Support: A National Coach Accreditation Board will standardise coaching qualifications. The strengthened ANSF framework will fund coaching camps, sports science, modern equipment, foreign experts, international exposure and participation in major competitions.

Cabinet Approves ‘Samudra Manthan’ National Offshore Exploration Scheme with ₹84,084 Crore Outlay

In the News: The Union Cabinet approved Samudra Manthan, the National Offshore Exploration Scheme, with an outlay of ₹84,084 crore. The Central Sector Scheme will be implemented by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas up to 2030–31 to unlock India’s offshore energy resources.

Key Points:

• Nature and Ministry: Samudra Manthan is a Central Sector Scheme, meaning that it will be funded by the Union Government. Its nodal ministry is the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, and implementation will continue until FY 2030–31.
• Exploration Activities: The scheme provides for large-scale acquisition, processing and interpretation of high-quality seismic data. It also covers deep-water, ultra-deep-water and scientific exploratory drilling in frontier offshore basins.
• Common Infrastructure: The programme envisages shared offshore production and evacuation facilities to reduce operational barriers. It will also establish an integrated Oil and Gas Manufacturing and Services Zone to support domestic capabilities.
• Expected Reserve Addition: Samudra Manthan is expected to facilitate reserve accretion of more than 600 million metric tonnes of oil equivalent, or MMTOE. Greater domestic production could reduce import dependence and strengthen India’s long-term energy security.
• Technology and Employment: The scheme covers technology adoption, capacity building, digital programme management and international outreach. It is expected to generate employment, attract investment and promote indigenous manufacturing under Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat.

Varsha Ashok Aglawe Becomes First Woman GSI Director General

In the News: Varsha Ashok Aglawe assumed charge as the 54th Director General of the Geological Survey of India on 31 July 2026. She became the first woman to head the 176-year-old geoscientific organisation and succeeded Asit Saha.

Key Points:

• Historic Appointment: Aglawe is the first woman Director General in GSI’s history. Her predecessor, Asit Saha, headed the organisation from 27 July 2024 to 31 July 2026.
• Professional Background: She joined GSI in 1992 after previously serving in the Indian Bureau of Mines. Before her appointment as Director General, she was Additional Director General and Head of Department of GSI’s Eastern Region in Kolkata.
• Area of Expertise: Aglawe specialises in palaeontology and palynology, the scientific study of fossils and microscopic organic particles such as pollen and spores. Her research covers Late Cretaceous–Palaeocene sediments, the K–T boundary and the Satpura-Gondwana basins.
• Scientific Contributions: She identified the Salbardi–Ghorpend area as a new dinosaur nesting site in central India. She also participated in collaborative palaeontological research with the University of Michigan Museum of Paleontology in the United States.
• Priorities as GSI Chief: Aglawe has emphasised critical and strategic mineral exploration, offshore mineral surveys and investigation of concealed deposits. Other priorities include natural-hazard studies, glaciology, laboratory modernisation and capacity building for young geoscientists.

Environmental Performance Index 2026

In the News: The Environmental Performance Index 2026 ranked India 176th among 177 countries, with an overall score of 22.46. The index assesses national environmental performance using indicators related to public health, ecosystem protection and climate-change mitigation.

Key Points:

• Index Framework: The 2026 EPI evaluates 177 countries through 47 indicators organised into 12 issue categories. These categories are grouped under three broad policy objectives—Environmental Health, Ecosystem Vitality and Climate Change.
• India’s Position: India was ranked 176th with an EPI score of 22.46, placing it second from the bottom. Its recorded ten-year change was positive at 7.47 points, although its overall performance remained among the weakest in the index.
• Highest-Ranked Country: Estonia topped the 2026 index with a score of 74.79. It was followed by Luxembourg, the United Kingdom, Finland and the Netherlands in the first five positions.
• Bottom-Ranked Countries: Laos occupied the last position with a score of 21.78. India ranked 176th, while Bangladesh stood at 175th with a score of 23.46.
• Publishing Institutions: The index is produced through environmental-policy and earth-system information centres associated with Yale University and Columbia University. It measures how closely countries are progressing towards internationally recognised environmental policy targets.

Nauru Becomes Republic of Naoero

In the News: The Pacific island country formerly known internationally as Nauru officially adopted its indigenous name, Republic of Naoero. President David Adeang confirmed the transition after Parliament approved the relevant constitutional amendment in May 2026.

Key Points:

• Constitutional Process: Parliament approved the Constitution (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill on 12 May 2026. All 16 members present at the sitting voted in favour of changing the country’s official name from Nauru to Naoero.
• Referendum Dropped: The government initially proposed holding a national referendum to complete the process. President David Adeang later announced that it would not be pursued because Naoero was already accepted as the indigenous identity of the people and recognised by the Constitution.
• Official Terminology: The complete official name is Republic of Naoero, while the abbreviated form is Naoero. Citizens of the country will be referred to as dei-Naoero.
• Reason for Renaming: According to the government, European colonisers altered Naoero to Nauru because they found the indigenous pronunciation difficult. The restoration is intended to strengthen cultural identity, honour ancestral heritage and restore the country’s original name.