Daily Current Affairs- 21st August 2026

Daily Current Affairs- 21st August 2026

Social Security, Retirement & Pension Schemes 2026

In the News: Official data released in 2026 highlighted the continued expansion of India’s pension system through contributory retirement schemes, employment-linked pensions and tax-funded social assistance. The National Pension System and Atal Pension Yojana have recorded substantial growth in subscribers and assets under management.

Key Points:

• National Pension System: The NPS is a market-linked, defined-contribution pension system regulated by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority. It had more than 2.17 crore subscribers and assets worth approximately ₹15.95 lakh crore as of March 31, 2026.
• Unified Pension Scheme: The UPS became operational on April 1, 2025, as an option for eligible Central Government employees covered under the NPS. It provides an assured, inflation-linked payout subject to prescribed service and contribution conditions.
• Atal Pension Yojana: APY primarily supports workers in the unorganised sector by providing a guaranteed monthly pension of ₹1,000 to ₹5,000 from the age of 60. Its enrolment reached 8.96 crore by March 31, 2026.
• Other Pension Frameworks: The Employees’ Pension Scheme covers eligible organised-sector workers, while the National Social Assistance Programme provides tax-funded support to vulnerable elderly persons, widows and persons with disabilities.

Supreme Court Reduces Practice Period for Judicial Service

In the News: The Supreme Court reduced the mandatory legal-practice requirement for candidates seeking recruitment as Civil Judges (Junior Division) from three years to one year. It retained the principle that judicial officers require professional exposure but introduced intensive training and supervised clerkship after selection.

Key Points:

• Revised Requirement: For recruitment notifications issued on or after April 1, 2027, candidates must possess at least one year of active legal practice before appearing for the Civil Judge examination.
• Transitional Relaxation: Candidates covered by recruitment notifications issued between May 20, 2025 and March 31, 2027 may apply without completing the practice requirement. If selected, they will initially serve as trainee judicial officers.
• Training and Clerkship: Selected candidates must complete one year of intensive training at a State Judicial Academy, followed by one year of structured clerkship. The clerkship will be divided between the district judiciary and the concerned High Court.
• Split Verdict: The decision was delivered by a three-judge Bench comprising CJI Surya Kant and Justices A.G. Masih and K. Vinod Chandran. Justice Chandran dissented, while the majority directed that the new framework may be reviewed after gaining sufficient institutional experience.

PM-AASHA Scheme Receives ₹7,200 Crore for 2026–27

In the News: The Union Government allocated ₹7,200 crore to the Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan for 2026–27. The scheme strengthens the implementation of Minimum Support Prices, protects farmers against distress sales and helps stabilise consumer prices.

Key Points:

• Umbrella Framework: PM-AASHA was launched in September 2018 to bring different agricultural price-support mechanisms under a unified framework. Its major components are PSS, PSF, PDPS and MIS.
• Price Support Scheme: PSS enables government agencies such as NAFED and NCCF to procure notified pulses, oilseeds and copra at MSP when market prices fall below the notified support price.
• Alternative Support: Under PDPS, eligible farmers receive part of the difference between the MSP and the market price without physical procurement. MIS protects growers of perishable commodities that are generally outside the MSP framework.
• Digital Reforms: Aadhaar-enabled authentication and platforms such as e-NAM, e-Samriddhi and e-Samyukti have been integrated to improve farmer registration, transparency, direct payments and procurement efficiency.

Ashutosh Parida to Receive 47th Sarala Puraskar

In the News: Odia poet, essayist and former CSIR-Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology scientist Dr Ashutosh Parida has been selected for the 47th Sarala Puraskar. He will receive the award for his poetry collection Bishwas De Pruthwi.

Key Points:

• Award-Winning Work: Bishwas De Pruthwi, published by Prabha Publication in 2024, was selected from seven literary works that reached the final stage of evaluation.
• Awarding Institution: The Sarala Puraskar is presented annually by the Indian Metals Public Charitable Trust, commonly known as IMPaCT, for outstanding literary achievement in Odia.
• Prize and Ceremony: Parida will receive a cash award of ₹7 lakh, a citation and a copper plaque at an award ceremony scheduled to be held in Bhubaneswar on October 25, 2026.
• Kala Samman: Odissi maestro Guru Durga Charan Ranbir and sculptor and art educator Damodar Behera were selected for the 2026 Ila-Bansidhar Panda Kala Samman. Each will receive ₹2.5 lakh, a citation and a copper plaque.

China’s Chang’e-7 Mission Targets Moon’s South Pole

In the News: China is preparing to launch Chang’e-7, its most technologically complex robotic lunar mission, to explore the Moon’s south-polar region. The mission will search for water ice and survey the region’s environment, terrain and natural resources.

Key Points:

• Mission Configuration: Chang’e-7 will use an orbiter, lander, rover and specialised hopping probe. This combination will allow orbiting, landing, surface movement and exploration of difficult crater terrain.
• Search for Water: The hopping probe will carry a water-molecule analyser and attempt to enter permanently shadowed craters. These extremely cold regions may have preserved water ice and volatile compounds for billions of years.
• Importance of Lunar Ice: Accessible water could provide drinking water and oxygen for astronauts and may be converted into rocket propellant. It could therefore reduce dependence on supplies transported from Earth.
• China’s Lunar Programme: Chang’e-7 and the proposed Chang’e-8 mission are expected to support China’s plan for a crewed lunar landing before 2030 and the development of an international lunar research station. The mission also carries instruments developed through international cooperation. China National Space Administration

Türkiye Seeks Interpol Red Notice for Netanyahu

In the News: Türkiye announced that it would seek an Interpol Red Notice for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and another defendant in connection with a Turkish criminal case concerning the interception of a Gaza-bound humanitarian flotilla. Interpol has not yet issued the requested notices.

Key Points:

• Flotilla Case: The proceedings concern the interception of vessels belonging to the Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters while activists were attempting to deliver humanitarian assistance to Gaza.
• Turkish Proceedings: Turkish authorities stated that arrest warrants had been issued against Netanyahu and another suspect in a case involving 35 defendants. The allegations include genocide, crimes against humanity and torture; Israel denies the accusations.
• Nature of Red Notice: A Red Notice is a request to police authorities worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a wanted person pending extradition. It is an international alert and not an arrest warrant. Interpol: Red Notices
• Interpol’s Role: Interpol independently reviews each request for compliance with its Constitution and rules. Even if a notice is issued, individual member countries determine its legal effect and whether their authorities may arrest the person concerned.