Daily Current Affairs- 22nd August 2026

Daily Current Affairs- 22nd August 2026

Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission

In the News: The Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission (PMJVM) was recently highlighted by the Government for promoting livelihood opportunities and entrepreneurship among India's tribal population. As of August 2026, 4,172 Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVKs) have been sanctioned, benefiting around 12.48 lakh tribal members.

Key Points:

• Objective: PMJVM aims to strengthen tribal entrepreneurship by promoting value addition, processing, branding and marketing of Minor Forest Produce (MFP), agricultural products and other tribal products. It seeks to increase income by shifting tribal communities from sellers of raw produce to value-adding entrepreneurs.
• Nodal Ministry and Implementing Agency: The scheme is implemented by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs through the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED). TRIFED facilitates market access, enterprise development, branding and marketing of tribal products.
• Van Dhan Vikas Kendras: VDVKs organise tribal beneficiaries into community-based groups for processing and value addition of forest and agricultural produce. As of 31 July 2026, 2,911 VDVKs were functional, with reported sales of around ₹168 crore.
• Scale of Coverage: A total of 4,172 VDVKs, covering approximately 12.48 lakh beneficiaries, have been sanctioned across 28 States and Union Territories under PMJVM. The sanctioned amount reported in August 2026 was about ₹619.17 crore.
• MFP and Tribal Economy: Minor Forest Produce is an important source of income for many Scheduled Tribe households. PMJVM also supports an MSP-based mechanism for MFP, helping reduce distress sales and improve returns for tribal forest gatherers.

Sophie Adenot Becomes First French Woman to Walk in Space

In the News: European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot became the first French woman to perform a spacewalk on 18 August 2026. She conducted the spacewalk outside the International Space Station (ISS) along with NASA astronaut Anil Menon, spending 6 hours and 23 minutes outside the station.

Key Points:

• Historic First: The spacewalk, officially designated US EVA-97, was Sophie Adenot's first extravehicular activity. Her achievement made her the first French woman to conduct a spacewalk, marking an important milestone for French and European human spaceflight.
• Spacewalk Partner: Adenot conducted the EVA with NASA astronaut Anil Menon from the International Space Station. The operation began when their spacesuits switched to battery power and lasted for 6 hours and 23 minutes.
• Purpose of EVA: Their main task was to work on the faulty Space-To-Ground Antenna 2 (SGANT-2). This system supports communication and data transmission between the ISS and mission controllers on Earth.
• Mission Outcome: Adenot and Menon successfully removed the malfunctioning antenna. However, problems involving stuck bolts and connectors prevented them from installing the replacement antenna during the same spacewalk.
• Organisation to Remember: Sophie Adenot is an astronaut of the European Space Agency (ESA). For examinations, ESA should not be confused with the European Union; it is an independent intergovernmental organisation devoted to space exploration and research.

Turkey Seeks Interpol Red Notice for Netanyahu

In the News: Türkiye announced in August 2026 that it would seek an INTERPOL Red Notice against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in connection with a Turkish criminal case relating to the interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla. The request is subject to review by INTERPOL and should not be interpreted as a Red Notice already having been issued.

Key Points:

• Türkiye's Move: Turkish Justice Minister Akın Gürlek announced that Türkiye would seek an INTERPOL Red Notice in connection with arrest warrants issued in the domestic case. The case concerns events surrounding the interception of activists attempting to deliver aid to Gaza.
• What is a Red Notice?: An INTERPOL Red Notice is a request to law-enforcement authorities worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender or similar legal proceedings. It is based on a warrant or judicial order from the requesting jurisdiction.
• Not an Arrest Warrant: A Red Notice is not an international arrest warrant. INTERPOL cannot compel any country to arrest a person; each member country decides what legal effect to give the notice according to its domestic laws.
• INTERPOL: INTERPOL stands for the International Criminal Police Organization. It facilitates cooperation and information sharing among national police organisations but does not itself prosecute individuals or send officers to make arrests.

Hara Mangrove Forests

In the News: Iran's Hara mangrove forests came into focus after oil pollution reached parts of the mangrove ecosystem around Qeshm Island in August 2026. Iranian environmental authorities collected water and sediment samples and began assessing the affected areas, while investigations into the precise source of the pollution continued.

Key Points:

• Location: The Hara mangrove ecosystem lies around Qeshm Island and the Khuran Straits in southern Iran, adjoining the Persian Gulf. It includes mangrove forests, mudflats, tidal creeks and shallow saline waters.
• Important Mangrove Species: The forests are dominated by Avicennia marina, commonly called the grey mangrove and locally known as Hara. The species is well adapted to highly saline water and the hot, arid climatic conditions of the Persian Gulf.
• UNESCO Recognition: Hara is included in UNESCO's World Network of Biosphere Reserves under the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme. It was designated as a Biosphere Reserve in 1976, making UNESCO-MAB an important exam linkage.
• Ramsar Status: The Khuran Straits, encompassing extensive mangrove and intertidal habitats, were designated a Ramsar Site on 23 June 1975. It is Ramsar Site No. 50 and covers approximately 100,000 hectares.
• Ecological Importance: Mangroves provide nursery grounds for marine organisms, support migratory and nesting waterbirds and protect coastlines from erosion. The Khuran ecosystem is particularly important for herons, shorebirds and the endangered Dalmatian pelican.

National Teachers Awards 2026 for 48 Teachers

In the News: The Government of India announced the selection of 48 school teachers for the National Teachers' Awards 2026. President Droupadi Murmu is scheduled to confer the awards on 5 September 2026, on the occasion of Teachers' Day, at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.

Key Points:

• Number of Awardees: A total of 48 school teachers have been selected for 2026, comprising 26 men and 22 women. The selected teachers represent 27 States, 7 Union Territories and 6 Central Government organisations.
• Organising Authority: The awards are organised by the Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education. They recognise teachers who have contributed significantly to improving school education and enriching the lives of their students.
• Selection Process: The 48 awardees were chosen through a three-stage selection process — District, State and National levels. The process involves online self-nomination followed by evaluation and selection by designated committees and the national-level mechanism.
• Teachers' Day: The awards are traditionally associated with 5 September, observed as Teachers' Day in India. The date marks the birth anniversary of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, philosopher, educationist and the second President of India.