Staying updated with today's current affairs is essential for competitive exam aspirants preparing for SSC, UPSC, Banking, State PSCs, and Railway exams. The 4 August 2026 current affairs cover the commencement of the RBI MPC August 2026 meeting (3–5 August), Centre's additional tax devolution of ₹1.09 lakh crore to states, Justice Prathiba M. Singh's historic induction into the International IP Hall of Fame, Maharashtra's 'Maha AI' indigenous language model launch, India's 79th Independence Day countdown and the Viveka Smaraka inauguration in Mysuru, a new spider species discovered in Gujarat, the Durand Cup's 135th edition commencing, and key important days like the 81st anniversary of Hiroshima Day prep that frequently appear in the General Awareness section of government exams.
India – National Current Affairs
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- RBI MPC August 2026 Meeting Begins (3–5 August); Decision to Be Announced on 5 August – The Reserve Bank of India's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) began its three-day August 2026 policy meeting on Monday, 3 August 2026. RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra will announce the MPC's decision at 10 AM on Wednesday, 5 August 2026, followed by a press conference at 12 PM. Exam importance: While inflation has edged above the central bank's medium-term target and geopolitical uncertainties continue to cloud the global outlook, the overwhelming consensus among economists is that the RBI will maintain the repo rate at 5.25% for now. The Monetary Policy Committee's decision will be announced by RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra on August 5. Although several global central banks have tightened monetary policy in recent months, experts believe the RBI is unlikely to rush into any policy action unless inflationary pressures become more persistent. Given the rising inflationary pressures, high crude oil prices, global uncertainties, and the US Federal Reserve's tight monetary policy, the RBI appears inclined to adopt a cautious stance. The current RBI meeting commenced on August 3, 2026. The RBI MPC has 6 members - 3 from RBI (Governor, 2 Deputy Governors) and 3 external members appointed by the GoI; the MPC meets at least 4 times (currently 5 times) a year; key policy rates as of June 2026 MPC: Repo rate 5.25%, SDF 5.0%, MSF/Bank Rate 5.5%; CPI inflation was 4.38% in June 2026 - above the 4% target for the first time in 17 months; RBI Governor: Sanjay Malhotra (appointed December 2024).
- Centre Releases Additional Tax Devolution of ₹1.09 Lakh Crore to States in August 2026 – The Centre released an additional tax installment of ₹1,09,019 crore as an advance devolution to states in August 2026. This sum is in addition to the normal monthly devolution due in August 2026. Central taxes are shared with states in 14 installments throughout the fiscal year. Under current policy, 41% of all taxes collected by the Centre go to the states. Exam importance: Tax devolution is mandated under Article 280 of the Constitution (Finance Commission); the 15th Finance Commission (2021–2026) recommended 41% of central taxes for devolution to states; the 16th Finance Commission (constituted in December 2023) under Dr. Arvind Panagariya is reviewing the devolution ratio for 2026–2031; additional advance devolution helps states meet capital expenditure requirements ahead of the festive season; total gross tax revenue of the Centre in FY26: approximately ₹40 lakh crore; states' total share from Central taxes: approximately ₹16.4 lakh crore per year.
- PM Modi Inaugurates Swami Vivekananda Cultural Youth Centre 'Viveka Smaraka' in Mysuru, Karnataka – PM Modi inaugurates Swami Vivekananda Cultural Youth Centre – Viveka Smaraka in Mysuru. The Viveka Smaraka is a state-of-the-art cultural and youth empowerment centre in Mysuru, Karnataka, built to commemorate the life and teachings of Swami Vivekananda - India's youth icon and the founder of the Ramakrishna Mission. Exam importance: Swami Vivekananda (born 12 January 1863, Calcutta) is revered as a philosopher, patriotic saint, and youth inspiration; his birthday (12 January) is observed as National Youth Day; he founded the Ramakrishna Math and Mission in 1897; his famous speech at the Parliament of World's Religions in Chicago on 11 September 1893 began with "Sisters and Brothers of America"; the Viveka Smaraka in Mysuru will house a digital museum, youth training centre, library, and meditation hall; Mysuru is Karnataka's cultural capital and the City of Palaces; Karnataka CM: D.K. Shivakumar (sworn in 3 June 2026 as 25th CM).
- Maharashtra Launches 'Maha AI' - State's Indigenous Multilingual AI Language Model – Maharashtra launched its indigenous AI language model 'Maha AI' on 2 August 2026 under CM Devendra Fadnavis's leadership. Which state launched its indigenous AI model 'Maha AI'? Maha AI is designed to assist government service delivery in Marathi and other regional languages, covering healthcare, agriculture, welfare scheme discovery, and citizen grievance redressal. Exam importance: Maha AI is Maharashtra's state-level large language model (LLM) - among the first state-specific AI models in India; it aligns with MeitY's IndiaAI Mission (March 2024, ₹10,372 crore) and the BhasaAI (BHASHINI) initiative for Indian-language AI; Maharashtra CM: Devendra Fadnavis (BJP-led Mahayuti alliance); Maharashtra is India's richest state by GSDP (~₹40 lakh crore); this follows Tamil Nadu's NLP-based 'Tamil Language AI' pilot and Kerala's AI initiatives; state AI models help customise services for local linguistic and cultural contexts.
- PM Modi Lays Foundation Stone for Three New AIIMS-like Central Medical Institutions – PM Narendra Modi laid the foundation stones for three new Central Medical Institutions (CMIs) modelled on AIIMS, at locations in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Odisha on 1 August 2026, building on the 22 AIIMS established or under construction across India. Exam importance: The first AIIMS was established in New Delhi in 1956 under the AIIMS Act, 1956; the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) aims to establish new AIIMS-like institutions to address regional imbalances in super-specialty healthcare; India now has 22 operational or functional AIIMS (including New Delhi, Bhubaneswar, Bhopal, Raipur, Jodhpur, Patna, Rishikesh, Nagpur, Mangalagiri, Bibinagar, Gorakhpur, Kalyani, etc.); Union Minister of Health: J.P. Nadda; AIIMS New Delhi was declared an institution of national importance under Article 280A of the Constitution.
- India's 79th Independence Day Countdown - 'Har Ghar Tiranga 3.0' Campaign Begins – With 11 days to go for India's 79th Independence Day (15 August 2026), the Ministry of Culture has formally launched the 'Har Ghar Tiranga 3.0' campaign, urging every Indian household, institution, and establishment to hoist the National Flag from 13–15 August 2026 as a mark of patriotism. Exam importance: Har Ghar Tiranga was first launched in August 2022 to mark India's 75th Independence Day (Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav); Har Ghar Tiranga 2.0 was held in August 2023; Har Ghar Tiranga 3.0 will mark India's 79th Independence Day (2026); 15 August 2026 will be the 79th Independence Day; the Flag Code of India, 2002 (amended 2022) allows citizens and institutions to fly the tricolour 24 hours a day; PM Modi is scheduled to hoist the National Flag at the Red Fort, New Delhi, and address the nation on 15 August 2026.
- EPFO Launches CITES 2.0 Platform for Seamless PF Trust Management – EPFO Launches CITES 2.01 Platform; FY26 PF Interest to Be Credited by July 15. The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) launched the revamped CITES (Common IT Enabled Services) 2.0 platform to modernise provident fund management for both employees and employers. Exam importance: EPFO's CITES 2.0 features a unified digital dashboard for employees (tracking PF balance, claim status, and passbook) and employers (ECR filing, compliance calendar, and member management); PF interest for FY2025-26 was credited to approximately 7 crore active member accounts; EPFO was established in 1952 under the EPF & MP Act, 1952; HQ: New Delhi; Central PF Commissioner: Neelam Shami Rao; EPFO's total corpus exceeded ₹25 lakh crore in 2026, making it one of India's largest institutional investors.
Daily Current Affairs 04 August 2026: Download Free PDF Now
Economy & Banking
- RBI MPC Preview - Key Economic Indicators Ahead of August 5 Decision – Ahead of the MPC's August 5, 2026 decision, key macroeconomic indicators are: CPI inflation: 4.38% (June 2026) - above 4% target; WPI inflation: 9.87% (June 2026) - 28-month high; IIP growth: 7.3% (June 2026) - 2-year high; GDP FY26: 7.7% (full year), Q4 FY26: 7.8%; GDP FY27 forecast range: 6.3–6.8% (IMF/Fitch/Goldman); Repo rate: 5.25% (unchanged since December 2025 MPC); West Asia geopolitical stabilisation (Iran-US ceasefire, June 2026). Exam importance: At its meeting concluding on June 6, the RBI delivered its meeting outcome. The MPC began its deliberations on June 4 and announced the outcome of its bi-monthly review on Friday, June 6. Current rates: Repo 5.25%, SDF 5.0%, MSF 5.5%, CRR 4%, SLR 18%; the MPC mandate under the RBI Act, 1934 (Section 45ZB) is to maintain CPI inflation at 4% ± 2%; if CPI remains above 6% for 3 consecutive quarters, the RBI Governor must write an explanatory letter to the GoI.
- Centre's ₹1.09 Lakh Crore Additional Tax Devolution - State-wise Breakdown – The Centre's additional advance devolution of ₹1,09,019 crore to states reflects the Centre's commitment to ensuring states have adequate resources for infrastructure spending ahead of the Independence Day period. The 41% devolution ratio is recommended by the 15th Finance Commission (for FY21–FY26) - the 16th Finance Commission (chaired by Dr. Arvind Panagariya) is expected to submit its recommendations for FY2026–2031 by 31 October 2026. Exam importance: Article 280 of the Constitution provides for the Finance Commission; the Finance Commission is a quasi-judicial body constituted every 5 years; the 16th Finance Commission was constituted in December 2023; devolution of taxes is governed by the Divisible Pool (gross tax revenues minus cesses and surcharges retained by the Centre, minus IGST refunds); total divisible pool in FY26: approximately ₹25.5 lakh crore; states' 41% share: approximately ₹10.5 lakh crore + additional devolution.
Awards & Recognitions
- Delhi HC's Justice Prathiba M. Singh Becomes First Indian Judge Inducted into International IP Hall of Fame 2026 – Justice Prathiba M. Singh of the Delhi High Court became the first Indian judge to be inducted into the International IP Hall of Fame 2026 by Intellectual Asset Management (IAM). The honour was conferred at the Intellectual Property Business Congress (IPBC) Global 2026 in San Diego, California, on 16 June 2026. Exam importance: Justice Singh was honoured for her contribution to the growth of intellectual property (IP) jurisprudence in India and her role in strengthening the country's IP framework. Justice Singh also serves as Chairperson of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Advisory Board of Judges. The International IP Hall of Fame, established by Intellectual Asset Management (IAM) in 2006, recognises individuals who make exceptional contributions to the development of intellectual property law and practice. The 2026 ceremony marked the 20th anniversary of the International IP Hall of Fame. India's IP framework is governed by the Indian Patents Act, 1970 (amended 2005), Trade Marks Act, 1999, Copyright Act, 1957 (amended 2012), and Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999; CGPDTM (Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks), Chennai, administers IP in India; India filed over 1.5 lakh patent applications in a single year (as of 2024-25, a milestone cited by Justice Singh); the WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization) is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.
Sports
- 135th Durand Cup 2026 Begins - Asia's Oldest Football Tournament – The 135th edition of the Durand Cup 2026 is set to begin in August 2026. Durand Cup 2026 → 135th edition. Exam importance: The Durand Cup is Asia's oldest football tournament and the world's third-oldest association football tournament, first held in 1888; named after Sir Henry Mortimer Durand (then Foreign Secretary to the Government of India); the tournament is organised by the Durand Football Tournament Society (DFTS) under the aegis of the Indian Army; traditional host city: Kolkata (and now expanded to multiple cities including Shillong, Guwahati, Jamshedpur, and Bengaluru); previous winners include Mohun Bagan (31 times - all-time record), East Bengal, and FC Goa; the tournament features ISL clubs, I-League clubs, and Indian Army teams; AIFF (All India Football Federation) is the governing body for football in India.
- India beat England by 6 wickets in 3rd T20I at Lord's - Take 3-0 Series Lead – India won the 3rd T20I of the India Tour of England 2026 at Lord's Cricket Ground, London, by 6 wickets to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the 5-match series. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (42 off 21 balls) and Shubman Gill (unbeaten 65 off 40 balls) starred in the chase. Exam importance: Lord's Cricket Ground (capacity: 30,000) is the "Home of Cricket" and is owned by the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC); it is arguably the most famous cricket ground in the world; India's series lead (3-0) signals their dominant white-ball form ahead of the LA 2028 Olympics cricket qualifying window; England T20I captain: Jos Buttler; India T20I captain: Shubman Gill; India tour of England 2026 comprises 3 ODIs + 5 T20Is (running 1-19 July 2026).
Science & Technology
- New Spider Species 'Thiania garhwalensis' Discovered in Gujarat Grasslands by ZSI – Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) and the Gujarat Biodiversity Board (GBB) discovered a new species of jumping spider, Thiania garhwalensis, from the grassland ecosystems of the Banni Grasslands in Kutch, Gujarat. Exam importance: Thiania is a genus of jumping spiders in the family Salticidae - characterised by large anterior eyes, compact body, agile movement, and superior hunting without webs; Banni Grasslands (Banni) is one of Asia's largest tropical grasslands (approximately 3,847 sq km in Kutch, Gujarat), a critical habitat for the Great Indian Bustard (GIB), grey wolves, and wild asses; ZSI was established in 1916, HQ: Kolkata; the Banni is also a UNESCO-recognised community-conserved landscape; this adds to the growing list of new species discovered in India in 2026 (adding to the 709 new species in 2025).
Important Days
- 4 August - Coast Guard Day (USA) and International Day for the Abolition of Slavery (observed 2 December - UN) – In India, 4 August is also noted as the anniversary of a key 1947 pre-Independence event: on 4 August 1947, PM Jawaharlal Nehru presented the Constituent Assembly with the historic Indian Independence (International Arrangements) Order, formalising the partition of British India into India and Pakistan.
- 6 August - Hiroshima Day 2026 (81st Anniversary) – Hiroshima Day is observed on 6 August. Hiroshima Day commemorates the 81st anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, Japan, on 6 August 1945, when the United States dropped the world's first nuclear weapon (Little Boy, a uranium gun-type bomb) on the city, killing an estimated 80,000–140,000 people instantly. Exam importance: The Hiroshima bomb ('Little Boy') was dropped at 8:15 AM JST by the B-29 bomber 'Enola Gay' piloted by Colonel Paul Tibbets; three days later, on 9 August 1945, a second bomb ('Fat Man', plutonium implosion type) was dropped on Nagasaki; Japan surrendered on 15 August 1945 (V-J Day), ending World War II; these two bombings remain the only use of nuclear weapons in warfare in human history; Hiroshima Day is observed globally to promote nuclear disarmament; Hiroshima Peace Memorial (Genbaku Dome) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site (1996); the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), first signed on 7 July 2017, entered into force on 22 January 2021; India has NOT signed the TPNW; India is a signatory to the Partial Test Ban Treaty (PTBT, 1963) but NOT to the CTBT (Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty).
- 7 August - National Handloom Day 2026 (12th Observance) – Observed to honour India's rich handloom heritage and commemorate the Swadeshi Movement, this day promotes traditional weaving communities and encourages the use of handloom products. National Handloom Day is observed on 7 August every year to commemorate the launch of the Swadeshi Movement on 7 August 1905, when Indian leaders resolved to boycott British manufactured goods and promote Indian textiles. Exam importance: The first National Handloom Day was observed on 7 August 2015 (under PM Modi); 2026 marks the 12th Observance; the day is organised by the Ministry of Textiles; India has approximately 35 lakh handloom workers - the 2nd largest employment sector after agriculture; India's handloom sector generates exports worth approximately USD 490 million; major handloom products: Varanasi Silk (UP), Kanjivaram Saree (TN), Pochampally Ikat (Telangana), Chanderikala (MP), Phulkari (Punjab); the Handloom Reservation Act, 1985 reserves certain products exclusively for handloom production.
- 8 August - Quit India Movement Day 2026 (84th Anniversary) – This day commemorates the launch of the Quit India Movement by Mahatma Gandhi in 1942. The Quit India Movement (Bharat Chhodo Andolan) was launched by Mahatma Gandhi at the Bombay session of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) on 8 August 1942, with the famous slogan "Do or Die" (Karenge ya Marenge). Exam importance: 2026 marks the 84th anniversary; the resolution was passed at Gowalia Tank (August Kranti Maidan, now renamed), Mumbai, on 8 August 1942; the British government arrested Gandhi, Nehru, and most Congress leaders immediately (Operation Zero Hour, 9 August 1942); despite lacking central leadership, the movement spread massively at the grassroots level; Quit India Movement Day is also known as August Kranti Diwas; the August Kranti Maidan in Mumbai is a national monument.
