UPSC Current Affairs 08 August 2026

• Runima Chetiya Choudhury, Assam — Muga silk saree.
• Ram Meher, Odisha — Bichitpar Khadi Saree.
• Shah Muhammad Ansari, Uttar Pradesh — Zarbaft Shewatambari Awadh Jamdhani Saree.

• The awards are administered by the Ministry of Textiles.
• They are instituted under the Handloom Marketing Assistance component of the National Handloom Development Programme.
• The Sant Kabir Handloom Award is the highest national recognition for handloom weavers demonstrating exceptional craftsmanship, innovation, preservation of traditional techniques and contribution to the welfare of weaving communities.
• The National Handloom Award recognises excellence in weaving, design development, marketing, entrepreneurship and institutional initiatives.
• Selection involves zonal, headquarters and central-level committees comprising technical experts and government officials.

• Cultural preservation: Recognises India’s diverse regional weaving traditions and protects intangible cultural heritage.
• Rural livelihood: Handloom remains an important source of income, particularly for rural households and women artisans.
• Women’s empowerment: The sector provides home-based employment and supports women’s economic participation.
• Sustainable production: Handloom generally involves lower energy use and supports environmentally conscious textile production.
• Market competitiveness: Recognition of start-ups, producer companies and marketing initiatives indicates a shift from merely preserving traditions to building commercially viable handloom enterprises.
• Technology integration: The President emphasised the appropriate use of modern technology and digital platforms for the sustainable growth of the sector.

• National Handloom Development Programme: Support for clusters, infrastructure, design, technology and marketing.
• Raw Material Supply Scheme: Subsidised supply of yarn and reimbursement of freight charges.
• Hathkargha Samvardhan Sahayata: Assistance for upgraded looms, jacquards and dobbies.
• Handloom Mark and India Handloom Brand: Certification and branding of genuine handloom products.
• Weavers’ MUDRA loans: Credit support for working capital and modernisation.
• Digital marketing: Promotion through GeM, e-commerce platforms and indiahandmade.com.

• Launched: August 2021.
• Type: Centrally Sponsored Scheme.
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare.
• Objective: Increase domestic production of edible oil, particularly crude palm oil (CPO), reduce import dependence and improve farmers’ income.
• Original financial outlay: ₹11,040 crore, including the Centre’s and States’ shares.
• Coverage: Implemented in 15 States, with special emphasis on the North-Eastern States and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
• The mission initially aimed to bring an additional 6.5 lakh hectares under oil-palm cultivation and raise total coverage to about 10 lakh hectares.

• Between 2021–22 and 2025–26, around 2.73 lakh hectares were brought under oil-palm cultivation.
• Cumulative oil-palm coverage reached approximately 6.40 lakh hectares as of 31 March 2026.
• The mission targets CPO production of 11.20 lakh tonnes by 2025–26 and 28 lakh tonnes by 2029–30.
• The government has introduced a Viability Gap Payment (VGP) to protect farmers from fluctuations in international palm-oil prices and ensure remunerative returns.

• Financial assistance for quality planting material, maintenance during the gestation period and intercropping.
• Support for drip irrigation, borewells, water-harvesting structures and farm machinery.
• Establishment of seed gardens, nurseries, processing infrastructure and custom-hiring centres.
• Assistance for replanting old plantations and training of farmers and officials.
• Assured price mechanism through VGP, particularly important because oil palm begins yielding commercially only after a gestation period of several years.

• Food security: Reduces vulnerability to global edible-oil price shocks and supply-chain disruptions.
• Import substitution: India imports a substantial share of its edible-oil requirement, creating pressure on foreign exchange reserves.
• Farmer income: Oil palm can provide a relatively stable, long-term income when supported by assured procurement and processing facilities.
• Agro-industrial growth: Encourages investment in oil extraction, logistics, storage and rural processing.
• Crop diversification: Provides an alternative to water-intensive or low-return crops in suitable regions.

• Oil palm is a water-intensive crop and may create ecological stress if promoted in unsuitable areas.
• Large-scale monoculture can reduce biodiversity and affect soil and groundwater.
• Farmers face income uncertainty during the gestation period before plantations become productive.
• Dependence on private processors and assured procurement may create an imbalance in farmer–industry relations.
• Expansion must not lead to deforestation or the conversion of ecologically sensitive land, especially in the North-East and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

• The Ministry of Culture released an updated status of the Scheme for Promotion of Culture of Science (SPoCS) on 6 August 2026, highlighting the expansion of Science Centres, Innovation Hubs and Digital Planetariums across India.
• The latest update is significant because Science City, Guwahati (First Phase) became operational under SPoCS in March 2026, while projects such as a Category-II Science Centre and Innovation Hub at Srinagar are currently under implementation.

• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Culture, Government of India.
• Implementing/Nodal Agency: National Council of Science Museums (NCSM), an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Culture.
• Objective: The scheme aims to promote scientific temper, scientific awareness and public understanding of science, particularly among students, while demonstrating the applications of science and technology in industry and human welfare.
• Major Components: SPoCS supports the establishment and development of Science Cities, Science Centres, Innovation Hubs and Digital Planetariums across different regions.
• Educational Outreach: These institutions organise exhibitions, demonstrations, science-based educational activities, innovation programmes and outreach initiatives to encourage students to engage with science.

• 28 Science Centres/Science City projects are listed as established under SPoCS, with Science City, Guwahati (First Phase) inaugurated/established in March 2026 being the latest addition in the official list.
• A Category-II Science Centre and Innovation Hub at Srinagar is among the ongoing SPoCS projects, strengthening science outreach infrastructure in Jammu & Kashmir.
• As of 31 March 2026, Science Centres established under the scheme had recorded 1,68,55,110 visitors, including students.
• SPoCS expenditure has increased significantly, with the 2025–26 approved allocation at ₹117.68 crore and ₹117.58 crore released, compared with ₹61.50 crore approved in 2023–24.

• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) has been in the news in the last few days following new research linking occupational pesticide exposure with a higher risk of ALS, with a recent study reporting particularly elevated risk among heavily exposed workers.
• At the same time, advances in RNA-based therapies are attracting attention, with Ractigen Therapeutics reporting completion of enrolment and first dosing in a Phase-II trial of RAG-17 for SOD1-associated ALS on 6 August 2026.

• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease in which motor neurons responsible for voluntary muscle movement gradually degenerate and die.
• It affects upper and lower motor neurons, resulting in progressive muscle weakness, loss of movement, difficulty speaking and swallowing, and eventually respiratory muscle failure.
• ALS is also commonly called Motor Neuron Disease (MND), although the terminology and disease spectrum can vary across countries.
• Around 90% of ALS cases are sporadic, while approximately 10% are familial and associated with genetic mutations. Important genes include SOD1, C9orf72, TARDBP and FUS.

• Motor neuron degeneration: Death of neurons in the brain and spinal cord disrupts communication between the nervous system and skeletal muscles.
• Muscle atrophy: Loss of neural stimulation causes progressive wasting and weakness of muscles.
• Multiple mechanisms: Disease development may involve abnormal RNA processing, protein aggregation, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, impaired autophagy, neuroinflammation and defective axonal transport.
• Cognitive function: ALS primarily affects motor functions, but some patients can also develop frontotemporal cognitive or behavioural changes.

• Environmental risk: A recent study reported that occupational exposure to pesticides may be associated with substantially increased ALS risk, strengthening interest in environmental contributors to neurodegenerative diseases.
• RNA-based therapy: RAG-17 is being investigated for SOD1-associated ALS, representing the growing application of RNA-targeting approaches to genetically defined forms of the disease.
• AI and digital biomarkers: Researchers are increasingly investigating speech analysis and machine-learning models for early identification and monitoring of ALS progression, particularly because speech impairment can emerge from bulbar motor dysfunction.

• No definitive cure: Current treatment focuses on slowing disease progression, managing symptoms and maintaining quality of life.
• Approved therapies: FDA-recognised ALS treatments have included riluzole and edaravone, while tofersen provides a targeted treatment approach for patients with SOD1-associated ALS.
• Multidisciplinary care: Respiratory support, nutritional management, physiotherapy, speech therapy and assistive communication technologies are important components of care.
• RELYVRIO withdrawal: The earlier ALS drug sodium phenylbutyrate/taurursodiol (RELYVRIO) had its FDA approval withdrawn after its Phase-III PHOENIX trial failed to meet its specified endpoints.

• Revised MSME classification: The Central Government will classify enterprises using two criteria—investment in plant and machinery/equipment and turnover. The specific thresholds will be notified separately.
• Voluntary digital registration: A national digital platform will facilitate free and voluntary filing of MSME registration memoranda. States may also establish their own digital platforms.
• Mandatory TReDS settlement: Central Public Sector Enterprises must route invoices for goods and services purchased from MSMEs through the RBI-authorised Trade Receivables Discounting System (TReDS). TReDS enables MSMEs to obtain finance against unpaid invoices.
• Time-bound dispute resolution: Mediation must be completed within 90 days from the first appearance. If mediation fails, arbitration must begin within 30 days, and the award must be issued within 90 days of completion of pleadings.
• Stronger recovery mechanism: Mediated settlements and arbitral awards may be recovered as arrears of land revenue. Such dues will also be recognised as legally enforceable debt under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016.
• Protection during appeals: A buyer challenging an award or mediated settlement must deposit 75% of the awarded amount. If the case remains pending for more than six months, the court must order payment of at least 50% of the awarded amount to the MSME supplier.
• Reformed Facilitation Councils: States may establish additional Micro and Small Enterprises Facilitation Councils. Each Council must include a government officer, representatives of MSME associations and at least one legal expert.
• Decriminalisation and graded penalties: Certain offences will attract a warning at the first instance, followed by graded monetary penalties instead of conviction-based punishment.

• The Bill addresses one of the biggest structural challenges faced by MSMEs—delayed payments, which weaken working capital, employment generation and business continuity.
• Mandatory TReDS usage can improve cash flow, while time limits and enforceability provisions may reduce prolonged litigation.
• It also promotes Ease of Doing Business by simplifying registration and replacing some criminal penalties with proportionate civil penalties.
• The focus on digital dispute resolution can improve accessibility for enterprises located outside major commercial centres.

• The effectiveness of the law will depend on timely rule-making and implementation by Central and State Governments.
• Mandatory TReDS settlement may face compliance and onboarding challenges among CPSEs and smaller suppliers.
• Facilitation Councils require adequate staff, infrastructure and legal capacity to meet the prescribed timelines.
• Since MSME classification thresholds will be notified later, policy certainty may remain limited until the notification is issued.

• Anganwadi Services.
• POSHAN Abhiyaan.
• Scheme for Adolescent Girls aged 14–18 years in Aspirational Districts and the North-Eastern Region.

• Children aged 6 months to 6 years.
• Pregnant women and lactating mothers.
• Adolescent girls aged 14–18 years in Aspirational Districts and the North-Eastern Region.

• Infrastructure modernisation: Saksham Anganwadis are to be equipped with LED screens, water-purification systems, smart learning aids, Early Childhood Care and Education material, child-friendly facilities, and Poshan Vatikas.
• Digital governance: The Poshan Tracker monitors Anganwadi Centres, workers, attendance, growth measurements, supplementary nutrition, Take-Home Ration and ECCE activities.
• Targeted delivery: Aadhaar verification, e-KYC and facial-recognition-based authentication have been introduced to reduce duplication and leakage. A Nominee Module enables beneficiaries to receive Take-Home Ration through an authorised nominee.
• Nutrition outcomes: The government is using Poshan Tracker data to monitor stunting, wasting and underweight among children below five years.
• Parliamentary data: Jammu and Kashmir utilised ₹1,229.99 crore under the scheme during 2023–24 and 2024–25, while ₹401.62 crore was released during 2025–26.

• The mission adopts a life-cycle approach to malnutrition by linking maternal nutrition, infant feeding, early childhood development and adolescent nutrition.
• Upgraded Anganwadi Centres can function not merely as food-distribution points but as platforms for foundational learning, preventive healthcare and community-level nutrition awareness.

• Uneven quality of supplementary nutrition across States.
• Infrastructure and connectivity gaps in remote and tribal regions.
• Excessive dependence on digital authentication may exclude beneficiaries facing problems with Aadhaar, mobile connectivity or biometric verification.
• Anganwadi Workers continue to face heavy administrative and data-entry responsibilities.
• Poshan Tracker data requires independent verification and privacy safeguards.

• The National Cybercrime Threat Analytics Unit (NCTAU) of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) recently came into focus after its technical analysis helped identify a sophisticated “Boss Scam” campaign targeting corporate executives, finance professionals and businesses through compromised WhatsApp accounts.
• NCTAU’s analysis found links to organised cross-border cybercrime networks using advanced malware and DLL sideloading techniques, highlighting the growing importance of intelligence-led cybercrime prevention.

• NCTAU is a specialised vertical of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), established to analyse cybercrime patterns and generate actionable cyber-threat intelligence.
• It analyses cybercrime complaints and intelligence to identify emerging modus operandi, criminal networks, digital infrastructure and recurring patterns associated with cyber offences.
• The unit conducts proactive cyber patrolling and collects Open Source Network Intelligence (OSNIT) relating to potential cybercriminals and emerging threats.
• NCTAU prepares cybercrime threat-intelligence reports and disseminates analytical findings to Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) across States and Union Territories for preventive and investigative action.

• Threat Analysis: Integrates information from different cybercrime incidents to identify common patterns and emerging threats.
• Modus Operandi Mapping: Detects new methods used by cybercriminals, including phishing, malware, financial fraud and account takeovers.
• Proactive Cyber Patrolling: Monitors publicly available online information to identify potential threats before they cause widespread harm.
• Threat Intelligence: Converts technical and operational information into intelligence that can support State and Central investigating agencies.
• Multi-Stakeholder Coordination: Provides a platform for cooperation among LEAs, cybersecurity specialists, industry and academia.

• The recent Boss Scam involves attackers compromising or taking over WhatsApp accounts and impersonating senior executives to induce employees or finance teams to make fraudulent payments.
• NCTAU's technical analysis identified the involvement of cross-border organised cybercrime networks and malware using DLL sideloading, an attack technique that abuses legitimate software-loading mechanisms to execute malicious code.
• The episode demonstrates the transition from reactive cybercrime investigation to proactive cyber-threat intelligence, where patterns are identified and warnings are issued before larger-scale losses occur.

• I4C functions as the Central Government's institutional mechanism for coordinated action against cybercrime, while NCTAU is its intelligence and analytics-oriented vertical.
• Other important I4C components include the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal, National Cybercrime Forensic Laboratory ecosystem, National Cybercrime Training Centre, Joint Cybercrime Investigation Teams and Cybercrime Ecosystem Management Unit.
• The National Cybercrime Reporting Portal enables citizens to report cybercrime, with special focus on offences against women and children.

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