PIB Current Affairs 8 August 2026

History & CultureLowquizQuiz

Vice-President Pays Tribute at Cellular Jail During Andaman and Nicobar Visit

•Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan visited the Cellular Jail in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and paid homage to the freedom fighters imprisoned there.
•He laid a wreath at the Martyr's Column and visited Veer Savarkar's cell, Swatantra Jyoti, the Central Tower, the Gallows and the Museum and Exhibition Gallery.
•He arrived at INS Utkrosh, Sri Vijaya Puram, and was received by the Lieutenant Governor, Admiral Devendra Kumar Joshi (Retd.), on a two-day visit that also includes the launch of 'Har Ghar Tiranga' and a visit to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Island.

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Schemes & CommitteesLowquizQuiz

Dr. Ambedkar Foundation's Inter-Caste Marriage and Atrocity Relief Schemes Merged into CSS

•Two Dr. Ambedkar Foundation schemes — for social integration through inter-caste marriages and for relief to SC/ST victims of atrocities — were merged with a Centrally Sponsored Scheme with effect from 31 March 2023, to avoid duplication.
•They were merged into the Centrally Sponsored Scheme for implementation of the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 and the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.
•A special initiative to clear the resulting backlog released inter-caste marriage incentives in 385 cases, amounting to approximately ₹9 crore.

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EconomyMediumquizQuiz

E-Samudra Launched as Single Digital Window for India's Maritime Services

•Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal launched E-Samudra in Mumbai, a comprehensive digital platform integrating services for seafarers, shipping companies, ports and other maritime stakeholders.
•The platform was inaugurated at a national stakeholder interaction organised by the Directorate General of Maritime Administration under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
•E-Samudra brings maritime services into a single digital window with end-to-end workflows, online payments, real-time tracking and digitally issued certificates.

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Banking & FinanceHighquizQuiz

Finance Ministry Rules Out UPI Charges for Users; MDR Only Above a Threshold

•The Government stated categorically that consumers making UPI payments will face no transaction charges and that all Person-to-Person transactions will remain free.
•Any Merchant Discount Rate, when introduced, will apply only to a limited set of merchant transactions above a threshold, at a nominal rate far lower than debit or credit card MDRs.
•The Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026 proposes to amend Section 10A of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007 as an enabling provision.

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Summits & ConferencesMediumquizQuiz

XI BRICS Culture Ministers' Meeting Adopts Bhopal Declaration Under India's Chairship

•The XI BRICS Culture Ministers' Meeting concluded in Bhopal under India's BRICS Chairship with the adoption of the Bhopal Declaration.
•Fourteen countries took part — 10 BRICS member countries and 4 partner countries — with 55 delegates in all.
•The Declaration covers creative industries, UNESCO multinational nominations, restitution of cultural property, traditional knowledge systems and creators' rights in the context of Artificial Intelligence.

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EconomyLowquizQuiz

OMCs Report E20 Petrol Chloride Within Limits After Nationwide Testing Drive

•Oil Marketing Companies conducted nationwide intensive testing across the entire E20 petrol supply chain after media reports alleging moisture and high chloride content.
•Claims of 500 ppm chloride and the presence of moisture were not validated: chloride at refineries was at or below 1 ppm, and retail outlet samples ranged from 0 to 3 ppm.
•Around 90,000 retail outlets began mandatory inspection of underground storage tanks 8 to 12 times daily, with no water ingress detected.

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Science & TechLowquizQuiz

DigiLocker Powers 'AAERI Verify' for Indian Students Applying to Australia

•The National e-Governance Division under MeitY has partnered with the Association of Australian Education Representatives in India to launch 'AAERI Verify', a DigiLocker-integrated document verification platform.
•The platform was unveiled at the AAERI Annual Convention in New Delhi on 7 August 2026 and works in two stages — a Student Check before application and a Sponsor Check after an admission offer.
•With the student's explicit consent, DigiLocker gives Australian universities direct access to digitally signed records from the original issuing authorities.

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Banking & FinanceHighquizQuiz

Amit Shah Launches Cyber Security Centre and 'Bank in a Box' for Urban Cooperative Banks

•Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah inaugurated NUCFDC's new premises in Mumbai and addressed the 'Sahkar Nav-Kranti' programme at the BSE International Convention Centre.
•He launched a Security Operations Centre for cyber surveillance of Urban Cooperative Banks, along with 'Bank in a Box' providing core banking, digital payments, cloud and compliance services at affordable rates.
•An MoU was exchanged between the National Forensic Sciences University and NUCFDC to extend forensic science support to the online banking operations of even the smallest UCBs.

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Current Affairs Pulse

PIB Current Affairs — 8 August 2026

Vice-President Pays Tribute at Cellular Jail During Andaman and Nicobar Visit

Dr. Ambedkar Foundation's Inter-Caste Marriage and Atrocity Relief Schemes Merged into CSS

E-Samudra Launched as Single Digital Window for India's Maritime Services

Finance Ministry Rules Out UPI Charges for Users; MDR Only Above a Threshold

XI BRICS Culture Ministers' Meeting Adopts Bhopal Declaration Under India's Chairship

OMCs Report E20 Petrol Chloride Within Limits After Nationwide Testing Drive

DigiLocker Powers 'AAERI Verify' for Indian Students Applying to Australia

Amit Shah Launches Cyber Security Centre and 'Bank in a Box' for Urban Cooperative Banks