16 August 2026 — Current Affairs Quiz

Explanation

Cabinet approved Samudra Manthan, the National Offshore Exploration Scheme, on 31 July 2026. A Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, its Phase-I outlay is Rs 84,084 crore up to FY 2030-31, to accelerate deepwater oil and gas exploration. Components: seismic data Rs 28,534 cr, drilling 60 wells Rs 43,200 cr, common infrastructure Rs 10,000 cr, manufacturing zone Rs 2,000 cr. Target: over 600 MMTOE reserve accretion. PM announced it from the Red Fort on 15 Aug 2025.

Explanation

From the Red Fort on 15 August 2026, the 80th Independence Day, PM Narendra Modi announced AI skill training for 1 crore youth over the next one year, so Indians can lead the world in AI. Other announcements: free online coaching for competitive exams, a national sports talent hunt for ages 5-15, modernised Civil Defence, 7-8 semiconductor plants in 1-2 years, 100 GW nuclear capacity by 2047 and a target of 6 crore Lakhpati Didis. The address was translated into 22 languages using Bhashini.

Explanation

Per the Ministry of Defence (PIB, 10 August 2026), the theme of the 80th Independence Day celebrations was '150 Years of Vande Mataram' and 'Yuva Shakti for Viksit Bharat@2047'. Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh said that as 2026 marks 150 years of the National Song, it was sung from the Red Fort ramparts for the first time. About 2,500 NCC and MY Bharat volunteers formed its lettering on Gyanpath and some 5,000 special guests attended. The 2025 theme was Naya Bharat.

Explanation

Udara Shakti 2026 is a biennial bilateral exercise between the Indian Air Force and the Royal Malaysian Air Force, held from 10 to 14 August 2026 at Subang Air Base in Selangor, Malaysia, with the flying phase from 11 to 13 August. The IAF deployed four Rafale jets of 101 Squadron and two C-17 Globemaster III transports, marking the Rafale's debut in this exercise. The RMAF fielded Su-30MKM and F/A-18D fighters and an A400M. It was held during the IAF's return from Pitch Black 2026 in Australia.

Explanation

The Rajasthan Uniform Civil Code (RUCC) Bill, 2026 was drafted by a five-member expert committee headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai, announced by Law Minister Jogaram Patel on 22 June 2026. The Cabinet under CM Bhajan Lal Sharma approved the draft on 13 August 2026 for the Assembly session beginning 20 August 2026. It follows Article 44 (Directive Principles) and will not apply to Scheduled Tribes. Desai also chaired the Uttarakhand and Gujarat UCC panels.

Explanation

The Rajasthan Cabinet chaired by CM Bhajan Lal Sharma approved the draft Rajasthan Trees (Protection) Bill, 2026 on 13 August 2026. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Jogaram Patel said it proposes protection for 29 species, including the state tree Khejri, state flower Rohida, banyan, peepal, lasoda, tendu, mahua, ker and chironji. It targets unpermitted felling on non-forest land and follows agitations to save Khejri in western Rajasthan. It goes to the Assembly session from 20 August 2026.

Explanation

Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam (Plant4Mother) is run by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. PM Narendra Modi launched it on World Environment Day, 5 June 2024, planting a peepal sapling at Buddha Jayanti Park in Delhi. The target of 80 crore saplings by September 2024 was met on 25 September 2024, and a 140 crore target was set for March 2025. On 15 August 2026, Governor Haribhau Bagde planted fruit saplings under it at Lok Bhavan, Jaipur.