25 August 2026Current Affairs & GK Compendium — August 2026

Daily Current Affairs & GK Compendium — 25 August 2026

Digital Payments: Unified Payments Interface (UPI) completes a decade on 25 August 2026, expanding from a 21-bank pilot in 2016 to over 24,162 crore annual transactions worth nearly Rs 314 lakh crore in FY 2025-26.

Curated For:

Executive Briefing

High-level takeaways from today's compendium (PIB, The Hindu, Indian Express)

Digital Payments: Unified Payments Interface (UPI) completes a decade on 25 August 2026, expanding from a 21-bank pilot in 2016 to over 24,162 crore annual transactions worth nearly Rs 314 lakh crore in FY 2025-26.
Governance: Prime Minister chairs the 53rd PRAGATI meeting to review multi-modal national infrastructure projects and welfare programs.
Health Regulations: Health Ministry (CDSCO) proposes amendments to Rule 44 of Medical Devices Rules, 2017, removing loan-licensing barriers for outsourced sterilization.
Internal Security: National Investigation Agency (NIA) carries out multi-state searches across five states under Section 66F of the IT Act, 2000 regarding cyber terrorism attacks on government websites.
Appointments: Former High Court Judge Justice Sunil Balkrishna Shukre takes oath as Chairperson of the Maharashtra Lokayukta.
Strategic Minerals: Ministry of Mines launches Critical Minerals Innovation Hackathon 2026 for 24 critical and strategic minerals.

Objective One-Liners

Rapid-fire factual bullets tailored for SSC, Banking, Railways & State PSC Prelims

Milestone Completed by UPI on 25 August 2026: 10 Years of Public Launch (Decade Milestone).

Umbrella Institution that Created and Operates UPI: National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).

Statutory Act Governing NPCI: Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007.

Edition of the PRAGATI Review Meeting Chaired by PM on 25 August 2026: 53rd Meeting.

Section of the IT Act, 2000 Defining and Penalizing Cyber Terrorism: Section 66F (Punishment: Life Imprisonment).

First State in India to Establish the Lokayukta Institution: Maharashtra (1971).

Newly Sworn-in Maharashtra Lokayukta Chairperson: Justice Sunil Balkrishna Shukre.

Rule of Medical Devices Rules 2017 Proposed for Amendment: Rule 44 (Outsourced Sterilization).

2-Minute Daily Revision Challenge

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Check how much you remember from today's briefing with our high-yield 5 Practice MCQs & PYQs.

Economy, Banking and Digital Public Infrastructure

Topic AEconomy, Banking and Digital Public Infrastructure

Unified Payments Interface (UPI) Completes a Decade (2016–2026)

On 25 August 2026, India's flagship payment network, the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), marked 10 years of public operations.

Key Facts & Dimensions

Developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) under RBI regulatory oversight under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007; launched publicly on 25 August 2016.
Growth Trajectory: Annual transactions rose from 1.78 crore (valued at Rs 0.07 lakh crore) in FY 2016-17 to over 24,162 crore transactions (~Rs 314 lakh crore) in FY 2025-26, commanding nearly 45% of global real-time payment volumes.
Cross-Border Linkages: Real-time bilateral linkage operationalized with Singapore (PayNow), UAE (Jaywan/AANI), Mauritius, France, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bhutan.

Exam Takeaway & GS Relevance

UPSC GS-III (Digital Financial Inclusion, Indian Economy, NPCI Infrastructure) and Banking Exams (IBPS/SBI PO/RBI Grade B).

Topic BEconomy, Banking and Digital Public Infrastructure

Prime Minister Chairs 53rd PRAGATI Meeting

The Prime Minister reviewed vital road, railway, and urban development projects during the 53rd edition of the PRAGATI platform.

Key Facts & Dimensions

PRAGATI (Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation) integrates three technologies: Digital Data Management, Video-conferencing, and Geo-spatial technology (GIS).
Serves as a unique three-tier inter-governmental mechanism (PMO, Union Secretaries, and Chief Secretaries of States) to resolve inter-departmental bottlenecks.

Exam Takeaway & GS Relevance

UPSC GS-II (Governance, Citizen-Centric Administration) and State PSCs.

Polity, Health Governance and Regulatory Reforms

Topic APolity, Health Governance and Regulatory Reforms

Amendments to Medical Devices Rules, 2017 for Outsourced Sterilization

The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) proposed key amendments to Rule 44 of the Medical Devices Rules, 2017.

Key Facts & Dimensions

Medical device manufacturers outsourcing sterilization to an authorized facility with a valid license will no longer be required to obtain a separate loan license.
Retains strict traceability by mandating that the licensed sterilizer facility's identification number be clearly printed on the product labeling.

Exam Takeaway & GS Relevance

UPSC GS-II (Government Policies and Interventions) and GS-III (Healthcare Manufacturing).

Topic BPolity, Health Governance and Regulatory Reforms

Justice Sunil Balkrishna Shukre Appointed Maharashtra Lokayukta Chairperson

Former High Court judge Justice Sunil Balkrishna Shukre took the oath of office as the Chairperson of the Maharashtra Lokayukta.

Key Facts & Dimensions

Heads the state anti-corruption ombudsman institution responsible for investigating allegations of corruption and maladministration against public servants.
Operates under the statutory framework of the Maharashtra Lokayukta Act.

Exam Takeaway & GS Relevance

State PSCs, SSC CGL, and UPSC GS-II (Statutory and Quasi-Judicial Bodies).

Internal Security, Defense and Strategic Mining

Topic AInternal Security, Defense and Strategic Mining

NIA Probes Multi-State Cyber Terrorism Network under Section 66F

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted coordinated searches across five states in connection with cyber terrorism targeting 54 Government of India websites.

Key Facts & Dimensions

Registered under Section 66F of the Information Technology Act, 2000 (Cyber Terrorism) and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
Section 66F penalizes acts aimed at threatening the unity, integrity, security, or sovereignty of India by denying access to authorized users or damaging critical information infrastructure with imprisonment up to life.

Exam Takeaway & GS Relevance

UPSC GS-III (Cybersecurity, Internal Security Threats, IT Act) and Law/Judiciary Exams.

Topic BInternal Security, Defense and Strategic Mining

Critical Minerals Innovation Hackathon 2026 Launched

The Ministry of Mines launched the nationwide Critical Minerals Innovation Hackathon 2026.

Key Facts & Dimensions

Invites academia and industry to design advanced metallurgical solutions for processing 24 critical and strategic minerals (including Lithium, Cobalt, Graphite, Titanium, and Rare Earth Elements).
Directly supports the National Critical Minerals Mission and domestic supply-chain resilience.

Exam Takeaway & GS Relevance

UPSC GS-III (Mineral Resources, Innovation in Science and Technology).

Static GK Foundations

Essential background concepts and core static knowledge tied to today's news

Focus #1

National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and Digital Rails

•Genesis: Incorporated in December 2008 as a not-for-profit Section 8 company under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007.
•Founders: Set up by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Indian Banks' Association (IBA) as an umbrella body for retail payments.
•Ecosystem Products: Unified Payments Interface (UPI), IMPS, RuPay card network, NETC (FASTag), AePS, and Bharat BillPay (BBPS).

Focus #2

Lokayukta Institution in Indian States: Genesis and Statutory Mandate

•Origins: First recommended by the First Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC) in 1966 headed by Morarji Desai.
•Pioneer State: Maharashtra became the first state in India to establish the Lokayukta in 1971.
•National Legislation: The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 mandated all States to establish Lokayuktas within one year of enactment.

Focus #3

Legal Framework of Cyber Terrorism under Section 66F of IT Act, 2000

•Inserted via the Information Technology (Amendment) Act, 2008 to address cyber warfare and attacks on critical infrastructure.
•Offence Scope: Intent to threaten national unity, integrity, security, or sovereignty by denying access or damaging computer systems.
•Punishment: Mandatory punishment extending up to imprisonment for life.

2-Minute Daily Revision Challenge

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Check how much you remember from today's briefing with our high-yield 5 Practice MCQs & PYQs.

🎯 Daily Practice Flow

Daily Current Affairs MCQs & PYQs

5 High-Yield Questions • Instant Color Feedback & In-Depth Explanations

Progress

0 of 5 Answered

Q1PYQ • UPSC Civil Services Prelims

With reference to digital payments in India, consider the following statements: 1. The Unified Payments Interface (UPI) was developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). 2. NPCI is an initiative of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Indian Banks' Association (IBA) under the provisions of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q2PYQ • UPSC Civil Services Prelims

Which of the following states was the first in India to establish the institution of Lokayukta?

Q3Daily MCQ • STANDARD

Consider the following statements regarding the Unified Payments Interface (UPI): 1. It functions as an interoperable, real-time payment rail developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). 2. It operates under the statutory framework of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007. 3. Users require unique merchant-specific bank account numbers and IFSC codes to execute retail peer-to-merchant payments. Which of the statements given above are correct?

Q4Daily MCQ • STANDARD

With reference to Cyber Terrorism in Indian law, consider the following statements: 1. Section 66F of the Information Technology Act, 2000 explicitly defines and penalizes cyber terrorism. 2. The maximum punishment prescribed for the offence of cyber terrorism under Section 66F is imprisonment for life. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q5Daily MCQ • STANDARD

Executive Briefing

Objective One-Liners

🎯 Test Your Recall

Economy, Banking and Digital Public Infrastructure

Unified Payments Interface (UPI) Completes a Decade (2016–2026)

Key Facts & Dimensions

Prime Minister Chairs 53rd PRAGATI Meeting

Key Facts & Dimensions

Polity, Health Governance and Regulatory Reforms

Amendments to Medical Devices Rules, 2017 for Outsourced Sterilization

Key Facts & Dimensions

Justice Sunil Balkrishna Shukre Appointed Maharashtra Lokayukta Chairperson

Key Facts & Dimensions

Internal Security, Defense and Strategic Mining

NIA Probes Multi-State Cyber Terrorism Network under Section 66F

Key Facts & Dimensions

Critical Minerals Innovation Hackathon 2026 Launched

Key Facts & Dimensions

Static GK Foundations

National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and Digital Rails

Lokayukta Institution in Indian States: Genesis and Statutory Mandate

Legal Framework of Cyber Terrorism under Section 66F of IT Act, 2000

🎯 Test Your Recall

Daily Current Affairs MCQs & PYQs

Which of the following states was the first in India to establish the institution of Lokayukta?

The multi-purpose interactive platform 'PRAGATI', frequently seen in the governance news, is an acronym for: