Daily digest

Daily Current Affairs — 17 August 2026

Monday, 17 August 2026

Verified current affairs for 17 August 2026 — readable in about 10 minutes.

A.P. aqua farmers get power at ₹1.50/unit, 10-acre cap removed

Andhra Pradesh aqua farmers receive electricity at ₹1.50 per unit.
The 10-acre cap on this power tariff benefit has been lifted.

AI main risk is erosion of human judgment: RBI Governor

RBI Governor said the main risk of AI is erosion of human judgment.
RBI Governor stated responsibility for a bank's decisions rests with the bank, not with its algorithm.

AP Christian leaders urge Centre to withhold FCRA Amendment Bill

APCLF leaders urged Centre to withhold proposed FCRA Amendment Bill in entirety.
Representatives of FCRA-registered organisations also demanded the withholding.
They also demanded a review of the functioning of FCRA Act, 2010.

SHIFT Transport Coalition Launches Transport Analytics Hub

SHIFT Transport Coalition launched a Transport Analytics Hub.
The hub uses geospatial analytics and interactive visualisation tools.
It helps users understand mobility patterns and compare cities.
It assesses urban road networks using geospatial metrics.

Kerala HC stays order to PSC on mark details

Kerala High Court stayed an information commission order.
Order directed PSC to give mark details and personal info.
Matter relates to a planning board post.

Kerala name change, co-op bills cleared without debate in Lok Sabha

Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026 and National Co-operative Development Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2026 were moved.
Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai moved the Kerala name change bill.
Minister of State for Cooperation Murlidhar Mohol moved the NCDC amendment bill.
Both bills were cleared without debate as Lok Sabha deadlock continues.

21 Tonnes of Gutkha Incinerated in Krishnagiri for Drug-Free Tamil Nadu

21 tonnes of gutkha were incinerated.
The incineration marked the 'drug-free TN' campaign.
The event took place in Krishnagiri, Tamil Nadu.

Hundreds rally in Aizawl against FCRA amendment

Hundreds rallied in Aizawl against the FCRA amendment.
Council of Churches in Mizoram warned the Bill could allow seizure of assets.
Assets of churches and NGOs with cancelled or non-renewed FCRA registrations at risk.

Velampeta to serve as blueprint for AP slum redevelopment

Velampeta will be a blueprint for other slum redevelopment in Andhra Pradesh.
Andhra Pradesh will adopt the Dharavi model for slum redevelopment.

Madurai joins statewide anti-drug pledge after CM Vijay launch

Madurai joined a statewide mobilization against drugs.
The Collector spearheaded the anti-drug pledge in Madurai.
The pledge followed Chief Minister Vijay's launch of the campaign.

Two Tribal Representatives Included in State Wildlife Board for First Time

In a first, two tribal representatives were included in the State Wildlife Board.
The move aims at ensuring tribal participation in forest management.
It seeks to integrate traditional wisdom of tribal communities into forest management.

M.P. Parameswaran, Nuclear Scientist and Marxist Theorist, Dies at 92

M.P. Parameswaran was a renowned nuclear scientist and Marxist theorist.
He died at the age of 92.
He was an early and foremost member of Kerala Sastra Sahithya Parishad.
His 'fourth world' ideas led to his expulsion from CPI(M) in 2004.