5 August, 2026 Current Affairs for APSC, UPSC, ADRE & Assam Govt Exams

Current Affairs – 5 August 2026: Stay updated with today’s most important current affairs for APSC CCE, UPSC CSE, ADRE, and other Central & State Government examinations. This daily compilation covers exam-relevant national, international, Assam, economy, polity, governance, environment, science & technology, social issues, and government schemes. Each topic is presented with syllabus connection, key exam points, Prelims facts, and Mains-oriented insights to help you prepare effectively for every stage of the examination.

Polity & Governance

Parliament Passes Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2026

Syllabus Connection

Why is it in the news?

• Parliament passed the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2026, introducing stricter provisions for delayed registration of births and deaths to improve the accuracy and integrity of the civil registration system.

Key Exam Points

• The Bill amends the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969.
• Under the amended law, births or deaths reported more than two years after the event will require the approval of a Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC).
• For registrations delayed between one year and two years, approval will continue to be granted by the District Magistrate, Sub-Divisional Magistrate or an authorised Executive Magistrate, as provided under the existing framework.
• The amendment aims to strengthen the Civil Registration System (CRS) by ensuring timely and accurate registration of births and deaths.
• Birth and death registration is essential for:
  • Legal identity and citizenship records
  • Population statistics and planning
  • Delivery of welfare schemes
  • Public health and demographic data
  • Preparation and verification of electoral rolls
• According to the Government:
  • Birth registration increased from 86.6% (2014) to 99.1% (2024).

Supreme Court Issues Nationwide Directions to Strengthen Response to Digital Fraud

Syllabus Connection

Why is it in the news?

• The Supreme Court issued nationwide directions to strengthen the response to cyber-enabled financial frauds, directing the RBI, States and law enforcement agencies to improve mechanisms for prevention, grievance redressal and restoration of money to victims.

Key Exam Points

• The Supreme Court directed the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to prepare a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) within four weeks for dealing with:
  • Mule accounts
  • Bank accounts linked to cyber fraud
  • Money laundering activities
• The Court directed all States, Union Territories and law enforcement agencies to operationalise:
  • Grievance Redressal Module
  • Money Restoration Module
    under the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP).
• States have also been directed to create and operationalise State Cyber Crime Coordination Centres.
• The Court asked States to adopt the e-Zero FIR mechanism in consultation with the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C).
• The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) functions under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and serves as the national nodal agency for coordinating efforts to combat cybercrime.
• The National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP) enables citizens to report cybercrime incidents, particularly cyber financial frauds and crimes against women and children.
• The Court also directed authorities to improve public awareness regarding cyber fraud reporting and grievance redressal mechanisms.

International Relations

India Invites Bangladesh PM to BRICS Summit Outreach Session

Syllabus Connection

Why is it in the news?

• India has invited Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to attend the Outreach Session of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi in his capacity as the current Chair of BIMSTEC.

Key Exam Points

• India is the Chair of BRICS in 2026 and will host the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on 12–13 September 2026.
• Bangladesh has been invited in its capacity as the current Chair of BIMSTEC, following the established practice of inviting leaders of important regional organisations to the BRICS Outreach Session.
• The BRICS Outreach Session allows engagement between BRICS members and leaders of selected partner countries and regional organisations.
• BRICS is an intergovernmental grouping comprising:
  • Brazil
  • Russia
  • India
  • China
  • South Africa
  • Egypt
  • Ethiopia
  • Iran
  • United Arab Emirates (UAE)
  • Indonesia
• BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) is a regional organisation comprising:
  • Bangladesh
  • Bhutan
  • India
  • Myanmar
  • Nepal
  • Sri Lanka
  • Thailand
• Objective of BIMSTEC:
  • Promote regional connectivity.
  • Enhance trade and economic cooperation.
  • Strengthen collaboration in security, disaster management, energy, transport, and technology across the Bay of Bengal region.

Health

Tele MANAS: National Tele Mental Health Programme

Syllabus Connection

Why is it in the news?

• The Government of India is promoting Tele MANAS, a 24×7 national tele-mental health service, to improve access to mental health support across the country.

Key Exam Points

• Tele MANAS stands for Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States.
• It is an initiative of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) under the National Tele Mental Health Programme (NTMHP).
• The service provides free, round-the-clock mental health counselling through trained professionals.
• It is available 24×7 across India in 20+ languages, making mental healthcare more accessible.
• Individuals can seek support for:
  • Anxiety and depression
  • Family and relationship issues
  • Academic or workplace stress
  • Financial stress
  • Sleep disorders
  • Substance abuse
  • Excessive mobile or internet use
  • Suicidal thoughts and other mental health concerns
• The Tele MANAS App offers:
  • Self-help materials
  • Wellness practice modules
  • Accessibility features for differently-abled users
  • “Asmi”, an AI-based chatbot for guidance and mental health resources
• Helpline Number: 14416 (Toll-Free)

Environment

Glaw Lake Becomes Arunachal Pradesh’s First Ramsar Site

Syllabus Connection

Why is it in the news?

• Glaw Lake, located in Lohit district of Arunachal Pradesh, has been designated as the State’s first Ramsar Site, becoming India’s 101st Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention.

Key Exam Points

• Glaw Lake is a freshwater lake situated within the Kamlang Tiger Reserve and Wildlife Sanctuary in the Eastern Himalayas.
• The wetland is a biodiversity hotspot, supporting:
  • More than 150 species of trees.
  • 49 species of orchids.
  • Rich Himalayan flora and fauna.
• The Ramsar designation aims to:
  • Strengthen wetland conservation.
  • Protect biodiversity.
  • Enhance water and climate security.
  • Promote sustainable livelihoods.
  • Encourage scientific research and eco-tourism.
• With the inclusion of Glaw Lake:
  • Arunachal Pradesh gets its first Ramsar Site.
  • India’s total number of Ramsar Sites increases to 101.
• India has expanded its Ramsar network significantly, from 26 Ramsar Sites in 2014 to 101 in 2026.

Prelims Facts

• Location: Lohit district, Arunachal Pradesh
• Protected Area: Kamlang Tiger Reserve and Wildlife Sanctuary
• Wetland Type: Freshwater lake
• International Status: Ramsar Site (Wetland of International Importance)
• India’s Ramsar Sites: 101
• Arunachal Pradesh’s First Ramsar Site: Glaw Lake
• Ramsar Convention:
  • Adopted in 1971 at Ramsar, Iran.
  • An international treaty for the conservation and wise use of wetlands.

Exam Tip: Remember this sequence:
Glaw Lake → Lohit district → Kamlang Tiger Reserve → Arunachal Pradesh’s first Ramsar Site → India’s 101st Ramsar Site. This combination is a strong Prelims fact-based question candidate.

ASSAM RELATED

Mukhya Mantrir Nijut Moina Aasoni & Mukhya Mantrir Nijut Babu Aasoni (2026–27)

Syllabus Connection

Why is it in the news?

• The Assam Government will distribute application forms for Mukhya Mantrir Nijut Moina Aasoni and Mukhya Mantrir Nijut Babu Aasoni across 452 institutions on 6 August 2026 for the academic session 2026–27.

Key Exam Points

• Mukhya Mantrir Nijut Moina Aasoni provides monthly financial assistance to girl students pursuing higher education in Assam.
• Mukhya Mantrir Nijut Babu Aasoni extends similar financial assistance to boy students pursuing higher education.
• Monthly Assistance under Nijut Moina
  • Class XI & XII, Polytechnic Diploma (1st & 2nd Year): ₹800
  • Undergraduate, ITEP & Polytechnic Diploma (3rd Year): ₹1,250
  • Postgraduate & B.Ed.: ₹2,500
• Monthly Assistance under Nijut Babu
  • Undergraduate: ₹1,000
  • Postgraduate: ₹2,000
• Benefits are provided for a maximum of 10 months in an academic year, excluding June, July and winter vacation.
• For 2026–27, the schemes aim to benefit over 5 lakh girl students and more than 1 lakh boy students.
• Around 1,959 eligible institutions under the Government of Assam, eligible venture colleges and Central Universities in Assam are covered under the schemes.
• Along with these schemes, the Government is implementing Shikhyarthee Sahayak Prayas (SSP) to support students in purchasing study materials:
  • Higher Secondary – ₹1,000
  • Undergraduate – ₹3,000
  • Postgraduate – ₹5,000

Dikhow Flood Disaster: Environmental Concerns and River Basin Management

Syllabus Connection

Why is it in the news?

• Following the devastating floods in Sivasagar and Charaideo, experts have highlighted the possible role of land-use changes, deforestation, mining, slope instability and river sedimentation in aggravating the Dikhow flood disaster.

Key Exam Point

• Dikhow River
  • Originates in Zunheboto district of Nagaland.
  • Enters Assam at Naginimora.
  • Flows through Sivasagar district before joining the Brahmaputra at Dikhowmukh.
  • Total length: 236 km.
  • Catchment area: 4,372 sq km.
• Experts suggest that the disaster was likely caused by the interaction of heavy rainfall, landslides, sediment deposition, slope instability and altered drainage, rather than rainfall alone.
• The North Eastern Regional Disaster Management and Research Centre (NERDDR) observed that:
  • Extreme rainfall acted as the immediate trigger.
  • Pre-existing slope deformation in the Naga Schuppen Belt contributed to landslides.
  • Deforestation, hill cutting and altered drainage reduced slope stability.
• High sediment and debris loads reduce the river’s carrying capacity, increasing flood risk.
• In 2022, the Pollution Control Board, Assam (PCBA) reported acidic water and fish mortality in the Dikhow River, indicating possible upstream environmental impacts.
• The case highlights the importance of:
  • Integrated river basin management
  • Catchment area conservation
  • Sustainable mining practices
  • Scientific flood-risk assessment
  • Inter-state coordination for disaster mitigation

Gauhati University Launches Initiative to Conserve Flood-Damaged Sanchipat Manuscripts

Syllabus Connection

Why is it in the news?

• Gauhati University has launched a conservation initiative to restore flood-damaged Sanchipat manuscripts preserved at the historic Medhijan Shri Shri Gajala Satra in Sivasagar district.

Key Exam Points

• The restoration is being carried out by experts from:
  • Centre for Southeast Asian Studies, Gauhati University
  • Krishna Kanta Handiqui Library (Manuscript Section)
• The conservation process includes:
  • Separation of damaged pages.
  • Cleaning and drying.
  • Chemical treatment to prevent fungal growth.
  • Long-term preservation of manuscripts.
• Important manuscripts under restoration include:
  • Kirtan
  • Bhakti Ratnavali
  • Bhakti Premawali
  • Charit-Puthis
  • Kathasar
  • Dasham
  • A 300-year-old Ramayana manuscript
  • A 263-year-old Kirtan manuscript
• Medhijan Shri Shri Gajala Satra was established in the 18th century and preserves important manuscripts related to Assam’s Vaishnavite, literary and cultural traditions.
• The initiative aims to protect Assam’s documentary heritage damaged during the recent floods and preserve it for future generations.