August 2026 Current Affairs
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📚 Day 13 Current Affairs
Welcome to Day 13 of your August 2026 Current Affairs preparation.
Today's topics cover important developments in naval rescue operations, global health, agriculture technology, Ayurveda and maritime safety.
Read every topic carefully and attempt the 5-question quiz at the end.
Launch and Recovery System (LARS)
A Launch and Recovery System (LARS) Test Plinth was inaugurated at the Submarine Rescue Unit (East) in Visakhapatnam.
The facility was inaugurated by Vice-Admiral Sanjay Bhalla, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (FOCin-C), Eastern Naval Command.
LARS is an important system used for the deployment and recovery of the Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV).
🎯 Exam Facts
- System: Launch and Recovery System (LARS)
- Facility: LARS Test Plinth
- Location: Submarine Rescue Unit (East), Visakhapatnam
- Inaugurated by: Vice-Admiral Sanjay Bhalla
- Command: Eastern Naval Command
- Vehicle deployed/recovered: Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV)
🛟 What is DSRV?
The Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV) is used to rescue submarine crews during underwater emergencies.
WHO Declares End of Poliovirus Type-2 Outbreaks
The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Africa confirmed the end of Poliovirus Type-2 outbreaks in five African countries.
🌍 Five Countries
- Burundi
- Ghana
- Guinea-Bissau
- Republic of Congo
- Uganda
🎯 Polio – Important Facts
- Polio is caused by the poliovirus.
- Poliovirus belongs to the Enterovirus genus and Picornaviridae family.
- There are three wild poliovirus types: Type 1, Type 2 and Type 3.
- The virus spreads primarily through the fecal-oral route or through contaminated food and water.
- It can attack the central nervous system.
🇮🇳 India & Polio
- Pulse Polio Initiative: Launched in 1995.
- Aim: Vaccination of children below five years.
- India was officially declared polio-free on 27 March 2014.
- Last wild poliovirus case in India: 13 January 2011, West Bengal.
🌐 WHO Quick Revision
- Founded: 7 April 1948
- Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
- Member States: 194
- Director-General: Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
- Deputy Director-General: Michael Ryan
India's First Soil Texture Map
India has developed its first digitised soil texture map at the hectare level.
The map was developed by the National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning (NBSS&LUP) under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
Soil texture refers to the relative proportion of sand, silt and clay present in soil.
🎯 Exam Facts
- Map: India's first digitised soil texture map
- Level: Hectare level
- Developed by: NBSS&LUP
- Parent organisation: Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)
🛰️ Technologies Used
- Field surveys
- Remote sensing
- Satellite imagery
- Artificial Intelligence (AI)
🌱 Uses
- Helps farmers select suitable crops.
- Assists government agencies in agricultural planning.
- Supports resource allocation.
🌾 ICAR – Quick Revision
- Established: 16 July 1929
- Headquarters: New Delhi
- President: Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare
- Director: Mangi Lal Jat
AIIA Launches Garbhini Mitra Course
The All-India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), New Delhi introduced the Garbhini Mitra Course for the 2026–27 academic session.
The course is a healthcare skill-development programme designed to train personnel to support women during pregnancy and after childbirth.
🎯 Exam Facts
- Course: Garbhini Mitra Course
- Institution: All-India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA)
- Location: New Delhi
- Academic session: 2026–27
- Type: Healthcare skill-development programme
- Focus: Pregnancy and post-childbirth support
🌿 Ayurvedic Concepts Covered
- Garbhini Paricharya: Care during pregnancy / antenatal care
- Sutika Paricharya: Care after childbirth / postnatal care
- Garbhadhana Vidhi: Pre-conception care for a healthy pregnancy
MV Ocean Winner
Search and rescue operations were continuing for the Panama-flagged bulk carrier MV Ocean Winner after the ship sank in the Bay of Bengal.
According to the source, 22 crew members were still missing.
The search area was expanded as hopes of finding survivors continued to decline.
🎯 Exam Facts
- Ship: MV Ocean Winner
- Flag: Panama
- Type: Bulk carrier
- Location of incident: Bay of Bengal
- Missing crew members: 22
- Search operation: Indian Coast Guard + Indian Navy
🛟 Rescue Operation
The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and the Indian Navy were jointly conducting the search and rescue operation.
📝 Day 13 Quick Quiz
Test yourself on today's five important current affairs.