20 August 2026 Current Affairs PDF | English is now available for download. This daily current affairs English PDF is specially prepared for Banking, SSC, and TNPSC examinations, covering all exam-relevant national, international, economy, and banking updates in a clear and structured format. 20 August 2026 Current Affairs PDF includes important one-liners, key highlights, and concise explanations aligned with the latest exam patterns for both Prelims and Mains preparation.

Our PDFs are published daily without interruption. From the upcoming week, Mock to Officer will remain 100% free of cost — no subscriptions, no course fees, and no monthly or yearly plans. Every daily current affairs PDF is carefully curated by exam-focused content creators to ensure accuracy, clarity, and reliability for serious aspirants preparing for competitive exams.

News in One Liner – 20 August 2026

PIB News

Chouhan Sanctions Rs 3,473 Cr Rural Housing for Rajasthan

● Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan approved housing projects worth three thousand four hundred seventy three crore rupees to deliver over two point eight nine lakh houses under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Gramin in Rajasthan.

Simplified News: Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan handed over sanction letters for over 2.89 lakh pucca houses worth Rs 3,473 crore in Rajasthan under PMAY-G. The scheme also widened eligibility, letting small landholders and women earning up to Rs 15,000 a month qualify for benefits.

Sitharaman Chairs Third NICDIT Apex Monitoring Meeting

● Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman reviewed the implementation progress of industrial corridor projects during the third Apex Monitoring Authority meeting of the National Industrial Corridor Development and Implementation Trust.

Simplified News: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman chaired the third Apex Monitoring Authority meeting of the National Industrial Corridor Development and Implementation Trust. The meeting reviewed project timelines, land acquisition, and connectivity, aligning corridor development with the PM Gati Shakti master plan.

India Hosts 7th BRICS ICT Working Group Meeting in Pune

● India hosted the seventh meeting of the BRICS Working Group for Cooperation in Information and Communication Technologies in Pune to advance digital cooperation and next-generation telecom frameworks.

Simplified News: DoT Secretary Amit Agrawal inaugurated the seventh BRICS ICT Working Group meeting in Pune under India’s BRICS Chairship. Delegates discussed AI, next-gen communications, and Digital Public Infrastructure cooperation among member nations.

ECMS Crosses 38 Operational Plants After Fresh Approvals

● Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme achieved thirty-eight operational manufacturing plants following recent project approvals total sixty-nine thousand five hundred forty-eight crore rupees in total investments.

Simplified News: The Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme now has 38 plants in commercial production out of 106 approved projects. Cumulative approved investment across 15 states stands at Rs 69,548 crore, expected to create over 74,000 direct jobs.

SEED Scheme Extends Support to De-notified, Nomadic Tribes

● Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment implements Scheme for Economic Empowerment of De-notified Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes to provide education, health insurance, livelihood, and housing support.

Simplified News: The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is implementing the SEED scheme for de-notified, nomadic and semi-nomadic communities through DWBDNC. It offers exam coaching, health insurance, livelihood help, and housing assistance to marginalised groups.

SMILE Scheme Widens Rehabilitation for Marginalised Groups

● Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment advances social inclusion and comprehensive rehabilitation for marginalized individuals through the Support for Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise scheme.

Simplified News: The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is strengthening the SMILE scheme, which supports transgender persons and individuals engaged in begging. It provides healthcare, skill training, and livelihood support integrated with the Transgender Persons Act, 2019.

India-US Navy EOD Exercise 2026 Concludes in Kochi

● Indian Navy and United States Navy successfully completed the eighth edition of Explosive Ordnance Disposal Exercise Twenty Twenty Six at Southern Naval Command in Kochi.

Simplified News: The eighth edition of the bilateral India-US Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal Exercise concluded at Southern Naval Command, Kochi. Sailors from both navies trained together on IED neutralisation, mine disposal, and unmanned underwater systems.

Industry News

Unemployment Eases to 4-Month Low of 5.1% in July

● National Statistics Office monthly bulletin revealed India unemployment rate dropped to a four-month low of five point one percent in July as labor participation expanded.

Simplified News: The NSO’s monthly PLFS bulletin showed India’s unemployment rate falling to 5.1% in July from 5.5% in June, as more people joined the workforce. Labour force participation rose to a four-month high of 55.4%, with rural unemployment easing to 4.5%.

Govt May Raise FDI Approval Limit to Rs 15,000 Crore

● Government considers raising Foreign Direct Investment approval limit for Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs to fifteen thousand crore rupees to expedite foreign capital inflows.

Simplified News: The government is considering raising the threshold for Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs clearance on big-ticket FDI proposals from Rs 5,000 crore to Rs 15,000 crore. The move aims to speed up foreign investment approvals and ease compliance for downstream investments.

Financial News

SEBI Weighs Net Settlement for Securities Lending Mechanism

● Securities and Exchange Board of India considers permitting net settlement within the Securities Lending and Borrowing Mechanism to lower trading transaction costs and boost market liquidity.

Simplified News: SEBI is reviewing a shift to net settlement in the Securities Lending and Borrowing Mechanism, replacing the current gross settlement model. The change is expected to cut capital requirements for traders and improve market liquidity.

RBI Advances FCNR(B) Swap Window Closure to Aug 31

● Reserve Bank of India brought forward the deadline for its special foreign exchange swap facility for Foreign Currency Non-Resident Bank deposits to August thirty-one after recording strong foreign inflows.

Simplified News: The RBI moved up the closing date of its special FCNR(B) deposit swap facility to August 31 from September 30, after inflows crossed $52.3 billion. Banks can still execute swaps against eligible deposits until September 11.

President Murmu Assents to Two Key Financial Law Amendments

● President Droupadi Murmu granted official assent to the Taxation and Other Laws Amendment Act Twenty Twenty Six and the Payment and Settlement Systems Amendment Act.

Simplified News: President Droupadi Murmu gave assent to the Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Act, 2026 and the Payment and Settlement Systems (Amendment) Act, 2026 on August 17. The tax law replaces an earlier ordinance and adds exemptions for electronics manufacturing components.

RBI Flags ‘Cash Paradox’ as Digital Payments Surge

● Reserve Bank of India Deputy Governor Shirish Chandra Murmu stated that rising currency in circulation alongside growing digital payments creates a cash paradox that complicates currency demand forecasting.

Simplified News: RBI Deputy Governor Shirish Chandra Murmu noted that currency in circulation keeps rising even as digital payments grow rapidly, calling it a cash paradox. Currency in circulation reached Rs 41.6 lakh crore at the end of FY26, with RBI managing 176 billion banknotes.

National & State News

Delhi Completes SIR House-to-House Enumeration

● The Chief Electoral Officer of Delhi announced the conclusion of the Special Intensive Revision house to house enumeration phase after distributing approximately one crore forty five lakh verification forms across the capital.

Simplified News: Delhi’s Chief Electoral Officer confirmed the completion of door-to-door enumeration under the Special Intensive Revision, with about 1.45 crore forms distributed. Claims and objections can be filed from August 24 to September 23, with the final roll due October 27.

Jharkhand Scraps Recruitment Exams Held by Outsourced Agency

● Chief Minister Hemant Soren announced the cancellation of recruitment examinations conducted by outsourced agency TDPL for the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission since twenty fourteen following student protests over alleged irregularities.

Simplified News: Chief Minister Hemant Soren cancelled recruitment exams run by agency TSR Data Processing Private Limited since 2014, including the JSSC CGL exam, after student protests over irregularities. A reforms committee under IAS officer Amitabh Kaushal has been set up.

NTA Ordered to Overhaul Security After Exam Controversies

● Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi directed the National Testing Agency to undertake a complete overhaul of examination processes and implement strict security protocols.

Simplified News: Education Minister Pralhad Joshi directed the National Testing Agency to implement air-gapped systems and stricter exam-room protocols. The move follows controversies around NEET-UG and UGC-NET, with new leadership posts like a Chief Information Security Officer being created.

Kerala CM Flags Off Cargo Ops at Vizhinjam Seaport

● Chief Minister V D Satheesan flagged off export import cargo operations at Vizhinjam International Seaport and launched the port-led industrial initiative Mission Samudra.

Simplified News: Chief Minister V D Satheesan launched export-import cargo operations at Vizhinjam International Seaport and unveiled Mission Samudra, Kerala’s flagship port-led industrial initiative. The deepwater port connects directly to over 110 ports across 50 countries.

Telangana Releases SIR Draft Rolls, Over 73 Lakh Names Cut

● Chief Electoral Officer C Sudarshan Reddy released the Special Intensive Revision draft rolls for Telangana, revealing the deletion of over seventy-three lakh names from the voter list.

Simplified News: Telangana’s Chief Electoral Officer released draft rolls after the Special Intensive Revision, deleting over 73.39 lakh names. Forms were collected from 78.3% of the state’s 3.38 crore voters, with claims and objections open till September 16.

Appointments and Resignation

CCI Invites Applications for Two Member Posts Till Sep 28

● Ministry of Corporate Affairs invited applications to fill two vacancies for member positions in the Competition Commission of India, setting the application deadline for September 28.

Simplified News: The Ministry of Corporate Affairs is accepting applications for two member vacancies at the Competition Commission of India until September 28. Candidates need at least 15 years of relevant experience and will serve a five-year term or until age 65.

Awards & Honors

15 Honoured at 9th National Anubhav Awards 2026

● Union Minister of State Dr. Jitendra Singh presented the 9th National Anubhav Awards 2026 to 15 selected retired public servants for exceptional administrative write-ups.

Simplified News: Minister of State Dr. Jitendra Singh conferred the National Anubhav Awards on 15 retired public servants for outstanding service write-ups, out of a record 2,141 submissions this cycle. The awards recognise administrative innovations in governance and public service delivery.

210 Indian Peacekeepers Honoured with UN Medals in Juba

● Over 200 Indian peacekeepers serving under the United Nations Mission in South Sudan received UN Medals in Juba for distinguished service.

Simplified News: Over 200 Indian peacekeepers serving under the UN Mission in South Sudan received UN Medals for distinguished service in Juba. India remains UNMISS’s top troop-contributing country and the world’s second-largest overall contributor to UN peacekeeping.

Ranking and Reports

Rishabh Pant Becomes Fastest to 100 Test Sixes

● Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant created history on Day Four of the First Test against Sri Lanka at Galle by becoming the fastest player in world cricket to hit one hundred sixes in Test matches.

Simplified News: Rishabh Pant reached 100 Test sixes in just 89 innings during the Galle Test against Sri Lanka, smashing Adam Gilchrist’s record of 130 innings. He is only the fourth batter in Test history, and the first Indian, to reach the milestone.

FPI Ownership in NSE Firms Falls to 17-Year Low

● Foreign Portfolio Investor ownership in listed companies on the National Stock Exchange of India dropped to a seventeen-year low of fifteen point eight percent following record capital outflows.

Simplified News: Foreign Portfolio Investor holding in NSE-listed companies dropped to a 17-year low of 15.8% after net outflows of $19.6 billion during the year. Domestic institutional investors cushioned the impact with record net inflows of Rs 8.5 lakh crore.

India Ratings Raises FY27 GDP Growth Forecast to 6.8%

● Rating agency India Ratings and Research revised India’s Gross Domestic Product growth projection for the 2026-27 financial year upward to six point eight percent.

Simplified News: India Ratings and Research revised its FY27 GDP growth estimate upward to 6.8% from 6.7%, citing resilient domestic activity despite global risks. It projects nominal GDP growth at 10.4% and retail inflation averaging 4.9%.

India’s Current Account Deficit Widens to $3.1 Billion

● India’s Current Account Deficit widened to three point one billion United States Dollars during the first quarter of the 2026-27 financial year due to higher merchandise import bills.

Simplified News: India’s Current Account Deficit widened to $3.1 billion in the April-June quarter of FY27, driven by higher fuel import costs. The overall Balance of Payments recorded a wider deficit of $8.1 billion for the same period.

Latest Posts:

• 05 November 2026 | FREE Editorial PDF
• 05 November 2026 | English | FREE Current Affairs PDF
• 04 November 2026 | FREE Editorial PDF
• 04 November 2026 | English | FREE Current Affairs PDF
• 03 Novemebr 2026 | FREE Editorial PDF

---