📰 Daily Current Affairs

📅 16 August 2026 • ✅ 16/8/2026, 4:01:01 pm

1. New plant species Leucas droupadiae discovered on Coromandel Coast, named after President Droupadi Murmu

Botanists discovered a previously unknown plant species named Leucas droupadiae along the sandy shores of the Coromandel Coast in Tamil Nadu. The new species belonging to the mint family (Lamiaceae) has been named in honour of President Droupadi Murmu.

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2. SraVaani: First multilingual Indian speech recognition model released covering 65 languages

Researchers at IISc's SPIRE Lab, in collaboration with ARTPARK and Google, released SraVaani, India's first multilingual speech recognition model. It covers 20 scheduled languages and 45 regional languages and dialects, supporting applications in education, digital services, banking, healthcare, and e-governance.

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3. RSVC-AMRIT Platform launched by Principal Scientific Adviser to support rural innovation

The RSVC AMRIT platform was launched as a comprehensive digital ecosystem to support rural innovation and technology transfer. Developed by NABARD in collaboration with the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser, it enables wider adoption of appropriate technologies in rural areas.

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4. Caste, COVID vaccine, bank accounts, voter/aadhaar: The big changes in census 2027

The upcoming 2027 Census will feature significant changes including recording of caste and information regarding COVID-19 vaccinations. The exercise will also integrate details about bank accounts, voter IDs, and Aadhaar numbers to create a comprehensive national profile.

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5. Financial democracy, the Jan Dhan transformation

Reports highlight the progress of financial inclusion in India pointing to the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana as a cornerstone of 'financial democracy'. The initiative is credited with bringing millions into the formal economy by providing bank accounts as a primary entry point for government benefits.

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6. Congress should apologise for insulting Vande Mataram on Independence Day: Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah accused the Congress party of disrespecting the national song 'Vande Mataram', alleging that Sonia Gandhi ordered it to be stopped midway during an Independence Day event at Congress headquarters, attributing the action to vote-bank politics.

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7. India at 80, a democracy in search of renewal

As India celebrates 80 years of independence, political analysts reflect on the current state of its democratic institutions. The national discourse focuses on the need for democratic renewal and how the next generation can address the evolving missions of the Republic.

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8. Asish Banerjee, former Bengal Minister and Trinamool leader, found dead in party office

A prominent Trinamool Congress leader and former West Bengal Minister Ashis Banerjee was discovered dead in a party office on August 16, 2026. The incident has sparked a political stir in the state as authorities begin investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.

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9. Two injured after Air India Express passenger's gun goes off at Varanasi airport

A security scare occurred at the Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport in Varanasi when a passenger's firearm accidentally discharged, resulting in injuries to two individuals and prompting a review of security protocols at the airport.

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10. Despite its reputation, India's per-unit space launch cost highest: study

A new study has challenged the belief that India provides the world's most cost-effective space launches. The research indicates that India's per-unit launch costs are actually among the highest, suggesting a need for structural changes in ISRO's commercial mission management.

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