Daily Current Affairs - 16 August 2026

Introduction

The CareerUdaya Daily Current Affairs - 16 August 2026 edition brings together ten examination-focused developments for APSC, ADRE, Assam Police, Assam TET, SSC, Banking and Railway aspirants. The notes cover an AIIMS Guwahati healthcare milestone, the National Fellowship Scheme for Scheduled Tribes, NCLT digital services, rural liquid-waste management, logistics digitisation, cyber-security institutions, indigenous optics, a naval outreach voyage, semiconductor design and the S&T Clusters Annual Report. Attempt the Daily Current Affairs Quiz - 16 August 2026 after revising the notes.

Assam & Northeast - AIIMS Guwahati Uses Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Intracranial AVM

AIIMS Guwahati reported the successful treatment of an intracranial arteriovenous malformation (AVM) through Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS). According to the institute, this is the first reported treatment of an intracranial AVM with SRS in North-East India. SRS is a highly precise, non-invasive radiation treatment technique; it does not mean conventional open surgery.

The case is important for Assam and Northeast current affairs because it reflects the growth of advanced medical capability in the region. The Radiation Oncology Department at AIIMS Guwahati has also introduced techniques such as low-dose radiotherapy, lattice radiation therapy and scalp-sparing radiotherapy. For exams, remember the distinction between an AVM, a vascular abnormality, and the targeted-radiation approach used in SRS.

Source: PIB Guwahati release on AIIMS Guwahati

Social Justice - National Fellowship Scheme for Scheduled Tribes

The National Fellowship Scheme for Scheduled Tribes (NFST) is a Central Sector Scheme supporting higher education and research among Scheduled Tribe students. A Ministry of Tribal Affairs update stated that 750 fresh fellowships are awarded each year for a period of five years. The application portal generally opens on 1 July and closes on 30 September of the academic year.

The fellowship is not a State-wise budget-allocation scheme; it is administered as a Central Sector Scheme. Selection follows verification and a merit list, while release of funds is subject to required compliance such as a joining report, bank-account linking and continuation certification. This makes NFST useful for questions on targeted educational support, Central Sector Schemes and ST welfare.

Source: PIB release on NFST

Polity & Judiciary - NCLT e-Inspection and e-Certified Copy Services

The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) launched e-Inspection and e-Certified Copy services to provide advocates, litigants and other stakeholders faster digital access to judicial records and certified copies. The services are part of the Tribunal's broader digital transformation, alongside its revamped website and the e-Courts 2.0 initiative.

NCLT deals with important corporate-law and insolvency matters. Its use of data to monitor pendency, redistribute workload and constitute Special Benches demonstrates how tribunal administration can use digital systems to improve access and case management. Do not confuse the NCLT with ordinary civil courts: it is a specialised tribunal under the company-law framework.

Source: PIB release on NCLT digital services

Rural Development & Environment - Liquid Waste Management under SBM(G) Phase II

Under Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) Phase II, 5,63,809 of 5,86,944 villages had reported liquid-waste-management arrangements as of 7 August 2026. SBM(G) Phase II, effective from 1 April 2020, focuses on ODF sustainability, solid and liquid waste management, visual cleanliness and the transition of villages towards ODF Plus (Model) status.

Greywater management can include household soak pits, leach pits, magic pits and kitchen gardens, as well as community systems such as constructed wetlands and decentralised wastewater treatment systems. The scheme is Centrally Sponsored and implemented by States and Union Territories. The exam hook is that ODF Plus goes beyond toilet construction to sustainable sanitation and waste management.

Source: PIB release on SBM(G) Phase II

Economy & Infrastructure - Logistics Data Bank Reaches 10 Crore EXIM Containers

The Logistics Data Bank (LDB) has tracked 10 crore EXIM containers since its launch in 2016. It provides visibility over India's EXIM container movement through technology-based tracking. The platform covers 100% of EXIM container movement and uses RFID, Internet of Things, Big Data and Cloud technologies for near real-time logistics visibility.

LDB 2.0, launched in September 2025, added high-seas tracking of export containers and multimodal shipment visibility. LDB also provides analytics on dwell time, transit time and port and terminal performance. For economy questions, connect LDB with trade facilitation, logistics efficiency, supply-chain visibility and manufacturing competitiveness rather than treating it as a port-only initiative.

Source: PIB release on Logistics Data Bank

Digital Governance - CERT-In and India's Cyber-Security Framework

The Government's cyber-security update identifies CERT-In as the national agency for responding to cyber-security incidents under Section 70B of the Information Technology Act, 2000. The update also distinguishes supporting institutions: the National Cyber Coordination Centre detects threats and shares threat intelligence, while the National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre protects critical information infrastructure under Section 70A.

CERT-In issues alerts and advisories, coordinates incident response, conducts cyber-security mock drills and runs a threat-intelligence exchange platform. The Cyber Swachhta Kendra is a citizen-facing Botnet Cleaning and Malware Analysis Centre. Keep institutional roles separate in examinations: CERT-In is the incident-response agency, whereas NCIIPC focuses on critical information infrastructure protection.

Source: PIB release on cyber-security preparedness

Defence Industry - Indigenous GARUD High-Resolution Binoculars

India Optel Limited (IOL), a Mini Ratna Category-I Defence Public Sector Undertaking under the Department of Defence Production, launched indigenous GARUD high-resolution binoculars for the civil market. The product was developed and manufactured by Ordnance Factory, Dehradun, a unit of IOL.

GARUD provides 8x magnification and a 7.6-degree field of view, with weather-resistant construction and approximately 610-gram weight. The launch is relevant because it shows the adaptation of defence-grade optical manufacturing for civilian applications such as wildlife observation, forestry, travel and security. The organisation-to-product linkage is the main exam fact: GARUD is associated with IOL, not a space or aviation agency.

Source: PIB release on GARUD binoculars

International Relations & Defence - INS Sudarshini's Lokayan 2026 Voyage

The Indian Navy's sail training ship INS Sudarshini entered Ponta Delgada in the Azores, Portugal, on 13 August 2026 as part of the ongoing Lokayan 2026 voyage. The port call followed a 19-day trans-Atlantic passage from Boston, United States, and marked the vessel's second Atlantic crossing.

During the visit, the ship was to undertake professional interactions, operational replenishment and cultural exchanges with the Portuguese side. The voyage had covered more than 15,000 nautical miles at the time of the update. For international-relations and defence questions, the event illustrates naval diplomacy and maritime outreach through a sail-training platform rather than a combat deployment.

Source: PIB release on INS Sudarshini

Science & Technology - VIHAAN Broadband System-on-Chip

Chennai-based fabless startup Aheesa Digital Innovations achieved first-pass silicon success for VIHAAN, a networking System-on-Chip designed for fibre broadband and built using the indigenous VEGA microprocessor. The company is supported under the Design Linked Incentive (DLI) Scheme and has targeted a production tape-out for 2027.

In semiconductor design, a tape-out is the finalisation of a chip design for fabrication; first-pass silicon success indicates that the fabricated silicon worked as intended on the first attempt. The update is useful for understanding how DLI supports domestic chip-design companies, while the broader semiconductor ecosystem includes design, fabrication, testing, packaging, equipment, materials and skilled manpower.

Source: PIB release on VIHAAN

Reports & Innovation - S&T Clusters Annual Report 2025-26

The Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser launched the Science and Technology Clusters Annual Report 2025-26. The report covers eight S&T Clusters established under the Office of the PSA, including BeST in Bengaluru, DRIIV in Delhi, BCKIC in Bhubaneswar, JCKIC in Jodhpur, PKC in Pune, RICH in Hyderabad, AMTZ in Visakhapatnam and PI-RAHI in the Panjab University-IIT Ropar region.

The clusters are described as regional innovation ecosystems and National Technology Accelerators. Their work links shared infrastructure, public-private partnerships, startup support, industry engagement and technology translation. Candidates should connect the report with the pathway from research and pilot validation to field deployment, commercialisation and societal impact.

Source: PIB release on the S&T Clusters Annual Report

Revision Notes

Revise these ten anchors: AIIMS Guwahati - SRS used for intracranial AVM; NFST - 750 fresh fellowships annually; NCLT - e-Inspection and e-Certified Copy services; SBM(G) Phase II - ODF Plus and liquid-waste management; LDB - 10 crore EXIM containers; CERT-In - Section 70B incident-response agency; GARUD - IOL's indigenous binoculars; INS Sudarshini - Lokayan 2026 and Ponta Delgada; VIHAAN - a fibre-broadband SoC using VEGA; S&T Clusters Report - eight regional innovation ecosystems. Attempt the Daily Current Affairs Quiz - 16 August 2026 to test these facts.

Exam Snapshot Table

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Stereotactic Radiosurgery?

Stereotactic Radiosurgery is a precise, non-invasive radiation treatment technique used for selected conditions; it is not conventional open surgery.

Which agency responds to cyber-security incidents under the IT Act?

CERT-In is designated as the national agency for responding to cyber-security incidents under Section 70B of the Information Technology Act, 2000.

What does ODF Plus mean under SBM(G) Phase II?

It refers to the next stage of rural sanitation, with emphasis on ODF sustainability, solid and liquid waste management and visual cleanliness.

What is the Logistics Data Bank?

The Logistics Data Bank is a technology platform that tracks EXIM container movement and provides logistics visibility and performance analytics.

What is first-pass silicon success?

It means a fabricated chip has worked as intended on its first silicon iteration after tape-out.

Is there a quiz for this edition?

Yes. The Daily Current Affairs Quiz - 16 August 2026 contains 10 exam-focused MCQs with explanations.