🔥 UPSC/PCS Current Affairs | 11 August 2026

1. Russia’s Share in India’s Oil Imports Jumps to 48%

Why in News?

Russia’s share in India’s crude-oil imports rose to an all-time high of 48% in June 2026. At the same time, the U.S. Senate has passed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, which seeks tariffs of up to 100% on major countries continuing to import Russian oil and gas.

UPSC/PCS Importance

Extremely important for India–Russia relations, energy security, crude-oil dependence, sanctions, trade policy, inflation and West Asian geopolitics.

Prelims Facts

• Russia accounted for around 48% of India’s crude-oil imports in June 2026.
• India and China are among the largest importers of Russian oil.
• The U.S. Bill proposes tariffs of up to 100% on specified major importers of Russian oil and gas.
• The tariff provision applies after prescribed conditions linked to continued imports following enactment.
• Strait of Hormuz remains strategically important for global energy flows.
• India has attempted to diversify crude grades and shipping routes to reduce supply disruption risks.

Mains Perspective

GS-II: International Relations
GS-III: Economy and Energy Security

Revision Note: India’s crude-oil strategy must balance affordability, strategic autonomy and energy security while managing sanctions-related risks and excessive dependence on a limited number of suppliers.

2. Punjab Assembly Passes Nine Bills in One Day

Why in News?

The Punjab Legislative Assembly passed nine Bills covering education, infrastructure, taxation, employment, Panchayati Raj, environmental protection and new private universities.

UPSC/PCS Importance

Extremely important for Punjab PCS because it directly relates to Punjab legislation, State governance, education regulation, Panchayati Raj, taxation, employment policy and environmental governance.

Prelims Facts

• Punjab Common Infrastructure (Regulation and Maintenance) Amendment Bill, 2026.
• Punjab Regulation of Fee of Un-aided Educational Institutions (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
• Punjab Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
• Punjab State Outsourced Personnel (Transition to Contractual Engagement) Bill, 2026.
• Punjab Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
• Punjab Protection of Trees Bill, 2026.
• Three university Bills were also passed for institutions at Hoshiarpur and Patiala.

Mains Perspective

Punjab PCS: State Legislature, Governance and Punjab-specific Current Affairs

Revision Note: State legislation should combine policy urgency with adequate legislative scrutiny, debate and transparency, especially when Bills have long-term implications for citizens and institutions.

3. Special Intensive Revision of Electoral Rolls in Telangana

Why in News?

More than one-fifth of Telangana’s electors may face exclusion from the draft electoral rolls after the enumeration phase of the Special Intensive Revision. Around 22% of the State electorate had forms classified as uncollectable.

UPSC/PCS Importance

Very important for Election Commission of India, electoral-roll revision, voter inclusion, Article 324, representation and democratic participation.

Prelims Facts

• SIR stands for Special Intensive Revision.
• Electoral rolls are revised under the supervision of the Election Commission.
• Article 324 deals with the superintendence, direction and control of elections.
• Electoral Registration Officers play an important role in preparation and revision of electoral rolls.
• Draft electoral rolls allow claims and objections before finalisation.
• Accurate electoral rolls are essential for free and fair elections.

Mains Perspective

GS-II: Elections, Constitutional Bodies and Democratic Governance

Revision Note: Electoral-roll revision must remove duplication and ineligible entries while protecting genuine voters from wrongful exclusion through transparent verification and accessible grievance mechanisms.

4. Supreme Court Moots Special Courts for Manipur Violence Cases

Why in News?

The Supreme Court proposed exclusive special courts to hear CBI and NIA cases arising from the 2023 ethnic violence in Manipur and requested the Gauhati High Court to consider their constitution.

UPSC/PCS Importance

Important for judiciary, speedy justice, CBI, NIA, ethnic conflict, internal security, criminal justice and Centre–State institutional coordination.

Prelims Facts

• CBI stands for Central Bureau of Investigation.
• NIA stands for National Investigation Agency.
• The Gauhati High Court has jurisdiction over Manipur.
• Special courts may be created to ensure focused and speedy trial of specific categories of cases.
• NIA deals with scheduled offences related to terrorism and national security.
• Manipur witnessed major ethnic violence beginning in 2023.

Mains Perspective

GS-II: Judiciary and Governance
GS-III: Internal Security

Revision Note: Special courts can improve the pace of trials in conflict-related cases, but justice also requires witness protection, impartial investigation, institutional capacity and public confidence.

5. Cauvery Water Dispute Returns to the Supreme Court

Why in News?

Tamil Nadu sought an early Supreme Court hearing and requested directions to Karnataka to implement the Cauvery Water Management Authority’s decision for release of 3,500 cusecs of water for 15 days.

UPSC/PCS Importance

Highly important for inter-State river-water disputes, federalism, Centre–State relations, tribunals, river-basin governance and the Cauvery Water Management Authority.

Prelims Facts

• The Cauvery river is shared mainly by Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry.
• CWMA stands for Cauvery Water Management Authority.
• Biligundulu is an important inter-State gauging point in the Cauvery dispute.
• Kabini and Krishnaraja Sagar are major reservoirs in Karnataka.
• Inter-State river-water disputes involve both constitutional and statutory mechanisms.
• Article 262 deals with adjudication of disputes relating to waters of inter-State rivers or river valleys.

Mains Perspective

GS-II: Federalism and Inter-State Relations

Revision Note: Inter-State water conflicts require rule-based sharing, real-time hydrological data, institutional compliance and cooperative federalism rather than recurring political confrontation.

6. PMLA Prosecution After Predicate Offence Is Not Double Trial: Karnataka HC

Why in News?

The Karnataka High Court held that prosecution under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act after conviction for a scheduled or predicate offence does not amount to a second trial for the same offence because money laundering is a distinct statutory offence.

UPSC/PCS Importance

Important for PMLA, money laundering, predicate offences, double jeopardy, criminal law and constitutional protections.

Prelims Facts

• PMLA stands for Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
• A predicate or scheduled offence generates proceeds of crime that may lead to a money-laundering case.
• Money laundering is treated as a distinct statutory offence.
• Article 20(2) protects against prosecution and punishment for the same offence more than once.
• The principle is commonly referred to as protection against double jeopardy.
• Special courts hear offences under the PMLA framework.

Mains Perspective

GS-II: Constitution, Judiciary and Governance
GS-III: Money Laundering and Economic Offences

Revision Note: Effective anti-money-laundering law must distinguish the laundering of proceeds of crime from the underlying predicate offence while preserving constitutional safeguards and due process.

7. Green Energy Corridor Phase III Under Planning

Why in News?

The government is in the final planning stage for the third phase of the intra-State Green Energy Corridor, with an expected outlay of more than ₹50,000 crore. The focus is on strengthening transmission infrastructure in renewable-energy-rich States.

UPSC/PCS Importance

Very important for renewable energy, electricity transmission, grid integration, energy transition, solar and wind power and sustainable infrastructure.

Prelims Facts

• Green Energy Corridors help transmit electricity generated from renewable sources.
• Solar and wind-rich areas often require dedicated transmission capacity.
• Transmission infrastructure helps integrate variable renewable energy with the power grid.
• Intra-State transmission systems operate within States.
• Grid strengthening is crucial for large-scale renewable-energy expansion.
• The proposed Phase III outlay is expected to exceed ₹50,000 crore.

Mains Perspective

GS-III: Energy, Infrastructure and Environment

Revision Note: India’s renewable-energy expansion requires not only more generation capacity but also strong transmission networks, storage, grid flexibility and coordinated planning across States.

8. Bangladesh Urges India to Expedite Sheikh Hasina’s Extradition

Why in News?

Bangladesh urged India to expedite the extradition of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina while bilateral diplomatic engagement continued between the two countries.

UPSC/PCS Importance

Important for India–Bangladesh relations, neighbourhood policy, extradition, diplomacy, border security and regional stability.

Prelims Facts

• India and Bangladesh share a long land boundary.
• Extradition is a formal process for surrendering an accused or convicted person from one country to another.
• Extradition depends on treaties, domestic law and diplomatic considerations.
• India–Bangladesh relations cover trade, connectivity, water sharing, security and border management.
• Bangladesh is central to India’s Neighbourhood First and Act East connectivity interests.
• Political developments in Bangladesh can have direct implications for India’s eastern region.

Mains Perspective

GS-II: International Relations and Neighbourhood Policy

Revision Note: India must manage sensitive extradition requests through legal procedure while preserving long-term strategic stability and constructive bilateral engagement with Bangladesh.

9. EV Charging Infrastructure Expands Across India

Why in News?

Government data showed Karnataka with 6,805 EV charging stations, the second-highest in India after Maharashtra. India had more than 52,000 charging stations installed overall.

UPSC/PCS Importance

Important for electric mobility, transport decarbonisation, charging infrastructure, clean energy, urban policy and climate commitments.

Prelims Facts

• EV charging infrastructure is essential for wider adoption of electric vehicles.
• Maharashtra and Karnataka are among the leading States in installed EV charging stations.
• Charging stations may include different charging speeds and technical standards.
• Interoperability is important for user convenience and network efficiency.
• Reliable charging networks reduce range anxiety.
• EV expansion supports reduction of tailpipe emissions and oil dependence.

Mains Perspective

GS-III: Infrastructure, Environment and Energy Transition

Revision Note: India’s EV transition requires accessible charging networks, common standards, affordable tariffs, renewable electricity and coordinated urban planning.

10. Handloom as a Strategic Economic and Cultural Asset

Why in News?

A policy discussion highlighted the economic importance of India’s handloom sector, its role in rural employment, women’s empowerment, sustainability, GI-tagged products, exports and cultural soft power.

UPSC/PCS Importance

Important for rural economy, MSMEs, traditional industries, women’s employment, Geographical Indications, exports, cultural heritage and sustainable development.

Prelims Facts

• Handloom supports large numbers of rural livelihoods.
• GI tags help protect products linked to a specific geographical origin.
• UNESCO has worked with Indian institutions on documentation of endangered and languishing weaves.
• Handloom products can support exports and India’s cultural soft power.
• E-commerce can expand market access for artisan clusters.
• Sustainable and handcrafted products have growing global market potential.

Mains Perspective

GS-III: Economy, Employment, MSMEs and Sustainable Development

Revision Note: A modern handloom policy should combine heritage protection with branding, design innovation, GI protection, e-commerce, export promotion and better income security for artisans.

📰 Explainer Focus – Russian Oil, Sanctions and India’s Energy Security

Theme

India’s rising dependence on Russian crude has created a complex strategic-policy challenge involving affordable energy, sanctions risk, strategic autonomy, global shipping routes and relations with both Russia and the United States.

Key Concepts

• Energy Security
• Strategic Autonomy
• Russian Crude Oil
• Economic Sanctions
• Tariffs
• Strait of Hormuz
• Shipping Routes
• Crude Diversification
• India–Russia Relations
• India–U.S. Relations

Mains Takeaway: India’s energy diplomacy requires balancing strategic autonomy with supply diversification, price stability, sanctions exposure and wider geopolitical relationships.

📰 Explainer Focus – Electoral Roll Revision and Democratic Inclusion

Theme

Special Intensive Revision brings into focus the Election Commission’s responsibility to maintain accurate electoral rolls while ensuring that eligible citizens are not wrongly excluded from the democratic process.

Key Concepts

• Special Intensive Revision
• Election Commission of India
• Article 324
• Electoral Rolls
• Electoral Registration Officer
• Draft Roll
• Claims and Objections
• Voter Inclusion
• Free and Fair Elections
• Democratic Participation

Mains Takeaway: Electoral integrity depends not only on removing duplicate or ineligible entries but equally on ensuring due process, transparency and protection against wrongful voter exclusion.

🔥 Most Important Topics for UPSC/PCS Today

• Russia’s Share in India’s Oil Imports – 48%
• Punjab Assembly Passes Nine Bills
• Special Intensive Revision of Electoral Rolls
• Manipur Violence and Special Courts
• Cauvery Water Dispute and CWMA
• PMLA and Predicate Offences
• Green Energy Corridor Phase III
• India–Bangladesh and Hasina Extradition
• EV Charging Infrastructure
• Handloom Economy and GI Protection

One-Line Fact: Russia’s share in India’s crude-oil imports reached an all-time high of 48% in June 2026.

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