Current Affairs 11 August 2026

India’s 1st Eco-Educational Hub Opens at CSIR-NBRI in Lucknow.

Prakriti Gyan Dham, India’s first-of-its-kind Eco-Educational Hub, was inaugurated at CSIR-NBRI, Lucknow.
It was dedicated to the nation by Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh on 8 August 2026.
Located at Maharishi Parashar Bioresource Centre (MPBC), Banthra.
PAaVan Path serves as an interpretive heritage trail for nature-based experiential learning.
Indian Heritage Garden preserves trees associated with India’s cultural and freedom-struggle heritage.
Vibhav Enclave showcases rare, endangered and threatened plant species.
Bhairav Enclave features State Plants of all Indian States and UTs.
Bamboosteum houses 43 indigenous and exotic bamboo species.
Several plant-based technologies were transferred to industry and Kudumbashree, Kerala.

300.50 GW of non-fossil fuel power capacity achieved on 31 July 2026.
This is over 54% of India’s total installed power capacity.
India has achieved over 60% of its 500 GW non-fossil capacity target for 2030.
Solar: 164.59 GW — largest contributor.
Wind: 58.14 GW; Hydro: 57.24 GW.
2025–26: Record 55.29 GW of non-fossil capacity added.
Renewable energy generation increased to 477.79 BU in 2025–26, from 190.96 BU in 2014–15.

Basant Kumar Meghwal won Silver in the high jump at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Eugene, USA.
Cleared a personal best of 2.21 m.
Became the first Indian athlete to win a U20 World high jump medal.
Gold: Younes Ayachi (Algeria); Bronze: Otis Poole (Great Britain).
Earlier in 2026, Meghwal won Gold at the Asian U20 Athletics Championships in Hong Kong.
He represents the Indian Navy.

Agni-4 medium-range ballistic missile successfully test-fired from Chandipur, Odisha.
Test conducted under the Strategic Forces Command (SFC).
Successfully validated the missile’s operational and technical parameters.
Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
The test strengthens India’s strategic deterrence capability.

Shah Rukh Khan ranked 1st in Kroll’s 2025 Celebrity Brand Value Rankings with $177.9 million.
Ranveer Singh ranked 2nd ($162.9 million), while Virat Kohli ranked 3rd ($158.4 million).
Sachin Tendulkar ranked 4th and MS Dhoni 5th.
Alia Bhatt was the highest-ranked female celebrity at 6th ($93.9 million).
The combined brand value of India’s top 25 celebrities stood at $2 billion, down 3.7% from the previous year.
Digital endorsements account for 60–75% of brand associations for leading celebrities.