Current Affairs 12 August 2026

NABL Launches 1st-Ever Accreditation Scheme for Mobile Food Testing Labs.

NABL launched India’s 1st accreditation scheme for mobile food testing laboratories on 10 August 2026 in New Delhi.
Developed under the Integrated Assessment Programme by NABL, a constituent board of QCI.
Provides a framework for quality-assured, internationally benchmarked food testing.
Aims to strengthen food safety surveillance and improve consumer confidence.
Helps bring food testing services closer to communities and enable faster regulatory action.
Supports quality-driven practices and ease of doing business.

VOC Port, Thoothukudi became India’s first major port to be Scope-2 emission-free.
Achieved ISO 50001:2018 certification for its Energy Management System.
93.89% of electricity consumption came from renewable sources in 2025–26.
Renewable capacity includes solar and wind power.
Developing an 8 MW wind farm with 5-MWh battery storage.
Also working on green hydrogen and green methanol bunkering projects.

52 Indian institutions featured in the QS World University Rankings 2027, up from 11 in 2015.
IIT Delhi ranked highest among Indian institutions at 118th globally.
IIT Bombay: 134th; IIT Madras: 170th; IIT Kharagpur: 205th.
26 Indian institutions improved their global rankings, while 2 entered for the first time.
BITS Pilani and VIT recorded major improvements in rankings.
Growth attributed to higher education reforms and NEP 2020.

India added 11 international ports for entry of e-Visa holders.
Total designated e-Visa entry points increased to 88.
These include 37 airports, 38 seaports and 13 land ports.
New additions: 2 airports — Bhopal and Tirupati; 9 land ports, including Attari.
Around 95% of e-Visa applications are processed within 72 hours.
e-Visas account for about 78% of visas issued by India.

Tripura’s Dergang FPO exported its first-ever consignment of mustard honey to Dubai.
Quantity: 1 metric tonne (MT).
Export facilitated by APEDA under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
Destination: Dubai, UAE.
The export highlights the potential of Tripura’s beekeeping and agricultural sector.