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 Achieves India’s 1st Scope-2 Emission-Free Status.

• 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.

IIT Delhi Tops 52 Indian Institutions in QS Rankings 2027.

• 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 Designates 11 New Ports for E-Visa Holders.

• 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 Achieves 1st-Ever Mustard Honey Export to Dubai.

• 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.