Current Affairs 13 August 2026

Lebanon Becomes 1st Arab Nation to End Capital Punishment.

• Lebanon has officially abolished the death penalty.
• It becomes the first Arab country to formally end capital punishment.
• Existing death sentences will be replaced with life imprisonment.
• Lebanon had not carried out executions since 2004.
• The abolition applies to crimes including murder and treason.
• The move strengthens human rights protections and the right to life.
• The government is also considering general amnesty to reduce prison overcrowding.

SMILE-Beggary Scheme Gets a Stronger Rehabilitation Framework.

• The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment released the report on 11 August 2026.
• 10,446 people have been rehabilitated under the SMILE-Beggary Scheme since 2023.
• This includes 7,622 adults and 2,824 children.
• ₹45.59 crore has been released under the scheme.
• Tamil Nadu recorded the highest adult rehabilitation figure with 1,557 beneficiaries.
• Model Guidelines for Shelter Homes were issued on 13 April 2026.
• The scheme provides vocational training such as tailoring, carpentry and driving.
• Implementation is monitored through a mobile app and National Online Portal.

MSME and DPIIT Join Hands to Boost Bharat GI Products.

• The Ministry of MSME and DPIIT signed an MoU on 5 August 2026.
• The MoU aims to promote Indian GI products in domestic and global markets.
• A Bharat GI banner will be launched to showcase regional products.
• GI products will be promoted through ONDC and GeM.
• GI products will be linked with the One District One Product (ODOP) initiative.
• The initiative supports Vocal for Local and Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

Himachal Pradesh Introduces Widow and Orphan Cess on Fuel.

• Himachal Pradesh introduced the Widow and Orphan Cess on petrol and diesel from 11 August 2026.
• A cess of 60 paise per litre is charged on petrol and high-speed diesel.
• The cess is levied under the Himachal Pradesh VAT Act, 2005.
• The state can impose a maximum cess of ₹5 per litre.
• The cess is collected at the first point of sale in the state.
• The revenue will be used for the welfare of widows and orphaned children.

Russia Turns to India for Gasoline Amid Fuel Shortage.

• Russia imported gasoline from India for the first time on 5 August 2026.
• The fuel was supplied by Nayara Energy.
• The first shipment was around 42,000 tonnes, followed by another shipment of nearly 40,000 tonnes.
• The fuel was exported from the Vadinar refinery in Gujarat.
• The imports were aimed at stabilising Russia’s domestic fuel market after refinery disruptions.
• Russia’s crude processing fell to around 3.6 million barrels per day in July.
• The Vadinar refinery has a processing capacity of 400,000 barrels per day.