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Current affairsRBI Financial Stability Report June 2026: Banking Sector at Multi-Decadal Low NPA, Rising Household Debt, and AI-Driven Cyber RisksThe Reserve Bank of India's Financial Stability Report (FSR) for June 2026 reports India's banking sector has achieved a multi-decadal low Gross Non-Performing Asset (GNPA) ratio of 1.8%, while flagging rising household debt (45.5% of GDP) and AI-enabled cyberattacks as the top emergent systemic risks — critical reading for UPSC, Banking, and SSC aspirants. Current affairsDistricts as Export Hubs (DEH): India's 770-District Strategy and the USD 1 Trillion Export Target by 2030249 Indian districts have formally adopted District Export Action Plans (DEAPs) under the Districts as Export Hubs (DEH) initiative — a DPIIT-led programme covering 770+ districts — as India pursues its USD 1 trillion merchandise and services export target by 2030. Evolved from the One District One Product (ODOP) model, DEH integrates EXIM Bank's GRID programme and PM GatiShakti to build grassroots export capacity. Current affairsSugar Stock Limits 2026: Centre Imposes 4,000-Quintal Dealer Cap and 15-Day Bulk Consumer Limit to Control Festive Season Price RiseThe Department of Food and Public Distribution imposed a stock limit of 4,000 quintals per location on all registered sugar dealers effective August 1, 2026, and from September 1, bulk consumers (using more than 10 MT/month) cannot hold stocks exceeding 15 days of their consumption requirement — both valid through November 30, 2026. The move targets speculative hoarding ahead of Navratri and Diwali, following a ~10% price rise in a month. Current affairsIndia Lifts Wheat and Wheat-Flour Export Ban After 3+ Years: DGFT Notifications 34 and 35 of 2026-27The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) issued two notifications on 24 August 2026, moving wheat (durum and standard) and all major wheat-derived products (flour/atta, maida, semolina/rava, wholemeal atta, resultant atta) from "Prohibited" to "Free" export status with immediate effect. The ban had been in force since May 2022. India cites record domestic production and adequate buffer stocks as the rationale for lifting restrictions after over three years. Current affairsIndia's Defence Self-Reliance: INS Mangrol Delivered and AK-203 "Sher" Rifle Fully IndigenisedTwo major Atmanirbhar Bharat milestones in India's defence sector: on August 21, 2026, Cochin Shipyard Limited delivered INS Mangrol, the third Mahe-class Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft, to the Indian Navy; and on August 23, 2026, Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL) successfully test-fired the AK-203 "Sher" assault rifle made entirely from Indian components — the first 100% indigenised version of the rifle contracted for over 6 lakh Indian Army personnel. Current affairsIndia's Merchandise Exports Hit Record $44.24 Billion in July 2026: Trade Data Analysis for UPSC and Banking ExamsIndia's merchandise exports reached a record US$44.24 billion in July 2026, up 19.63% year-on-year, driven by engineering goods, petroleum products, and electronics. The overall trade deficit (goods and services combined) widened 31.5% to US$15.03 billion, as imports of US$76.22 billion outpaced export gains. Cumulative April–July 2026 merchandise exports stand at US$173.78 billion (+17.04%). Current affairsUPI Completes 10 Years: From 21 Banks in 2016 to the World's Largest Real-Time Payments PlatformThe Unified Payments Interface (UPI) completes ten years in August 2026, marking its evolution from a pilot with 21 banks in April 2016 to the world's largest real-time payments platform — processing 2,366 crore transactions worth ₹29+ lakh crore per month, accounting for 85% of India's digital payments and approximately 49% of global real-time transactions, with active acceptance in 9 countries. Current affairsNITI Aayog Report on Professional Services 2026: Regulatory Reforms for Law, Medicine, Accounting, Architecture and EngineeringNITI Aayog released a report titled "India's Services Sector: Insights on Regulatory Regime in Professional Services" in August 2026, recommending a four-pronged reform roadmap — regulatory harmonisation, international mutual recognition agreements, technology adoption, and upskilling — to transform India's legal, accounting, architectural, engineering, and healthcare professional services and boost their global competitiveness.