UPSC Daily Current Affairs for 05 August 2026

The Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026

Context

The Union Government has introduced the Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026 in the Lok Sabha to promote Ease of Doing Business, attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and enhance India's attractiveness as a global investment destination.

Key Provisions of the Bill

Exemption on income from government securities: The Bill exempts foreign institutional investors (FIIs) and the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) from paying income tax on:

Interest earned on investments in government securities, and capital gains arising from sale, exchange or transfer of such securities.

Supreme Court Extends Protection Against Domestic Cruelty to Women in Live-in Relationships

Context

The Supreme Court held that the offence of domestic cruelty under Section 498A of the IPC (now Sections 85 and 86 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023) extends to women in live-in relationships that are "in the nature of marriage.".

Background

Section 498A of the IPC penalises a husband or his relatives for subjecting a woman to cruelty.

Because the provision explicitly uses the word “husband”, its application was traditionally restricted to legally valid marriages.

Supreme Court Seeks Union’s Response On Plea Challenging CAPF Act

In News

The Supreme Court has issued notice to the Union government on petitions filed by serving officers of the CAPF, challenging the Central Armed Police Force (General Administration) Act, 2026.

Background of Act

The CAPF (General Administration) Bill, Act was brought in pursuant to a Supreme Court judgement of 2025, which had directed to phase out deputation of IPS officers up to the rank of Inspector General (IG) in the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) within two years.

Research and Development Statistics 2025-26: DST

Context

According to the latest data disclosed by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), India’s spending on research and development (R&D) surged to 0.83% of GDP in 2021-22, , marking the first time since 2009-10 that the country crossed the 0.8% threshold.

What is Gross Expenditure on Research and Development (GERD)?

It is the sum of all resources dedicated to research and development during a given period.

It includes money spent on personnel, equipment, materials, and other costs associated with R&D activities by the Central Government, State Governments, Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs), Public Sector Enterprises (PSEs) and Private Industry.

Emerging Challenges Faced by the ISRO

Context

An analysis of the ISRO headcount from data in annual reports over the last three decades shows that ISRO’s current sanctioned strength vis-a-vis available employees is at 72% which is the lowest in recent times.

About

The developments have revolved around unprecedented failures, slowdown of projects with top billing, fears of attrition and the emergence of nascent competition in the form of homegrown startups.

Recent Failures and Slowdown: Back-to-back failure of the PSLV C61 and C62; delays in the realization of a first unmanned test flight G1 for the maiden Indian human spaceflight mission Gaganyaan.

News In Short 05-08-2026

Context

President Droupadi Murmu unveiled the statue of Utkalmani Pandit Gopabandhu Das in New Delhi.

About

Pandit Gopabandhu Das (1877–1928), popularly known as Utkalmani (Gem of Odisha), was a prominent freedom fighter, social reformer, educationist, poet, and journalist from Odisha.

Devoted to the service of the poor and social upliftment, he founded the Satyabadi Bana Vidyalaya at Sakhigopal to promote nationalist ideals through education.