Daily Current Affairs 4 August 2026: SC Judges Bill, Section 498A Ruling, Census 2027 & PMI Data — Full Exam Notes
Daily Current Affairs for 04 August 2026 is customized for the students who are preparing for SSC CGL, SSC CHSL, IBPS PO & Clerk, SBI PO & Clerk, RBI Grade B, UPSC Prelims & Mains, Haryana CET, Punjab Government Exams, Chandigarh Administration recruitment and other State PSC & state-level competitive exams across India. Every important current affairs news story is explained in a simple, exam-oriented format with crisp one-liners, highlighted static GK facts, key takeaways, and a quick 10-question practice quiz at the end to help you revise and assess your preparation effectively.
⚡ Today's Top 5 Exam-Worthy Stories
- Parliament: Lok Sabha passes the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill 2025 — sanctioned strength up from 34 to 38.
- Judiciary: Supreme Court widens Section 498A IPC to cover cruelty in live-in relationships too.
- Census 2027: Phase 2 (population enumeration) begins 17 August; first census to record caste data since 1931.
- Appointments: Varsha Aglawe becomes the first woman Director General of the Geological Survey of India (176-year-old organisation).
- Economy: India's manufacturing PMI slips to a 5-year low of 53.5 in July; GST collections rise 7.93% in July.
1. Lok Sabha Passes the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2025
In a session marked by opposition protests, the Lok Sabha cleared the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2025, raising the sanctioned strength of Supreme Court judges from 34 to 38 (33 puisne judges plus the Chief Justice of India). The bill was passed within minutes amid din, alongside another bill introducing the National Judicial Statistics Institute Bill, 2026.
If you are preparing for banking or SSC exams and want to revise such static/current mixed facts quickly every week, bookmark the Weekly Current Affairs Quiz series — it is updated regularly with judiciary and polity questions like this one.
2. Supreme Court: Section 498A IPC Cruelty Clause Now Covers Live-in Relationships
A bench of Justices Sanjay Karol and M.M. Sundresh held that the protection against cruelty under Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code (now Section 85 of BNS) is not restricted to a formally married woman — a "live-in relationship in the nature of marriage" also qualifies. The Court reasoned that legal protection should track the reality of exploitative domestic relationships rather than the paper status of marriage.
3. Census 2027: Phase 2 to Begin 17 August, Caste Data After 90 Years
The Registrar General of India has notified that Phase 2 (population enumeration) of Census 2027 will begin on 17 August 2027 in snow-bound and hilly areas of Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh (a provisional round ahead of the main national schedule of 1–30 September 2027, with reference date 1 October 2027 for the rest of the country). This is the first Census since 1931 to record caste details of respondents, and parents' birth details will also be captured for the first time to assess citizenship-linked demographics.
Aspirants tracking recruitment linked to enumeration/field duties, or simply revising demography-based static GK, can also check the Age Calculator for Government Jobs 2026 tool to confirm eligibility windows before applying to any census-linked or regular government post.
4. Key Appointments in the News
| Person | New Position | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Varsha Aglawe | Director General, Geological Survey of India (GSI) | First woman DG in GSI's 176-year history (est. 1851) |
| Vishwesh Negi | India's next Ambassador to Iran | Currently Joint Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs |
| Satyanjal Pandey | India's Charge d'Affaires in Pakistan | Senior diplomat, based in Islamabad |
5. Economy: Manufacturing PMI Hits 5-Year Low, GST Collections Rise
The HSBC India Manufacturing PMI, compiled by S&P Global, eased to 53.5 in July 2026 — its slowest pace in over four years — as weaker export orders and rising input costs weighed on factory activity even though the index remained in expansion territory (above 50). Separately, GST collections for July 2026 rose 7.93% year-on-year, showing continued formalisation of the tax base even as manufacturing momentum cools.
Also in economic news: the government approved an Offer for Sale (OFS) to divest up to 6.5% stake in LIC, expected to mop up close to ₹31,000 crore, and the Cabinet-cleared MSME Development (Amendment) Bill, 2026 aims to strengthen dispute resolution mechanisms for small and medium businesses.
If you are exploring banking career options while such GA-heavy exams are around the corner, this comparison of SSC CGL vs IBPS PO vs SBI PO salary & career growth is worth reading before you pick your primary target exam.
6. Bihar Politics: Jan Suraaj Wins Bankipur, Congress Retains Datia
In assembly bypoll results declared for three seats, Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj Party won the high-profile Bankipur seat in Patna — a former BJP stronghold — dealing a symbolic blow ahead of the 2027 Bihar Assembly elections. Congress retained Datia in Madhya Pradesh, while the BJP won Manjalpur in Gujarat.
7. Sports: Commonwealth Games 2026 Glasgow Concludes — India Finishes 4th
The 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow concluded with India finishing 4th on the medal tally with 39 medals (13 Gold, 17 Silver, 9 Bronze). The Games baton has now passed to Ahmedabad, India, host of the 2030 Commonwealth Games. Boxing was India's most successful discipline this edition.
8. Miscellaneous One-Line Facts for Quick Revision
🔑 One-Liners You Must Remember
- Finance Ministry has tabled the Bankers' Books Evidence Act, 2026 to replace the colonial-era Bankers' Books Evidence Act, 1891 — it standardises digital bank records as legal evidence.
- A Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) has backed decriminalisation of minor corporate offences under the reconfigured Companies Law overhaul.
- The Supreme Court has directed states to frame rules on the use of pellet guns against protesters — states with serious criminal antecedents in policing will be free to close down usage.
- Boeing's 737 MAX 7 has received FAA certification, seven years after the original application.
- Australia has hiked its News Bargaining levy on Big Tech platforms that fail to strike local news deals.
📚 Want more such daily digests, free certificate courses and career guidance in one place?
Explore Free Government Certificate Courses →Related Reads for Job & Exam Aspirants
Before you move to the practice quiz, here are a few resources that pair well with today's current affairs:
- Preparing your application documents? Learn how to compress photo/signature to 20KB-50KB online for free before any government form submission.
- Looking to add an in-demand skill alongside current affairs prep? Check the Best AI Courses With Certificate (2026) list.
- Targeting a banking career specifically? Browse the latest Bank Jobs notifications section.
- Students who want to earn while preparing can look at Online Jobs for Students & Professionals.
- Don't miss ongoing Scholarship Programs if you're a student aspirant.
📝 Practice Quiz: Test Yourself (10 MCQs)
Attempt these questions based purely on today's current affairs. Click "Show Answer" after you've picked your option.
Q1. The Lok Sabha passed a bill raising the sanctioned strength of the Supreme Court judges from 34 to how many?
- 36
- 37
- 38
- 40
Show Answer
Q2. The Supreme Court recently held that Section 498A IPC cruelty protection also applies to:
- Only registered marriages
- Live-in relationships in the nature of marriage
- Only marriages solemnised before 2005
- Foreign nationals only
Show Answer
Q3. Census 2027's Phase 2 population enumeration begins from which date in snow-bound/hilly regions?
- 1 September 2027
- 17 August 2027
- 1 March 2027
- 26 January 2027
Show Answer
Q4. Census 2027 will collect caste data for the first time since which year?
- 1947
- 1961
- 1931
- 1881
Show Answer
Q5. Who has become the first woman Director General of the Geological Survey of India (GSI)?
- Nirmala Sitharaman
- Varsha Aglawe
- Renu Singh
- Anita Kapoor
Show Answer
Q6. India's HSBC Manufacturing PMI for July 2026 stood at what value, marking a 5-year low?
- 48.2
- 50.9
- 53.5
- 57.1
Show Answer
Q7. The government approved an Offer for Sale (OFS) to divest up to how much stake in LIC?
- 2.5%
- 6.5%
- 10%
- 15%
Show Answer
Q8. Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj Party won which assembly bypoll seat, dealing a blow to the BJP?
- Manjalpur
- Datia
- Bankipur
- Kolkata North
Show Answer
Q9. India finished at which position in the medal tally of the 2026 Commonwealth Games, Glasgow?
- 1st
- 2nd
- 3rd
- 4th
Show Answer
Q10. The Bankers' Books Evidence Act, 2026 is set to replace which colonial-era law?
- Indian Evidence Act, 1872
- Bankers' Books Evidence Act, 1891
- Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881
- Companies Act, 1913
Show Answer
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Why is today's (4 August 2026) current affairs important for SSC, Banking and UPSC?
A: Today's news carries three high-frequency exam themes together — a Supreme Court judgment on personal law (498A/live-in), a Parliamentary bill on judicial strength, and fresh macro-economic data (PMI, GST) — all of which appear repeatedly in the General Awareness/GS sections of SSC CGL, IBPS/SBI PO Mains, and UPSC Prelims.
Q: How should I revise such daily current affairs effectively?
A: Convert every news item into a one-line, fact-first note (as done above), attempt a short MCQ quiz the same day, and revise via a weekly and monthly compilation such as the Weekly Current Affairs Quiz to reinforce memory through spaced repetition.
Sources: The Economic Times (New Delhi/Gurgaon edition) and The Times of India (Chandigarh edition), 4 August 2026 print editions. This article is an original summary and analysis written for exam-preparation purposes; facts have been independently re-stated in the author's own words for educational use. Figures such as PMI readings, medal tallies and bill provisions are subject to official confirmation from PIB, ministries or the respective organisations — readers preparing for exams are advised to cross-check exact figures from the official gazette/PIB release before the exam date.
Thank you for your Comment.