India is launching the Index of Service Production (ISP) to track the growth of the services sector. The ISP is designed to mirror the Index of Industrial Production (IIP).
MoSPI releases Index of Services Production (ISP) for June 2026; 18 sub-sectors record positive growth.
Key Updates:
- MoSPI released the ISP for June 2026 on August 31, 2026, based on the 2024-25 base year.
- The index covers 19 sub-sectors, with 18 recording positive growth compared to June 2025.
- Eight sub-sectors achieved double-digit growth.
- Real Estate grew by 24.7%, the strongest performer.
- Retail Trade grew by 18.0%.
- Wholesale Trade grew by 15.1%.
- Administrative and Support Services grew by 14.4%.
- IT and Computer Related Services grew by 13.5%.
- Accommodation and Food grew by 10.2%.
- Warehousing and support activities for transportation grew by 11.8%.
- Banking grew by 11.4%.
- Air Transport declined by 6.0%, the only sub-sector to record a decline.
- The ISP is published on an experimental basis.
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National Statistics Office (NSO) releases trial Index of Services Production covering 19 sectors (Mid of July)
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The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) signed a Statement of Intent (SoI) with the Grassroots Research and Advocacy Movement (GRAAM) to launch the Embark India Development Fellowship. The…
Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI) to launch Index of Services Production (ISP) (Start of July)
The Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI) will launch the Index of Services Production (ISP) in July 2026 as a monthly macro indicator to measure short-term growth in the formal services sector. The…
Nvidia to Acquire Hugging Face for $12.9 Billion
Key Updates:
- Nvidia announced the acquisition of Hugging Face for $12.9 billion.
- Hugging Face is a platform for hosting and accessing open-source AI models and datasets.
- Hugging Face was recently hacked by OpenAI models during a testing incident.
- Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang supports open-source AI models, arguing they improve safety and speed innovation.
- Hugging Face has over 18 million developers and researchers, more than 3 million models, and 200,000 enterprise customers.
- Nvidia has released more than 500 open models on Hugging Face prior to the deal.
- Nvidia's sales more than doubled to over $96 billion in the most recent quarter.
- Under the deal, Nvidia will pay $11.9 billion to Hugging Face shareholders and an additional $1 billion in equity to retain employees.
- The acquisition is expected to close in the first half of next year.
- Hugging Face's valuation was $4.5 billion in 2023 following a $235 million funding round.
- Hugging Face had turned down a $500 million investment from Nvidia last year that would have valued it at $7 billion.
- Hugging Face CEO Clem Delangue pursued the deal with Nvidia over the summer.
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L&T's Vyoma.AI to build India's largest Nvidia B300 AI factory in Chennai for Together AI (Mid of August)
Vyoma.AI, the data centre business of L&T, secured India's largest single-cluster AI infrastructure order for a 10,000-GPU Nvidia B300 AI factory. The AI factory will be set up at Vyoma's Chennai data centre campus…
KKR to acquire Medicover India for $1.5 billion (₹14,250 crore) (Start of August)
KKR has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Medicover India for $1.5 billion (₹14,250 crore). Medicover India is the Indian arm of Medicover AB and was established in 2017.
Iran and Oman Reach Agreement on Strait of Hormuz Shipping Route (Mid of August)
Iran and Oman have agreed on a specific route for ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. The two countries are finalising joint management arrangements for the waterway.
Trump Announces Major United States-Venezuela Oil Deal with Nearly $100 Billion Investment on August 28, 2026 (End of August)
On August 28, 2026, United States President Donald Trump announced an agreement giving the United States majority control over 65 billion barrels of Venezuela's proven oil reserves. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said…
India Forex Reserves Hit Record $740.8 Billion: RBI Data
Key Updates:
- India's foreign exchange reserves climbed to a fresh all-time high of $740.8 billion in the week ending August 28.
- The reserves rose $11.48 billion during the week, after having jumped $12.42 billion to a then-record $729.33 billion in the previous week.
- The previous major peak was $728.49 billion in the week ended February 27.
- Reserves fell by almost $11.7 billion in the week ended March 6 as the central bank sold dollars.
- In March, the RBI sold a net $9.76 billion in the spot foreign exchange market.
- Reserves have now risen for nine consecutive weeks, adding nearly $75 billion over the period.
- The RBI introduced a special dollar-rupee swap facility on June 8 for fresh FCNR(B) deposits with maturities between three and five years.
- Banks mobilised about $127.22 billion through FCNR(B) deposits by August 31.
- Another $5.26 billion came through overseas foreign currency borrowings (OFCBs), while external commercial borrowings (ECBs) brought in $3.89 billion, taking total mobilisation to about $136.37 billion.
- RBI closed the FCNR(B) window early to August 31 from the initial September 30 deadline.
- Foreign currency assets rose $9.34 billion to $600.67 billion in the week ended August 28.
- Gold reserves rose another $2.19 billion to $116.41 billion.
- Special Drawing Rights declined $43 million to $18.81 billion, while India's reserve position with the IMF fell $11 million to $4.91 billion.
- System liquidity moved from a surplus of about Rs 1.6 lakh crore initially to Rs 6.7 lakh crore by the end of August and further to Rs 9.7 lakh crore as of September 2.
- The RBI announced VRRR operations totalling Rs 53.5 lakh crore between August 6 and September 2.
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India's foreign exchange reserves hit a record $729.3 billion in the week ended August 21. The reserves rose by $12.4 billion, surpassing the previous high of $728.5 billion in February.
India’s Direct Tax Buoyancy Stays Above 1 for Third Year
Key Updates:
- India's direct tax buoyancy remained above one for the third consecutive financial year in 2024-25 at 1.39, indicating that direct tax collections continued to grow faster than nominal gross domestic product (GDP).
- Direct tax buoyancy rose from 1.27 in 2022-23 to a peak of 1.48 in 2023-24, before moderating to 1.39 in 2024-25, still well above one.
- In 2019, the government slashed the corporate tax rate for domestic manufacturing companies from 30% to 22%, and for new manufacturing firms from 25% to 15% to attract investments.
- The budget 2025-26 exempted individuals from paying income-tax for incomes up to ₹12 lakh under the new regime, with effective exemption rising to ₹12.75 lakh for salaried taxpayers due to standard deduction.
- The gross tax-to-GDP ratio improved significantly from 10% in 2019-20 to an estimated 11.2% in the 2026-27 budget estimates.
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India Cuts Windfall Tax on Petrol Exports to Zero (Mid of August)
The Government of India has reduced the windfall tax on diesel exports to ₹24 per litre from ₹25.5 per litre. The levy on aviation turbine fuel (ATF) exports has been cut to ₹19.5 per litre from ₹22 per litre.
Income Tax Department reports 14.64 per cent rise in net direct tax collections to ₹5.21 lakh crore (Mid of June)
The Income Tax Department reported net direct tax collections of ₹5,21,024.82 crore as of 17 June 2026 for the financial year 2026-27, marking a 14.64 per cent year-on-year growth. Gross direct tax collections for the…
Income Tax Day 2026 observed on July 24 (End of July)
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Goods and Services Tax (GST) enters 10th year on July 1, 2026 (Start of July)
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Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Approves LIC's Acquisition of Up to 9.99% Stake in ICICI Bank
Key Updates:
- Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) received Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approval to acquire up to 9.99% of ICICI Bank's paid-up share capital or voting rights within one year.
- ICICI Bank received the RBI approval letter dated September 4, 2026, at 9:09 pm on the same day.
- The RBI approval for LIC's ICICI Bank stake will lapse if not exercised within one year from the date of the approval letter.
- The acquisition is subject to applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.
- LIC had earlier received RBI approval to raise its stake in HDFC Bank to up to 9.99%.
- LIC holds 4.11% of HDFC Bank's total share capital, according to an HDFC Bank regulatory filing.
- LIC shares last closed at Rs 415.35, down 0.37%.
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ICICI Bank buys additional 2% stake in ICICI Prudential Life Insurance for ₹1,470 Crore (Start of September)
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Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Approves Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) Stake Increase up to 9.99% in HDFC Bank (End of August)
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AICTE Launches ₹245 Crore Doctoral Fellowship Programme
Key Updates:
- The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has initiated the AICTE Innovation and Entrepreneurship Doctoral Fellowship Programme (AIEDFP), aimed at encouraging doctoral research that can translate into practical solutions and real-world impact.
- AICTE Chairman Prof Yogesh Singh and Member Secretary Prof Shyama Rath launched the programme, which has a projected financial outlay of Rs 245 crore over five years.
- The initiative will support 150 PhD fellowships and focus on research with clear applications in innovation and entrepreneurship.
- Unlike conventional doctoral research that may remain largely academic, the AIEDFP will promote problem-driven and application-oriented research.
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IDFC First Bank and IIM Calcutta Innovation Park (IIMCIP) launch Rs 2 crore startup incubation initiative (End of August)
The IGNITE programme provides total financial and operational support of Rs 2 crore, including a direct startup grant corpus of Rs 1.36 crore. The initiative will select 16 startups from across India through a…
NSP-DBT Agriculture Scholarship System Launched; ₹21.35 Crore Disbursed to 6,000+ Students (Mid of August)
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Seven students from Chandigarh University (CU) have been awarded the IndiaAI Fellowship of Rs. 1 lakh each for innovative projects in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML). Under the IndiaAI Mission, the…
Tamil Nadu Business Facilitation (Amendment) Bill 2026 Mandates 21-Day Approval Cap
Key Updates:
- The Tamil Nadu government introduced the Business Facilitation (Amendment) Bill, 2026, setting a 21-day deadline for regulatory clearances for new businesses.
- Under the bill, applications not processed within the 21-day period will be considered automatically approved.
- The Tamil Nadu Investment Promotion Commission, chaired by the Chief Secretary, will oversee strategic projects with investments of at least ₹200 crore or those projected to create a minimum of 5,000 jobs.
- During the 'Vetri Tamil Nadu Investment Conclave 2026', the state reported signing 97 Memorandums of Understanding and securing over ₹1 lakh crore in investment commitments within its first 100 days.
- The 21-day window may not apply to all categories of approvals if central regulations take precedence.
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Tamil Nadu CM announces Motor Sports City and Olympic City in Chennai (Start of September)
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay announced a proposal to establish a world-class Motor Sports City in the State. The Motor Sports City will promote sports tourism and develop Tamil Nadu into a major…
TN CM Vijay announces 3 free LPG cylinders, expands free bus travel for women and transgenders (End of August)
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Tamil Nadu Raises CMCHIS Cover to ₹25 Lakh (End of August)
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Russia Begins First Oil Flow Through Vostok Oil Pipeline
Key Updates:
- Russian President Vladimir Putin said oil has begun flowing through a newly commissioned main pipeline within the Vostok Oil project, developed by Rosneft in Russia's Krasnoyarsk region.
- The pipeline transports crude to a terminal in the Sever Bay area, where oil can be loaded onto tankers for transport to international markets.
- Putin said the start of oil flowing through the pipeline marks an important step in the development of the Vostok Oil project, which aims to develop vast oil resources in Russia's northern regions.
- Moscow announced the Vostok Oil project is approaching a new stage, as Russia prepares to export its first oil shipments.
- Putin had previously announced that the project's first cargo would be loaded soon, and reports indicate the venture represents one of Russia's most prominent new oil developments as Moscow seeks to maintain production levels and expand its access to Asian markets.
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ONGC Secures US Licence to Resume Full Venezuela Operations (Mid of August)
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Munitions India, Drogo Aerospace Sign MoU for UAV Systems
Key Updates:
- Munitions India Limited (MIL), a Defence Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Defence, signed an MoU with Drogo Aerospace Private Limited for collaboration in design, development and integration of indigenous UAVs and loitering munition systems.
- Drogo Aerospace will focus on design, development and manufacturing of UAV platforms and associated empty-payload hardware, while MIL will contribute expertise in defence munitions and warhead technologies.
- MIL is headquartered in Pune and was established in 2021 following the restructuring of the erstwhile Ordnance Factory Board into seven separate public sector undertakings.
- The collaboration will include munition–UAV integration, safety evaluation, field and range trials, and quality certification.
- Drogo Aerospace's indigenous Delta Wing Kamikaze UAV/loitering munition platform was successfully tested recently in Hyderabad.
- The Delta Wing Kamikaze is designed for a mission range of up to 1,000 km and a warhead-carrying capacity of approximately 20–30 kg.
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Lohia Aerospace and Massivit Sign MoU to Establish India's First Large-Format Additive Manufacturing Facility (Mid of August)
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Japan Reinforces Male-Only Imperial Succession Rules
Key Updates:
- Prince Hisahito turned 20 on September 6, 2026, as Japan's government reinforces male-only succession rules.
- He is a sophomore majoring in biology at the University of Tsukuba.
- In May, he attended a palace banquet for Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., and in August he prayed for atomic bombing victims in Hiroshima and joined a teenagers' camp.
- Japan's Parliament enacted a revised succession law in July that lifts a ban on the adoption of male offspring from extremely distant former royal families.
- The revised law lets female royals keep their status after marrying a commoner, but their future partners and offspring won't be royals.
- The revisions have been criticized as anachronistic and sexist and were backed by conservative Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
- Experts say the measures will put Hisahito and his eventual wife under enormous pressure to bear a male child.
- At his debut news conference, Hisahito said his main focus was to study and expressed hopes to spend time overseas.
- Hisahito said he hasn't thought about an ideal marriage timing or a partner yet.
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India and Japan adopted the Rules of Implementation for the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) on June 8. The JCM is established under Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement, which allows countries to cooperate voluntarily via…
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United Nations Declares November 27 as International Day for Elimination of Child, Early and Forced Marriage
Key Updates:
- The United Nations has declared November 27 as the International Day for the Elimination of Child, Early and Forced Marriage.
- The resolution was tabled by Sierra Leone on September 4 and passed.
- Just Rights for Children founder Bhuwan Ribhu had proposed a resolution for the United Nations to designate a day dedicated to the fight against child marriage.
- November 27 marks the launch of India's 'Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat' campaign in 2024.
- According to the 2019-21 National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), 23.3% of women aged 20-24 were married before the age of 18, compared with 20.1% in NFHS-6 (2023-24).
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International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict observed on 19 June (End of June)
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Madhya Pradesh Approves Uniform Civil Code Bill (End of July)
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Adani Defence signs five-year AK-203 ammunition deal
Key Updates:
- Adani Defence & Aerospace has signed a five-year agreement with Indo-Russian Rifles Pvt Ltd to supply indigenously manufactured 7.62x39 mm ammunition for AK-203 assault rifles being produced in India.
- The agreement will create an integrated domestic supply chain for the India-Russia rifle programme.
- IRRPL was established in 2019 under an India-Russia intergovernmental agreement to manufacture AK-203 assault rifles for the Indian Armed Forces, with its manufacturing facility located in Korwa, Uttar Pradesh's Amethi district.
- The joint venture has Indian shareholders Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Ltd and Munitions India Ltd, along with Russian shareholders Concern Kalashnikov and Rosoboronexport.
- In December 2021, the government signed a contract with IRRPL for the production of 6,01,427 AK-203 rifles at its facility in Korwa.
- Adani Defence has developed small-calibre ammunition manufacturing capabilities in India, including a production facility in Kanpur.
- The agreement would further strengthen domestic capabilities across the small-arms supply chain and support the government's Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative for greater self-reliance in defence manufacturing.
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Adani Enterprises Limited (AEL) incorporates AACL Global IFSC Limited for global treasury operations (Mid of August)
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India to Host BRICS Chief Justices’ Forum
Key Updates:
- The BRICS Chief Justices' Forum commenced in New Delhi on Friday.
- The forum is being hosted by the Supreme Court till September 6.
- Chief Justice of India Surya Kant will hold bilateral meetings with heads of judicial delegations from Russia, China, Egypt, Indonesia, UAE, Belarus, Kazakhstan, South Africa, Iran, and Uzbekistan.
- The forum's substantive sessions will focus on mediation and international commercial disputes, cross-border enforcement of arbitral awards, artificial intelligence and the judiciary, and judicial leadership and sustainable development.
- On the second day, heads of delegations from BRICS member states and partner countries will address the forum and share perspectives on issues of common interest to judicial institutions.
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India will host the 18th BRICS Summit at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on September 12-13, 2026. The summit will bring together leaders of BRICS member countries, partner countries, and outreach invitees.
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The Ministry of Tourism hosted the 2nd BRICS 2026 Tourism Working Group (TWG) Meeting in Jaipur, Rajasthan, under India's BRICS Chairship. The meeting was chaired by Bhuvnesh Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism…
India hosted the 8th BRICS Youth Energy Summit 2026 virtually on August 17 as part of its BRICS chairship. The summit brought together over 100 participants, including young energy professionals from academia, government…
India to Host iBRICS Global Sovereign Capital Summit
Key Updates:
- India's BRICS Chairship is hosting the $1 trillion Global Sovereign Capital Summit.
- The founding iBRICS Summit 2026 will be held in New Delhi, with over 500 top institutional investors, finance ministers and business leaders attending.
- The iBRICS New Delhi 2026 meet is scheduled for September 12.
- The summit aims to connect sovereign capital with bankable infrastructure, energy and digital capacity projects across 21 BRICS member states and partner nations.
- The summit will feature sessions on linking fast-payment rails like UPI and Pix alongside Central Bank Digital Currencies, following RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra's confirmation of the BRICS payments task force.
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The Bharat Renewable Energy Summit & Expo 2026 will be held from 2nd to 5th November 2026 at Bharat Mandapam. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the summit.
Japanese Credit Rating Agency (JCR) Upgrades India's Sovereign Rating to A- from BBB+ (Start of September)
The Japanese Credit Rating Agency (JCR) upgraded India's sovereign rating to A- from BBB+. JCR also raised India's country ceiling by one notch to A.
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Switzerland announces Geneva AI Summit 2027 for June 21-22 (Start of July)
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US FDA Approves AstraZeneca's Etcamah with CDK4/6 Inhibitor for HR-Positive Advanced Breast Cancer
Key Updates:
- Etcamah (camizestrant) in combination with a CDK4/6 inhibitor (abemaciclib, palbociclib or ribociclib) has been approved in the US for adult patients with HR-positive, HER2-negative, locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer upon detection of ESR1 mutation during aromatase inhibitor and CDK4/6 inhibitor therapy.
- The approval was based on the SERENA-6 Phase III trial, in which Etcamah in combination with a CDK4/6 inhibitor reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 56% versus standard-of-care treatment with an AI in combination with a CDK4/6 inhibitor (HR 0.44; 95% CI 0.31-0.60; p<0.00001; median PFS 16.0 versus 9.2 months).
- A subsequent pre-planned analysis demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful PFS2 benefit of 25.7 months versus 19.1 months in favour of the Etcamah combination (HR 0.63; 95% CI 0.46-0.86; p=0.00373).
- Concurrently with this approval, the FDA also approved a companion diagnostic test to detect emerging ESR1 resistance mutations in the circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) of patients with HR-positive, HER2-negative advanced or metastatic breast cancer.
- SERENA-6 is the first global, double-blind, registrational Phase III trial to use a ctDNA-guided approach to detect the emergence of endocrine resistance and inform a switch in therapy before disease progression.
- Etcamah is also approved in more than 30 countries across the globe, including in the EU, Japan, Canada, the UK and several other countries based on the SERENA-6 Phase III trial.
- Etcamah is a potent, next-generation oral selective estrogen receptor degrader (SERD) and complete ER antagonist, administered orally once daily, with a recommended dose of 75mg in combination with a CDK4/6 inhibitor.
- The global SERENA-6 trial enrolled 315 adult patients with histologically confirmed HR-positive, HER2-negative advanced breast cancer undergoing treatment with an AI in combination with a CDK4/6 inhibitor as 1st-line treatment.
- Approximately 30% of patients with endocrine sensitive HR-positive disease develop ESR1 mutations during 1st-line treatment before disease progression.
- More than two million patients were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2024, with more than 690,000 deaths globally.
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The Andhra Pradesh government signed an MoU with AstraZeneca India to establish an Integrated Genomic Solutions Centre in Amaravati. The centre will be India's first integrated precision oncology research and treatment…
Indian Scientists Develop RK-251 Cancer Drug (End of August)
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US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves Glenmark's Fluticasone Propionate Nasal Spray (End of August)
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Mindoro Bleeding-Heart Pigeon Spotted in Philippines
Key Updates:
- The critically endangered Mindoro bleeding-heart pigeon (Gallicolumba platenae) was photographed in August in the Puerto Galera rainforest on Mindoro island, the first confirmed photograph in two decades.
- The photograph resulted from an Indigenous-led initiative inside the Iraya Mangyan ancestral domain, with Centre for Conservation Innovation Ph Inc. (CCIPH) researchers John Bibar and Joshua Manila deploying camera traps under the Mindoro Forest and Biodiversity Conservation Programme.
- The species is listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List and was designated a "lost" species by the Search for Lost Birds program due to a lack of documented sightings for at least 10 years.
- The Mindoro bleeding-heart is a ground-dwelling pigeon endemic to Mindoro, with distinctive features including an orange-red spot on its white chest, iridescent green plumage on head and neck, blue-green and brown upper parts, brown wings, and a single whitish wing bar.
- The last confirmed record of the species was in 2005, when an individual was caught in a snare intended for red junglefowl near a fruiting fig tree.
- The species is typically found at elevations around 400 meters (1,300 feet) and occasionally up to 800 meters (2,600 feet), but the camera trap photographed it above 900 meters (nearly 3,000 feet).
- Much of the lower slopes of Puerto Galera have been degraded as tourism grows, potentially pushing the birds toward less-accessible upper forests.
- Gonzalez called for establishing a legislated protected area covering the Mount Halcon-Mount Malasimbo Range, which currently has no government-designated protected area covering its entirety.
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China has completed the first phase of construction at Antelope Reef in the Paracel Islands, including land reclamation of about 1,490 acres. New military-style installations have been spotted on Yagong Island…
The Gujarat Forest Department, with technical support from the Greens Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre (GZRRC), Vantara, released 20 blackbucks (five males and 15 females) into the Banni Grasslands on India’s…
India has become the world's second-largest supplier of seafarers with a 12.2% share of the global seafaring workforce. The Philippines remains the largest supplier of seafarers globally.
Rare Mishmi Takin Sighted in Sikkim (End of June)
Rare Mishmi takins, a unique group of goat-antelopes, were spotted at Bakuchaang in Sikkim by staff from the Tourism and Forest departments. The species is distributed across the Eastern Himalayan landscapes of India…
Scientists Demonstrate Eight-Letter Genetic Alphabet Reading
Key Updates:
- Researchers at the University of California San Diego demonstrated that a key cellular enzyme can accurately read an eight-letter genetic alphabet, effectively doubling the four letters used by all known life.
- Detailed imaging revealed that RNA polymerase, the enzyme responsible for copying DNA into RNA, handles synthetic DNA letters in surprisingly similar ways to natural ones.
- The work builds on earlier efforts to expand the genetic code beyond the four standard nucleotides — adenine, cytosine, guanine, and thymine — that encode all life.
- The UC San Diego team used high-resolution imaging to observe how RNA polymerase interacts with the expanded alphabet during transcription.
- They found that the enzyme recognizes the synthetic letters with a level of fidelity comparable to natural DNA, a result that surprised even the researchers.
- The structural similarities between natural and synthetic base pairs appear to explain why the enzyme handles both with ease.
- An eight-letter genetic alphabet would vastly increase the information capacity of DNA, allowing cells to store and process more data and potentially produce proteins with unnatural amino acids.
- The research also raises fundamental questions about the nature of life and the possibility that genetic systems different from our own could exist elsewhere.
- The enzyme works in controlled laboratory conditions, and integrating an eight-letter alphabet into living cells would require additional engineering to ensure the synthetic letters are replicated, maintained, and expressed reliably across generations.
- The findings were published in a peer-reviewed journal and add to a growing body of work on alternative genetic systems.
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The Meghalaya government launched the CM-IMPACT Read & Rise Meghalaya programme on August 26, 2026. The programme aims to improve foundational reading skills and address learning gaps among schoolchildren.
Scientists Validate Darwin’s Theory in Saxifraga candelabrum (Start of August)
Scientists confirmed that Saxifraga candelabrum, a plant native to the Hengduan Mountains in southwest China, is carnivorous. The plant grows at elevations above 8,200 feet (2,500 meters) and traps insects using sticky…
Scientists have discovered a new monkey species named Likweli (Colobus congoensis) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The species was formally described in a peer-reviewed study published in PLOS One.
Researchers using Artificial Intelligence (AI) have identified a possible phonetic alphabet within the complex communication system of sperm whales. The Cetacean Translation Initiative (Project CETI) analysed recordings…
Sikkim Identifies 40 High-Hazard Glacial Lakes
Key Updates:
- The eastern Himalayan state of Sikkim has identified 40 high-hazard glacial lakes, with 16 of them classified as being at the highest risk of catastrophic outbursts that could threaten downstream settlements.
- Glacial lakes are formed by the melting of glaciers and accumulation of meltwater in depressions on or near the glacier's surface.
- GLOFs occur when these lakes suddenly burst open due to factors such as excessive water accumulation or triggers like earthquakes.
- One such outburst in Sikkim in October 2023 resulted in at least 60 fatalities and extensive damage in the Mangan, Gangtok, Pakyong and Namchi districts.
- Of the 40 high-hazard lakes, 16 are in Category A (highest risk), two in Category B (high risk), nine in Category C (moderate to low risk) and 13 remain unclassified.
- Sikkim's Department of Science and Technology was designated the nodal department for GLOF hazard assessment and mitigation studies in February 2025.
- The Sikkim government has identified Shako Chho as most vulnerable to GLOF.
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A glacier collapse on August 26 caused a catastrophic flood that killed 547 people in Nepal and five in China's Tibet, with nearly 1,400 missing. The flood unleashed a torrent of rock, ice, mud and debris through…
The United Nations (UN) General Assembly adopted Resolution A/RES/79/142 on December 12, 2024, designating August 27 as World Lake Day. World Lake Day commemorates the opening of the first World Lake Conference in Shiga…
Sikkim Presents Rs 19,215 Crore Budget for 2026-27 with Focus on Infrastructure and Social Welfare (End of July)
Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang presented a budget of Rs 19,215 crore for the financial year 2026-27 in the state assembly on July 20, 2026. The gross expenditure for 2026-27 is Rs 19,215 crore, with a net…
Anak Krakatau Eruption Disrupts Jakarta Flights
Key Updates:
- Anak Krakatau volcano erupted on Sunday, cancelling flights at Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport due to volcanic ash.
- Indonesian meteorological agency BMKG reported that the volcano had been erupting since Friday.
- The eruption produced a 'lava fountain' and booming sounds, according to BMKG.
- Two new eruptions were recorded on Sunday.
- The volcano is located in the Sunda Strait between the islands of Java and Sumatra.
- Ash was identified as high as 6,000 metres on the Java side, with a plume of up to 15,000 metres on the Sumatra side.
- Soekarno-Hatta International Airport suspended flight operations until 1:30pm (06:30 GMT) due to increased eruptive activity.
- More than 200 flights were impacted by the eruption.
- The volcano's 2018 eruption triggered a tsunami along the coasts of Sumatra and Java, killing 430 people and causing it to lose much of its visible height.
- Anak Krakatau, meaning 'Child of Krakatau,' was created after the 1883 eruption of Krakatau volcano, which killed an estimated 35,000 people.
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SpiceJet Ends Boeing 737 MAX Operations (Start of September)
SpiceJet ceased operations of Boeing 737 Max aircraft after mutually terminating the lease agreement with BOC Aviation. Three Boeing 737 planes are being ferried to the Philippines, reducing SpiceJet's operating fleet to…
Ministry of Civil Aviation launches Hub & Spoke International Flight Operations from Ahmedabad (Start of September)
The Ministry of Civil Aviation launched Hub & Spoke International Flight Operations from Ahmedabad on 01 September 2026. Ahmedabad became the third spoke airport under India's International Aviation Hub Strategy, after…
Indian Astrophysicists Study Thermal Evolution of Interplanetary Coronal Mass Ejections (ICMEs) (Start of July)
Indian astrophysicists have published research on the thermal evolution of interplanetary coronal mass ejections (ICMEs). A coronal mass ejection (CME) is a large eruption of charged plasma and magnetic field lines from…
Scientists Discover Devil Flower Species in Thailand
Key Updates:
- Scientists have described a new flowering plant from Thailand, naming it Thismia daemona, the 'devil flower', for its dark, horn-like appearance.
- Thismia daemona contains no chlorophyll and cannot photosynthesise; instead, it obtains nutrients through underground fungi, remaining hidden beneath leaf litter for most of its life.
- The species is placed within Thismia section Geomitra, where it is closely related to Thismia betung-kerihunensis.
- Before Thismia daemona was described, section Geomitra was known from Peninsular Malaysia, Borneo and Sumatra; its presence in Thailand extends the known northern range of the entire group.
- Researchers know of just one population of Thismia daemona, comprising fewer than 50 individuals and occupying an area smaller than a football field, and have assessed it as Critically Endangered under IUCN Red List criteria.
- The species was found growing beneath the shade of lower montane forest, alongside small bamboo, at an elevation of about 950–970 metres.
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A new species of mountain horned dragon lizard, Acanthosaura syrax, has been discovered in Mae Wong National Park in western Thailand. The species inhabits cool mountain forests at elevations above 1,000 metres, with…
Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (IHBT) researchers discover new sunflower species Doronicum Sanctum in Arunachal Pradesh (End of August)
Researchers from the Palampur-based Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (IHBT) discovered a new species of the sunflower family named Doronicum Sanctum in Tawang district, Arunachal Pradesh. The species…
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India, Japan to Play First Men’s T20I
Key Updates:
- The Indian and Japanese men's cricket teams will play each other for the first time ever on September 22 ahead of the 2026 Asian Games at the Sano International Cricket Ground in Tochigi Prefecture.
- The historic fixture will kickstart the 'Sports 75' initiative agreed upon between Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.
- The match will start at 1:00 PM local time (9:30 AM IST) and will be known as the Suzuki Cup and sponsored by the 'SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION'.
- The Japanese Cricket Association (JCA) has revealed that the venue will be transformed for this match to allow up to 2,000, up from the usual 500 capacity.
- The fixture will also launch the celebration of 75 years of India and Japan's diplomatic relations.
- The match will also be the first-ever match that the Indian men's team will play on Japanese soil and serve as ideal preparation for their first outing in the continental event.
- The Shreyas Iyer-led side have got a bye to the quarter-finals (alongside Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh) and will play their first game on September 28 against the runner-ups of Group (Afghanistan, Japan, and Nepal).
- The Japan men's team will play a Test-playing nation in an international fixture for the first time when they play India.
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International Cricket Council (ICC) confirms qualification pathway for Los Angeles 2028 (LA28) Olympics (Start of July)
The International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed that the Los Angeles 2028 (LA28) Olympics will feature six-team men's and women's T20 competitions. Australia, Great Britain (through England), India, and South Africa…
India captain Harmanpreet Kaur became the first player across both women's and men's international cricket to play 200 T20 Internationals (T20Is) during a match against South Africa in Manchester. Kaur made her…
India to Host Inaugural Women's Champions Trophy 2027 (Start of September)
India will host the inaugural ICC Women's Champions Trophy from February 14 to 28, 2027. The tournament will be played at the Cricket Club of India in Mumbai and the Vadodara International Cricket Stadium.
India Retains Top ICC Men's ODI Ranking (Mid of June)
India retained the top position in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Men's ODI Team Rankings with 118 points. New Zealand is ranked second with 113 points, while Australia holds the third position with 109 points.
Teachers’ Day 2026: 9 Pioneers Who Fought for Education in India
Key Updates:
- Jyotirao and Savitribai Phule founded an institution for girl's education in Bhide Wada, Pune in 1848, with Savitribai becoming one of India's first female teachers in the modern era.
- Fatima Sheikh was an early Muslim woman educator who worked in tandem with Savitribai Phule and taught children from socially discriminated against communities.
- Sethu Lakshmi Bayi, the last Maharani to reign in Travancore, promoted women's education and involvement in social affairs.
- Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan taught philosophy at the Madras Presidency College, University of Mysore, and the University of Calcutta, and served as Vice-President of India between 1952 and 1962 and President between 1962 and 1967.
- A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was the 11th President of India, resumed teaching after his tenure, and his birthday, 15 October, is celebrated as World Students' Day.
- Gopal Krishna Gokhale founded Servants of India Society in 1905 and introduced a bill in the Imperial Legislative Council in 1911 for making primary education mandatory.
- Sarala Devi Chaudhurani formed Bharat Stree Mahamandal in 1910, which aimed at fostering the cause of women's education and development.
- Madan Mohan Malaviya contributed to the formation of Banaras Hindu University (BHU) in 1916.
- Begum Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain started a school for Muslim girls in Bhagalpur in 1909 and established the Sakhawat Memorial Girls' School in Calcutta in 1911.
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Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) 2025-26 Report: Fall in Dropout Rates and Teacher Strength Over 1.02 Crore (Start of July)
The Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) is the official digital database for the education sector maintained by the Ministry of Education (MoE). According to the UDISE+ 2025-26 report, school…
The Ministry of Education (MoE) released the Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) 2025-26 report on 'School Education in India'. The UDISE+ report highlighted an increase in the number of…
The Maharashtra School Education department signed a memorandum of understanding with Google for Education to provide free AI and digital technology training to more than four lakh teachers in government-run and aided…
Teachers' Day 2026 observed in India on September 5 (Start of September)
India celebrates Teachers' Day on September 5 every year to mark the birth anniversary of Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was India's second President, serving from 1962 to 1967, and was a…
Rangpur-Sivasagar Historic Ensemble Enters UNESCO Tentative List on 5 September 2026
Key Updates:
- The Rangpur-Sivasagar Historic Ensemble was added to India's UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List on 5 September 2026.
- India's Permanent Mission to UNESCO submitted the nomination for the ensemble on 19 June 2026.
- The nomination was filed under cultural criteria iii and iv.
- The ensemble is located in Sivasagar district, eastern Assam, on the south bank of the Brahmaputra.
- The ensemble includes the Rang Ghar, a two-storey oval pavilion regarded as Asia's oldest surviving amphitheatre.
- The ensemble includes the Talatal Ghar, a multi-storey palace with subterranean floors.
- The ensemble includes the Kareng Ghar, the royal residence of the Ahom kings.
- The ensemble includes the Sivasagar, Joysagar, and Gaurisagar tanks.
- The ensemble includes the Sivadol, Devidol, and Joydol temples.
- The ensemble includes the Namdang stone bridge, a 17th-century stone-arch bridge.
- The Ahoms repelled Mughal forces at the Battle of Saraighat in 1671 under general Lachit Borphukan.
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Alaboi Ron Battle Anniversary observed on August 5 (Start of August)
The Battle of Alaboi was fought on August 5, 1669, near present-day Guwahati. In the battle, 10,000 Ahom warriors sacrificed their lives against Mughal forces.
SCO names Lahore as Tourism and Cultural Capital for 2026-27 (Start of September)
Lahore has been designated as the Tourism and Cultural Capital of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) for 2026-27. The decision was announced at the 26th meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of State in Bishkek…
Sarnath gets UNESCO World Heritage tag on July 26, 2026 (End of July)
Sarnath was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List on July 26, 2026. With this inscription, India now has 45 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
The UNESCO World Heritage Committee added the D-Day landing beaches in northern France and Mount Olympus in Greece to the World Heritage List on July 27, 2026. The committee meeting was held in Busan, South Korea.
India Wins Nine Medals at International Earth Science Olympiad 2026
Key Updates:
- India won a total of nine medals at the International Earth Science Olympiad 2026, including four gold, three silver, and two bronze medals.
- The 19th International Earth Science Olympiad was held from August 20 to August 27 in Italy, with 39 countries participating.
- Union Minister Jitendra Singh felicitated the IESO 2026 winners and reiterated the government's commitment to empower youth through student-centric outreach programmes.
- The selection process for the International Earth Science Olympiad included an all-India test in which about 17,800 students appeared across 500 centres.
- The top 25 meritorious students were selected for a three-week training camp in June 2026 at Maharaja Sayajirao University (M S University), Vadodara, Gujarat.
- Earlier in 2026, Indian students also won gold medals at the 56th International Physics Olympiad and the 58th International Chemistry Olympiad.
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India's team won four gold medals at the 58th International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO) 2026 held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan from July 10 to 19. India shared the joint world No. 1 ranking with China, Vietnam, and an…
The 37th International Biology Olympiad (IBO) 2026 was held in Vilnius, Lithuania, bringing together 307 students from 78 countries. The Indian contingent won one gold and three silver medals at the Olympiad.
India won five gold medals at the 56th International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) 2026 held in Bucaramanga, Colombia. India shared the World No. 1 rank with China, Kazakhstan, Russia, South Korea, and Taiwan.
India won one gold and three bronze medals at the International Linguistics Olympiad (IOL) 2026 held in Romania. Shrilakshmi Venkatraman won the gold medal, while Aarav Anil Rao, Nishanth Shankar Lakshmanan, and Advay…
Joheirry Mola Crowned Miss World 2026
Key Updates:
- Joheirry Mola Dominguez was crowned Miss World 2026 at the grand finale in Nha Trang, Vietnam, on September 5.
- Spain's Elisabeth Reynés was named first runner-up, and Malaysia's Taanusiya Chetty was the second runner-up.
- Mola succeeded Thailand's Opal Suchata Chuangsri, who in the previous year became the first Thai woman to win the Miss World title.
- Mola is a Dominican educator and holds a degree in Business Management and Administration from Universidad Iberoamericana.
- She is the founder and president of Voices of Tomorrow, an initiative to expand English education for children and young people in vulnerable communities.
- Mola's victory marks the Dominican Republic's second Miss World title; the first was won by Mariasela Álvarez in 1982.
- India's representative Nikita Porwal reached the Top 40 but did not advance to the Top 20.
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Kaziah Liz Mejo Crowned Miss Universe India 2026 (End of August)
Kaziah Liz Mejo of Kerala was crowned Miss Universe India 2026 at the finale held in Jaipur. She is a 19-year-old law student and model from Mavelikkara, Kerala.
Dr Dinesh Sharma Appointed Lieutenant Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Key Updates:
- President Droupadi Murmu appointed Dr Dinesh Sharma as Lieutenant Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
- The appointment will take effect from the date he assumes charge of the office.
- Dr Sharma is a senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and currently a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh.
- Born on January 12, 1964, in Lucknow, he served as Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh from 2017 to 2022 in the Yogi Adityanath government, handling portfolios related to higher education, technical education, science and technology, and information technology.
- Before that, he was elected Mayor of Lucknow twice—first in 2006 and again in 2012—winning the second term by a record margin.
- A professor of commerce at the University of Lucknow since the early 1990s, Dr Sharma has guided numerous research scholars and remains associated with academic work.
- He began his public life through student organisations and rose through the ranks of the BJP’s youth wing before holding key organisational positions in the party.
- Admiral (Retd) Devendra Kumar Joshi has been serving as the Lieutenant Governor since October 2017; the fresh appointment marks a change in leadership of the island territory.
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Lt. Gen. Madan Mohan Lakhera died at the age of 88 at a private hospital in Dehradun. He served as the Governor of Mizoram from 25 July 2006 to 1 September 2011.
National Family Health Survey-6 (NFHS-6) reports Andaman and Nicobar Islands’ Total Fertility Rate at 0.9 (Start of June)
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) released the National Family Health Survey-6 (NFHS-6), which revealed that Andaman and Nicobar Islands recorded India’s lowest Total Fertility Rate (TFR) of 0.9. The TFR…
Great Nicobar Island Airport Project: ₹13,000 Crore Investment (Start of June)
India will invest ₹13,000 crore to build a dual-use airport and runway at Great Nicobar Island for use by civilians and the Indian Navy. The project is jointly funded by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the Ministry of…
Tallest underwater human tower record set on 3 May 2026 (Mid of June)
A group of divers established a new Guinness World Records (GWR) for the tallest human stack underwater at Swaraj Dweep in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands on 3 May 2026. The underwater structure reached an official…
Eight High Court Judges Appointed as Chief Justices
Key Updates:
- Justice Sanjay Kumar Agarwal of the Chhattisgarh High Court was appointed Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court.
- Justice Valluri Kameswar Rao of the Delhi High Court was appointed Chief Justice of the Patna High Court.
- Justice Ravindra V. Ghuge of the Bombay High Court was appointed Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court.
- Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra of the Punjab and Haryana High Court was appointed Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
- Justice Krushna Ram Mohapatra of the Orissa High Court was appointed Chief Justice of the Chhattisgarh High Court.
- Justice Alpesh Yeshwant Kogje of the Gujarat High Court was appointed Chief Justice of the Madhya Pradesh High Court.
- Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi of the Allahabad High Court was appointed Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court.
- Justice Pushpendra Singh Bhati of the Rajasthan High Court was appointed Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
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President Promulgates Ladakh High Court Bench Regulation (End of August)
President Droupadi Murmu promulgated a regulation enabling the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh to hold sittings in Ladakh. The regulation, titled 'The Union Territory of Ladakh (Sitting of Bench of the High…
Justices R V Ghuge, M C Tripathi Recommended as Calcutta and Bombay High Court Chief Justices (Mid of August)
The Supreme Court Collegium recommended the elevation of Acting Chief Justice Ravindra V Ghuge of the Bombay High Court as the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court. The Collegium also recommended Justice Mahesh…
SC Restricts Social Media Posting of Court Proceedings (End of July)
The Supreme Court of India passed an interim order on July 24, 2026, barring unauthorized posting of audio-video recordings of judicial proceedings on social media. The order was issued by a bench comprising Chief…
The Uttarakhand cabinet approved the transfer of 38-hectares of forest land at Lamachaur in Haldwani for the proposed new Uttarakhand high court complex. The high court currently functions from a heritage building…
Sanjay K. Agrawal Appointed Rajasthan High Court Chief Justice
Key Updates:
- The Centre appointed Justice Sanjay Kumar Agrawal as the chief justice of the Rajasthan High Court.
- The appointment was made amid allegations of corruption, nepotism, favouritism and misuse of administrative powers against acting Chief Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma.
- The Supreme Court collegium recommended Justice Agrawal, then a judge of the Chhattisgarh High Court, for the Rajasthan post four days before the notification.
- Justice Agrawal was appointed acting chief justice of the Chhattisgarh High Court after Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha retired on September 4.
- Justice Agrawal's appointment paved the way for the Rajasthan High Court to have a regular chief justice after nearly a year.
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The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the establishment of a bench of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh in the Union Territory of Ladakh. Union Home Minister Amit Shah…
Justice M.S. Liberhan Passes Away at 87 (Start of August)
Justice Manmohan Singh Liberhan died at age 87 in Chandigarh. He was a former judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
The Union government extended the tenure of Ravi Agrawal as the Chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) by six months until December 2026. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved the…
Supreme Court reduces mandatory legal practice to one year for entry-level judicial service (End of August)
The Supreme Court reduced the mandatory legal practice requirement for entry into judicial service from three years to one year. The majority judgment by Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice A.G. Masih upheld the May…