Razorpay and IndusInd Bank Launched AI Account Manager RAY on WhatsApp for Businesses
Key Updates:
- Razorpay launched RAY, a conversational AI account manager on WhatsApp, in partnership with IndusInd Bank.
- Bajaj Finance is among the first businesses to go live with the new AI-powered experience.
- Businesses have already had 20,000+ conversations with RAY.
- RAY can respond to natural language queries such as payment summaries and sales projections.
- RAY proactively tracks payment health and shares insights, including settlement alerts and payment success rate recommendations.
- RAY can independently trigger actions like issuing refunds and generating payment links on WhatsApp.
- RAY is built on Razorpay's AI Agent Platform, which uses a single intelligent agent to handle business needs end-to-end.
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Kunal Shah has been appointed as the head of WhatsApp, succeeding Will Cathcart. Meta Platforms (Meta) invested $900 million (approximately Rs 8,550 crore) in CRED as part of the startup's Series H funding round.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has recognised Sahamati Foundation as the Self-Regulatory Organisation (SRO) for the Account Aggregator (AA) ecosystem. The RBI announced this recognition through a press release issued on…
On August 20, 2026, Razorpay launched the Multi-Currency Exchange Earners' Foreign Currency (EEFC) Account for exporters and international businesses. The facility enables merchants to receive payment settlements…
Razorpay launched Vulcan, described as India's first transformer-based AI foundation model built specifically for payments. Vulcan was developed using technology from NVIDIA and Amazon Web Services (AWS) and is built on…
SEBI and ESMA Sign MoU to Strengthen Cooperation on Central Counterparties
Key Updates:
- Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) and European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) signed an MoU to strengthen cooperation on central counterparties (CCPs).
- The MoU replaces an earlier pact signed on June 21, 2017.
- The MoU establishes a framework enabling ESMA to rely on Sebi's regulatory and supervisory activities.
- The arrangement aims to safeguard the European Union's financial stability and facilitate cross-border cooperation for international clearing activities.
- The MoU was signed by Sebi Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey and ESMA Chair Verena Ross.
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On August 25, 2026, the Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN) and Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India (PHARMEXCIL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at CBN Headquarters in Gwalior. The MoU aims to…
India and Brazil signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen bilateral cooperation in telecommunications and Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) on 21 August 2026. The MoU was signed on the…
On August 27, 2026, the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) and the National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development (NaBFID) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to strengthen…
Bank of Canada Unveils New $20 Banknote Featuring King Charles III
Key Updates:
- Bank of Canada unveiled a new $20 banknote featuring King Charles III, marking the first time his portrait appears on a Canadian banknote.
- The new $20 banknote will gradually enter circulation from late February 2027.
- The $20 banknote has a vertical design, making it the second Canadian banknote to use this format after the $10 note featuring Viola Desmond.
- The front of the note features Charles' portrait surrounded by a floral and leafy pattern inspired by his interest in environmental issues.
- The note includes floral emblems representing Canada's 13 provinces and territories.
- A circular window on the note features plants of cultural significance to Indigenous Peoples, developed with input from the Bank of Canada's Indigenous Advisory Circle.
- The reverse of the note features the Canadian National Vimy Memorial in France.
- Canada is the first Commonwealth country outside Britain to feature Charles on banknotes since he became King.
- Australia and New Zealand have placed Charles' portrait on some coins, but Australia has said it will not put him on its banknotes.
- Queen Elizabeth II's portrait had appeared on Canadian banknotes since 1935, making the new $20 the first to feature a different monarch in more than 70 years.
- The $10 note featuring Viola Desmond was the first Canadian vertical banknote and was named the world's best banknote in 2018 by the International Bank Note Society.
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India and Canada held annual Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) in New Delhi on September 2, 2026. The Indian delegation was led by MEA Secretary (East) Rudrendra Tandon, while Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Arun…
Bengaluru-based Skydo has secured an international payment license in Canada, becoming the first Indian cross-border payments platform to be licensed overseas. The license was granted under the Retail Payment Activities…
Andy Burnham became the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (UK) on 20 July 2026 after meeting King Charles III at Buckingham Palace. He succeeded Keir Starmer, who resigned as Prime Minister and Labour leader.
Census 2027: Centre Defers House-Listing in Manipur
Key Updates:
- The Ministry of Home Affairs issued a notification on September 5, 2026, deferring the house-listing operations for Census 2027 in Manipur.
- The deferment was made under provisions of section 3 and section 17A of the Census Act, 1948, read with rules 6A and 6D of the Census Rules, 1990.
- The notification amends an earlier notification dated January 7, 2026, inserting an exception for Manipur, stating that the provision will apply except the State of Manipur till further declaration.
- The deferment follows public demand for the implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) before the census exercise.
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The Census 2027 questionnaire includes 40 questions covering caste, Aadhaar, bank accounts, and other personal details. The Census 2027 will collect caste information for the first time in Indian Census history.
The self-enumeration exercise of India's 16th Census (Census 2027) kicked off in West Bengal on August 1, 2026. West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari marked the launch by digitally filling his own self-enumeration…
Ministry of Jal Shakti’s ‘Catch the Rain’ Campaign: Chhattisgarh Emerges Top-Performing State with 77,719 Water Conservation Structures Completed
Key Updates:
- Chhattisgarh emerged as the top-performing state in the third phase of the Ministry of Jal Shakti’s Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari (JSJB) and Catch the Rain campaigns, with nearly 78,000 water conservation structures completed.
- In the third phase, 79,775 structures were recorded in Chhattisgarh, with 77,719 completed.
- Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai presented the state’s water conservation model at a Ministry of Jal Shakti departmental summit in New Delhi in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
- Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao shared details about the state’s initiatives on rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge, and conservation of drinking water sources during the Catch the Rain session.
- Sai proposed four measures: state-specific ‘Catch the Rain’ plans, ‘State Water Awards’ for high-performing states, mapping of water conservation structures through BISAG-N, and quarterly reviews chaired by chief secretaries.
- Under JSJB 1.0, Chhattisgarh created 4,05,561 structures, while under JSJB 2.0, work was initiated on 24,07,456 structures, with 23,07,768 completed.
- The ‘5 Per Cent Model’ pioneered in Koriya district involves farmers voluntarily dedicating five per cent of their farmland to groundwater recharge.
- The districts Surajpur, Mahasamund, Balod, Baloda Bazar-Bhatapara and Kabirdha have secured places among the country’s top 10 districts in water conservation efforts.
- JSJB is a community-led programme that promotes water conservation and groundwater recharge by building low-cost structures under the Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain initiative.
- Preliminary estimates indicate that the number of groundwater-stressed blocks classified as ‘critical’ and ‘semi-critical’ in Chhattisgarh has declined from 26 to 19, with ‘critical’ blocks projected to fall to zero.
- The Centre has set a target of creating two crore new water conservation structures by May 31, 2027.
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The Chhattisgarh Assembly passed the Ease of Doing Business Act 2026 on July 16, 2026. The Act introduces a risk-based and trust-based approval system, making Chhattisgarh the first Indian state to adopt such a…
The Chhattisgarh Cabinet approved a ₹500 crore Artificial Intelligence (AI) Mission for the state. The AI Mission will be implemented over a five-year period.
A tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on July 10, 2026, at the Delhi Secretariat for a rainwater harvesting project in 75 CM Shri Schools across Delhi. The project is part of the ‘Catch the Rain’…
The Chhattisgarh government launched the DWEEPTI Yojana (Decentralised Women Empowerment on Energy and Policy for Transformative Inclusion) to enable rural women's self-help groups to become vendors, technicians…
Punjab Launches 'Pehchaan' Portal to Identify Unidentified & Unclaimed Deceased Persons
Key Updates:
- Punjab launched a statewide digital portal named 'Pehchaan' to help identify unidentified and unclaimed deceased persons.
- The portal allows families in India and abroad to search records online and assists authorities in completing the identification process.
- The portal was launched by Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh on September 2.
- The portal creates a centralised database containing information about unidentified and unclaimed deceased persons.
- Under the initiative, facial photographs, permanent identification marks such as tattoos, birthmarks, deformities, and physical descriptions will be uploaded to the portal.
- The information is expected to be made available within 48 hours of postmortem examination at a government mortuary.
- Families can submit an online claim if they believe a listed person is their missing relative.
- The concerned investigating officer will receive a notification and proceed with formal identification.
- The system aims to reduce delays in identifying unclaimed bodies and improve coordination between medical institutions, police authorities, and families.
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Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal launched the revamped India Code Portal on August 13, 2026. The portal introduces AI-assisted search, semantic search, and speech-enabled…
Union Minister for Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched the AI-enabled Rural Internal Audit Portal during the Rashtriya Gramin Vikas Sammelan at the Pusa Campus in New Delhi. The platform was developed by the…
Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched the e-OCI (Electronic Overseas Citizens of India) card in New Delhi for over 50 lakh holders. The e-OCI card allows the entire process of application, document submission, and card…
The Gujarat Police successfully traced 1,470 missing persons during a month-long statewide special drive titled Operation Milap. The operation was launched on 7 May under the leadership of Deputy Chief Minister Harsh…
Exercise Veer Guardian 2026 Begins in Jodhpur
Key Updates:
- India and Japan commenced the bilateral air exercise 'Veer Guardian 2026' at Jodhpur Air Force Station.
- The exercise will take place from September 9 to September 22, 2026.
- Two C-2 aircraft from the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) have landed at Jodhpur Air Force Station.
- This is the second edition of the exercise.
- The exercise aims to enhance coordination, operational cooperation, and mutual understanding between the air forces of both nations.
- The JASDF was established on July 1, 1954, as the air and space branch of the Japan Self-Defense Forces.
- The exercise reflects growing defense collaboration between India and Japan and reinforces commitment to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
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An Indian Army contingent is participating in Exercise KHAAN QUEST, a multilateral military exercise scheduled from 20 June to 3 July at the Five Hills Training Area in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. The exercise aims to enhance…
India and Japan signed a Memorandum of Arrangement on Maritime Security Cooperation on August 20, 2026, in New Delhi. The pact aims to strengthen coordination between the Indian Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense…
The International Type 1 Diabetes Summit 2026 was officially unveiled at a National Curtain Raiser in New Delhi on July 23, 2026. The three-day summit is scheduled to take place in Jodhpur from July 30 to August 1, 2026.
The 15th edition of the India-Thailand joint military exercise 'Maitree' is scheduled to be held from August 18 to 31, 2026. Exercise Maitree will be conducted at Vibhavadi Rangsit Camp, Surat Thani, Thailand.
Indonesia’s Peat Fires Intensify Amid El Niño
Key Updates:
- Tropical peatland fires are slow-burning, highly polluting, and difficult to extinguish because they smolder at low temperatures and burn underground through expansive peat deposits.
- Peat fires generate three times more fine particulate matter, five times more sulfur dioxide, three times more organic carbon, and two times more methane and carbon monoxide than other tropical forest fires.
- NASA's Aqua satellite, using MODIS, captured an image of fires in Indonesia on September 1, 2026.
- Indonesia holds about 36 percent of the world's tropical peatlands.
- Previous El Niño years, especially 1997 and 2015, produced the most extreme burning in recent decades.
- The El Niño pattern, assessed by NOAA as present and strengthening in August, typically reduces rainfall in Indonesia, especially with a positive Indian Ocean Dipole.
- In 2015, Indonesia's fires released 1.75 billion tons of greenhouse gas equivalents.
- As of September 2, 2026, Indonesia's fires have released roughly 10 percent as much as the 2015 fires.
- About 90 percent of Indonesia received little to no rainfall in early August.
- The Indonesian government uses MODIS and VIIRS sensors to track active fires, and the SiPongi platform tallied 946 hotspots on August 31, 2026.
- Large-scale construction of irrigation canals and drainage of peat swamps in the 1990s lowered the water table, increasing flammability.
- Smoke from the fires has caused school closures, closure of nine national parks, and flight delays.
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A 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck off Indonesia's Flores region at 5.58 am local time, killing at least 38 people. The epicentre was located 68 kilometres north-northwest of Ende in East Nusa Tenggara province at a depth…
Wildfires have burned over 107,000 hectares (264,000 acres) of land across Indonesia as of Monday, with 43 helicopters deployed for firefighting. The largest blaze is in Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park in East Java…
Lucknow Tops Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan 2026; Six UP Cities Ranked
Key Updates:
- Lucknow secured the first position among cities with a population of more than 10 lakh in the 5th Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan 2026, scoring 198 points.
- The awards were conferred on September 7 during Swachh Vayu Diwas 2026, observed on the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies.
- The programme was organised by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP).
- The 2026 assessment covered 130 NCAP cities divided into three population categories: below 3 lakh, 3-10 lakh, and above 10 lakh.
- Evaluation criteria included road-dust management, solid waste management, vehicular emissions, industrial pollution, construction and demolition waste, DG sets and commercial establishments, and IEC activities.
- In the large-city category (above 10 lakh), Lucknow topped with 198 points, followed by Indore (197) and Jabalpur (195).
- Other Uttar Pradesh cities in the large-city category included Agra (Rank 4, 192 points), Ghaziabad (Rank 9, 184), Kanpur (Rank 11, 183.2), Allahabad/Prayagraj (Rank 13, 180), Meerut (Rank 22, 170.5), and Varanasi (Rank 34, 150).
- NCAP is a flagship initiative covering 130 cities in 24 states and Union Territories, with a performance-linked grant of ₹16,425 crore.
- According to the 2026 assessment, 108 of 130 NCAP cities improved PM10 levels in 2025-26 compared with 2017-18; 72 cities achieved over 20% reduction, 26 cities over 40%, and 14 cities met NAAQS.
- A Compendium of Best Management Practices under NCAP was released to help other cities adopt effective air-quality management approaches.
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The 5th edition of Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar (SSSS) was launched by Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh as a nationwide people's movement for ocean conservation. The initiative is spearheaded by the Ministry of Earth…
The Union Ministry of Education (MoE) released the Performance Grading Index 2.0 for States and Union Territories (PGI-S) and the Performance Grading Index for Districts (PGI-D) for the academic year 2025-26. The PGI-S…
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) released the National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-6 Fact Sheets to highlight improvements in health, nutrition, and demographic indicators. The NFHS-6 Fact Sheets present…
Mumbai is the only Indian city to debut in the IWG 2026 Work From Anywhere Index with a score of 77. Bangkok topped the IWG 2026 Work From Anywhere Index with a score of 106.5, followed by Tokyo (96.5) and Barcelona…
UNEP Limiting Overshoot Report: 1.5°C warming overshoot is now ‘unavoidable’
Key Updates:
- The UNEP report titled "Limiting Overshoot" says crossing the 1.5°C threshold is unavoidable, with global temperatures expected to peak at about 1.8°C above pre-industrial levels even under an optimistic scenario.
- The 1.5°C target was a key outcome of the Paris Agreement, signed in 2015 by 193 countries and the European Union.
- Under Article 2 of the Paris Agreement, nations must commit to keep global average temperatures well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, and ideally capped at 1.5°C.
- The 1.5°C limit was never considered a completely safe level of warming, but staying closer to it reduces the severity of risks to people and ecosystems.
- The report notes that climate impacts intensify as warming rises, with growing risks of irreversible changes such as Amazon dieback, permafrost thaw and ice-sheet collapse.
- UNEP acknowledges that even in an optimistic scenario where governments fully implement current climate plans and net-zero pledges, warming is expected to peak at about 1.8°C.
- UNEP says the world will exceed the 1.5°C limit, but that does not mean abandoning the target; countries will have to approach 1.5°C from above rather than below.
- Overshooting 1.5°C will still cause harmful, long-lasting damage, even if temperatures are eventually brought back down.
- Some changes may be difficult or even impossible to reverse, including risks involving the Greenland and West Antarctic ice sheets, the Amazon rainforest, and the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation.
- UNEP says carbon dioxide removal will be necessary, but even optimistic deployment is unlikely to reverse more than a few tenths of a degree of warming this century.
- At current rates, afforestation and forest management alone would take more than 100 years to reduce warming by just 0.1°C.
- Returning below 1.5°C would not undo all damage; sea-level rise, extinctions and ecosystem shifts may continue even as temperatures decline.
- A smaller, shorter overshoot would mean less damage and improve chances of bringing warming back below 1.5°C.
- Cutting methane and other short-lived climate pollutants can help slow warming relatively quickly.
- The report lays out a three-step response: slash emissions and protect vulnerable people and ecosystems immediately; reach at least net zero at peak warming; then sustain net-negative CO₂ emissions to bring temperatures down.
- The consequences of overshoot will not be shared equally; countries that have contributed least to global warming are often among the most exposed.
- At COP30 in Belém, Brazil, countries agreed on the need to sharply scale up adaptation finance for developing countries.
- UNEP estimated adaptation needs for developing countries could exceed $310 billion a year by 2035, around 12 times current international public finance flows.
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International Moon Day is observed globally on July 20 every year. An estimated 140 million pieces of space debris larger than one millimetre now orbit Earth.
The Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) reported global sea surface temperature reached 21.1 degrees Celsius (70.0 degrees Fahrenheit) on August 22, 2026. This record broke the previous high of 21.09 degrees Celsius…
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) predicted a 'nearly 100% likelihood' that the current El Niño will persist through February. The WMO stated that its update is the first unequivocal El Niño/La Niña forecast in…
Satwik-Chirag Win China Masters 2026 After Stunning Comeback
Key Updates:
- Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty won the China Masters 2026 men's doubles title.
- They defeated China's He Ji Ting and Ren Xiang Yu in the final.
- The final score was 11-21, 21-13, 21-17 in a 70-minute contest.
- This was their maiden China Masters title.
- They became the first Indian men's doubles pair to win the Super 750 tournament.
- They had previously finished runners-up at the China Masters in 2023 and 2025.
- The victory was their 10th BWF World Tour title overall and second of the 2026 season.
- Their previous title in 2026 was the Singapore Open Super 750.
- The tournament was held in Shenzhen.
- They also came from behind in the semi-final against Malaysia's Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayub and Tan Wee Kiong, winning 21-15, 18-21, 21-11.
- Satwik and Chirag will look to defend their Asian Games gold medal won in 2022.
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Ashmita Chaliha defeated China's Han Qian Xi in the women's singles final of the BWF Korea Masters. Chaliha won the match 14-21, 21-14, 21-14 in 53 minutes, coming from a game down.
The Indian U-18 men's hockey team defeated Japan 4-1 in the final held in Kakamigahara, Japan, to win the U-18 Asia Cup 2026. Ashish Tani Purti was named Player of the Match in the final and finished as the tournament's…
Alex Lanier defeated Kodai Naraoka 21-11, 21-11 to win the men's singles title at the 2026 BWF World Championships. An Se-young defeated Akane Yamaguchi 21-17, 21-14 to win the women's singles title.
Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand defeated China's Jia Yifan and Zhang Shuxian 16-21, 21-15, 21-13 in the quarterfinals of the BWF World Championships 2026. The match was played at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in…
International Literacy Day 2026: September 8, Theme 'Literacy for People, the Planet and Prosperity'
Key Updates:
- International Literacy Day is observed annually on September 8.
- The theme for International Literacy Day 2026 is "Literacy for people, the planet and prosperity."
- The 2026 celebration marks the 60th anniversary of International Literacy Day.
- UNESCO declared International Literacy Day during its 14th General Conference, and the inaugural celebration was marked in 1967.
- The 2026 global celebration will be held in Chiapas, Mexico, on September 8 and 9, in cooperation with the Mexican government.
- UNESCO projects that at least 739 million children and adults globally still lack basic literacy skills.
- 4 out of 10 kids are not reading at the required level.
- According to UNESCO, the theme highlights the importance of literacy in fostering inclusivity, assisting sustainable futures, and increasing prospects for economic growth and livelihoods.
- UNESCO International Literacy Prizes will be presented during the ceremony.
- According to UNESCO, literacy is a fundamental human right that enables people to participate in society, acquire knowledge and skills, access other rights, and expand their prospects.
- The 2026 celebration will offer a chance to evaluate the progress over the last 60 years and investigate the issues that still plague literacy around the globe.
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World Youth Skills Day is observed annually on July 15, as declared by the United Nations General Assembly in 2014. The theme for World Youth Skills Day 2026 is 'Skills for a shared future'.
The International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples is observed annually on August 9. The theme for 2026 is 'Honouring Indigenous Midwives: Safeguarding Life and Well-being'.
World Day Against Trafficking in Persons is observed annually on July 30. The theme for 2026 is 'Trapped Behind the Scam'.
World Brain Day is observed annually on July 22. The theme for World Brain Day 2026 is 'Brain Health: Access for All'.
International Day of Charity 2026 – September 5
Key Updates:
- International Day of Charity 2026 is observed on September 5.
- The date marks the death anniversary of Mother Teresa, who died on September 5, 1997.
- It is a United Nations observance that highlights the role of charitable organisations, volunteers and individuals in addressing humanitarian suffering and poverty.
- The United Nations General Assembly designated September 5 as International Day of Charity in 2012 through Resolution 67/105.
- The first observance took place in 2013.
- Mother Teresa was born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu in 1910.
- She founded the Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta in 1950.
- She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979.
- She died in Kolkata on September 5, 1997, at the age of 87.
- Mother Teresa spent more than 45 years working with poor, sick, orphaned and dying people and helped guide the expansion of the Missionaries of Charity from India to other countries.
- International Day of Charity focuses on charity, philanthropy and volunteerism, while World Humanitarian Day is observed on August 19 and recognises humanitarian workers and people affected by humanitarian crises.
- The UN describes charity broadly, including volunteering, philanthropy and acts of caring and kindness.
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The 16th edition of Aero India will be held from February 8 to 12, 2027 at Air Force Station Yelahanka in Bengaluru. The defence ministry announced the event, which aims to showcase India's growing aerospace and defence…
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.
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…
Birkbeck, University of London Receives UGC Approval to Establish Bengaluru Campus
Key Updates:
- Birkbeck, University of London has received the Letter of Approval from the University Grants Commission to establish and operate its Bengaluru campus.
- The approval follows a Letter of Intent and marks the final regulatory step under UGC's 2023 regulations for foreign higher educational institutions.
- The Bengaluru campus will be located at Sattva Tech Park.
- The campus will offer undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in business management and business analytics, awarded by the University of London.
- Tuition costs are estimated to be up to 60 per cent lower than studying in the UK.
- This venture is Birkbeck's first overseas campus.
- The campus is being established in partnership with the Education Centre of Australia (ECA).
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The Ministry of Education (MoE) announced that 15 foreign universities have received Letters of Intent (LoIs) to establish campuses in India. The initiative is governed by the University Grants Commission (UGC) (Setting…
IBM partnered with Manipal Institute of Technology (MIT) Bengaluru and CHRIST (Deemed to be University) to establish AI-focused centres in India. The IBM–MIT AI Lab at MIT Bengaluru houses a High-Performance Computing…
The Ministry of Education issued Letters of Approval (LoAs) to the University of Bristol, the University of York, and the University of New South Wales (UNSW) to establish campuses in India. The approvals align with the…
National Film Awards 2026 to Be Held in Gujarat
Key Updates:
- The 72nd National Film Awards (NFA) ceremony will be held in Kevadia, Gujarat, shifting from its traditional venue at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi.
- The ceremony is scheduled for September 22, and President of India Droupadi Murmu will present the awards.
- The winners were announced on July 18 by the respective jury chairpersons at a press conference in New Delhi.
- Article 370 won the Best Feature Film award, and Yami Gautam won Best Actress in a Leading Role for the same film.
- Mammootty and Kartik Aaryan shared the Best Actor in a Leading Role award for their performances in Bramayugam and Chandu Champion respectively.
- Rajkumar Periasamy won Best Direction for the Tamil-language war drama Amaran, while Randeep Hooda was named Best Debut Director for Swatantrya Veer Savarkar.
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The first Steering Committee meeting for the 57th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) was held in New Delhi on August 21, 2026. The meeting was chaired by Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Dr L…
The 19th Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF) is a biennial festival for non-feature films scheduled from June 15 to 21, 2026. MIFF 2026 received 1,459 film entries from across the world, with the Competition…
The Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare (DoPPW), Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, will organise the 9th National Anubhav Awards Ceremony and the 60th Pre-Retirement Counselling Workshop on…
President Droupadi Murmu will confer the National Teachers Awards 2026 to 48 school teachers at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi on September 5, 2026. The awards are organised by the Department of School Education and Literacy…
NHAI Announces Winners of ‘Green Highways Excellence Awards 2026’
Key Updates:
- The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) announced the winners of the Green Highways Excellence Awards 2026.
- The awards were presented in three categories: Avenue Plantations, Median Plantations, and Plantation in Land Parcels.
- In the Avenue Plantations category, the first prize went to the six-laning project of the Chilakaluripet Bypass on NH-16 in Andhra Pradesh under RO Vijayawada.
- In the Median Plantations category, the first prize was awarded to the four-laning project of the Hyderabad-Yadgiri section of NH-163 under RO Hyderabad.
- In the Plantation in Land Parcels category, the first prize was awarded to the Jamtha Clover Leaf and Oxygen Bird Park on NH-44 under RO Nagpur.
- The awards aim to encourage sustainable plantation practices and promote greener, better-managed landscapes along India’s National Highway network.
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The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) extended the online FASTag Local Pass facility to 121 toll plazas across the country. The FASTag Local Pass is available for commuters residing within a 20-kilometre radius…
Jyotiraditya M. Scindia conferred the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Telecom Excellence Awards-2025 to two organizations for outstanding contributions in telecom technology. The awardees were Amantya Technologies Pvt. Ltd.…
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has launched a nationwide initiative to digitally map and assess the condition of bridges and other major structures across India's national highway network. A mobile…
Parveen Shaikh and Dr. Barkha Subba won the 2026 Whitley Awards, also known as the Green Oscars, presented by Princess Anne on behalf of the Whitley Fund for Nature (WFN). The awards were held at the Royal Geographical…
Amit Shah Presented President's Colour to Goa Police
Key Updates:
- Union Home Minister Amit Shah presented the President's Colour to the Goa Police on September 7, 2026, in Panaji, honouring over eight decades of service.
- The President's Colour recognised the Goa Police's professional excellence, discipline, courage and dedication, and its role in safeguarding the state's coastline, tourists and internal security.
- Amit Shah paid tribute to police personnel who lost their lives in the line of duty, including Balaram Shinde, Abhishek Sher, Shailesh Gaonkar and Vishwas B. Deykar.
- The Goa Police introduced an AI-based call agent for the national cybercrime helpline 1930, initially supporting Konkani, Marathi and Hindi, with plans for all Eighth Schedule languages.
- The Goa Police reduced its emergency response time under the 112 helpline from 18 minutes to eight minutes, with nearly 20,000 calls receiving prompt assistance.
- The Goa Police's conviction rate rose from 23 per cent to 53 per cent in one year, and it ranked first nationally for several months in implementing the new criminal laws.
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Union Home Minister Amit Shah presented the President's Colour to Puducherry Police on August 9, 2026. The President's Colour is the highest honour given to a military unit or police of a state or union territory.
