Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman introduces Bankers' Books Evidence Bill, 2026 in Lok Sabha
Key Updates:
- The Bankers' Books Evidence Bill, 2026 seeks to repeal and replace the British-era Bankers' Books Evidence Act, 1891.
- The Bill recognises digital, cloud-based and virtual bank records as admissible evidence in courts.
- It broadens the definition of 'bankers' books' to include records maintained in physical, electronic, digital, virtual, cloud-based or any other form.
- The Bill proposes standardised certificate formats and allows authentication through manual, digital or electronic signatures.
- It empowers the central government to extend the law's applicability to any entity or class of entities in the financial sector.
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Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman introduced The Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026 in Parliament. The bill proposes changes to the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007 to allow banks and payment system…
The Rajya Sabha passed the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 on July 30, 2026. The bill prescribes imprisonment of five to ten years and a fine of up to ₹50 lakh for individuals…
Oil marketing companies will revise domestic (14.2 kg) and commercial (19 kg) LPG cylinder prices on August 1, 2026, based on international energy prices. Indian Railways has introduced a token system for Tatkal ticket…
The Rajya Sabha passed the Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2026 by a voice vote. The Bill requires an order from a first-class judicial magistrate for registrations of births or deaths delayed beyond two years.
Uttar Pradesh government presents ₹59,019.54 crore supplementary Budget for 2026-27
Key Updates:
- Uttar Pradesh Finance Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna presented the first supplementary Budget for 2026-27 in the Assembly, proposing additional expenditure of ₹59,019.54 crore.
- The supplementary Budget includes ₹17,399.50 crore in revenue expenditure and ₹41,620.04 crore in capital expenditure.
- Fresh proposals in the supplementary Budget are worth ₹7,854.25 crore.
- The Uttar Pradesh government had presented a ₹9.13 lakh crore Budget for 2026-27 in February.
- Heavy and medium industries received the highest allocation of ₹22,107.88 crore.
- Rural development received ₹17,942.73 crore, and the energy sector received ₹7,422.27 crore.
- Other major allocations include ₹2,025 crore for medical and health services, ₹1,655 crore for social welfare, ₹1,094.40 crore for women welfare, and ₹700.01 crore for the Public Works Department.
- The state's fiscal deficit remained within the prescribed limit.
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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…
The Union Government released an additional tax devolution instalment of ₹1,09,019 crore to State governments on August 1, 2026. The additional instalment is in addition to the normal monthly devolution scheduled for…
The Centre has approved the Puducherry Government's proposal for a Rs 14,300 crore budget for the fiscal year 2026-2027. The Union Home Ministry conveyed the approval after consultation with the Finance Ministry.
Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan presented the Kerala Revised Budget for 2026–27, introducing Mission Samudra with an allocation of ₹400 crore to transform the state into a global maritime hub. The Oommen Chandy Health…
Supreme Court of India extends mandatory third-party insurance cover for new cars to four years and new two-wheelers to six years
Key Updates:
- The Supreme Court of India, on August 4, 2026, extended mandatory third-party insurance cover for new cars to four years and for new two-wheelers to six years.
- The court directed the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) to immediately issue necessary directions for the revised third-party insurance periods.
- The revised cover extends the earlier mandate from the 2018 judgment in S. Rajaseekaran v. Union of India, which required three-year cover for cars and five-year cover for two-wheelers.
- The court directed integration of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras with Insurance Information Bureau of India (IIB) data and VAHAN registration data, and equipping State police personnel with linked mobile applications for real-time verification.
- The court directed vehicle buyers to be offered a four-tier policy comprising compulsory third-party cover, optional passenger/pillion rider cover, personal accident cover, and cover for loss or damage to the insured vehicle.
- The court directed IRDAI to explore, with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, a pilot project to deny fuel at petrol pumps to vehicles without valid insurance.
- Dismissing an insurer's appeal against a 2024 Telangana High Court ruling, the Supreme Court directed payment of ₹10 lakh compensation to the family of a road accident victim who was the sole breadwinner.
- For accident claims arising from accidents before March 31, 2022, the court directed State police to file Detailed Accident Reports before Motor Accident Claims Tribunals (MACTs) and facilitate notice service and witness production.
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The Supreme Court observed that compensation disputes under the National Highways Act, 1956 should be adjudicated by judicially trained authorities instead of bureaucrats. A Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice Surya…
The Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance, launched India's first sovereign-backed Protection & Indemnity (P&I) insurance product under the Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool (BMIP). The P&I insurance…
The Rs 1,510-crore Kukrail Night Safari and Day Zoo project, spanning 855 acres within the 2,027-hectare Kukrail Reserve Forest in Lucknow, received Supreme Court approval. The project will be India's first night safari…
The Supreme Court directed the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to frame a standard operating procedure (SOP) within four weeks for dealing with mule bank accounts used to launder cyber fraud proceeds. The court directed all…
KKR to acquire Medicover India for $1.5 billion (₹14,250 crore)
Key Updates:
- 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.
- Medicover India operates 24 multi-specialty hospitals with about 4,800 beds across South and West India.
- The hospital network provides care across over 80 clinical specialties with more than 1,900 doctors.
- KKR has invested over US$20 billion in the healthcare ecosystem globally since 2004.
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Kotak Mahindra Bank has reached a definitive agreement to acquire the retail banking, private banking and wealth management business of Deutsche Bank in India. The acquired portfolio comprises nearly ₹29,000 crore in…
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) approved the proposal of Germany-based DWS Group to acquire a 40 per cent equity stake in Nippon Life India AIF Management Ltd (NIAIF). NIAIF is a subsidiary of Nippon Life India…
The World Bank (WB) has cleared a $1.5 billion financing package to aid India's structural reforms and boost private sector-led job creation. The funding is provided under the WB's Development Policy Financing (DPF)…
The Department of Financial Services (DFS) under the Ministry of Finance launched the Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool (BMIP). The BMIP has a total capacity of USD 1.5 billion and a sovereign guarantee of USD 1.4 billion…
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to Resume Issuing Fresh Licences for Urban Cooperative Banks
Key Updates:
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has decided to resume licensing of urban cooperative banks (UCBs) on an 'on tap' basis after a two-decade pause.
- The decision follows stakeholder feedback on a discussion paper published on January 13, 2026.
- RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra announced that draft guidelines will be issued shortly for stakeholder consultation.
- The discussion paper proposed raising the minimum capital requirement for UCB licence eligibility to ₹300 crore.
- Applicant cooperative credit societies must have at least 10 years of active operations and five years of sound financial performance.
- At the time of licensing, the assessed CRAR should not be less than 12% and net NPA ratio should not exceed 3%.
- Preference may be given to multi-state cooperative credit societies, though strong uni-state entities may also be considered.
- The licensing decision considers improved regulatory oversight after the 2020 amendments and the role of the umbrella organisation.
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The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued the Reserve Bank of India (Urban Co-operative Banks - Governance) Amendment Directions, 2026, effective immediately. An individual cannot serve as a director continuously for…
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has capped the continuous tenure of directors in Urban Co-operative Banks (UCBs) at 10 years. A mandatory three-year cooling-off period is required before a director can be reappointed to…
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed several operational restrictions on Mumbai-based Mogaveera Co-operative Bank for a period of six months effective from June 13, 2026. The RBI has capped withdrawals from…
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has introduced a mandatory three-year cooling-off period for directors of Urban Co-operative Banks (UCB), State Co-operative Banks (StCB), and Central Co-operative Banks (CCB) who complete…
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) grants expanded Authorised Dealer Category II licence to GlobalPay
Key Updates:
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) granted GlobalPay an expanded Authorised Dealer Category II (AD II) licence under FEMA 2026.
- The licence enables GlobalPay to offer a broader suite of regulated foreign exchange and cross-border payment services.
- GlobalPay can now undertake all eligible non-trade current account transactions, excluding gifts and donations.
- GlobalPay can facilitate inward and outward trade remittances up to ₹25 lakh.
- The licence permits GlobalPay to appoint Forex Correspondent Agencies to expand the reach of regulated foreign exchange services across India.
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The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) granted EbixCash World Money Ltd a perpetual Authorised Dealer Category-II (AD-II) licence with permission to handle trade remittances and family maintenance remittances. EbixCash became…
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) granted a Certificate of Registration as a Type II NBFC-ND to Delhivery Financial Services Private Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Delhivery Ltd, on July 13, 2026. Delhivery reported…
State Bank of India (SBI) plans to raise ₹50 billion ($517.76 million) through Basel III-compliant Additional Tier I (AT-1) perpetual bonds with a five-year call option. SBI is set to become the first Indian bank to…
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued revised Master Directions on Authorisation to Operate a Payment System under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, applicable to new applicants and existing Payment System…
India Targets 874 GW Power Capacity by 2031-32
Key Updates:
- Minister of State for Power Shripad Naik stated in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha that India’s installed power generation capacity is likely to reach 874 GW by 2031-32.
- As of June 30, 2026, India had a total installed power generation capacity of 5,48,858 MW, with coal at 2,24,158 MW and solar at 1,62,152 MW.
- Around 21,080 MW of thermal capacity was commissioned between April 2023 and June 2026, while 47,545 MW is under construction and contracts for another 16,000 MW have been awarded.
- The projected thermal capacity requirement by 2035-36 is around 3,15,000 MW.
- Around 1,47,720 MW of renewable capacity is under construction, including 1,19,580 MW of solar and 27,720 MW of wind capacity.
- Pumped storage projects of 15,870 MW/95,220 MWh and battery energy storage systems of 15,754 MW/42,530 MWh are under construction.
- Between 2022-23 and 2031-32, around 1,91,474 ckm of transmission lines and 1,274 GVA of transformation capacity are planned to be added.
- Under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme, ₹1.53 lakh crore of loss-reduction works and ₹1.31 lakh crore of smart-metering works have been sanctioned.
- The government is deploying STATCOMs, synchronous condensers and FACTS devices to improve voltage stability and facilitate renewable energy integration.
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India's peak power demand is projected to reach 300 gigawatts (GW) next year, driven by the rapid expansion of data centres, artificial intelligence (AI), and electric vehicles (EVs). According to the Ministry of Power…
Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) Pralhad Joshi announced that India aims to achieve 100 GW of installed wind energy capacity by 2030 and 155 GW by 2035. India launched its first dedicated digital…
The International Hydropower Association (IHA) released the 2026 World Hydropower Outlook, noting that South and Central Asia added 5839 MW of hydropower capacity in 2025. India aims to expand its pumped storage capacity…
India added a record 44 gigawatts (GW) of solar capacity in 2025, bringing the total installed solar power capacity to 150 GW. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) attributed this growth to the PM Surya Ghar…
Centre Deploys National Joint Outbreak Response Team to Gujarat and Rajasthan for Chandipura Virus Outbreak
Key Updates:
- The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) deployed the National Joint Outbreak Response Team (NJORT) to Gujarat and Rajasthan to strengthen the response to the Chandipura Virus Disease (CHPV) outbreak.
- The NJORT comprises experts from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), and the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD).
- The NCDC Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC) has been activated to support the NJORT.
- The NJORT will supplement the two state governments in outbreak investigation, epidemiological assessment, clinical management, laboratory coordination, vector surveillance, and implementation of public health measures.
- The team will work with state health departments to review the on-ground response and submit recommendations to the MoHFW after completing its field assessment.
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Chandipura virus (CHPV) is a rare viral infection that causes Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES), leading to brain inflammation and swelling. CHPV belongs to the Rhabdoviridae family and primarily affects children below…
India dispatched the first tranche of medical supplies and protective kits to the African Centre for Diseases Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) in response to the Ebola public health emergency. The World Health…
A 43-year-old man from Kozhikode district, Kerala, has tested preliminary positive for the Nipah virus (NiV). Samples from the patient have been sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune for confirmation.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), in collaboration with Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), launched AIR SUVIDHA 2.0 to strengthen public health surveillance at Points of Entry across India. The upgraded…
Lok Sabha passes Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026
Key Updates:
- The Lok Sabha passed the Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026 to attract foreign investment, promote domestic manufacturing, and provide greater tax certainty.
- The Bill replaces the Income-tax (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026 and amends the Income-tax Act, 2025, the Finance Act, 2026, and the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007.
- It extends the tax holiday for foreign companies supplying capital goods, equipment, and tooling to contract manufacturers of specified electronic goods.
- The Bill introduces a 15-year tax holiday for foreign companies selling rough diamonds in India, including eligible trading and auction entities.
- It also proposes a 15-year tax exemption for foreign companies storing electronic components in bonded warehouses for supply to Indian contract manufacturers of specified electronic goods.
- The Bill relaxes eligibility conditions for foreign companies procuring services from Indian data centres.
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The Lok Sabha passed the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 by voice vote. The amendment enhances punishment for unfair means from three to five years to five to ten years of…
Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal introduced the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026 in the Lok Sabha. The Bill seeks to increase the strength of Supreme Court judges from 33 to 37, excluding the…
The Rajya Sabha passed the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 on July 30, 2026. The bill prescribes imprisonment of five to ten years and a fine of up to ₹50 lakh for individuals…
The Rajya Sabha passed the Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2026 by a voice vote. The Bill requires an order from a first-class judicial magistrate for registrations of births or deaths delayed beyond two years.
Telangana CM to Launch Distribution of 1.05 Crore Ration Cards on Independence Day
Key Updates:
- The Telangana government will begin distributing 1.05 crore laminated ration cards on August 15, 2026.
- Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy will launch the programme in Sangareddy.
- Distribution programmes will be held simultaneously in all 119 constituencies, coordinated by Revenue Divisional Officers.
- The initiative aims to strengthen food security and extend Public Distribution System benefits to newly eligible families.
- According to a state survey, Telangana has 1.17 crore families, of which 1.05 crore have ration cards, mostly white ration cards for Below Poverty Line households.
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The Delhi government has proposed to increase the income limit for ration card eligibility to ₹2.5 lakh per annum. The current income criterion for ration card eligibility in Delhi is capped at ₹1.2 lakh per annum.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved the Scheme for Assistance in Ration Transport and Handling-Income with Automation in PDS (SARTHAK-PDS) with a central outlay of ₹25,530 crore. The programme is…
The Department of Civil Supplies has directed beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY) to complete mandatory e-KYC registration for the Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) system. The CBDC system was…
Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy requested the Centre to convince Maharashtra to allow increasing the height of the Tummidihatti barrage on the Pranahita river from 148 metres to 150-152 metres. The request was…
Telangana Launches AI-Powered Next-Gen 112 Emergency Response System, Cuts Processing Time to 133 Seconds
Key Updates:
- On August 5, 2026, Telangana Police launched the AI-powered Next-Gen 112 platform at the Telangana Integrated Command and Control Centre (TGiCCC) in Hyderabad.
- The system brings together Police, Fire Services, Ambulance, Women Safety, Child Protection and Disaster Response under the single emergency number 112.
- It uses location-based services, advanced location services and Google Maps to pinpoint the caller's location.
- The platform identifies and recommends the nearest available patrol vehicle from a fleet of 1,860 digitally integrated vehicles across all 31 police units.
- The total call-centre processing time was reduced from 190 seconds to 133 seconds.
- The State's average emergency response time is 10 minutes 30 seconds, compared with a national average of roughly 18 minutes.
- The control centre operates 24/7 with 164 trained staff.
- The launch also marks the migration of Dial-100 from GVK EMRI located at Kompally.
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The Telangana Police department is set to integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools into its emergency response network to manage high volumes of non-emergency calls. The State’s Emergency Response Support System…
Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched the upgraded Next Gen CG Dial-112 service at the Police Training School parade ground in Raipur, Chhattisgarh. The service, operating under the theme “Ekke Number, Sabbo Bar”, has…
The Supreme Court has directed all states and Union Territories (UTs) to fully operationalise the single emergency helpline number, 112, within three months. The unified number 112 will integrate existing emergency…
The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) released the "Blueprint for Reducing Exposure and Defending against AI-Assisted Vulnerabilities Exploitation in Digital Infrastructure" on May 25, 2026. CERT-In has…
Chhattisgarh Cabinet Approves ₹500 Crore AI Mission
Key Updates:
- 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.
- The mission aims to establish 100 AI Data Labs and five Centres of Excellence.
- It will support more than 300 AI startups in Chhattisgarh.
- The programme will train six lakh students and 1.5 lakh government employees in AI.
- The mission will develop more than 50 AI-powered government services for public service delivery.
- The initiative is aligned with the Centre's IndiaAI Mission.
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The Union Cabinet approved the continuation of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme from 2026-27 to 2030-31. The scheme has a financial outlay of ₹3.15 lakh crore for the extended period.
The Union Cabinet approved the Pradhan Mantri Surya Sarovar Yojana (PM-SSY) with a total outlay of Rs 5,070 crore. The scheme aims to establish 5,000 MW of floating solar photovoltaic (FSPV) capacity across India.
The Uttar Pradesh cabinet approved the Data Centre Policy, 2026, aiming to attract investments of more than ₹2 lakh crore. The policy seeks to create over two gigawatts of additional data centre capacity to support green…
The Maharashtra cabinet approved the High-Energy Medical Cyclotron Project (HEMCP) in Nagpur with an estimated budget of ₹300 crore. HEMCP will be funded on a 50:50 cost-sharing basis between the Medical Education…
Indian Statistical Institute Bill, 2026 introduced in Lok Sabha to replace 1959 Act
Key Updates:
- The Indian Statistical Institute Bill, 2026 was introduced in the Lok Sabha by Union Minister Rao Indrajit Singh.
- The bill seeks to incorporate the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) as a body corporate and strengthen its governance.
- It proposes a Board of Governors as the principal policy and executive body, headed by a chairperson and accountable to the central government.
- It proposes an Academic Council, headed by the director, as the principal academic body comprising all full-time professors and faculty members.
- The bill provides that the President of India will serve as the Visitor of the institute.
- The proposed law aims to repeal the Indian Statistical Institute Act, 1959 and help build an ecosystem to train data scientists and statisticians.
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The Lok Sabha passed the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 by voice vote. The amendment enhances punishment for unfair means from three to five years to five to ten years of…
Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal introduced the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026 in the Lok Sabha. The Bill seeks to increase the strength of Supreme Court judges from 33 to 37, excluding the…
India hosted the two-day BRICS meeting of Heads of National Statistical Offices (NSO) in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, beginning on August 3, 2026. The meeting was inaugurated under India's Chairship of the BRICS 2026…
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved the appointment of Saibal Chattopadhyay as the chairperson of the National Statistical Commission (NSC). Saibal Chattopadhyay, a former director of the Indian…
Indian Navy Launches Fifth Diving Support Craft DSC A24 in Kolkata on August 1, 2026
Key Updates:
- Indian Navy launched its fifth Diving Support Craft, DSC A24, at Titagarh Rail Systems Limited (TRSL) in Kolkata on August 1, 2026.
- DSC A24 was designed and constructed by TRSL in accordance with the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) and Naval rules.
- The vessel features a catamaran-hull form and has a displacement between 300 and 400 tons.
- DSC A24 is equipped with state-of-the-art diving systems and is tailor-made for conducting operational dives.
- The vessel was launched by Mrs Kamal Singh in the presence of Vice Admiral Gurcharan Singh, Chief of Personnel of the Indian Navy.
- The launch was described as a significant milestone for the Indian Navy and the Make in India initiative.
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The Indian Navy took delivery of Nipun, its second indigenously built diving support vessel, from Hindustan Shipyard Limited in Visakhapatnam. Nipun is a 118-metre ship displacing more than 8,560 tonnes, with more than…
Indian Navy launched 'Machilipatnam' (BY 529), the seventh of eight Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft, at Cochin Shipyard Limited on 29 July 2026. The vessel was launched by Goolrukh Anand in the presence of…
INS Malvan, the second ship in the Mahe-class Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft series, will be commissioned on July 22, 2026. The commissioning ceremony will be led by Air Chief Marshal A P Singh, Chief of the…
PM Modi commissioned three indigenously designed and built naval platforms – INS Dunagiri (Project 17A stealth frigate), INS Sanshodhak (Survey Vessel Large for hydrography), and INS Agray (Arnala-class Anti-Submarine…
India hosts 13th BRICS Education Ministers' Meeting in Bhubaneswar from August 5-7, 2026
Key Updates:
- India is hosting the 13th BRICS Education Ministers' Meeting in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, from August 5 to 7, 2026, under India's BRICS Chairship 2026.
- Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi is scheduled to participate in the ministerial meeting.
- The 3rd BRICS Senior Officials' Meeting is also being held alongside the ministerial meeting in Bhubaneswar.
- Key agenda items include strengthening Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE), skill development, and enhanced cooperation under the BRICS TVET Cooperation Alliance.
- Discussions will also cover collaborative research, innovation, start-ups, mutual recognition of academic qualifications, and capacity building for academic leadership.
- India's BRICS Chairship 2026 theme is 'Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability'.
- The BRICS TVET Symposium and Joint Management Committee Meeting of the BRICS TVET Cooperation Alliance were held in New Delhi on August 3-4, 2026.
- A student-focused initiative called Model BRICS has been conceptualised to familiarise young people with BRICS processes and diplomacy.
- BRICS originally comprised Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, and expanded in 2024 with Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the UAE; Indonesia joined in 2025.
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India convened the Sixteenth BRICS Health Ministers' Meeting in Chandigarh from 22 to 24 July 2026 as part of its BRICS Chairship 2026. The meeting brought together Health Ministers and senior officials from all eleven…
India will host the BRICS Summit in New Delhi from September 17 to 19, 2026. Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to attend the summit as a special guest.
The BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting is scheduled for 14th and 15th May 2026 in New Delhi. The meeting is held under India's 2026 chairship and is chaired by External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar.
The 16th BRICS National Security Advisers’ (NSAs) Meeting was held in New Delhi on 23 June 2026. The NSAs deliberated on non-traditional security challenges including energy security, food security, supply chain…
Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) develops indigenous African swine fever vaccine
Key Updates:
- The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has developed India's first indigenous African swine fever (ASF) vaccine for pigs.
- The vaccine was developed by scientists at ICAR-National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (ICAR-NIHSAD), Bhopal, using a novel attenuated ASFV Genotype II virus.
- The vaccine has undergone comprehensive laboratory evaluation including sterility, purity, safety, genetic stability, immunogenicity, protective efficacy and virulence reversion studies.
- The vaccine is recommended for healthy pigs above eight weeks of age and is administered as a 1 ml intramuscular injection, followed by a booster dose 14 days after the primary vaccination.
- African swine fever, caused by the African swine fever virus, has mortality rates that may approach 100% and was first detected in India in 2020.
- ASF outbreaks in Assam during 2020 and 2021 resulted in estimated losses of approximately ₹276 crore, while Mizoram outbreaks affected more than 11,382 households up to 2025 with estimated financial losses of approximately ₹982 crore.
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Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) developed India's first fully annotated telomere-to-telomere (T2T) reference genome of the pigeonpea variety 'Asha'. The genome assembly, designated NIPB_CcT2T_4, comprises…
The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) granted market authorisation to Takeda's QDENGA, the first dengue vaccine approved in India. QDENGA is indicated for individuals aged 4–60 years and can be administered…
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) licensed three indigenous biomedical technologies to pharmaceutical companies for commercialisation. SHetA2, a novel anti-HPV therapeutic candidate for Cervical…
World Zoonoses Day is observed every year on July 6 to raise awareness about zoonotic diseases, which are infections that spread from animals to humans. The day marks the 1885 development of the rabies vaccine by Louis…
SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket Stage Crashes Into Moon, Creating New Crater Near Einstein Crater
Key Updates:
- A SpaceX Falcon 9 upper-stage rocket crashed into the Moon, creating a new crater near the Einstein crater.
- The impact occurred at about 07:35 BST (06:35 GMT) on Wednesday at roughly 5,400 mph (8,700 km/h).
- The striking object was the empty Falcon 9 upper stage, about 14 metres across, left in space after completing its mission.
- The Falcon 9 upper stage was launched from Florida as part of a mission carrying two lunar landers.
- The upper stage had successfully sent the two lunar landers out of Earth's orbit and toward the Moon before becoming space debris.
- The collision was hard to observe because it happened on a sunlit part of the Moon and the impact flash lasted only a fraction of a second.
- A dust plume caused by the crash could stretch for as much as 100 km (62 miles) and remain visible for several minutes.
- South Korea's Danuri lunar orbiter passed close to the expected crash area shortly before the impact and may have recorded data.
- NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter is expected to photograph the crash site in the coming days for before-and-after comparisons.
- Because the object's size, speed and expected impact location are known, scientists can treat the crash almost like a controlled experiment.
- The impact study can help design safer lunar landers and future Moon bases by revealing how far rocks and dust fly after a lunar impact.
- The crash may expose fresh material from below the Moon's surface, offering clues about lunar geology and history.
- The Soviet Union's Luna 2 was the first human-made object to strike the Moon in 1959, and NASA's LCROSS mission was deliberately crashed into the Moon in 2009 to search for water ice.
- The most recent confirmed accidental lunar impact before this event happened in 2022 and was believed to involve a leftover booster from a Chinese lunar mission launched in 2014.
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S. Somanath, former Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), joined the Board of Directors of Agnikul Cosmos as an observer. Agnikul Cosmos is a Chennai-based spacetech startup.
Agnikul Cosmos, an Indian private space company incubated at IIT Madras, plans to launch Mission 02 to attempt the country's first orbital-class rocket booster recovery. The mission will use a two-stage Agnibaan rocket…
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) found signs of possible subsurface water-ice beneath four permanently shadowed craters near the Moon's south pole. The findings were based on radar data obtained from the…
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) successfully completed the first lift-off and landing test of its prototype reusable rocket. The test was conducted at the JAXA test site in Noshiro, Akita region, where the…
China Harvests First Rice Crop Grown in Space
Key Updates:
- China has harvested the first rice grown entirely in orbit aboard its Tiangong Space Station, a world first in space farming.
- The experiment was conducted by the Shenzhou-23 crew and aimed to grow two generations of rice in microgravity.
- In microgravity, rice roots lose directional sense and water forms floating spheres, complicating growth.
- Space-grown plants are intended to support long-duration missions, such as a trip to Mars, by providing food, oxygen, and water purification.
- Since 1987, China has flown seeds to space to induce cosmic radiation mutations, leading to hundreds of new crop varieties on Earth.
- The first successful seed-to-seed rice cultivation in orbit was achieved by Chinese scientists in 2022.
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Indian Analog Astronaut Capt Aman Johri completed a microgravity research flight under Project Astra Farm, focusing on Maharashtra-grown onions and potatoes. The experiment used a passive microgravity payload in…
The second edition of the Bharat International Rice Conference (BIRC) 2026 will be held from 23 to 25 October 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. The Indian Rice Exporters’ Federation (IREF), representing over 8,000…
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is working on genome-editing of around 40 crop varieties across 34 of its research institutes. The goal of the initiative is to develop climate-resilient and…
China successfully launched the Shenzhou 23 spacecraft from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center (JSLC) in northwestern China on 24 May 2026. The mission crew comprises commander Zhu Yangzhu, Zhang Zhiyuan, and Lai…
Pawan Hans Limited signs MoU with Norway's Noemi Aerospace to explore electric seaplane technologies
Key Updates:
- Pawan Hans Limited signed a non-binding MoU with Norway-based Noemi Aerospace on 5 August 2026 in New Delhi to explore electric seaplane technologies and sustainable aviation cooperation.
- The MoU covers collaboration in electric seaplane technologies, skill development, capacity building, technical knowledge sharing, workshops and feasibility studies.
- Noemi Aerospace is developing a nine-passenger electric seaplane with zero emissions and 50 per cent lower operating costs than conventional aircraft.
- Noemi Aerospace, formerly known as Elfly, targets commercial service by 2030 and is building its first full-scale prototype at Torp Sandefjord Airport in Norway.
- Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu said the government aims to manufacture seaplanes domestically under the Make in India initiative.
- The Union Budget 2026 proposed incentives for indigenous manufacturing and a Viability Gap Funding scheme to support seaplane operations in India.
- The government has introduced Seaplane Operations Guidelines and conducted demonstration flights over the past two years to promote seaplane services in remote and coastal regions.
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Sona BLW Precision Forgings Limited (Sona Comstar) and DENSO Corporation have signed definitive agreements to establish two joint ventures (JVs) for electric and hybrid powertrain systems. In the first JV, DENSO will…
GMR Aero Technic, an airframe Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) organisation, has signed a license agreement with Honeywell Aerospace for the maintenance, repair and overhaul of line replaceable units (LRUs) of LEAP…
Air India signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with SIA Engineering Company Limited (SIAEC) to collaborate on Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO). The partnership aims to contribute towards developing India as a…
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) signed a three-year MoU with the CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute (CSIR-NBRI) on July 30, 2025, to advance tribal welfare and conserve tribal bioresources. The partnership…
C-DAC and GSI Sign MoU to Advance Mineral Exploration and Disaster Management
Key Updates:
- The Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) and the Geological Survey of India (GSI) signed an Umbrella MoU to collaborate in geoscience, mineral exploration, and disaster management.
- The partnership will combine C-DAC's High-Performance Computing (HPC) capabilities with GSI's geological expertise.
- The collaboration will use Artificial Intelligence (AI) and HPC for processing large geophysical datasets, enabling high-resolution 3D subsurface mapping and predictive modelling for mineral targeting.
- The joint effort will focus on disaster mitigation through slope-scale landslide monitoring using Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), early warning systems, and studies on Glacier Lake Outburst Floods (GLOF).
- The partnership aims to accelerate the discovery of critical minerals and Rare Earth Elements (REE) to support India's economic security and technological self-reliance.
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The Union government, Assam, and Nagaland signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to resume oil and gas exploration along the contested boundary of the two states after three decades. The MoU specifically targets the…
NLC India Ltd (NLCIL) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the CSIR-Central Electrochemical Research Institute (CSIR-CECRI), Karaikudi, to collaborate on critical and strategic mineral beneficiation and…
India and the United Kingdom (UK) launched the Critical Minerals Global Supply Chain Observatory (GSCO). The GSCO is a joint initiative of the Technology Innovation in Exploration and Mining Foundation (TEXMiN) and the…
Birla Institute of Technology Mesra (BIT Mesra) and the North Eastern Space Applications Centre (NESAC), under the Department of Space, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Ranchi to cooperate in geospatial…
Alaboi Ron Battle Anniversary observed on August 5
Key Updates:
- 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.
- The sacrifice at Alaboi is considered a turning point that strengthened Ahom resistance.
- The Ahom forces, led by Lachit Borphukan, defeated the Mughals at the Battle of Saraighat in 1671.
- The anniversary of Alaboi Ron is observed annually in Assam.
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The 14th Passport Seva Divas was observed on June 24, 2026, to highlight the role of seamless passport services in national progress. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) clarified that an Indian passport is a travel…
Paschimbanga Divas (West Bengal Day) was celebrated on June 20, 2026, at Tarakeswar, Hooghly, West Bengal. The theme for this year's Paschimbanga Divas is “West Bengal: Heritage, Harmony and Development”.
Vastra Utsav 2026 was held on July 31 and August 1, 2026 at Sri Kuchalambal Kalyana Mahal, Chetpet, Chennai. The event was organized by Friends of DakshinaChitra (FoD) as a fundraiser for DakshinaChitra, a living museum…
Smriti Mandhana is the only Indian athlete featured in TIME magazine's 100 Most Influential People in Sports 2026. She has been placed in the 'Titans' category alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, Erling Haaland, and Temba…
A S Rajeev Assumed Charge as Acting Central Vigilance Commissioner
Key Updates:
- A S Rajeev took charge as acting Central Vigilance Commissioner on August 3, 2026, succeeding Praveen Kumar Srivastava.
- Rajeev was appointed as Vigilance Commissioner by the President of India on February 9, 2024, and joined the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) on March 11, 2024.
- He is a former Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Bank of Maharashtra.
- He is a qualified Chartered Accountant and holds an MBA in Banking and Finance, with over 38 years of experience in four banks.
- The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) authorized Rajeev to act as Central Vigilance Commissioner until a permanent successor is appointed.
- Praveen Kumar Srivastava, an IAS officer of the Assam-Meghalaya Cadre (1988 batch), completed his tenure on August 3, 2026; he had taken oath as Central Vigilance Commissioner on May 29, 2023.
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Biswanath Sinha, a 1992 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, assumed charge as the Chief Secretary of the Government of Kerala. He succeeded Dr A. Jayathilak, who retired from service on June 30.
Periasamy Kumaran formally assumed the role of India's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom (UK) on May 14, 2026. He presented his credentials to Scott Furssedonn-Wood, the Vice-Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps.
Senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer P Jawahar assumed charge as Chairman of the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA). MPEDA is the apex body under the Government of India responsible for…
The Bihar Government has abolished the separate Vigilance Investigation Cadre and absorbed its personnel into the Bihar Police under the control of the Home Department. The reform was implemented under the provisions of…
Prasanta Mahapatra Assumed Charge as Executive Director of Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)
Key Updates:
- Prasanta Mahapatra assumed charge as Executive Director of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).
- He will handle the Corporation Finance Investigation Department and the Recovery and Refund Department.
- Before this elevation, he was the Chief General Manager at SEBI.
- He joined SEBI in April 1999 and has served there for over 27 years.
- He has served in departments including Market Regulation, Investigation, Enquiries and Adjudication, Market Intermediaries Regulation and Supervision, Corporation Finance, and Investment Management, and at SEBI's Eastern Regional Office in Kolkata.
- He holds a Master's degree in Business Administration from Utkal University, Odisha.
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The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) appointed Monisha Chakraborty as Executive Director with effect from August 3, 2026. Prior to this, she served as Chief General Manager-in-Charge in the Department of Supervision.
Vice Admiral AN Pramod assumed charge as Deputy Chief of Naval Staff of the Indian Navy (IN). He is a CAT 'A' Sea King Air Operations Officer and a Communication and Electronic Warfare Specialist.
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) approved the appointment of Saurabh Shukla as Executive Director (ED) for Critical Operations and Gopalan S. Raghavan as ED for Regulatory, Compliance, Risk Management…
Ravi Shankar has been appointed as the Executive Director (ED) of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) with immediate effect. Shankar will be responsible for overseeing the Department of Statistics and Information Management.
