Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah Launches ‘Bank in a Box’ and Security Operations Centre for Urban Cooperative Banks
Key Updates:
- Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah launched ‘Bank in a Box’ and the Security Operations Centre under the National Urban Cooperative Finance and Development Corporation (NUCFDC) at the ‘Sahkar Nav-Kranti’ programme at the BSE International Convention Centre in Mumbai.
- The Umbrella Organisation for Urban Cooperative Banks has become a reality with Reserve Bank of India (RBI) recognition, adequate capital and a new office.
- The ‘Bank in a Box’ platform provides Urban Cooperative Banks (UCBs) core banking, digital payments, cloud services, regulatory compliance and other modern banking facilities through a single integrated platform.
- The Security Operations Centre will provide round-the-clock cyber monitoring and security support to UCBs.
- NUCFDC signed an MoU with the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) for cybersecurity, digital forensics, employee training and research capabilities at affordable cost.
- Amit Shah urged all 1,400 Urban Cooperative Banks to join the Umbrella Organisation and its Security Operations Centre, and called for membership fees to be linked to the number of branches so small and single-branch banks can participate.
- Around 650 Urban Cooperative Banks have joined the Umbrella Organisation, and Amit Shah called for 100% membership within one year.
- The NUCFDC headquarters will be shifted from Delhi to Maharashtra, which has the highest number of Urban Cooperative Banks in India at 449.
- Collective procurement of software, technology and related services through NUCFDC will reduce costs for smaller banks.
- Reforms announced include RBI permission for UCBs to expand branches by up to 15% without separate approval, doorstep banking, simplified scheduled-bank status access for eligible Tier-3 UCBs, lower Priority Sector Lending requirements, enhanced housing-loan limits and extension of the One-Time Settlement facility.
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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…
The Ministry of Cooperation (MoC) announced the establishment of a cooperative life insurance company to strengthen the cooperative movement. The Bharat Taxi initiative will be expanded to 500 cities over the next two…
Kakinada Cooperative Town Bank attained Tier-III status under Reserve Bank of India (RBI) norms after its total deposits crossed ₹2,000 crore. The bank is the second-largest among 46 urban cooperative banks in Andhra…
India has achieved 99.92% banking coverage, with 6,00,868 out of 6,01,328 inhabited villages served by a banking outlet within a 5 km radius. Banking outlets include bank branches, Business Correspondents (BCs), and…
Indian Bank Approves ₹500 Crore MSME Loans During 120th Foundation Day Credit Outreach Programme
Key Updates:
- Indian Bank approved around ₹500 crore in MSME loans during a credit outreach programme held in New Delhi as part of its 120th Foundation Day fortnight celebrations.
- Sanction tickets were handed over to 128 beneficiaries by Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Binod Kumar.
- Indian Bank's FGMO Delhi branches mobilised loan proposals worth ₹1,254 crore during the outreach programme.
- Indian Bank launched the Unified MSME Portal, a digital platform for a seamless and integrated banking experience for MSME customers.
- Indian Bank plans to digitise MSME loans up to ₹5 crore through an end-to-end digital lending platform.
- Indian Bank has 6,003 branches and global business of approximately ₹15.30 lakh crore as of June 2026.
- Deposits stood at ₹8.42 lakh crore and advances at ₹6.85 lakh crore as of June 2026.
- Indian Bank serves around 13.35 lakh MSME customers with an MSME portfolio of more than ₹1.10 lakh crore.
- Indian Bank has established around 85 MSME Processing Centres to improve loan turnaround time.
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The Lok Sabha passed the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Amendment) Bill, 2026, without a debate amid opposition protests. The Bill was earlier passed by the Rajya Sabha on August 3, 2026, and has now…
The Union Cabinet approved the Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) 5.0 on May 5, 2026, to provide credit support amid liquidity pressures from the West Asia crisis. As of June 9, 2026, the Ministry of Finance…
Lenders have cleared approximately 80,000 applications with loans amounting to ₹35,194 crore and issued guarantees worth ₹15,720 crore as of May 29. The Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) 5.0, with an outlay…
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Sanjay Malhotra urged banks and non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) to leverage the digital public infrastructure (DPI) stack including Account Aggregator (AA), Unified Lending…
Key Updates:
- The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) launched the E-Samudra digital platform on August 10, 2026.
- E-Samudra integrates services for seafarers, shipping companies, ports, and other maritime stakeholders into a single digital window.
- The platform provides end-to-end workflows, online payments, real-time tracking, and digitally issued certificates.
- The launch also included the e-NAVIK 24x7 grievance redressal system and the upcoming Seafarer Tracking Dashboard.
- India's active seafarer workforce has grown from about 1.03 lakh in 2013 to more than 3.23 lakh in 2025.
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Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal held bilateral talks with Panama's Foreign Minister Javier Martinez-Acha Vasquez to deepen maritime cooperation. Both sides identified logistics…
The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) launched the Logistics Port Performance Index (LPPI) for FY 2024-25 under the Sagar Aankalan framework to benchmark the operational performance of Indian ports. The…
Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) Sarbananda Sonowal announced the 'Maritime Reform Utsav' to commemorate 12 years of reforms and growth in the maritime sector. The MoPSW will develop an integrated…
The Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) launched the National e-Governance Service Delivery Assessment (NeSDA) 2025 Portal to assess digital governance across States, Union Territories, and…
Har Ghar Tiranga 2026 Campaign Introduces Suryapath Tiranga Global Relay
Key Updates:
- The 'Har Ghar Tiranga 2026' campaign marks the fifth consecutive year of the movement, which originated in 2022 under the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav banner.
- The campaign coincides with the 150th anniversary of India's National Song 'Vande Mataram'.
- The Ministry of Culture has integrated the National Song with the National Flag through new initiatives.
- A new flagship initiative called 'Suryapath Tiranga' has been announced as a global Tricolour relay mirroring the path of daylight across the globe.
- The relay will start at sunrise at India's easternmost diplomatic mission and continue westward across different time zones, with successive Indian Missions ceremonially hoisting the National Flag.
- The Government will observe Partition Horrors Remembrance Day on August 14, with a dedicated quiz launched on the MyGov platform.
- The Culture Ministry is coordinating major commemorative programmes across three key cities.
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The Rajya Sabha passed the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026 on July 30, 2026. The bill criminalises deliberate obstruction or insult to the national song Vande Mataram.
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…
The Tripura Government has made it mandatory for all schools in the state to begin daily morning assemblies with the full rendition of the National Song, 'Vande Mataram', followed by the National Anthem, 'Jana Gana…
National Cadet Corps (NCC) organised Cyclothon 2026 on August 2, 2026 in Delhi to commemorate 79 years of India's Independence. The Cyclothon was flagged off by Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh…
Tamil Nadu Raises Paddy and Sugarcane Procurement Incentives
Key Updates:
- Tamil Nadu Chief Minister announced a 'historic hike' in special incentives for paddy and sugarcane farmers.
- For paddy, the government will offer an incentive of ₹289 per quintal for fine varieties and ₹159 per quintal for common variety, in addition to the minimum support price (MSP).
- The total price for fine paddy will be ₹2,750 per quintal and ₹2,600 per quintal for common variety.
- Paddy procurement will begin in September.
- For sugarcane, the special incentive is ₹709.50 per tonne, in addition to the Union government's ₹3,290.50 per tonne, making the total price ₹4,000 per tonne.
- The incentive for sugarcane increased by ₹360.50 in the first year of the government.
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The Tamil Nadu government allocated ₹44,527 crore for school education in the 2026-27 budget. The 'Palli Niraivu Thittam' will upgrade infrastructure in 3,734 government schools at an estimated cost of ₹2,132 crore, with…
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay announced a full waiver of crop loans up to ₹75,000 for farmers who availed loans through cooperative banks. The waiver is applicable for loans availed from May 1, 2025, to…
Maharashtra leads the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for the automobile and auto component industry with 66 manufacturing units. Tamil Nadu has 38 units, Haryana 35, and Karnataka 28 under the PLI-Auto scheme.
Tamil Nadu announced the 'Vetri Vaanmagal' scheme to train women farmers in drone operation. The scheme was announced in the state's first agriculture budget by Agriculture Minister R Vinoth.
DGFT Removes Physical Challans for EODC Applications
Key Updates:
- The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) removed the requirement for exporters to submit physical duty payment challans for Export Obligation Discharge Certificates (EODC) under the Advance Authorisation and EPCG schemes.
- The change applies to voluntary duty payments made on or after August 1, 2026.
- Exporters can verify authenticated payment details on the DGFT Customer Portal before filing applications.
- The facility is enabled through API-based data exchange between DGFT and ICEGATE.
- The move is expected to shorten processing timelines, improve data accuracy, minimise human intervention and enhance transparency in the closure process.
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The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) notified norms for inventory-based cross-border e-commerce exports. On July 23, the government permitted FDI in an inventory-based e-commerce model exclusively for exports.
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) amended the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023 to prohibit import of goods produced or manufactured wholly or in part through forced labour. Forced labour is defined as per…
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has allowed Authorised Dealer (AD) banks to facilitate outward remittance services through third-party online platforms without seeking prior approval from the central bank. The revised…
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) notified the Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) allocation procedure under the India-Oman Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). The India-Oman CEPA came into force on 1…
Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026 Introduced in Lok Sabha
Key Updates:
- The Government introduced the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026 in the Lok Sabha.
- The bill seeks to rename the state of Kerala as Keralam.
- The bill was introduced by Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai.
- It provides for amendments to the First Schedule of the Constitution under Article 3.
- The state assembly had adopted a unanimous resolution agreeing with the bill after the President referred it.
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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.
The Lok Sabha passed the Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which amends the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007. The bill empowers the central government to notify electronic payment modes, including…
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) announced on 7 August 2026 the formal assignment of standard names to 27 places and geographical features in Arunachal Pradesh. The exercise was carried out in consultation with the…
The Kerala government launched an AI-assisted governance overhaul to modernise its bureaucracy and improve ease of doing business and ease of living. The reforms include the creation of a Co-ordination and Programme…
Tamil Nadu Assembly Mandates Tamil Thai Vazhthu at All Official Programmes
Key Updates:
- The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly passed a resolution making the rendition of Tamil Thai Vazhthu mandatory at the beginning of all official state programmes.
- The resolution applies to educational institutions, universities, government offices, public sector undertakings, and other public institutions in Tamil Nadu.
- The resolution was moved by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay and received support from both DMK and AIADMK legislators.
- The resolution describes Tamil Thai Vazhthu as an expression of respect for Tamil language and culture, citing constitutional linguistic and cultural rights.
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Tamil Nadu Finance Minister N. Marie Wilson presented the maiden Budget of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK)-led coalition government in the Legislative Assembly on August 5, 2026. The State's Own Tax Revenue (SOTR) is…
The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched the 'Jug Jug Jiyo Abhiyaan' on the 16th Indian Organ Donation Day. The campaign is a year-long nationwide awareness initiative to promote organ donation across…
Tamil Nadu announced the 'Vetri Vaanmagal' scheme to train women farmers in drone operation. The scheme was announced in the state's first agriculture budget by Agriculture Minister R Vinoth.
Australia has agreed to return three stolen ancient antiquities to India, comprising a six-headed Karttikeya, a Nandi, and a ceremonial trishul. The nine-century-old Karttikeya sculpture belongs to the Naganathaswamy…
PMAY-U Crosses 1.25 Crore Sanctioned Houses
Key Updates:
- The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban (PMAY-U) has crossed 1.25 crore sanctioned houses across India.
- Over 1 crore houses have been completed and delivered to beneficiaries under the scheme.
- The 8th meeting of the Central Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee (CSMC) under PMAY-U 2.0 was held on 6 August 2026 in New Delhi.
- Over 2.09 lakh houses were sanctioned under PMAY-U 2.0 for Economically Weaker Section (EWS) families across multiple states and Union Territories.
- Under the Beneficiary Led Construction (BLC) vertical, 1.42 lakh houses were sanctioned with financial assistance of up to ₹2.5 lakh per beneficiary.
- Under the Affordable Housing in Partnership (AHP) vertical, 67,045 houses were sanctioned.
- Total sanctions under PMAY-U 2.0 have crossed 18.38 lakh houses, including 14.40 lakh BLC, 2.48 lakh AHP, 1.36 lakh ISS, and 13,046 ARH houses.
- Among the total 1.25 crore sanctioned houses, 1 crore have been allotted to women (as female head or joint ownership).
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The Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) released a mother sanction of ₹10,021.42 crore to 12 states under the Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G). The 12 recipient states are Assam, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat…
Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) organised the APY Annual Felicitation Programme in New Delhi, recognising 53 APY Service Providers, 10 State Level Bankers' Committees, top 5 bank branches, and…
India's social protection coverage crossed the 100 crore (1 billion) mark in 2026, as announced by Union Labour and Employment Minister Mansukh Mandaviya. The coverage expanded from 19% of the population in 2015 to 68.4%…
The Central Public Works Department (CPWD) celebrated its 172nd Annual Day on 12 July 2026 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs, Shri Manohar Lal, introduced the SANKALP framework for CPWD's…
Key Updates:
- The Lok Sabha passed the Tribunals Reforms Bill, 2026, without a debate amid Opposition protests.
- The bill proposes the creation of a National Tribunals Commission headquartered in New Delhi.
- The proposed commission will have five members including a chairperson, two judicial members and two technical members.
- A retired Supreme Court judge or retired chief justice of a high court will be eligible to head the commission.
- The bill seeks to bring uniformity to the qualifications, appointment process and service conditions of tribunal chairpersons and members.
- The bill will repeal the Tribunals Reforms Act, 2021.
- The bill was introduced by Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal.
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The Lok Sabha passed the Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which amends the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007. The bill empowers the central government to notify electronic payment modes, including…
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)…
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…
Moscow floats rail route to Indian Ocean via Turkmenistan, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan amid Hormuz crisis
Key Updates:
- Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin proposed exploring a rail link to the Indian Ocean with a possible route through Turkmenistan, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
- The proposed rail corridor is intended to provide Russia alternative trade routes due to risks around the Bosphorus and the Strait of Hormuz.
- The proposal came amid escalating maritime disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz following armed hostilities involving the United States, Israel and Iran.
- Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced a maritime blockade of the Strait of Hormuz against vessels affiliated with the US, Israel and allied nations involved in operations against Iran.
- The Strait of Hormuz accounts for approximately 25 per cent of global oil trade and nearly 20 per cent of worldwide liquefied natural gas shipments.
- Khusnullin said any options providing access to India would be acceptable.
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On August 3, 2026, India and Uzbekistan set ambitious targets to expand bilateral trade and investment at a business forum meeting. India proposed doubling bilateral trade from about $1.3 billion over the next three…
The first direct commercial freight train from India arrived at the Nepal Customs Yard in Biratnagar on July 20, 2026, carrying canola grains from Kolkata Port. The 40-wagon rake used the Jogbani-Biratnagar cross-border…
India and Nepal held discussions on expanding cross-border railway connectivity during the 10th Project Steering Committee and 8th Joint Working Group meetings in Kathmandu on June 11 and 12, 2026. The meetings focused…
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw flagged off the Nanded-Mumbai and Tanakpur-Nanded Express trains and extended the Tanakpur-Pilibhit service to Shahjahanpur. The Tanakpur-Agra service has been regularized after…
HAL Revives Su-30MKI Production at Nashik with 12 Aircraft for Indian Air Force
Key Updates:
- Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will revive production of Su-30MKI fighter aircraft at its Nashik facility.
- The new batch comprises 12 aircraft planned for delivery to the Indian Air Force by 2029.
- The contract for these aircraft was cleared by the Indian government in December 2024.
- The new Su-30MKIs are expected to contain more than 50% indigenous components.
- The Nashik facility has previously produced Su-30MKIs under licence for the Indian Air Force.
- Deliveries are expected to begin in the next financial cycle, with the complete batch targeted by 2029.
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Around 40 Su-30MKI fighters of the Indian Air Force (IAF) have been integrated with BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles. The IAF operates a total fleet of 270 Sukhoi-MKI aircraft, with the Su-30MKI possessing an unfuelled…
Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) and Safran Aircraft Engines signed a long-term agreement for the production and supply of superalloy turbine ring forgings for the CFM LEAP engine programme. HAL will manufacture the ring…
The HAL Airport in Bengaluru has become the first airport in India to operationalise a satellite-guided helicopter approach. The RNP CAT H procedure uses satellite-based navigation to guide helicopters along precise…
The Indian Air Force (IAF) signed three contracts with the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT-B) for the adoption of predictive maintenance for Su-30 MKI aircraft. The initiative aims to reduce service costs and…
Australia Announces Exercise Talisman Sabre 2027 Dates from August 9 to 22, 2027
Key Updates:
- Exercise Talisman Sabre 2027 is scheduled to be held from August 9 to 22, 2027.
- Australian High Commissioner to India Philip Green announced the dates of Exercise Talisman Sabre 2027 in a video message on X.
- India will participate in Exercise Talisman Sabre 2027.
- The second India-Australia Defence Ministers' Dialogue, co-chaired by Rajnath Singh and Richard Marles on June 1, looked forward to India's enhanced participation in the exercise.
- Exercise Talisman Sabre is a bilaterally designed Australian-United States activity with fully integrated multinational planning and execution.
- The 2027 iteration will incorporate 24 additional partner nations and a combined planning workforce of around 800 personnel.
- Exercise Talisman Sabre 2027 will focus on integrated operational capability, readiness, theatre-wide logistics, force flow, and interoperability across combined joint forces.
- The exercise is expected to be the biggest and most ambitious edition of Talisman Sabre so far.
- The announcement highlighted a shared commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.
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The Indian Air Force (IAF) will participate in Exercise Pitch Black 2026, hosted by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). The exercise is scheduled to take place in Australia’s Northern Territory from 20 July to 7…
The Indian Air Force (IAF) contingent has arrived in Australia to participate in Exercise Pitch Black 2026, the Royal Australian Air Force's premier biennial multinational air combat exercise. This marks the first time…
The third India-Australia Annual Summit was held in Melbourne from July 8 to 10, 2026, between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. India and Australia signed a Joint Declaration…
Andhra Pradesh and Australia signed four MoUs covering clean energy, advanced manufacturing, inclusive education, student mental health and skill development. The MoUs were signed in the presence of Andhra Pradesh HRD…
CCI Hosts BRICS Competition Authorities Meeting on Renewable Energy in Udaipur
Key Updates:
- The Competition Commission of India (CCI) organized the Meeting of Heads of BRICS Competition Authorities on August 8, 2026, in Udaipur, Rajasthan, under India's BRICS Chairship 2026.
- CCI Chairperson Smt. Ravneet Kaur delivered the inaugural address, emphasizing cooperation on digital markets and renewable energy competition.
- A collaborative BRICS study titled 'Emerging Competition Landscape in the Renewable Energy Sector in BRICS' was presented during the meeting.
- The meeting adopted a Joint Statement titled 'Strengthening Cooperation to Promote Fair Competition, including in Renewable Energy Markets'.
- Brazil's Administrative Council for Economic Defense (CADE) briefed participants on preparations for the Xth BRICS International Competition Conference scheduled for 2027 in Brazil.
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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…
India hosted and concluded the 16th BRICS Trade Ministers' Meeting in Jaipur on August 7, 2026, under its BRICS Chairship 2026. The meeting was chaired by Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and attended by…
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 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…
Indian Navy-US Navy EOD Exercise 2026 to Commence in Kochi
Key Updates:
- The Indian Navy and US Navy will conduct the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Exercise 2026 at Southern Naval Command, Kochi from 10 to 14 August 2026.
- The exercise is the eighth edition of the joint Salvage and EOD exercises between the two navies, which have been conducted since 2005.
- The bilateral exercise aims to enhance interoperability and strengthen professional cooperation between the specialist diving and EOD teams of the two navies.
- The five-day exercise includes Subject Matter Expert Exchanges, cross-training, equipment demonstrations, and scenario-based practical exercises.
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The Indian Navy will host Operation Southern Readiness 26-2 at the Southern Naval Command, Kochi, from 20 to 23 July 2026. The four-day multinational maritime-security training is conducted with the Combined Maritime…
The United States-led Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2026 exercise commenced on 25 June 2026 at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii. The maritime training event involves 31 surface ships, five submarines, 197 aircraft…
The Indian Navy has deployed a P-8I maritime patrol aircraft to Hawaii to participate in the 30th edition of the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise. Hosted by the United States (US) Pacific Fleet, the exercise involves…
The Indian Army and the Indian Navy (IN) signed a Memorandum of Association (MoA) on Affiliation to formalise structured cooperation between Army formations and naval ships and commands. The MoA was signed by Lt Gen VPS…
World Lion Day 2026: Global Initiative Raises Awareness on Lion Conservation
Key Updates:
- World Lion Day is observed annually on August 10 to raise awareness about lion conservation.
- The day was introduced in 2013 by wildlife conservationists Dereck and Beverly Joubert.
- Major threats to lion populations include habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, and poaching.
- Conservation efforts include protected areas and community-based initiatives that provide economic incentives for coexistence.
- According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the current wild lion population is estimated at 20,000-30,000.
- The lion population has declined from approximately 450,000 in the 1950s to 100,000 in the 1980s.
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World Crocodile Day is celebrated every June 17 to raise awareness about the conservation and protection of all crocodilians, including crocodiles, alligators, caimans, and gharials. The day was established in 2017 by…
World Nature Conservation Day is observed annually on 28 July, with the 2026 observance falling on a Tuesday. The day originated from grassroots efforts and global environmental networks, tracing back to the founding of…
Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav inaugurated the Lion Species Spotlight Programme at Gir National Park in Gujarat as a pre-summit event for the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) Summit 2026. India is…
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has launched the Clouded Leopard Conservation Action Plan to protect the species and its habitats. The clouded leopard is a medium-sized wild cat named after the…
Russula griseopurpurata: New Mushroom Species Found in Meghalaya
Key Updates:
- A mushroom collected in Meghalaya's Ri Bhoi district in 2022 has been identified as a new species named Russula griseopurpurata.
- The species belongs to the Russula genus and has been recorded from Meghalaya and West Bengal.
- The discovery was published in the journal Phytotaxa on August 5, 2026, by researchers from Gauhati University.
- The Meghalaya specimen was collected at Jirang in Ri Bhoi on July 22, 2022, at an elevation of 320 metres beneath a sal tree (Shorea robusta).
- The mushroom features a greyish-purple cap that cracks with maturity and gills with characteristic forkings near the stalk.
- Researchers used ITS DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis to confirm the species' identity.
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A new polypore fungus species, Microporellus kolhapurensis, was discovered in Bhudargad taluka, Kolhapur district, Maharashtra. The species was found on rotting wood in the Bediv area on the Ajra border by Dr Anjali…
Researchers from the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE) discovered two new species of microscopic snails in the limestone caves of Meghalaya. The discovery, published in the European Journal…
A rare species of yellow puffball mushroom, provisionally identified as Bovista colorata, was discovered in Zedua village of Longding district, Arunachal Pradesh. The specimen was documented by a team from the Indian…
Researchers from the MACS Agharkar Research Institute (ARI) discovered five new Allographa lichen species in the Western Ghats. The new species are Allographa keralensis, A. nayakae, A. paraconsanguinea, A.…
Sarla Aviation receives DGCA design organisation approval
Key Updates:
- The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) granted Design Organisation Approval (DOA) to Sarla Aviation on August 8, 2026.
- The DOA, issued under CAR 21 Subpart J, qualifies Sarla Aviation to proceed with type certification for its electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.
- Sarla Aviation completed a flight-test campaign for Sylla, its half-scale eVTOL technology demonstrator, with over 500 flight tests and 18 hours of flight testing.
- The company has developed a full-scale prototype of Shunya, described as India's first indigenous eVTOL of its class.
- The demonstrator programme includes indigenous motors and an 800-volt powertrain architecture.
- Sarla Aviation signed partnerships with Manipal Hospitals, Aeromed Air Ambulance, Prestige Group, Jio-bp, Jeppesen Foreflight, Hexel Composites, and Tata Elxsi.
- The next prototype is scheduled for January 2027 to carry out transition flight.
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The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is developing a digital platform on the eGCA portal for electronic submission and processing of mandatory occurrence reports. The initiative aims to improve the timeliness…
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued 1,331 commercial pilot licences in the first half of 2026. Of the 1,331 licences, 540 (41%) were issued to pilots trained at foreign Flying Training Organisations…
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…
The CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories (CSIR-NAL) has completed the design phase of the 19-seater Saras MkII light transport aircraft. CSIR-NAL is based in Bengaluru and serves as India's premier research and…
India’s Asiatic Lion Population Reaches 891
Key Updates:
- The Asiatic lion population in India increased from 523 in 2015 to 891 in 2025, as announced by Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav on World Lion Day.
- Project Lion, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 15, 2020, aims to ensure long-term conservation of the Asiatic lion.
- The geographical range of the Asiatic lion expanded from approximately 30,000 square kilometres in 2020 to nearly 35,000 square kilometres.
- The last remaining wild population of Asiatic lions is found in and around Gujarat's Gir landscape.
- Conservation interventions under Project Lion include habitat improvement, disease surveillance, veterinary support, scientific population monitoring, and technology-aided conservation measures.
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Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav inaugurated the Lion Species Spotlight Programme at Gir National Park in Gujarat as a pre-summit event for the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) Summit 2026. India is…
India's tiger population rose from 1,411 in 2006 to 3,682 in 2022, surpassing the international target of doubling tiger numbers by that year. Project Tiger was launched in India in 1973, and the article notes that if it…
Rajasthan's tiger population across five tiger reserves increased to 149 in 2026 from 135 in the previous year. The Ranthambore Tiger Reserve houses 72 of the 149 tigers in the state.
The full title of the book is ‘Bringing the Cheetah Back to India: How Diplomacy Made Conservation’s Big Mission Possible’. The book is authored by Prashant Agrawal, India’s former High Commissioner to Namibia.
Indonesia intensifies wildfire fight as Mount Bromo blaze spreads
Key Updates:
- 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, where about 743 hectares (1,836 acres) have been scorched, leading to the closure of the park.
- Cloud-seeding operations were considered but ruled out because no suitable rain-bearing clouds are expected through Aug. 18, according to the coordinating minister.
- Strengthening El Nino conditions have raised the risk of more forest and land fires during the peak dry season.
- In Jambi province, more than 50 hectares of peatland have burned, causing haze and raising air quality concerns.
- Indonesia's meteorological agency said August and September are expected to be the most critical months for wildfires due to dry vegetation and strong winds.
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Iya Krish, an eight-year-old from Thrissur district, Kerala, scaled Mount Toubkal in Morocco on July 7, 2026. Mount Toubkal, at 4,167 metres, is the highest peak in North Africa.
Sikkim mountaineer Tshering Choden successfully scaled Mount Elbrus in Russia. Mount Elbrus is the highest peak in Europe and has a height of 5,642 metres.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto visited the 1,000-year-old Prambanan Temple in Yogyakarta. The Prambanan Temple is the largest Hindu temple complex in Indonesia.
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.
National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) disburses ₹3.79 crore under Access and Benefit Sharing mechanism
Key Updates:
- The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) disbursed approximately ₹3.79 crore as Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) to 33 State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs) and Union Territory Biodiversity Councils (UTBCs), ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR), and Hisar Bovine Sperm Station and Research Centre.
- The ABS amount was realized from companies including Bayer Science and Innovation Pvt. Ltd., HM Clause India Pvt. Ltd., and Advanta Enterprises Limited for accessing vegetable and oilseed genetic resources for research and commercial utilisation.
- An ABS amount also arose from the Department of Animal Production and Health, Government of Sri Lanka, for access to Sahiwal cattle semen.
- The disbursement covers diverse agrobiodiversity including tomato, chilli, brinjal, cauliflower, watermelon, bitter gourd, bottle gourd, okra, mustard seed varieties, and deep-frozen Sahiwal cattle semen.
- The ABS amount was distributed proportionately among states and union territories based on cultivation-area data published by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
- The largest share was released to Madhya Pradesh (₹46.93 lakh), followed by West Bengal (₹44.76 lakh) and Odisha (₹44.08 lakh).
- Recipients must utilise the funds for activities such as preparing People's Biodiversity Registers, biodiversity conservation, capacity building of Biodiversity Management Committees, and socio-economic development of local communities.
- Cumulative ABS disbursements by the NBA now exceed ₹166 crore.
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The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has released a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the notification of threatened species under Section 38 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002. The Ministry of Environment…
The Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF) and the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) launched a nationwide initiative to create Campus Biodiversity Registers (CBR) for higher education institutions. The CBR is inspired…
The Maharashtra government began disbursing the Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar loan waiver with ₹5,027 crore released into 6.2 lakh farmer accounts through direct benefit transfer. The loan waiver was declared by the state…
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) notified the Natural History Museum (NHM) of Mizoram University, Aizawl, as a Designated Repository. The NHM is India's 21st Designated Repository, notified…
Key Updates:
- Lohia Aerospace Systems signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Israel-based Massivit to introduce large-format 3D printing technology for composite tooling and aerospace components in India.
- The company plans to invest $8-10 million over the next one to two years, with the platform to be installed at its Kanpur facility, where a 250,000-square-foot expansion is underway.
- The technology reduces production cycles by up to 90% and manufacturing time by up to 90%, while lowering customer costs by as much as 50%.
- Each printer can produce one to two complete tool sets per day, and the company plans to deploy 8-10 printers, creating an estimated 60-100 skilled jobs.
- Under the Joint Manufacturing Alliance, Lohia Aerospace will hold exclusive rights to the platform for India's aerospace and defence sector, including UAVs and manned aircraft.
- The initiative aims to progressively replace imported large-format additive tooling with domestically manufactured tooling, with each tool priced between $10,000 and $20,000.
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The Odisha Government, Intel, and 3DGS signed a tripartite MoU to establish an advanced packaging glass core substrate manufacturing facility in the state. The proposed project involves an estimated investment of…
On July 30, 2026, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Government of Madhya Pradesh signed an MoU to establish India's first Telecom Manufacturing Zone in Gwalior. The total grant-in-aid from DoT for the…
D Y Patil International University (DYPIU) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Dassault Systemes to establish a Digital Engineering and Digital Manufacturing Experience Centre in Pune, Maharashtra. The centre…
Tata Electronics Ltd and ASML signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on May 16, 2026, to advance the semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem in India. ASML will support the establishment and ramp-up of Tata…
Bodhana Sivanandan and Shreyas Royal win 2026 British Chess Championships
Key Updates:
- Bodhana Sivanandan won the women's title at the 2026 British Chess Championships, becoming the youngest-ever British women's champion at age 11.
- She defeated Trisha Kanyamarala in a rapid-chess playoff to win the women's title.
- Shreyas Royal won the open title, finishing half a point ahead of England's experienced grandmasters after nine rounds.
- The 2026 British Chess Championships were held in Coventry.
- The open event featured a record prize fund of £34,000.
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Sandip Upadhyay, a teacher in Ratusinh na Muvada village, introduced chess at his school in 2021. His students have won 120 trophies and 179 medals in chess competitions.
Charles Leclerc of Ferrari won the British Grand Prix held at the Silverstone circuit, marking his first race victory since the 2024 United States Grand Prix. George Russell of Mercedes finished the race in second place…
International Chess Day (World Chess Day) is observed annually on July 20. The day marks the founding of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) in 1924.
Dr. Soumya Swaminathan has been elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society, an institution established in 1660. She is the first Indian in the institution's 365-year record to be named a Fellow after a parent who also…
Ashmita Chaliha defeats Han Qian Xi to win Korea Masters title
Key Updates:
- 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 tournament was held in Seoul, and this victory marked Chaliha's maiden BWF World Tour title.
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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…
Su Li Yang of Chinese Taipei won the men's summit clash of the US Open Badminton tournament. Former world number one Kidambi Srikanth finished as the runner-up in the tournament.
Praggnanandhaa clinched the Grand Chess Tour Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz 2026 title. He finished 1.5 points ahead of runner-up Javokhir Sindarov of Uzbekistan.
Anahat Singh became the first Indian to be crowned the World Junior Squash champion. She defeated Egypt's Ruqayya Salem 11-3, 11-7, 11-9 in the final.
Basant Meghwal wins silver in high jump at World Athletics U20 Championships
Key Updates:
- Basant Kumar Meghwal won the silver medal in the men's high jump at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Eugene.
- He cleared a personal best of 2.21m to secure the silver medal.
- Algeria's Younes Ayachi won gold and Great Britain's Otis Poole took bronze, with positions decided on countback after all three failed at 2.24m.
- Ashish Yadav also won a silver for India in the men's javelin throw with a throw of 74.09m.
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India won 19 medals, comprising 10 gold, 5 silver, and 4 bronze, at the 22nd Asian U20 Athletics Championships held in Hong Kong. Pooja Singh set a senior national record and a meet record in the women's high jump with a…
Ashish Yadav won the silver medal in the men's javelin at the 2026 World Athletics U20 Championships in Oregon with a best throw of 74.09m. South Africa's Jan-Hendrik Heymans won the gold medal with a throw of 80.50m.
Lovepreet Singh won the silver medal in the men's +110kg weightlifting final at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. He achieved a total lift of 388kg, consisting of a 176kg snatch (a Games record) and a 212kg clean…
Raja Muthupandi won the silver medal in the men's 65kg weightlifting event at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow. He lifted a total of 286 kg (snatch and clean and jerk) to secure second place.
John Turner announces retirement from professional cricket at 25
Key Updates:
- England pacer John Turner announced his retirement from professional cricket at the age of 25 due to persistent injury problems.
- Turner represented England in two ODIs and two T20Is against the West Indies in October-November 2024, taking two wickets in ODIs and one in T20Is.
- He last played a competitive match in June 2025 before being sidelined with a back stress fracture.
- Turner joined Hampshire in 2021 and earned his maiden England call-up in 2023 after taking 21 wickets in 11 Vitality Blast matches.
- During his five-year Hampshire career, he reached four T20 Finals Days, challenged at the top of Division One in the County Championship, and made the One-Day Cup final twice.
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Ajinkya Rahane announced his retirement from international cricket and all formats with immediate effect. The 38-year-old played 85 Tests, 90 ODIs and 20 T20Is for India in a career that began in 2013.
Ben Stokes announced his retirement from international cricket and his role as England Men's Test Captain. His final appearance for England will be the third Rothesay Test Match against New Zealand at Trent Bridge.
India wicketkeeper-batter Kona Srikar Bharat announced his retirement from international cricket at the age of 32. He represented India in seven Test matches between 2023 and 2024, scoring a total of 221 runs with a…
Indian all-rounder Vijay Shankar announced his retirement from domestic cricket and the Indian Premier League (IPL) at the age of 35 to pursue new opportunities. Shankar represented India in 12 One Day Internationals…
Amit Shah Presents President’s Colour to Puducherry Police on August 9, 2026
Key Updates:
- 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.
- The ceremony was held at the Puducherry Armed Police Ground in Gorimedu, Puducherry.
- President Droupadi Murmu had announced on May 8 the conferment of the honour on Puducherry Police in recognition of its exceptional service, discipline and distinguished achievements.
- Past recipients of the President's Colour include the Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard and various state police departments.
- Puducherry Police was commended for its frontline service during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Lt Governor K Kailashnathan and Chief Minister N Rangasamy were present at the ceremony.
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President Draupadi Murmu conferred the President's Police Colour on the Sikkim Police at Paljor Stadium in Gangtok. Sikkim is the 15th state in India and the third in the northeast to receive this award.
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) appointed Alok Mittal, a 1993-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, as the Director General of BPR&D under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). Amit Garg, a…
N. Rangasamy was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Puducherry for the fifth time on May 13, 2026. Lieutenant Governor K. Kailashnathan administered the oath of office and secrecy at Lok Niwas in Puducherry.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah flagged off 400 next-generation Dial-112 vehicles and 32 mobile forensic science laboratory vans on May 18, 2026, in Raipur, Chhattisgarh (CG). The upgraded Next Gen CG Dial-112 service…
Shah Rukh Khan Topped Kroll 2025 Celebrity Brand Value Rankings
Key Updates:
- Shah Rukh Khan topped Kroll's 2025 celebrity brand value rankings with an estimated brand value of USD 177.9 million.
- Ranveer Singh retained the second position with a brand value of USD 162.9 million, while Virat Kohli, who topped the 2024 rankings, slipped to third place with USD 158.4 million.
- Sachin Tendulkar moved up to fourth place with USD 125.9 million, and Mahendra Singh Dhoni rose to fifth place with USD 115.3 million.
- Alia Bhatt was the highest-ranked female celebrity at sixth place with a brand value of USD 93.9 million, followed by Deepika Padukone at seventh place with USD 89.2 million.
- The combined brand value of India's top 25 celebrity brands was estimated at USD 2 billion in 2025.
- The Kroll report highlighted a growing shift towards digital celebrity endorsements alongside traditional campaigns.
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Quit India Movement Day observed on August 9
Key Updates:
- The Quit India Movement was launched on August 9, 1942, under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi.
- The movement gave the call of 'Do or Die' to end British rule in India.
- It was launched from Gawalia Tank Maidan in Mumbai, now known as August Kranti Maidan.
- August 9 is observed as August Kranti Day every year.
- The Quit India Movement was also known as Bharat Chodo Andolan.
- The movement was launched by Mahatma Gandhi and the Indian National Congress during World War II.
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Nagasaki Day 2026 observed on August 9
Key Updates:
- Nagasaki Day 2026 was observed on August 9, 2026, marking the 81st anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of Nagasaki.
- The U.S. atomic bombing of Nagasaki took place on August 9, 1945.
- The bomb used in the Nagasaki attack was a plutonium bomb called 'Fat Man', dropped from a B-29 aircraft.
- The Nagasaki bombing killed 70,000 people by the end of 1945.
- The Hiroshima bombing killed 140,000 people and occurred three days before the Nagasaki bombing.
- Japan surrendered on August 15, 1945, ending World War II.
- The anniversary ceremony was held at Nagasaki Peace Park and included a moment of silence at 11:02 a.m.
- Representatives from more than 90 countries attended the ceremony.
- Nagasaki Mayor Shiro Suzuki described nuclear weapons as 'absolute evil'.
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International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples observed on August 9 with 2026 theme 'Honouring Indigenous Midwives: Safeguarding Life and Well-being'
Key Updates:
- The International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples is observed on August 9 every year.
- The theme for 2026 is 'Honouring Indigenous Midwives: Safeguarding Life and Well-being'.
- The Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP) issued a statement on the occasion, representing member organizations across 14 Asian countries.
- Article 24 of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) affirms the right of Indigenous Peoples to their own medicines and health practices, including conservation of medicinal plants, animals and minerals.
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Justices R V Ghuge, M C Tripathi Recommended as Calcutta and Bombay High Court Chief Justices
Key Updates:
- 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 Chandra Tripathi of the Allahabad High Court as the next Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court.
- Justice Ghuge was appointed Acting Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court in June 2026, succeeding Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar, who was elevated to the Supreme Court.
- Justice Tripathi, if approved, will become the 50th Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court, and the second from the Allahabad High Court after Justice D K Upadhyaya.
- Justice Tripathi was born on June 21, 1966, and was elevated as an Additional Judge of the Allahabad High Court on September 27, 2013, becoming a permanent judge on April 10, 2015.
- Justice Ghuge was born on July 9, 1966, and was elevated as a judge of the Bombay High Court on June 21, 2013.
- Justice Tapabrata Chakraborty is currently the Acting Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court.
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The Supreme Court (SC) Collegium recommended the elevation of Justice Sheel Nagu, Justice Shree Chandrashekhar, Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva, Justice Arun Palli, and Senior Advocate V Mohana as judges of the SC. The…
The Supreme Court (SC) collegium recommended the appointment of Justice Meenakshi Madan Rai, a judge of the Sikkim High Court, as the Chief Justice of the Patna High Court. The recommendation was made during a meeting on…
The Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant announced the formation of the Judicial Infrastructure Advisory Committee to modernise courts across India. The high-powered panel is led by Supreme Court Justice Aravind Kumar…
Tushar Mehta was re-appointed as Solicitor General (SG) for a period of three years or until further orders by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC). The ACC extended the tenure of Additional Solicitor Generals…
Deepak Dhar Awarded 2026 Dirac Medal
Key Updates:
- Deepak Dhar has been awarded the 2026 Dirac Medal by the International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) for his contributions to statistical mechanics.
- He is one of four physicists selected this year for the honour, which is considered among the highest in the field of physics.
- Born in 1951 in Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Dhar studied at Allahabad University and IIT Kanpur before completing his PhD from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in 1978.
- At Caltech, he worked closely with physicist Richard Feynman and held the Richard Feynman fellowship.
- He returned to India and joined the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) in Mumbai, and also served as a professor at IISER Pune.
- His notable work includes Dhar's burning algorithm, developed in connection with sandpile models, which has become influential in the study of self-organised criticality.
- In 2022, he became the first Indian to receive the Boltzmann Medal, and in 2023 he was awarded the Padma Bhushan.
- The Dirac Medal, instituted in 1985 in honour of physicist Paul Dirac, is not awarded to Nobel, Fields, or Wolf Prize winners.
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Annapurni Subramaniam, director of Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bengaluru, was awarded the COSPAR Vikram Sarabhai Medal 2026. The medal is awarded jointly by the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) and the…
Ashish Yadav won the silver medal in the men's javelin at the 2026 World Athletics U20 Championships in Oregon with a best throw of 74.09m. South Africa's Jan-Hendrik Heymans won the gold medal with a throw of 80.50m.
Indian-origin theoretical physicist Jainendra K Jain received the Wolf Prize in Physics for his discovery of composite fermions, which provided an explanation for the fractional quantum Hall effect. The award was…
Ariha Pangambam became the first Indian to win a gold medal in the senior women's individual event at the Aerobic Gymnastics Asian Championships. She scored 19.100 in the final, with 8.650 in artistry, 7.600 in…
Mohsen Rezaee Appointed Head of Iran’s SNSC
Key Updates:
- Mohsen Rezaee was appointed as the representative of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei to Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC).
- He replaced Mohammad Baqir Zolghadr, who had taken up leadership of the council in March.
- Rezaee is a former chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and led it from 1981 to 1997.
- He is 71 years old.
- Rezaee had stated that control of the Strait of Hormuz is more important than dozens of atomic bombs and that Iran would never allow unauthorized control of the waterway.
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Khalil al-Hayya was elected as the head of the political bureau of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on July 20, 2026. He succeeded Yahya Sinwar, who was killed by Israeli forces in October 2024.
Iran is to receive up to 400 Chinese-made shoulder-launched air-defence missile systems within weeks, worth US$60-70 million. The contract covers QW-12 and FN-16 man-portable air defence systems (MANPADS) and was signed…
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi stated that inspections at Iranian atomic sites were 'going to happen' but did not offer a specific timeline. The statement followed a preliminary…
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) appointed Rudra Gaurav Shresth as India's next Ambassador to the Republic of Turkiye. Shresth is a 1999-batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer.
Rahul Navin's Tenure Extended as Enforcement Directorate (ED) Director
Key Updates:
- The Centre extended the tenure of Enforcement Directorate (ED) Director Rahul Navin by one year, from August 13, 2026 to August 13, 2027.
- The extension continues beyond his scheduled retirement on July 31, 2027.
- Rahul Navin is an Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer of the 1993 batch who joined the ED as special director in 2019.
- He became the agency's interim chief in September 2023 and was appointed as full-time chief for a fixed tenure of two years on August 14, 2024.
- During his tenure, the ED has restituted assets worth over ₹32,000 crore to victims out of total attachments worth ₹2.40 lakh crore under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
- Over ₹15,000 crore of the restituted assets is linked to fugitives Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi.
- The ED has filed 2,396 charge sheets in its 8,851 PMLA cases and confiscated assets worth ₹930 crore under the Fugitive Economic Offenders (FEO) Act.
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Rahul Himalian, Director (Tourism & Marketing) at the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), has been given additional charge of Chairman and Managing Director (CMD). The appointment takes effect from…
Anurag Garg is a 1993 batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the Himachal Pradesh cadre. Garg was appointed as the Director General (DG) of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in September 2024.
On July 17, 2026, the Centre appointed Harjit Singh Grewal as the chairperson of the National Commission for Minorities (NCM). Munawari Begum was appointed as vice-chairperson and Glenn E Souza Ticlo as a member of the…
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…
