National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) announces winners of National Climate Stack Innovation Challenge
Key Updates:
- NABARD, with support from the Gates Foundation and Dalberg Advisors, announced the winners of the National Climate Stack Innovation Challenge.
- The challenge was launched to advance DiCRA (Data in Climate Resilient Agriculture) as a Digital Public Infrastructure for rural climate resilience.
- SatSure Analytics India Pvt Ltd won the first prize for developing a composite climate vulnerability index that scores villages on climate risk.
- EXPERIQS Pvt Ltd won the second prize for developing a block-level drought intelligence platform combining drought indices, vegetation signals and climate projections.
- VARSAPRADAYA Pvt Ltd won the third prize for developing a 3-km, 20-year hazard scoring and advisory engine built on DiCRA.
- The challenge received over 150 applications, with 20 teams shortlisted to develop prototypes and Eleven teams reaching the final round.
- The final solutions were evaluated by a jury comprising experts from the Reserve Bank of India, NABARD, the World Bank, ThinkAg, the Gates Foundation and the India Meteorological Department.
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Six youth-led startups won the 8th edition of the Youth Co-Lab National Innovation Challenge 2026. The initiative is jointly led by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) India and Citi Foundation, in…
The Digital India BHASHINI Division (DIBD), under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), launched the VYOMA Innovation Challenge to develop open-source, multilingual and voice-first artificial…
The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) signed an MoU with Mahatma Phule Renewable Energy and Infrastructure Technology (MAHAPREIT) to finance green, climate-resilient and sustainable…
Vivaan Chhawchharia, Ariana Agarwal and Avyana Mehta were named the Asia winners of The Earth Prize 2026. The team developed 'Plas-Stick', a biodegradable powder made from tamarind seed waste that removes microplastics…
CBDC-Based DBT Launches in Chandigarh and Dadra & Nagar Haveli
Key Updates:
- The Government of India will launch a CBDC-based Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system for food subsidies under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) in Chandigarh and Dadra & Nagar Haveli on August 14, 2026.
- This is the first fully digitised food subsidy delivery through Digital Rupee tokens in India.
- Eligible beneficiaries will receive subsidies directly into CBDC wallets instead of conventional bank transfers.
- The digital tokens can be used to purchase foodgrains from empanelled fair price shops via a real-time, traceable digital payment system.
- The initiative builds on earlier pilot projects in Puducherry and Gujarat.
- The launch will be attended by Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and Minister of State Nimuben Jayantibhai Bambhaniya.
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The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting launched the Pilot Phase of the 'Gems of India' Challenge on July 21, 2026. The challenge aims to identify, nurture and promote grassroots digital creators from across the…
Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone and dedicated development projects worth ₹4,700 crore in the Union Territory of Chandigarh. The projects aim to strengthen infrastructure, improve public services…
The Delhi Government renamed the proposed Mahila Samriddhi Yojana as Delhi Lakshmi Yojana. The scheme will provide ₹2,500 per month in direct financial assistance to eligible women.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta launched the 'Delhi Next – Code, Create and Change' programme at the Delhi Secretariat to solve urban challenges through technology. The initiative's outreach campaign reached over one crore…
PMS Bazaar, NDML Accreditation Agency Partner to Expand Access to SEBI Accredited Investor Certification
Key Updates:
- PMS Bazaar has partnered with NSDL Database Management Limited (NDML) to facilitate the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) Accredited Investor certification process.
- The collaboration aims to make Accredited Investor certification simpler, faster and more accessible through end-to-end assistance.
- Under SEBI's Accredited Investor framework, eligible investors may benefit from lower minimum investment thresholds across Portfolio Management Services (PMS), Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) and other alternative investment products.
- The partnership will guide investors and investment providers using advanced digital and processing capabilities under strict regulatory compliance.
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YES Bank has entered into a strategic partnership with Northern Arc Capital to expand credit access, scale digital lending, and offer debt investment opportunities. The collaboration was facilitated by Sumitomo Mitsui…
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has proposed a comprehensive review of the SEBI (Portfolio Managers) Regulations, 2020. Assets under management (AUM) of the PMS industry more than doubled to ₹42.61 lakh…
On May 30, 2026, the National Institute of Securities Markets (NISM), established by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), partnered with Galgotias University in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh. The…
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) approved the Green-Channel: AIF Rollout Upon Document Acknowledgement (GARUDA) mechanism to accelerate the launch of Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) schemes. The…
State Bank of India (SBI) projects Q1 GDP growth at 8%
Key Updates:
- State Bank of India (SBI) research projects India's GDP growth at 8% for the April-June quarter of FY27.
- The SBI projection is sharply higher than the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) forecast of 7% for the same quarter.
- SBI's nowcasting model tracks more than 50 leading indicators across consumption, agriculture, industry, and services.
- About 86% of these indicators showed growth in April-June, compared with 69% a year ago.
- SBI attributed the growth to resilient consumption, strong government capital expenditure, and satisfactory industrial activity.
- India's GDP grew 7.8% in the January-March quarter and 6.8% in the April-June quarter of 2025.
- The government is scheduled to release April-June GDP data on August 31.
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India's economy is likely to have expanded by around 7% in the April-June quarter of FY27. SBI Research expects the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to keep policy rates unchanged in the near term.
Morgan Stanley has raised India's FY27 growth forecast to 6.7% from 6.2%. The firm projects gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 7% for FY28 and 7.6% for FY26.
ICRA has projected India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth at 6.4–6.6 per cent for the April-June quarter (Q1 FY27). The projected GDP growth in Q1 FY27 is lower than the 7.8 per cent growth recorded in the…
S&P Global Ratings (S&P) has projected India's real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth to slow to 6.6 per cent for the fiscal year ending March 2027, compared to 7.7 per cent in 2025-26. The growth projection for the…
SMILE-Beggary Scheme: ₹45.59 Crore Released, 10,446 Persons Rehabilitated
Key Updates:
- The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment released ₹45.59 crore under the SMILE-Beggary Scheme since its launch on 23 October 2023.
- As of 31 July 2026, 10,446 persons including 2,824 children have been rehabilitated under the scheme.
- The scheme provides vocational training in trades such as carpentry, tailoring, housekeeping, and e-rickshaw driving.
- The Ministry developed Model Guidelines for Beggars'/Shelter Homes, circulated to all States/UTs on 13 April 2026.
- The Model Guidelines mandate third-party infrastructure and social audits of every Beggar/Shelter Home at least once every two years.
- A dedicated mobile application and digital monitoring system have been established for identification and rehabilitation.
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The Rajya Sabha passed the Bankers' Books Evidence Bill, 2026, on August 10, 2026, with the Lok Sabha having passed it on August 5, 2026. The Bill repeals and replaces the Bankers' Books Evidence Act, 1891, and…
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved a record surplus transfer of ₹2.86 lakh crore to the government for FY26, which is a 7% increase from the previous year. The RBI balance sheet expanded by 20.6% to reach ₹91.9…
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…
The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) unveiled the draft Small River Rejuvenation (SRR) Framework on July 18, 2026. The framework prioritizes natural connectivity, catchment restoration, local water storage, and…
FCRA Amendment Bill 2026 referred to 31-member Joint Parliamentary Committee
Key Updates:
- The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, was referred to a 31-member Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for scrutiny.
- The JPC will comprise 21 members from the Lok Sabha and 10 from the Rajya Sabha.
- The committee has been asked to submit its report by the last day of the first week of the Winter Session of Parliament in 2026.
- The Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on March 25, 2026.
- The Bill proposes tighter government oversight over non-governmental organisations and foreign funding, and seeks to create a designated authority to manage and dispose of assets if an organisation loses its FCRA licence.
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The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) revised compounding penalties under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), 2010, for non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Penalties for administrative expenses exceeding…
Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah launched the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) 2.0 Portal and the e-OCI card in New Delhi. The FCRA 2.0 Portal is designed to reduce paperwork, enable faster…
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…
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…
MMDR Amendment Bill, 2026 Passed by Parliament to Regulate State Levies on Mineral Rights
Key Updates:
- The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 (MMDR Amendment Bill, 2026) was passed by Parliament after the Rajya Sabha approved it on August 13, 2026, following the Lok Sabha's approval on August 12, 2026.
- The Bill empowers the Centre to prescribe conditions on states' taxes, cess and other levies on mining rights and mineral-bearing lands, and will become law after the President's assent.
- Under the new framework, states cannot impose additional taxes, cess or other levies on mineral rights and mineral-bearing land unless they comply with the conditions prescribed by the Centre.
- The legislation gives the Centre regulatory oversight of mineral-bearing land containing mineral resources, expanding its role beyond mine regulation and mineral development.
- It provides for invalidation of unpaid or uncollected levies that states may have sought to impose before the new law comes into force.
- Coal and Mines Minister G Kishan Reddy said the Bill affects only major minerals, does not impact states' powers over 49 minor minerals, and mainly impacts around 11 to 12 mineral-producing states.
- The Bill follows the 2024 Supreme Court nine-judge Bench ruling that states can levy taxes on mineral rights separately from royalty under the MMDR Act.
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The Registration of Births and Deaths Amendment Bill, 2026 proposes stricter rules for delayed registration of births and deaths. Registration delayed between one and two years will require approval from the District…
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.
The Joint Committee of Parliament examining the One Nation, One Election Bill was granted an extension until the end of the Winter Session. The committee is examining the Constitution One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth…
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…
DigiLocker Crosses 72.43 Crore Users; UMANG Reaches 11.66 Crore
Key Updates:
- DigiLocker has crossed 72.43 crore registered users with 72.86 crore document transactions in the last three years.
- UMANG platform has over 11.66 crore registered users and witnessed about 798 crore transactions in the last three years.
- As of July 31, 2026, approximately 2,575 services are available on UMANG and 5,437 document types on DigiLocker.
- The government has expanded Common Service Centres (CSCs) to 4,07,122 functional at Gram Panchayat level, with 70,069 operated by women Village Level Entrepreneurs.
- Both platforms are integrated with Aadhaar, eSign, and API Setu for seamless and paperless service delivery.
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The National e-Governance Division (NeGD), under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), partnered with the Association of Australian Education Representatives in India (AAERI) to launch the…
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 Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) has created over 93.95 crore health accounts. The ABDM has linked 105 crore health records.
India has partnered with 24 countries to adopt components of India Stack, including the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and DigiLocker. UPI merchant payments are now available in Bhutan, France, Mauritius, Nepal, Qatar…
Gramin Gyan Setu App Launched to Connect Rural Libraries with 2.80 Lakh Books
Key Updates:
- Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched the Gramin Gyan Setu app on 13 August 2026, on the occasion of National Library Day.
- The app connects 752 rural libraries in Gujarat's Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency through a hub-and-spoke model.
- It gives village readers access to a combined collection of approximately 2.80 lakh books from four larger libraries.
- Vans funded through MPLAD funds will deliver books between libraries every fortnight.
- The initiative aims to establish a centrally located library near every village school, with 63 libraries already set up.
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The Gujarat government launched the 'Samras Vidya Setu' Mega Campaign on July 22, 2026. The campaign aims to re-enrol over 80,000 school dropout children in Gujarat.
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) launched the Digital Local Pass and MargMitra Help Centre on the RajmargYatra mobile app under the Digital India programme. The Digital Local Pass allows eligible commuters…
Haryana Labour Minister Anil Vij announced the launch of the 'ShramMitra' app to digitise and modernise the labour market. The app is designed to transform the traditional labour chowk into a digital platform.
Union Health Minister J P Nadda is set to launch Aarogya Setu 2.0, transforming the former COVID-19 contact-tracing application into a comprehensive personal health record platform. The platform is redesigned in line…
Karnataka Imposes One-Year Ban on Tobacco and Nicotine Products
Key Updates:
- Karnataka imposed a one-year ban on the manufacture, storage, distribution, transportation, and sale of gutkha and pan masala containing tobacco or nicotine.
- The ban is effective from June 15, 2026, and applies across the entire state.
- The ban was imposed under clause (a) of sub-section (2) of Section 30 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, read with Regulation 2.3.4 of the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulation, 2011.
- The ban also covers other products marketed separately that contain tobacco or nicotine in the final product, whether packaged or unpackaged.
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World No Tobacco Day is observed every year on 31 May. The slogan for World No Tobacco Day 2026 is Stop Youth from Nicotine Addiction Until Death.
Maharashtra enforced a one-year ban on the production, storage, and distribution of analogue or non-dairy paneer across the state. The ban covers manufacturing, processing, packing, storage, transportation, wholesale and…
Karnataka is the first state in India to implement an Alcohol-in-Beverage (AIB) based excise duty structure. The new policy came into effect from May 11, following the Chief Minister's 2026-27 Budget speech.
Karnataka has approached the Supreme Court against the Karnataka High Court Division Bench judgment that directed authorities to consider registering motorcycles as transport vehicles and issuing permits for bike taxis.…
Nuclear Energy Mission: Roadmap for Self-Reliant Nuclear Energy Ecosystem to Achieve 100 GWe by 2047
Key Updates:
- The Nuclear Energy Mission, announced in the Union Budget 2025-26, aims to expand India's nuclear energy capacity to 100 GWe by 2047.
- The government's two-pronged approach includes deployment of large indigenous 700 MWe Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors at greenfield sites and Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) at brownfield locations.
- At least five indigenous Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) are targeted for development and operationalisation by 2033 under the Nuclear Energy Mission.
- The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), a constituent unit of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), is designing the 220 MWe Bharat Small Modular Reactor (BSMR-200) and the 55 MWe SMR-55.
- BARC is developing a High Temperature Gas Cooled Reactor (HTGCR) of up to 5 MWth capacity for coupling with a thermochemical cycle for hydrogen production.
- The Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Act, 2025 has been enacted to enable wider participation of public and private entities in the nuclear sector.
- The SHANTI Act provides statutory status to the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board.
- India's three-stage nuclear power programme includes thorium utilisation, with Thorium Oxide pellets used in PHWRs and uranium-233 from reprocessed Thoria pins fuelling the KAMINI reactor at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR), Kalpakkam.
- The government is expanding indigenous nuclear medicine infrastructure through the Isotope Production Reactor (IPR) to augment domestic production of medical isotopes.
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Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IITH) launched ANUGYAN – Nuclear Technology Orientation Programme (NTOP) in collaboration with Crimson Energy Experts Private Limited (CEEPL) on August 3, 2026. ANUGYAN is…
The NITI Aayog report titled 'Reimagining Care: Strategies for Empowering Caregivers in Viksit Bharat@2047' presents India's caregiving ecosystem and outlines a roadmap for an organised, professional, accessible and…
The Maharashtra government signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with four companies for nuclear power generation projects with a total capacity of 25,400 MW and investments amounting to ₹6.5 lakh crore. National…
Fairwood Nuclear Pvt Ltd of India and SK Securities Co Ltd of South Korea signed a strategic collaboration agreement to develop and finance Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and Micro Modular Reactors (MMRs) in India. The…
Delhi Development Authority Approves Delhi Master Plan 2047
Key Updates:
- On August 12, 2026, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) approved the Master Plan for Delhi 2047.
- The approval ended a five-year delay in finalising Delhi's Master Plan.
- The Master Plan 2047 aims to align Delhi's long-term vision with the Viksit Bharat@2047 mission.
- The plan is intended to promote sustainable and inclusive urban growth, ease of doing business, ease of living, and a cleaner, greener capital.
- The Master Plan 2047 is expected to address Delhi's contested urban issues, including the land pooling policy, the green development area (GDA) policy, and the fate of unauthorised colonies in the Yamuna O-Zone.
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The Delhi government announced the "Clean Air, Healthy Delhi" project with a total outlay of ₹8,300 crore to combat air pollution. The funding for the project will be shared between the World Bank, providing 65 per cent…
The Delhi Cabinet approved the Delhi Startup and Incubation Policy with a financial outlay of more than ₹400 crore over five years. The policy aims to provide incubation facilities, mentorship, and milestone-based…
The Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi) and France's Sorbonne University have launched a joint master's programme in Biological Science and a joint PhD course. The partnership aims to improve innovation…
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the widening of National Highways 63 and 563 in Telangana to four-lane standards at a total cost of ₹7,597.16 crore. The…
Andhra Pradesh Signs ₹140-Crore Lithium and Gallium Exploration Pact
Key Updates:
- The Andhra Pradesh government signed an agreement with CSIR-NGRI for extensive exploration of lithium and gallium deposits in the Kadapa Basin.
- The exploration project will be funded entirely by the National Mineral Exploration Trust at an estimated cost of ₹140 crore.
- Preliminary studies by CSIR-NGRI estimated lithium concentrations up to 1,000 ppm and gallium concentrations up to 250 ppm in the area.
- The state also signed an agreement with IIT (ISM) Dhanbad-TEXMiN to establish a Centre of Excellence for mining in Andhra Pradesh.
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Andhra Pradesh will procure 1,600 MW of coal-based thermal power through a competitive bidding process. The Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (APERC) granted in-principle approval on August 6, 2026.
The Andhra Pradesh government has launched India's first private gold mining project at Swarnagiri (formerly Jonnagiri) in the Kurnool district. The project is operated by Geomysore Services India Pvt Ltd (GMSI) with an…
Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh signed a pact in New Delhi to settle pending payments under the Narmada Award. The agreement provides for a one-time settlement of long-pending disputes related to the…
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…
President Murmu Gives Assent To Bill Criminalising Insult To Vande Mataram
Key Updates:
- President Droupadi Murmu gave assent to the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
- The Bill criminalises intentional disruption or prevention of the singing of the national song 'Vande Mataram'.
- The legislation grants 'Vande Mataram' the same legal protection as the national anthem, 'Jana Gana Mana'.
- The Lok Sabha passed the Bill on July 30, and the Rajya Sabha cleared it a day earlier.
- The Union Home Ministry said that for the first time, 'Vande Mataram' will be sung from the ramparts of the Red Fort at the Independence Day function.
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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 Union Cabinet cleared the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill to punish insult or obstruction to singing of Vande Mataram. The bill will make insulting the national song a punishable offence…
President Droupadi Murmu approved the Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Act, 2026, commonly referred to as the state's anti-conversion law. The Act will come into force after the Maharashtra government issues a…
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…
Gujarat Govt Approves ₹20 Crore for Four Centres of Excellence for Natural Farming
Key Updates:
- The Gujarat government has approved the establishment of four Centres of Excellence for natural farming with a provision of ₹20 crore for the 2026-27 financial year.
- The centres will be located in Navsari, Morbi, Bhavnagar and Chhota Udepur districts.
- Each centre will have facilities to train 100 farmers at a time, providing training in natural farming bio-inputs like Jeevamrut and Beejamrut.
- The centres will also provide soil testing, quality testing, and guidance on value addition, processing, storage, and packaging of agricultural produce.
- The Gujarat Natural Agriculture Development Board has been assigned to implement the initiative under the guidance of Governor Acharya Devvrat.
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The Union Cabinet approved the GOBARdhan (National Circular Bioenergy Scheme) with an outlay of ₹23,731 crore. The scheme will be implemented by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas over 10 years from 2026-27 to…
The Andhra Pradesh Community Managed Natural Farming (APCNF) programme won the 2026 Food Planet Prize, presented by the Curt Bergfors Foundation in Båstad, Sweden. The APCNF received a prize amount of $1.5 million…
The Gujarat government approved ₹14.90 crore to establish 15-bed de-addiction centres in all 34 district hospitals. The centres will provide services including scientific detoxification, de-addiction therapy…
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…
Indian Army Conducts 13-Day Tactical Training for Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) Personnel at Agartala Airport
Key Updates:
- The Indian Army conducted a 13-day tactical training programme for Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel at Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport in Agartala from July 27 to August 8, 2026.
- The training was organised under the aegis of the Red Shield Division of the Indian Army as a Military Civil Fusion initiative.
- The modules covered advanced access control, perimeter hardening, counter-sabotage measures, counter-drone operations, high-speed contingency response, and integrated strategies for safeguarding high-value aviation assets.
- The programme aimed to fuse the Indian Army's tactical combat expertise with the CISF's aviation security mandate.
- The Indian Army and Assam Rifles had earlier conducted similar training programmes for CISF personnel.
- CISF secures most airports in the Northeastern region, including MBB Airport in Agartala, the second busiest airport in the region after Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport (LGBIA) in Guwahati.
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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…
An Indian Army contingent is participating in Exercise KHAAN QUEST, a multilateral military exercise scheduled from 20 June to 3 July at the Five Hills Training Area in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. The exercise aims to enhance…
The Indian Army is set to establish and operationalise its first Integrated Battle Groups (IBG) by July 1, 2026. These agile, brigade-sized fighting units will be carved out of the Panagarh-based XVII Corps, which is a…
The Indian Army and Bharti Airtel Pvt. Ltd. (Airtel) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to expand communication infrastructure in the Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh. The project aims to establish mobile…
8th BRICS Oceanic-Polar Science and Technology Meeting Begins in Goa on August 12, 2026
Key Updates:
- The 8th meeting of the BRICS Working Group on Oceanic and Polar Science and Technology (OPST) commenced in Goa on August 12, 2026.
- The three-day meeting is hosted by the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) under India's BRICS Presidency 2026.
- Delegations from Brazil, China, Egypt, Indonesia, Russia, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, and India are participating.
- The meeting focuses on scientific cooperation and future collaborative programmes in ocean and polar research.
- The BRICS OPST Working Group was established in 2018; India previously hosted its third meeting in 2020.
- A keynote lecture on 'India's Blue Economy Initiatives' was delivered by Dr M Rajeevan, former Secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
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India will host the 11th BRICS Energy Ministers’ Meeting in Gurugram, Haryana, on June 25-26 under its BRICS Chairship 2026. The meeting is guided by the theme Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and…
The 5th BRICS working group meeting on geospatial technology is being held at IIT Tirupati from July 21 to July 23, 2026. Delegates from Brazil, Russia, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, United Arab…
Union Minister Jitendra Singh proposed the concept of a BRICS Space Economy during the BRICS Heads of Space Agencies (HOSA) Meeting in Bengaluru. The meeting was hosted by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)…
The Brics Heads of Space Agencies (Hosa) meeting commenced as a two-day closed-door session in Bengaluru on June 23, 2026. The meeting is conducted under India's 2026 Brics chairship theme, “Building for Resilience…
India and Malaysia Commence Exercise Udara Shakti 2026 at Subang Air Base in Malaysia on August 12, 2026
Key Updates:
- The Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) commenced bilateral Exercise Udara Shakti 2026 at Subang Air Base in Malaysia.
- Air warriors from both nations are engaged in joint field training and Subject Matter Expert exchanges during the exercise.
- The exercise focuses on operational learning, exchange of best practices and enhancing interoperability.
- Exercise Udara Shakti enables personnel from both sides to gain greater familiarity with each other's procedures, practices and approaches to air operations.
- Exercise Pitch Black 2026 is scheduled to be conducted from July 20 to August 7 at Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Bases Darwin, Tindal and Amberley.
- Up to 100 jet aircraft and more than 2,500 personnel from 20 nations are expected to participate in Exercise Pitch Black 2026.
- India is among the participating nations in Exercise Pitch Black 2026.
- Pitch Black 2026 will feature the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force F-35 Lightning II and Indonesian T-50I Golden Eagle jets for the first time.
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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…
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.
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 opening ceremony of Exercise Tiger Lightning (TL)-2026 was held at the Para Commando Brigade in Jalalabad Cantonment, Sylhet on July 19, 2026. The joint exercise involves the Bangladesh Army and the United States…
India Proposes ₹1 Lakh Crore Tender for 60 Multirole Transport Aircraft for IAF
Key Updates:
- The Ministry of Defence has floated a tender valued at approximately ₹1 lakh crore to procure 60 multirole transport aircraft for the Indian Air Force.
- Indian companies, including Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Tata and Mahindra, will lead the programme with over 60 per cent indigenous content.
- Around 20 per cent of the aircraft are expected to be delivered in fly-away condition, while the remainder will be manufactured in India.
- Mahindra Defence has partnered with Brazil's Embraer to offer the C-390 Millennium transport aircraft.
- Tata has partnered with Lockheed Martin to offer the C-130J Super Hercules, which is already operated by the Indian Air Force.
- The Indian Air Force currently operates 12 C-130J Super Hercules aircraft.
- The proposed aircraft may also be configured for aerial refuelling operations.
- The Indian Air Force is already expanding its transport fleet through the C-295 programme with Airbus, with around 70 aircraft expected to be inducted.
- The Indian Air Force has issued a separate tender for 114 Rafale fighter aircraft as part of its wider modernisation process.
- The Indian Air Force is also considering the induction of more than 100 trainer aircraft to replace ageing Hawk jet trainers.
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The first Made-in-India Airbus C295 military transport aircraft successfully completed its maiden test flight from the Final Assembly Line (FAL) in Vadodara, Gujarat. The aircraft is being produced through a partnership…
India has issued a Letter of Request (LoR) to France for the acquisition of 114 Rafale fighter jets for the Indian Air Force (IAF) in a government-to-government deal worth approximately ₹3.25 lakh crore. Under the…
Tata-Airbus has advanced the first Made-in-India C-295 military transport aircraft at Vadodara, Gujarat. The C-295 is the first military aircraft in India to be built privately.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Modified Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) Scheme with a total outlay of ₹28,840 crore over 10 years. The scheme is approved for implementation from FY 2026-27 to FY 2035-36 to…
India and SACU to Sign Terms of Reference for Trade Pact Talks on August 12
Key Updates:
- India and the South African Customs Union (SACU) will sign terms of reference for trade talks on August 12, 2026.
- The negotiations will be for a preferential trade agreement (PTA) between India and SACU.
- SACU comprises Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, and South Africa.
- South Africa is India's largest trading partner within the SACU bloc.
- India-South Africa bilateral trade declined by 13.55% to $15.56 billion in 2025-26.
- India's trade with Botswana increased by 21.26% to $614 million in 2025-26.
- India's trade with Namibia increased by 4.32% to $593 million in 2025-26.
- The terms of reference were discussed during a meeting between Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and South Africa's Minister Parks Tau on the sidelines of the BRICS trade and industry ministers' meeting.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney held bilateral talks on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Evian-les-Bains, eastern France. Both nations reaffirmed their objective to conclude…
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and United States (US) Trade Representative Jamieson Greer concluded two days of negotiations in New Delhi from June 22-24. The discussions aimed to finalise the first phase of…
India and Bhutan held the fifth India-Bhutan Development Cooperation Talks, co-chaired by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Bhutanese Foreign Secretary Dasho Pema Lektup Dorji. India and Bhutan exchanged a concessional…
India and the Republic of Korea held the 12th round of negotiations to upgrade the India-Korea Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IK CEPA) in New Delhi from May 25 to 27, 2026. The negotiations were conducted…
National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) releases Rs 15.52 crore to States and Union Territories for mustard genetic resources
Key Updates:
- The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) released Rs 15.52 crore in Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) proceeds to States and Union Territories for mustard genetic resources.
- The NBA is a statutory body established under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, and functions under the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
- The amount will be distributed to 26 State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs) and three Union Territory Biodiversity Councils (UTBCs), with each share based on the area under mustard cultivation.
- Pioneer Overseas Corporation bred the 10 mustard varieties in-house, while the parental lines were sourced from the open market and traders.
- Since no single farmer or community could be identified as the source, the NBA constituted an expert committee to decide the ABS disbursal modalities.
- The NBA used cultivation-area data from the ICAR–Indian Institute of Rapeseed-Mustard Research (ICAR-IIRMR), Bharatpur, Rajasthan, to calculate each state's share.
- Every State Biodiversity Board and Union Territory Biodiversity Council must use the ABS amount as per Section 32 of the Biological Diversity Act for activities such as updating People's Passport Registers, in-situ and ex-situ conservation, restoring degraded ecosystems, and strengthening Biodiversity Heritage Sites.
- The NBA has released a total ABS amount of Rs 182.5 crore so far, including Rs 116.22 crore to beneficiaries across the country in the past 12 months.
- The release supports the principles of the Nagoya Protocol and Target 13 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework on fair and equitable benefit sharing.
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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…
Padma Shri P L Gautam has been named as the Chair of the reconstituted Expert Committee on Agrobiodiversity under the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA). The committee has been reconstituted for a period of one year…
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), under the Department of Consumer Affairs, has released the Indian Standard IS 20201:2026 to strengthen the management of Community Seed Banks (CSBs). Developed by the Biodiversity…
Odisha received investment proposals worth ₹43,437 crore at the Odisha Food Pro 2026 roadshow in New Delhi. The proposals have the potential to generate over 43,000 jobs.
IIT Guwahati Develops Two-Stage Microalgae Process to Boost CO2 Capture and Bioenergy
Key Updates:
- Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati have developed a two-stage microalgae cultivation process that enhances CO2 capture, biomass production, and bioenergy generation.
- The first stage grows microalgae under 15% CO2 for rapid growth, while the second stage reduces CO2 to 5% and adds calcium and phosphorus to stabilise pH and promote self-flocculation.
- The process achieved 25.7% higher biomass production, 35.4% higher CO2 fixation, 1.86 times higher lipid productivity, and a 37.65% improvement in total intracellular bioenergy efficiency.
- The addition of calcium enabled auto-sedimentation of microalgal biomass, increasing biomass recovery efficiency to 98.46%.
- The biodiesel derived from the microalgae complies with biodiesel standards in India, the United States, and Europe.
- The findings were published in the journal Renewable Energy.
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Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bhubaneswar have developed a portable, handheld device named ArsenSafe to detect arsenic contamination in drinking water. The device was developed by Nano Semic, a…
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Param Pragya, an AI-powered high-performance supercomputing facility, at the Sonipat campus of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi. Param Pragya is expected to…
Australian researcher Angelina Arora developed a sustainable alternative to single-use plastics using a combination of prawn shells and silk proteins. The production process involves isolating chitin from waste shells…
The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT Kanpur) will establish a Centre of Excellence (CoE) on green hydrogen under the Uttar Pradesh Green Hydrogen Policy 2024. The CoE, named 'Centre of Excellence on Innovative…
CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (CSIR-IICT) develops plant-based drug for diabetic foot ulcers
Key Updates:
- The CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (CSIR-IICT) has developed a phytopharmaceutical from the medicinal plant Gymnema sylvestre for treating diabetic foot ulcers.
- The therapy also shows potential for managing chronic wounds and inflammatory skin disorders.
- The research was supported under the CSIR Phytopharmaceutical Mission Phase III.
- The technology has secured patent protection in India and international jurisdictions.
- An Investigational New Drug (IND)-ready data package has been generated for the standardised botanical therapeutic.
- The technology has been transferred to Mumbai-based Viridis Biopharma Pvt. Ltd. for clinical development and regulatory approvals.
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The CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (CSIR-IICT) has developed India's first indigenous process technology for manufacturing hydrofluoroolefins (HFOs). CSIR-IICT developed a technology platform for the…
CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (CSIR-IICT) and Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) signed an MoU to jointly develop indigenous next-generation…
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Lipfendra (enlicitide), the first oral PCSK9 inhibitor, on July 16, 2026. Lipfendra is a once-daily tablet for adults with high LDL cholesterol, including familial…
Novo Nordisk launched Awiqli (generic name: insulin icodec) in India on July 9, 2026, as the world's first once-weekly basal insulin approved for clinical use. The therapy reduces the annual injection requirement for…
Indian Railways approves Kavach 4.0 for 660 route km in Izzatnagar Division
Key Updates:
- Indian Railways has approved the deployment of Kavach Version 4.0 across 660 route km in the Izzatnagar Division of North Eastern Railway.
- The project is sanctioned at an estimated cost of Rs 295 crore.
- Kavach is India's indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system designed to prevent Signal Passed at Danger (SPAD) incidents and train collisions.
- The system automatically applies brakes when required and supports train operations at the maximum permissible speed.
- Kavach also supports safer train operations during adverse weather conditions, including dense fog.
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The Ministry of Railways approved a ₹341 crore project to expand Kavach, an indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system designed to prevent train collisions and over-speeding. A sanctioned cost of ₹140…
Indian Railways approved a ₹206-crore project to install Kavach Version 4.0 on 680 route kilometres (RKm) in the Delhi Division of Northern Railway. The installation covers the Rewari-Delhi and Shakurbasti-Bathinda…
Indian Railways has approved a ₹163 crore project to upgrade the electric traction system on the Parbhani-Mudkhed double line section in the Nanded Division of South Central Railway. The project involves replacing the…
Indian Railways approved a Rs 976-crore multitracking project on the 29km Danapur–Fatuha section under East Central Railway (ECR). The project includes construction of third and fourth lines between Danapur and Patna, a…
Digital India BHASHINI Division (DIBD) and NITI Aayog sign pact to advance multilingual AI for governance
Key Updates:
- The Digital India BHASHINI Division (DIBD) under the Digital India Corporation and NITI Aayog signed a statement of intent (SoI) to collaborate on multilingual, voice-first AI solutions.
- The collaboration aims to integrate AI-powered language technologies across NITI Aayog's digital platforms and services under the BHASHINI for Seva/Sanchalan initiative.
- The partnership will enable multilingual access to NITI Aayog services through BHASHINI's language translation APIs and reference applications.
- The collaboration includes efforts under BHASHINI Udyat, BHASHINI Mitra, BHASHINI AppMitra, BHASHINI Sahayogi, and BHASHINI Pravakta.
- Through BHASHINI Sahayogi, the partnership will leverage BhashaDaan for collection, curation, and dissemination of linguistic data, with contributions of text, audio, and video samples from officials and citizens.
- The collaboration builds on NITI TARA (Toolkit for Analysis, Review and Action), which has conducted over 200 capacity-building sessions and empowered more than 4,000 district and block officials.
- The System for Meeting Recording, Information and Transcription Interface (SMRITI), developed with BHASHINI, automates meeting minutes and enables multilingual translation.
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The Digital India BHASHINI Division (DIBD) and the Government e Marketplace (GeM) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) under the “BHASHINI for Seva/Sanchalan – A BHASHINI Sahayogi Program”. The initiative…
The Digital India BHASHINI Division (DIBD) and the Assam Innovation & Startup Foundation (AISF) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote language technology and multilingual artificial intelligence (AI)…
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) and the Digital India BHASHINI Division (DIBD) have signed an MoU to strengthen multilingual digital access across India's investment and business…
Anurag Jain, a 1989-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Madhya Pradesh cadre, was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NITI Aayog. He was serving as the Chief Secretary of Madhya Pradesh…
Central Zoo Authority Approves Asia’s First Desert-Themed Night Safari at Gujarat’s Deesa
Key Updates:
- The Central Zoo Authority (CZA) approved the proposal for the Desert Zoological Park and Night Safari at Deesa in Gujarat’s Banaskantha district.
- The project will be developed by the Gujarat Forest Department on 103 hectares of government land at an estimated cost of ₹542.14 crore.
- The CZA approved the proposal to develop Asia’s first desert-themed drive-through night safari.
- The park is planned to house about 2,700 native and exotic animals and birds representing nearly 83 species.
- The facility will include a day zoo and five dedicated night safari enclosures for viewing nocturnal animals after sunset.
- The project will focus on conservation breeding, wildlife rescue and rehabilitation, environmental education and scientific interpretation.
- Indian species planned for the facility include chinkara, blackbuck, Indian wild ass, Asiatic lion, leopard, sloth bear, caracal, Indian wolf, striped hyena and Indian desert fox.
- African species planned include Angolan giraffe, Grevy’s zebra, scimitar oryx, black rhinoceros, chimpanzee, African cheetah, African lion, fennec fox and ostrich.
- Australian species planned for the park include kangaroos, emus and wallabies.
- The site was selected due to its 103 hectares of land, natural sand dunes, proximity to the Banas river and road and railway connectivity.
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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 Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) issued the seventh draft notification declaring 56,825.7 sq km of the Western Ghats as an Eco-Sensitive Area (ESA). The proposed ESA covers 449 sq km in…
The Gujarat government implemented the Nal Se Jal mission to provide clean drinking water to remote villages in the Dang district. The state's efforts are aligned with the Central Government's Har Ghar Jal initiative.
The Centre has earmarked ₹28,840 crore over the next 10 years for the modified Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik (UDAN) scheme to expand regional aviation. The UDAN scheme envisages the development of 100 aerodromes from existing…
IBM, MIT-Bengaluru and Christ University Partner to Establish AI Centres in India
Key Updates:
- IBM partnered with Manipal Institute of Technology (MIT) Bengaluru and CHRIST (Deemed to be University) to establish AI-focused centres in India.
- The IBM–MIT AI Lab at MIT Bengaluru houses a High-Performance Computing (HPC) facility powered by advanced GPU-enabled infrastructure capable of supporting 30 high-performance computing workloads simultaneously.
- The lab supports research in machine learning, deep learning, generative AI, computer vision, natural language processing, cybersecurity, healthcare, intelligent systems, and data analytics.
- Through IBM SkillsBuild, MIT Bengaluru will establish an AI Learning Initiative offering awareness workshops, bootcamps, hands-on training, and digital credentials.
- CHRIST (Deemed to be University) and IBM established the IBM Innovation Center for Artificial Intelligence, providing access to watsonx.ai, watsonx Orchestrate, and IBM Bob for building enterprise AI applications.
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Chandigarh University (CU) has established the 'IndiaAI Data Lab' in collaboration with Intel India, becoming the first private university in India to do so. The lab is located at the University Institute of Computing…
Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar announced the establishment of India's first government-driven Artificial Intelligence (AI) University at the Google I/O Connect India 2026 event in Bengaluru. The state will also…
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 Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) of NITI Aayog, in partnership with the Software Technology Parks of India (STPI), hosted the GCC Conclave on Innovation 2026 in Bengaluru. The event focused on connecting Global…
Skyroot Aerospace Signs Multi-Launch Agreement with HEX20 for Vikram Missions
Key Updates:
- Skyroot Aerospace signed a multi-launch agreement (MLA) with space technology company HEX20 for launches aboard the Vikram series of launch vehicles.
- Under the agreement, HEX20 has booked three dedicated launches with Skyroot, beginning in the last quarter of 2027.
- The missions will support HEX20's Earth-observation constellation and in-orbit payload demonstration missions, while also opening rideshare opportunities for third-party spacecraft.
- Skyroot's Vikram-1 became India's first privately developed orbital-class rocket, reaching orbit on its first attempt last month.
- Skyroot is scaling up towards 12 launches a year, with the HEX20 agreement accounting for three of those slots.
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Skyroot Aerospace, a Hyderabad-based space technology startup, successfully launched Vikram-1, India's first privately developed orbital launch vehicle. The Vikram-1 launch took place on July 18 and marked a major…
Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace announced a launch window between July 12 and August 4 for the maiden test flight of Vikram-1, India's first privately developed orbital-class rocket. The mission, named Agaman, will be…
Vietnamese aerospace company VinSpace has signed a contract with SpaceX to launch its first satellites on a Transporter rideshare mission in 2027. The satellites will test VinSpace's technology in orbit and support…
Hyderabad-based startup Skyroot Aerospace launched India’s first privately-built orbital rocket, Vikram-1, under Mission Aagaman from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. The multi-stage Vikram-1 rocket…
Independence Day 2026: 80th Anniversary on August 15, Theme 'Yuva Shakti for Viksit Bharat@2047'
Key Updates:
- India will celebrate its 80th Independence Day on August 15, 2026.
- The theme for Independence Day 2026 is 'Yuva Shakti for Viksit Bharat@2047'.
- The year 2026 also marks 150 years of Vande Mataram.
- India gained independence from British colonial rule on August 15, 1947.
- The official celebrations include a Guard of Honour, unfurling of the tricolour, and a 21-gun salute at the Red Fort.
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International Youth Day is observed annually on August 12. The theme for International Youth Day 2026 is 'Different Contexts, Common Aspirations'.
National Handloom Day is celebrated annually on August 7 in India. The day commemorates the launch of the Swadeshi Movement on August 7, 1905.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul proclaimed August 15, 2026 as 'India Independence Day' across the state of New York. New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill designated August 15, 2026 as 'Indian Independence Day' in New…
Olympic Day commemorates the founding of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) by Pierre de Coubertin at the Sorbonne in Paris on 23 June 1894. The first Olympic Day was celebrated on 23 June 1948, following a…
World Organ Donation Day 2026 observed on August 13
Key Updates:
- World Organ Donation Day is observed annually on August 13.
- The day aims to raise awareness about organ donation and encourage people to pledge their organs after death.
- A single organ donor can potentially save multiple lives through organ and tissue donation.
- Organs that can be donated include the heart, kidneys, liver, lungs, pancreas, and intestines.
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Indian Organ Donation Day 2026 is observed on August 3, 2026. The day commemorates India's first successful deceased-donor heart transplant performed on August 3, 1994.
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…
India has surpassed 5 lakh organ donation pledges to promote voluntary organ and tissue donation and strengthen the transplantation ecosystem. The National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO) is the body…
World Wide Web Day is observed annually on August 1. The theme for World Wide Web Day 2026 is 'Energy-Aware Web and AI Systems for Sustainability'.
Key Updates:
- Former Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud has been appointed by Russia as an arbitrator in an international investment treaty dispute filed by Ukraine's state-owned Oschadbank.
- The arbitration has been initiated under the 1998 Russia-Ukraine bilateral investment treaty.
- The dispute relates to Oschadbank's assets and business operations in Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, which the bank claims it lost following Russia's military actions.
- The three-member tribunal will be headed by Costa Rican arbitrator and former trade minister Dyalá Jiménez, who was jointly selected by both sides.
- The third member is Greek arbitrator and National University of Singapore professor Stavros Brekoulakis, appointed by Oschadbank.
- Justice Chandrachud's appointment does not mean he is representing Russia as a lawyer; as a party-appointed arbitrator, he will exercise independent judgment.
- He had previously declined approaches from Russia to serve as arbitrator in separate disputes involving Wintershall Dea and Ukrenergo.
- This is a separate proceeding from Oschadbank's earlier arbitration over Crimea annexation, where a tribunal awarded the bank approximately $1.1 billion.
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Serhii Koretskyi was approved as the Prime Minister of Ukraine by the country's Parliament. He was previously the head of the state energy company Naftogaz.
D.Y. Patil, educationist and former Governor of Bihar, Tripura and West Bengal, died at the age of 90. He passed away at his residence in Kolhapur.
Russia charged Telegram founder Pavel Durov with aiding terrorism and placed him on an international wanted list. The Federal Security Service (FSS) alleged that Telegram's administration failed to remove channels and…
The United Nations (UN) has added Israeli and Russian security forces to its blacklist of parties suspected of committing patterns of sexual violence in armed conflict. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issued the…
Key Updates:
- Former Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji died of illness at the age of 97 in Beijing on August 12, 2026.
- He served as China's premier from 1998 to 2003.
- He is credited with leading China into the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2001.
- He implemented economic reforms that helped China become the world's second-largest economy.
- He was known for his demanding style and nicknames "Boss" and "Madman Zhu".
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Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the former Emir of Qatar known as the Father Emir, passed away at the age of 74 on 12 July 2026. He served as the ruler of Qatar from 1995 to 2013 and was the father of the current…
D.Y. Patil, educationist and former Governor of Bihar, Tripura and West Bengal, died at the age of 90. He passed away at his residence in Kolhapur.
Hira Singh Bisht, former Uttarakhand minister and senior Congress leader, passed away at the age of 85 due to cardiac arrest. He died on July 26, 2026, in Dehradun.
Major General (Retd) Bhuvan Chandra Khanduri passed away on Tuesday at Max Super Speciality Hospital in Dehradun. He was a senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Key Updates:
- On 11 August 2026, Andras Baka was elected president of Hungary by the National Assembly with 140 votes.
- Baka had served as chief of the Supreme Court before being removed from office by the Fidesz government in 2011 when the Supreme Court was abolished.
- Former President Tamas Sulyok signed a constitutional amendment ending his term in July following pressure from Prime Minister Peter Magyar and parliament.
- Prime Minister Peter Magyar's Tisza Party holds a two-thirds parliamentary majority and had pledged to replace Sulyok and introduce direct presidential elections.
- After his election victory, Magyar repeatedly called on Sulyok and several other senior officials associated with the previous administration to resign.
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President Draupadi Murmu approved the Union Cabinet's decision to increase the strength of the Supreme Court of India (SC) from 34 to 38 judges, including the Chief Justice of India (CJI). The increase was effected by…
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…
The Supreme Court of India directed the Centre to set up a panel for uniform post-retirement benefits for former high court judges. The panel is to be constituted within two weeks and must submit its report within three…
The Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023 was passed by Parliament in December 2023 and received the President's assent on December…
Hall of Fame Coach and Five-Time NBA Champion Don Nelson Passed Away
Key Updates:
- Don Nelson died at the age of 86, surrounded by family.
- He won five NBA championships as a player with the Boston Celtics.
- He was a three-time NBA Coach of the Year.
- He retired as the winningest regular-season coach in NBA history with 1,335 victories.
- He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012.
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Raja Randhir Singh, a five-time Olympian and Arjuna Awardee shooter, passed away at the age of 80 in New Delhi on May 27, 2026. He was the first Indian shooter to win a gold medal at the Asian Games in the trap event.
Sourav Ganguly, Anjum Chopra, and Kevin Pietersen were inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame at a ceremony in Edinburgh. Anjum Chopra became the first Indian woman cricketer to reach 1,000 runs and play 100 matches in ODIs.
Former Indian shot putter Balwinder Singh Dhaliwal passed away at the age of 67 in Chandigarh after battling lung cancer. He was a 10-time national champion in shot put between 1981 and 1992 and set an Asian record of…
Sourav Ganguly is set to be inducted into the International Cricket Council (ICC) Hall of Fame, becoming the 12th Indian and the 10th Indian men’s cricketer to receive the honour. The formal announcement from the ICC…
