Ministry of Mines organises roadshow for 8th tranche of critical and strategic mineral block auctions in Patna
Key Updates:
- The Ministry of Mines organised a roadshow for the 8th tranche of critical and strategic mineral block auctions in Patna, Bihar, on August 17, 2026.
- The 8th tranche includes 20 mineral blocks, comprising 3 Mining Lease and 17 Composite Licence blocks.
- The blocks offer minerals including Graphite, Rare Earth Elements (REE), Rare Metals, Vanadium, Gallium, Titanium, Molybdenum, Tungsten, Potash, phosphorite, and Glauconite.
- The roadshow was chaired by Union Minister of State for Coal and Mines Satish Chandra Dubey, with Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary and State Mines Minister Pramod Kumar present.
- The event also featured a workshop on the National Mineral Exploration and Development Trust (NMEDT) scheme for partial reimbursement of exploration expenses.
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The Ministry of Mines has notified rules to allow trading of major minerals on an exchange, expected to become functional by the next financial year. The Indian Bureau of Mines has been appointed as the nodal agency and…
The Coal Ministry auctioned six coal blocks under the 15th round and the second attempt of the 13th round of commercial coal mine auctions. Forward auctions for these blocks were conducted from August 3-4, 2026.
The Government of India launched the eighth tranche of critical mineral auctions, offering 20 blocks. Of the 20 blocks, 13 were newly identified and seven were unsold from previous rounds.
NLC India Ltd (NLCIL) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the CSIR-Central Electrochemical Research Institute (CSIR-CECRI), Karaikudi, to collaborate on critical and strategic mineral beneficiation and…
Department of Financial Services (DFS) Organizes Two-Day PSB Confluence 2026
Key Updates:
- The Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance, organized the two-day PSB Confluence 2026 for senior leadership of public sector banks (PSBs) and public financial institutions (PFIs).
- Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman addressed the Confluence and highlighted seven themes for advancing the banking sector, financial inclusion, and credit.
- Sitharaman announced that a High-powered Committee on Banking Reforms for Viksit Bharat will be announced soon, with Confluence conclusions to feed into it.
- She stated that historically low NPA levels place the banking sector in a position of strength for the next phase of reforms.
- On Banking for Youth, she said 29% of India's population is aged 15–29 and noted Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat) has over 2.60 crore registered users.
- Day 1 focused on four themes: deposit mobilisation, banking for youth, supporting the investment cycle, and global capability centres (GCCs).
- Day 2 will cover agriculture and horticulture value chain infrastructure, priority sector lending, and reimagining the credit card business.
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Punjab & Sind Bank (PSB) launched the Navjyoti mobile application for human resources, Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) services, and a Digital Gold Loan facility on its 119th Foundation Day. PSB introduced the PSB…
India is hosting the 68th Governing Body meeting of the Asian Productivity Organization (APO) from 20 to 22 May 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. The meeting involves more than 60 senior delegates representing 20 APO…
India hosted the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi on May 26, bringing together top diplomats from Australia, Japan and the United States. The meeting was held at the invitation of External Affairs Minister S.…
The Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance, launched India's first sovereign-backed Protection & Indemnity (P&I) insurance product under the Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool (BMIP). The P&I insurance…
National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) launches RSVC-AMRIT platform for rural innovation
Key Updates:
- The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) launched the RSVC-AMRIT platform on August 15, 2025, in collaboration with the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (OPSA).
- The platform serves as a digital ecosystem supporting the complete RSVC lifecycle, including technology discovery, validation, deployment tracking, collaboration, monitoring, and knowledge management.
- AMRIT aims to connect innovators, technology providers, startups, validators, accelerators, implementation partners, funding agencies, academic institutions, and rural communities on a shared platform.
- NABARD currently supports 8 RSVCs across the country and plans to expand through a scheme involving corporates via CSR initiatives, with NABFOUNDATION as the implementation partner.
- The initiative builds on a tripartite MoU between NABARD, OPSA, and NABFOUNDATION, and the establishment of a Centre of Excellence on RSVCs at NABARD's head office in Mumbai.
- The platform is expected to evolve into a national repository of rural innovations, technologies, best practices, and collaboration opportunities, supporting the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
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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…
The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) launched Gramodyam, an entrepreneurship development programme, on its 45th Foundation Day. The initiative was launched by Shaji KV, Chairman of NABARD.
The Department of Land Resources (DoLR) under the Ministry of Rural Development and the RBI Innovation Hub (RBIH) held a high-level meeting to integrate digital land governance with the Unified Lending Interface (ULI)…
The National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange (NCDEX) has launched NCDEX Nidhi, a mutual fund transaction platform aimed at expanding rural penetration. The platform features an API-first architecture, enabling…
India and Thailand begin 15th edition of Exercise Maitree on August 18 in Surat Thani
Key Updates:
- The 15th edition of the India-Thailand joint military exercise 'Maitree' is scheduled to be held from August 18 to 31, 2026.
- Exercise Maitree will be conducted at Vibhavadi Rangsit Camp, Surat Thani, Thailand.
- The exercise aims to enhance combined capabilities in executing joint counter-insurgency and counter-terrorist operations in jungle and semi-urban environments under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter.
- The Indian Army and Royal Thai Army contingents each comprise 85 personnel.
- The Indian Army contingent is represented primarily by troops from 9 Gorkha Rifles.
- The Royal Thai Army contingent comprises personnel from the 3rd Battalion, 25th Infantry Brigade, 5th Division.
- Training will include field exercises, combat discussions, lectures, demonstrations, and a culminating validation exercise.
- Exercise Maitree was instituted in 2006, and its previous edition was held at Foreign Training Node, Umroi, Meghalaya, in September 2025.
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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…
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…
The self-enumeration exercise of India's 16th Census (Census 2027) kicked off in West Bengal on August 1, 2026. West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari marked the launch by digitally filling his own self-enumeration…
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…
India to Host 12th BRICS Environment Ministers Meeting in New Delhi on August 18
Key Updates:
- India will host the 12th BRICS Environment Ministers Meeting in New Delhi on August 18, 2026.
- The meeting will be preceded by the BRICS Senior Officers' Meeting of the Environment Working Group and Contact Group on Climate Change and Sustainable Development on August 17.
- The overarching theme is 'Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability' under India's BRICS Chairship 2026.
- The meeting will be presided over by Union Minister Bhupender Yadav.
- India has identified four priority areas: sustainable lifestyles, afforestation and disaster resilience, circular economy, and climate adaptation.
- The BRICS Environment Working Group was established in 2015 during the first BRICS Environment Ministers' Meeting in Moscow.
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India will host the BRICS Summit in New Delhi from September 17 to 19, 2026. Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to attend the summit as a special guest.
India will host the BRICS National Security Advisers' (NSA) Meeting on June 22 and 23, with National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval chairing the deliberations. The meeting will focus on the theme Non-traditional…
India will host the second meeting of the BRICS Culture Working Group (CWG) in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, on June 4-5, 2026. The meeting is conducted under India's 2026 BRICS theme, Building for Resilience, Innovation…
Russian President Vladimir Putin will attend the Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS) summit in New Delhi on 12 and 13 September. India, as the chair of the BRICS, will host the annual summit of the…
India Navy to Lease Two MQ-9B Sea Guardian Drones
Key Updates:
- The Ministry of Defence signed a Rs 1,943-crore contract with American defence major General Atomics to lease two MQ-9B Sea Guardian High-Altitude Long-Endurance (HALE) Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) for the Indian Navy.
- The lease contract is for a period of 30 months.
- The new MQ-9B Sea Guardian drones will enhance the Indian Navy's Maritime Domain Awareness capabilities, providing persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance coverage over the Indian Ocean Region.
- The Indian Navy currently operates two MQ9A drones on lease since 2020; with the two new additions, its HALE RPAS inventory will increase to four units.
- The two newly leased drones will have almost the same configuration as the 31 MQ-9B HALE systems procured under a $3.5 billion deal with the United States in 2024.
- Under the 2024 procurement, a global MRO facility will be set up in India by General Atomics to assemble some MQ-9Bs in India, with a percentage of components sourced indigenously.
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Another MH-60R Seahawk maritime helicopter was delivered to the Indian Navy at Kochi. Two more MH-60R helicopters are scheduled to arrive soon.
The Indian Navy (IN) retired the Sea King Mk 42B helicopter fleet and decommissioned the Indian Naval Air Squadron 330 (INAS 330), known as the "Harpoons". The Sea King Mk 42B, nicknamed "Flying Frigates", completed its…
The Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed contracts worth approximately Rs 1,577 crore with Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) and NIBE Private Limited for loitering munition systems, munitions, and accessories for…
The United States (US) conducted the first Indo-Pacific trial of Magura-class uncrewed surface vehicles (USVs), developed in Ukraine, during an exercise in the Philippines. Taiwan is developing the Kaui-Chi attack USV…
210 Indian Peacekeepers Awarded UN Medal for Exceptional Service in South Sudan
Key Updates:
- On August 17, 2026, 210 Indian peacekeepers deployed with the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) were awarded the UN Medal for exceptional service in Juba.
- The awarded contingent included 6 women and 7 Staff Officers.
- India is the second-largest contributor of uniformed personnel to UN Peacekeeping, with more than 4,200 military and police personnel, including 155 women, deployed across multiple UN peace operations.
- As of April 2026, India was the top troop contributor to UNMISS, with 1,775 Indian military personnel deployed with the mission.
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The International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers is observed annually on May 29. The theme for the 2025 International Day of UN Peacekeepers is 'Invest in Peace'.
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) unanimously adopted Resolution 2823 (2026) to facilitate the investigation and prosecution of perpetrators of crimes against United Nations (UN) peacekeepers. The text of the…
Lieutenant Vishal Kumar won the Sword of Honour and the President’s Gold Medal at the Indian Military Academy (IMA) passing out parade. The event took place in Dehradun.
Major Abhilasha Barak, an Indian peacekeeper serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), has been named the recipient of the 2025 United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award. She is…
Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh Flags Off NCC's All India Girls High Altitude Long Trek 'Aparajita - Parang La 2026'
Key Updates:
- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh flagged off the NCC's All India Girls High Altitude Long Trek 'Aparajita - Parang La 2026' on August 18, 2026, at Kartavya Bhawan, New Delhi.
- The expedition comprises 28 NCC girl cadets led by three women military officers representing the three services.
- The team will trek nearly 250 km over 30 days through the Parang La Pass (5,578 m), connecting Himachal Pradesh's Spiti Valley with the Changthang region of Ladakh.
- The route traverses high-altitude deserts, glaciers, snowfields and river valleys, covering locations including Kibber, Dumla, Thaltak, Bongrojen, Parang La Pass, Dak Karzong, Norbu Sumdo, Kiangdom and Korzok.
- The average age of participating cadets is 19 years, with the youngest being 16-and-a-half years old.
- The expedition is conducted in two phases, with a preparatory and acclimatisation trek in the Bhaba-Pin Valley sector preceding the final selection.
- The trek aims to promote 'Nari Shakti', leadership qualities, self-confidence, teamwork, endurance and national integration among girl cadets.
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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced two policy reforms for the Indian Coast Guard on July 28, 2026. The first reform introduces a gender-neutral framework for officer induction and career progression, allowing women…
China's Long March 7A rocket exploded seconds after liftoff from the Wenchang space launch site in Hainan. The rocket was carrying the ChinaSat-4B (Zhongxing-4B) satellite on the mission.
The Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Padak was awarded to 12 rat miners for their exceptional courage and selfless service during the 2023 Silkyara tunnel rescue operation. Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari…
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…
India Hosts 7th BRICS ICT Working Group Meeting in Pune on August 18, 2026
Key Updates:
- India hosted the 7th meeting of the BRICS Working Group for Cooperation in ICTs in Pune on August 18, 2026, under India's BRICS Chairship.
- The in-person meetings of the BRICS Track on Cooperation in Information and Communication Technologies opened with this session.
- Shri Amit Agrawal, Secretary, Department of Telecommunications, inaugurated the meeting and outlined the ICT Track theme 'Innovate, Cooperate and Transform (ICT) for a Resilient Future'.
- The Council of the BRICS Institute of Future Networks reviewed activities of designated national branches and updates from Study Groups on artificial intelligence, next generation communications, Industry 4.0 internet applications, and electromagnetic field exposure.
- The Working Group discussed the Chairship's Issues Note priorities, pillar-wise discussion questions, member-country responses to the Survey Questionnaire, and submitted concept notes.
- The meetings were scheduled to continue with the Focus Group on Digital Public Infrastructure and the Digital BRICS Task Force.
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India chaired the inaugural Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) 2026 Tourism Working Group (TWG) meeting in virtual mode. The meeting was chaired by the Joint Secretary (Tourism) in the Ministry of…
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…
India will host the second meeting of the BRICS Culture Working Group (CWG) in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, on June 4-5, 2026. The meeting is conducted under India's 2026 BRICS theme, Building for Resilience, Innovation…
India will host the BRICS National Security Advisers' (NSA) Meeting on June 22 and 23, with National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval chairing the deliberations. The meeting will focus on the theme Non-traditional…
India and Armenia Sign MoU on Defence Research and Production on August 17, 2026
Key Updates:
- India and Armenia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on August 17, 2026, in Yerevan to enhance cooperation in defence research, development, innovation and shared production.
- The MoU was signed during a meeting between India's Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and Armenia's Minister of High Tech Industry Davit Tadevosyan.
- Defence Secretary Singh also met Armenian Defence Minister Suren Papikyan in Yerevan on August 17, 2026, to explore avenues for strengthening bilateral defence cooperation.
- India's Ambassador to Armenia Nilakshi Saha Sinha attended the meeting with the Armenian Defence Minister.
- Singh met Chief of General Staff of Armenia Lieutenant General Edvard Asryan, and both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen the India-Armenia defence partnership with focus on defence industrial cooperation and research and development.
- Earlier in 2026, Lieutenant General Edvard Asryan had visited New Delhi and met Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal A P Singh to discuss bilateral defence cooperation.
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The second Joint Defence Cooperation Committee (JDCC) meeting between India and Rwanda was held in New Delhi on July 6-7, 2026. The two nations decided to expand their partnership in the areas of military training…
India and the Republic of Korea (ROK) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 20 May 2026 to enhance cooperation in defence, cyber, and defence information. The agreement was signed in Seoul by Union Defence…
India, Australia, and Canada signed the Australia–Canada–India Technology and Innovation (ACITI) Partnership Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on green energy innovation, resilient supply chains, critical…
Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Esri India Technologies Private Limited signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Location Intelligence, and GeoAI solutions…
India Signs Rs 1,577 Crore Loiter Munition System Contracts with TASL and NIBE on August 14, 2026
Key Updates:
- The Indian Ministry of Defence signed contracts worth approximately Rs 1,577 crore with Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) and NIBE Private Limited for Loiter Munition Systems.
- The contracts, signed in New Delhi on August 14, 2026, also cover munitions and accessories for the Indian Army.
- The Loiter Munition System aims to enhance the operational effectiveness of the Indian Army's Artillery Regiments.
- The procurement falls under the Buy (Indian) category through the Fast Track Procedure (FTP).
- The acquisition supports the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative by boosting indigenous defence manufacturing.
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The Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed contracts worth approximately Rs 1,577 crore with Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) and NIBE Private Limited for loitering munition systems, munitions, and accessories for…
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed a ₹449-crore contract for the procurement of 20 Enhanced Capability Global Navigation Satellite System (ECGNSS) Jammers for the Indian Navy. The contract was signed with…
The Tamil Nadu government signed 97 memoranda of understanding (MoUs) involving over ₹67,452 crore investment at the Vettri Tamil Nadu Investment Conclave 2026. The MoUs were exchanged in the presence of Chief Minister…
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs approved projects worth Rs 2,719.80 crore for six urban development initiatives in Ahmedabad under the Urban Challenge Fund. The Urban Challenge Fund provides Rs 1 lakh crore in…
Meine Electric to Deploy Iron-Air Battery Pilot at NTPC Simhadri
Key Updates:
- Meine Electric will deploy its first pilot Iron-Air Battery system at NTPC Simhadri Thermal Power Station.
- The pilot project will be a 'multi hundred' kilowatt-hour battery storage system.
- The deployment is expected to be completed by early 2027.
- The project will be implemented alongside the Atal Incubation Centre – Anna University (AIC-AU).
- The study will assess technical performance, operational reliability, and characteristics under real-world conditions.
- Meine Electric claims to be the first company in APAC and third globally to develop Iron-Air Long-Duration Energy Storage (LDES) technology.
- Its proprietary Fast Charge Long Discharge (FCLD) technology enables a six-hour charge and 18-hour discharge.
- The technology has been independently validated by Customized Energy Solutions (CES).
- Meine Electric's iron-air battery technology is roughly 50% cheaper than traditional lithium-air batteries.
- About 70% of companies in conversation with Meine Electric are private utilities and Independent Power Producers (IPPs), with the rest being government firms.
- The firm plans to expand to a larger manufacturing facility with multi-hundred MWh/year capacity by end-2027.
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Tata Group's Agratas Energy Storage Solutions is developing its own lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery cell technology. A pilot production line for LFP cells is being set up at Agratas' upcoming battery manufacturing…
NTPC Renewable Energy Limited has awarded a contract to Delectrik Systems for India's first utility-scale Vanadium Redox Flow Battery (VRFB) project with a capacity of 100 MWh. The VRFB will be deployed at the Khavda…
The Varanasi Development Authority (VDA), in collaboration with GAIL (India) Limited, launched electric passenger boats under the Electric Boat Conversion Pilot Project. The first five converted electric boats were…
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has approved the establishment of a 250 MW Solar Power Project with Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at Sitapur Ex-Cantonment in Uttar Pradesh. The project will be established on…
China launches 24th batch of low-orbit internet satellites from Hainan aboard Long March-12
Key Updates:
- China launched the 24th batch of low-orbit internet satellites from a commercial spacecraft launch site in Hainan province.
- The batch was carried aboard a Long March-12 rocket that lifted off at 12:10 pm Beijing time.
- The rocket successfully placed the satellites into their designated orbits.
- The mission is part of China's ongoing effort to build large low-orbit satellite networks that provide internet connectivity from space.
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Chinese private company Orienspace successfully launched its Gravity-1 rocket from a sea-based platform in the East China Sea. The rocket placed nine satellites into their intended orbits.
The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) approved and signed an agreement with a private consortium for India's first fully commercial Earth observation satellite constellation. The…
China successfully launched the Shenzhou 23 spacecraft from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center (JSLC) in northwestern China on 24 May 2026. The mission crew comprises commander Zhu Yangzhu, Zhang Zhiyuan, and Lai…
SpaceX launched its 13th Starship test flight from Starbase, Texas, deploying 20 next-generation Starlink V3 satellites. The 407-foot (124-metre) Starship V3 rocket lifted off after replacing six engines that failed to…
Key Updates:
- The National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT) launched CYBER KUSHTI 2026, a national cybersecurity and artificial intelligence hackathon, on 15 August 2026.
- CYBER KUSHTI 2026 is the official parallel technical track of the 3rd National Conference on Cyber Security, Digital Forensics and Intelligence (NCCDFI 2026).
- The hackathon rewards participants for correctly rejecting false findings as well as identifying genuine security issues.
- The competition provides an identical imperfect Security Assessment Package to all teams, neutralizing the advantage of expensive security tooling.
- The hackathon consists of three rounds: The Akhada (online, 15 September 2026), The Dangal (online, 24 September 2026), and The Kesari (in person, 9 October 2026 at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi).
- Registration is free and open to students and independent researchers in teams of three, from 15 August to 10 September 2026.
- The Information Sharing and Analysis Center (ISAC) Foundation is the collaborating body, and CERT-In is the Knowledge Partner.
- The hackathon was launched by Prof. (Dr.) M. M. Tripathi, Director General of NIELIT.
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The National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT) and the Semiconductor Laboratory (SCL) launched an indigenous 1.2-micron Process Design Kit (PDK) on the eChipHub platform. The PDK is accessible…
The National Institute of Electronics & Information Technology (NIELIT) is establishing two Centres of Excellence for semiconductor skilling in Ahmedabad and Guwahati. The Centres will provide training in OSAT…
The first India-Israel Hackathon was organised on the theme 'Restorative Healthcare', focusing on practical and accessible solutions for rehabilitation and improved quality of life. A winning Israeli solution was a…
Bank of Maharashtra has launched FinSpark'26, a national-level cybersecurity hackathon with a prize pool exceeding ₹10 lakh. The top 20 teams will present their solutions at the Grand Finale at COEP Technological…
QpiAI Opens Quantum Chip Foundry in Bengaluru, Targets 10,000-Qubit Processors
Key Updates:
- QpiAI inaugurated the second phase of its quantum processing unit (QPU) manufacturing facility in Jakkur, Bengaluru.
- The eight-inch fabrication facility can currently produce flip-chip superconducting processors with up to 128 qubits.
- The company plans to complete a third phase in 2027 to fabricate processors with up to 10,000 physical qubits.
- The facility handles lithography, etching, patterning, assembly, and packaging for quantum processors.
- QpiAI has invested about $20 million to $25 million in the facility and plans another $10 million to $15 million.
- The facility includes Class 100 and Class 1,000 clean-room areas and is part of a 70,000-square-foot research and development center.
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The Amaravati Quantum Valley (AQV) successfully reached a temperature of 4 Kelvin (-269°C) using a dilution refrigerator at the Quantum Reference Facility in Medha Towers, Andhra Pradesh. The project was initiated…
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…
Punjab National Bank (PNB) and the Government of Andhra Pradesh signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish the PNB Quantum Finance Hub at Amaravati Quantum Valley (AQV). The hub is the first bank-led…
Paras Defence and Space Technologies Limited announced a Rs 6,200 crore ($644 million) investment for a semiconductor unit through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Paras Semiconductors. An MoU has been signed with the Madhya…
Researchers Name New Himalayan Plant Impatiens nimspurjai After Legendary Mountaineer Nirmal Purja
Key Updates:
- Researchers Bhakta Bahadur Raskoti and Rita Ale have named a newly discovered Himalayan plant Impatiens nimspurjai in honour of the legendary Nepali mountaineer Nirmal 'Nimsdai' Purja.
- The plant species was discovered in Nepal's Myagdi district, which is situated at an altitude of around 2,800–2,900 metres.
- Impatiens nimspurjai belongs to the plant genus Impatiens, known commonly in Nepal as tiuri.
- In 2019, Nirmal Purja climbed all 14 of the world's 8,000-metre-plus peaks in six months and six days.
- Purja was part of the historic all-Nepali team that made the first winter ascent of K2 in 2021.
- The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) recognised Purja as a Mountain Advocate.
- Through the Nimsdai Foundation, Purja championed the Big Mountain Cleanup initiative to remove abandoned expedition waste such as oxygen bottles, ropes and tents from high-altitude peaks.
- Nirmal Purja was among ten climbers who died in a Broad Peak avalanche.
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Nirmal Purja, a 43-year-old Nepalese mountaineer, died in an avalanche on Broad Peak in Pakistan. He was among 10 mountaineers from multiple nations killed in the avalanche.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh dedicated the first-of-its-kind CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute (CSIR-NBRI) 'Eco-Educational Hub' 'Prakriti Gyan Dham' to the nation at the Maharishi Parashar Bioresource Centre…
The rare Himalayan flowering plant Cyananthus hookeri has been rediscovered in the Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh. The plant belongs to the bellflower family (Campanulaceae) and was last documented in India in 1867…
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) signed a three-year MoU with the CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute (CSIR-NBRI) on July 30, 2025, to advance tribal welfare and conserve tribal bioresources. The partnership…
India Launches First Guide to Grasslands and Other Open Natural Ecosystems at UNCCD COP17
Key Updates:
- India launched its first-ever Guide to Grasslands and Other Open Natural Ecosystems (ONEs) at the 17th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
- The ONEs of India include Himalayan and Terai grasslands, Thar and Banni landscapes, Deccan savannas, rocky plateaus, ravines, scrublands, coastal ecosystems, and desert environments.
- The guide compiles comprehensive information on major ONEs, detailing their geographical settings, ecological characteristics, biodiversity, and associated communities and tribes.
- Union Minister Bhupender Yadav stated that grasslands, scrublands, and ravines have been undervalued due to the absence of trees, despite hosting unique species and supporting pastoral communities.
- Experts emphasized the importance of grassland restoration in meeting India's Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) targets and called for stronger scientific knowledge and landscape-level planning.
- Grassland ecosystems store substantial carbon in soils, support diverse biodiversity, and sustain pastoral, livestock-based, and agricultural livelihoods.
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The Gujarat Forest Department, with technical support from the Greens Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre (GZRRC), Vantara, released 20 blackbucks (five males and 15 females) into the Banni Grasslands on India’s…
The National Stock Exchange (NSE) launched India's first exchange-traded energy derivative linked to a domestic benchmark on July 27, 2026. The contracts trade under the symbol NATGASIND and are cash-settled.
The National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) launched India's first accreditation scheme for mobile food testing laboratories. The scheme was introduced under the Integrated Assessment…
Shyam Srinivasan, the former Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Federal Bank, has released his debut book titled Better Never Stops. The book was officially announced and made available for…
Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS)-National Institute of Indian Medical Heritage (NIIMH) signs MoU with Sevadhi Museum & Indological Research Institute (SEMIRI) for digitization of medical manuscripts
Key Updates:
- The National Institute of Indian Medical Heritage (NIIMH), Hyderabad, under the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), Ministry of Ayush, signed an MoU with Sevadhi Museum & Indological Research Institute (SEMIRI), Kumaranalloor, Kottayam, Kerala.
- SEMIRI, run by the Kumaranalloor Ooranma Devaswom, has preserved more than 30,000 manuscripts, including temple records.
- The collaboration will support systematic digitization and preparation of a descriptive catalogue of SEMIRI's medical manuscript collection.
- CCRAS-NIIMH will provide technical and scholarly expertise for digitization and catalogue preparation under the MoU.
- The descriptive catalogue will document bibliographic details such as title, author, subject, script, language, material, physical dimensions, folio details, condition, and provenance as per the Ayush Manuscripts Advanced Repository format.
- Digitization will create high-quality digital copies to aid long-term preservation and reduce repeated physical handling of fragile manuscripts.
- The initiative is significant in the context of the Gyan Bharatam Mission and the government's broader efforts to preserve and disseminate India's manuscript heritage.
- A specialized expert team from CCRAS-NIIMH has initiated on-site digitization under the Collection, Digitization and Cataloguing of AYUSH Manuscripts and Rare Books project.
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The Department of Heritage signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Noor International Microfilm Centre (NIMC) on 15 June 2026. The NIMC operates under the Iran Cultural House, which is under the Embassy of…
The Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks (CGPDTM) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the CSIR-National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research (CSIR-NIScPR) to join the…
The National Research Development Corporation (NRDC) and the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) covering innovation, intellectual property management…
The Jharkhand government signed an MoU between the Jharkhand Film Development Corporation Limited (JFDCL) and the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI) to establish the Jharkhand Film and Television…
SpaceX launches two Falcon 9 rockets 38 minutes apart, setting new record
Key Updates:
- SpaceX launched two Falcon 9 rockets within 38 minutes on August 15, 2026, setting a new company record for the shortest gap between orbital launches.
- The first Falcon 9 lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, carrying eight satellites for Globalstar.
- The second Falcon 9 launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California for the US Space Force mission USSF-366.
- The USSF-366 mission is believed to involve a classified national security payload, possibly based on SpaceX's Starshield platform.
- Both missions achieved successful booster recoveries, with the Florida booster completing its 14th flight and the California booster its 18th mission.
- SpaceX's previous record was set in August 2024, when two Falcon 9 rockets launched 65 minutes apart.
- SpaceX has completed 96 Falcon 9 missions in 2026, with nearly three-quarters supporting the Starlink constellation expansion.
- The Starlink constellation now consists of almost 11,000 satellites orbiting Earth.
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A SpaceX Falcon 9 upper-stage rocket crashed into the Moon, creating a new crater near the Einstein crater. The impact occurred at about 07:35 BST (06:35 GMT) on Wednesday at roughly 5,400 mph (8,700 km/h).
HEX20, a Thiruvananthapuram-based satellite manufacturing firm, successfully launched its second spacecraft KOYO aboard SpaceX's Transporter-17 mission. The spacecraft KOYO (Kinetic Optical Yaw Observer) was developed…
The Shenzhou 21 crew, consisting of Zhang Lu, Wu Fei, and Zhang Hongzhang, set a record for the longest on-orbit stay by a Chinese crew after spending nearly seven months in space. The spacecraft landed at the Dongfeng…
Space Exploration Technologies Corp (SpaceX) has become the 5th largest company globally by market value, surpassing Amazon. As of 16 June 2026, the top five companies by market capitalisation are Nvidia ($5.09…
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports announces National Sports Awards 2025 winners
Key Updates:
- The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports announced the winners of the National Sports Awards 2025 on Tuesday.
- Tejaswin Shankar, who won India's first-ever Commonwealth Games medal in the decathlon, was awarded the Arjuna Award 2025 for outstanding performance over four years.
- The Arjuna Award 2025 was also conferred on Muhammed Ajmal V, Priyanka Goswami, Treesa Jolly, Pullela Gayatri Gopichand, Narender, Vidit Santosh Gujarathi, Divya Jitendra Deshmukh, Dhanush Srikanth, Lalremsiami, Rajkumar Pal, Surjeet, Pooja, Rudransh Khandelwal, Ekta Bhyan, Arvind Singh and Akhil Sheoran.
- I. Arumainayagam received the Arjuna Award in the Lifetime category for football.
- Parveer Singh, Chhote Lala Yadav and Neha Nandkumar Chavan received the Dronacharya Award in the regular category.
- Dharmendra Singh Yadav and Virender Kumar received the Dronacharya Award in the Lifetime category for boxing and wrestling respectively.
- Army Paralympic Node, Pune received the Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar 2025 for sports promotion and development.
- No winner was named for the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award for 2025.
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The 72nd National Film Awards were announced on July 18, 2026 in New Delhi. The Best Feature Film award was given to 'Article 370'.
The World Health Organization (WHO) confers annual awards to individuals and organisations across six regions for outstanding contributions to tobacco control. The WHO Director-General Special award was granted to Dr…
The Jury committee has selected 10 Lok Sabha (LS) MPs, 2 Rajya Sabha (RS) MPs, and 4 Parliamentary Standing Committees for the Sansad Ratna Awards 2026. Individual awardees include Jagdambika Pal, P.P. Chaudhary…
The Personnel Ministry announced the selection of 17 projects and initiatives for the 29th National Awards for e-Governance (NAeG) 2026 across seven categories. The awards ceremony will be held during the 29th National…
Magnus Carlsen wins Esports World Cup Chess Title 2026 for Second Consecutive Year
Key Updates:
- Magnus Carlsen of Team Liquid won the Chess Esports World Cup title at the Esports World Cup 2026, defeating Denis Lazavik of AG.AL in two straight sets in the grand final.
- Carlsen secured the title without losing a single game in the tournament and claimed his second consecutive Esports World Cup trophy.
- Denis Lazavik drew four games in the final but did not win any game against Carlsen.
- Carlsen defeated Alireza Firouzja in the semi-finals, while Lazavik beat Hikaru Nakamura to reach the final.
- Hikaru Nakamura defeated Alireza Firouzja 3-1 in the third-place playoff.
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R Praggnanandhaa became the first Indian to win the Norway Chess title since the tournament's inception in 2013. The 20-year-old player from Chennai finished the tournament with a total of 18 points.
Indian Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi secured the No. 8 spot in the International Chess Federation (FIDE) ratings released for June 2026. Erigaisi is the only Indian player featured in the top 10 rankings for June 2026 after…
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…
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.
India’s First Virtual Zoo Inaugurated in Indore on August 16, 2026
Key Updates:
- Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav inaugurated India's first virtual zoo at Kamla Nehru Zoological Garden in Indore on August 16, 2026.
- The virtual zoo includes a 14-D cinema theatre and a virtual jungle safari developed under the public-private partnership (PPP) model.
- The project was developed at a cost of Rs 4.5 crore.
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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 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…
India donated five Indian peacocks, including a rare white-feathered male, to the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG). The birds were formally handed over by India's Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva…
The Meghalaya State Zoo recorded the first-ever birth of a stump-tailed macaque (Macaca arctoides). The breeding pair was brought from the Aizawl Zoological Park in Mizoram through an animal exchange programme.
Jharkhand Government cancels JSSC-CGL exam and all TDPL tests on August 17, 2026
Key Updates:
- Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) Combined Graduate Level (CGL) examination was cancelled by the Jharkhand government on August 17, 2026.
- The Jharkhand government cancelled all examinations conducted by TSR Data Processing Pvt Ltd (TDPL) since 2014, along with the results published and selections made.
- The decision was taken at a Jharkhand Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Hemant Soren.
- A committee headed by IAS officer Amitabh Kaushal will recommend reforms in the examination and recruitment system.
- The Special Investigation Team (SIT) and Criminal Investigation Department (CID) are investigating the alleged examination irregularities.
- Student leaders said the agitation would continue until their demand for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry is accepted.
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Nandan Nilekani, co-founder of Infosys, will head the high-powered task force on examination reforms. The task force includes former Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman S Somnath, former Intelligence…
Misir Besra, the last remaining Central Committee and Politburo member of the Communist Party of India (Maoist) (CPI (Maoist)), was arrested in Jharkhand's Dhanbad district. He carried a reward of over ₹1 crore on…
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has cancelled the licence of Gokak, Karnataka-based Shree Mahalaxmi Urban Co-operative Credit Bank due to its worsening financial position. The RBI stated that the lender lacks adequate…
The Jharkhand government proposed the Jharkhand Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy 2026–2031 during the National Stakeholders’ Consultation 2026 held in New Delhi. The state government proposed an investment of ₹1,150…
Amit Shah Inaugurates Rajasthan Development Projects Worth ₹6,453 Crore
Key Updates:
- Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah inaugurated and laid foundation stones for development projects worth ₹6,453 crore across 17 Rajasthan districts at Alwar.
- The total package includes 954 development works covering districts such as Jaipur, Hanumangarh, Ajmer, Bhilwara, Alwar, Tonk, Nagaur, Sikar and Jhunjhunu.
- Amit Shah announced a new Saras Dairy plant in Alwar with an initial processing capacity of 3 lakh litres per day, expandable to 5 lakh litres per day.
- The foundation stone of the Alwar Saras Dairy plant was laid at a cost of ₹200 crore.
- Four central cooperative banks were launched in Phalodi, Balotra, Didwana and Pratapgarh.
- Rajasthan has around 44,000 cooperative societies, and the target is to establish a cooperative society in every village.
- 200 warehouses with a capacity of 500 metric tonnes each are under construction in the state, and 50 additional warehouses have been sanctioned.
- Under the sixth instalment of the Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme, ₹667 crore was transferred to more than 66.74 lakh farmers, while ₹152 crore was released under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana through Direct Benefit Transfer.
- Appointment letters were distributed to more than 10,500 selected candidates under the 10th Chief Minister's Employment Festival.
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Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the National Urban Cooperative Finance and Development Corporation (NUCFDC) new office premises at Sharada Sadan in Fort, Mumbai on August 8, 2026. Shah launched the Security…
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma inaugurated 266 projects and laid foundation stones for 81 projects, totalling 347 development projects worth over Rs 491 crore in Rajsamand. The Kisan Samman Nidhi amount has…
The Central Government has approved a total of ₹605.71 crore for agriculture in Rajasthan and Telangana. Rajasthan will receive ₹340.59 crore and Telangana will receive ₹265.12 crore.
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’…
