Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) bars Niva Bupa from opening new offices for six months
Key Updates:
- The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has prohibited Niva Bupa Health Insurance from opening new business locations for six months.
- The regulatory action follows Niva Bupa's non-compliance with mandated expense management limits for the financial year 2024-25.
- Niva Bupa stated it complied with the expense management regulations for the entire financial year 2025-26 and the April-June quarter of 2026.
- The restriction does not affect Niva Bupa's existing operations, as the company continues normal business at current locations.
- Following the announcement, Niva Bupa's share price fell to Rs 81.33 on the National Stock Exchange, a decline of 1.87 per cent.
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The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has initiated a nine-month investigation into the use of 'dark patterns' by insurers to gather personal information for quotes. The IRDAI has…
The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) now requires prior approval for share transfers crossing 5%, 10%, 25%, 50%, or 75% holding thresholds. IRDAI approval is also required when an investor…
The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has granted a Certificate of Registration to Prudential HCL Health Insurance Ltd. Prudential HCL Health Insurance Ltd is a joint venture between the…
J&K Bank has entered into a Corporate Agency Agreement (CAA) with HDFC Life. The partnership will enable J&K Bank customers to access HDFC Life's products including Protection, Savings, Investment, and Retirement…
Paul Merchants Finance Private Limited (PMFPL) launches Loan Against Silver, becomes India's first NBFC to set up exclusive silver loan branches
Key Updates:
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) introduced the Lending Against Gold and Silver Collateral Directions, 2025, enabling eligible regulated lenders to accept silver as collateral.
- Paul Merchants Finance Private Limited (PMFPL), part of the Paul Merchants Group, launched its Loan Against Silver product.
- PMFPL became India's first non-banking financial company (NBFC) to set up exclusive silver loan branches.
- PMFPL commenced silver loan operations from Chandigarh and plans phased expansion to other locations.
- Silver loans ranging from ₹2,000 to ₹15 lakh are available against eligible silver jewellery, ornaments and approved silver coins.
- The product targets individuals, proprietors and MSMEs for personal, business and other legitimate financial requirements.
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Wizzmoni Financial Services Ltd and Oman Air have partnered to launch the co-branded Wizz Voyager Multi-Currency Card, an AI-powered travel card supporting multiple global currencies. The card supports more than 35…
The Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP) 2026 is the first pharmacopoeia in the world to establish exclusive standards for blood and blood components. The Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) organised a national conference at its…
Indian Bank approved around ₹500 crore in MSME loans during a credit outreach programme held in New Delhi as part of its 120th Foundation Day fortnight celebrations. Sanction tickets were handed over to 128 beneficiaries…
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) granted a Certificate of Registration as a Type II NBFC-ND to Delhivery Financial Services Private Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Delhivery Ltd, on July 13, 2026. Delhivery reported…
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Approves Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) Stake Increase up to 9.99% in HDFC Bank
Key Updates:
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved Life Insurance Corporation of India's (LIC) application to acquire up to 9.99% of HDFC Bank's paid-up share capital or voting rights.
- The approval was disclosed in an HDFC Bank regulatory filing dated August 19, 2026.
- LIC currently holds 4.11% of HDFC Bank's total share capital.
- The RBI approval allows LIC to raise its stake from 4.11% to nearly 10%, subject to RBI conditions and applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.
- The RBI approval does not mean LIC will immediately increase its stake to 9.99%.
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LIC has raised its shareholding in Central Bank of India from 3.16 per cent to 6.06 per cent. LIC acquired 26.26 crore shares, representing a 2.901 per cent stake, through a market purchase.
The Government of India is selling up to a 6.5% stake in Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) through an Offer for Sale (OFS) at a floor price of ₹382 per share. Retail investors will receive a discount of ₹15 per…
State Bank of India (SBI) is acquiring a 10% stake in RMBS Development Company (RDCL) from the National Housing Bank (NHB), which will reduce NHB's holding from 39% to 29%. RDCL is a middle-layer non-banking financial…
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved a three-month extension of Keki Mistry's tenure as interim part-time chairman of HDFC Bank until September 18, 2026, or until a regular chairman is appointed. Keki Mistry was…
Uttar Pradesh and Japan’s Yamanashi announce ₹600-crore MSME fund
Key Updates:
- On August 21, 2026, Uttar Pradesh and Japan’s Yamanashi signed four MoUs covering skills, technical training, tourism and Japanese GCCs.
- Yamanashi announced a ₹600-crore fund to support Uttar Pradesh’s MSME sector.
- Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced a dedicated Yamanashi Desk at Invest U.P. for Japanese investors and businesses.
- The state will coordinate regularly with JETRO and JICA to identify opportunities, address investor concerns and accelerate project implementation.
- The announcements were made at the Japan–India Business Networking Event in Lucknow, attended by Yamanashi Governor Kotaro Nagasaki.
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Invest UP and Invest India have agreed to strengthen collaboration to attract greater domestic and foreign investments into Uttar Pradesh. The decision was taken during a high-level meeting in Lucknow attended by Invest…
The International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID) has selected the Parichha Weir in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, as a World Heritage Irrigation Structure (WHIS). The Parichha Weir is a 140-year-old structure built…
Indian Bank approved around ₹500 crore in MSME loans during a credit outreach programme held in New Delhi as part of its 120th Foundation Day fortnight celebrations. Sanction tickets were handed over to 128 beneficiaries…
The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) has made it mandatory to use the Trade Receivables Discounting System (TReDS) platforms for settlement of all MSME invoices by Central Public Sector Enterprises…
Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) authorises 1,800 km LPG pipeline network
Key Updates:
- The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) has authorised development of about 1,800 km of new LPG pipeline infrastructure with an estimated investment of about ₹7,000 crore.
- The new LPG pipeline network will pass through Telangana, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Karnataka, and Goa.
- The projects have been authorised for development by GAIL (India).
- Once commissioned, the additions will expand the PNGRB-authorised common carrier LPG pipeline network from around 7,700 km to nearly 9,500 km, an increase of nearly 23.5 per cent.
- The authorised network includes a 556 km pipeline from Cherlapally in Telangana to Nagpur in Maharashtra, a 633 km route from Shikrapur in Maharashtra to Goa and Hubli in Karnataka, and a 611 km line from Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh to Sitarganj in Uttarakhand.
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The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) issued the Natural Gas and Petroleum Products Distribution Order, 2026, prohibiting households from simultaneously holding Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and Piped Natural…
The United States (US) Department of Defence (Pentagon) launched Project Patriot Pipeline to channel veterans, military spouses, and federal workers into critical defence manufacturing, engineering, and cybersecurity…
KKR has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Medicover India for $1.5 billion (₹14,250 crore). Medicover India is the Indian arm of Medicover AB and was established in 2017.
The Centre approved the Incentive Scheme for Promotion of Domestic PNG Connections to expand household piped natural gas access. The scheme will come into effect from September 1, 2026.
Government of India and Asian Development Bank (ADB) sign $230 million loan for Chennai water and sanitation infrastructure
Key Updates:
- The Government of India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a $230 million loan agreement for the Chennai Climate-Resilient Water Security and Sewerage Project.
- The project will construct more than 170 km of water supply and sewer pipes in Chennai.
- Seven water pumping stations and 38 sewer pumping stations will be upgraded under the project.
- Chennai will become the first Indian city to implement a comprehensive ring-main solution for its urban water supply network.
- The loan will support digital transformation of water and sanitation services, including real-time monitoring and data-driven decision-making.
- Water utility assets and operations management will be strengthened through performance-based contracts.
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The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a USD 230-million loan to modernise and expand water supply and sanitation infrastructure in Chennai. The project is designed to benefit 4.5 million residents in the Greater…
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a loan of USD 182.89 million under the Strengthening Karnataka Public Schools Program to improve the public school system in Karnataka. The programme aims to establish 500…
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a $10 million financing package with Schoolnet India Limited (SIL) to improve learning outcomes for 4.5 million students. The project aims to scale up digital learning…
India is the largest market for the private sector operations of the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The ADB expects to provide approximately USD 1 billion in direct financing this year to support projects aligned with…
IDFC FIRST Bank successfully completes maiden USD 500 million bond issuance
Key Updates:
- IDFC FIRST Bank priced its inaugural USD 500 million three-year fixed-rate senior notes due 2029.
- The notes carry a fixed coupon of 5.625% and were placed under Regulation S to investors outside the United States.
- The issuance was executed through the Bank's IFSC Banking Unit at GIFT City.
- The transaction followed an investment-grade 'BBB-' long-term issuer credit rating with a Stable outlook from S&P Global Ratings on August 13, 2026.
- The notes were anchored by global institutional investors including BlackRock, Capital Group, and AllianceBernstein.
- BofA Securities acted as the sole placement agent for the transaction.
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State Bank of India (SBI) plans to raise ₹50 billion ($517.76 million) through Basel III-compliant Additional Tier I (AT-1) perpetual bonds with a five-year call option. SBI is set to become the first Indian bank to…
Kawa UAV Pvt. Ltd., a defence start-up based in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, conducted the maiden flight test of the Divyastra Mk3 loitering munition on August 11, 2026. The Divyastra Mk3 is India's first indigenous…
The Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) approved an incentive of Rs26 crore for the Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) for raising Rs200 crore through the Clean Godavari Bond. The incentive was sanctioned…
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…
West Bengal Launches Four Toll-Free Helplines Against Extortion
Key Updates:
- The West Bengal government launched four toll-free helplines for public complaints.
- The helplines cover extortion (155334), syndicate (155335), illegal road/toll tax (155337), and illegal liquor (155339).
- The initiative was announced after a meeting in Siliguri between Union Home Minister Amit Shah and West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.
- The government stated that complaints received through these helplines will be acted upon promptly.
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The West Bengal government is likely to introduce the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill in the State Assembly to establish a common set of personal laws for all communities. The UCC Bill includes provisions to ban polygamy…
The Kaushal Mahotsav was organized by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) in collaboration with the Government of West Bengal and the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC). The event…
West Bengal has received Geographical Indication (GI) tags for 23 additional traditional products. With these additions, West Bengal ranks third among Indian states with a total of 59 GI registrations.
The West Bengal government announced the Annapurna Yojana with a budget outlay of ₹36,000 crore to provide higher monthly monetary assistance, replacing the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme. A budget of ₹550 crore has been…
Karnataka Imposes One-Year Ban on Analogue Paneer Manufacture and Sale
Key Updates:
- The Karnataka government banned the manufacture, processing, storage, distribution, transportation and sale of analogue/non-dairy paneer marketed as 'paneer' across the state for one year.
- The order was issued by the Food Safety Division of the Food Safety and Drug Administration Department on August 17 and remains in force for one year from issuance.
- The ban was imposed under Sections 30(2)(a), 18 and 29 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
- Under the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011, paneer is a standardized dairy product and replacing milk fat or milk components with vegetable oil, vegetable fat or other non-dairy ingredients is not permitted for a product sold as 'paneer'.
- Tested paneer samples showed no adulteration, but the prohibition was imposed to prevent analogue/non-dairy paneer from being used, stored, supplied, transported or sold as paneer.
- Frozen Dessert, Processed Cheese and Mixed Fat Spread, which are covered under separate FSSAI regulations, are excluded from the ban.
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The Himachal Pradesh government prohibited the manufacture, storage, distribution and sale of non-dairy analogue paneer passed off as genuine paneer. The order was issued under Section 30(2)(a) of the Food Safety and…
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 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 Maharashtra FDA banned the sale of loose (unpacked) edible oil across the state. Violations of the ban can attract imprisonment of up to seven years.
National Campaign on Entrepreneurship-II Launched to Train Five Lakh SHG Women
Key Updates:
- Rural Development Secretary Rohit Kansal launched the three-month 'National Campaign on Entrepreneurship-II' under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM).
- The campaign will run from August 21 to November 21 and focus on farm and non-farm enterprises, formalisation of businesses, and marketing of self-help group products.
- The campaign aims to provide entrepreneurship and livelihood training to five lakh self-help group (SHG) women and support formalisation of 50,000 enterprises.
- It also aims to orient 50,000 community cadres, add two lakh members to producer groups and producer enterprises, promote agro-ecological practices among 20 lakh women, and onboard 25,000 SHG members on e-commerce platforms.
- The campaign will promote digital commerce through platforms such as ONDC and GeM and facilitate buyer-seller meets and linkages with buyers, aggregators, retailers and institutional purchasers.
- Community resource persons for enterprise promotion and business development service providers will be recognised as 'Udyam Sakhis', and the first edition of the 'Sankalp Shakti' monthly bulletin was released under DAY-NRLM.
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The Self-Help Entrepreneur-Livelihoods and Enterprise Application for Prosperity and Sustainability (SHE-LEAPS) is a digital platform for empowering women associated with Self-Help Groups (SHGs) across rural India.…
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 Chhattisgarh government launched the DWEEPTI Yojana (Decentralised Women Empowerment on Energy and Policy for Transformative Inclusion) to enable rural women's self-help groups to become vendors, technicians…
Union Minister of Science and Technology and Earth Sciences Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurated the RSSDI Diabetes Rural Outreach Digital Portal and launched VISHWAS, the Diabetes Awareness Video Library. The event was…
Sonowal Inaugurates ₹427.80 Crore Projects at Paradip Port
Key Updates:
- Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated seven infrastructure projects worth ₹427.80 crore at Paradip Port Authority.
- The ₹352-crore capital dredging project enabled Paradip Port to achieve an 18.5-metre deep draft, allowing fully laden Capesize vessels in its inner harbour.
- Paradip Port Authority signed three concession agreements worth ₹1,580.36 crore for mechanisation of South Quay, Multipurpose Berth, and captive CQ-III berths under the Build-Operate-Transfer model.
- A ₹20-crore project with Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. will extend piped natural gas connectivity to 546 residential quarters in Madhuban, making Paradip the first major port to provide PNG connectivity to its residential township.
- An Advanced Vessel Traffic Management and Information System, costing ₹15.50 crore, was commissioned to monitor vessel movement up to 20 nautical miles.
- Paradip Port Authority is targeting 100% berth mechanisation by 2030, compared with around 80% at present.
- Sonowal planted Paradip Port's one-millionth tree, continuing the port's plantation programme initiated after the 1999 Super Cyclone.
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Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) Sarbananda Sonowal announced a development pipeline worth Rs 5,028.17 crore for the Mumbai Port Authority. The development plan consists of 63 projects covering…
Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the 51st meeting of Pro-Active Governance And Timely Implementation (PRAGATI) at Seva Teerth. The meeting reviewed seven major infrastructure projects in the Railways, Power, and Road…
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch development projects worth more than ₹21,700 crore across Gujarat, Daman and Diu, and Lakshadweep on June 5. Projects in Gujarat worth ₹18,800 crore include the dedication of…
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved National Highway (NH) projects worth approximately ₹24,249.6 crore in Odisha, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, and Bihar. The Rameshwar-Paradip section of the Odisha…
MHA Transfers CAA Application Processing to District Collectors
Key Updates:
- The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has authorised district Collectors in eight states and Union Territories to process citizenship applications under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019.
- The authority was previously vested in Empowered Committees comprising Union government officials.
- The Citizenship (Third Amendment) Rules, 2026, notified on August 19, empower Collectors to receive, scrutinise and dispose of applications.
- The Collectors will replace the Empowered Committees and Designated Officers in these jurisdictions.
- The affected states and Union Territories are Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, West Bengal, Assam (excluding tribal areas), Tripura (excluding tribal areas), Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
- The Collector must verify documents, conduct an enquiry, administer the Oath of Allegiance, and determine the applicant's eligibility for citizenship.
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Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) reduced the estimated processing time for Super Visa applications from India to 50 days from 66 days. The IRCC service standard for Super Visa applications is 112 days.
The parliamentary standing committee recommended the formulation of a National Pine-Needle Utilisation Policy to help Himalayan states tackle forest fires and create sustainable rural livelihoods. The policy aims to…
The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has launched the Grievance Redressal Mechanism (GRM) and the Money Restoration Module (MRM) portals. The GRM portal is designed to…
J&K Bank has entered into a Corporate Agency Agreement (CAA) with HDFC Life. The partnership will enable J&K Bank customers to access HDFC Life's products including Protection, Savings, Investment, and Retirement…
DRDO Transfers Submarine Decoy 'Mohini' Technology to Bharat Dynamics
Key Updates:
- The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) transferred the Submarine Fired Decoy (SFD) 'Mohini' technology to Bharat Dynamics Ltd (BDL).
- The transfer was executed through DRDO's Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL).
- DRDO also transferred LM2500 gas turbine fabrication technology to Vertex Engineering Systems Pvt Ltd, Hyderabad.
- The 'Mohini' decoy protects submarines by emitting acoustic signals that mimic a submarine's signature to deceive incoming torpedoes.
- By March 2026, DRDO had signed over 2,180 technology transfer agreements with 134 companies as development-cum-production partners.
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Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has invited Indian firms to develop and produce missile and guided bomb systems under its Development Cum Production Partner (DcPP) programme. DRDO's Research Centre…
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) opened the two-day NETRA-2026 national seminar on electronic warfare, digital twin and mission critical system design on August 11, 2026. NETRA-2026 brought…
The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) organised a Technology Transfer and Bharatiya Nirdeshak Document (BND) Release Function in New Delhi. The programme witnessed the transfer of seven technologies to…
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully demonstrated a multi-layered Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) capability through three consecutive flight-tests conducted on June 10 and 11. The…
India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) signs two technology transfer agreements on August 21, 2026 to strengthen indigenous naval manufacturing
Key Updates:
- DRDO's Naval Science & Technological Laboratory (NSTL) signed two Licensing Agreements for Transfer of Technology (LAToT) with Bharat Dynamics Ltd (BDL) and private firm Vertex Engineering Systems Pvt Ltd.
- The agreement with BDL covers the production of the Submarine Fired Decoy (SFD) Mohini, an underwater countermeasure system launched from a submarine's decoy launch tubes or torpedo tubes to counter acoustic-homing torpedoes.
- SFD Mohini, developed over three years starting in 2019, uses acoustic deception and jamming by mimicking the acoustic signature, propeller noise and sonar echoes of a real submarine and by generating high-intensity broadband acoustic noise.
- The agreement with Vertex Engineering Systems Pvt Ltd covers technology for the fabrication, installation and commissioning of the LM2500 gas turbine.
- The LM2500, derived from the TF39 aircraft engine, is the world's most widely used marine gas turbine and serves as a booster engine in warships including frigates, destroyers, cruisers and aircraft carriers.
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The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) signed two major contracts under the Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) Mk-II programme. The first contract was signed with AI Engineering Services Limited…
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has invited Indian firms to develop and produce missile and guided bomb systems under its Development Cum Production Partner (DcPP) programme. DRDO's Research Centre…
Sona BLW Precision Forgings Limited (Sona Comstar) and DENSO Corporation have signed definitive agreements to establish two joint ventures (JVs) for electric and hybrid powertrain systems. In the first JV, DENSO will…
The Chhattisgarh government signed two memoranda of understanding with BISAG-N and NLDSL under the PM GatiShakti framework on August 20. The pacts aim to enhance the use of geospatial technology and integrated logistics…
Google to buy Spirit Airlines business data for $10 million
Key Updates:
- Alphabet's Google is acquiring internal business data from bankrupt Spirit Airlines for $10 million to use for product development and training its AI models.
- The acquired data includes Spirit Airlines' employee emails, Microsoft Teams messages, spreadsheets, calendars, and marketing, productivity, and operations data.
- The data will be de-identified before the sale is complete, containing no customer information or personally identifiable information.
- A U.S. bankruptcy judge will consider approving the data sale at a Wednesday court hearing.
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The Tripura state government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Google India in July 2026 to develop an Artificial Intelligence ecosystem. The MoU is part of the Destination Tripura Business Conclave 2026…
Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) signed an MoU with Google to provide AI content and training for its students and faculty. Google will charge Rs 350 per student, which is covered under the existing consortium…
Google has entered into a Cloud Service Agreement with SpaceX to pay $920 million per month for computing power from October 2026 through June 2029. According to a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing, the…
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) signed a multi-year artificial intelligence (AI) transformation deal with SKF, a Swedish bearings manufacturer. The deal is a multi-year, multi-million dollar engagement, though the exact…
Centre for Marine Living Resources & Ecology (CMLRE) Releases National Report on Deep-Sea and Distant-Water Fishery Resources in Indian EEZ
Key Updates:
- The Centre for Marine Living Resources & Ecology (CMLRE) released the National Report on Deep-Sea and Distant-Water Fishery Resources of the Indian EEZ during its Silver Jubilee celebrations.
- The report compiles nearly four decades of oceanographic research and three decades of systematic surveys across India's 2.37 million square kilometre Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
- The findings are based on over 400 oceanographic cruises conducted since the early 1990s under the Marine Living Resources Programme (MLRP) using the research vessel FORV Sagar Sampada.
- The report details mesopelagic resources (200–1000 metres) including lanternfishes, deep-sea shrimps, and cephalopods, and their role in the ocean's biological carbon pump.
- It assesses deep-sea demersal resources on the continental slope beyond 200 metres, identifying underexploited stocks of deep-sea shrimps, perches, scombroids, flatfishes, and eels.
- The report compiles data on distant-water fisheries such as tunas, billfishes, sharks, oceanic squids, and Antarctic krill.
- It identifies marine biodiversity hotspots including Kollam Bank, Angria Bank, the deep-sea slope terrace off Trivandrum, and the Lakshadweep and Andaman-Nicobar Islands.
- The report integrates modern technologies like fisheries acoustics, environmental DNA (eDNA), autonomous observing platforms, satellite observations, AI, and ecosystem modelling for marine spatial planning.
- The publication supports India's Vision 2047 and UN Sustainable Development Goal 14 (Life Below Water).
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The ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) launched the DeepDATA mobile application for digital documentation of deep-sea marine biodiversity. The app was developed under the Deep Ocean Mission with…
The National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog released the report 'India's Services Sector: Insights on Regulatory Regime in Professional Services' on August 10, 2026. The report states that professional…
The ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) discovered a new deep-sea fish species in the Arabian Sea off southern Kerala. The species is named Cyttopsis indica (Indian dory) and belongs to the genus…
Vice-President C P Radhakrishnan launched the national programme for issuance of Letter of Authorisation (LoA) for sustainable fishing in high seas in Bhubaneswar. The LoA initiative aims to promote responsible and…
Jindal Steel and Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IITH) sign MoU to establish Centre of Excellence for Advanced Steel Solutions
Key Updates:
- Jindal Steel and Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IITH) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish the Jindal Steel Centre of Excellence for High-Strength, Value-Added and Value-Engineered Steel Products and Solutions at the IITH campus in Kandi, Sangareddy District, Telangana.
- The Centre will develop and demonstrate applications for high-strength, value-added and value-engineered steels that offer higher performance, lower material consumption, reduced weight, faster execution, improved durability and better lifecycle economics.
- Applications of the advanced steel solutions will span buildings and bridges, penstocks and large-diameter pipes, defence, yellow goods and heavy equipment, power plants, refineries, transportation, heavy engineering and other critical industrial applications.
- The Centre will collaborate with designers, consultants, engineers, fabricators, EPC companies, equipment manufacturers and project developers to facilitate the adoption of advanced steel grades.
- The initiative is aligned with Viksit Bharat 2047 and the need for sustainable infrastructure, and will also collaborate with government agencies and industry stakeholders to evaluate and scale the adoption of advanced steel solutions.
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The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), a telecom R&D centre under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IITH)…
National Stock Exchange of India Limited (NSE) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Steel Users Federation of India (SUFI) to collaborate on the development of the steel and relevant commodity…
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…
The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Hyderabad will establish 'CODENE', the country's first Centre of Design Excellence in Nuclear Engineering. IIT Hyderabad signed a tripartite memorandum of understanding with CEEPL…
Flying Wedge Defence & Aerospace (FWDA) unveils FWD Supreme Lite, India’s first AI-piloted fighter demonstrator
Key Updates:
- Indian defence startup Flying Wedge Defence & Aerospace (FWDA) has unveiled FWD Supreme Lite, a flight technology demonstrator for its AI-piloted fighter aircraft programme.
- FWD Supreme Lite is a approximately 250-kg-class demonstrator currently progressing through airframe development, system integration and ground testing.
- FWDA plans the first flight of FWD Supreme Lite in the third quarter of 2026.
- FWD Supreme Lite is intended to validate the aerodynamic configuration, flight architecture and key technologies for the larger FWD Supreme aircraft family.
- The FWD Supreme family is built around FWDA’s Mobbing Doctrine, which proposes deploying larger numbers of AI-piloted fighter aircraft to create numerical, tactical and economic asymmetry.
- FWD Supreme is designed and manufactured in India and positioned by FWDA as an indigenous entrant into the emerging AI-piloted fighter race.
- FWDA is exploring Rocket Assisted Take-Off (RATO) capability for the Supreme family to enable operations from shorter or austere launch locations.
- FWDA has also announced the Kaal Bhairava E2A2 programme, described as India’s first AI-powered Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) Autonomous Combat Aircraft, with up to 30 hours endurance and 3,000 km range.
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The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has initiated concerted efforts to co-join the French-led Future Combat Air System (FCAS), a sixth-generation fighter aircraft development programme. Germany has parted ways with the FCAS…
Kawa UAV Pvt. Ltd., a defence start-up based in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, conducted the maiden flight test of the Divyastra Mk3 loitering munition on August 11, 2026. The Divyastra Mk3 is India's first indigenous…
Squadron Leader Bhawana Kanth of the Indian Air Force (IAF) became the first woman fighter pilot to complete the Fighter Combat Leader (FCL) course at the Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment (TACDE) in…
The UK Royal Air Force launched the Storm Fighter collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) programme to develop autonomous loyal wingman drones. The programme is backed by £5 billion (approx. $6.6 billion) over the next four…
National Space Day 2026: India celebrates Chandrayaan-3 legacy with theme 'Towards Viksit Bharat'
Key Updates:
- India celebrates National Space Day 2026 on August 23, 2026, marking the third annual celebration of the country's space achievements.
- The day commemorates the soft landing of the Vikram lander of Chandrayaan-3 on the lunar South Pole at Shiv Shakti Point on August 23, 2023.
- The official theme for National Space Day 2026 is 'Towards Viksit Bharat - Innovating, Collaborating and Aspiring Global Space Leadership'.
- With Chandrayaan-3, India became the fourth nation to achieve a successful lunar soft landing and the first country to land on the South Polar region of the Moon.
- The Government of India declared August 23 as National Space Day to encourage students to pursue Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) studies.
- The live streaming of the Chandrayaan-3 landing recorded 8,056,350 peak concurrent viewers, making it one of the most-watched live streams in YouTube history.
- The Chandrayaan-3 landing site is named Shiv Shakti Point, while the Chandrayaan-2 landing spot is named Tiranga Point.
- The Indian Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan) cost $74 million, less than the $100 million production cost of the Hollywood movie Gravity.
- NewSpace India Limited, ISRO's commercial arm, has launched hundreds of foreign satellites using the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).
- ISRO is conducting deep space exploration through the Aditya-L1 solar observation program and the joint NASA NISAR project.
- ISRO's upcoming missions include Gaganyaan human spaceflight and Chandrayaan-4.
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The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) invited the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to join its Moon Base programme under the Artemis framework. The invitation was extended during the 9th…
Space Kidz India has conceptualised and led Mission ShakthiSAT, the world's first all-girls international satellite mission to the Moon. The mission involves 12,000 young girls from 108 countries and 108 International…
National Handloom Day is celebrated annually on August 7 in India. The day commemorates the launch of the Swadeshi Movement on August 7, 1905.
Asteroid Day is a global awareness campaign held annually on June 30, which was officially sanctioned by the United Nations (UN) in 2016. The date commemorates the Siberian Tunguska event of June 30, 1908, where an…
Treesa-Gayatri Secure Medal at BWF World Championships
Key Updates:
- Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand defeated China's Jia Yifan and Zhang Shuxian 16-21, 21-15, 21-13 in the quarterfinals of the BWF World Championships 2026.
- The match was played at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi.
- With this win, the Indian pair assured themselves of a medal, becoming the first Indian women's doubles pair to do so since 2011.
- They will face top-seeded Sheng Shu Liu and Ning Tan in the semifinals.
- Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty lost to China's Wei Keng Liang and Chang Wang in the men's doubles quarterfinals.
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Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and BAI President Himanta Biswa Sarma unveiled the official mascot 'Peacko' for the BWF World Championships 2026 in New Delhi. The mascot 'Peacko' is inspired by the Indian Peafowl, the…
Ashmita Chaliha defeated China's Han Qian Xi in the women's singles final of the BWF Korea Masters. Chaliha won the match 14-21, 21-14, 21-14 in 53 minutes, coming from a game down.
Basant Kumar Meghwal won the silver medal in the men's high jump at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Eugene. He cleared a personal best of 2.21m to secure the silver medal.
Ashish Yadav won the silver medal in the men's javelin at the 2026 World Athletics U20 Championships in Oregon with a best throw of 74.09m. South Africa's Jan-Hendrik Heymans won the gold medal with a throw of 80.50m.
FIFA Unveils 2027 Women’s World Cup Schedule
Key Updates:
- The 2027 Women’s World Cup will be the 10th edition of the tournament and the first to be staged in South America.
- The tournament will run from June 24 to July 25, 2027, with 64 matches played across eight host cities.
- Brazil will open the tournament at the Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro on June 24, before playing their remaining group-stage matches in São Paulo on June 29 and in Brasília on July 4.
- The eight host cities are Belo Horizonte, Brasília, Fortaleza, Porto Alegre, Recife, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador and São Paulo.
- Each host city will stage at least seven matches, including at least one knockout fixture.
- The Maracanã will host the final and one semi-final, while São Paulo will host the other semi-final and the bronze-medal match.
- Belo Horizonte, Fortaleza, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo will host quarter-final matches, while Brasília, Porto Alegre, Recife and Salvador will host matches through the Round of 16.
- The Maracanã will become only the third stadium to host both a men’s and a women’s FIFA World Cup final, after Råsunda Stadium and the Rose Bowl.
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The 10th edition of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Women’s T20 World Cup is scheduled to take place in England and Wales from 12 June to 5 July 2026. The tournament will feature 12 teams for the first time…
Cabo Verde, Curaçao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan will make their tournament debut at the 2026 Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup. Qatar is advancing to a World Cup for the first time through…
Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) started the tradition of World Cup mascots in 1966 with Willie. The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) has announced a total financial distribution of $871 million for the World Cup 2026. The champion of the tournament will receive $50 million in…
Ahmedabad to Host Commonwealth Cue Sports Championships in October 2026
Key Updates:
- Ahmedabad will host the Commonwealth Cue Sports Championships 2026 in October.
- The championships will be held at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex.
- Athletes from 45 countries will compete in the event.
- The event will feature five disciplines: 10-Ball, Heyball, Blackball, Snooker, and English Billiards.
- There will be 10 medal events with separate men's and women's competitions.
- The event is organized by Apex Sports Promotion under the aegis of the Billiards & Snooker Federation of India (BSFI) and the World Confederation of Billiards Sports (WCBS).
- The second edition of the championships follows the inaugural event in Mauritius in 2025.
- Each Commonwealth country receives one guaranteed unranked entry, with remaining places drawn from world rankings.
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The Commonwealth Games flag and baton were handed over to Ahmedabad during the closing ceremony of the Glasgow edition on August 3, 2026. Ahmedabad will host the 2030 Commonwealth Games, which marks the centenary year of…
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a nationwide talent hunt for children aged 5 to 15 from the Red Fort on the 80th Independence Day. India is targeting participation in at least three-fourths of Olympic events at…
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese unveiled the India-Australia Sports Collaboration Roadmap at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). The MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai will host…
Boleng in Siang district, Arunachal Pradesh, will host the 2026 Asian Rafting Championships from October 5 to 9. Chief Minister Pema Khandu reviewed preparations for the championship with Asian Rafting Council President…
UNHCR, SICCI, and Ethiraj College for Women sign MoU on August 19, 2026
Key Updates:
- The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the Southern India Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI), and Ethiraj College for Women (Autonomous) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
- The MoU aims to strengthen collaboration on education, research, and community engagement.
- The partnership seeks to promote refugee self-reliance and inclusion in India, including Sri Lankan refugees residing in Tamil Nadu.
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World Refugee Day is observed annually on 20 June. The theme for World Refugee Day is Until Everyone is Safe.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported a three percent drop in global refugee figures as of 2025. The decrease in numbers is largely attributed to increased voluntary returns to Afghanistan…
Total student enrolment reached 4.50 crore in 2023-24, rising 31.5% from 3.42 crore in 2014-15. The Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) for the 18-23 age group was 30.0 in 2023-24, while the female GER stood at 31.2.
India announced its support for Palestine's membership in the United Nations during a donor group meeting in Brussels. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar made the announcement on July 14, 2026, at the launch of…
BJP to chalk out nationwide plan for Modi@25 celebrations on August 22
Key Updates:
- The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will hold a meeting in New Delhi on August 22 to finalise the roadmap for the 'Modi@25' celebrations.
- The 'Modi@25' celebrations mark Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 25 years in public life.
- The nationwide campaign for the celebrations is named 'Seva Sankalp Mahotsav'.
- The celebrations will commence on September 7 and continue for around 15 days across the country.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi completes 25 years in public service on October 7.
- The campaign is centred on the themes of 'seva, good governance, development and public welfare'.
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PM Modi announced a nationwide mission to provide AI skill training to 1 crore youth over the next year. Free online coaching for competitive examination aspirants was announced to ease the burden on poor and…
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a nationwide talent hunt for children aged 5 to 15 from the Red Fort on the 80th Independence Day. India is targeting participation in at least three-fourths of Olympic events at…
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Seychelles National Botanical Gardens and met Jonathan, the world's oldest living land animal, estimated to be about 194 years old and holder of the Guinness World Record. PM Modi…
Paschimbanga Divas (West Bengal Day) was celebrated on June 20, 2026, at Tarakeswar, Hooghly, West Bengal. The theme for this year's Paschimbanga Divas is “West Bengal: Heritage, Harmony and Development”.
57th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) Steering Committee meets on August 21
Key Updates:
- The first Steering Committee meeting for the 57th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) was held in New Delhi on August 21, 2026.
- The meeting was chaired by Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Dr L Murugan.
- The 57th IFFI is scheduled to be held in Goa from 20 to 28 November 2026.
- The committee emphasized providing greater opportunities for young and emerging filmmakers and strengthening international outreach.
- Ashutosh Gowariker serves as the Festival Director of IFFI.
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The 19th Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF) is a biennial festival for non-feature films scheduled from June 15 to 21, 2026. MIFF 2026 received 1,459 film entries from across the world, with the Competition…
India improved its global rank from 82nd to 57th in structural and pro-competitive reforms between 2010 and 2023, advancing 25 places, according to a report by the Competere Foundation. The report, titled 'India's Next…
The 79th Cannes Film Festival concluded on May 23, 2026, with the Palme d'Or awarded to Fjord by Cristian Mungiu. The Grand Prix (Grand Prize) of the 79th Cannes Film Festival was awarded to Minotaur by Russian director…
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) announced initiatives to boost the Indian film industry to make it more globally competitive. The decisions were taken during a high-level review meeting chaired by…
North Eastern Railway operates longest 'Awadh Mahashakti' freight train on August 20
Key Updates:
- North Eastern Railway (NER) operated its longest-ever freight train 'Awadh Mahashakti' on August 20, 2026.
- The 'Awadh Mahashakti' freight train comprised 129 wagons and three engines.
- The train covered around 160 km from Gonda to Sitapur in Uttar Pradesh in 3 hours and 50 minutes at an average speed of 42 kmph.
- The Gonda-Burhwal-Sitapur section is part of High-Density Network-4 (HDN-4), an important route connecting Delhi with Guwahati.
- India's longest-ever freight train 'Rudrastra' had 354 wagons and seven engines, spanning about 4.5 km.
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Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw flagged off the Nanded-Mumbai and Tanakpur-Nanded Express trains and extended the Tanakpur-Pilibhit service to Shahjahanpur. The Tanakpur-Agra service has been regularized after…
The Union Cabinet approved four railway multi-tracking projects and one highway project with a total outlay of around Rs 13,041 crore. The railway projects are located across West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil…
The Centre approved a fourth railway line through the strategically important 'Chicken's Neck' corridor. 'Chicken's Neck', also known as the Siliguri Corridor, is a narrow stretch about 20-22 km wide and nearly 60 km…
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.
World Senior Citizens Day 2026 observed on August 21
Key Updates:
- World Senior Citizens Day falls on August 21, 2026.
- The day was established in the United States on August 21, 1988, by President Ronald Reagan through Proclamation 5847.
- The United Nations observes International Day of Older Persons on October 1, designated in 1990, with the 2026 theme 'The Age of Longevity: Rethinking Systems for Longer Lives'.
- There is no universally recognised official global theme for World Senior Citizens Day on August 21 in 2026.
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World Photography Day is celebrated annually on August 19. The FIFA World Cup 2026 was held from June 11 to July 19, with Spain winning the championship.
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved the appointments of 10 officials and one extension to foreign and international posts on August 5, 2026. Baldeo Purushartha, an IAS officer, was appointed Senior…
International Left-Handers Day is observed every year on August 13. International Left-Handers Day 2026 was observed on Thursday, August 13, 2026.
