Daily Current Affairs - Week 33, 2026 (10 Aug 2026 - 16 Aug 2026)

• The Har Ghar Tiranga 2026 campaign will be held from 9 to 17 August, dedicated to the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram.
• Ladakh approved India's first guided high-altitude wildlife safari on 6 August 2026.
• Punjab secured the top rank in the NITI Aayog School Education Quality Index 2026.
• The Ministry of Railways approved nationwide licence reforms for Container Train Operators.
• The Ministry of Home Affairs issued guidelines on 8 August 2026 restricting renewable energy projects near international borders, the LoC and the LAC for national security reasons.
• HAL Airport became India’s first airport to operationalise an RNP Category H satellite-guided helicopter approach procedure, reducing approach time from about 12 minutes to 4 minutes.
• Amit Shah launched ‘Bank in a Box’ to modernise Urban Cooperative Banks with digital banking, AI fraud prevention and cybersecurity.
• E-Samudra was launched as a single digital platform to modernise India’s maritime administration.
• The Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026 proposes changing Kerala’s name to Keralam.
• India gifted five peacocks, including a rare white male, to the UN Office at Geneva.
• Lok Sabha passed the Tribunals Reforms Bill, 2026, proposing an independent National Tribunals Commission.
• Parliament passed the Bankers’ Book Evidence Bill 2026, replacing the 1891 law and recognising electronic and digital banking records as legal evidence.
• Scientists described a new fern species, Pteris madhusoodananii, from Tamil Nadu’s Kolli Hills and preliminarily assessed it as Critically Endangered.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi released former President Ram Nath Kovind’s autobiography “Triumph of the Indian Republic: My Life, My Struggles” at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi on 12 August 2026.
• Three Sanchar Mitras—Ankit Kumar Pal, Manish Kumar Mandal and Susmita Sain—were selected as ITU Generation Connect Youth Envoys for 2026–2030.

• The 10th BRICS Industry Ministers' Meeting in Jaipur adopted a Joint Declaration for sustainable industrial growth.
• Lebanon’s Parliament voted to abolish the death penalty, replacing it with life imprisonment with aggravated hard labour.
• A Damascus court sentenced former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his brother Maher al-Assad to death in absentia for serious crimes linked to the civil war.
• A new mountain horned dragon species, Acanthosaura syrax, was discovered in Thailand’s Mae Wong National Park as the 23rd recognised species of its genus.

• DigiLocker and AAERI launched “AAERI Verify” on 7 August 2026 to enable consent-based, source-verified student document checks for Australian university applications.
• Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched NSP-DBT scholarship payments, transferring ₹21.35 crore directly to over 6,000 agriculture students.
• Andhra Pradesh signed an MoU with CSIR-NGRI on 12 August 2026 for lithium and gallium exploration in the Kadapa Basin.

• Suraj Kumar Chand won India’s first individual gold at the FISU World University Squash Championship by defeating Hungary’s Benedek Takacs 3–2 in the final on 6 August 2026.
• Indian athlete Ashish Yadav won the silver medal in the men’s javelin throw at the World U20 Championships with a best throw of 74.09 metres on 7 August 2026.
• Ariha Pangambam created history by winning India’s first senior individual women’s gold medal at the Aerobic Gymnastics Asian Championships in Tagaytay City, Philippines.

• France submitted a proposal to India for the supply of 114 Rafale fighter jets.
• India successfully tested the Agni-4 medium-range ballistic missile on 6 August 2026.
• GRSE launched the second Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessel “Shruti” for the Indian Navy at Kolkata on 11 August 2026.

• Abelardo de la Espriella was sworn in as Colombia’s 36th President on 7 August 2026 for the 2026–2030 term, succeeding Gustavo Petro.
• Mohsen Rezaee was appointed Secretary and Head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council.
• ED Director Rahul Navin received a one-year extension until 13 August 2027.
• Dr Srinivasa Kumar Tummala took charge as Secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences, succeeding Dr M. Ravichandran.
• Russia appointed former Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud as its arbitrator in the Oschadbank investment treaty case.

• Physicist Deepak Dhar received the 2026 Dirac Medal from ICTP for his contributions to statistical physics.
• Puducherry Police received the President’s Colour, becoming the 18th police force to receive the honour.

• Former Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji passed away in Beijing on 12 August 2026 at the age of 97/98.

• Microsoft launched its fourth cloud region in India, India South Central, in Hyderabad.
• Bengaluru-based Astrobase Space Technologies unveiled EVEREST, India’s first private 80-tonne-class Full-Flow Staged Combustion engine, on 7 August 2026.
• Skyroot Aerospace signed a three-launch agreement with HEX20 for dedicated Vikram-series missions scheduled from Q4 2027.
• NASA invited ISRO to join its Moon Base programme during the 9th India-U.S. Civil Space Joint Working Group meeting in Bengaluru.
• Vietnam’s VinSpace signed a contract with SpaceX to launch its first satellites in 2027 through a SpaceX Transporter rideshare mission.

• National Handloom Day was observed on 7 August 2026 to promote India's handloom heritage and support weavers.
• The International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples is observed on 9 August 2026 with the theme “Honouring Indigenous Midwives: Safeguarding Life and Well-being,” highlighting Indigenous healthcare traditions and rights.
• Nagasaki Day 2026 was observed on 9 August to remember the victims of the 1945 atomic bombing and promote global awareness about the humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons.
• World Lion Day is observed on 10 August to promote lion conservation and protect Asiatic lions.
• International Youth Day 2026 was observed on 12 August with the theme “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations”.
• World Elephant Day 2026 was observed on 12 August under the message “Bringing the world together to help elephants”.

• Assam launched the Nijut Moina and Nijut Babu schemes to provide monthly financial support to students.
• Uttar Pradesh remained India’s top milk producer in 2024–25 with a 15.66% share and about 19.01 million tonnes output as per BAHS 2025.
• The Uttarakhand government approved the relocation of the High Court from Nainital to Haldwani on 12 August 2026.

• IRDAI approved the acquisition of Magma General Insurance by Patanjali Ayurved and DS Group for about ₹4,500 crore with Patanjali taking 73.56% stake and DS Group 24.5%.
• India improved from 82nd to 57th place on the Market Distortions Performance Index released on 30 July 2026 due to reforms like GST, Insolvency Code and better competition regulation.
• The Department of Financial Services launched India’s first sovereign-backed Protection & Indemnity insurance product under Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool on 30 July 2026 covering liabilities up to USD 1.5 billion.
• India’s gross GST collections in July 2026 reached ₹2.11 lakh crore, up 15.4% year-on-year, with net collections at ₹1.81 lakh crore.
• The National Biodiversity Authority disbursed ₹8.22 crore as Access and Benefit Sharing funds for rice to research institutions and 33 State/UT Biodiversity Boards.
• India and Uzbekistan set a target to double bilateral trade to about $3 billion within three years at the Business Forum held in New Delhi on 3 August 2026.

• Annapurni Subramaniam, Director of the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, became the first Indian woman and fourth Indian to win the COSPAR Vikram Sarabhai Medal for 2026 for her contributions to space research.

• Indigenous Diving Support Vessel Nipun was delivered to the Indian Navy on 30 July 2026 by Hindustan Shipyard Limited as the second vessel in its class with high indigenous content.
• Air Marshal A K Bharti retired as Deputy Chief of Air Staff on 31 July 2026 after decades of service and a key role in Operation Sindoor.
• The fourth Tri-Services Future Warfare Course began at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi on 3 August 2026.
• The Indian Navy launched DSC A24, its fifth and final Diving Support Craft, in Kolkata on 1 August 2026.

• The President gave assent to the Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Act, 2026, which bans forced religious conversions while allowing voluntary conversions.
• Assam observed Alaboi Ron Smriti Divas on 5 August 2026 to commemorate the 357th martyrdom anniversary of Ahom warriors.
• Telangana launched the AI-enabled NextGen Dial-112 Emergency Response Support System on 5 August 2026.

• Brigadier (Retd) Basant Kumar Ponwar, founder of the Counter Terrorism and Jungle Warfare College in Kanker, passed away at the age of 77.
• Former Chief Justice of the Madras and Andhra Pradesh High Courts Justice M.S. Liberhan, who headed the Liberhan Commission on the Babri Masjid demolition, passed away on 2 August 2026 at the age of 87.

• Willie Walsh assumed charge as the CEO of IndiGo on 3 August 2026.
• Vishwesh Negi was appointed as India's next Ambassador to Iran on 3 August 2026.
• The Reserve Bank of India appointed Monisha Chakraborty as Executive Director effective 3 August 2026 to oversee the Foreign Exchange and Financial Markets Regulation Departments.
• The ACC extended the terms of Cabinet Secretary Dr. T.V. Somanathan and Home Secretary Govind Mohan by one year till August 2027.
• Air India appointed Tewolde Gebremariam as its new CEO and Managing Director on 5 August 2026.

• Sarvam AI launched Epoch Builder Edition on 30 July 2026, a platform for building and deploying LLMs focused on Indian languages with 7B and 70B models supporting over 10 languages.
• C-DOT signed an agreement with IISc Bengaluru and FSID on 30 July 2026 to set up a Centre of Excellence focused on wireless communications, quantum technologies, cybersecurity and 6G.
• IIT Hyderabad and Crimson Energy Experts launched ANUGYAN, India’s first industry-academia Nuclear Technology Orientation Programme, on 3 August 2026 as a three-month residential course.
• Chinese astronauts harvested the first batch of rice grown aboard the Tiangong space station on 5 August 2026.

• Tejaswin Shankar became the first Indian to win a Commonwealth Games decathlon medal, securing bronze at Glasgow 2026 with 7,976 points.
• Harsh Singh became the first Indian man to win Commonwealth Games judo gold by defeating Australia’s Joshua Katz in the men’s 60kg final at Glasgow 2026.
• Asmita Dey became the first Indian to win Commonwealth Games judo gold by defeating Canada’s Heidi Quach in the women’s 48kg final at Glasgow 2026.
• Neeraj Chopra won silver and Yash Vir Singh bronze in men’s javelin at Glasgow 2026, taking India’s medal tally to 23.
• India won four of five gold medals at the 22nd Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships, with Ankur Bhattacharjee and Yashaswini Ghorpade winning the singles titles.
• India finished fourth with 39 medals at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow.

• Hyderabad is hosting the BRICS Anti-Corruption Working Group and Expert Network meetings on 4–5 August 2026.

• Brookfield launched its Lumara renewable platform in India on 30 July 2026 with plans to deploy about $600 million in solar, wind and battery-storage projects starting with over 6 GW capacity.
• FSSAI suspended the nutraceutical licence of Dior Pharmaceuticals on 30 July 2026 after finding serious GMP violations at its Punjab plant.
• PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram, Andhra Pradesh on 1 August 2026, which will start commercial operations on 17 August with an initial capacity of 6 million passengers.
• The Union Cabinet approved the Pradhan Mantri Surya Sarovar Yojana with a ₹5,070 crore outlay for 5,000 MW floating solar projects and 10,000 MWh energy storage.
• The exhibition “Worlds Within Cloth: New Orders of Woven Making” opened on 5 August 2026 at the National Crafts Museum, New Delhi, as part of National Handloom Day celebrations.
• Andhra Pradesh and Australia signed four MoUs to strengthen cooperation in clean energy, education, mental health and skill development.
• The GI & Beyond 2.0 Summit will be held in New Delhi on 5 August 2026 to promote GI-tagged handloom and handicraft products.
• Union Minister Bhupender Yadav announced on 3 August 2026 that Glaw Lake in Arunachal Pradesh’s Kamlang Tiger Reserve has been designated India’s 101st Ramsar Site, the first in the state.
• MoS Dr Jitendra Singh informed the Rajya Sabha of DoPT, SSC and UPSC reforms that have shortened recruitment timelines, abolished interviews for certain posts and introduced digital verification systems.
• On 4 August 2026 the Supreme Court issued nationwide directions in a suo motu case on digital arrest scams, ordering the RBI to frame an SOP for mule accounts within four weeks.
• The Department of Posts released a commemorative stamp on 3 August 2026 to mark the birth centenary of artist, sculptor and architect Satish Gujral.
• KUFOS researchers identified a new seahorse species named Hippocampus amandavincentae in August 2026.

• International Day of Friendship is observed annually on 30 July to promote friendship as a force for peace, mutual understanding and solidarity across nations.
• India observed International Clouded Leopard Day on 4 August 2026 and launched the Clouded Leopard Conservation Action Plan focusing on habitat protection and community involvement in North-Eastern India.
• World Breastfeeding Week 2026 is being observed from 1–7 August under the theme "Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works."
• Hiroshima Day 2026 was observed on 6 August marking the 81st anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima.
• Massachusetts declared 15 August 2026 as India Day across the state.
• Lalit Kala Akademi celebrated its 72nd Foundation Day on 5 August 2026 in New Delhi.

• The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has for the first time in its 80-year history appointed a woman Director-General.
• Lithium-ion battery scientist Dr N. Kalaiselvi broke another glass ceiling in her career after being appointed as the Director General of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) for a span of two years. 
• She succeeds Shekhar Mande, who superannuated in April.
• She will now lead the network of 38 laboratories and nearly 4,500 scientists.
• She was previously the first woman scientist to head the CSIR-Central Electrochemical Research Institute (CSIR-CECRI) in 2019.

• Viswanathan Anand, the legendary Indian chess player and five-time world champion, has been elected as the deputy president of International Chess Federation (FIDE).
• Anand was nominated by incumbent president Arkady Vladimirovich Dvorkovich as part of his team to contest the elections.
• Arkady Dvorkovich has been re-elected for a second term as President of the International Chess Federation (FIDE). 
• The International Chess Federation or World Chess Federation commonly referred to by acronym FIDE is an international organization based in Switzerland that connects the various national chess federations and acts as the governing body of international chess competition. 
• It was founded in Paris, France, on July 20, 1924.

• Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba given one-year extension in service by the government. This is his second extension on the post.
• Gauba, former Union Home Secretary, was in 2019 appointed to the country's top bureaucratic post for two years.
• He was given one year extension in August last year.
• Gauba is said to be the key architect of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, under which the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir was divided into two Union territories following the abrogation of the special status given to it under Article 370 of the Constitution.

• Unity Small Finance Bank has appointed senior banker Inderjit Camotra as its managing director and chief executive. 
• Camotra has over 25 years of experience across the country in leadership positions at Standard Chartered Bank, ANZ and Citigroup.
• The Reserve Bank recently elevated Unity Bank to a scheduled bank.
• In January 2022, the bank appointed Vinod Rai, former CAG, as its chairman.

• IFS officer Pranay Kumar Verma appointed as the next High Commissioner of India to the People's Republic of Bangladesh
• Dr. Sujoy Lal Thaosen, Director General, Sashastra Seema Bal takes the additional charge of Director General of Indo-Tibetan Border Police
• World Bank appoints Auguste Tano Koume as country director for India in place of Junaid Kamal Ahmed
• IFS officer Shweta Singh appointed as director in PMO for three years
• Vigilance Commissioner Suresh N. Patel sworn in by President Draupadi Murmu as the head of probity watchdog Central Vigilance Commission
• Ranjeet Rath appointed as the new Chairman and Managing Director of "Oil India Limited", the country's second largest public sector exploration and Production Company
• Ravinder Takkar, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Vodafone Idea, has been appointed as the new Chairman of the company

• Ranjit Rath has taken over as new Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Oil India Limited (OIL).
• Oil India Limited (OIL) is the country’s second-largest public sector exploration and production company.
• Ranjit  Rath took charge as CMD of the Navratna PSU under the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Government of India, on 2nd August.
• Before taking over the charge of Oil India Limited, Rath was the chairman cum managing director of Mineral Exploration & Consultancy Limited under the Ministry of Mines.

• Vigilance Commissioner Suresh N. Patel has been appointed as the Central Vigilance Commissioner, a year after the post fell vacant.
• Mr. Patel, who has been working as the acting Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) since June this year, was sworn in as the chief of the probity watchdog Central Vigilance Commission by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
• Mr. Patel, former managing director and chief executive officer of Andhra Bank, was in April 2020 appointed as the vigilance commissioner.
• Former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Sanjay Kothari had completed his term as the CVC on June 24 last year.

• The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) is celebrating the second ‘Javelin Throw Day’ on August 7, 2022. 
• The day was first observed in 2021 in honour of Javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, who won India’s first Olympic gold medal in athletics at Tokyo. 
• This decision to observe Javelin Throw Day is also an attempt to attract more youth towards the sport and get champions ready for a bright future in athletics ahead.

• Vodafone Idea’s (Vi's) board of directors have appointed the company's Managing Director and chief executive officer (CEO) Ravinder Takkar as the company’s new chairman. 
• Takkar will replace Himanshu Kapania on August 19.
• Takkar, a nominee of the Vodafone Group, is a telecom industry veteran with more than 30 years of experience.
• Takkar was also the Chairman of the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) for two years.
• Last month Vi had announced that its chief financial officer Akshaya Moondra would replace Takkar as the telco’s new CEO. 
• That was then the third top-level change in under four years at the loss-making telco, which has been fighting to turn around its operations amid a severe cash crunch.

• Hiroshima Day is observed on August 6 every year. It aims to promote peace politics against war. 
• This day is a reminder of the bombing attack on Hiroshima by the United States during World War II.
• Hiroshima Day 2022 marks the 77th anniversary of the Hiroshima nuclear bombing.
• On this day in 1945, the American bomber B-29 dropped a five-ton atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. The nuclear bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima city was named 'Little Boy’.
• on August 9, the second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki.

• Director General of Sashastra Seema Bal, SSB Dr. Sujoy Lal Thaosen took over the additional charge of Director General of Indo-Tibetan Border Police in New Delhi. 
• Dr. Thaosen is an IPS Officer of the 1988 batch, Madhya Pradesh Cadre. 
• IPS Sanjay Arora handed over the charge and customary baton to Dr. Thaosen.
• Raised in 1962, the ITBP guards Indo-China borders. It is also deployed in various internal security duties including anti-Naxal operations in Chhattisgarh.

• England batsman Alex Hales has announced his retirement from international cricket at the age of 34.
• The right-hand batsman, who played 11 Test matches, 70 one-day internationals and 75 Twenty20s for England, was dropped from England’s 2019 ODI World Cup squad after news of a failed recreational drugs test broke before tournament.

• Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer Shweta Singh was appointed as a Director in Prime Minister's Office (PMO).
• The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved Singh's appointment for a period of three years. 
• Shweta Singh is a 2008-batch IFS officer.
• The ACC has cancelled the appointment of Aniket Govind Mandavgane as the Deputy Secretary in the PMO.
• Mandavgane was on July 18 appointed as the Deputy Secretary.

• England cricketer Alex Hales announced his retirement from international cricket on 4 August 2023 .
• Hales made his England debut back in 2011 and went on to play for 12 years. In 11 Tests, 70 ODIs and 75 T20Is, the right-hander scored 573, 2419 and 2074 runs respectively, with seven hundreds and 31 half-centuries.
• Last year, Hales played a key role in England winning the T20 World Cup 2023 on English soil.
• But prior to that, he faced troubles in his career as he was out of the national team for three years.

• The World Bank has appointed Auguste Tano Kouamé its country director for India.
• He replaced Junaid Kamal Ahmad who recently completed a five-year term.
• Auguste recently served as the World Bank’s country director for Turkey. 
• Prior to this, he served as the director of the department of human development and economic management in the World Bank Group’s Independent Evaluation Group (IEG) from January 2017 to April 2019.

• Star athlete Jyothi Yarraji won India's first ever bronze medal in the women's 100m hurdles at the World University Games in China.
• India's Jyothi Yarraji improved her own national record as she won a bronze medal.
• Yarraji clocked 12.78 seconds, her previous best was 12.82 seconds at the National Open Athletics Championships in Bengaluru last year. Yarraji missed the Paris Olympics qualifying mark of 12.77 seconds by 0.01 seconds.

• Pranay Kumar Verma, presently serving as Ambassador of India to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, has been appointed as the next High Commissioner of India to the People’s Republic of Bangladesh.
• Verma will succeed incumbent Vikram Doraiswami.
• Doraiswami is set to assume charge as Indian High Commissioner to the UK.
• A 1994 batch IFS officer, Verma has served as the Director General of the East Asia Division at the Ministry of External Affairs.
• He was also Director General for external relations at the Department of Atomic Energy looking after India's nuclear diplomacy.

1. Taylor Fritz won the Atlanta Open 2023 for his sixth career ATP Tour title.
2. Indian shooters and archers have won six medals, including four gold, at the World University Games in Chengdu, China.
3. England pacer Stuart Broad has announced retirement from all forms of cricket.
4. Jasprit Bumrah set to captain Team India in the three-match T20I series against Ireland, making a comeback after a prolonged injury break.
5. India's Bedabrate Bharali shines at Asian Youth & Junior Weightlifting Championship 2023, winning gold in Men's Youth 67kg with top honors in Snatch and silver in Clean and Jerk.
6. Subroto Mukherjee Sports Education Society (SMSES) has signed an MoU with the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to promote football at the grassroots level.
7. 17-year-old Gukesh D becomes India's number one chess player. He has overtaken Viswanathan Anand

• India's 17-year-old Grandmaster Gukesh D has become India's number one chess player.
• He has overtaken Viswanathan Anand. Gukesh's current live rating in Classic chess is 2755.9, while Anand's is 2754.0.
• This comes after Gukesh D qualified for the third round of FIDE World Cup by defeating Azerbaijani Grandmaster Misratdin Iskandarov.

• Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championship 2023 kick-started on July 27 at the Gautam Buddha University in Greater Noida, India.
• On the fourth day of the event, Bedabrate Bharali etched his name in the history books by winning a gold medal in Men's Youth category.
• He had earlier bagged gold in the Snatch category and silver in the Clean and Jerk category.
• India’s Bharali Bedabrate Wins Gold Medal in Snatch, Silver in Clean and Jerk at Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships 2023
• Bedabrate Bharali wins Gold Medal in Men's Youth 67kg category.

• The Indian pacer will make his grand return in international cricket by donning the role of captain in the series starting August as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
• Bumrah has returned to international cricket after a long injury layoff.
• The BCCI's senior selection committee announced the 15-member squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Ireland to be played in Dublin from the 18th of August.

• Indian shooters and archers bagged six medals including four golds at the World University Games in Chengdu, China
• Shooters Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, Divyansh Singh Panwar and Arjun Babuta joined forces to outclass local favourites China to win the 10m air rifle men’s team gold
•  Aishwary also secured gold in the 10m air rifle men’s individual event
• Avneet Kaur pipped USA’s Alyssa Grace Sturgill in a thrilling shoot off to clinch the compound women’s individual gold
• Sangampreet Bisla and Aman Saini clinched the gold and bronze medals in the men’s individual event. India have won 17 medals, nine gold, three silver and five bronze, and are second in the tournament. Hosts China lead the standings with a haul of 21 medals

• Taylor Fritz is back with a bang on the American hard courts for the US Open Series
• The world No. 9 claimed his second ATP Tour title of 2023 on 30 July 2023 at the Atlanta Open, with both trophies coming on home soil
• Fritz tuned up for the U.S. Open with his second victory of the season on hard courts, having won the Delray Beach title in February 2023
• Taylor Fritz won his sixth career title, beating Aleksandar Vukic of Australia 7-5, 6-7 (5), 6-4 at the Atlanta Open.

Renowned music composer and singer Himesh Reshammiya has made history by becoming the first Indian artist to be featured on Bloomberg’s Global Pop Power List. The list includes global stars like Beyoncé, Coldplay, Shakira, Ed Sheeran, and others. Bloomberg's rankings are based on metrics such as live concert ticket sales, digital revenues, and YouTube viewership, highlighting Reshammiya’s global digital influence and commercial success.

The annual interactive programme ‘Pariksha Pe Charcha’, spearheaded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and organised by the Ministry of Education in collaboration with MyGov since 2018, has achieved a Guinness World Record. The 2025 edition was recognised for the highest number of people registered on a Citizen Engagement Platform in a single month. The award was formally received by Union Ministers Dharmendra Pradhan, Ashwini Vaishnaw, and Jitin Prasada.

The 71st National Film Awards celebrated 12th Fail as the Best Feature Film of the year. Shah Rukh Khan, Vikrant Massey, and Rani Mukerji were conferred Best Actor/Actress honours in leading roles. In the supporting actor category, Vijayaraghavan and Muthupettai Somu Bhaskar jointly received the Best Male Actor award, while Urvashi and Janki Bodiwala shared the Best Female Actor accolade. Sudipto Sen was honoured with the Best Director award for The Kerala Story (Hindi). Ashish Bende’s Aatmapamphlet (Marathi) won Best Debut Film. Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, directed by Karan Johar, was awarded Best Popular Film. Sam Bahadur by Meghna Gulzar earned recognition for promoting national, social, and environmental values. Naal 2 (Marathi), directed by Sudhakar Reddy Yakkanti, was adjudged Best Children’s Film, while Hanu-Man (Telugu) secured the award for excellence in Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, and Comics.

Suhani Shah Wins “Best Magic Creator” Award at FISM 2025

Celebrated Indian mentalist and digital creator Suhani Shah won the prestigious "Best Magic Creator" award at the 2025 FISM World Championship of Magic — often referred to as the Olympics of Magic. Held by Fédération Internationale des Sociétés Magiques (FISM), the event saw Shah outperform global talents like Jack Rhodes, Jason Ladanye, and Mohammad Imani. Her victory marks a historic moment for Indian magic on the world stage.

• In Nepal, "Bhoto Jatra" concluded on 04 August, "Bhoto Jatra" is a traditional event of Nepal which revolves around the gem studded vest 'Bhoto' and it is preserved near Rato Machhindranath every year.
• On the last day of Bhoto Jatra, the jeweled vest is displayed before the public, marking the end of the festival and the beginning of the festivities.
• The ballot is preserved in a sealed bag for a year and is opened on the special day in the presence of the head of the state.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 32nd International Conference of Agricultural Economists in Delhi, emphasizing the event's focus on exploring innovative solutions and policies to enhance global food security, improve agricultural practices, and support rural development.
• PM Modi highlighted India's vital role in agriculture, welcomed international delegates and acknowledged the country's 120 million farmers, over 30 million women farmers and 30 million fishermen, noting India's agricultural dominance and commitment to sustainable development. Insisted.

• Reliance Industries Limited achieved its highest rank in the 2024 Fortune Global 500 list, securing 86th position and in the last three years, Reliance Industries has jumped an impressive 69 places from its 155th position in 2021.
• Other notable Indian firms on the list include LIC at 95th, SBI at 178th, with IOC, ONGC, BPCL, Tata Motors, HDFC Bank, and Rajesh Exports also featured, while Walmart retained the top global spot and Amazon ranked second.

• The Tata Group has launched a ₹27,000 crore semiconductor assembly and test facility in Assam, aiming to produce 15 billion chips annually and generate 27,000 jobs.
• This facility is a key component of India's semiconductor mission and will enhance Assam's role in the global electronics ecosystem.
• The new Tata Electronics project will advance chip manufacturing and testing capabilities, providing support to various global industries.

• India will host the 1st BIMSTEC Business Summit on August 6, 2024, in New Delhi, organized by the Ministry of External Affairs in collaboration with the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII). 
• The summit aims to boost regional collaboration through enhanced trade and investment among BIMSTEC member countries.
• The event will feature participation from high-ranking officials, policymakers, and industry leaders from various BIMSTEC member states, emphasizing its role in fostering economic cooperation in the region.
• The event will bring together over 300 key stakeholders from the Bay of Bengal region to facilitate economic cooperation and explore further avenues in focus areas such as trade facilitation, regional connectivity, energy security, inclusive growth and sustainable development.

• The Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana–National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) announced the launch of the initiative "Million Designers, Billion Dreams." 
• This innovative program aims to empower individuals across India with systems design know-how to tackle complex societal challenges.
• Aims to foster innovation, improve quality of life, promote economic growth, and adopt sustainable practices, positioning India as a global leader in design and innovation.

• The Central Government has officially declared Adichunchanagiri in Karnataka and Choolannuar in Kerala as Peacock Sanctuaries. Adichunchanagiri, situated in Mandya District, was first notified in 1981 and declared in 1999, while Choolannur Peafowl Sanctuary in Palakkad District was declared in 1996.
• Union Minister for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, highlighted the conservation measures for the national bird, including the establishment of breeding and conservation centers for peacocks.

• On August 4, 2024, Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched the e-Sakshya, Nyaya Setu, Nyaya Shruti, and e-Summon apps in Chandigarh to support the implementation of three new criminal laws: Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nyaya Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA).
• The e-Sakshya app enables officers to capture and transmit crime scene evidence, witness information, and photos/videos securely to an evidence locker, linking it to the charge sheet for electronic access by the court.
• Nyaya Shruti streamlines court hearings via video conferencing, sending alerts and links to police, prisons, prosecution, and forensics whenever summons or warrants are issued.
• e-Summons electronically transmits court orders like summons and warrants to the police, who then receive and deliver them via their mobile devices.

• On August 2, 2024, Germany officially joined the United Nations Command (UNC) as its 18th member state, enhancing the international presence that monitors the fortified border with North Korea and commits to defending South Korea in case of conflict.
• Germany's inclusion is the first expansion of the UNC since Italy was reinstated in 2013, marking a significant update in the command's membership since its establishment on July 7, 1950, in response to North Korea's aggression against South Korea.

• Union Minister Pralhad Venkatesh Joshi launched the Version 4.0 Price Monitoring System (PMS) Mobile App, expanding the Department of Consumer Affairs' monitoring to 38 commodities from 22, now covering 31% of the CPI weights.
• The newly added items include essential goods like Bajra, Ghee, and Black Pepper, with the government allocating Rs 10,000 crore under the price stabilization fund (PSF) for the 2024-25 Union Budget to stabilize prices and ensure affordability of pulses.

• India is ranked 39th out of 119 countries in the Travel and Tourism Development Index 2024 report published by the World Economic Forum.
• In 2022, India recorded 14.3 million international tourist arrivals, representing 1.47% of the global market share, with a 15.66% share in the Asia and Pacific region, and improvements were noted in travel and tourism prioritization, safety and security, and health and hygiene.

• China plans to build the world’s first nuclear power plant fueled by molten thorium salt in the Gobi Desert, with construction starting in 2025. 
• This plant aims to develop safer and more environmentally friendly nuclear energy by using liquid salt and carbon dioxide for heat transfer, eliminating the need for water cooling.
• The reactor will use fuel enriched with less than 20% Uranium-235 and approximately 50 kg of thorium, utilizing FLiBe (a mixture of lithium fluoride and beryllium fluoride) and uranium tetrafluoride (UF4) for its operations.

• INS Shivalik's victory in the Naval Gunfire Support Competition at the Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC) 2024, the world’s largest international maritime exercise with participation from 29 nations, underscores the Indian Navy's professionalism and precision. 
• The multi-role stealth frigate's exceptional firepower and accuracy secured the prestigious RODEO trophy, marking a significant milestone in India's maritime journey.
• RIMPAC began in 1971 as an annual exercise by the US, Australia, and Canada, but became a biennial event in 1974. India first participated in RIMPAC in 2014 with INS Sahyadri.

• India was the eighth-largest exporter of agricultural products in 2023, with exports decreasing from $55 billion in 2022 to $51 billion.
• Among the top ten agricultural exporting nations, only Brazil, the European Union, and Thailand experienced growth in exports, with Brazil's exports increasing by 6% to $157 billion, the EU's by 5% to $836 billion, and Thailand's by 0.2%.

• The Hemant Soren government of Jharkhand launched the "Mukhyamantri Maiyan Samman Yojana" on 16 August 2024, which will provide financial assistance to eligible women of the state. 
• Under the Mukhyamantri Maiyan Samman Yojana, women holding green or yellow ration cards between 21 and 50 years of age will be given an assistance amount of Rs 12,000 every year, which will be deposited in their single linked bank account as Rs 1,000 every month.
• Application forms are being received by organizing camps in district panchayat buildings till 10 August 2024 and forms have been made available to all Anganwadi workers of the state.
• The government has encouraged more and more women to take advantage of the scheme and will require ration cards as documents.

• On August 6, 2024, President Draupadi Murmu was awarded the Companion of the Order of Fiji, Fiji's highest civilian award, by President Ratu Viliame Mavelili Katonivere, highlighting the strong diplomatic relations between India and Fiji.
• The Companion of the Order of Fiji is Fiji's highest civilian award.
• This honour is reflective of the deep bonds of friendship between India and Fiji.

• India is the 2nd largest producer of aluminium in the world, with primary aluminum production increasing by 1.2% in Q1 of FY 2024-25 compared to the same period last year, reaching 10.43 lakh tons.
• India is the 3rd largest producer of lime and the 4th largest producer of iron ore globally. 
• The growth in mineral production, including a notable 11% increase in manganese ore, indicates continued strong economic activity in sectors such as energy, infrastructure, and construction.

• India and Vietnam have signed $300 million loan agreements, which will help the Southeast Asian country start and complete its maritime projects.
• Vietnam Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, who was on an official visit to India, was accompanied by a delegation of ministers for a bilateral visit.
• The two countries agreed to enhance defense cooperation, based on mutual interests and priorities, cooperation in human resource development, peacekeeping operations, hydrographic surveys, cyber security, information sharing, strategic research, maritime security, and search and rescue operations.

• KIIT Deemed to be University (KIIT DU) has been granted Special Consultative Status by the UN Economic and Social Council (UN ECOSOC) for its contributions to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), being one of 19 organizations selected from 476 global applicants.
• The status was conferred on July 23, 2024, during the UN ECOSOC management segment meeting at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, highlighting KIIT's significant role in advancing the UN's Agenda 2030 and SDGs.

• The 4th Rashtriya Hindi Vigyan Sammelan 2024 was held on July 30-31 in Bhopal, aiming to provide a platform for researchers to present and discuss their work in Hindi, enrich science and technology-based research in Hindi, and popularize science and technology through the Hindi medium.
• The conference was organized by CSIR-AMPRI, Bhopal, in association with CSIR-NIScPR, New Delhi, Vijnana Bharati Madhya Bharat Province, Madhya Pradesh Council of Science and Technology, Madhya Pradesh Bhoj (Open) University, and Atal Bihari Vajpayee Hindi University.
• The theme of the conference was "Upgradation of National Scientific Consciousness in Amrit Kaal," featuring six sessions on diverse topics including Science, Technology, Ayurveda, Engineering, and Science Communication.

• An X-Band Doppler Weather Radar will be installed in Lahaul-Spiti district by December 2025, which will provide accurate forecasts and information about natural disasters to the Meteorological Department. Rs 13.87 crore has been spent on this project.
• With the help of radar, accurate information related to weather and disasters in the high-altitude areas of Himachal Pradesh will be obtained, which will help in forecasting and effective control of disasters. This will enable quick measures in reducing the loss of life and property during events like heavy rains and snowfall.

• Ashma Kumari KC was crowned Miss Nepal World 2024, defeating 25 contestants in the 28th edition beauty pageant at the Godavari Sunrise Convention Center, Lalitpur. 
• She was crowned by Miss Nepal World 2023, Sricha Pradhan.
• 26-year-old Miss Nepal World Ashma KC is a graduate student in Social Work. She is a resident of Kathmandu. In this year's Miss Nepal competition, 26 finalist beauties competed for the title.
• Sumana KC and Karuna Rawat won the titles of Miss Nepal Earth and Miss Nepal International, respectively.

• Moidams of Assam Granted Prestigious 43rd UNESCO World Heritage Site Tag in Cultural Category.
• Japan's Sado mines have been added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.
• Periyar Tiger Reserve has become the first to install a wind turbine within its forests for power generation.
• World Trade Organization (WTO) Releases 'World Tariff Profiles (WTP) 2024,' Ranks India as Second-Largest User of Non-Tariff Measures (NTMs) in 2023.
• India ranks second globally in anti-dumping measures imposed, according to a WTO report.

• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the development of 8 important National High-Speed Corridor projects with a Length of 936 km at a cost of Rs. 50,655 crore across the country. 
• The implementation of these eight important projects will generate an estimated 4.42 crore man-days of direct and indirect employment.
• The projects approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs include 6-Lane Agra-Gwalior National High-Speed Corridor, 4-Lane Kharagpur-Moregram National High-Speed Corridor, 6-Lane Tharad-Deesa-Mehsana-Ahmedabad National High-Speed Corridor, 4-lane Ayodhya Ring Road, 4-Lane Section between Pathalgaon and Gumla of Raipur-Ranchi National Highspeed Corridor, and 6-Lane Kanpur Ring Road.

• Visakhapatnam PSUs Honored with ‘Rajbhasha Gaurav Samman’ for 2023-24 by TOLIC.
• Shah Rukh Khan Becomes the First Bollywood Actor Honored with Gold Coin by Grevin Museum, Paris.
• Google CEO Sundar Pichai is honored with an honorary doctorate by IIT Kharagpur.
• CWC has won the GEEF Global WaterTech Award for 'Water Department of the Year' at the Global Water Tech Summit – 2024.

• In 2023, India became the second-largest user of anti-dumping measures globally, following the US, with 45 investigations initiated and duties imposed in 14 cases.
• India reduced its average tariffs to 17% from 18.1% in 2022 but increased its use of anti-dumping duties to protect domestic industries from unfair trade practices.

• Jyotiraditya Scindia and Dr. Pemmasani Chandrasekhar inaugurated the Network Operations Centre at the premises of the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) in Delhi, which is the indigenous security infrastructure for the identification and monitoring of cyber threats in telecom networks in the country.
• The Minister made a pilot 5G call using indigenously developed 5G Radio and 5G Core (NSA) in BSNL's live network, which is a significant step in the development of indigenous technology.

• India dispatched 9 tonnes of medical supplies to Haiti, including blood transfusion essentials, immunohematology reagents, rapid tests, and ELISA kits, to assist in the country's severe health crisis and ongoing violence.
• The supplies were sent from New Delhi to Port-au-Prince in response to a tragic boat fire off Haiti's coast, underscoring the urgent need for international aid.

• 1600 tonnes of lithium reserves have been found in Mandya and Yadgir districts of Karnataka.
• Coal Minister Shri G. Kishan Reddy Launches Vriksharopan Abhiyan 2024 under ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ in BCCL, Dhanbad.
• BHEL secures a Rs. 10,000 crore contract from Damodar Valley Corporation for the Koderma Thermal Power Station Phase-II.
• PM Modi launches the Shinkun La Tunnel project in Ladakh, set to be the world's highest tunnel.
• Ministry of Steel launches the ‘Steel Import Monitoring System’ 2.0 portal to enhance steel import monitoring and support domestic industry growth.
• Two Rashtrapati Bhavan halls are renamed as ‘Ganatantra Mandap’ and ‘Ashok Mandap’ to reflect India's democratic values and cultural heritage.
• Union Minister Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat has inaugurated the Humayun’s Tomb World Heritage Site Museum.
• Union Minister Bhupender Yadav launched the 'Ideas4LiFE' initiative at IIT Delhi to promote environment-friendly innovations.
• India’s first integrated agri-export facility to be established at Jawaharlal Nehru Port in Mumbai.
• President Murmu has appointed new Governors for nine states and the Lieutenant Governor for Puducherry.
• External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar unveiled a bust of Mahatma Gandhi in Edogawa, Tokyo.
• The Prime Minister has received Parimal Nathwani's book on Gir and Asiatic lions.

• Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) has partnered with C2treds and UGRO Capital to facilitate loans for the MSME sector, with C2treds offering liquidity within 24 hours through an online bidding process.
• C2FO is an on-demand working capital platform providing fast, flexible, and equitable access to low-cost capital for nearly 2 million businesses globally.

• India and Vietnam signed nine agreements to deepen comprehensive strategic partnership and enhance cooperation in the fields of customs, agriculture, legal, radio and television broadcast, culture, and tourism. 
• Both countries agreed to deepen economic, strategic, and cultural ties, with bilateral trade reaching $15 billion and emphasized increasing trade further.
• A plan of action for the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (2024-2028) was agreed upon, including MoUs for agricultural research, broadcasting cooperation, and two $300 million credit line agreements, with Vietnam joining the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure.

• On July 27, 2024, the World Trade Organization (WTO), in collaboration with the International Trade Centre (ITC) and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), released the 'World Tariff Profiles (WTP) 2024' in Geneva, Switzerland.
• The report highlighted that India ranked as the second-largest user of Non-Tariff Measures (NTMs) among WTO members in 2023, primarily due to the initiation and imposition of anti-dumping duties, with the USA taking the first position.
• India's average tariffs decreased to 17% in 2023 from 18.1% in 2022, indicating a reduction in tariff rates over the year.

• The 'One DAE One Subscription' (ODOS) initiative was launched at Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai, bringing together around 60 units of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) for shared access to research papers and scientific journals.
• DAE signed consortium agreements with Wiley India and Springer Nature Group, enhancing read and publish access for scientists, engineers, students, and researchers. 
• This initiative aims to expand access to knowledge and facilitate open access publishing.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appreciated the book Call of the Gir written by Rajya Sabha Member Parimal Nathwani.
• The book is based on the landscapes of the Girs, known to Asiatic lions. The book combines vibrant photography and narratives to highlight the urgency of conservation efforts.

• The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) launched the 'Suvidha Software Version 1.0' during its first 'Annual Operational Sea Training Conference' in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. 
• This advanced software aims to standardize and enhance training protocols across all ICG platforms, promoting consistency and excellence in training.
• Deputy Director General (Sea Training) Inspector General Anupam Rai highlighted the importance of fostering a culture of excellence and adaptability within the ICG. 
• The conference, attended by senior officers from various regions, emphasized the need for a unified approach to complex maritime operations and served as a forum for sharing best practices and aligning strategies in the dynamic maritime security environment.

• Periyar Tiger Reserve in Thekkady has become the first tiger reserve in India to install a wind turbine for power generation, enhancing its conservation technology and communication systems.
• The wind turbine will support real-time monitoring cameras and Wi-Fi connectivity, providing a more reliable energy source compared to solar panels, which were previously affected by the reserve's foggy climate and heavy rainfall.

• External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar unveiled a bust of Mahatma Gandhi in Tokyo's Edogawa ward, highlighting Gandhi's global legacy and message of peace and non-violence.
• The ceremony, held during Jaishankar’s visit for a Quad foreign ministers' meeting, was attended by Edogawa ward’s mayor Takeshi Saito, and parliamentary vice minister of foreign affairs Masahiro Komura, emphasizing the continued relevance of Gandhi's teachings in contemporary times.

• On July 27, Japan's Sado gold mine was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site, recognizing its historical and cultural significance, including its role in World War II and the abuse of Korean laborers.
• The listing aims to address the dark aspects of the mine's history and improve diplomatic relations between Japan and South Korea, acknowledging the mine's past and its nearly 400 years of operation before closing in 1989.

Apple Inc. has announced a significant boost to its U.S. investment plan by pledging an additional $100 billion, taking the company’s total commitment to $600 billion over the next four years. Key initiatives include the American Manufacturing Program, aiming to localize more of Apple’s production processes. Notably, 100% of iPhone and Apple Watch cover glass will now be produced in Kentucky, and the company plans to build an entire end-to-end U.S.-based silicon chip supply chain.

• Triple jumper Eldhose Paul became the first Keralite to win an individual gold at the Commonwealth Games.
• The 25-year-old from Ernakulam won the gold with a personal best of 17.03m, while his training partner and statemate Abdulla Aboobacker took the silver with an effort of 17.02.
• Jah-Nhal Perinchief of Bermuda won the bronze with his best jump of 16.92m.
• India had won four triple jump medals in the past editions but this is the first time two athletes from the country have got podium finishes.

1. Amazon India announced to open first floating store in Dal lake Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah releases 'Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam:
2. Memories Never Die' book in Rameswaram, accompanied by Union Minister Dr. L. Murugan.
3. Shri G.Ashok Kumar chaired 50th meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG)
4. India's first hydrogen fuel-related industry approved to be set up in in Jamshedpur (Jharkhand)
5. Jaderi Namkatti, Kanyakumari Matti Banana, Chedibuta Saree products from Tamil Nadu will be given geographical indication (GI) tag on August 31, 2023
6. Shri Dharmendra Pradhan launched the 'ULLAS' (Understanding Lifelong Learning for All in Society) mobile app

OpenAI has released two new open-weight language models—gpt-oss-120b and gpt-oss-20b—that are optimized to operate locally on systems with just 16GB RAM. These models allow developers to inspect and understand the internal processing logic (weights), though they do not support multimedia generation like images or videos. They can also redirect queries to more advanced, closed OpenAI models when required.

• Indian boxer Nikhat Zareen bagged gold in women's flyweight category, defeating Northern Ireland's Carly McNaul in the finals at the Commonwealth Games (CWG) on August 7.
• Zareen's victory takes India's cumulative tally of gold medals at the Birmingham games to 17, placing the country at the fourth spot, behind Australia, England and Canada.
• The 26-year-old Nikhat Zareen had clinched gold at the IBA Women's World Boxing Championships in May.
• Apart from winning 18 gold medals so far, India has also claimed 15 silvers and 22 bronzes at CWG, taking the overall medal tally to 55.

• Three famous products from Tamil Nadu – Jaderi Namkatti, Kanyakumari Matti Banana, Chedibuta Saree were given GI tag by the Geographical Indications Registry on August 31, 2023.
• The application seeking tag for this product was filed by Jaderi Tiruman (Namakatti) Producers Society. Jaderi is a small village in Tiruvannamalai district. There are around 120 families in Cheyyar taluk whose primary occupation has been making namakatti for more than hundreds of years now.
• The namakatti is made up of the rich deposit of hydrous silicate minerals that form fine grain particles of clay The clay is processed and shaped in a finger like structure. The production of namakatti depends on the climatic condition as it needs a lot of sunlight to dry.
• The Chedibutta saree is a handloom saree which depicts the Chedibutta design in art silk and cotton mix fabric. The name ‘Chedibutta’ is a combination of two Tamil words- ‘Chedi’ (plant) and ‘Butta’ (repeated motif or design). The Chedibutta saree has the iconic “plant and flower” motif woven on the border and pallu (edge of the saree)
• The application for Kanniyakumari Matti banana was filed by Kanyakumari Banana and Horticulture Farmers Producer Company Limited. Matti banana is mostly grow in the Agatheeswaram, Thovalai, Thiruvattar taluks of Kanniyakumari district. 
• It is a traditional table banana cultivar of medicinal value and the fruit is highly fragrant, sweet with sub-acid flavour, firm texture and powdery nature.

On August 6, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order imposing an additional 25% tariff on Indian imports, citing India’s continued oil trade with Russia. This follows an earlier 25% tariff order issued on July 31. The first tariff takes effect from August 7, while the additional tariff will come into force 21 days later, effectively doubling duties on Indian goods entering the U.S.

• This is her 3rd gold in Commonwealth Games she played so far.
• 27-year-old Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat has clinched Gold medal in 53 kg category at Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
• She won gold after defeating her opponents Samantha Stewart, Mercy Bolafunoluwa and Chamodya Keshani Maduravalage Don in 3 matches in the Nordic System group.
• She had won the 48kg gold at Glasgow 2014 and the 50kg division at Gold Coast 2018.

• Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah releases 'Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam: Memories Never Die' book in Rameshwaram
• The Union Home Minister visited Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam House, Mission of Life Gallery Museum and Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam National Memorial.
• Union Minister of State Dr. L. Murugan was among the dignitaries present at the launch of the book 'Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam: Memories Never Die'.

India’s RuPay payment network has entered a one-year strategic partnership with Bigtree Entertainment (owner of BookMyShow) to offer exclusive benefits to its users. RuPay cardholders will get early access and premium services for major entertainment events like Sunburn 2025, Lollapalooza India 2026, and Bandland 2026. Perks include pre-sale booking, special zones, priority lounge access, merchandise deals, food and beverage combos, and fast-lane recharge facilities.

• Bajrang Punia has defeated Canada's Lachlan McNeil to clinch the gold medal in the men's 65 kg wrestling category at the Commonwealth Games 2022.
• He has now become the first Indian wrestler to win a gold medal in Birmingham. The Indian wrestler won the contest by dominating the Canadian grappler by a margin of 9-2.
• This is Bajrang Punia's second successive gold medal at the Commonwealth Games, after he clinched the top spot on the podium in Gold Coast 2018. 
• In fact, Punia had also won the silver medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, and hence this is his third consecutive medal at the quadrennial event.

ICICI Bank has reorganised its leadership, transferring treasury head B. Prasanna to ICICI Securities to lead its capital finance and investment banking division. Shailendra Jhingan will take over his role, while Anubhuti Sanghai, currently head of transaction banking, will replace Jhingan as head of ICICI Securities Primary Dealership.

• Quarter-miler Rupal Chaudhary, daughter of a farmer from Uttar Pradesh, scripted history by winning twin medals and became the first Indian athlete to win two medals in a single edition of the World U20 Athletics Championships in Cali, Colombia.
• In the mixed relay race Rupal ran the final leg and finished just 0.07 seconds behind the winner.
• Rupal Chaudhary is the second Indian to have won a medal in the women’s 400m after Hima Das’ gold in the 2018 edition in Finland. 
• Javelin throw ace Neeraj Chopra was the first Indian to win a world athletics U20 title at Bydgoszcz 2016 in Poland.

The Competition Commission of India has approved Dalmia Cement (Bharat) Limited’s 100% acquisition of Jaiprakash Associates Limited (JAL) as part of a corporate insolvency resolution process under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016. Dalmia Cement (Bharat) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Dalmia Bharat Limited, a major player in cement manufacturing and sales.

• Harjinder Kaur wins bronze medal in women's 71kg weightlifting of Commonwealth Games 2022, India gets its ninth medal
• Tania Sachdev leads Indian A women's team to victory in 44th Chess Olympiad held in Mamallapuram, Chennai
• India beat South Africa to win its first gold medal in Lawn Bowles
• Union Petroleum Minister Shri Hardeep Singh Puri inaugurates 4th ONGC Para Games
• Tejaswin Shankar wins India's first track and field medal at the Commonwealth Games 2022, becoming the first Indian to win a Commonwealth Games medal (Bronze) in the high jump
• Lovepreet Singh won bronze medal in men's 109kg category in weightlifting at Commonwealth Games 2022
• Indian judoka Tulika Mann wins silver medal in women's 78 kg final at Commonwealth Games 2022, Scotland's Sarah Adlington got gold medal

Repco Bank, a Government of India enterprise under the Ministry of Home Affairs, presented a ₹22.90 crore dividend cheque for FY 2024-25 to Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah in New Delhi. The bank posted a record net profit of ₹140 crore during the year, marking its highest-ever financial performance and paying a 30% dividend. The government holds a 50.08% stake in the cooperative bank.

• India's 27-year-old para powerlifter Sudhir clinched gold medal in the men's heavyweight category, taking India's medal tally at CWG 2022 to 20.
• He defeated Nigeria's Ikechukwu Obichukwu by 0.9 points as his final score read a Games record 134.5 points for the gold.
• It is India's first-ever gold medal in para powerlifting in the history of CWG. 
• Sudhir had a best lift of 212 kg and he finished with 134.5 points in the final, setting a CWG record.
• So far, India have won 20 medals, which include 6 Gold, 7 Silver, and 7 Bronze.

Since its launch in October 2021, the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan has progressed in integrating geospatial platforms, multiple datasets, and planning tools for socio-economic infrastructure development. Under the institutionalised Network Planning Group (NPG) mechanism, 293 projects have been evaluated for multimodal integration, last-mile connectivity, and synchronisation of government efforts, covering a total investment of ₹13.59 lakh crore.

• Indian Judoka Tulika Maan bagged the silver medal in the women’s 78 Kg final against Sarah Adlington of Scotland in Commonwealth Games 2022.
• Mann’s efforts take India’s medal tally at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games to 16.
• Tulika Maan, a 3-time national champion, became the third judoka to win a medal for India at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. 
• She is a 2-time Commonwealth Championship gold medalist.

NITI Aayog has released a comprehensive report titled “Unlocking a $200 Billion Opportunity: Electric Vehicles in India,” highlighting the steps needed to accelerate the country’s EV transition. The report notes India’s target of achieving 30% EV sales share by 2030. While global EV sales rose from 918,000 in 2016 to 18.78 million in 2024, India’s sales increased from 50,000 in 2016 to 2.08 million in 2024, indicating a slow but steadily improving pace of adoption.

• India’s Lovepreet Singh won a bronze medal in men’s 109 kg to continue the country’s medal rush in weightlifting at the Commonwealth Games 2022.
• The 24-year-old from Punjab lifted a total of 355 kg, including a new national record of 192 kg in clean and jerk, to finish third on the podium. He lifted 163kg in snatch.
• Junior Nyabeyeu of Cameroon claimed the gold medal with a total lift of 361 kg, while Jack Opeloge of Samoa bagged the silver by lifting 358 kg in the event.
• India have so far won eight weightlifting medals, including three gold, in the showpiece.

The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has fined PB Fintech’s online insurance marketplace, Policybazaar, ₹50 million for lapses including non-compliance related to directorships held by key managerial personnel, tagging of policies, and premium remittance. The action follows a 2020 inspection and a show-cause notice issued in October 2024. After reviewing submissions and holding hearings, IRDAI finalised the penalty on Monday.

• Tejaswin Shankar became the first Indian to win men's high jump medal in the Commonwealth Games.
• The national record holder cleared 2.22m to finish third on countback.
• Hamish Kerr of New Zealand won the gold while Australia's Brandon Starc clinched the silver.
• Before Shankar, the best position an Indian had achieved in men's high jump in CWG was by Bhim Singh who cleared 2.06m in the 1970 edition in Edinburgh.
• Shankar had finished sixth in the 2018 Gold Coast edition with a best jump of 2.24m.

The National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), under the Ministry of Ayush, signed two strategic Memoranda of Understanding at Nirman Bhawan, New Delhi, in the presence of Union Minister of State for Ayush and Health, Prataprao Jadhav. The first MoU, with IshVed-Bioplants Venture of Pune, focuses on cultivating and conserving medicinal plants. The second, a tripartite MoU with the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) and the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, aims to advance research and integrate medicinal plant-based solutions into mainstream healthcare.

• Harjinder Kaur won the bronze medal in the women's 71kg final to give India its seventh weightlifting medal and ninth overall at the Commonwealth Games 2022.
• Harjinder's total attempt was of 212 kg (93 in snatch and 119 in Clean & Jerk), which for the longest time, appeared not enough to win her a medal.
• Harjinder's bronze medal was the third medal for India on Monday at the Commonwealth Games adding to the silver and bronze won by judokas Shushila Devi and Vikas Yadav. 
• This took India`s overall tally to nine medals three gold, three silver and three bronze. 
• Harjinder's bronze medal was the seventh medal India had won in the weightlifting arena so far in this Games.

Bank of Baroda has introduced ‘bob FxOne’, a secure, real-time digital foreign exchange and derivatives platform aimed at corporate and MSME clients. The platform allows users to carry out forex transactions at live market rates with instant confirmations, download deal tickets, and manage personalised dashboards with alerts. Designed to enhance efficiency and reduce costs, bob FxOne eliminates the need for physical bank visits or manual intervention, simplifying the foreign exchange transaction process.

• India have clinched their first-ever gold medal in Lawn Bowls after defeating South Africa in the final of the Women's Fours event at the 2022 Commonwealth Games (CWG).
• The Indian quartet of Lovely Choubey, Pinki Choudhury, Nayanmoni Saikia, and Rupa Rani led India to their first-ever CWG medal in the sport.
• The Men's Table Tennis team defeated Singapore 3-1 in the gold medal match to give the country its fifth gold medal.
• India have so far have won 13 medals with five gold, five silver and three bronze.

1. Industrialist Ratan Tata has been chosen to get Maharashtra govt's first 'Udyog Ratna' award.

• Odisha CM releases book titled 'Lockdown Lyrics', a collection of poems by Sanjukta Das
• IndianOil signs MoU with National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) for Intercontinental Rehabilitation of Cheetah
• 3rd Comic Book on Stories of 20 Tribal Freedom Fighters releases by Ministry of Culture at Tiranga Utsav Celebrations in New Delhi

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding during the “Industry 4.0 Workshop for CPSEs” organised in Guwahati under the Ministry of Finance. Under this agreement, the two organisations will work together to deploy the country’s first Captive Non-Public Network (CNPN) based on indigenous 5G technology within the refinery sector. This advanced network will offer secure, ultra-reliable, low-latency, real-time connectivity essential for mission-critical industrial operations, marking a significant step towards adopting Industry 4.0 solutions in India.

• Hon’ble Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas and Housing and Urban Affairs Shri Hardeep Singh Puri inaugurated the fourth ONGC Para Games in Thyagaraj Sports Complex in Delhi on 2 August 2022.
• 275 Persons with Disabilities (PwD) – employees of eight central oil and gas public enterprises – are participating in the 4th ONGC Para Games, being organized by Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) during 2-4 August 2022.
• ONGC organizes the Para Games on an international format from its very first edition in 2017 with the help of the Paralympic Committee of India, where 120 ONGC PwD employees participated in games like athletics, badminton, table tennis and wheelchair race.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi was honoured with the Lokmanya Tilak National Award at a function in Pune, Maharashtra.
• The Award was constituted by Tilak Smarak Mandir Trust in 1983 to honor the legacy of Lokmanya Tilak.
• The Prime Minister donated the cash prize to the Namami Gange Project.
• After arriving at the venue, the Prime Minister paid floral tributes at the statue of Lokmanya Tilak. Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister paid tributes to Lokmanya Tilak on his death anniversary. "Lokmanya Tilak ji is the Tilak of India's freedom struggle. He also underlined the extraordinary and unique contribution of Anna Bhau Sathe for the betterment of society.
• The Prime Minister paid tributes at the land of Chhatrapati Shivaji, Chapekar Brothers, Jyotiba Phule and Savitribai Phule.

• Ministry of Culture has released the third Comic book on stories of 20 Tribal Freedom Fighters on 2nd August at Tiranga Utsav celebration in New Delhi.
• This collection of stories recalls the sacrifices of some of the bravest men and women who inspired their tribes and gave up their lives to fight British rule.
• The first ACK Comic book on India's 20 Women Unsung Heroes and Second Comic book on stories of 15 Women elected to the Constituent Assembly has been released earlier.
• Ministry of Culture as a part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKM) has released pictorial books on 75 freedom fighters in collaboration with Amar Chitra Katha (ACK) to create awareness among the youth and children about the supreme sacrifice and patriotism of our lesser known heroes of freedom struggle.

On Monday, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin officially inaugurated Vietnamese electric vehicle manufacturer VinFast’s first production facility in India, located in Thoothukudi district. Spread across 408 acres within the SIPCOT industrial complex at Sillanatham, the plant is part of a ₹16,000-crore investment agreement signed between VinFast and the Tamil Nadu government during the Global Investors Meet 2024. The plant is expected to generate more than 3,500 employment opportunities over the next five years. Initially, it will produce 50,000 vehicles annually, with the capacity to scale up to 1,50,000 units to meet rising market demand. Stalin highlighted that the facility was completed in a record 17 months after the MoU was signed, underscoring Tamil Nadu’s strong business-friendly environment and its status as a leading manufacturing hub—pointing out that 40% of India’s electric vehicles are produced in the state.

• Tania Sachdev battled long and hard to rake in a precious point as India A registered a sensational 2.5-1.5 win against Hungary in the fourth-round match of women section at the 44th Chess Olympiad in Mamallapuram, Chennai.
• After Koneru Humpy, Dronavalli Harika and R Vaishali ended with a draw in their respective encounters, Sachdev rose brilliantly to the occasion. She thrashed Zsoka Gaal to earn a decisive point as well as the match for the team.

• The Maharashtra government has decided to confer the first 'Udyog Ratna' award on veteran industrialist and chairman emeritus of Tata Sons, Ratan Tata
• Awards for young entrepreneur, woman entrepreneur and Marathi entrepreneur will also be given, state Industries minister Uday Samant  announced in the state legislative
• 'Udyog Ratna' is like Maharashtra Bhushan, ratan Tata being awarded 'Udyog Ratna' is a recognition of his outstanding achievements in the industrial sector

• Indian Oil signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) for the transcontinental relocation of the 'Cheetah' in its historical range in India. 
• Indian Oil is the first corporate to come forward to support "Project Cheetah" under CSR, as the project is not only of national importance but also essential for ecosystem balancing.
• This is in addition to the Memorandum of Understanding signed on July 20, 2022 between the Government of India and the Government of the Republic of Namibia on wildlife conservation and sustainable biodiversity utilization, with the goal of reintroducing the cheetah into its historical range in India.
• Indian Oil will contribute Rs.50.22 crore over a four-year period to the project's components, which include cheetah introduction, habitat management and protection, eco-development, staff training, and veterinary healthcare.

Assam marked a major milestone in inland water transport with the inauguration of cargo operations on River Kopili, designated as National Waterway-57. A 300-tonne cement consignment was flagged off from Govardhan Bridge in Chandrapur (Kamrup district) to Hatsingimari in South Samara. The resumption of river trade after more than a decade was hailed by Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal as a transformative moment for logistics in the Northeast.

•  Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has released a book titled ‘Lockdown Lyrics’, a collection of poems written by Sanjukta Dash.
• The poems capture the author’s experiences and exasperations during the pandemic.
• Sanjukta has authored three anthology of poems in Odia — Antaswar, Amrut Anwesha and Apekshare Ebe Bi.
• Lockdown Lyrics is her debut in English poems and has been published by Authors Press, New Delhi.

Fitch Ratings has lowered India’s GDP growth forecast for FY2025–26 to 6.3%, down slightly from 6.4% estimated earlier in April. Despite the downward revision, the rating agency highlighted continued strength in infrastructure investment that sustains demand across core sectors. Fitch also noted that the recent increase in U.S. tariffs is unlikely to have a significant direct effect on Indian corporates, based on its latest India Corporates Credit Trends report.

• According to a cabinet announcement, Egypt and an Indian company have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to build a green hydrogen factory in the Suez Canal Economic Zone.
• The MoU states that Indian ReNew Power Private Limited will invest $8 billion to construct a facility that will create 20,000 tonnes of green hydrogen annually. 
• ReNew Power and the Egyptian government signed a preliminary deal to invest up to $8 billion to create green hydrogen.

• RITES and CMPDI sign MoU to collaborate on mining, energy, and infrastructure projects.
• Sundar Pichai becomes a billionaire as Alphabet shares approach record highs.
• Nvidia’s AI chips worth $1 billion were illegally smuggled into China despite U.S. export restrictions.
• ADB Revises India’s FY26 Growth Projection to 6.5% Amid Global Headwinds.
• Tripura to Develop Infrastructure in 9 Industrial Zones with ₹975 Cr ADB Loan.
• Shriram Life and ESAF Bank partner to expand rural insurance through 788 branches.
• Tesla signs $16.5 billion deal with Samsung to produce AI chips at Texas plant.
• RBI caps investment in AIF schemes to 10% per bank/NBFC.
• Trump Imposes 25% Tariff on Indian Imports Over Russia Ties.
• Anant Ambani Appointed Executive Director on Reliance Industries Board.
• Revised GDP Base Year Series to Launch on Feb 27, 2026.
• DPIIT signs MoU with Roche India to support healthcare startups in critical therapeutic areas.
• Cabinet approves four multi-tracking railway projects worth ₹11,169 crore across six states.
• From August 1, PSBs allowed to transfer unclaimed assets to IEPF under amended Banking Laws.

• Rajasthan Grameen Aajivika Vikas Parishad (RGAVP) and Stree Nidhi-Telangana on Monday signed an agreement to set up a financial institution for women in Rajasthan.
• 'Rajasthan Mahila Nidhi' is being set up in the state on the lines of Telangana's Stree Nidhi model.
• The agreement was signed by RGAV Mission Director Manju Rajpal and Stree Nidhi managing director G Vidhyasagar Reddy in the presence of rural development minister Ramesh Chand Meena, according to a release.

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Roche Products (India) Pvt. Ltd. to support startups working in specialized therapeutic fields such as oncology, neurology, ophthalmology, hematology, and rare diseases. As part of this collaboration, Roche India will offer mentorship from global subject matter experts, assistance in pilot and validation projects, and access to advanced medical technologies and global healthcare platforms to help scale innovative health solutions.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved four new railway multitracking projects aimed at enhancing rail capacity across 13 districts in six states — Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, and Jharkhand. These projects will add approximately 574 kilometers to the current railway network. The total estimated investment for these projects is ₹11,169 crore, and their completion is targeted by the fiscal year 2028–29, according to an Indian Railways spokesperson.

Effective from August 1, 2025, the government has implemented amendments to the Banking Laws (Amendment) Act, allowing public sector banks (PSBs) to transfer unclaimed dividends, interest amounts, and bond redemption proceeds to the Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF). This move aligns the practices of PSBs with those of corporate entities under the Companies Act. Additionally, the amendments enable PSBs to directly remunerate statutory auditors, enhancing transparency and encouraging the engagement of skilled audit professionals, according to a statement by the Ministry of Finance.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. will impose a 25% tariff and additional penalties on imports from India beginning August 1, 2025. The decision, shared via his Truth Social post, is a response to India's alleged high trade barriers and its continued energy and defense ties with Russia.

Anant Ambani, youngest son of Mukesh and Nita Ambani, has been officially appointed as a Whole-time Director, designated Executive Director, on the Board of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), following approval from the company’s shareholders.

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) will release a revised GDP series with 2022–23 as the base year on February 27, 2026, replacing the 2011–12 series. According to Secretary Saurabh Garg, updated data sets for the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) and Consumer Price Index (CPI) will follow. MoSPI will also launch two fresh household surveys focused on travel and tourism spending, along with an annual survey on service sector enterprises to collect detailed data on India’s incorporated services sector.

• South superstar actor Puneeth Rajkumar is to be conferred the `Karnataka Ratna` award posthumously on November 1.
• It is announced by Karnataka`s CM Basavaraj Bommai.
• Puneeth Rajkumar passed away last year on October 29, following a cardiac arrest at the age of 46. Colloquially known as Appu, he was an actor, playback singer, television presenter and producer.
• The `Power` actor becomes the tenth recipient of the state`s highest civilian honour award.The Karnataka Ratna was last awarded to Dr Virendra Heggade in 2009 for his social service.
• Apart from him, Puneeth`s father Dr Rajkumar was among the first recipients of the state`s highest civilian award in 1992 for his work in the entertainment industry.

• The Union environment ministry announced that India has added 10 more wetlands, taking the total Ramsar sites to 64. 
• The new sites include six wetlands from Tamil Nadu and one each from Goa, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha.
• So far, 64 wetlands covering an area of 12,50,361 ha have been designated as Ramsar Sites of International Importance from India. 
• The 10 new designated sites include Koonthankulam Bird Sanctuary, a man-made wetland in Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu.

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), led by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, has cleared procurement proposals worth around ₹67,000 crore to enhance India’s defence capabilities. The Ministry of Defence confirmed that Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) was granted for the Indian Army to acquire Thermal Imager-based Driver Night Sight for BMP amphibious infantry fighting vehicles, improving night mobility and operational advantage. For the Navy, approvals include the procurement of Compact Autonomous Surface Craft for anti-submarine warfare threat detection and neutralisation, BrahMos Fire Control Systems and launchers, and upgrades to the BARAK-1 point defence missile system.

The Indian Air Force has received the final unit of its initial batch of 16 Airbus C-295 military transport aircraft from Spain, the Indian Embassy in Spain announced. This aircraft, with a payload capacity of 5–10 tonnes and advanced avionics, will replace the ageing Avro fleet. With a flight endurance of up to 11 hours, the C-295 is a versatile tactical transport aircraft suitable for varied military missions. India’s September 2021 contract with Airbus Defence & Space includes a total of 56 C-295MW aircraft, of which 40 will be manufactured in India, boosting the country’s domestic aerospace production capabilities.

China and Russia began a three-day naval exercise, titled “Joint Sea-2025,” in the Sea of Japan on Sunday. The drills are taking place near Vladivostok, a strategic Russian port city, and aim to bolster bilateral maritime cooperation and jointly challenge the perceived dominance of the U.S.-led international order, according to China’s Defence Ministry.

Punjab has become India’s first state to formally empanel sign language interpreters, translators, and special educators under the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015. This move ensures better access to justice for children with hearing and speech disabilities. The initiative was announced by Dr. Baljit Kaur, Minister for Social Security, Women and Child Development.

• DRDO successfully conducts two tests of Pralay missile validating its full range.
• Türkiye unveils GAZAP, its most powerful non-nuclear 970-kg bomb at IDEF 2025.
• India–Singapore 'Bold Kurukshetra 2025' military exercise begins in Jodhpur.
• AHRR hosts SHAPE 2025, first Armed Forces conference on sustainable hospitals.
• Goa Shipyard launches 6th indigenous Fast Patrol Vessel, ICGS ATAL.
• India and UAE Agree to Deepen Defence Ties at JDCC Meet
• Indian Navy receives third Project 17A stealth frigate ‘Himgiri’ from GRSE, Kolkata.

In a conservation milestone, Shayok village in eastern Ladakh—en route to the Galwan Valley—is converting 10 hectares of unused community land into the region’s first botanical garden. The garden will focus on preserving indigenous fruits, herbs, and Ladakh’s biodiversity. The Leh Hill Council, through its Command Area Development department, has allocated ₹1 crore for civil work including land tilling and a water reservoir. Local councillor Tashi Namgyal Yakzee has funded a solar-powered water pump for irrigation.

Marking a significant step toward self-reliance in naval defense manufacturing, the Indian Navy has received Himgiri (Yard 3022), the third frigate under the Project 17A series, built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) in Kolkata. Delivered on July 31, 2025, Himgiri is a modern multi-mission stealth warship equipped to handle future maritime security challenges. The vessel also symbolizes a tribute to the original INS Himgiri, a Leander-class frigate decommissioned in 2005 after three decades of exemplary service.

The Election Commission’s newly released draft electoral roll for Bihar shows a sharp decline of 65 lakh voters compared to the previous list. After the first phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), Bihar now has 7.24 crore registered voters, down from 7.89 crore in 2025. According to EC officials, the reduction is due to the removal of names belonging to deceased individuals, those registered in multiple places, people who migrated permanently, or those found untraceable. Opposition leaders under the INDIA bloc questioned the transparency of the process, claiming the EC has not adequately addressed concerns about the deletions.

During the 13th edition of the India-UAE Joint Defence Cooperation Committee (JDCC) meeting held in New Delhi on July 30, 2025, both nations reaffirmed their commitment to deepen defence collaboration. Co-chaired by Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and UAE Under Secretary of Defense Lt General Ibrahim Nasser M. Al Alawi, the meeting marked the first time the committee met at the Secretary level. Key discussions included expanding cooperation to match strategic ties in trade, investment, and people-to-people relations.

Satyapal Malik, who served as the last Governor of the erstwhile state of Jammu & Kashmir from August 2018 to October 2019, passed away at the age of 79 after a long illness. Malik played a key role during the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019, which revoked J&K’s special status. A veteran politician with over 50 years of public service, he was a three-time parliamentarian and also served as Union Minister under V.P. Singh. His political journey spanned multiple parties, including Janata Dal, Congress, and BJP.

Veteran political leader and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) founder, Shibu Soren, passed away in New Delhi at the age of 81. First elected to the Lok Sabha from Dumka in 1980, Soren served three short-lived terms as Jharkhand Chief Minister and also held a Union Cabinet post. Despite his prominence, he was defeated in Dumka in 2019 by BJP’s Nalin Soren. His political legacy shaped Jharkhand’s tribal politics for decades.

• Wrestling legend Hulk Hogan passes away at 71 due to cardiac arrest.
• Renowned Heritage Architect and Conservation Activist Tara Murali Passes Away at 75.
• Eminent economist and author Lord Meghnad Desai passes away at age 85.

• RBL Bank has integrated Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) services on its RuPay Credit Cards, allowing seamless and secure UPI payments and hassle-free travel transactions on a single card.
• This integration aims to revolutionize transaction management and set new benchmarks in the digital payments industry, India enhance usability and convenience for users across various platforms.

Lord Meghnad Desai, a globally respected Indian-origin economist, prolific author, and member of the United Kingdom’s House of Lords, passed away at the age of 85. Desai was widely recognized for his scholarly work in Marxian economic theory, including his first book Marxian Economic Theory (1973), followed by Applied Econometrics (1976) and Marxian Economics (1979). In 1981, he published a significant critique of monetarism. He was also a recipient of India's third-highest civilian honor, underlining his contributions to economics and public policy.

• India will donate USD 85 million over 10 years (2022-2032) to support the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre (GTMC) in Jamnagar, Gujarat.
• The agreement was signed by Arindam Bagchi, India's Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, and Dr. Bruce Aylward, WHO Assistant Director-General, during a ceremony at WHO Headquarters in Geneva on July 31.
• The GTMC will serve as a key knowledge hub for evidence-based Traditional Complementary and Integrative Medicine (TCIM), aiming to enhance global health and well-being.

• Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini announced that the state will procure all crops at MSP, waive off 133 crore rupees in canal water irrigation charges (abiana), and discontinue the abiana system, benefiting farmers by 54 crore rupees annually.
• The Chief Minister pledged to pay 137 crore rupees in pending compensation for crop damage due to natural calamities, allow farmers to buy three-star motors for tubewell connections from anywhere in the country, and announced plans to fill 40,000 government sector posts.

• Insurtech startup Covrzy obtains IRDAI general insurance broking license.
• Karnataka Bank has partnered with ICICI Lombard General Insurance to offer a range of insurance products to its customers.
• SEBI has unveiled the chatbot ‘SEVA’ to assist investors.
• NIIT IFBI Announces ACE Banker Program in Collaboration with HDFC Bank to Enhance Customer Service Skills.
• In 2024, Rapido became the third startup to achieve unicorn status.
• SIDBI partners with C2treds and UGRO Capital to facilitate loans to MSMEs.

• The Indian Air Force has given approval to India Dynamics Limited (BDL) for production of 200 Astra Mark 1 air-to-air missiles, which are developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
• The Astra Mark 1 missiles will be produced under the Rs 2,900 crore project, which was approved by the Defence Acquisition Council in 2022-23.
• The missiles produced will be integrated into the Russian Su-30 and the indigenous LCA Tejas fighters, and a range of 130 km is being considered for testing the Mark II, while testing and development of a missile with a range of 300 km is also planned.

• Bathinda Police launch 'Nigraani' to tackle drug issues by re-engaging village chowkidaars in 70 affected villages.
• Two Jharkhand MLAs disqualified under the anti-defection law ahead of the Assembly's monsoon session.
• Goa CM launches 'Goem Vinamulya Vij Yevjan' to enhance solar rooftop installations in the state.

• Rapido, a ride-hailing startup founded in 2015, achieved unicorn status in 2024 after raising $120 million in Series E funding led by WestBridge Capital, with an additional $20 million expected from global investors.
• The company plans to further develop its technology stack and enter markets dominated by Ola and Uber, joining Perfios and Krutrim AI as the third startup to reach unicorn status in 2024.

• The Indian Coast Guard introduced 'Suvidha Software Version 1.0' to improve training protocols and standardize procedures across its platforms.
• India to host its first multinational air exercise, 'Tarang Shakti 2024'

• NIIT Institute of Finance, Banking and Insurance (NIIT IFBI) in collaboration with HDFC Bank Limited has launched the 'ACE Banker Program' to equip participants with skills and knowledge for customer service roles at HDFC Bank.
• The program aims to address the evolving needs of the banking sector by preparing individuals to excel in customer service roles, ensuring they are well-versed in the required competencies for effective performance at HDFC Bank.
• This program is a crucial component of NIIT's Talent Pipeline as a Service (TPaaS) initiative, which focuses on recruiting and training customer service professionals specifically for HDFC Bank.

• 'Tarang Shakti 2024' will be India’s first multinational air exercise, involving around 30 countries, with ten countries bringing their fighter aircraft, including Australia, France, and the USA.
• The exercise will occur in two phases: the first from August 6th to 14th in Sular, Tamil Nadu, and the second from August 29th to September 14th in Jodhpur, Rajasthan.
• The exercise aims to showcase India's defense capabilities, featuring flying and ground training, defense exhibitions, and cultural exchange programs. India will display its indigenous fighter aircraft, such as Tejas and Rafale.

• Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman laid the foundation stone for an archeological museum in Adichanallur in the Thoothukudi district.
• Adichanallur was one of the five archaeological sites declared to be developed as 'Iconic Sites' in the Union Budget 2020-21. It is an archaeological site located on the banks of river Thamirabarani in this district.
• An excavation by the Archaeological Survey of India, in Adichanallur in Thoothukudi district, has unearthed a number of burial urns, metal and bronze products and even a gold diadem.

• SEBI has launched the SEVA chatbot, an AI-enabled tool designed to assist investors by answering questions about the securities market and SEBI’s complaint redressal platform (SCORES). 
• This chatbot offers features such as citations, follow-up question responses, and speech-to-text and text-to-speech conversion.
• SEBI launched SCORES 2.0, an enhanced version of its online complaint redressal platform, on April 1, 2024. 
• This platform allows investors to lodge complaints against listed companies and SEBI-registered intermediaries, providing a streamlined and efficient way to address issues in the securities market.

• The Rajya Sabha on Monday passed the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023, which seeks to give control over Delhi's administrative services to the Centre.
• The Upper House members voted via slips after a division of votes was declared over the Bill. While 131 MPs voted in its favour, 102 members voted against it.

• Karnataka Bank has partnered with ICICI Lombard General Insurance to offer a wide range of insurance products, including health, motor, travel, and home insurance, aimed at meeting the diverse needs of individuals and businesses.
• The partnership emphasizes digital insurance solutions, enabling online policy purchases, real-time claims processing, and personalized advisory services to enhance customer convenience and provide high-quality insurance solutions.

• After a substantial increase in the number of tigers in Bihar, the state government has now decided to set up a 'Rhino Task Force' to suggest measures to reintroduce terrestrial mammals to the Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR) in West Champaran district.
• At present there is only one rhino in VTR and 14 rhinos in Patna Zoo.
• The number of one-horned rhinoceros in Bihar has increased by 3 per cent annually.
• "After the resumption of the rhino conservation scheme, there will be a significant increase in the number of rhinos in the VTR.
• The VTR has been selected as one of the potential sites under the National Rhino Conservation Strategy, where rhinos can be brought from other reserves in the country.

• Former Chief Minister of West Bengal Buddhadeb Bhattacharya passed away at his home in Kolkata. He was 80 years old. 
• Buddhadev Bhattacharya was the Chief Minister of West Bengal from 2000 to 2011. Along with this, he had also been a member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of India (Marxist).

• The Education Ministry on 7 August 2023 launched the Study In India (SII) portal with a vision to promote Indian education to foreign students and re-establish India as a global hub of education.
• Union Education and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Union External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar jointly inaugurated the Portal in New Delhi, which is a one-stop platform that will simplify international students' academic journey in India.
• The portal will provide comprehensive information about Indian Higher Education Institutions and also present information about academic facilities, research support, and related information. It will also provide an integrated one-stop solution for the student registration and visa application processes.

• Yamini Krishnamurthy, an esteemed Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi dancer, passed away at 84. 
• Born on December 20, 1940, in Andhra Pradesh, she began her dance training at Kalakshetra School of Dance in Chennai and learned from legendary teachers like Rukmini Devi Arundale. 
• Ms. Krishnamurthy was awarded the Padma Shri in 1968, Padma Bhushan in 2001 and Padma Vibhushan in 2016. He was also awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1977.

• HDFC Bank's Sashidhar Jagdishan has emerged as the highest-paid bank chief executive in FY23, grossing over Rs 10.55 crore in overall pay.
• Jagdishan’s colleague Kaizad Bharucha, the deputy managing director of the largest private sector lender, drew Rs 10 crore for the fiscal year and may be the second-highest grossing banker in the country, according to disclosures made in annual reports. Among the bank CEOs, Axis Bank’s Amitabh Chaudhry’s Rs 9.75 crore payout was the second biggest and he was closely followed by Sandeep Bakhshi of bigger rival ICICI Bank, who drew Rs 9.60 crore for the fiscal year.

• Former England batsman Graham Thorpe passed away at the age of 55.
• He played 100 Tests and 82 one-day internationals for England, scoring 6,744 Test runs and 16 centuries, and was remembered as a stylish left-handed batter and beloved cricket figure.
• Thorpe, who played 100 Test matches for England from 1993 to 2005, became seriously ill a few days after being appointed Afghanistan's head coach in 2022.

• The 2-week Capacity Building Programme (CBP) for civil servants of Maldives organised by the National Centre for Good Governance (NCGG) in partnership with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) concluded 4th August, 2023 at New Delhi.
• NCGG has signed MoU with the Government of Maldives to enhance the skills and capabilities of 1,000 civil servants in the field of public administration and governance by 2024.
• As part of the agreement, NCGG has already imparted training to 818 officers from Maldives which includes 29 officers of ACC, Maldives.

• Legendary Indian cricketer and former coach, and selector Anshuman Gaekwad passed away at the age of 71 in Vadodara, after losing his long battle with cancer.
• Anshuman Gaekwad had a notable cricket career, playing 40 Tests and 15 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) for India between 1975 and 1987. 
• He made his Test debut against the West Indies in 1974 and played his last Test against England in 1984-85. 
• Known for his slow and defensive batting style, he scored 1985 runs in Tests with a highest score of 201 against Pakistan, and 269 runs in ODIs.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 7 August 2023, attended the 9th National Handloom Day celebrations at Bharat Mandapam at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi.
• During the event, Mr Modi will also launch the e-portal of 'Textiles and Crafts Fund of India', developed by National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT). 
• More than 3000 handloom and khadi weavers, artisans, and stakeholders from textile and MSME sectors participated in the event.
• It will bring together handloom clusters, NIFT campuses, weavers' service centres, Indian Institutes of Handloom Technology, National Handloom Development Corporation, Handloom Export Promotion Council, KVIC institutes and various state handloom departments across India.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for redevelopment of 508 railway stations across the country through video conferencing. 
• These 508 stations are spread across 27 states and union territories. 
• The redevelopment, which will cost Rs 24,470 crore, will ensure well-designed traffic circulation, inter-modal integration and well-designed signage for passenger guidance as well as provide modern passenger amenities.

• President Droupadi Murmu on 5th August 2023 inaugurated the “Festival of Libraries 2023” at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi.
• The two-day Festival, which is being organised by the Ministry of Culture, will highlight iconic libraries from across the world in order to initiate a conversation on the modernisation and digitisation of libraries in India.
• The festival is a part of the second phase of the ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ and is in line with the Prime Minister’s vision to foster the development and digitisation of libraries and cultivate a culture of reading in India.
• It aims at facilitating the formulation of action-oriented policies for the development of Model Libraries in India, right down to the village and community levels.

• The Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India implemented the ‘Free Coaching and Allied’ scheme to provide free coaching to students/candidates belonging to economically weaker sections of minority communities for preparation of entrance examinations of technical/professional courses and competitive examinations.
• Depending upon the coaching programme allocated to the PIAs, the duration of the coaching period under the scheme was from 3 months to 2 years.
• The New Education Policy 2020, however, does not support coaching programmes.
• It will reform the existing system of board and entrance examinations to eliminate the need for coaching classes.
• Due to this, the ministry decided to discontinue the scheme starting in the financial year 2022-23.

1. Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) handed over the first Radio Frequency (RF) Seeker of the Akash Weapon System to the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO).

• 31.14 lakhs handicraft artisans have been registered under PEHCHAN scheme across the country to benefit of this programme.
• These registered artisans with Pehchan card can avail the benefits of the National Handicraft Development Programme (NHDP) and Comprehensive Handicrafts Cluster Development Scheme (CHCDS) of Ministry of Textiles.

• The Geographical Indications Registry in Chennai granted the Geographical Indication (GI) tag to seven products from various regions of India, including four from Rajasthan.
• The GI tags were secured by ‘Jalesar Dhatu Shilp’ , ‘Goa Mankurad Mango’, ‘Goan Bebinca’, Udaipur Koftgari Metal Craft’, ‘Bikaner Kashidakari Craft’, ‘Jodhpur Bandhej Craft’, and ‘BikaneUsta Kala Craft.

• Renowned Telangana folk singer and balladeer Gaddar, who was popularly known for his revolutionary songs during the 1980s and later during the Telangana statehood agitation, passed away due to ill-health.
• He was 77. Born as Gummadi Vittal Rao at Toopran in Medak district in 1949, the renowned folk singer and poet went on to become popular as 'Gaddar'

• The Indian Railways Institute of Signal Engineering and Telecommunications (IRISET) under the Ministry of Railways and the IIT Madras have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish the India 5G testbed.
• This testbed will be located at IRISET in Secunderabad to test 5G use or the Indian Railways.
• The central objective of the MoU between IRISET and IIT-Madras is to expedite the indigenization drive within the Indian Railways, specifically in the domain of communications.

1. Art director Nitin Chandrakant Desai has passed away by suicide at 57.

• Expressing confidence in the medium-term growth potential of the Indian economy, S&P Global in its report titled ‘Look Forward: India’s Moment’, projected an average annual growth of 6.7 per cent from the fiscal year 2023-24 (FY24) to FY31, with capital accumulation as the main driver of this growth. This increase would correspond to a per capita GDP of around $4,500.

• Art director and producer, Nitin Chandrakant Desai has died by suicide at the age of 57. According to reports, Nitin was found dead at his studio in Karjat, Maharashtra.
• He was known for his work in films such as Lagaan and Jodhaa Akbar.
• He was under debt of Rs 252 crore.

• The NHAI has launched a mobile application 'Rajmargyatra', aiming to improve the user experience on the National Highways.
• 'Rajmargyatra' serves as a one-stop repository of essential information for national highway users.
• Users can get real-time weather conditions, timely broadcast notifications, and access to details about nearby toll plazas, petrol pumps, hospitals, hotels, and other essential services that ensure a seamless and safe journey on national highways.

• The Rajya Sabha passed the Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2023, which amends the Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, 2002.   The Act regulates mining in maritime zones of India.
• The proposed amendments introduce auction for allocation of operating rights in offshore areas.

• The Ministry of Tourism has identified ‘Prayagraj’ and ‘Naimisharanya’ in Uttar Pradesh as destinations for development under ‘Swadesh Darshan 2.0 with the objective to develop sustainable and responsible tourism destinations.
• The government launched ‘Swadesh Darshan Scheme’ in the year 2014-15 for integrated development of Theme-Based Tourist Circuits in the country.

• The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal launched Port Health Organisation (PHO) module under Sagar Setu - National Logistics Portal (Marine) - in an attempt to enable faster and simpler ecosystem to promote Ease of Doing Business.
• The PHO module will be responsible for monitoring diseases, conducting health inspections, and implementing quarantine measures to ensure the safety of citizens and port workers.

• On the 18th day of the Tamil month Aadi all the people of South India celebrated Aadi Perukku, the monsoon festival in a grand way. Monsoon season commences in the month of Aadi and symbolizes prosperity.
• Aadi Perukku is also known as Pathinettam Perukku. This festival is an auspicious festival to honor the monsoon season and the fertility of the soil.
• It is considered the ideal time to sow, plant seeds and take up other forms of vegetation. It is to pay tribute to the monsoon rains which fill the rivers.

• South Indian Bank (SIB) has launched SIB EXIM Current Account specially curated for customers involved in the import and export business.
• The current account is available in two variants SIB EXIM Silver and SIB EXIM Gold with the required Quarterly Forex Throughput (QFT) of $15,000 and $50,000 respectively.

• The Adani Group has acquired Gujarat-based Sanghi Industries in an all-cash deal, valuing the company at an enterprise value of Rs 5,000 crore.
• Ambuja Cements will acquire 14.66 crore shares of Sanghi Industries Ltd., representing 56.74% of the overall shareholding.
• Sanghi Cement, a brand owned by Sanghi Industries, was incorporated in 1985.

• Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on 2 August 2023, launched the Department of Forest & Environment's Amrit Brikshya Andolan web portal/mobile application and the Wood-based Industry (WBI).
• Registration web portal, along with the theme song for the Amrit Brikshya Andolan, an initiative aimed at planting a total of 1 crore (10 million) commercially-viable saplings across the State by individuals from various walks of life on coming September 17.
• "On September 17, 2023, around 40 lakh members of women self-help groups from across the state would be planting two commercially-viable saplings each, taking the total to 80 lakh. The rest (20 lakh or more) would be planted by people belonging to various walks of life such as anganwadi workers, tea garden workers, government officials, police and forest battalions and members of the general public of the state," he added.

1. G20 EMPOWER Summit has begun on 1 August,2023 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
2. On the occasion of Akhil Bhartiya Shiksha Samagam 2023, 106 MoUs have been signed.
3. NHPC and ALIMCO join hands to distribute aids to 1,000 Divyangjans near NHPC Projects in North and North Eastern states as part of CSR.
4. PM Modi launches 'Meri Mati Mera Desh' campaign to honor Indian bravehearts with programs and inscriptions in village panchayats across India.
5. Parliament has passed the Biological Diversity (Amendment) Bill 2023, Rajya Sabha approved it on July 1, 2023
6. TRAI and C-DoT ink MoU to enhance technical and institutional cooperation, fostering innovation and policy research in India's telecom sector.
7. PM Modi honored with Lokmanya Tilak National Award, donates cash prize to Namami Gange Project for environmental conservation.
8. Rajya Sabha passes Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2023 in Parliament
9. Smt Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the 'Unmesha' and 'Utkarsh' festivals in Bhopal
10. The government has restricted the import of laptops, computers and tablets with immediate effect.

• ICICI Bank has received approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to raise its stake in ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company by up to 4% in various tranches.
• The bank’s board of directors approved the increase in shareholding in ICICI Lombard as it aims to establish the company as a subsidiary of ICICI Bank.
• The bank already holds a 48.02% stake in ICICI Lombard General Insurance.
• ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company Limited is a joint venture between ICICI Bank Ltd. and Canada based Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd.

• Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren approved the setting up of India's first hydrogen fuel-related industry in Jamshedpur.
• The groundbreaking project, spearheaded by M/s TCPL Green Energy Solutions Private Limited (TGESPL), a joint venture between M/s Tata Motors Limited and M/s Cummins Inc., USA, will involve a staggering investment of over INR 350 crore.
• The proposed unit will boast a capacity of over 4000 Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engines, along with Fuel Agnostic Engines, and over 10,000 Battery systems.
• The total investment of INR 354.28 crore will pave the way for cutting-edge advancements in the field of hydrogen-based technologies and energy systems.

• Apple no longer holds the historic market valuation of $3 trillion. Apple shares fell by 3.6% after the company reported third straight quarter with a revenue decline.
• In its report, Apple posted its third straight quarter of declining sales, and predicted a similar performance in the current period.
• More than $120 billion was wiped out from Apple's market capitalisation, taking it to $2.88 trillion. In June, Apple became the first company to hit $3 trillion valuation.

• Morgan Stanley, the international brokerage firm, has recently upgraded India’s market status to overweight from equal weight.
• An overweight rating means that the firm expects India’s economy to perform better in the future. The upgrade of India in the backdrop of the US losing AAA status.

• 28% tax on online gaming to become effective from Oct 1, says FM Sitharaman
• The GST Council has decided to impose a 28% tax on the full face value of bets placed on online gaming, casinos, and horse racing.
• The GST Council will review the implementation of 28% GST on online gaming, casino after 6 months.

• NABARD has sanctioned Rs 1,974.07 crore to the Rajasthan government under the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) for 2023-24.
• NABARD Rajasthan Chief General Manager Dr Rajiv Siwach said Rs 930.44 crore has been sanctioned for three rural drinking water supply projects in Ajmer, Jalore, and Kota districts.
• Further, Rs 926.48 crore was sanctioned for the construction of 676 rural roads in the desert and tribal areas of the state.

• The apex bank of Sri Lanka said that no domestic transactions would be allowed with the Indian Rupee in the island country.
• The apex bank said that even though the Indian Rupee (INR) has been endorsed as a designated foreign currency, it is not a legal tender in Sri Lanka for domestic payments/settlements.
• INR was designated a foreign currency in Sri Lanka in August 2022.
• "Any transaction executed between or among residents in Sri Lanka shall be in LKR (Lankan Rupee), being the legal tender in Sri Lanka," the central bank said.

• Fortune announced that US retailer Walmart has topped its Global 500 list for 2023, ranking the world's largest corporations by revenue for fiscal 2022.
• On Fortune's authoritative ranking of the (current) corporate world order, the Arkansas-based retailer claimed No. 1 for the 10th consecutive year and for the 18th time since 1995.

• India collected Rs 1.65 lakh crore Goods and Services Tax (GST) for the month of July 2023, registering growth of 11% from a year earlier
• The GST collections crossed the Rs. 1.60 lakh crore mark for the fifth time
• According to the Ministry of Finance the revenues from domestic transactions (including import of services) are 15% higher than the revenues from these sources during the same month last year.

• World's most valuable company Apple is nearing its worst sales dip in 20 years after it reported a 1.4% fall in sales in April-June period.
• This marks the third consecutive quarter for Apple when its sales have recorded a slump.

• The Indian Army conducted a pan-India exercise to test and validate its entire satellite-based communication network to ensure operational readiness in case of a conflict in the future.
• The exercise named “Skylight” was conducted from July 25 to July 29.
• Exercise involved all kinds of satellite communication, from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to Ladakh, where India and China have engaged in a military stand-off for the past two years.

• The 50th meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) was held under the chairmanship of DG, NMCG, Shri G. Asok Kumar. 
• Where Seven projects worth around Rs. 692 crore were approved. 
• Out of the seven projects, four pertain to sewage management in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. NMCG has so far sanctioned a total of 452 projects worth around Rs. 38,126 crore out of which 254 have been completed.
• The project aims to develop the freshwater resources and its biodiversity in India.

• The government has restricted the import of laptops, computers and tablets with immediate effect.
• The ministry stated in the notification that there would be an exemption from the Import Licencing requirements for the import of one laptop, tablet, all-in-one personal computer, or ultra small form factor computer, including those purchased from e-commerce portals through post or courier.

·       Immediate restrictions on importing laptops, tablets and personal computers.

·       Restriction on electronics imports to boost local manufacturing.

·       Government said imports will be allowed with valid license.

• 18th edition of India, US military exercise "Yudh Abhyas" to be held in Auli, Uttarakhand
• ISRO announced the launch of its new rocket "Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV)"

• Bhopal, August 3, 2023 (Ataullah Faizan): Sangeet Natak Akademi and Sahitya Akademi under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India in collaboration with the Department of Culture, Government of Madhya Pradesh organized Unmesh, a national festival of folk and tribal expressions of India, from 3rd to 5th August 2023 in Bhopal. 
• The festival, based on folk art, music and literature, was held in Bhopal for the first time.
• Around 800 artists from 36 states and union territories of the country will participate in the festival and will spread a colorful shade of folk and tribal performing arts. The festival will be streamed on the Facebook and YouTube channels of the Sangeet Natak Akademi as well as the Facebook and YouTube channels of the Department of Culture.

• Beauty and personal care brand Mamaearth's parent Honasa Consumer has received SEBI's approval for its IPO launch.
• The public issue comprises a fresh issuance of shares worth ₹400 crore and an offer for sale of up to 4.68 crore shares by promoters and investors.
• Honasa may consider fundraising of ₹80 crore via pre-IPO placement before filing IPO papers.

• India and the US will conduct a fortnight-long mega military exercise in Uttarakhand’s Auli in October this year. 
• The 18th edition of exercise “Yudh Abhyas” is scheduled to take place from October 14 to 31. 
• A number of complex drills are being planned for the mega exercise. 
• The exercise is aimed at enhancing understanding, cooperation and interoperability between the two armies. 
• The last edition of the exercise took place in October last year in Alaska in the US.

• Rajya Sabha passes Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2023 in Parliament
• The Bill aims at giving further boost to Ease of Living and Ease of Doing Business
• The Bill proposes to amend 183 provisions to be decriminalized in 42 Central Acts administered by 19 Ministries/Departments
• The Bill was first introduced in Lok Sabha on 22nd December 2022. Subsequently, it was referred to the Joint Committee of the Parliament. 
• The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill received overwhelming support and insightful suggestions from the Members of the Committee across parties. 
• The Joint Committee on the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2022 held detailed discussions with all the 19 Ministries/Departments along with Legislative Department and Department of Legal Affairs. 
• The Committee conducted clause-by-clause examination of the Bill through a series of 9 sittings between 09.01.2023 and 17.02.2023. The Committee finally adopted its Report in its sitting held on 13.03.2023.

• NLC India Limited has entered a joint venture with the UP government to set up a thermal power plant at a cost of Rs 19,406 crore.
• The 1,980 MW Plant will have three units of 660 MW each. The first phase of the project will start generating power by the end of this year.
• This Thermal Plant will cost for Rs 19,406 crore.
• The plant will come up at Ghatampur near Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh.

• Subroto Mukerjee Sports Education Society (SMSES) has collaborated with All India Football Federation (AIFF) to promote football at grass root level. 
• As part of this MoU, from this edition onwards, a Subroto XI team will be formed in Junior Boys (U-17) category.
• The team will participate in AIFF Youth Competition from the 2023-24 season.
• Subroto Mukerjee Sports Education Society (SMSES) conducts the prestigious Subroto Cup International Football Tournament annually since 1960, under the aegis of Air Force Sports Control Board.
• This is a unique football tournament wherein school teams from all states starting from grass-root level vie for top honours in football in the country in three categories viz, Sub-junior Boys (U-14), Junior Boys (U-17) and Junior Girls (U-17).

• The Reserve Bank of India has sanctioned the Scheme of Amalgamation of The Navanirman Co-operative Urban Bank Ltd with Rajadhani Co-op. Urban Bank Ltd. Both urban co-operative banks are Hyderabad-based.
• The branch of The Navanirman Co-operative Urban Bank Ltd will function as a branch of Rajadhani Co-op. Urban Bank Ltd with effect from August 03, 2023, per a RBI statement.
• The Scheme will come into force with effect from August 03, 2023,” RBI said.

• Education Minister of India Shri Dharmendra Pradhan launched 'ULLAS' (Understanding Lifelong Learning for All in Society) mobile app.
• The Union Minister of Education and Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Dharmendra Pradhan, launched the logo, slogan-Jan Jan Sakshar and mobile application of ULLAS
• The ULLAS mobile application marks a significant milestone in harnessing the potential of technology to facilitate widespread access to basic literacy.
• ULLAS will focus on promoting functional literacy, vocational skills, and many important life skills like financial literacy, legal literacy, digital literacy, and civic empowerment.

• Unified Payments Interface (UPI) registered 9.96 billion transactions in July, with the total value for the month hitting Rs 15.34 lakh crore, according to data from the NPCI.
• This shows a 6.6% jump in the number of transactions via UPI from 9.34 billion in June. The value of transactions in the same period rose 4% from Rs 14.75 lakh crore.

• NHPC Limited and Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding, under which NHPC will provide CSR support for distribution of aids and assistive devices to around 1,000 Divyangjans (Persons with Disabilities) in the vicinity of NHPC Projects located in North and North Eastern states.
• The MoU was signed at NHPC Corporate Office, Faridabad, on August 1st 2023, under the CSR initiative of NHPC.
• The MoU was signed by Group Deputy General Manager (HR), CSR & SD, NHPC and General Manager - Marketing, ALIMCO in the presence of Shri Uttam Lal, Director (Personnel), NHPC; Executive Director (CSR & SD), NHPC, and other senior officers from NHPC CSR&SD Division and ALIMCO.

• Parliament has passed the Biological Diversity (Amendment) Bill 2023, Rajya Sabha approved it on July 1, 2023. The Lok Sabha has already passed the bill.
• The Bill seeks to promote research on medicinal plants, encourage production of plant-based medicines and benefit local persons involved in the use of forest produce.
• The Bill amends the Biodiversity Act, 2002 to simplify compliance requirements for domestic companies.
• This bill will strengthen Prime Minister Narendra Modi's mission life and call for sustainable living.
• This will greatly benefit the tribal people and take the traditional medicinal knowledge of India to the world.
• The Bill aims to simplify the patent application process and expedite patent applications.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 30 July 2023, announced 'Meri Mati Mera Desh' campaign in order to honour the martyred bravehearts of the country in the run up to Independence Day.
• The campaign will be launched in honour of the martyred bravehearts and programmes will be organised across India in memory of those who sacrificed their lives for the country.
• "Special inscriptions will be installed in lakhs of village panchayats of the country in memory of these personalities,"
• An 'Amrit Kalash Yatra' will also be taken out during this campaign,
• The 'Amrit Kalash Yatra' will reach Delhi with soil in 7,500 urns from villages and different corners of the country.
• The yatra will also carry plants from different parts of the country. A 'Amrit Vatika' will be built close to the National War Memorial with 7,500 urns, soil and plants.

• TRAI, C-DoT sign MoU to establish mechanism of cooperation in The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, TRAI and the Centre for Development of Telematics have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a mechanism of technical and institutional cooperation in telecommunications.
• The collaboration will open up new opportunities for policy research, regulatory studies and dissemination of knowledge of upcoming technologies in the telecom and broadcasting sectors.
• This will help India achieve policy-based innovation.

• The Ministry of Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship signed 106 Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) with various esteemed organizations and institutions, on the occasion of the Akhil Bhartiya Shiksha Samagam 2023
• The 3rd anniversary of the National Education Policy. 
• The MoUs encompass partnerships with both public and private entities to foster innovation, research, and knowledge exchange in multiple domains, ushering in a new era of collaboration in education and industry-academia linkages.
• NCERT signed 20 MoUs under the aegis of eVidya initiative with Departments of School Education of several states for development of quality eContent and it's dissemination through PMeVIDYA DTH TV channels in different languages and for various  stakeholders

• Under 'I Have Space', Amazon India has announced to open its first ever floating store in famous Dal Lake in Srinagar
• The store should be open in a house boat and will provide deliveries to its customers every day in Srinagar
• Launched in 2015, the 'I Have Space' programme has 28,000 neighbourhood and kirana partners in about 420 towns and cities in India
• It partners with local stores and small businesses for delivering products within a 2-4 kilometres radius

• Union Minister for Women and Child Development, Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani to inaugurate the G20 EMPOWER Summit in Gandhinagar
• The inaugural session will see the launch of key outcomes under the G20 EMPOWER agenda this year including the G20 EMPOWER Tech Equity Digital Inclusion Platform, the Best Practices Playbook, the KPI Dashboard, and the adoption of the G20 EMPOWER Communique 2023
• The summit, organized around the theme- ‘Women-Led Development: ensuring a sustainable, inclusive, and equitable global economic growth’, will witness the participation of delegates from across G20 nations
• Sima Bahus, Executive Director, UN Women, also addressed the inaugural session

• Gujarat becomes the first state in India to launch the Semiconductor Policy 2022-27
• Chhattisgarh CM flags off ‘Mukhyamantri Mahtari Nyay Rath’ to make women aware of rights
• Rajasthan ties up with Telangana to set up 'Rajasthan Mahila Nidhi Bank'

• UNESCO has added a 106-year-old astronomical observatory at Langat Singh College in Bihar’s Muzaffarpur on its list of important endangered heritage observatories of the world.
• The observatory was built in 1916 in the 123-year old college, now affiliated to Bhim Rao Ambedkar Bihar University. 
• A planetarium, probably the first in India, was also set up in the college in 1946. 

• The centre has made E-invoicing mandatory for businesses with aggregate turnover exceeding Rs 10 crore from October 1, a move which will further plug in revenue leakage and will ensure better tax compliance from businesses. 
• A notification in this regard was issued by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs.
• In the third phase, firms with a turnover of over Rs 50 crore had to generate e-invoices from April 1, 2021. 
• It has been extended to firms with a turnover between Rs 20 crore to Rs 50 crore from April 1, 2022.
• Presently, e-invoice is compulsory for businesses with an annual turnover of over Rs 20 crore.

• Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on the occasion of Hareli Tihaar festival flagged off the ‘Mukhyamantri Mahtari Nyay Rath’ with the aim of making the women of the state aware of their constitutional rights and laws.
• Nyay Rath will go from village to village, creating awareness regarding women's rights and concerning laws.
• In the first phase, the 'Nyay Rath' will tour nine districts of the state, starting from Durg district.
• Mukhyamantri Mahtari Nyay Rath will initially tour nine districts of the state that receive the Mineral Trust fund, i.e. Durg, Raipur, Rajnandgaon, Balodabazar-Bhatapara, Mahasamund, Janjgir-Champa, Gariaband, Dhamtari, Kanker. Later, Nyay Rath Yatra will cover remaining districts of the state.

• Kerala-based Federal Bank has become the first bank to list its Payment Gateway platform on the TIN 2.0 platform of the Income Tax Department.
• The TIN 2.0 platform went live on July 1 this year and the "Payment Gateway" has been enabled, providing one more payment option to taxpayers, who can now make their payments with ease, using modes such as Credit/Debit Card, UPI, NEFT/RTGS and Internet Banking.
• Federal Bank in July partnered with the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) to assist taxpayers in making their payments through the e-pay tax facility in the e-filing portal of the income tax. 
• The bank also received the government’s approval to collect direct tax during the past financial year and has been made effective since July 1, 2022.

• With an aim to boost manufacturing of semiconductors in the state and creating some two lakh jobs over the next five years, Gujarat became the first state to launch a Semiconductor Policy 2022-27.
• The policy was announced and unveiled by Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel, and it offers a slew of incentives and subsidies to manufacture semiconductors.
• In addition, the state proposes to develop a special “Semicon City” which would be part of the Dholera Special Investment Region.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates the country's first international bullion exchange - India International Bullion Exchange (IIBX) in Gandhinagar, Gujarat
• Singapore emerges as top source nation in terms of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) equity flows into India for the FY21-22
• Russia becomes India's third largest coal supplier after Indonesia, and South Africa with 2.06 million tonnes coal supply in June
• Reserve Bank of India hikes repo rate to 5.40 percent
• Para powerlifter Sudhir won gold medal in Commonwealth Games 2022

• The Reserve Bank of India hiked its key lending rate by 50 basis points to pre-pandemic levels of 5.40 percent.
• It’s a third increase in a row to tame surging inflation which has remained above the upper end of the central bank's target this year.
• The policy or the repo rate is the interest rate at which the RBI lends short-term funds to banks.
• In line, the standing deposit facility (SDF) rate will be 5.15 per cent and the marginal SDF will be 5.65 per cent.

• The Eleventh Agricultural Census (2021-22) was launched in the country today by the Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar.
• For the first time, the data will be collected through smartphones and tablets.
• The fieldwork of the Eleventh Agricultural Census (2021-22) will start in August 2022.
• Agriculture Census is conducted every 5 years, which is being undertaken now after a delay due to corona pandemic.
• The agricultural census is the main source of information on a variety of parameters, such as the number and area of operational holdings, their size, class-wise distribution, land use, tenancy and cropping pattern, etc.

• Savitri Jindal has surpassed China's Yang Huiyan to become Asia's richest woman with a fortune of $11.3 billion.
• Jindal, 72, became the Chairperson of Jindal Group shortly after her husband and the company's Founder, OP Jindal, died in a helicopter crash in 2005. 
• She overtook Yang after the latter lost over half her fortune amid China's property crisis.

• City-state Singapore has emerged as the top source nation in terms of foreign direct investment (FDI) equity flows into India for the financial year 2021-22.
• India received 27.01% of its overall FDI inflows from Singapore, followed by 17.94% from the US in FY22.
• Mauritius ranked third on the list with 15.98% share in the country's FDI inflows, followed by The Netherlands (7.86%) and Switzerland (7.31%), according to the Ministry of Commerce & Industry.
• The top five states receiving the highest FDI equity inflows during FY22 are Karnataka (37.55%), Maharashtra (26.26%), Delhi (13.93%), Tamil Nadu (5.10%) and Haryana (4.76%).
• In FY22, FDI was received from 101 countries, whereas, it was reported from 97 countries during FY21.

Mrs. S. Radha Chauhan, a retired IAS officer from the 1988 Uttar Pradesh cadre, officially took over as the Chairperson of the Capacity Building Commission in New Delhi. She succeeds Shri Adil Zainulbhai, who served in the role since April 2021. Known for her administrative experience across both State and Central Governments, Chauhan previously served as Secretary in the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) and brings extensive knowledge in public administration and institutional capacity development.

Bimaplan has appointed Anurag Mishra as its new Chief Executive Officer to spearhead international growth and expansion of its embedded insurance offerings. Mishra brings extensive global experience, having served as Regional Head at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a World Bank entity, and as CEO of Standard Chartered Bank in Nepal during his 15-year tenure with the bank.

IndusInd International Holdings Ltd. (IIHL), the holding company of IndusInd Bank, has appointed Rajiv Anand as the new Managing Director and CEO. The change follows the resignation of former CEO Sumant Kathpalia and the Deputy CEO after accounting irregularities in the derivatives department were found, resulting in a ₹1,959.98 crore hit to net profit in the quarter ending March 31. IIHL Chairman Ashok Hinduja confirmed Anand’s appointment as part of leadership restructuring.

IndusInd Bank has named Rajiv Anand, former Deputy Managing Director of Axis Bank, as its Managing Director and CEO for a three-year term starting August 25, 2025. The appointment, which follows Reserve Bank of India clearance and board approval, is pending shareholder confirmation. Anand’s selection comes after governance and financial irregularities led to the removal of the bank’s previous leadership. His career began with Axis Asset Management in 2009, where he served as founding MD & CEO.

According to NASA, the full Moon in August, referred to as the ‘Sturgeon Moon’, will be most visible on August 9. The name traces its origin to Native American tribes of the Great Lakes region, who noted the abundance of sturgeon fish during this time. Alternate names for the August full Moon include Corn Moon, Black Cherries Moon, and Mountain Shadows Moon, each reflecting regional harvesting traditions.

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), owned by Tata Motors, has named P B Balaji as its next Chief Executive Officer—the first Indian to hold this position in the company’s history. Currently serving as Tata Motors’ Group Chief Financial Officer, Balaji will assume the CEO role in November 2025, succeeding Adrian Mardell, who is retiring. The appointment, approved by JLR’s board on August 4, marks a historic leadership transition for the luxury carmaker.

In a significant geological discovery, preliminary surveys by the Department of Geology and Mineral Resources have identified possible gold reserves across 100 hectares of land in Jabalpur district, Madhya Pradesh. Soil testing revealed the presence of gold, copper, and other valuable metals, with early estimates suggesting the deposits could amount to several lakh tonnes. The findings open up future opportunities for mining and resource development in the region.

Dr Mayank Sharma, a senior officer from the 1989 batch of the Indian Defence Accounts Service, assumed office as the Financial Advisor (Defence Services) on August 1, 2025. With over 30 years of service, he has held key positions including Controller General of Defence Accounts and senior roles in the Cabinet Secretariat such as Under Secretary, Deputy Secretary, and Joint Secretary.

Astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope have discovered a rare ultra-massive white dwarf, designated WD 0525+526, located approximately 130 light-years from Earth. Nicknamed a ‘zombie star’, this white dwarf was created through the explosive merger of two stars. Despite being roughly the size of Earth, it contains 20% more mass than the Sun, making it one of the most massive white dwarfs recorded.

Lieutenant General Pushpendra Singh has taken charge as the new Vice Chief of the Army Staff, effective July 31, 2025. Commissioned into the elite 4th Battalion of the Parachute Regiment (Special Forces) in December 1987, Lt Gen Singh is an alumnus of La Martiniere College, Lucknow University, and the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun. His appointment reflects his extensive experience and decorated career in specialised military operations.

Scientists studying oxygen isotopes in fossilized dinosaur teeth have reconstructed the Earth’s climate from 150 million years ago. Findings reveal that during the Late Jurassic, atmospheric carbon dioxide levels were four times higher than preindustrial times. The oxygen isotope composition in tooth enamel confirmed significantly hotter global temperatures during that era.

Deepak Reddy has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer of Manappuram Finance. Reddy, who previously held key leadership roles at Bajaj Finserv and Bajaj Finance for nearly two decades, brings vast experience in financial services and HR leadership. He also worked at American Express, heading personal and SME lending and premium credit card segments. His appointment signals the company’s intent to scale operations with a focus on innovation and sustainable growth.

Google has unveiled plans for its largest data centre project in Asia, to be established in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. The $6 billion (approx. ₹51,000 crore) investment includes building a 1-gigawatt data centre along with necessary energy infrastructure. Of this, nearly $2 billion (₹17,000 crore) will be allocated to create renewable energy capacity, supporting Google’s commitment to sustainable and clean data infrastructure. The project is poised to significantly boost digital capabilities and green energy in India.

Vice-Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan officially took over as the Vice Chief of the Naval Staff (VCNS) on Friday. Marking the occasion, he paid tribute to fallen Indian Navy personnel by laying a wreath at the National War Memorial in New Delhi. A gunnery and missile systems specialist, Vice-Admiral Vatsayan brings over 30 years of service experience. His distinguished career includes command and operational roles on frontline warships like INS Mysore (guided missile destroyer) and INS Nishank, reflecting his deep operational knowledge and leadership within the Indian Navy.

• IIT Guwahati scientists develop bamboo-based eco-friendly plastic for car interiors.
• Tamil Nadu Approves ₹1 Crore Hornbill Conservation Centre at Anamalai Tiger Reserve.
• DRDO Successfully Tests UAV-Launched Precision Missile with Modular Warheads.
• Ex-Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey launches offline messaging app Bitchat.
• ₹13,000 Cr NISAR Satellite Launched by India and U.S. from Sriharikota

• Union Government of India has set the target to eliminate Kala-azar from country by 2023. According to Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar (Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare), out of 633 Kala-azar endemic blocks, 625 blocks have successfully eliminated the kala-azar in 2021.
• India’s target is way ahead than World Health Organisation (WHO)’s target of eliminating the disease by 2030.
• Kala Azar is also called as Leishmaniasis. It is a neglected tropical disease, by which over 100 countries are affected, including India.
• The disease is caused due to parasite called Leishmania. This parasite is transmitted via bite of sand flies.

• Vaishali Nigam Sinha Appointed First Private Sector President of UN Global Compact India.
• Divya Deshmukh wins 2025 Women’s Chess World Cup, becomes India’s first female winner and 88th Grandmaster.
• Anuradha Thakur appointed as Director on RBI Central Board, replacing Ajay Seth.
• Nikhil Ravishankar Appointed CEO of Air New Zealand
• ISRO scientist A. Rajarajan appointed Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre from August 1.
• Lt. Gen. Pushpendra Singh to take over as Vice Chief of Army Staff on Friday.

India and the U.S. jointly launched the world’s most expensive Earth observation satellite, NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar), valued at ₹13,000 crore. The satellite lifted off aboard the GSLV-F16 rocket from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. NISAR will orbit Earth 14 times daily and map nearly all land and ice surfaces twice every 12 days, significantly boosting Earth science data and environmental monitoring.

• National Democratic Alliance (NDA)'s candidate Jagdeep Dhankhar has been elected India's 14th Vice President.
• He secured 528 votes. Opposition pick Margaret Alva who got 182 votes has lost. 
• Jagdeep Dhankhar was appointed as the Governor of West Bengal in 2019.
• The next Vice-President of the country will take the oath of office on August 11, a day after the term of the incumbent Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu ends.
• The Vice President of India, which is the second-highest constitutional post in the country, is elected through an electoral college consisting of members of the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha.
• All MPs of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, including nominated members, are entitled to vote in the vice presidential election. 

Veteran ISRO scientist A. Rajarajan will officially take over as Director of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) on August 1, succeeding Dr. S. Unnikrishnan Nair, who is set to retire on July 31. Prior to this, Rajarajan was serving as the Director of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota (SDSC-SHAR). With nearly 40 years of experience in ISRO, Rajarajan has held several senior leadership positions at VSSC, particularly contributing to the design and development of launch vehicle systems and composite spacecraft structures since joining the organisation in 1987.

• India's Savitri Jindal becomes Asia's richest woman with a net worth of $11 billion, surpassing China's Yang Huan
• Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shri Narendra Singh Tomar launches the 11th Agriculture Census in the country
• Parliament passes the Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery System Amendment Bill 2022 with the approval of Rajya Sabha
• 20 heritage sites of India awarded the tag of 'National Importance'
• Union Environment Ministry announces 10 more Ramsar sites in India, taking the total number of Ramsar sites in India to 64
• Indian Parliament passed the National Anti-Doping Bill, 2021 by voice vote
• 106-year-old astronomical observatory of Langat Singh College, Muzaffarpur, Bihar included in UNESCO's heritage list
• Justice Uday Umesh Lalit, the second senior judge of the Supreme Court, has been recommended as the next Chief Justice of India

Lieutenant-General Pushpendra Singh, a senior officer from the Parachute Regiment with a distinguished service record spanning over 35 years, has been appointed as the next Vice Chief of the Army Staff. He will formally take over the post on Friday, succeeding Lt. Gen. N.S. Raja Subramani. In parallel developments in the Navy, Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan is set to take charge as the new Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command, while Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan will step in as the Vice Chief of Naval Staff (VCNS) on the same day, as per official confirmation.

• Chief Justice of India NV Ramana has written to the Union Government recommending the name of Justice Uday Umesh Lalit, the second senior judge of the Supreme Court, as the next Chief Justice of India.
• CJI Ramana is retiring with effect from August 26. Recently, the Union Minister of Law and Justice Kiren Rijiju had written to the CJI requesting him to name the successor.
• If appointed, Justice Lalit will become the second CJI who was directly elevated to the apex court Bench from the Bar council after Justice S M Sikri, who became the 13th CJI in January 1971.
• Before his elevation as a judge of the Supreme Court on August 13, 2014, Justice Lalit was a Senior Advocate at the Supreme Court.

Air New Zealand has named Nikhil Ravishankar, currently its Chief Digital Officer, as the airline’s next Chief Executive Officer. He will succeed Greg Foran, who announced his decision to step down earlier this year. Ravishankar, who has been instrumental in the airline’s digital transformation, will officially take charge on October 20, 2025, according to a report by The New Zealand Herald.

• The Rajya Sabha passed the National Anti-Doping Bill, 2021 unanimously by a voice vote.
• The Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha on July 27.
• The bill provides for planning, implementing, and monitoring anti-doping activities as well as investigating anti-doping rule violations.
• The violation of anti-doping rules may result in disqualification of results including forfeiture of medals, points, and prizes, ineligibility to participate in a competition or event for a prescribed period, and financial sanctions.
• The Bill proposes to establish the National Board for Anti-Doping in Sports with a view to make recommendations to the government on anti-doping regulations and compliance with international commitments on anti-doping.

• India has identified 20 heritage sites, including two ancient mounds at Haryana's Rakhigarhi and the age-old Anangtal in Delhi, for the national importance tag.
• The other sites include rock painting at Chintakunta, Andhra Pradesh; rock art site Murgi at Rdanag, Leh; Kaleshwar Mahadev Temple, Kalesar (Manyala Panchayat), Himachal Pradesh.
• The Rakhigarhi site is one of the “five iconic sites” declared by the Central government in the Union budget 2020-21.
• Also, 55 monuments, sites are declared protected under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958 in Assam.
• Three monuments have been identified to be declared as monuments of national importance in Mizoram in the last five years.

• Parliament has passed the Weapon of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Amendment Bill 2022 with the Rajya Sabha approving.
• The Bill seeks to amend the Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Act, 2005.  
• The 2005 Act prohibits unlawful activities such as manufacturing, transport or transfer related to weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery.
• Weapons of mass destruction are biological, chemical or nuclear weapons. 
• The Bill bars persons from financing any prohibited activity related to weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated the country’s first international bullion exchange – the India International Bullion Exchange (IIBX) at Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) in Gandhinagar.
• He also laid the foundation stone of the Headquarters Building of the International Financial Services Centres Authority, in Gandhinagar.
• IIBX is the third such exchange in the world and has been set up with an aim to enable India to become an influencer for global bullion prices.
• IIBX will facilitate the transition of the Indian Bullion Market towards a more organised structure by roping in qualified jewellers.
• IIBX is promoted by five market institutional investor’s i.e., CDSL, India INX, NSDL, NSE and MCX.

• ESIC Super Specialty Hospital in Sanathnagar, Hyderabad, successfully performed its first in-house cadaver organ retrieval, involving organs from a 45-year-old brain-dead male donor.
• The donated organs saved three lives; one kidney was given to a 50-year-old female patient, while the liver and another kidney were sent to Osmania General Hospital.

• ISRO will launch the Earth Observation Satellite (EOS-08) using the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) on August 15, 2024 at from Sriharikota.
• The EOS-08 mission, designated SSLV-D3/EOS-08, aims to finalize the SSLV Development Project and advance technologies for future operational satellites, with the micro-satellite weighing about 175.5 kg.

• ISRO successfully conducts a flight experiment of the air breathing propulsion system, demonstrating advanced rocket technology.
• IIT Guwahati researchers uncover the RNA-destroying function of the p30 protein in the African Swine Fever Virus.
• Sinergium Biotech is spearheading a new project to develop mRNA vaccines for avian influenza (H5N1).
• The Department of Atomic Energy has inaugurated 'One DAE One Subscription' (ODOS).

• Sinergium Biotech, supported by WHO and MPP, is leading an initiative to develop mRNA vaccines for avian influenza (H5N1), aiming to enhance pandemic preparedness in low- and middle-income 
• The project will focus on preclinical development and intends to share technology and expertise worldwide, promoting equitable access and fostering international collaboration.

Moldova has officially become the 107th member of the International Solar Alliance (ISA), as confirmed by India’s Ministry of External Affairs. The ISA, launched jointly by India and France during COP21 in Paris (2015), is a global coalition of 124 countries aimed at promoting solar energy adoption, improving access, and supporting a global clean energy transition. 

• United States to Exit UNESCO by December 2026 Citing Policy Differences.
• Death toll in Gaza crosses 60,000; over half are women and children.
• Australia to Enforce Under-16 Age Ban on Social Media from Dec 10.

Starting December 10, 2025, the Australian government will mandate social media platforms, including YouTube, to restrict account access to users aged 16 and above. This reverses YouTube’s earlier exemption from age restriction laws passed in November. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and X are also covered under the regulation. Non-compliance could result in fines up to 50 million AUD (approx. ₹273 crore). The decision was announced by Communications Minister Anika Wells as part of defining "age-restricted" platforms.

A powerful 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck off Russia’s remote Far Eastern coast early Wednesday, triggering tsunami waves that reached Japan, Hawaii, and parts of the U.S. West Coast, including San Francisco. Waves measured 3–4 meters in Kamchatka, and between 60 cm to 1.5 meters elsewhere. Although some people were injured, there were no fatalities or serious damages reported. Authorities had issued wide-ranging alerts, which were later downgraded in some areas as the tsunami threat receded.

The Archery Association of India (AAI) has announced the debut edition of the Archery League, scheduled for October 2025 at the Yamuna Sports Complex, Delhi. Spanning 11 days, the event will feature elite recurve and compound archers from India and around the world. The tournament will follow a franchise model and aims to bolster India’s archery infrastructure and global competitiveness. Six teams will compete, including international athletes from the top 10 global rankings.

India’s ace javelin thrower Annu Rani secured a gold medal at the International Wiesław Maniak Memorial in Poland with a season-best throw of 62.59 meters. The Asian Games gold medallist opened with a strong 60.96m throw, later improving it in her second attempt to 62.59m, followed by another commendable 60.07m attempt. The 32-year-old dominated the field with consistent high-performance throws.

Norwegian chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen, representing Team Liquid, triumphed at the first-ever Chess Esports World Cup in Riyadh, defeating Team Falcons’ Alireza Firouzja in the grand final. The match concluded with Carlsen winning four games, drawing two, and losing just one, highlighting his dominance over the world’s third-ranked blitz player. The victory added yet another prestigious title to Carlsen’s career achievements.

In Montevideo, Uruguay, Argentina clinched gold medals in both the men’s and women’s categories of the 2025 Pan American Hockey Cup. The United States earned silver in both tournaments, while Canada’s men’s team and Uruguay’s women’s team secured bronze. With these victories, Argentina’s men’s team and the USA’s women’s team have qualified for the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup to be held in Belgium and the Netherlands.

Union Ministers Bhupender Yadav (Environment) and Manohar Lal (Housing, Urban Affairs, and Power) inaugurated the ‘Matri Van’ project in Gurugram. Developed under the Government’s 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign, the initiative envisions creating a 750-acre urban forest in the Aravalli hill range along the Gurugram-Faridabad road. The project is intended to promote ecological balance, green legacy, and community participation.

• Nobel laureate Mohammad Yunus is set to be sworn in as the head of Bangladesh's interim government and has urged everyone to stay calm and avoid violence.
• Army Chief Gen Waker-Uz-Zaman announced the interim government’s swearing-in time and indicated it may consist of 15 members.
• The armed forces will support Yunus, who is currently in Paris and en route to Dhaka, after the resignation of Sheikh Hasina, who fled the country following violent protests.

• The Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) has handed over the first Radio Frequency (RF) Seeker of Akash - the Next Generation Weapon System produced at its newly commissioned state-of-the-art Seeker Facility Centre (SFC) to the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO).
• Seeker is a critical and technology intensive subsystem used in Surface-to-Air Missiles and Air-to-Air Missiles for target tracking in the terminal phase.
• The RF Seeker has been designed by DRDO’s Research Centre Imarat, and produced by BDL at its state-of-the-art Seeker Facility Centre set up at BDL, Kanchanbagh Unit in Hyderabad.

• The 5th AITIGA Joint Committee and related meetings for review of ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) were held in ASEAN Secretariat, Jakarta, Indonesia from 29th July to 1st August 2024, marking a significant milestone in enhancing economic cooperation between ASEAN and India.
• The meeting was co-chaired by Shri Rajesh Agrawal, Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce, India, and Ms. Mastura Ahmad Mustafa, Deputy Secretary General (Trade), Ministry of Investment, Trade & Industry, Malaysia. Delegates from all 10 ASEAN Countries and India participated in the meeting.

India Post Payments Bank has introduced Aadhaar-based facial authentication technology nationwide for digital transactions. The service, developed under the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), allows users—particularly senior citizens and persons with disabilities—to perform banking operations securely without using physical biometrics or OTPs, thus enhancing accessibility and ease of use.

• Bibhuti Bhusan Nayak has been elected as the 67th President of the Institute of Cost Accountants of India (ICMAI) for 2024-2025, succeeding Ashwin Dalwadi.
• TCA Srinivasa Prasad will serve as the Vice President of ICMAI for the same period, succeeding Nayak, who is also a Fellow Member of the ICMAI and has been elected to the Institute's Council for the term 2023-27.
• The Institute of Cost Accountants of India (ICMAI) was established on May 28, 1959 as a statutory body under the Cost and Works Accountants Act, 1959 and is headquartered at Kolkata, West Bengal.

• Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) achieved a major milestone by handing over the first Radio Frequency (RF) Seeker of the Akash Weapon System to the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO).
• The RF Seeker is a critical and technology-intensive subsystem used in Surface-to-Air Missiles and Air-to-Air Missiles for target tracking in the terminal phase.
• It was produced at BDL’s newly commissioned state-of-the-art Seeker Facility Centre (SFC).
• It was designed by DRDO’s Research Centre Imarat and manufactured by BDL at its advanced Seeker Facility Centre located in BDL’s Kanchanbagh Unit.
• The RF Seeker is a critical and technology intensive subsystem used in Surface-to-Air Missiles and Air-to-Air Missiles.

• Kamala Harris becomes the first Black and South Asian woman to win the Democratic presidential nomination, announced by Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison.
• Harris secured 2,350 delegates through a five-day electronic vote, running unopposed with President Joe Biden's endorsement.
• She will be officially nominated at a convention in Chicago and aims to be the first female president of the US if she wins against Republican nominee Donald Trump in November.

India launched its first FIFA Talent Academy exclusively for girls in Hyderabad, marking a milestone in women's football development. The academy is a collaboration between FIFA, AIFF, and the Government of Telangana, formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding signed at the first Telangana Sports Conclave. This initiative under FIFA’s Talent Development Scheme will provide advanced training to scouted female footballers from across India.

• On August 5, 2024, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned after 15 years in power and abruptly left Bangladesh along with her sister. This led to a significant change in the political scenario of the country.
• Bangladesh Army chief General Waqar-uz-Zaman said the army will form an interim government.
• The main issue of student protests in Bangladesh in 2024 was the 30% reservation in government jobs for relatives of freedom fighters, which the students argued was discriminatory and favoured by supporters of Sheikh Hasina's Awami League party.

• The TransLunar Injection (TLI) was performed successfully from ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) in Bengaluru.
• Chandrayaan-3 completes its orbits around the Earth and heads towards the Moon.
• A successful perigee-firing performed at ISTRAC, ISRO has injected the spacecraft into the translunar orbit,” the space agency said.
• The Chandrayaan-3 is expected to reach the lunar orbit on August 5 and the spacecraft’s liquid engine will be fired again to insert the spacecraft into a lunar orbit.  
• The Lunar-Orbit Insertion (LOI) is planned for Aug 5, 2023,” ISRO added.
• After this there will be four orbit maneuvers to make the spacecraft enter into its final orbit at a distance of about 100 km from the Moon’s surface.
• The Chandrayaan-3 consists of an Lander module (LM), Propulsion module (PM) and a Rover.

• The IAEA and UNOSSC have partnered to enhance sustainable development through South-South and Triangular Cooperation initiatives.
• India and Vietnam ink nine agreements to strengthen strategic partnership and boost cooperation in areas like customs and agriculture.
• India sends nine tons of medical supplies as humanitarian assistance to Haiti.

The Government of India has finalized the establishment of seven Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel (PM MITRA) Parks across Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra with an investment outlay of ₹4,445 crore till 2027–28. The scheme aims to attract ₹70,000 crore in investments and generate approximately 20 lakh jobs. In Haryana, under the Samarth programme, 80 active training centers are currently functioning through 26 Implementing Partners to offer entry-level and reskilling training.

• Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla has been chosen as the prime astronaut for an upcoming Indo-US mission to the International Space Station (ISS), with Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair selected as the backup. The decision was based on a recommendation from Axiom Space Inc.
• ISRO's Human Space Flight Centre has signed a space flight agreement with Axiom Space Inc for their fourth mission to the ISS.

• ISRO on 30 July 2023 successfully launched its proven PSLV rocket carrying seven Singaporean satellites from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota
• The DS-SAR has a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) payload that allows it to provide coverage day and night in all seasons
• ISRO PSLV C56: This mission will be the 58th flight of PSLV
• This is the 17th flight of the rocket in a core alone configuration

Lando Norris clinched a dramatic victory at the 2025 Hungarian Grand Prix, narrowly beating his teammate Oscar Piastri by just 0.698 seconds following a tense wheel-to-wheel duel in the final laps. The race at the Hungaroring in Budapest was packed with strategic depth, on-track drama, and fierce competition. This was Norris’s fifth win of the season, cutting Piastri’s lead in the championship to just nine points, with George Russell securing third place.

• Grinson George, former head of the Marine Biodiversity and Environment Management Division at the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) has assumed charge as Director of the CMFRI here. 
• He has also held the position of Senior Programme Specialist at the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation in Dhaka.
• Dr. George has led significant research projects with support from various agencies, including the Ministry of Earth Sciences and Indian Space Research Organisation.

England’s star batter Joe Root made history on Sunday by becoming the first cricketer to surpass the 6000-run milestone in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC). Root has now scored 6000+ runs in 69 WTC matches, which includes 21 centuries and 23 fifties—well ahead of his closest rivals Steve Smith (4278 runs in 55 Tests) and Marnus Labuschagne (4225 runs in 53 Tests).

• Lt Gen Sadhna Saxena Nair, on August 01, 2024, assumed the office of Director General Medical Services (Army), becoming the first woman to be appointed to this prestigious position.
• She was the first woman to hold the post of DG Hospital Services (Armed Forces) on promotion to the rank of Air Marshal.
• Lt Gen Nair graduated from the Armed Forces Medical College, Pune with a distinguished academic record and was commissioned into the Army Medical Corps in December 1985. 

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar unveiled the official mascot for the Asia Rugby Under-20 Sevens Championship, scheduled for August 9–10 at Rajgir Sports Complex. This is the first time Bihar will host an international rugby tournament. Top eight Asian countries, including India, Hong Kong, China, UAE, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and Nepal will participate in the seven-a-side rugby event for both men’s and women’s teams.

• HS Dhaliwal Appointed New DGP of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• Shri Gulab Chand Kataria Appointed Governor of Punjab and Administrator of Union Territory of Chandigarh.
• Nicolas Maduro has secured a third term as Venezuela's President amid disputes over the election results.
• India takes over the Chair of the Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre (ADPC).
• Preeti Sudan has been appointed as the Chairperson of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
• Manoj Mittal has taken charge as the Chairman and Managing Director of SIDBI.
• Masoud Pezeshkian officially took office as the ninth president of Iran.
• Santosh Kumar Gangwar took the oath as the new Governor of Jharkhand.
• India has been elected Vice-Chair of the Supply Chain Council under the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF).
• Lt Gen Vikas Lakhera assumes command as the Director General of Assam Rifles.

The island nation of Malta has been chosen to host the 8th edition of the Commonwealth Youth Games (CYG) in 2027. Over 1,000 athletes aged 14 to 18 from 74 Commonwealth countries and territories are expected to compete. For the first time in CYG history, Sailing and Water Polo will be included in the competition lineup, joining existing events like Athletics, Para Athletics, Swimming, Para Swimming, Netball, Squash, Triathlon, and Weightlifting. The event aims to inspire youth participation and will utilise Malta’s advanced sporting facilities.

• Lt Gen Vikas Lakhera assumed office as the 22nd Director General of Assam Rifles on Wednesday, succeeding Lt Gen (retd) PC Nair.
• Lt Gen Lakhera, commissioned into 4 SIKH LI in 1990, has held various key positions, including division officer at NDA, deputy military advisor, and Inspector General of AR (north) at Kohima.
• He is a postgraduate from Defence Service Staff College, Wellington, has completed the Higher Defence Management Course from the College of Defence Management, Secunderabad, and the National Defence Course from The Royal College of Defence Studies, London.

• RCB bowler Yash Dayal faces second sexual assault charge involving a minor girl.
• Anahat Singh Wins India a Historic Bronze at World Junior Squash Championship 2025.
• Seema wins silver in 5000m, becomes first Indian woman medalist in event at World University Games.
• Shubman Gill scores four centuries as debut Test captain, sets new world record.
• Divyanshi wins U-19 WTT title; Priyanuj clinches gold in U-17 boys’ final.
• Gene Test Mandatory for Female Athletes in Global Events from Sep 1.
• Khalid Jamil becomes first Indian in 13 years to be appointed head coach of Indian men's football team.
• Shubman Gill becomes highest run-scorer as Indian Test captain in a single series with 743 runs.

• Former Union Minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar was on July 31 sworn in as the 12th Governor of Jharkhand.
• Mr. Gangwar, 76, succeeded C.P. Radhakrishnan, who was appointed as the Governor of Maharashtra.
• Acting Chief Justice of Jharkhand High Court Sujit Narayan Prasad administered the oath of office to Mr. Gangwar.

Khalid Jamil, a former Indian international footballer and current coach of ISL team Jamshedpur FC, has been appointed as the new head coach of the Indian national men’s football team. With this appointment, Jamil becomes the first Indian in 13 years to lead the national team. He rose to prominence after guiding Aizawl FC to an unexpected I-League title in 2017. The decision was made by the executive committee of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) from a shortlist of three candidates.

• Masoud Pezeshkian was sworn in as Iran's ninth president, emphasizing a reformist agenda focused on improving global relations and easing domestic social restrictions.
• His inauguration has raised hopes for a potential thaw in Iran's strained relations with the West, particularly concerning the ongoing nuclear standoff.
• Pezeshkian takes office amidst rising tensions in the Middle East, including conflicts involving Israel and Iran's allies such as Hezbollah.

On the opening day of the fifth Test against England, Shubman Gill set a new benchmark by becoming the Indian captain with the highest number of runs in a single Test series. He surpassed the legendary Sunil Gavaskar's tally of 732 runs, scored during the six-match home series against the West Indies in 1978–79. Although Gill was dismissed for 21 in the latest match, his total run tally in the ongoing series has reached 743, making this his most prolific series as a captain.

• India has been appointed Vice-Chair of the Supply Chain Council under the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF), emphasizing its critical role in enhancing regional supply chain resilience.
• The IPEF has established three key bodies with elected Chairs and Vice-Chairs for a two-year term: the Supply Chain Council (USA Chair, India Vice-Chair), the Crisis Response Network (Republic of Korea Chair, Japan Vice-Chair), and the Labor Rights Advisory Board (USA Chair, Fiji Vice-Chair).
• The IPEF agreement aims to mitigate supply chain disruptions, reduce dependency on China, and enhance crisis coordination, focusing on sectors crucial for national security, public health, and economic well-being.

World Athletics has introduced a new rule requiring all female athletes competing in global ranking events — including World Championships — to undergo a one-time SRY gene test to confirm biological sex. The test, conducted through cheek swab or blood, will be overseen by national federations. This rule, intended to safeguard the integrity of women’s sports, comes into effect from September 1, 2025, ahead of the World Championships scheduled in Tokyo from September 13 to 21.

• Manoj Mittal has been appointed as the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) by the Government of India.
• With over 33 years of experience in the finance sector, Mittal has previously served as Managing Director and CEO at Industrial Finance Corporation of India (IFCI) and Deputy Managing Director at SIDBI.

• On July 28, 2024, President Droupadi Murmu appointed Governors to nine states and the Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry and accepted Banwarilal Purohit's resignation as Governor of Punjab and Administrator of Chandigarh.
• Newly Appointed Governors by State:
• Telangana: Jishnu Dev Varma
• Sikkim: Om Prakash Mathur
• Jharkhand: Santosh Kumar Gangwar
• Chhattisgarh: Ramen Deka
• Meghalaya: C H Vijayashankar
• Rajasthan: Haribhau Kisanrao Bagde
• Maharashtra: C.P. Radhakrishnan (previously Governor of Jharkhand with additional charge of Telangana)
• Punjab and Administrator of Chandigarh: Gulab Chand Kataria (previously Governor of Assam)
• Assam and additional charge of Manipur: Lakshman Prasad Acharya (previously Governor of Sikkim)
• Puducherry (Lt. Governor): K. Kailashnathan

• Retired IAS officer Preeti Sudan, who served as Health Secretary of India from 2017 to 2020, has been appointed the new Chairperson of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) effective from August 1, 2024.
• Ms Sudan replaces Dr Manoj Soni, who resigned earlier this month before the end of his tenure.

• The world's first artificial embryo has been created.
• Scientists at the Weizmann Institute in Israel did not need any fertilized eggs or any sperm for this.
• The embryos created by the scientists at Rehovot’s Weizmann Institute of Science are “synthetic” because their creation didn’t involve an egg or sperm, or even a mouse’s uterus.
• In research published in the journal Medical Science, the team developed embryos from rat stem cells. It was kept in the laboratory in a special kind of vessel for years. From which a complete embryo has developed from the parent cells itself.

• To mark India's historic 75th year of independence, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch a satellite dubbed 'AzadiSAT' developed by 750 girl students from 75 schools across India.
• The project is part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations. 
• The satellite will be launched using the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) on its maiden mission on August 7.
• The AzadiSat, apart from celebrating India's 75th year of Independence, is a symbol of women's empowerment.
• The AzadiSAT will be launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota at 9:18am on Sunday. The satellite weighs 8kg and will have 75 payloads weighing 50g each.
• The AzadiSAT will be launched alongside the 145kg Earth Observation 2 satellite by the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) on its maiden trip.

• IIT Madras launches 'Nilekani Center at AI4Bharat' under Digital India Bhashini Mission

• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced that it is all set to launch its new rocket called the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) on August 7 in Sriharikota.
• The rocket will carry Earth Observation Satellite (EOS-02) Mission to Space.
• The research organisation informed that the mission will be launched at 9:18 am IST. 
• The public will be allowed to witness the launch from up-close, from ISRO's Launch Viewers gallery.
• The SSLV satellites is weighing less than 500 kg. The primary payload of the first demonstration flight of SSLV is an earth observation satellite MicroSat 2A.
• Comparing SSLV with PSLV, one has to know that PSLV can take up to a 1,750kilogram payload into the Sun Synchronous Orbit at 600 km altitude, whereas the SSLV has been designed to launch a payload weighing 500 kg to a 500-kilometre planar orbit.

• A floating solar power plant is going to be built in Madhya Pradesh's Khandwa. 
• Said to be the world's largest floating solar plant, it will generate 600 Megawatt power by 2022-23. 
• The project is estimated to be worth over ₹3000 crores.
• India’s largest floating Solar Power Project is now fully operational. 
• NTPC declared Commercial Operation of the final part capacity of 20 MW out of 100 MW Ramagundam Floating Solar PV Project at Ramagundam, Telangana with effect from 1 July.

• South Korea became the seventh country in the world to launch a mission to the Moon as its orbiter hitched a ride on SpaceX Falcon-9. 
• South Korea has named its lunar spacecraft "Danuri", a portmanteau of the Korean words for "moon" and " enjoy ".
• This is the first lunar mission by South Korea, which recently developed a space rocket launch capability.
• The lunar mission has been jointly developed by NASA and the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI).

• The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras launched the ‘Nilekani Centre at AI4Bharat’ to promote the state of Indian language technology with the intention to create a societal impact. 
• This Centre, inaugurated by Nandan Nilekani, is being supported by Rohini and Nandan Nilekani with a grant of Rs 36 crore through Nilekani Philanthropies.
• The Nilekani Centre at AI4Bharat will work to advance Indian Language technology.
• AI4Bharat is an initiative by IIT Madras.
• It has been aligned with objectives of Digital India Bhashini Mission.

• Cambodia's king Norodom Sihamoni, has approved the government's nomination of Hun Manet, the eldest son of long-serving Prime Minister Hun Sen, to become the next Prime Minister.
• Ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) in last month’s election won 120 of 125 parliamentary seats in a contest in which all viable opposition was sidelined.

• With a vision to create a just world that values and conserves nature, IUCN Species Survival Commission has partnered with Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) to set up the first-ever Center for Species Survival in South Asia.
• This collaborative effort aims to enhance conservation efforts by wildlife experts and specialist groups and safeguard the rich biodiversity of India.

• The ‘World’s Largest Grain Storage Plan in the Cooperative Sector’ will be rolled out as a Pilot Project to revolutionise agricultural infrastructure and empower farmers.
• The plan focuses on creating godowns and other agricultural infrastructure at the level of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) to strengthen food security, reduce wastage, and empower farmers by enabling them to realise better prices for their crops.
• Emphasising the strength of cooperatives, this transformative plan aligns with the vision of “Sahakar-se-Samriddhi” (Cooperation for Prosperity).
• Leveraging the potential of over 1,00,000 PACS, the plan seeks to create decentralised storage capacity and essential infrastructure to enhance the economic viability of PACS and boost India’s agricultural sector.
• India has over 1,00,000 PACS with a vast membership of over 13 crore farmers.

• In the run-up to the 18th summit of the G20 nations, US-based Indiaspora will host a G20 Forum in New Delhi from August 22 to 24.
• The nonprofit to assemble 200 diaspora leaders from 25 countries to explore ways it can contribute to India’s journey toward 100 years of independence.

• The South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa invited the Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for the BRICS Summit being hosted by South Africa on August 22-24, 2023. BRICS' current five members - Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa - are due to convene there on Aug. 22-24.

1. India, Laos signed MoUs for implementation of five Quick Impact Projects in the fields of education, health, water facility and IT.
2. India-Papua New Guinea signed MoU for India Stack collaboration.
3. World's biggest wind turbine to be installed in China with a capacity of 16 MW
4. Sri Lanka Central Bank has designated Indian Rupee Not Legal Tender for Domestic Payments.
5. World's most valuable company Apple is nearing its worst sales dip in 20 years.

• China is installing offshore wind turbines as tall as 30 Rock in the Taiwan Strait
• China Activates World's Largest Wind Turbine that can Power 36,000 households for a year
• To promote renewable energy resources, China has set another milestone in wind energy technology. 
• The country's China Three Gorges Corporation successfully commissioned the world's largest wind turbine with a capacity of 16 MW at its offshore wind farm located near Fujian province.

• India and Lao People's Democratic Republic today signed five Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) for the implementation of five Quick Impact Projects in the fields of education, health, water facility and IT were also signed. 
• The MoUs were signed during the 3rd round of Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) between the two countries today in Vientiane, Lao PDR.
• The Indian side was led by Secretary (East) in the Ministry of External Affairs Saurabh Kumar and Deputy Foreign Minister of Lao PDR Phoxay Khaykhamphithoune led his side

• The Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) and the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MICT) of Papua New Guinea signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for sharing India Stack, successful digital solutions implemented at population scale in New Delhi on 28 July 2023
• India Stack is the moniker for a set of open APIs and digital public goods that aim to unlock the economic primitives of identity, data, and payments at population scale. Although the name of this project bears the word India, the vision of India Stack can be applied to any nation
• In the MoU signing ceremony, the Indian side was led by Abhishek Singh, president & CEO, National eGovernance Division, MeitY.

• India won the CAVA Women’s Volleyball Nations League final by defeating Nepal 3-2, marking their second title in the tournament.
• Despite a loss to Nepal during the league stage, India secured the championship in the final match.
• India clinched the Gold medal, Nepal earned Silver, and Iran won the Bronze in the tournament.

• Shohini Sinha, an Indian-American, known for her work on counter-terrorism investigations, has been named the special agent in charge of the FBI's field office in Salt Lake City in the US state of Utah.
• Shohini Sinha, who most recently served as executive special assistant to the Director at FBI Headquarters in Washington DC was named the special agent in charge by FBI Director Christopher Wray, who highlighted Sinha's exceptional track record on counter-terrorism investigations and extensive experience within the agency.
• Having joined the FBI as a special agent back in 2001, Sinha has had a remarkable career
• Her journey began at the Milwaukee Field Office, where she dedicated her efforts to counterterrorism investigations.

• UN proclaims July 25 as International Day for Judicial Well-being.
• July 30 marked as World Day Against Trafficking with focus on criminal exploitation.
• World Breastfeeding Week 2025 to be observed from August 1 to 7 with focus on healthcare system support.

• Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat announced her retirement from wrestling on 8 August 2024 after being disqualified in the final of the 50 kg category at the Paris Olympics 2024 for being 100 grams over the weight limit.
• The Haryana government will treat Vinesh Phogat on par with an Olympic silver medallist, offering her the same prize money and facilities, as announced by Chief Minister Nayab Saini.

World Breastfeeding Week, observed annually from August 1 to 7, will be celebrated in 2025 with renewed focus under WHO’s “Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures” initiative. Endorsed globally by WHO, UNICEF, health ministries, and civil society groups, this week aims to highlight the vital role breastfeeding plays in ensuring long-term health, nutrition, and equity for infants. This year’s campaign particularly emphasizes the importance of sustained support for breastfeeding women and infants within healthcare systems worldwide.

• Star shooter Manu Bhaker, who created history by winning two bronze medals at the Paris Games, will be the flagbearer of the India at the Olympic closing ceremony here on Sunday.
• Manu opened the medal account of the India in the current Games by winning the bronze medal in the individual 10m air pistol event and became the first shooter from the country to win an Olympic medal.
• She then teamed up with Sarabjot Singh to win a bronze in the 10m air pistol mixed team event.

• Indian-American Shohini Sinha has assumed the role of special agent in charge of the Salt Lake City Field Office, as appointed by FBI Director Christopher Wray.
• she becomes the fortieth sovereign to undergo the prestigious coronation ceremony at the renowned Westminster Abbey.
• She joins as the special agent in charge of the prestigious Salt Lake City Field Office.

• Novak Djokovic secured his first Olympic gold medal by defeating Carlos Alcaraz in the men's singles final at the Paris 2024 Olympics, adding to his record 24 Grand Slam titles and most weeks at No. 1 in rankings.
• Djokovic, at age 37, became the oldest man to win Olympic singles gold since 1908 and joined Andre Agassi, Rafael Nadal, Steffi Graf, and Serena Williams as the only players to achieve a Career Grand Slam and Olympic gold.

• Maj Gen Amita Rani assumed the appointment of Addl Director General, Military Nursing Service (MNS) on 01 Aug 2023.
• The General Officer is an alumnus of the College of Nursing, Army Hospital (R&R), Delhi. Prior to assuming the present appointment, she held the post of Principal Matron of Army Hospital (Research & Referral).
• The General Officer was commissioned into the Military Nursing Service in the year 1983.
• She has completed short-term courses on Quality Control, Infection Control and Prevention Management, Six Sigma Green Belt in Health care, among others and a Post Graduate Certificate course in Hospital and Quality Management from the National Health Care Academy headquartered at Singapore.

• Noah Lyles of the USA won the men's 100 meters in a historic and incredibly close finish, clocking in at 9.784 seconds and narrowly beating Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson by just .005 seconds.
• The race was hailed as the greatest 100m final ever by track legend Michael Johnson, with all competitors breaking the 10-second barrier and the USA securing two podium finishes.

• Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar, assumed charge as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (FOC-in-C), Eastern Naval Command (ENC), at a ceremonial parade held at the Naval Base on 1 August 2023.
• Commissioned into the Indian Navy in January 1987, Vice Admiral Pendharkar is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy and graduate of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, Naval War College, Karanja, and Naval Command College, Newport, Rhode Island, USA. He holds a Master’s Degree in Defence and Strategic Studies.
• An anti-submarine warfare specialist, he has held various operational, staff and command appointments in the course of his distinguished career spanning over 36 years.
• He has commanded three frontline ships including the Missile Corvette - INS Kora, Stealth Frigate - INS Shivalik and the Aircraft Carrier -INS Viraat.

• Manu Bhaker Makes History as the First Indian Woman to Secure an Olympic Medal in Shooting.
• Jiya Rai becomes the world’s youngest and fastest female para swimmer to solo across the English Channel.
• Lakshya Sen clinches his first win in the Paris Olympics men’s singles Group L match.
• Sri Lanka clinched their first Women's Asia Cup title with a decisive victory over India.
• Rohan Bopanna has announced his retirement from Indian tennis following a heartbreaking exit at the Paris Olympics.
• Lewis Hamilton won the 2024 Formula 1 Rolex Belgian Grand Prix.
• Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh secure historic bronze in the 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team Event at the Paris Olympics 2024.
• India will host the T20 Asia Cup in 2025.
• Swapnil Kusale wins India's third medal in the 50m rifle 3 position event at Paris 2024 Olympics.

• Former director-in-charge of the National Institute of Technology - Tiruchi G. Kannabiran has been appointed as the new director of the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC). 
• Mr. Kannabiran assumed charge on 28 July 2023 and will hold the post for five years. He was the founding director of the Indian Institute of information Technology, Sri City, Andhra Pradesh, and worked for five years between 2018 and 2023 in that post.
• An NIT alumnus and senior professor of instrumentation systems, he has over 30 years of experience in teaching, research and administration.
• He has served as dean of research and consultancy and has been director in-charge at NIT. 

• Indian shooter Swapnil Kusale won the bronze medal in the men's 50m rifle 3 positions final at the Paris 2024 Olympics, India's first Olympic medal in this event.
• The gold medal in this event was won by Liu Yukun of China with 463.6 points, while Ukraine's Serhi Kulish won the silver medal with 461.3 points.
• India has won three medals so far at the Paris 2024 Olympics, and all of these medals have come in shooting, including bronze from Swapnil Kusale, bronze from Manu Bhaker and Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh in the 10m air pistol mixed team.

• United Kingdom's Jim Skea has been elected as the newly elected chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
• WMO and the United Nations Environment Programme are co-sponsors of the IPCC, which provides authoritative scientific assessments concerning climate change, its implications and risks, as well as to adaptation and mitigation strategies.
• With nearly forty years of climate science experience and expertise, Jim Skea will lead the IPCC through its seventh assessment cycle.
• "WMO welcomes the election of Jim Skea as Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change at such a critical moment. The extreme heatwaves, unprecedented sea surface temperatures and rapid changes in the cryosphere show that climate change mitigation and adaptation is gaining in urgency on a monthly - even daily – basis," said WMO Secretary-General Prof. Petteri Taalas.

• India will host the 2025 men's Asia Cup in T20 format, serving as a precursor to the T20 World Cup scheduled in India for 2026.
• The 2027 Asia Cup will be held in ODI format in Bangladesh, aligning with the 50-over World Cup scheduled in South Africa that same year.
• The Men's Asia Cup is a biennial event organized by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), featuring teams from Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and one non-Test playing ACC member selected through qualifying events.

• BSNL’s Shivendra Nath set to be next CMD of EPIL
• Shivendra Nath is set to be next Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) of Engineering Projects (India) Ltd. a PSU under the Ministry of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises. 
• He has been recommended for the post by the Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) panel on 27 July 2023.

• Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh won a bronze medal in the 10m air pistol mixed team event, marking Bhaker as the first Indian athlete to win two medals in a single Olympics edition.
• Bhaker became the first athlete in the history of independent India to win two medals in a single Olympics edition. On the other hand, Prithviraj Tondaiman finished 21st and failed to qualify men’s trap qualification round.

• England pacer Stuart Broad announced his retirement from international cricket on 29 July 2023 after Day 3 of England vs Australia's 5th Ashes Test at The Oval in retirement
• Broad made his Test debut against Sri Lanka in 2007 and the pacer will do down as one the greatest fast bowler
•  37-year-old Broad will hang up his boots from all forms of cricket after the completion of the 5th Ashes Test
• The 37-year-old fast bowler has taken 845* wickets in 56 T20 Internationals, 121 One Day Internationals, and 167 Test matches

• Lewis Hamilton secured victory in the 2024 Formula 1 Rolex Belgian Grand Prix after his Mercedes teammate George Russell was disqualified due to having an underweight car, which resulted in a technical infringement.
• Initially, George Russell finished first, but his disqualification handed the win to Hamilton. The race saw a competitive duel between the Mercedes drivers, with Hamilton's strategic two-stop approach ultimately playing a key role in his victory.

• Information and Broadcasting Secretary Apurva Chandra will hold the additional charge of Secretary in the Department of Telecommunications.
• The Department of Personnel and Training has approved the transfer of additional charge of the post of Secretary, Department of Telecommunications to Mr. Chandra till K. Rajaraman relinquishes the charge of the post and appointment of a regular office-bearer
• In August 2021, Chandra took over as a secretary in the I&B ministry.
• Chandra holds a bachelor's degree in engineering, and has a Masters in Structural Engineering from IIT Delhi

• Indian tennis star Rohan Bopanna announced his retirement after losing in the first round of the men's doubles of the Paris Olympics on 28 July 2024. 
• The 44-year-old Bopanna had been playing for India for 22 years. He made his debut for the country in 2002.
• In the match played on July 28, they defeated the French pair of Gael Monfils and Edouard Roger Vasselin 5-7, 6-2. With this, the Indian pair was out of the tournament.
• He was a finalist in the men's doubles match of 6 Grand Slams. He has won the French Open in mixed doubles in 2017, the Australian Open in men's doubles in 2024.

• Sri Lanka has won the Women's Asia Cup 2024 title, creating history. The team defeated India by 8 wickets in the final. 
• Sri Lanka secured their first Women's Asia Cup title by defeating India, who had been finalists nine times, with standout performances from Chamari Athapaththu (Player of the Tournament) and Harshitha Samarawickrama (Player of the Match with 69*).
• The historic victory for Sri Lanka was achieved at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, marking a significant milestone in Sri Lankan women’s cricket history.

• 'National Handloom Day' is celebrated on 7th August every year since 2015 to create awareness about the importance of the handloom industry and its contribution to the socio-economic development of the country. 
• The 'VIRAASAT' handloom exhibition, celebrating the 10th National Handloom Day, commenced on August 3, 2024, at Handloom Haat, Janpath, and will continue till August 16, organized by NHDC under the Ministry of Textiles.
• This year Handloom Day will be celebrated by Weavers Service Centres (WSCs) in 75 major handloom clusters/pockets with promotional activities on handloom in the presence of local MPs, MLAs, designers, awardees, weavers, and other stakeholders. 
• The main objective is to promote handlooms, support handloom sector, and bring pride to handloom weavers.

• The 14th Indian Organ Donation Day was observed on 3 August 2024 with an awareness program organized by the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) in New Delhi, where Minister Anupriya Patel felicitated families who donated organs, recipients, and doctors.
• The organ donation rate in India has increased fourfold to 18,378 in the last decade, as highlighted by Minister Anupriya Patel.
• NITI Aayog Member Dr. V K Paul emphasized the need for increased awareness about organ donation and urged multi-specialty hospitals to provide organ transplantation facilities.

• India will host diplomats and officials from all 15 countries of the United Nations Security Council, including China, Russia and the United States, for a special meeting on terrorism, in Delhi and Mumbai in October.
• Current members of the Security Council are Albania, Brazil, Gabon, Ghana, India, Ireland, Kenya, Mexico, Norway and the UAE, along with five permanent members China, France, Russia, the UK and the US.
• The meeting of the Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC), which India is chairing for 2022 as a member of the UNSC, will focus particularly on challenges such as terrorism financing, cyberthreats and the use of drones

• Kargil Vijay Diwas was celebrated every year on 26 July.
• International Tiger Day was celebrated on 29 July.

The Department of Food and Public Distribution (DFPD) under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs has introduced a major amendment to the Vegetable Oil Products, Production and Availability (Regulation) Order, 2011, aiming to enhance compliance in edible oil data reporting. This regulatory shift is framed under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, and follows the earlier repeal of food regulations by the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The amendment seeks to streamline edible oil availability and boost transparency in production data.

• Egypt and India sign MoU to build $8 billion green hydrogen factory in the Suez Canal Economic Zone
• UN General Assembly declares access to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment a ‘Universal Human Right’
• World's largest floating power plant to be built in Khandwa region of Madhya Pradesh, will be become only district in the state to generate electricity from solar, hydropower and thermal
• South Korea launched its first lunar mission with the help of lunar spacecraft "Danuri"

As part of a 10-day visit by a Nepalese Youth Leaders’ Delegation comprising members from various political backgrounds, India hosted a Youth Leaders’ Roundtable Conference on August 5, 2025, at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan, New Delhi. The conference was chaired by Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya and co-organised by the Ministry of External Affairs, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, and the Observer Research Foundation (ORF). The initiative aims to deepen India-Nepal youth and political engagement.

• Russia became India's third-largest coal supplier in July, with imports rising by over a fifth compared with June to a record 2.06 million tonnes, data from Indian consultancy Coalmint showed.
• Russia has historically been the sixth-largest supplier of coal to India, behind Indonesia, South Africa, Australia, and the United States, with Mozambique and Colombia alternatingly featuring in the top five.
• India's imports from Russia have jumped nearly five times to over $15 billion ever since Russia invaded Ukraine.
• As per Coalmint, Indonesia is the top supplier, while South Africa is slightly ahead of Russia.

To encourage patriotic sentiment and enhance awareness of the national flag among citizens, the MYBharat platform, functioning under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, has launched an all-India online quiz competition. Open to all citizens, the quiz will be hosted on the MYBharat portal and will test participants’ knowledge of the Tricolour through engaging multiple-choice questions. Every participant will receive a digital certificate as recognition for their involvement.

• In a historic move, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on July 28, 2022, adopted a resolution recognising the right to a healthy environment for all.
• With 161 votes in favour, and eight abstentions, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution declaring access to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, a universal human right.
• The resolution adopted was five decades in the making. From a foothold in the 1972 Stockholm Declaration, the right has been integrated into constitutions, national laws, and regional agreements.
• The 1972 United Nations Conference on the environment in Stockholm was the first world conference to make the environment a major issue.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi formally opened the M.S. Swaminathan Centenary International Conference at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in PUSA, New Delhi. The conference, themed “Evergreen Revolution – The Pathway to Biohappiness,” celebrates Prof. Swaminathan’s lifetime efforts in achieving food security for all. It serves as a significant forum for scientists, policy experts, development workers, and stakeholders to deliberate on advancing sustainable agricultural practices rooted in Swaminathan's concept of the "Evergreen Revolution".

The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has launched a new GIGW and WCAG-compliant website under the ‘PFRDA CONNECT’ initiative to improve transparency, efficiency, and accessibility in pension regulation. The launch was led by PFRDA Chairperson S. Ramann in New Delhi. The website aligns with the Government of India’s digital governance guidelines and aims to offer user-friendly navigation for all stakeholders.

The Union Cabinet, chaired by PM Narendra Modi, has sanctioned ₹6,520 crore for the continuation of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY) under the 15th Finance Commission Cycle (2021–22 to 2025–26). This includes an additional allocation of ₹1,920 crore to enhance specific sub-components of the scheme, which aims to modernise agricultural infrastructure, reduce food wastage, and increase farmer incomes.

• PM Narendra Modi surpasses Indira Gandhi to become India’s second longest-serving Prime Minister.
• Election Commission launches nationwide special revision of electoral rolls.
• Kamal Haasan takes oath in Tamil as he enters Parliament as Rajya Sabha MP for the first time.
• Ministry Launches Upgraded Mission Vatsalya Portal Integrating Child Protection Services.
• CERT Patches AIIMS Website Vulnerability That Exposed Confidential Organ Donor Data.
• PM Modi releases ₹1,000 coin marking 1,000 years of Rajendra Chola’s naval campaign.
• St. Aloysius student sets world record with 170-hour Bharatanatyam performance.
• Kaziranga becomes India's third-highest tiger density reserve after Bandipur and Corbett.
• LoIs issued to 4 foreign universities; ₹4,000 crore education projects announced at ABSS.

• National Handloom Day is observed across India on August 7 every year. The primary goal of celebrating Handloom Day is to promote the handloom and to recognise the efforts as well as skills of the community of weavers engaged in the sector.
• The community of workers, weavers and manufacturers in the handloom sector has been preserving the cultural and traditional heritage of the country. 
• The day also makes sure of promoting and involving the craftsmen and weavers for a better recognition and financial stability.
• National Handloom Day is observed in India to celebrate the rich cultural heritage and craftsmanship of handloom weavers across the country.
• This day is celebrated every year to raise public awareness of the handloom sector and the contribution it has made to India's socioeconomic progress.
• This special occasion emphasises the importance of the handloom industry to our history and gives those who work in it more influence.

• August 1 is regarded as Muslim Women’s Rights Day to commemorate the enactment of law against instant triple talaq
• Muslim Women's Rights Day is celebrated on August 1 to mark the passage of the Triple Talaq Bill in Parliament on August 1, 2019’
• Shayra Banu in her writ petition sought the Supreme Court to declare the practices of Talaq-e-bidat, polygamy and nikah-halala as unconstitutional.
• The central government enforced the Triple Talaq law on August 1, 2019.

• The Department of Posts released a commemorative postage stamp on 3 August 2026 to mark the birth centenary of artist, sculptor and architect Satish Gujral (born 25 December 1925). Union Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia unveiled the stamp at Bikaner House, New Delhi.
• The design, prepared by Anuj Kumar on a proposal by Raseel Gujral Ansal, features Gujral’s 2010 acrylic self-portrait. Limited-edition collectible sets of 25 and 100 stamps were issued, with an exhibition of the collectibles scheduled from 4 to 9 August 2026 at Bikaner House.

• On 4 August 2026 the Supreme Court issued nationwide directions in a suo motu case on digital arrest scams that began in October 2025. Fraudsters impersonate police or court officials via calls and messages, using forged documents to extort money or bank access. The Court directed the RBI to frame a Standard Operating Procedure for mule accounts within four weeks, including grievance redressal and money-restoration modules.
• States and Union Territories must operationalise the Ministry of Home Affairs modules and notify State Cyber Crime Coordination Centres. Complaints on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal fell sharply from 123,672 in 2024 to 16,377 by mid-2026, with ₹18.05 crore restored in 36,290 cases. Further hearing is fixed for 16 September 2026.

• In a Rajya Sabha reply on 30 July 2026, MoS Dr Jitendra Singh outlined reforms by the Department of Personnel and Training to speed up and secure Central Government recruitment. Interviews for Group B (Non-Gazetted) and Group C posts were abolished from 1 January 2016. Provisional appointments are now issued on self-attested documents, with caste and character verification completed within six months. National Rozgar Melas have distributed several lakh appointment letters since October 2022.
• SSC has cut recruitment timelines from 15–18 months to 6–8 months through computer-based testing and launched an e-Dossier system. UPSC has reduced its cycle to about 13 months, introduced modular online applications, AI-based attempt verification, facial authentication and preliminary answer keys, and expanded examination centres.

• Union Minister Bhupender Yadav announced on 3 August 2026 that Glaw Lake in Arunachal Pradesh has been designated India’s 101st Ramsar Site—the first such site in the state. Located inside the Kamlang Tiger Reserve, the natural freshwater wetland in the Eastern Himalayas is fed by perennial rivers and surrounded by dense forest.
• The site supports over 150 tree species and 49 orchid species, underscoring its rich biodiversity. Ramsar status under the 1971 Convention strengthens protection of wetlands for biodiversity conservation, water security, climate resilience and sustainable livelihoods.

• India and Uzbekistan set a target to double bilateral trade to about $3 billion within three years at the India-Uzbekistan Business Forum held in New Delhi on 3 August 2026. Trade had already grown 30% the previous year to $1.32 billion in 2025, with Indian exports at $1.15 billion. Both sides also discussed exploring a Free Trade Agreement.
• Priority sectors include mining, rare earths, renewable energy, pharmaceuticals, automobiles, IT, agriculture and cotton. Around 400 Indian companies operate in Uzbekistan and the joint project pipeline exceeds $5 billion. The 14th Intergovernmental Commission met on 19 June 2026 to remove non-tariff barriers.

• The Reserve Bank of India appointed Monisha Chakraborty as Executive Director with effect from 3 August 2026. She will oversee the Foreign Exchange Department and the Financial Markets Regulation Department. Prior to the promotion she served as Chief General Manager-in-Charge of the Department of Supervision.
• With more than three decades of experience in the RBI, she has handled banking supervision, foreign exchange management, government accounts and the Banking Ombudsman scheme. She holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Economics from the University of Delhi.

• Annapurni Subramaniam, Director of the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bengaluru, received the COSPAR Vikram Sarabhai Medal for 2026. The announcement came at the 46th COSPAR Scientific Assembly in Florence on 3 August 2026. She becomes the first Indian woman and fourth Indian overall to win the award, jointly given by COSPAR and ISRO to scientists from developing nations for space research contributions.
• Her work focuses on stellar populations, star clusters and galaxy evolution. Previous Indian recipients were U.R. Rao (1996), Gurbax Singh Lakhina (2014) and Anil Bharadwaj (2024). The medal, instituted in 1990 in honour of Vikram Sarabhai, recognises major contributions to space science in the five years preceding the Assembly.

• Justice Manmohan Singh Liberhan, former Chief Justice of the Madras and Andhra Pradesh High Courts, died on 2 August 2026 at the age of 87. Born on 11 November 1938 near Chandigarh, he began practice at the Punjab and Haryana High Court in 1964 and later rose to head two High Courts.
• He is best known for heading the one-man Liberhan Commission appointed on 16 December 1992 to inquire into the Babri Masjid demolition. After 17 years and 48 extensions, the Commission submitted its report on 30 June 2009, describing the demolition as a meticulously planned act.

• IIT Hyderabad and Crimson Energy Experts Pvt. Ltd. launched ANUGYAN, India’s first industry-academia Nuclear Technology Orientation Programme, on 3 August 2026. The three-month fully residential course at the IIT Hyderabad campus offers joint certification and covers reactor physics, thermal hydraulics, radiation shielding, Small Modular Reactors, nuclear safety, AERB compliance and simulator training.
• The initiative follows an MoU signed during Bharat Innovate 2026 and is linked to the Centre of Design Excellence in Nuclear Engineering (CODENE). It targets professionals from research institutions, PSUs, EPC firms and manufacturing industries as India aims for about 100 GWe nuclear capacity by 2047 from the present 8.8 GWe.

• International Clouded Leopard Day is observed every year on 4 August to raise awareness about the rare wild cat. On this day in 2026, India announced the Clouded Leopard Conservation Action Plan (CAP). The plan, prepared under a Government of India–GEF–UNDP partnership and unveiled at the 91st SCNBWL meeting in Coimbatore, targets habitat protection, scientific monitoring, anti-poaching measures and community involvement in North-Eastern India.
• Both Mainland and Sunda clouded leopards are listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Major threats include habitat loss from deforestation, illegal wildlife trade and human-animal conflict. The CAP identifies 14 priority landscapes and emphasises climate-resilient, community-based conservation.

• “GI & Beyond 2.0 Summit” to be held on 5 August 2026 at Dr Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi.
• Organised by Office of Development Commissioner (Handlooms) with Handloom Export Promotion Council.
• Inaugurated by MoS External Affairs & Textiles Pabitra Margherita.
• Showcases 100+ GI-tagged handloom and handicraft products; live demonstrations.
• Launches Digital Handloom Atlas and HEPC Diamond Jubilee Logo.
• Sessions on GI registration, domestic/international promotion and AI applications (IIT Madras).
• Brings together overseas buyers, exporters, MNCs, GI holders, officials and experts.

• Andhra Pradesh and Australia signed four MoUs in Amaravati on 2 August 2026.
• Areas: clean energy/solar manufacturing, inclusive education, student mental health, skill development.
• Partners include UNSW Sydney, IIT Tirupati, Samagra Shiksha, APSCHE and APS Skill Development Corporation.
• Key outcomes: Centre of Excellence for Solar Manufacturing at IIT Tirupati; teacher training for neurodiverse learners; free student mental-health pilot; vocational training and international employment pathways.
• Followed Nara Lokesh’s Australia visit and CM Naidu’s meeting with Australian delegation.

• Hyderabad hosts second meetings of BRICS Anti-Corruption Working Group and Expert Network on Asset Recovery on 4-5 August 2026.
• Organised by the Department of Personnel and Training under India’s 2026 BRICS Presidency.
• About 40 delegates from 11 BRICS countries are expected.
• Focus: international cooperation on asset recovery, cross-border corruption, illicit financial flows, transparency.
• Inauguration by DoPT Secretary Rachna Shah.
• Side event on 5 August: “Ethical Governance through Innovation and Tech-Driven Systems”.
• First virtual meeting held in June 2026.

• India finished fourth with 39 medals (13 gold, 17 silver, 9 bronze) at Glasgow 2026.
• Fewer total medals than Birmingham 2022 (61) due to reduced sports programme.
• Better performance in comparable events: 39 medals vs 30 in 2022.
• Smaller contingent: 122 athletes (vs 210 in 2022).
• Standouts: Gulveer Singh (two medals); boxing team (7 gold, 3 silver); first-ever CWG judo golds.
• Closing ceremony: Scotland handed Games flag and baton to India for Ahmedabad 2030.

• Ankur Bhattacharjee and Yashaswini Ghorpade won men’s and women’s singles titles at the 22nd Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships.
• India claimed four of five available gold medals.
• Ankur defeated compatriot Payas Jain 11-8, 9-11, 7-11, 11-8, 4-11, 11-4, 11-9 in a seven-game final.
• Yashaswini beat Sreeja Akula 11-6, 11-1, 8-11, 11-7, 13-11.
• Malaysia’s Shen Qi Wong and Javen Choong won men’s doubles, denying India a clean sweep.
• India also took women’s doubles (Sreeja Akula-Syndrela Das) and mixed doubles (Manav Thakkar-Taneesha Kotecha).

• The Indian Navy launched DSC A24, the fifth and final Diving Support Craft, on 1 August 2026 at Titagarh Rail Systems Limited, Kolkata.
• Project contracted 12 February 2021; completed in ~5.5 years.
• Catamaran-hull vessels (300-400 tonnes displacement) for diving, inspection, repair and salvage in coastal/harbour waters.
• ~70% indigenous content; aligns with Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India.
• Ceremonially launched by Mrs Kamal Singh, wife of Vice Admiral Gurcharan Singh.

• The fourth Tri-Services Future Warfare Course began on 3 August 2026 at Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi.
• Organised by CENJOWS under HQ Integrated Defence Staff; duration four weeks.
• Participants: military officers, policymakers, scientists, industry experts and strategic thinkers.
• Aims to build understanding of emerging technologies, geopolitics and future operational concepts.
• Key topics: AI, quantum tech, cyber & cognitive warfare, autonomous systems, multi-domain operations, grey-zone warfare, space and maritime operations.
• Promotes jointness across Army, Navy and Air Force.

• Vishwesh Negi (IFS 2002 batch) appointed India’s next Ambassador to Iran on 3 August 2026.
• Currently Joint Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs; will take charge in Tehran shortly.
• Succeeds Rudra Gaurav Shresth (appointed May 2023).
• India-Iran ties cover energy, trade, Chabahar Port connectivity to Afghanistan/Central Asia, and regional security.
• Ambassador heads the Indian mission in Tehran.

• Willie Walsh assumed charge as IndiGo CEO on 3 August 2026.
• He succeeds Pieter Elbers, who resigned after operational disruptions in December 2025.
• Walsh’s appointment was announced on 31 March 2026.
• Career highlights: CEO of Aer Lingus, British Airways, IAG; Director General of IATA.
• He will focus on international expansion, operations and customer service.
• Walsh highlighted India’s fast-growing aviation market and IndiGo’s rapid rise.
• Managing Director Rahul Bhatia expressed confidence in Walsh’s global expertise.

• President Droupadi Murmu has given assent to the Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Act, 2026 (anti-conversion law).
• The Act becomes enforceable only after the state government issues an official notification.
• It bans conversions through coercion, fraud, misrepresentation, allurement or marriage promise.
• Voluntary conversions remain allowed.
• Intending converts must notify the district magistrate 60 days in advance.
• Parents, siblings or close relatives can file complaints.
• The burden of proving voluntary conversion lies on the converter.
• Penalties: up to 7 years’ imprisonment (10 years for repeat offences).

The exhibition “Worlds Within Cloth: New Orders of Woven Making” opens 5 August 2026 at National Crafts Museum, New Delhi, and runs 6–19 August. Curated by Sreyansi Singh under the Development Commissioner (Handlooms), it features contemporary textile artists, designers and craft collectives exploring handloom traditions through innovation and collaboration. Chief Guest is Textiles Secretary Neelam Shami Rao. It forms part of National Handloom Day celebrations on 7 August.

• The Union Cabinet approved Pradhan Mantri Surya Sarovar Yojana (PM-SSY) with ₹5,070 crore outlay for 5,000 MW floating solar projects plus 10,000 MWh energy storage (minimum two hours).
• Implementation runs FY 2026-27 to 2030-31. Central assistance is ₹1 crore per MW plus up to ₹50 lakh for feasibility studies. Floating solar saves land, reduces evaporation and improves efficiency. India’s floating solar potential is estimated at 102 GWp; current capacity is about 700 MW.

• PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram, Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh on 1 August 2026. Developed by GMR Group at a cost of about ₹5,000 crore, it will begin commercial operations on 17 August 2026 with an initial capacity of 6 million passengers annually, expandable to 40 million.
• Named after freedom fighter Alluri Sitarama Raju, the airport aims to boost North Andhra connectivity, industry, jobs, exports and tourism. Modi also launched projects worth ₹17,900 crore in the state.

The National Biodiversity Authority released ₹8.22 crore—one of the largest single ABS disbursements for rice—to research institutions and 33 State/UT Biodiversity Boards. Funds came from Pioneer Overseas Corporation for using Indian rice varieties in commercial hybrids. ICAR-IIRR Hyderabad received ₹2.43 crore; states got shares based on rice area (UP highest at ₹73.26 lakh). NBA has received ₹83 crore from the seed sector and disbursed over ₹162 crore overall, supporting equitable benefit-sharing.

• India’s gross GST collections in July 2026 reached ₹2.11 lakh crore, up 15.4% year-on-year. Domestic GST stood at ₹1.45 lakh crore (up 10.1%) while import GST rose 28.8% to ₹66,511 crore. Net GST after refunds was ₹1.81 lakh crore (up 15.8%). Refunds totalled ₹29,968 crore.
• April–July FY 2026-27 gross collections were ₹8.43 lakh crore (up 10.1%). Top state growth: Haryana 25%, Gujarat & Telangana 19%. Some states recorded declines, including Himachal Pradesh (-22%).

Neeraj Chopra won silver (85.83 m) and Yash Vir Singh bronze (personal best 85.41 m) in men’s javelin at Glasgow 2026. Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Pathirage took gold with 89.75 m. India’s medal tally reached 23 (5 gold, 12 silver, 6 bronze), holding 10th place. The double podium highlighted India’s growing strength in the event.

Asmita Dey became the first Indian to win Commonwealth Games judo gold, defeating Canada’s Heidi Quach in the women’s 48kg final via Golden Score at Glasgow 2026 on 31 July. She earlier beat Scotland’s Eva Ewing and Sarah Adlington (also Golden Score). India previously had only silvers and bronzes in CWG judo since 1990. The win ended a long gold drought and inspired the sport’s growth in India.

• Harsh Singh, 23, created history by becoming the first Indian man to win Commonwealth Games judo gold, defeating Australia’s Joshua Katz in the men’s 60kg final at Glasgow 2026 on 31 July.
• The victory came on the same day Asmita Dey won women’s gold. Singh has competed in IJF events including Zagreb Grand Prix 2025 and Qazaqstan Barysy Grand Slam 2026, ranking in the top 100. The dual golds marked a breakthrough for Indian judo.

• Tejaswin Shankar became the first Indian to win a Commonwealth Games decathlon medal, securing bronze at Glasgow 2026 with 7,976 points despite a knee injury. The 27-year-old national record holder (8,057 points) finished third behind Lindon Victor (Grenada, 8,098) and Damian Warner (Canada, 8,036).
• He held second after five events and recovered in the final 1,500m. This is his second CWG medal after high-jump bronze in Birmingham 2022; he also won Asian Games silver in 2023.

• Air Marshal A K Bharti retired as Deputy Chief of Air Staff on 31 July 2026 after decades of service. He paid floral tributes at the National War Memorial. As Director General Air Operations, he played a key role in Operation Sindoor (launched 7 May 2025 after the Pahalgam terror attack).
• The operation involved precision airstrikes on nine terrorist targets in Pakistan and PoK, eliminating over 100 terrorists. He was a prominent face in tri-service media briefings alongside Army and Navy officers.

• FSSAI suspended the nutraceutical licence of Dior Pharmaceuticals on 30 July 2026.
• Followed inspection findings of serious GMP violations at its Punjab plant.
• Non-compliance noted in infrastructure, sanitation, pest control, storage, and personnel hygiene.
• The company failed to ensure product safety, quality, and traceability.
• All manufacturing at the site must stop until full compliance is verified.
• FSSAI regulates nutraceuticals under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

• Brookfield launched Lumara in India on 30 July 2026.
• Will deploy about $600 million in solar, wind, and battery-storage projects.
• Starts with an initial portfolio exceeding 6 GW capacity.
• Funded via Brookfield’s Catalytic Transition Fund.
• Addresses delays in PPAs, grid connections, and land acquisition.
• Brookfield already holds ~45 GW of wind and solar assets (operational + pipeline) in India.
• Total India investments exceed $32 billion across sectors.

• The Department of Financial Services launched India’s first sovereign-backed Protection & Indemnity (P&I) insurance product under Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool on 30 July 2026.
• Designed by New India Assurance; first policy handed to Shipping Corporation of India.
• Covers third-party liabilities (crew, cargo, pollution, wreck removal) up to USD 1.5 billion.
• BMIP (operational since 12 May 2026) has already cut war-risk premiums by 35–40%.
• 1,608 cargo and hull war-risk policies issued by 29 July 2026.
• Strengthens domestic maritime insurance capacity and Atmanirbhar Bharat goals.

• India improved from 82nd to 57th place on Market Distortions Performance Index (report released 30 July 2026).
• Index evaluates protection of property rights, domestic competition, and international competition.
• Gains attributed to 2010–2023 reforms: GST (2017), Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code 2016, taxation, regulation, and trade facilitation.
• Report titled “India’s Next Growth Frontier…”.
• Linked to Competition Act 2002 and role of Competition Commission of India.
• Highlights progress in reducing anti-competitive distortions.

• IRDAI approved acquisition of Magma General Insurance by Patanjali Ayurved and DS Group on 28 July 2026.
• Deal value ≈ ₹4,500 crore.
• Patanjali takes 73.56% stake; DS Group takes 24.5%.
• Shares mainly from Sanoti Properties LLP (Adar Poonawalla Group) and others.
• Approval valid for three months; transaction must close within that period.
• Magma’s FY25 gross direct premium: ₹3,334 crore (22% CAGR FY21–25); net profit ₹1 crore.
• The process began with SPA on 12 March 2025.

• On 30 July 2026, the Indigenous Diving Support Vessel (DSV) Nipun was delivered to the Indian Navy.
• Second vessel in the class after INS Nistar; built by Hindustan Shipyard Limited, Visakhapatnam.
• Measures 118 m in length with displacement over 8,560 tonnes; nearly 75% (some references >80%) indigenous content.
• Equipped with deep-sea saturation diving systems, Remotely Operated Vehicles and dynamic positioning systems.
• Serves as mother ship for the Navy’s Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel; supports submarine rescue, underwater salvage and specialised diving missions.
• “Nipun” is a Sanskrit word meaning adept, capable and well-versed.

• Brigadier (Retd) Basant Kumar Ponwar, founder of Counter Terrorism and Jungle Warfare College, Kanker (Chhattisgarh), died aged 77 in Mhow, Madhya Pradesh.
• Commissioned Dec 1969 into 1st Battalion, Maratha Light Infantry; 1971 Indo-Pak War veteran.
• Former Commandant of Army’s CIJW School, Vairengte, Mizoram.
• Oversaw inaugural Indo-US Yudh Abhyas exercise (2004).
• College (est. Aug 2005) trained over 37,000 personnel in guerrilla/jungle warfare.
• Awarded Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and Vishisht Seva Medal; later served as IG Police in Chhattisgarh.

• C-DOT signed a tripartite agreement with IISc Bengaluru and FSID on 30 July 2026 to establish the Centre of Excellence.
• CoE focuses on wireless communications, quantum technologies, cybersecurity, AI-driven systems, 5G Advanced/6G, massive MIMO, integrated sensing & communication, and quantum/post-quantum tech.
• Aims to accelerate indigenous R&D, IP generation, start-up support, and talent development.
• Fifth such CoE after those at IIT Hyderabad, Kanpur, Gandhinagar, and Roorkee.
• Signed in presence of C-DOT CEO Dr Rajkumar Upadhyay and FSID CEO Omprakash Subbarao.

• Sarvam AI launched Epoch Builder Edition on 30 July 2026.
• Developer/enterprise platform for building, fine-tuning, and deploying LLMs focused on Indian languages.
• Includes 7B and 70B parameter multilingual models trained on 2 trillion tokens.
• Supports 10+ Indian languages (Hindi, Kannada, Tamil, Marathi, Bengali, etc.).
• Also commercially launched Sarvam Vision Edge (document intelligence).
• Selected under IndiaAI Mission (April 2025) to develop indigenous foundational models.
• Founded Aug 2023; reached unicorn status (valuation $1.5 bn) in June 2026.

• Observed annually on 30 July (Thursday in 2026).
• Proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 2011.
• Promotes friendship as a force for peace, mutual understanding, cultural respect, and solidarity across nations.
• Roots in UNESCO’s Culture of Peace initiative (1997).
• Emphasises youth role in intercultural dialogue, inclusion, and reducing prejudice.
• Activities include cultural exchanges, peace seminars, community programmes, and social-media campaigns.
• Aims to build social cohesion and support peaceful conflict resolution amid global divisions.

• The 2nd Bharat Green Hydrogen Summit 2026 was held in New Delhi on 23 July 2026 focusing on green hydrogen production and mobility.
• Bharat Renewable Energy Summit & Expo 2026 will be held from 2 to 5 November 2026 at Bharat Mandapam New Delhi.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a high-powered Exam Security Task Force headed by Nandan Nilekani to prevent examination malpractices.
• Scientists discovered a new freshwater shrimp species, Caridina sharmai, in the Gomti River at Lucknow.
• Delhi Cabinet approved Lakshmi Yojana providing ₹2,500 monthly DBT assistance to over 17 lakh eligible women aged 21–60 with family income ≤ ₹2.5 lakh, with ₹5,110 crore budget for 2026–27 and registration starting 1 August 2026.
• The government approved RBI’s proposal for field trials of 1 billion polymer notes each of ₹10 and ₹20, which last longer, resist moisture and dirt, offer better security and lower replacement costs while paper notes continue.
• A new polypore fungus species, Microporellus kolhapurensis, was discovered on rotting wood in Kolhapur district, Maharashtra, and published in BSI's journal Nelumbo.
• The Union Environment Ministry issued the seventh draft notification declaring 56,825.7 sq km of the Western Ghats across six states as an Ecologically Sensitive Area on 27 July 2026.
• Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia unveiled the theme "Scale without Boundaries" for the 10th India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2026 to be held in New Delhi.
• Lok Sabha passed the Public Examinations Amendment Bill 2026, introducing stricter penalties of up to 10 years imprisonment and ₹50 lakh fine to curb paper leaks.

• India delivered 4.5 tonnes of medical aid to Kenya on 22 July 2026 for Ebola preparedness and infectious disease response.
• President Droupadi Murmu arrived in Romania on 23 July 2026 for a State Visit, the first by an Indian President in nearly three decades.
• UNESCO added Mount Olympus in Greece and the D-Day Landing Beaches in France to the World Heritage List.

• India-China border trade through Nathu La Pass resumed from 1 August 2026 after a six-year suspension, following talks between Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Chinese Vice Minister Sun Haiyan.
• MoSPI will replace the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) with the Producer Price Index (PPI) as the GDP deflator starting FY 2026–27 using a new base year of 2022–23.
• DBS Bank has become the first Southeast Asian bank to win the "World's Best Corporate Bank" title at the Global Finance Global Bank Awards 2026.

• Raja Muthupandi won the silver medal in the men's 65kg weightlifting event at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow.
• Anahat Singh became the first Indian to win the World Junior Squash Championships title.
• Gulveer Singh became the first Indian to win a CWG medal in men’s 10,000 m with silver (27:49.78), Harjinder Kaur won silver in women’s 69 kg weightlifting, four boxers reached semis for assured bronze, and India’s tally stood at 2 gold, 7 silver, 3 bronze.
• Esha Singh won gold in women’s 25m pistol at ISSF World Cup 2026 in Hangzhou with 40 hits, Manu Bhaker took bronze after shoot-off, and Esha’s gold secured qualification for the World Cup Final in Rome.
• Sharmila Dhankar won India’s first-ever gold in Para Athletics at CWG 2026 in women’s F57 shot put with 9.81 m season best, while Shilpa Shyla took bronze with 7.26 m personal best.
• The 6th LG Cup Horse Polo Championship concluded in Drass, Ladakh, on 27 July 2026, with Ladakh Scouts Regimental Centre winning the title.
• The 16th Hockey India Junior Men National Championship 2026 began in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, on 28 July 2026 with 30 teams participating.
• Former Indian cricket captain Ajinkya Rahane has announced his retirement from all forms of international cricket.
• India won one gold and two silver medals in athletics at the CWG 2026 in Glasgow, with Dilip Mahadu Gavit clinching gold in the Men’s 100m T47 event.

• DRDO successfully conducted the maiden test of indigenous Kusha Long-Range SAM on 23 July 2026 from Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Island successfully intercepting a high-speed target.
• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced gender-neutral induction for women officers and a simplified ex-gratia procedure for personnel missing at sea in the Indian Coast Guard on 28 July 2026.
• The Indian Navy launched 'Machilipatnam', the seventh Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft built by Cochin Shipyard with over 80% indigenous content.

• Infosys appointed Ashiss Dash as its next CEO and MD effective 1 April 2027 succeeding Salil Parekh.
• Naresh Pal Gangwar was appointed Secretary of the Department of Higher Education on 23 July 2026.

• Former Uttarakhand minister Hira Singh Bisht passed away at the age of 85.
• German anatomist Gunther von Hagens, inventor of plastination and creator of Body Worlds, dies at 81 in Heidelberg after a cerebral haemorrhage.

• India aims to develop and operationalize at least five indigenous Small Modular Reactors by 2033.
• India successfully developed its first indigenous expendable turbojet engine in the 350 kg thrust class on 22 July 2026.
• An AI Holobox of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was inaugurated at Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya in New Delhi.
• AstraZeneca opened India’s first Integrated Genomic Solutions Centre for Precision Oncology in Amaravati on 28 July 2026 focusing on genetic research for cancer diagnosis and therapy using next-gen testing, AI and bioinformatics.
• China completed testing of two indigenous superconducting fusion magnets, including the world's largest tokamak toroidal magnet, at its Hefei-based CRAFT facility on 27 June 2026.
• India’s first Telecom Manufacturing Zone is being set up in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, across 350 acres with central funding of ₹493 crore.

• Income Tax Day 2026 was observed on 24 July 2026 marking 167 years since the introduction of income tax in India.
• CRPF celebrated its 87th Foundation Day on 27 July 2026.
• International Tiger Day 2026 was observed on 29 July with the theme “Securing the Future of Tigers with Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities at the Heart,” as India hosts over 70% of the world's wild tigers across 58 reserves.
• World Nature Conservation Day observed on 28 July promotes conservation of forests, wildlife, water, soil and biodiversity, marking five years of global biodiversity goals under Kunming-Montreal Framework.
• World Hepatitis Day 2026 observed on 28 July with the theme “Hepatitis: Let’s Break It Down” focuses on removing barriers to testing, vaccination and treatment to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030.
• World Day Against Trafficking in Persons 2026 was observed on July 30 with the theme "Trapped Behind the Scam," focusing on cyber-enabled human trafficking.

• Kerala launched the Digital Square initiative to strengthen digital education in government schools.
• Rajasthan launched the State Water Plan 2047 to improve water conservation and management.
• Gujarat launched e-Zero FIR system on 27 July 2026 enabling cyber fraud victims to file FIR via 1930 helpline without visiting police stations, with auto-generated e-FIR sent to local police for immediate investigation.
• Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary laid the foundation stone for a 20 MTPD curd and lassi processing plant under COMFED's Sudha brand at Nalanda on 27 July 2026.
• The Maharashtra Cabinet approved new special courts under the NDPS Act and SC/ST Atrocities Act, along with two additional courts, on 28 July 2026.
• Chhattisgarh has launched the DWEEPTI Yojana, India's first women-led distributed renewable energy policy, to create 5,000 solar enterprises and 50,000 green jobs.

• Three Sanchar Mitras selected as ITU Generation Connect Youth Envoys for 2026–2030.
• Selected: Ankit Kumar Pal (Delhi), Manish Kumar Mandal (Bengaluru), Susmita Sain (Guwahati).
• Announced on International Youth Day 2026 (theme: Different Contexts, Common Aspirations).
• DoT facilitated selection under Sanchar Mitra scheme for youth contribution to digital initiatives.
• The programme enables youth roles in ICT, digital transformation and inclusive development.
• Aligns with Sanchar Mitra goal of engaging youth in telecom awareness, fraud prevention and digital safety.
• Reflects India’s push for youth participation in the global digital future.

• PM Narendra Modi released “Triumph of the Indian Republic: My Life, My Struggles” at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi on 12 August 2026.
• The book chronicles Kovind’s journey from hardship in Kanpur Dehat to becoming India’s 14th President.
• Highlights role of education, perseverance, social harmony and public service.
• Mentions childhood tragedy, influence of father and neighbour, and later roles as MP and Governor of Bihar.
• Post-presidency, Kovind chaired the High-Level Committee on One Nation-One Election.

• AP Mines Dept and CSIR-NGRI signed MoU on 12 August 2026 in presence of CM Naidu.
• Focus on Vempalle and Thummalapalle areas in Kadapa Basin.
• Preliminary findings: lithium up to 1,000 ppm, gallium up to 250 ppm.
• ₹140 crore project fully funded by National Mineral Exploration Trust.
• Separate MoU with IIT (ISM) Dhanbad-TEXMiN for mining technology and Centre of Excellence.

• Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers launched “Shruti” (Yard 3037) at Kolkata on 11 August 2026.
• It is the second Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessel built by GRSE for the Indian Navy.
• First vessel Sanghmitra was launched on 20 May 2026.
• The programme covers 11 NGOPVs; GRSE is building four, Goa Shipyard the rest.
• Launch ceremony attended by senior Navy, MoD and GRSE officials; Mrs Manika Sadhu performed the formal launch.
• Supports indigenisation and enhanced maritime surveillance.

• Former CJI D.Y. Chandrachud was Russia’s arbitrator in the Oschadbank (Ukraine) investment treaty case.
• The dispute concerns bank assets lost in Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia after the 2022 invasion.
• Tribunal: Oschadbank’s Stavros Brekoulakis, Russia’s Chandrachud, and president Dyalá Jiménez.
• Case under 1998 Russia-Ukraine bilateral investment treaty.
• Chandrachud retired as CJI on 10 November 2024.

• Zhu Rongji died in Beijing on 12 August 2026 at age 97/98.
• Served as Premier from March 1998 to March 2003.
• Earlier: Mayor/Party Secretary of Shanghai (1988–91) and Governor of People’s Bank of China (1993–95).
• Led 1990s reforms closing inefficient SOEs and steered China’s WTO entry in December 2001.
• Joint official obituary issued by top CPC and state bodies.

• Observed on 12 August 2026 under the message “Bringing the world together to help elephants”.
• First observed in 2012; aims to protect African and Asian elephants.
• Key threats: habitat loss, poaching, human-elephant conflict, disrupted corridors and captivity welfare.
• India holds over 60% of wild Asian elephants (IUCN Endangered); Project Elephant launched in 1992.
• Stresses corridor protection and coexistence measures.

• Observed on 12 August 2026 (Wednesday) with the theme “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations”.
• First celebrated in 2000 after UNGA Resolution 54/120 (1999).
• Highlights that youth face diverse challenges yet share aspirations for education, jobs, health, inclusion and voice.
• Emphasises participation, innovation, well-being and sustained engagement in decision-making.
• Focus areas include skills, employment, climate action, digital inclusion, mental health and equality.

• State government approved shift from Nainital to Haldwani on 12 August 2026.
• 30-hectare site at Lamachaur on NH-05 (Haldwani-Rudrapur highway) selected.
• The Supreme Court (16 July 2026) held that relocation is an administrative decision and set a timeline for clearances.
• Earlier 26.08-ha Gaulapar proposal replaced; existing Nainital infrastructure to be handed to the state.
• PIL filed citing reserved forest and elephant corridor concerns.

• As per BAHS 2025, Uttar Pradesh contributed 15.66% of India’s milk output in 2024–25.
• Produced ~19.01 million tonnes; Rajasthan second (14.82%), Madhya Pradesh third (9.12%).
• The top five states (UP, Rajasthan, MP, Gujarat, Maharashtra) together account for 54.09%.
• India is the world’s largest milk producer (~25% of global share).
• UP’s growth is driven by a large livestock base, rural dairy economy, cooperatives and infrastructure.

• Parliament passed Bankers’ Book Evidence Bill 2026 (Lok Sabha earlier; Rajya Sabha on 10 August by voice vote).
• Replaces colonial-era Bankers’ Book Evidence Act, 1891.
• Creates technology-neutral framework recognising electronic and digital banking records as legal evidence.
• Covers records in written, electronic or digital form; stored on-premises, off-premises, cloud, backups or disaster-recovery systems.
• Certification possible via manual, digital or electronic signatures.

• New mountain horned dragon Acanthosaura syrax described in ZooKeys on 2 August 2026.
• Discovered in Mae Wong National Park, Thailand.
• 23rd recognised species of genus Acanthosaura (family Agamidae).
• Eight specimens collected April–May 2025 from high-altitude forest (>1,300 m).
• Identified via ND2 and COI DNA analysis (14–28% genetic distance from relatives).
• Distinct traits: smallest neck/back crest scales in genus, no black eye patch, yellowish-green body, relatively large egg clutches.

• Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus sentenced former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to death in absentia on 11 August 2026.
• Charges: crimes against humanity, war crimes and premeditated murder.
• Brother Maher al-Assad also sentenced to death in absentia for murder, torture and incitement to murder.
• Both residing in Moscow after the regime collapse on 8 December 2024.
• Cousin Atef Najib (former Daraa political security chief) sentenced to death in person for mass killings, torture and protest suppression.
• Linked to atrocities during the 14-year civil war (~500,000 deaths, millions displaced).

• The Lebanese Parliament voted on 11 August 2026 to abolish the death penalty.
• Replaced by life imprisonment with aggravated hard labour for future offences.
• Commutes sentences of ~84–85 prisoners on death row (as of late 2025).
• Codifies de-facto moratorium; no executions since 17 January 2004.
• First Middle Eastern country and second League of Arab States member (after Djibouti) to abolish capital punishment in law.
• Passed in session called by Speaker Nabih Berri; Hezbollah caucus opposed.

• Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched scholarship/fellowship payments through National Scholarship Portal (NSP) using Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
• Over 6,000 agriculture students received ₹21.35 crore at ICAR-IARI, Pusa event.
• Monthly disbursement of scholarships directly into students’ bank accounts.
• Aims for faster, transparent, seamless, timely and hassle-free fund transfer.
• Reduces delays that earlier disrupted studies.
• The minister stressed the importance of practical farm and research training to produce skilled farmers, scientists and agri-entrepreneurs.

• Noted oceanographer Dr Srinivasa Kumar Tummala appointed Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences.
• Succeeds Dr M. Ravichandran; earlier additional charge held by Dr N. Kalaiselvi.
• Over 30 years’ experience in remote sensing, satellite oceanography, coastal hazard mitigation and disaster management.
• Former Project Manager of India’s Tsunami Early Warning System at INCOIS post-2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.
• Key role in making India a regional Tsunami Service Provider.
• Director, ESSO-INCOIS, Hyderabad since August 2020.
• Oversees PFZ Advisories, Coral Reef Bleaching Alerts, Multi-Hazard Vulnerability Mapping and ocean observation services.

• Vietnamese aerospace firm VinSpace signed a contract with SpaceX on 11 August 2026.
• First satellites to launch in 2027 on SpaceX Transporter rideshare mission.
• VinSpace was established in November 2025 with 300 billion dong (~US$11.4 million) capital; a unit of Vingroup, majority-owned by Pham Nhat Vuong.
• Plans internal research, development and operation of microsatellites (10–100 kg class).
• Roadmap set in April 2026 for first microsatellite by 2027.
• Vietnam inaugurated a space science & technology centre at Hoa Lac High-Tech Park, Hanoi (March 2026).

• NASA invited ISRO to join its Moon Base programme under Artemis Accords.
• Discussed at 9th India-U.S. Civil Space Joint Working Group meeting (5–6 August 2026) at ISRO HQ, Bengaluru.
• India signed Artemis Accords on 21 June 2023.
• Accords promote transparency, interoperability, emergency assistance, scientific data sharing and space-object registration.
• Co-chaired by M. Sankaran (India), Dr Wesley Brooks and Kathleen Karika (NASA).
• Linked to U.S.-India TRUST Initiative and February 2025 Joint Leaders’ Statement.

• Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace signed a Multi-Launch Agreement with Thiruvananthapuram startup HEX20 on 6 August 2026.
• Covers three dedicated launches on Skyroot’s Vikram series for Earth-observation and payload demonstration missions.
• Missions scheduled from Q4 2027.
• Signed by Naga Bharath Daka (Skyroot) and M.B. Aravind (HEX20).
• Vikram-1 completed its maiden orbital flight on 18 July 2026 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.
• Deployed SCOPE and Grahaa satellites into Low Earth Orbit.

• New fern species Pteris madhusoodananii described on 30 July 2026 in Nordic Journal of Botany.
• Endemic to Kolli Hills, Eastern Ghats, Tamil Nadu.
• Preliminary IUCN assessment: Critically Endangered.
• Described by a team including K.S. Abhilash, A.A. Philip, T.S. Gayathri and others from Government Victoria College and affiliated institutions.
• Features stiff, leathery, lustrous deep-green leaves; distinct pinna-pinnule architecture and basal lobe.
• Spores show narrow, wavy-edged cingulum (SEM studies).
• Known from only two small sites (~8 sq km) in unprotected areas.
• The genus Pteris belongs to the family Pteridaceae.

• The Lok Sabha passed the Tribunals Reforms Bill, 2026 in New Delhi on 10 August 2026 during the Monsoon Session.
• The Bill proposes an independent National Tribunals Commission (NTC).
• The NTC will oversee the selection, performance and administration of national tribunals.
• Tribunals are quasi-judicial bodies dealing with specialised disputes such as taxation, environment, service matters and company law.
• Articles 323A and 323B of the Constitution provide for tribunals in specified areas.

• The Union Government introduced the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026 in the Lok Sabha on 10 August 2026.
• The Bill proposes changing the state’s name from Kerala to Keralam.
• The proposal is linked to Article 3 of the Indian Constitution.
• Article 3 deals with the formation of new States and alteration of existing States, including their names.
• The Kerala Legislative Assembly unanimously passed a resolution supporting the name change on 24 June 2024.

• E-Samudra was launched on 8 August 2026 to modernise India’s maritime administration.
• It acts as a single digital window for seafarers, shipping companies, ports and other stakeholders.
• The platform integrates maritime services through digital and paperless processes.
• Key features include online payments, digital certificates and real-time tracking.
• It also provides 24×7 grievance redressal through e-NAVIK.

• Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched ‘Bank in a Box’ under the ‘Sahkar Nav-Kranti’ programme in Mumbai.
• The initiative aims to modernise Urban Cooperative Banks (UCBs) across India.
• It provides core banking, digital payments, cloud infrastructure and compliance solutions.
• Other features include loan origination, AI-based fraud prevention, Aadhaar-based services and automated regulatory compliance.
• A dedicated Security Operations Centre (SOC) will provide round-the-clock cybersecurity support.

• India gifted five young peacocks to the United Nations Office at Geneva on 7 August 2026.
• The handover involved India’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative Arindam Bagchi and UN Geneva Director-General Tatiana Valovaya.
• The flock consists of four blue Indian peafowl and one rare white male peacock.
• The Indian peafowl is scientifically known as Pavo cristatus and is India’s national bird.

• The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved a one-year extension for Enforcement Directorate Director Rahul Navin on 8 August 2026.
• His extended tenure will continue until 13 August 2027, or until further orders.
• The Enforcement Directorate (ED) functions under the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance.
• It investigates offences under PMLA 2002, FEMA 1999 and FEOA 2018.
• Rahul Navin is a 1993-batch Indian Revenue Service officer of the Income Tax cadre.

• Mohsen Rezaee, former commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, was appointed on 9 August 2026.
• He became a representative to Iran’s Supreme National Security Council and its secretary and head.
• The appointment was made by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
• Rezaee replaced Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, who resigned from the post.
• The Supreme National Security Council is Iran’s top body for national security and defence decision-making.
• Rezaee served as IRGC commander from 1981 to 1997.

• Puducherry Police received the President’s Colour, also known as Nishaan, on 9 August 2026.
• The ceremony was held at the Puducherry Armed Police Ground in Gorimedu.
• President’s Colour is a prestigious ceremonial honour awarded to disciplined forces for distinguished service.
• Puducherry became the 18th State or Union Territory police force to receive the honour.
• Union Home Minister Amit Shah presented the Colour to the Ensign Officer.

• Indian physicist Deepak Dhar was named a recipient of the 2026 Dirac Medal on 8 August 2026.
• The award was given by the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) in Trieste, Italy.
• Dhar shared the medal with Bernard Derrida, Marc Mézard and Haim Sompolinsky.
• Deepak Dhar is known for his work on the sandpile model and statistical mechanics.
• He became the first Indian to receive the Boltzmann Medal in 2022.
• He received the Padma Bhushan in 2023.

• World Lion Day is observed annually on 10 August to highlight lion conservation.
• Lions are apex predators and play an important role in maintaining ecosystem balance.
• Major threats include habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, prey depletion, poaching, climate change and diseases.
• India is significant because it hosts the remaining wild Asiatic lions, mainly in Gujarat’s Gir landscape.
• Project Lion was launched in 2020 for long-term conservation of Asiatic lions.

• Operationalised Required Navigation Performance – Category H satellite-guided helicopter procedure on 7 August 2026.
• Developed by Airports Authority of India, validated by HAL test pilots, approved by DGCA.
• Enables precise, optimised paths in bad weather, urban obstacles and dense traffic.
• Cuts approach time from ~12 minutes to ~4 minutes; supports ~50 daily helicopter movements.
• Useful for air ambulance, disaster response, corporate and defence operations.

• Issued 8 August 2026 for solar, wind and hybrid projects near International Border, LoC and LAC.
• Covers J&K, Ladakh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Arunachal, Himachal, Uttarakhand.
• Ban within 1 km; security clearance mandatory within 50 km; MoD NOC required within 20 km of IB.
• No foreign (Pakistan/China/Bangladesh) staff without permission; no land transfer to foreign firms without clearance.
• Developers bear security costs (including anti-drone systems); existing cleared projects are exempt.

• NeGD (MeitY) and AAERI launched “AAERI Verify” on 7 August 2026 in New Delhi.
• Integrates DigiLocker for consent-based, source-verified checks of academic, identity and financial documents for Australian university applications.
• Two stages: pre-application Student Check and post-offer Sponsor Check.
• Eliminates physical paperwork, reduces fraud risk and speeds processing.
• DigiLocker serves over 72 crore users under Digital India; partnership extends India’s DPI globally.

• Imphal’s Ariha Pangambam claimed India’s first senior individual women’s gold at Aerobic Gymnastics Asian Championships.
• Event held 4–7 August 2026 in Tagaytay City, Philippines (Asian Gymnastics Union).
• Winning score 19.100 (artistry 8.650, execution 7.600, difficulty 2.850).
• Aerobic gymnastics features high-intensity routines judged on artistry, execution and difficulty under FIG.
• More than 400 athletes from 11 countries participated.

• Indian athlete Ashish Yadav took silver with 74.09 m (third attempt) on 7 August 2026 in Eugene, Oregon.
• Gold: South Africa’s Jan-Hendrik Heymans (80.50 m); bronze: Dominica’s Addison James (73.89 m NR).
• India’s T. Dharanidharan finished sixth (72.35 m).
• Second Indian medallist in the event after Neeraj Chopra’s 2016 gold; first Indian silver.
• World Athletics U20 Championships (formerly IAAF World Junior Championships).

• 25-year-old Mumbai-based Suraj Kumar Chand won men’s individual gold at FISU World University Squash Championship on 6 August 2026.
• Beat Hungary’s Benedek Takacs 3-2 in a five-game final at home venue Somaiya Vidyavihar University.
• Path: straight-sets wins, tough comeback from 0-2 in semi-final.
• Earlier: 2024 World University bronze, HCL PSA Indian Tour title (April 2026), Asian Games 2026 selection.
• First Indian individual gold in the event; previous medals were only team or other categories.

• Took oath on 7 August 2026 for 2026–2030 term, succeeding Gustavo Petro.
• Won runoff on 21 June 2026 with 49.66 % (12.96 million votes) against Iván Cepeda.
• Ceremony held in Cali (not Bogotá); announced hardline anti-drug policy, end to peace talks with armed groups, and plan to cut state size by up to 40 %.
• The US pledged $1 billion security assistance on 8 August.
• Attended by King Felipe VI, Javier Milei, Daniel Noboa and FIFA’s Gianni Infantino.

• Bengaluru-based Astrobase Space Technologies revealed EVEREST on 7 August 2026.
• 800 kN LOX-methane Full-Flow Staged Combustion engine for reusable medium-lift vehicles.
• Specific impulse ~340 s; throttle range 50–110 %.
• Selected under IN-SPACe Technology Adoption Fund (June 2026); sub-scale tests done, full-scale planned later 2026.
• Founded 2024 by ex-ISRO engineer and CoinDCX co-founder; uses large-scale metal 3D printing.

• Observed on 9 August to remember the 1945 atomic bombing of Nagasaki and promote nuclear disarmament.
• US dropped “Fat Man” (plutonium, ~21 kt) from B-29 Bockscar at 11:02 a.m. after Kokura was clouded.
• Caused massive immediate and long-term deaths, injuries, radiation sickness, infrastructure destruction and displacement.
• Followed Hiroshima (6 August); contributed to Japan’s surrender on 15 August 1945, ending WWII.
• Day honors victims and hibakusha, raises awareness of nuclear weapons’ humanitarian cost.

• Observed on 9 August to recognise Indigenous rights, culture, traditions and contributions.
• Declared by the UN General Assembly in 1994; the first Working Group session was on 9 August 1982.
• 2026 theme: “Honouring Indigenous Midwives: Safeguarding Life and Well-being”.
• Focuses on traditional knowledge of pregnancy, childbirth and community health, plus culturally appropriate healthcare.
• Key objectives: protect rights, self-determination, languages, land, traditional knowledge, equality, health and education.
• Ongoing challenges include land disputes, language loss, limited access to services and climate impacts.

• The Ministry of Railways approved reforms to the Model Concession Agreement for Container Train Operators on 6 August 2026. The revised framework introduces a single All India Licence, removing earlier route-specific restrictions and replacing the category-based system.
• A uniform non-refundable registration fee of ₹25 crore has been fixed, while the initial concession period remains 20 years, with a zero-fee extension possible subject to satisfactory performance. Existing Category I can continue until their current term ends and migrate free of charge at renewal. Category II, III and IV operators may switch early or renew by paying a differential fee of ₹15 crore.

• Punjab secured the first rank in the NITI Aayog School Education Quality Index 2026, surpassing states including Kerala. The achievement was presented in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha on 6 August 2026. The state rose from 27th position in 2020 to the top spot, recording 82% proficiency in Class III language skills and 78% in mathematics. Infrastructure upgrades covered 19,125 schools at an expenditure of around ₹2,638 crore, with 80% of classrooms now equipped as smart classrooms.
• Punjab also reported a sharp rise in NEET-UG qualifiers from government schools—882 in 2026 against 80 in 2021—linked to the PACE coaching initiative. It became the first state to introduce Artificial Intelligence as a core subject from Classes I to XII.

• Ladakh has approved India’s first guided high-altitude wildlife safari on 6 August 2026. The plan covers snow-leopard and bird-watching trails in Hemis National Park, Changthang, Karakoram Wildlife Sanctuary, Nubra, Zanskar, Sham, Kargil and Drass. Specially designed open-back jeeps, modelled on those used in Kaziranga and Ranthambore, will be operated only by trained local drivers and guides.
• The decision was taken at the first meeting of the Snow Leopard and High-Altitude Nature Conservation Society, chaired by Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena.

• The Ministry of Culture launched the Har Ghar Tiranga 2026 campaign on 6 August in New Delhi. The nationwide drive will run from 9 to 17 August and marks the fifth year of the initiative that began in 2022 under Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. Citizens are encouraged to hoist the Tiranga at their homes.
• The 2026 edition is dedicated to the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram, India’s National Song, with mass singing and an online tutorial for correct rendition available on the official portal. Partition Horrors Remembrance Day will be observed on 14 August as part of the schedule.

• The Tenth BRICS Industry Ministers’ Meeting was held in Jaipur, Rajasthan, on 6 August 2026. Member countries adopted a Joint Declaration under the BRICS Partnership on New Industrial Revolution (PartNIR) aimed at resilient, innovation-driven and sustainable industrial growth.
• The meeting finalized the Terms of Reference and Action Plan for the BRICS Working Group on the Photovoltaic Industry and the cooperation framework for the SME Working Group to strengthen MSME ecosystems. Plans for resilient, GIS-based transport and city logistics planning were also approved.

• India successfully test-launched the Agni-4 medium-range ballistic missile from the Integrated Test Range in Chandipur, Odisha, on 6 August 2026. The trial, conducted by the Strategic Forces Command, validated all operational and technical parameters of the missile..
• Agni-4 is a domestically developed, nuclear-capable surface-to-surface missile launched from a road-mobile system. Designed for strategic deterrence and long-range strike roles, it incorporates advanced navigation, guidance and composite material technologies.

• France submitted a techno-commercial proposal to India on 29 July 2026 for 114 Rafale fighter jets valued at about ₹3.25 lakh crore (around $39 billion) under the Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft programme. The Defence Acquisition Council cleared the Acceptance of Necessity in February 2026, and India issued the Letter of Request in May. The Ministry of Defence is examining the proposal.
• The deal includes extensive technology transfer for airframes, engines and avionics, with involvement of Safran, Thales and Tata Advanced Systems.
• The Indian Air Force currently operates around 30 fighter squadrons against an authorised strength of 42. Reports suggest varying local production ratios, with most aircraft to be assembled or manufactured in India.

• Microsoft announced the general availability of its fourth cloud region in India on 6 August 2026. Named India South Central and located in Hyderabad, Telangana, it joins existing regions in Pune, Chennai and Mumbai.
• The facility features three availability zones for higher resilience and is designed for enterprise workloads, sovereign-ready AI applications and mission-critical services. It uses air-cooled chillers requiring zero water, supporting Microsoft’s water-positive goal for 2030. The expansion forms part of Microsoft’s cumulative $20.5 billion investment commitment in India.

• National Handloom Day is observed every year on 7 August to honour India’s rich handloom legacy and the vital role of weavers and artisans. It commemorates the Swadeshi Movement that began on 7 August 1905, which promoted indigenous products. The first celebration was held in 2015.
• The 2026 theme has not yet been announced by the Ministry of Textiles, but the focus remains on preserving traditional weaving, empowering artisans, promoting sustainable textiles and encouraging the purchase of authentic handlooms under the “Vocal for Local” campaign.

• Assam launched the distribution of application forms for the Mukhya Mantrir Nijut Moina Scheme and Mukhya Mantrir Nijut Babu Scheme on 6 August 2026 in Guwahati. Forms were made available across 452 educational institutions, with applications accepted until 14 August.
• Nijut Moina provides monthly stipends of ₹800 for Higher Secondary and diploma, ₹1,250 for undergraduate and ₹2,500 for postgraduate girl students, aiming to prevent child marriage and reach 5 lakh beneficiaries. Nijut Babu offers ₹1,000 per month to eligible undergraduate and ₹2,000 to postgraduate male students to reduce academic dropouts, targeting 1.20 lakh beneficiaries.