Daily Current Affairs - Week 35, 2026 (24 Aug 2026 - 30 Aug 2026)

• Somali pirates hijacked the Cameroon-flagged M/V LUTUF off Puntland, taking 10 hostages including six Indians.
• Pakistan unified defence forces under Chief of Defence Forces via new Act.
• Singapore launched a biological data centre prototype using about 16 million living human neurons with very low power consumption.
• Kaziah Liz Mejo from Kerala crowned Miss Universe India 2026 on Aug 23 at Jaipur; will represent India in Puerto Rico.
• Thailand’s political amnesty law for offences from 2005-2025 enforced on Aug 24, 2026; excludes lese-majeste and serious crimes.
• 2nd India-NZ Defence Strategic Dialogue held in Wellington on Aug 24, 2026 on maritime security and Roadmap 2030.
• India and Seychelles hold talks in New Delhi on fisheries, aquaculture and blue economy cooperation.

• Veteran filmmaker Avtar “Kuku” Kohli passes away in Mumbai at 77 after a heart attack.

• Pranesh M of India won the Kanizsa Open 2026 Group A in Hungary with 7/9 points on superior tie-breaks.
• India named its 12-member men’s kabaddi squad for the 2026 Asian Games including four Hangzhou gold medallists.
• Lando Norris won the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort while Max Verstappen crashed out on lap one.
• BRICS Sports Ministers in Visakhapatnam adopted a joint declaration under India’s chairs calling for stronger sporting partnership and technology collaboration.

• Former ISRO Chairman S. Somanath was appointed a part-time non-official director on the RBI Central Board for four years.
• Three new directors were appointed to RBI Central Board for four years.
• Satish Golcha posted as OSD, Directorate of Home Guards, to head as DG from 1 October 2026 after an interim role.
• Fino Payments Bank extends Ketan Merchant’s interim MD & CEO tenure by three months from 27 August 2026, subject to RBI nod.

• Maharashtra banned the sale of loose edible oils and fats statewide, allowing only sealed and properly labelled packs.
• Himachal Pradesh banned the manufacture, storage, distribution and sale of non-dairy analogue paneer across the state for one year.
• Andhra Pradesh approved a ₹31,387 crore 512 MW green AI data centre by AM AI Factory at Visakhapatnam creating about 1,000 jobs.
• Uttar Pradesh Cabinet allowed female government employees 180 days maternity leave twice without the earlier two-year gap and extended it to adoptive mothers.
• Tamil Nadu announced the Annapoorani Super Six Scheme for LPG cylinder reimbursement to eligible low-income families with ₹4,000 crore annual outlay.

• Territorial Army and CyberPeace launched Terrier Cyber Quest 3.0, a national hackathon focused on AI, cybersecurity, threat mitigation and indigenous national-security solutions.
• MC² Foundation launched MC²+ Ignite at IIT Madras to support energy deep-tech startups with milestone-linked funding of up to ₹2 crore.
• ISRO plans Bharatiya Antariksha Station by 2035; first module approved.
• Sophie Adenot became the first French woman to spacewalk on 18 Aug 2026.
• CSIR-NAL unveiled 3 indigenous gas turbine engines (NJ-05, NJ-50, NJ-100) for UAVs and missiles.
• Defence Minister approved full ToT of all DRDO conventional missiles to Indian industry on Aug 25, 2026.

• Himachal Pradesh Forest Department and ISB signed a five-year MoU to assess forest and pastoral wealth estimated at ₹22,600 crore.
• DPIIT signed MoUs with PhonePe and Shell India to provide startups with digital infrastructure, mentorship, market access and clean-energy support.
• India-Mauritius signed a 5-year deal for full fuel supply to Mauritius.
• HAL and Safran signed a contract for the Aravalli high-power turboshaft engine for Indian multi-role helicopters.

• National Space Day is celebrated on 23 Aug 2026 for Chandrayaan-3’s south pole landing.
• President Murmu to honour 48 teachers with National Awards on 5 Sept 2026.
• Madras Day was observed on 22 Aug 2026, marking 387 years of the city’s founding.
• The Rural Development Ministry showcased the Jal Jeevan Mission at World Water Week 2026 in Stockholm.

• Publications Division won 7 awards at 46th FIP Awards on Aug 24, 2026.
• Publications Division secured 7 FIP book production awards 2026 across multiple categories.

• INS Mangrol, third indigenous ASW craft, delivered to the Navy on 21 Aug 2026.
• Indian Navy to commission second Nistar-class Diving Support Vessel Nipun on 31 August 2026 at Mumbai.
• DRDO successfully trials indigenous Military Combat Parachute System at 22,000 ft in Ladakh on 26 August 2026.

• The government allowed duty-free import of up to 10 lakh tonnes of raw sugar till 31 October 2026 to increase supply and control prices.
• The Master Plan of Delhi-2047 was unveiled with targets for 40 lakh homes, improved transport, Yamuna restoration and sustainable urban development.
• Kanda Express launched to move onions from Nashik to major cities.
• Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan launched India’s first non-GMO high-expansion popcorn maize hybrid developed by ICAR and Gourmet Popcornica in Andhra Pradesh.
• All India Institute of Ayurveda launched the six-month Garbhini Mitra Course on Ayurveda-based maternal wellness with the last application date 31 August 2026.
• National Conclave on Tribal Languages and Museums inaugurated in Mysuru on Aug 24, 2026; Adi Vaani platform and AI bot Jago launched.
• India’s first non-GMO popcorn maize hybrid released by VP at Musunuru on Aug 24, 2026; 17,500+ farmers involved.
• ICAR-CCARI organises Carbon Pathshala workshop in Goa to train farmers on voluntary carbon markets.
• CSIR-IHBT discovers new plant species Doronicum sanctum in Arunachal Pradesh’s Tawang district.
• IPC launches seven nitrosamine impurities reference standards for better drug quality control.

• Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission launched seven Nitrosamine Impurities Reference Standards on 25 August 2026 in Kolkata.
• Standards: NDMA, NDEA, NEIPA, NDBA, NMPA, NDIPA and NMBA.
• Launched during the first interactive meeting at Central Drugs Laboratory & Central Cosmetics Laboratory.
• Nitrosamines are genotoxic and carcinogenic impurities that can form during manufacturing or storage.
• Reference standards essential for identification, quantification and quality control of medicines, especially chronic-use drugs.

• CSIR-IHBT researchers identified new sunflower-family species Doronicum sanctum in Arunachal Pradesh.
• Formally described in Springer Nature journal on 11 August 2026.
• Found in Tawang district near Chumi Gyatse Holy Waterfalls at 4,000–4,086 m elevation.
• First record of genus Doronicum from Northeast India (earlier known only from Western Himalayas).
• Distinguished by yellow flowers, heart-shaped leaves, pubescent ray cypselae and caducous pappus.
• The name “sanctum” refers to the holy site of discovery.

• ICAR-CCARI, Goa organised “Carbon Pathshala: Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM) for Farmers” workshop on 21 August 2026 at ICAR-KVK, Old Goa.
• In collaboration with Core CarbonX Solutions Pvt. Ltd., Hyderabad.
• Aimed at familiarising farmers with carbon sequestration, biochar and carbon-credit generation from plantation residues.
• About 100 farmers from Keri, Priol, Madkai, Cumbarjua and Karmali attended.
• Linked to research projects on plantation-based systems and biochar in west-coast India for additional farmer income.

• India and Seychelles held bilateral talks in New Delhi on 25 August 2026 on fisheries, aquaculture and blue economy.
• Led by Dr. Abhilaksh Likhi (Secretary, Department of Fisheries) and Seychelles Minister Wallace Cosgrow.
• Discussed MoU on marine aquaculture (mariculture), hatcheries, tuna fisheries optimisation and fish stock assessment.
• Covered AI for harvest management, digital data systems, MCS infrastructure, reciprocal lab access and pilot projects.
• Focus on tuna value chain expansion, processing, product diversification and sustainable fish-waste management.

• HAL and Safran Helicopter Engines signed a final contract on 26 August 2026 in Bengaluru for the high-power turboshaft engine “Aravalli”.
• Through joint venture SAFHAL Helicopter Engines Pvt. Ltd.
• 3,500–4,000 shp class engine for 13-tonne Indian Multi-Role Helicopter (IMRH) and naval Deck-Based Multi-Role Helicopter (DBMRH).
• Covers design, development, manufacture, supply and lifecycle support.
• IMRH intended to replace Russian Mi-17 medium-lift helicopters.
• Potential civil applications and domestic MRO capability planned.

• DRDO conducted a high-altitude trial of indigenous Military Combat Parachute System (MCPS) on 26 August 2026 at Nyoma-Mudh Drop Zone, Ladakh.
• Jump from 22,000 ft above MSL in –15°C conditions; deployed at 20,000 ft, landing at 13,700 ft.
• Jumpers: Wing Commander Rahul Jha, MWO R J Singh, MWO Vivek Tiwari.
• Developed by ADRDE (Agra) with DEBEL (Bengaluru); the only Indian system operational up to 32,000 ft.
• Features specialised para computer, oxygen system, thermal jumpsuits, advanced steering, low descent rate and NavIC integration.

• Indian Navy to commission second Nistar-class Diving Support Vessel Nipun on 31 August 2026 at Naval Dockyard, Mumbai.
• Indigenously designed and built by Hindustan Shipyard Limited, Visakhapatnam.
• Delivered on 30 July 2026 after outfitting and trials.
• Supports deep-sea diving, underwater interventions, medical facilities and submarine rescue.
• Features advanced navigation, platform management and station-keeping systems.
• Strengthens Navy’s underwater capabilities and marks progress in indigenous specialised shipbuilding.

• Fino Payments Bank grants Ketan Merchant another three-month extension as interim MD & CEO.
• Extension starts 27 August 2026, subject to RBI approval.
• Board approved after Nomination & Remuneration Committee recommendation.
• The previous three-month term (from 27 May 2026) ends 26 August 2026.
• Merchant, earlier CFO, took charge after Rishi Gupta’s resignation.
• Gupta was arrested by DGGI in February 2026 over GST violations linked to online money gaming and shell companies.

• Former Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golcha (IPS, AGMUT: 1992) posted as OSD, Directorate of Home Guards.
• Will head the department as Director General from 1 October 2026.
• Interim OSD role till superannuation of current DG Virender Singh (IPS, AGMUT: 1991) on 30 September 2026.
• Decision follows his July dismissal as Delhi Police Commissioner and subsequent LG office posting.
• Delhi Police to include him in cadre for pay against an existing post until he assumes DG charge.
• Earlier roles: DG (Prisons), Special Commissioner (Law & Order).

• Veteran Bollywood filmmaker Avtar “Kuku” Kohli died in Mumbai on 25 August 2026 at age 77 after a massive heart attack.
• Passed away at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Andheri.
• Began career as assistant director under Raj Kapoor; directorial debut with Phool Aur Kaante (1991), which launched Ajay Devgn.
• Other films: Suhaag (1994), Haqeeqat (1995), Anari No. 1 (1999), Woh Tera Naam Tha (2004).
• Married to actress Aruna Irani since 1990; survived by wife and two daughters from first marriage.

• Launch Event: Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan released India's first non-GMO, high-expansion popcorn maize hybrid at Musunuru, Andhra Pradesh, on August 24, 2026.
• Strategic Relevance: Reduces reliance on foreign hybrid technologies, saving foreign exchange and championing the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
• Ecosystem Scale: More than 17,500 farmers across eight states and 40,000 acres are involved in the Gourmet Popcornica venture, boosting rural incomes and agricultural innovation.

• Launch & Purpose: Inaugurated in Mysuru, Karnataka, on August 24, 2026, by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, CIIL, and KSTRI to preserve Indian tribal languages and culture.
• Key Tech Launches: Unveiled the revamped Adi Vaani platform (with an iOS app and five new languages) and the AI bot 'Jago' for tribal welfare scheme access.
• Educational Materials: Released Karnataka Class 1 Jenukuruba primers along with learning aids like Sannivesha and Thattegalu flashcards.
• Future Steps: The conclave features sessions on multilingual education and concludes on August 25 with the Mysuru Declaration.

• Meeting Details: Held in Wellington on August 24, 2026, co-chaired by Indian Joint Secretary Amitabh Prasad and New Zealand Deputy Secretary Richard Schmidt.
• Core Focus: Advanced the newly elevated Strategic Partnership by implementing targets outlined in the India-New Zealand Strategic Partnership Roadmap 2030.
• Key Areas: Strengthened maritime security, joint military training exercises, cross-service personnel exchanges, and defense staff college partnerships in the Indo-Pacific.

• Legislation: Thailand’s Act on Promoting a Peaceful Society B.E. 2569 (2026) entered into force on August 24, 2026, providing amnesty for specified political offences between January 2005 and July 2025.
• Exclusions: The law strictly excludes Section 112 (lese-majeste), corruption, and crimes causing death or serious injury.
• Implementation: A nine-committee panel chaired by Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul will evaluate qualifying cases to end pending prosecutions and clear criminal records.

• Winner: Nineteen-year-old Kaziah Liz Mejo from Kerala won the Miss Universe India 2026 title on August 23, 2026, at Zee Studios, Jaipur.
• International Representation: She will represent India at the 75th Miss Universe pageant in Puerto Rico in November 2026.
• Runners-Up: Vaishnavi Gannesh (First Runner-up and Miss International India 2026), Anushri Satavlekar, Tejaswini Shrivastava, and Anubha Vashist Chaudhary rounded out the top positions.

• Excellence Recognized: Director General Dr. Dhiraj Kakadia felicitated staff following the division's success at the 46th FIP Excellence in Book Production Awards 2026.
• Diverse Content: Recognized high-quality, credible publishing across reference books, general trade literature, children's books, art coffee table books, and monthly policy journals.
• Commitment: Reinforces the organization's dedication to disseminating authentic content in Hindi, English, and Urdu on culture, literature, and national development.

• Accolades: The Publications Division of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting won seven honours at the 46th Federation of Indian Publishers (FIP) Awards on August 24, 2026.
• Key Winners: Secured four Second Prizes—including for Bharat 2026 (Hindi), Wings to Our Hopes – Vol. 2, and the July 2026 editions of Yojana and Kurukshetra.
• Additional Awards: Won three Third Prizes for children's books, art publications, and the Urdu journal Ajkal.

• Policy Approval: Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh approved the complete Transfer of Technology (ToT) for all DRDO-developed conventional missile systems to Indian industry on August 25, 2026.
• Industrial Growth: Enables eligible domestic companies and MSMEs to transition missile systems from research laboratories to large-scale industrial manufacturing.
• Self-Reliance: Accelerates domestic defense production, reduces import dependence, and aligns with the Aatmanirbhar Bharat strategic framework.

• New Engines: CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories unveiled three micro and small gas turbine engines—NJ-05, NJ-50, and NJ-100—with thrust ratings of 5 kg, 50 kg, and 100 kg in New Delhi.
• Defence Applications: Designed for compact propulsion in tactical unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), drone interceptors, and missile systems.
• Atmanirbhar Bharat: The initiative highlights indigenous turbomachinery development and seeks manufacturing support from Indian aerospace startups.

• Global Forum: Participated in World Water Week 2026 in Stockholm, Sweden, showcasing India's community-led approaches to rural water security.
• Water Vision @2047: Joint Secretary Rohini R. Bhajibhakre highlighted India's integration of long-term water vision with technological innovation and community participation.
• Key Initiatives: Showcased the Jal Jeevan Mission for safe drinking water access and the National Initiative on Water Security (NIWS) for data-driven groundwater conservation.

• All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), New Delhi, launched the six-month offline Garbhini Mitra Course (2026–27 session) for Ayurveda-based maternal wellness support. Curriculum covers Garbhini/Sutika Paricharya, trimester dietetics, pregnancy-safe yoga, newborn massage, basic life support, infection control.
• Timings: Mon–Fri, 3–5 PM; 20 students per batch. Eligibility: 10+2 pass, age ≥18. Roles after completion: Garbhini Mitra Assistant, prenatal/postnatal care roles in Ayush centres, clinics, NGOs. Complements clinical care; last application date 31 August 2026.

• Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan launched India’s first non-GMO high-expansion popcorn maize hybrid seed on 24 August 2026 at Gourmet Popcornica, Musunuru, Eluru district, Andhra Pradesh (CM N. Chandrababu Naidu present). Developed by ICAR-Indian Institute of Maize Research and Gourmet Popcornica (collaboration from February 2021).
• Hybrid uses conventional breeding for larger popped volume. Maize (Poaceae) is a major Indian cereal; non-GMO hybrids preferred in food processing. Andhra Pradesh is a key maize-producing state.

• Singapore unveiled a biological data centre prototype at NUS Centre for Life Sciences (launched 16 July 2026; showcased 6 August). The system uses ~16 million living human neurons (from stem cells) across a 20-unit rack of CL1 systems (~800,000 neurons each). Power draw: ~25 W per unit, 800–1,000 W per rack.
• Partners: Prof. Rickie Patani (NUS Medicine – cell culture), DayOne (infrastructure), Cortical Labs (hardware). Applications: neuro-inspired AI, biomedical modelling, drug discovery. Aligns with Singapore’s Green Data Centre Roadmap.

• BRICS Sports Ministers’ Meeting 2026 in Visakhapatnam (under India’s Chairship) adopted the BRICS Sports Joint Declaration by consensus. Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya called for a BRICS Sporting Partnership beyond declarations; athlete/coach exchanges, joint competitions, sports science sharing.
• He highlighted India’s sports ecosystem push, upcoming Sports Goods Manufacturing Clusters scheme, para-sport and women’s participation. Priority initiatives include BRICS Working Group on Sports Technology (science, AI, digital transformation). Meeting stressed dialogue, mutual respect and inclusiveness.

McLaren’s Lando Norris secured his second successive 2026 F1 win at Zandvoort, beating Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli by 11.536 seconds; George Russell finished third. Max Verstappen crashed out on lap 1 after spinning into barriers, triggering a red flag. Norris started on pole, lost the lead after restart, then regained it late. Virtual Safety Car (Ocon stoppage) influenced strategy. Top five: Norris, Antonelli, Russell, Hamilton (Ferrari), Leclerc (Ferrari). The event was the final F1 race at Zandvoort.

India named its 12-member men’s kabaddi squad for the 2026 Asian Games (Aichi-Nagoya, Japan; kabaddi 21–26 September). Squad: Ashu Malik, Ayan Lohchab, Devank Dalal, Arjun Deshwal, Sunil Kumar, Jaideep Dahiya, Rahul Sethpal, Gaurav Khatri, Sumit Sangwan, Ankit Jaglan, Pawan Sehrawat, Aslam Inamdar. Young raiders Lohchab and Dalal join experienced players; four Hangzhou 2023 gold medallists (Deshwal, Sunil, Sehrawat, Inamdar) are included. The women's 12-member team also announced.

• Indian GM Pranesh M (19, Tamil Nadu) won the Kanizsa Open 2026 Group A in Nagykanizsa, Hungary. He scored 7/9 after beating Germany’s Vadim Petrovskiy in the final round. Four players tied on 7 points: Pranesh, Israeli GM Or Bronstein, Ukrainian GM Andrei Volokitin and Indian GM Karthik Venkataraman.
• Pranesh took the title on superior tie-break scores. Bronstein defeated IM Benny Aizenberg, while Karthik drew with Volokitin. Final order: Pranesh champion, Bronstein second, Volokitin third, Karthik fourth.

• Tamil Nadu announced the Annapoorani Super Six Scheme (24 August 2026) for domestic LPG cylinder reimbursement via Direct Benefit Transfer. Eligible: families with annual income below ₹2.5 lakh, middle/marginal farmers, and families of persons with disabilities.
• Annual outlay: ₹4,000 crore. Launch planned on Pongal Day, January 2027. The scheme uses public distribution and welfare framework. Related: free travel for women and transgender persons on deluxe/express/mofussil buses from 2 October 2026 under expanded Vettri Payana Thittam.

• Uttar Pradesh Cabinet (22 August 2026) amended Rule 153(1) of the UP Financial Handbook. Female state government employees can now avail 180 days’ maternity leave twice in their career without the earlier two-year gap requirement. Benefit also extended to adoptive mothers.
• The change aims to support working mothers for pregnancy, childbirth, recovery and childcare. Eligible women employees of the UP state government can take the leave twice without the previous waiting period.

• Andhra Pradesh government approved a 512 MW green integrated AI data centre by AM AI Factory (Vizag) Pvt Ltd at Amanam village, Bheemunipatnam mandal, Visakhapatnam. Investment: ₹31,387 crore; employment: about 1,000 jobs. Project to be completed in two years and four months (IT Secretary Bhaskar Katamneni GO).
• Incentives include power and water infrastructure support, stamp-duty and electricity-duty exemptions. It is among the state’s largest technology infrastructure projects aimed at attracting major tech investments.

• Cochin Shipyard Limited handed over Mangrol, the third Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft, to the Indian Navy on 21 August 2026.
• The vessel has over 80% indigenous content and is designed for underwater surveillance, ASW, coastal operations, LIMO and mine warfare.
• Equipped with torpedoes, anti-submarine rockets, radars and sonars; waterjet propulsion aids manoeuvrability in shallow waters.
• Named after the coastal town of Mangrol in Gujarat and continues the legacy of the earlier minesweeper INS Mangrol (decommissioned 2004).
• Strengthens Aatmanirbhar Bharat in naval shipbuilding.

• The Union government launched Kanda Express on 24 August 2026 to move onions from Nashik to Delhi, Chennai, Kochi and Guwahati.
• Triggered by national average retail price reaching ₹42/kg (up 45% YoY, 19% MoM); Delhi hit ₹65/kg, Chennai ₹58/kg.
• Lasalgaon wholesale prices rose to ₹3,800/quintal from ₹2,000 in June.
• NAFED and NCCF procured ~1.2 lakh tonnes for buffer stock; procurement price raised to ₹2,645/quintal.
• Addresses 5–7% decline in Maharashtra kharif output; similar rail model used in 2024 to stabilise prices.

• On 20 August 2026, Pakistan enacted the Defence Forces of Pakistan Act, 2026, and amended the National Command Authority Act, 2010.
• Built on the 27th Constitutional Amendment (Nov 2025) that abolished the CJCSC and created the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) post; Field Marshal Asim Munir became first CDF (4 Dec 2025).
• Act unifies all services under CDF at Defence Forces HQ, Chaklala; CDF is PM’s principal military advisor and holds sweeping personnel powers.
• NCA Amendment (retrospective from 27 Nov 2025) aligns nuclear command with CDF/CNSC structure; CNSC (Gen Syed Aamer Raza) tenure insulated from judicial review.

• On 22 August 2026, Government appointed Syed Akbaruddin, Annie George Mathew and Janmejaya Kumar Sinha as part-time non-official directors on the RBI Central Board for four years.
• Appointments under Section 8(1)(c) of the RBI Act, 1934, raised active board strength from 11 to 14.
• Akbaruddin is former Permanent Representative to the UN; Mathew is a full-time member of the Sixteenth Finance Commission; Sinha is former BCG Asia-Pacific Chairman.
• The board oversees general superintendence of the RBI (established 1935).
• Additional appointments in the period included S. Somanath and Anand Mahindra.

• On 18 August 2026, French ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot became the first French woman and second European woman to perform a spacewalk.
• EVA-97 with NASA astronaut Anil Menon lasted 6 hours 23 minutes outside the ISS.
• Primary task: replace a malfunctioning Space-to-Ground Antenna on the Z1 truss.
• Bolts and cables caused difficulties; the old antenna was secured with ties before ending the EVA.
• Supported by ISS crew using Canadarm2; marked the 282nd ISS spacewalk and advanced European participation in human spaceflight.

• ISRO Chairman V Narayanan announced India’s plan to establish the Bharatiya Antariksha Station (BAS) by 2035 at the third National Space Day in Ahmedabad (23 August 2026).
• The first module has already been approved.
• BAS will leverage Gaganyaan facilities and mark a major step in India’s human spaceflight programme.
• Over 64 years, ISRO’s applications have expanded to more than 50 fields including earth observation, telecom, disaster warning and navigation.
• The station will enable long-term research, technology testing and sustained human presence in space.

• On 20 August 2026, Indian Oil Corporation and Mauritius State Trading Corporation signed a five-year agreement for 100% of Mauritius’s motor spirit, HSD and ATF needs.
• Government-to-government MoU on oil, gas, biofuels and capacity building exchanged in presence of Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and PM Navinchandra Ramgoolam.
• Puri attended the groundbreaking of a USD 25 million, 27,500-tonne marine bunker fuel storage facility at Mer Rouge, Port Louis.
• Strengthens energy cooperation similar to arrangements with Nepal and Bhutan.
• Supports long-term petroleum security for Mauritius.

• Observed on 22 August 2026, marking 387 years since the English East India Company obtained land at Madraspatnam in 1639.
• Francis Day secured the grant from Damarla Venkatadri Nayaka; Fort St George became the settlement’s core.
• Celebrates the city’s evolution from trading post to major cultural, economic and urban centre (now Chennai).
• First observed in 2004; sometimes called Chennai Day after the 1996 renaming, yet focuses on historical Madras.
• Highlights Chennai’s roles in education, industry, Carnatic music and Bharatanatyam.

• President Droupadi Murmu will present the awards to 48 teachers on 5 September 2026 (Teachers’ Day) at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
• Instituted in 1958 and managed by the Ministry of Education, the awards recognise excellence, innovation and impact in school education.
• Selection involves online self-nomination, district/regional screening, state/organisation evaluation and an independent national jury.
• Awardees represent schools across states/UTs and organisations including CBSE, CISCE, Kendriya Vidyalayas, Navodaya and Sainik Schools.
• Aims to honour dedication that improves student outcomes nationwide.

• Celebrated on 23 August 2026 to mark Chandrayaan-3’s soft landing near the Moon’s south pole on 23 August 2023.
• Theme: “Towards Viksit Bharat – Innovating, Collaborating and Aspiring Global Space Leadership.”
• India became the fourth nation to soft-land on the Moon and the first to land at the south pole; a site named Shiv Shakti Point.
• The day promotes STEM interest, private-sector growth via IN-SPACe and celebrates ISRO achievements such as Mangalyaan and Aditya-L1.
• Highlights future goals including Gaganyaan and Chandrayaan-4.

• Former ISRO Chairman S. Somanath appointed part-time non-official director on RBI Central Board (20 Aug 2026) for 4 years.
• Anand Mahindra reappointed for another 4-year term on the same date.
• RBI Central Board is apex body under RBI Act 1934; strength reduced from 15 to 11 members.
• External directors now include Revathy Iyer, Sachin Chaturvedi, Anand Mahindra, S. Somanath, Anuradha Thakur & Sanjay Lohiya.
• Somanath led ISRO (2022–25), overseeing Chandrayaan-3 soft landing near the lunar south pole (23 Aug 2023).

• Himachal Pradesh issued statewide ban (20 Aug 2026) on manufacture, storage, distribution & sale of non-dairy analogue paneer.
• Products replacing milk fat with vegetable/plant oils or non-dairy ingredients cannot be sold or labelled as “paneer”.
• Applies to all FBOs, restaurants, hotels, dhabas, cloud kitchens, hostels & caterers; non-dairy alternatives must be clearly declared.
• Issued under Section 30(2)(a) of FSS Act 2006; valid for one year.
• Food Safety Officers empowered to inspect, seize, destroy & prosecute after market surveillance found adulteration & misbranding.

• DPIIT signed MoUs with PhonePe and Shell India on 19 Aug 2026 to support DPIIT-recognised startups and boost innovation.
• PhonePe offers payment gateway transaction credits, Indus AppStore access, dedicated onboarding, brand visibility, masterclasses & webinars on fintech, sales, GTM & scaling.
• Shell India to mentor energy & climate-tech startups via strategic guidance, investor/incubator connect & Shell E4 Smart Energy Track.
• Collaboration includes sectoral success stories, white papers, policy briefs & case studies.

Goal: enhance digital infrastructure, mentorship, market linkages & investment access for sustainable scaling and clean-energy transition.

• HP Forest Dept & ISB-Bharti Institute of Public Policy signed a 5-year MoU in Shimla (20 Aug 2026).
• Focus: forest & pastoral economy assessment; untapped potential estimated at ₹22,600 crore.
• Joint inventory used 500+ forest guards, 2 lakh+ tree records, AI/ML & satellite data.
• “Counting Green Wealth” report values amla (₹8,700 cr), pine needles (₹5,500 cr), wild mango (₹4,800 cr), sal seeds (₹2,400 cr), rhododendron (₹1,200 cr).
• Promotes community-led enterprises (e.g., women-owned Pir Panjal Jungle Producer Company).

• Housing & Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal announced MPD-2047 on 20 Aug 2026 for an inclusive, sustainable, resilient & competitive Delhi.
• Targets ~40 lakh homes: 18 lakh affordable in TOD zones, 7 lakh via redevelopment, solutions for 17 lakh JJ cluster residents, rental housing & “Jahan Jhuggi, Wahan Makaan”.
• Land pooling over ~200 sq km to add 12 lakh houses & 600 km roads; infrastructure-first approach with high-density corridors (FAR up to 400).
• Focus on multi-modal transit hubs, UERs, Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority, 52 km Yamuna cycle track.
• Environment: 1,700 ha Yamuna floodplain restoration, rooftop solar, rainwater harvesting, net-zero development; heritage conservation of 1,500 properties; regularisation of 1,511 unauthorised colonies benefiting 45 lakh residents.

• The government permits up to 10 lakh tonnes of raw sugar import duty-free till 31 October 2026 via DGFT TRQ amendment.
• Aimed at boosting supply and controlling rising prices ahead of festival season.
• All-India average sugar price jumped to ₹5,400–5,500/quintal (vs ₹3,900 last year); retail price to ₹52.3/kg (from ₹46.34).
• Festivals (Ganesh Chaturthi, Dussehra, Diwali) are expected to increase demand for sweets & processed foods.
• Bulk consumers (>10 MT/month) restricted to 15 days’ stock holding limit from 1 Sep to 30 Nov 2026.

• Cameroon-flagged cargo vessel M/V LUTUF hijacked by armed pirates on 17 Aug 2026 off Marraya, Puntland (Somalia).
• 10 hostages: 6 Indians, 1 Turkish, 1 Georgian, 2 Serbian security guards.
• Boarded 3.5 -- 4 nm off Eyl coast; diverted toward Nugaal coast near Garmaal.
• Carrying Turkish weapons & equipment for Mogadishu military facility; owned by Polar Movement Shipping.
• Linked to earlier M/V Sward hijacking; Turkish vessels, helicopters & drones monitoring; conflicting reports of drone strike.

• Territorial Army + CyberPeace launch TCQ 3.0, a national hackathon for defence, cybersecurity & information-domain solutions.
• Targets talent from academia, industry, research, government & Armed Forces.
• Focus: AI, cybersecurity, threat mitigation, digital awareness & indigenous national-security tools.
• Three tracks: Bug Hunting (CTF + live sandbox), AI Kavach (predictive threat intelligence & anomaly detection), Creators Challenge (deepfake/phishing/misinformation awareness).
• Registrations open till 31 Aug 2026; online shortlisting 1–10 Sep; Grand Finale New Delhi 6–8 Oct; awards on 9 Oct.

• Maharashtra FDA issued statewide order (20 Aug 2026) banning sale of loose/unpackaged edible oil & fats across the entire supply chain.
• Applies to expellers, refiners, blenders, wholesalers, retailers, e-commerce etc.
• Only sealed, tamper-evident packs with full labelling allowed; multi-sourced oil packs max 15 kg.
• Prohibits reuse of frying oil; used oil with Total Polar Compounds >25% must go to authorised collectors.
• Violations under FSS Act 2006 attract up to 7 years jail & fines up to ₹10 lakh.