NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Amit Shah Inaugurates 9th National Security Strategies Conference: Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the two-day 9th National Security Strategies (NSS) Conference-2026 in New Delhi on 24 August 2026. The hybrid conference brought together more than 850 participants, including senior officers from the Intelligence Bureau, the Ministry of Home Affairs, and central and state police forces. The National Security Strategies Conference is an annual forum linked to internal security coordination in India. The 9th edition was held in hybrid mode, which combines physical and virtual participation, and it covered counter-terrorism, cybercrime, narcotics control, and information warfare. Amit Shah directed security agencies to take strict measures against border infiltration. He also instructed state police chiefs to detect and deport illegal migrants, a task connected with immigration control, border policing, and internal security administration.
2. Tiger Sighted in Kishkindha Hills After Five Decades: The Karnataka Forest Department confirmed the presence of a male tiger in the Kishkindha Hills of Koppal district on 24 August 2026. A camera trap installed in Temba village of Gangavathi taluk recorded the animal on 23 August 2026, and officials linked the sighting to a rare return of the species to the region after nearly five decades. A camera trap is a remotely triggered device used to photograph or video-record wildlife without direct human presence. Forest departments in India use camera traps for species monitoring, population estimation, and movement tracking in forest landscapes. In this case, 50 camera traps were deployed across Sanapura, Basapura, and Temba villages after local residents reported tiger sightings over several months. The use of multiple camera traps is a standard field method in wildlife surveillance in forested and hilly terrain.
3. Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary Emerges as Major Black-Necked Stork Breeding Site: Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary in Jamnagar, Gujarat, has been identified as a major breeding site for the Black-necked Stork, scientifically known as Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus. The sanctuary is a Ramsar site and forms part of the wetland network of western India. Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary is located in Jamnagar district of Gujarat and is known for its freshwater and brackish-water wetland habitats. The sanctuary has eight management zones and supports resident and migratory bird species. Researchers from the Gujarat Ecological Education and Research Foundation conducted field surveys from July 2024 to March 2025 across 48 georeferenced sampling points. The sanctuary supported a peak seasonal population of 21 to 23 Black-necked Storks during the monitoring period, including breeding pairs, non-breeders, and juveniles.
4. AIIA Launches Garbhini Mitra Course for Ayurveda-Based Maternal Wellness: The All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), New Delhi, launched the Garbhini Mitra course for the 2026-2027 academic session on 24 August 2026. The six-month offline programme is designed to train community-level support personnel for non-clinical maternal wellness guidance under the Ministry of Ayush. The Garbhini Mitra course is an offline training programme with classes scheduled from Monday to Friday between 3:00 PM and 5:00 PM. The intake is capped at 20 students per batch. Candidates must be 18 years or older and must have passed the Senior Secondary (10+2) examination. The last date for application is 31 August 2026. The All India Institute of Ayurveda is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Ayush. It functions from Sarita Vihar, New Delhi, and offers academic and training programmes in Ayurveda.
5. Tamil Nadu to Introduce TN-ARIVU Curriculum from 2027-28: Tamil Nadu will introduce the TN-ARIVU curriculum from the academic year 2027-28 in government schools. TN-ARIVU stands for Analytical thinking, Reasoning, Innovation, Venture and entrepreneurship, and Upskilling, and it will include artificial intelligence and emerging technologies. TN PAL is an AI-powered Personalised Adaptive Learning programme for Classes VI to VIII. It will be launched in 500 government middle schools at an estimated cost of ₹70 lakh. The Mathichudar Scheme has been allocated ₹18.01 crore for 2026-27 to assess and improve conceptual understanding and higher-order thinking skills among students of Classes VI to XII. The Vetripathai Scheme has been allocated ₹22.36 crore for coaching, mock tests, and guidance for national-level entrance examinations in 172 government higher secondary schools.
6. Key Concepts in Floodplain and River Management: A river basin and its floodplain are closely linked to flood risk, land use, groundwater recharge, and ecosystem health. Effective river management combines engineering, planning, legal controls, and ecological protection. A river basin is the entire geographical area drained by a river and its tributaries. It is also called a catchment area or drainage basin. A floodplain is the flat or nearly flat land adjacent to a river that naturally floods when water spills over the banks. Floodplains act as natural shock absorbers during heavy rainfall. They absorb excess water, slow the flow of the river, reduce downstream flooding, recharge groundwater, filter pollutants, and support rich riparian ecosystems. Understanding river management requires knowledge of basic hydrological terms that describe water movement, landform creation, and river-environment interaction. India is highly vulnerable to floods, with around 40 million hectares of land classified as flood-prone. Managing these areas requires legal powers, policy tools, and institutional coordination.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Thailand Introduces New Amnesty Act: Thailand’s Act on Promoting a Peaceful Society B.E. 2569 (2026) entered into force on August 24, 2026, after royal endorsement and publication in the Royal Gazette on August 23, 2026. The law is commonly described as Thailand’s new political amnesty act and applies to specified political offences and expressions linked to political conflict between January 1, 2005, and July 16, 2025. The law covers qualifying offences arising from political unrest and related expressions during the stated period. It excludes Section 112 of the Criminal Code, which concerns lese-majeste, along with corruption, crimes causing death or serious injury, and personal civil liabilities owed to private entities. The Act creates a nine-member Peaceful Society Promotion Committee chaired by Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul. The committee must hold its first meeting within 30 days and determine which cases meet the conditions for amnesty.
2. Illinois Senate Declares August 15 as National India Hub Day: The Illinois State Senate declared August 15 as “National India Hub Day” during a proclamation presented on 15 August 2026 at the National India Hub in Schaumburg, Illinois. The event coincided with India’s 80th Independence Day and was held during INDIA FEST 2026 at a 107,000-square-foot facility described as the world’s largest Indian community centre. The National India Hub is located in Schaumburg, Illinois, and functions as a community centre for Indian-American organisations. The facility covers 107,000 square feet and hosts cultural, social, and community activities. INDIA FEST 2026 was organised at the National India Hub on 15 August 2026. Nearly 50 vendors and stage arrangements were moved indoors after sudden heavy rain, and the entire festival continued inside the facility.
3. CBN and PHARMEXCIL Sign MoU for Pharma Exports: The Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN) and the Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India (PHARMEXCIL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 24 August 2026 at the CBN Headquarters in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. The agreement covers legitimate pharmaceutical exports, product diversion prevention, and industry coordination through a non-binding Voluntary Code of Conduct (VCC). The Central Bureau of Narcotics functions under the Ministry of Finance. It is the nodal authority for supervision of opium poppy cultivation in India and for issuing import and export authorisations for narcotic-related substances and controlled chemical inputs. The bureau also works under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, which provides the legal framework for control of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances in India. PHARMEXCIL was set up by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry as a pharmaceutical export promotion council. It works with exporters and member companies in the pharmaceutical sector.
4. World’s Oceans Reach Record Sea Surface Temperature: The daily global average sea surface temperature for extra-polar oceans, defined as waters between 60°S and 60°N, reached 21.1°C on 21 and 22 August 2026. The figure set a new record for the highest daily global sea surface temperature measured for this ocean belt. Sea surface temperature is the temperature of the uppermost layer of the ocean, which is measured by satellites, buoys, and ship-based observations. The extra-polar ocean belt excludes the polar seas and covers most of the world’s major marine ecosystems. The earlier global daily record for extra-polar oceans was 21.09°C, set on 1 March 2024. Global sea surface temperatures usually peak in March or April, and an August record is unusual in the annual cycle of ocean warming.
5. Major Labour Market Indicators in India: India measures labour market health through key indicators such as LFPR, WPR, and unemployment rate, with PLFS data providing the most regular picture of employment trends across rural and urban areas. To capture both long-term structural trends and short-term fluctuations, the NSO uses two distinct reference periods during data collection. Indian workers are classified into three distinct categories based on their terms of employment and activity status. These individuals work in others’ farm or non-farm enterprises and receive wages or salaries on a regular basis. They are not paid on a daily or casual basis. This segment represents formal or semi-formal employment structures. Casual labourers are employed on a day-to-day basis or for specific short-term tasks. They receive daily or weekly wages and have low job security with no social benefits.
6. Major Types of Artificial Islands and Land Reclamation: Land reclamation creates new land from the sea, lakes, riverbeds, or wetlands, while artificial islands are human-made landmasses built in water for urban, industrial, transport, strategic, or energy-related uses. Modern reclamation uses different engineering techniques to convert water areas into stable land. China’s reclamation work at Antelope Reef in the Paracel Islands has renewed attention on strategic island-building in the South China Sea. The project is being viewed through the lens of port facilities, surveillance infrastructure, and military utility, alongside ongoing sovereignty disputes.
7. China Expands Antelope Reef in South China Sea: China completed the first phase of dredging and land reclamation at Antelope Reef in the Paracel Islands of the South China Sea on 21 August 2026. Satellite imagery showed a newly built artificial island of about 1,500 acres and nearly 6 km in length, with port and runway-related infrastructure under construction. Antelope Reef is part of the Paracel Islands, an archipelago in the northern South China Sea. China has exercised de facto control over the Paracel Islands since 1974, after expelling South Vietnamese forces from the area. Land reclamation is the process of creating new land from the sea by dredging, filling, and stabilising the seabed. Artificial islands in disputed maritime zones are often linked to port facilities, logistics hubs, surveillance systems, and military infrastructure. The reclaimed landmass includes a deep-water port, a quay of more than 2,000 feet, a helicopter pad, and a straight coastline of about 3 km. The site has been assessed as capable of supporting a military-grade runway of around 10,000 feet. Satellite photographs also showed three-pronged structures on Yagong Island, which lies about 14 km north-east of Antelope Reef. Security analysts have linked these structures to a possible early warning radar facility.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. Rajnath Singh Approves DRDO Missile Technology Transfer to Indian Industries: On 25 August 2026, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh approved the transfer of technology for all conventional missile systems developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation to the Indian defence industry. The Ministry of Defence stated that the move covers the shift from development to large-scale industrial production of missile systems. Transfer of technology, or ToT, is a process in which a developer shares design, manufacturing, testing, and integration know-how with another entity for production. In India’s defence sector, ToT is used to move systems from research establishments to licensed industrial production units. Conventional missile systems are non-nuclear missile platforms used for strike, air defence, and tactical roles. The Defence Research and Development Organisation develops such systems through its laboratories and test facilities under the Ministry of Defence.
2. NSG Launches First All-Women Commando Course: The National Security Guard (NSG) Training Academy launched India’s first-ever Mahila Commando Conversion Course (MCCC) on 24 August 2026 at its garrison in Manesar, Haryana. The 12-week residential programme is designed for selected women personnel from State Police Forces and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and includes counter-terrorism training, weapons handling, marksmanship, tactical intervention, and hostage rescue drills. The National Security Guard is a federal counter-terrorism force under the Ministry of Home Affairs. It was raised in 1984 after Operation Blue Star and the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, and it functions as a specialised force for anti-hijacking, counter-terror operations, and high-risk security duties. The Mahila Commando Conversion Course is a 12-week intensive residential training programme. It is structured to build advanced operational skills in female personnel drawn from police and paramilitary formations.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. CSIR-NAL Unveils Indigenous Micro Gas Turbine Engines: The CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories (CSIR-NAL) unveiled three indigenous micro and small gas turbine engines at the SSB Auditorium, CSIR Headquarters, New Delhi, on 25 August 2026. The engines were named NJ-05, NJ-50 and NJ-100, with thrust ratings of 5 kg, 50 kg and 100 kg respectively. Gas turbine engines are internal combustion engines that produce thrust or shaft power by compressing air, mixing it with fuel, and expanding the hot gases through a turbine. Micro and small gas turbine engines are compact propulsion systems used in unmanned platforms, target drones, cruise-type systems and other lightweight aerospace applications.
2. GENESIS EIR Cohort-3 Launched for Early-Stage Startups: The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology launched the GENESIS Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) Cohort-3 through the MeitY Startup Hub on 24 August 2026. The application window opened for aspiring entrepreneurs, researchers, students, and early-stage startup founders, with the deadline fixed for 3 September 2026. GENESIS stands for Gen-Next Support for Innovative Startups. The programme is implemented under the MeitY Startup Hub, which functions as a national platform for startup support under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. The launch event for GENESIS EIR 3.0 was held on 4 August 2026 at the GENESIS NextGen Startup Summit, Coimbatore Edition. The venue was Rathinam Global University in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.
3. Key Features of the Moon’s South Pole: The Moon’s south pole is one of the most rugged and scientifically important regions on the lunar surface, with deep craters, permanently shadowed zones, and strong prospects for water ice. The Moon’s South Pole lies between 80°S and 90°S latitude. Unlike the flatter equatorial plains explored in earlier space programs, the south polar region is highly rugged, with mountainous rims and deep craters. This creates a landscape of perpetual light and darkness. The Moon’s axial tilt is only 1.54 degrees, so the Sun stays very close to the horizon at the poles. Sunlight reaches only elevated crater rims and peaks, while deep crater floors receive no direct solar rays. These dark areas are called Permanently Shadowed Regions (PSRs). The South Pole-Aitken Basin, a vast impact structure about 2,500 kilometers in diameter and 6 to 8 kilometers deep, lies in this southern hemisphere. It is one of the largest known impact structures in the solar system.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. PMFME Bazaar Showcases Micro Food Enterprises: The PMFME Bazaar and the PMFME Conclave 2026 were inaugurated on 24 August 2026 at the India Habitat Centre in New Delhi. The event was organised by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries and brought together more than 500 stakeholders from the micro food processing sector. The PMFME Scheme stands for the Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises Scheme. It was launched in June 2020 and includes a credit-linked support component for micro food processing units. The credit-linked component crossed two lakh sanctions in August 2026. The PMFME Bazaar featured exhibitors from 25 States and Union Territories of India. The exhibition included Self Help Groups, Farmer Producer Organisations, cooperatives, and individual micro-entrepreneurs. The bazaar displayed local, ethnic, and traditional food products.
2. US Launches Operation Economic Outcast Against Iran: On 24 August 2026, the United States announced “Operation Economic Outcast”, a sanctions campaign led by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent against Iran. The measures expanded U.S. sanctions coverage to five sectors of the Iranian economy and targeted 60 individuals, entities, and vessels linked to cyber operations, oil sales, and procurement networks. Operation Economic Outcast is a U.S. economic and diplomatic pressure campaign directed at Iran. The United States Department of the Treasury used the campaign to widen restrictions on digital assets and cryptocurrency, weapons-related technology, gold, airlines, and shipping. Secondary sanctions are penalties imposed by one country on third-party persons, firms, or banks that conduct business with a sanctioned state. In this case, U.S. officials warned that foreign entities facilitating transactions with Iran could face exclusion from the U.S. dollar system.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1. Publications Division Wins Seven Honours at FIP Excellence in Book Production Awards 2026: The Publications Division of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting won seven honours at the Federation of Indian Publishers Awards for Excellence in Book Production 2026. The awards were presented at the 46th FIP Awards ceremony on 24 August 2026 by Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva. The Federation of Indian Publishers organises the Awards for Excellence in Book Production to recognise printing, design, editing, and production quality in Indian publishing. The 46th edition of the awards was held in 2026. The Publications Division won four Second Prizes and three Third Prizes across different categories. The July 2026 Hindi issue of Yojana, themed Viksit Bharat@2047, and the English magazine Kurukshetra won Second Prizes in the Journals and House Magazines category. The reference book Bharat 2026 in Hindi and the general and trade book Wings to Our Hopes – Vol. 2 in English also won Second Prizes. The Hindi books Dharti Ki Sehat and Rangoli Roop Sur Lay Ki won Third Prizes in the Children’s Books and Art and Coffee Table Books categories.
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