NATIONAL UPDATES:
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. 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 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. 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.
3. Karnataka Suspends Licences Over Datura Listings: Karnataka’s Food Safety and Drugs Administration Department suspended the food licences of Amazon, Swiggy Instamart and BigBasket on 24 August 2026 after Datura fruits and seeds were listed on the platforms as food items or products for human consumption. The department also ordered the suspension of food business registrations and licences of vendors and establishments supplying Datura to these online marketplaces. Datura, also called Dhatura, is a genus of flowering plants in the family Solanaceae. The plant contains tropane alkaloids such as atropine, scopolamine and hyoscyamine, which are toxic to humans and animals. Datura poisoning can cause dry mouth, dilated pupils, rapid heartbeat, confusion, hallucinations, psychosis, loss of consciousness and death. The seeds, leaves, flowers and fruits of the plant are all considered hazardous when ingested.
4. Government Approves PPP Lease for 11 Airports: The Government of India has approved the leasing of 11 Airports Authority of India airports to private players under the public-private partnership model for a 50-year concession period. The estimated private investment for the project is ₹8,622 crore, and the airports have been grouped into five bundles for bidding and commercial viability. A public-private partnership, or PPP, is a contract model in which a public authority and a private entity share responsibilities for infrastructure development and service delivery. In airport projects, private concessionaires usually manage operations, maintenance, and development, while the public authority retains ownership or regulatory control over specified functions. The Public Private Partnership Appraisal Committee granted in-principle approval to the Ministry of Civil Aviation plan in a meeting chaired by the Department of Economic Affairs Secretary. The concession period for the 11 airports has been fixed at 50 years, which is a common long-term structure in infrastructure leasing models.
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. The TN-ARIVU curriculum has been divided into three stages. ARIVU Foundation will cover Classes I to V, ARIVU Discovery will cover Classes VI to VIII, and ARIVU Edge will cover Classes IX to XII. 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. 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. 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. The latest statistical cycles offer a clear breakdown of India’s labour indicators across rural and urban geographies.
7. 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 presence of water ice at the lunar south pole makes it a major target for resource utilization. The Permanently Shadowed Regions act as cold traps, capturing volatile compounds from comets, asteroid impacts, and solar wind interactions.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. 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.
2. US Removes Syria from Terrorism Sponsor List: The United States Department of State removed Syria from its list of State Sponsors of Terrorism on 24 August 2026. The designation had remained in force since 29 December 1979. The Department of State also revoked the designation of the al-Nusrah Front, also known as Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist organisation on the same date. The State Sponsors of Terrorism list is a United States foreign policy tool used by the Department of State. It is linked to restrictions on foreign assistance, defence exports, and certain financial transactions. The list is separate from the Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) List maintained by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). OFAC removed HTS from its SDN List and revoked Syria General License 25 on 24 August 2026. General licences are authorisations issued by OFAC for specified transactions that would otherwise be prohibited under sanctions rules. The 45-day congressional review period began after Secretary of State Marco Rubio notified Congress on 8 July 2026.
3. Mumbai Enters IWG Work From Anywhere Index: Mumbai became the only Indian city in the fourth annual Work From Anywhere Index published by the International Workplace Group in 2026. The city scored 77 out of 100 and ranked 50th globally, ahead of London and Miami in the same index. The Work From Anywhere Index is an annual city ranking that assesses locations for remote work and flexible working conditions. The 2026 edition used criteria such as climate, broadband speed, accommodation, transport, food, culture, and flexible workspace availability. Cushman & Wakefield data placed India at 100 on the global flexible workspace maturity index. The United Kingdom scored 98, France scored 97, and the United States scored 81 in the same measure. India’s flexible office inventory stood at 79.7 million square feet in mid-2025. The inventory is projected to cross 100 million square feet in 2026.
4. Trump Announces 50% Tariffs on Canadian Vehicles: On 24 August 2026, United States President Donald Trump announced a 50% tariff on Canadian automobiles, trucks, automotive parts and steel, with the proposed measure scheduled to take effect on 1 January 2027. The announcement came after trade talks between the United States and Canada collapsed in Washington, D.C., and after the United States had already imposed a 50% tariff on about $20 billion of Canadian goods on 22 August 2026. A tariff is a tax imposed by a government on imported goods and services. Tariffs are commonly classified as ad valorem tariffs, which are based on a percentage of value, and specific tariffs, which are fixed amounts per unit. The United States and Canada share one of the world’s largest bilateral trading relationships, with integrated supply chains in automobiles, steel, agriculture and energy. Automotive production in North America often involves cross-border movement of parts before final assembly.
5. The Northern Sea Route and India’s Maritime Stakes: The Northern Sea Route is back in focus as Arctic ice melt makes the passage navigable for longer periods. A regular weekly container service launched by Chinese shipping company Sea Legend on August 15, 2026, has revived debate on whether faster polar shipping can alter global trade patterns by shortening shipping distances between Asia and Europe. The Northern Sea Route (NSR) is a 5,600-kilometer (3,500-mile) maritime corridor running entirely within Russia’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) along its Arctic coast. Spanning the Kara, Laptev, East Siberian, and Chukchi seas, it represents the shortest shipping connection between Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. Because it lies within Russia’s EEZ, Moscow maintains strict regulatory control over permits, icebreaker services, and navigation support, making the route highly geopolitical.
6. India-China Hold 25th Round of Border Talks in Beijing: The 25th round of Special Representatives talks on the India-China boundary question is scheduled in Beijing on 25 August 2026. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval is in Beijing for a two-day visit, and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is set to co-chair the boundary meeting as China’s Special Representative. The Special Representatives mechanism is a high-level diplomatic format between India and China for discussions on the boundary question. India’s Special Representative is the National Security Advisor, while China’s Special Representative is the Foreign Minister. The India-China boundary question concerns the unresolved land boundary between the two countries. The boundary dispute covers the western, middle, and eastern sectors, including areas linked to Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh.
7. China Postpones Chang’e-7 Lunar Mission: The China Manned Space Agency postponed the Chang’e-7 robotic lunar mission on 23 August 2026 after a comprehensive assessment found that the probe did not meet launch criteria for the planned window. Chang’e-7 is a Chinese lunar exploration mission linked to the search for water ice in permanently shadowed craters near the lunar south pole. Chang’e-7 is designed as a multi-component robotic mission with an orbiter, a lander, a rover, and a hopping robot. The mission plan includes scientific instruments for studying lunar surface conditions, volatile materials, and the distribution of water ice in permanently shadowed regions. The National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand has a cosmic radiation-detecting payload called CE-7 MATCH on the mission. The payload remains installed on the Chinese orbiter and is not affected by the postponement.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. Eagles of Civilisation 2026 Military Exercise: The “Eagles of Civilisation 2026” joint air exercise began between the Egyptian Air Force and the People’s Liberation Army Air Force in August 2026. The drill involved Chinese J-16 fighter jets, aerial refuelling aircraft, special-mission aircraft, and helicopters arriving at an Egyptian airbase after a 6,000-kilometre flight from China. The Chinese formation included at least six J-16 fighter jets, which are twin-engine multirole combat aircraft used by the PLA Air Force. The J-16 is a heavier platform than the J-10C, which was used in the previous year’s drills. The Egyptian side used French-made Dassault Rafale fighters during the training. The first day of flight training included one-on-one aerial combat drills between the J-16 and the Rafale. Before flight training, pilots from both countries held technical briefings on their aircraft. The briefings covered flight safety, airspace control, and emergency protocols. The PLA Air Force also released cockpit video footage on 24 August 2026 showing close-range manoeuvres during the training.
2. India’s first indigenised AK-203 Sher rifle test-fired in Amethi: Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL) has manufactured and test-fired India’s first 100% indigenised AK-203 assault rifle, named Sher, at the Korwa ordnance facility in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh. The prototype used only domestic Indian components and raw materials, marking a shift from licensed assembly to end-to-end local production. IRRPL plans to supply fully indigenised prototypes to the Indian Army for formal user trials scheduled to begin in September 2026. The factory is also being upgraded to produce one AK-203 Sher rifle every 100 seconds. IRRPL is a joint venture linked to India’s rifle production programme with Russian collaboration. The company has stated that the Sher prototype was built entirely from Indian industry inputs, including all components and raw materials.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. 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 cohort is designed for early-stage startups that are less than two years old and for innovators from Tier-II and Tier-III cities. Selected participants can receive financial grant assistance of up to Rs 10 lakh, along with mentorship, product development support, and incubation access.
2. 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.
3. India’s Non-Fossil Fuel Power Capacity Crosses 300 GW: India’s installed non-fossil fuel-based power capacity reached 300.50 GW as of 31 July 2026, crossing the 300 GW mark. This capacity formed more than 54% of India’s total installed electricity generation capacity of about 552 GW on the same date. Non-fossil fuel power capacity includes electricity generated from solar energy, wind energy, hydropower, bio-power, and nuclear power. India’s 300.50 GW non-fossil capacity as of 31 July 2026 covered more than 60% of the national target of 500 GW of non-fossil fuel-based capacity by 2030. Solar energy was the largest component of the non-fossil basket at 164.59 GW. Wind energy stood at 58.14 GW, while large and small hydropower together accounted for 57.24 GW. Bio-power contributed 11.75 GW to the non-fossil total. Nuclear power accounted for 8.78 GW of installed capacity.
Solar capacity rose from 2.8 GW in 2014 to 164.59 GW in 2026. Wind capacity increased from 21 GW in 2014 to 58.14 GW in 2026.
4. Assam in Final State of Partner Selection for AssamSAT Project: Assam is in the final stage of selecting a private-sector partner for AssamSAT, a proposed Earth observation satellite system. The project is being developed under the DBLOTT framework, which stands for Design, Build, Launch, Operate, Train, and Transfer. AssamSAT is planned as the first state-level Earth observation system in India. Earth observation satellites collect data on land, water, vegetation, weather, and built-up areas through remote sensing instruments. The proposed system is intended for real-time flood monitoring, agriculture support, and border security applications. Assam lies in a flood-prone region, and satellite-based observation is used in India for disaster management, crop assessment, and terrain mapping.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. 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.
2. Women’s Digital Financial Inclusion in Platform Economy: The International Labour Organization and the National Council of Applied Economic Research released a joint policy brief titled Advancing Women’s Digital Financial Inclusion in the Platform Economy in New Delhi on 24 August 2026. The brief examined women’s participation in India’s platform economy, digital banking access, and formal credit availability. The platform economy refers to work arranged through digital platforms that connect workers, customers, and service providers. In India, the platform workforce increased from 7.7 million in 2020 to 12 million in FY25, and it is projected to reach 23.5 million by 2029-30. Women account for less than 1% of two-wheeler delivery drivers in urban areas. Digital financial inclusion covers access to and use of digital payment systems, online banking, and formal financial services through electronic channels. Women’s bank-account ownership in India rose from 43% in 2014 to 89% in 2024, but the digital finance gap remained wide. Only 25.2% of Indian women aged 15 and above could conduct online banking transactions, compared with 47.1% of men.
3. India Lifts Export Ban on Wheat Flour Products: India changed the export policy for wheat, durum wheat and related wheat flour products from “Prohibited” to “Free” with immediate effect on 24 August 2026. The order covers maida, semolina, wholewheat atta and resultant atta, and it ends restrictions that had remained in force since 13 May 2022 for wheat and since August 2022 for wheat flour products. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade issues notifications under India’s foreign trade framework. In export policy terms, “Prohibited” means exports are not allowed, while “Free” means exports can take place without a specific ban, subject to other applicable laws and procedures. Wheat is a major cereal crop in India, and durum wheat is a hard wheat variety used in products such as pasta and some flour blends. Maida is refined wheat flour, semolina is also called rava or suji, and atta is wholewheat flour used for chapatis and other flatbreads.
