NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Kavach 4.0 Approved for 660 Route Km in Izzatnagar Division at ₹295 Crore: Kavach Version 4.0 has been approved for 660 route kilometres of the Izzatnagar Division of North Eastern Railway. The project will be implemented at an estimated cost of ₹295 crore under the umbrella work for providing Kavach with an LTE communication backbone. Kavach is India’s indigenous Automatic Train Protection system that helps prevent Signal Passed at Danger (SPAD) incidents and train collisions by continuously monitoring train movements and automatically applying brakes when required.
2. Shivraj Singh Chouhan Launches NSP Initiative to Provide Monthly Scholarships to Agriculture Students: Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched the scholarship and fellowship fund disbursement for agriculture students through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) at ICAR-IARI, Pusa. A total of ₹21.35 crore was transferred through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to more than 6,000 agriculture students across the country. Under the new initiative, agriculture students will receive their scholarship amounts every month through DBT, helping eliminate delays and difficulties in the traditional payment system.
3. CZA Approves Asia’s First Desert-Themed Drive-Through Night Safari in Gujarat: The Central Zoo Authority (CZA) has approved the Desert Zoological Park and Night Safari at Deesa, Banaskantha, Gujarat, spread over 103 hectares with an estimated cost of ₹542.14 crore.
The project will feature Asia’s first desert-themed drive-through night safari, with a day zoo and five dedicated night safari enclosures. The park will house around 2,700 animals and birds across nearly 83 species and focus on conservation breeding, wildlife rescue, rehabilitation and environmental education.
4. Ladakh Hosts First-Ever Black-necked Crane Festival to Promote Conservation: Ladakh is hosting its first-ever Black-necked Crane Festival to raise awareness about the conservation of the endangered species and highlight Ladakh’s role in protecting its habitat. Changthang Cold Wildlife Sanctuary is the only breeding ground of the Black-necked Crane in India, with key breeding wetlands including Tsokar and Hanle, located at elevations of 2,500–5,000 metres. The Black-necked Crane is the only alpine crane species in the world and was officially declared the State Bird of Ladakh after its formation as a Union Territory; it is also regarded as a sacred bird and a symbol of peace in the region.
5. Amit Shah Launches ‘Gramin Gyan Setu’ App to Connect Rural Libraries in Gujarat: Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched the ‘Gramin Gyan Setu’ app through video conferencing to integrate libraries across the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency of Gujarat. The app was launched on the birth anniversary of Padma Shri S. R. Ranganathan, observed as National Library Day, with the aim of establishing a library in every village, preferably near schools. Around 63 village libraries have already been established, while 752 libraries are connected through the app; four libraries with nearly 2.8 lakh books have also been linked to rural libraries.
6. Delhi Schools Add Idli-Sambar to PM-POSHAN Menu: Delhi’s Directorate of Education (DoE) revised the PM-POSHAN menu for government and government-aided schools in New Delhi on 11 August 2026. The updated midday meal plan includes idli-sambar, along with changes in several weekly dishes under the school nutrition scheme. PM-POSHAN stands for Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman and is the centrally sponsored school meal programme for students in government and government-aided schools. It replaced the earlier Mid-Day Meal Scheme and covers classes from primary to upper primary in many states and Union territories.
7. Visakhapatnam Port Gets ₹335-Crore Internal Flyover: The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways approved a ₹334.89-crore internal flyover project for the Visakhapatnam Port Authority on 11 August 2026. The project covers a 3.584-kilometre elevated corridor between Convent Junction and the Dock Area at Visakhapatnam Port. Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal approved the project after appraisal by the Delegated Investment Board. The Delegated Investment Board was chaired by the Secretary of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. The construction period has been fixed at 30 months from the formal commencement of work. The proposed corridor is designed as an internal port link for cargo movement. The project includes civil works, electrical works, utility shifting, safety installations, and five years of post-construction maintenance.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Dr. Bhooma VG Selected as Vice-Chancellor of AIPSI in Mauritius: Dr Bhooma VG (IRPS Retd.) has been selected as the Vice-Chancellor of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Public Service and Innovation (AIPSI), Mauritius. AIPSI, formerly the Civil Service College of Mauritius, was jointly inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mauritius PM Navinchandra Ramgoolam in March 2025 and is being developed as a premier training agency and centre of excellence for the African region.
2. 13 August- International Left-Handers Day: International Left-Handers Day is observed annually on 13 August to celebrate left-handed people and recognise their unique experiences and abilities. The day was first observed in 1976, initiated by Dean R. Campbell, founder of the organisation Left-Handers International, Inc. It aims to raise awareness about the challenges faced by left-handers in a predominantly right-handed world and promote inclusivity and understanding.
3. 13 August- World Organ Donation Day: World Organ Donation Day is observed annually on 13 August to raise awareness about the importance of organ donation and transplantation. The day encourages people to pledge their organs and highlights how organ donation can save and transform the lives of patients suffering from organ failure. It also aims to dispel myths and misconceptions about organ donation and promote awareness about the need for more voluntary donors.
4. India Reaffirms Elephant Conservation on World Elephant Day: India marked World Elephant Day on 12 August 2026 with official statements on elephant conservation, habitat protection, and human-elephant conflict management. The country has 33 Elephant Reserves across 14 States and 150 scientifically validated elephant corridors. India is home to nearly 60% of the global wild Asian elephant population. World Elephant Day is observed on 12 August and is associated with awareness on elephant protection, habitat continuity, and coexistence measures. In India, elephant conservation is linked with forest ecosystems, biodiversity, and ecological heritage. The Asian elephant is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Elephant Reserves are landscape-level conservation areas notified for elephant populations and their movement routes. Elephant corridors are narrow habitat links used by elephants to move between larger forest patches. India’s 33 Elephant Reserves are spread across 14 States, and 150 corridors have been scientifically validated for conservation planning.
5. New York and New Jersey Declare India Independence Day: New York and New Jersey issued official proclamations in August 2026 designating 15 August 2026 as “India Independence Day” and “Indian Independence Day” respectively. The proclamations were linked to India’s 80th Independence Day, which falls on 15 August 2026. New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed a state proclamation for 15 August 2026. New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill signed a parallel proclamation for the same date. State proclamations are formal executive declarations issued by governors in the United States. The New Jersey proclamation recognised the contributions of the Indian-American community in education, healthcare, technology, business, and civic leadership. The New York declaration referred to the economic, cultural, and civic presence of the Indian-American diaspora in the state.
6. Russia Buys Gasoline From India For First Time: Russia began importing gasoline from India in 2026 for the first time in history amid a domestic fuel shortage caused by repeated Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian refineries. The first physical cargo of Indian gasoline reached Russia in August 2026, after a shipment loaded at the Vadinar refinery in Gujarat was routed through the Egyptian port of Damietta. Russia’s crude oil processing averaged 3.6 million barrels per day in July 2026, which was about one-third below the normal seasonal level. The decline followed successive strikes on refining facilities, and Russia kept its ban on gasoline and diesel exports to protect domestic supply. Industry estimates placed Russia’s possible monthly gasoline import requirement at up to 400,000 tonnes from multiple countries.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. DRDO Opens NETRA-2026 Seminar on Electronic Warfare: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) opened NETRA-2026, a two-day national seminar on Electronic Warfare, Digital Twin, and Mission Critical System Design, in Bengaluru on 11 August 2026. Dr. B.K. Das, Director General of Electronics and Communication Systems at DRDO, inaugurated the seminar as chief guest. Electronic warfare is a military field that uses the electromagnetic spectrum for detection, protection, disruption, and deception. It includes electronic support, electronic attack, and electronic protection, which are standard categories used in defence studies. A digital twin is a virtual model of a physical system, asset, or process that is used for simulation, testing, and monitoring. Mission critical system design refers to engineering systems whose failure can affect operations in defence, aviation, communications, and other high-reliability sectors.
SPORTS
1. Jammu and Kashmir to Host Irani Cup in Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir is scheduled to host the Irani Cup match at Sher-I-Kashmir Stadium in Srinagar from 1 to 5 October 2026. The fixture will be played between Jammu and Kashmir and the Rest of India in a five-day first-class format. The Irani Cup is a first-class cricket match played between the Ranji Trophy champions and the Rest of India team. First-class cricket in India follows multi-day rules and is recognised by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Sher-I-Kashmir Stadium in Srinagar currently has a spectator capacity of about 5,000. The venue requires a commentators’ box, a media box, live telecast infrastructure, and additional spectator stands for hosting a televised domestic match. Jammu and Kashmir qualified for the Irani Cup after winning the 2025–26 Ranji Trophy title on 28 February 2026. The team defeated Karnataka in the final on the basis of a first-innings lead, which gave the side its maiden Ranji Trophy championship.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. Giriraj Singh Inaugurates IIHT SUTRA 2026, First National Conclave of Handloom Technology Institutes: Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh inaugurated IIHT SUTRA 2026, the first national conclave of Indian Institutes of Handloom Technology (IIHTs), in New Delhi to strengthen technical education, research, innovation and industry collaboration. Organised by the Office of the Development Commissioner (Handlooms), Ministry of Textiles, the conclave was held under the theme “IIHTs: Weaving the Future of the Indian Handloom Sector – Educate. Innovate. Transform.” The conclave aims to position IIHTs as centres of excellence for technical education, research, entrepreneurship and technological innovation, helping enhance productivity, design, technology and global competitiveness in the handloom sector.
2. Vietnam’s VinSpace Signs Deal with SpaceX to Launch First Satellites in 2027: Vietnam’s VinSpace has signed a contract with SpaceX to launch its first satellites into orbit in 2027. The satellites will be launched through a SpaceX Transporter rideshare mission, allowing multiple customers to share a single rocket and reduce launch costs. VinSpace, a subsidiary of Vingroup, was established in November 2025 and will develop and operate the satellites to test its technology and support future commercial applications.
3. Amgen to Open Science and Innovation Centre in Hyderabad: Amgen announced a Science and Innovation Centre in Genome Valley, Hyderabad, after signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Telangana on 11 August 2026. The facility is planned to become operational in 2027 and is expected to add around 200 highly skilled jobs. Genome Valley is a life sciences cluster in Hyderabad, Telangana, and it houses research, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical facilities. Hyderabad is a major Indian hub for life sciences, information technology, and pharmaceutical research. Amgen is a biotechnology company with seven existing research laboratories worldwide. The Hyderabad centre will join its global Research and Development network and will complement its existing Technology and Innovation operations in the region.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. India’s Retail Inflation Rises to 4.45% in July 2026: India’s retail inflation (CPI) increased to 4.45% in July 2026, up from 4.38% in June 2026, according to data released by MoSPI. Based on the new 2024=100 CPI base, July inflation stood at 4.84% in rural areas and 3.96% in urban areas. Compared with June, rural inflation rose from 4.74% to 4.84%, while urban inflation increased slightly from 3.93% to 3.96%.
2. Karnataka Launches Tathyakosh Public Data Portal: Karnataka launched the public data portal Tathyakosh.in in Bengaluru on 12 August 2026. The portal was developed by the ACSEL Technology Forum, a Karnataka government Centre of Excellence in artificial intelligence, in collaboration with the IIT Alumni Centre Bengaluru. It was introduced as an open, non-commercial digital public good. The platform aggregates more than 1.5 million datasets from 458 public data repositories. It is built to make institutional data structured and easier to discover across separate systems. The portal functions as a data discovery layer for public information already held in multiple repositories.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1. Ministry of Textiles to Organise ‘Srijan: Voices from the Loom’ to Honour Women Weavers: The Ministry of Textiles will organise ‘Srijan: Voices from the Loom’ in New Delhi to celebrate women weavers and recognise their contribution to India’s rich handloom heritage. More than 100 women weavers from six handloom clusters will participate and share their stories of resilience, creativity and preservation of India’s weaving traditions. An anthology featuring the inspiring stories, journeys and voices of these women weavers will also be released during the programme.
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