NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. New Delhi hosts GI & Beyond 2.0 Summit: The Ministry of Textiles has organised the GI and Beyond 2.0 Summit in New Delhi to showcase India’s GI-tagged Handloom and Handicraft Products and promote them in domestic and international markets. The event featured displays of more than 100 GI-registered handloom and handicraft products, along with thematic exhibitions and live demonstrations of weaving and handicraft techniques.
2. Varsha Ashok Aglawe Becomes First Woman Director General of Geological Survey of India: Varsha Ashok Aglawe has assumed charge as the 54th Director General of the Geological Survey of India (GSI), becoming the first woman to lead GSI in its 176-year history. She succeeded Asit Saha. A palaeontologist with over 30 years of experience, Ms Aglawe joined GSI in 1992 and succeeded Asit Saha, who served as the Director General for two years.
3. Glaw Lake Becomes Arunachal Pradesh’s First Ramsar Site, India’s 101st: Glaw Lake in Arunachal Pradesh was designated as India’s 101st Ramsar site on 3 August 2026. It became Arunachal Pradesh’s first Ramsar wetland and is located in the Kamlang Tiger Reserve and Wildlife Sanctuary in the Eastern Himalayas, in Lohit district. Ramsar sites are wetlands listed under the Ramsar Convention, an international treaty adopted in 1971 in Ramsar, Iran. The convention covers wetlands of international importance, including lakes, marshes, peatlands, mangroves, and artificial wetlands. India joined the Ramsar Convention in 1982. With Glaw Lake, India’s Ramsar site count reached 101, up from 26 in 2014. Wetlands are ecosystems where water covers the land permanently or seasonally. They support groundwater recharge, flood control, fish breeding, and habitat for birds and aquatic species.
4. Government Proposes Mandatory Vehicle-to-Vehicle Communication from 2028: The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways issued a draft notification in August 2026 proposing mandatory Vehicle-to-Vehicle communication systems in new vehicles in India. The proposal covers vehicle categories L, M and N, and it links the rollout to the AIS-230 standard and the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989. The draft proposal uses a two-stage implementation schedule for vehicles manufactured in India. From 1 October 2027, vehicles in categories L, M and N manufactured with V2V systems are required to comply with AIS-230. From 1 October 2028, all newly manufactured vehicles in these categories are required to be fitted with AIS-230-compliant V2V communication systems.
5. Tea Board Launches Professional Tea Tasting Courses: Tea Board India launched National Council of Vocational Education and Training-approved skilled courses on tea tasting at the Darjeeling Tea Research and Development Centre in Kurseong, West Bengal, on 3 August 2026. The courses are designed to train tea tasters and tea sommeliers for quality assessment, value addition, and market competitiveness in the Indian tea sector. Two programmes have been introduced under the initiative. The first is a 60-hour certificate course titled Essentials of Tea Sommelier, and the second is a 210-hour course. The inaugural batch began with the 60-hour programme, which includes tea appreciation, professional tasting techniques, blending, and future-oriented practices. The Agriculture Skill Council of India assisted in developing the curriculum. A formulation committee with representatives from the Department of Commerce, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, and industry professionals prepared the syllabus.
6. 19 Ministers Inducted into Karnataka Cabinet: On 3 August 2026, 19 MLAs were sworn in as ministers in the first expansion of the Karnataka Cabinet led by Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar. The oath of office and secrecy was administered by Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot at Lok Bhavan in Bengaluru. After the expansion, the Karnataka ministry reached 33 members, with one berth remaining vacant against the sanctioned strength of 34, including the Chief Minister. The new ministry includes seven ministers from the Lingayat community, six Vokkaligas, seven Scheduled Caste ministers, three Scheduled Tribe ministers, and four ministers from the Muslim community.
7. India Crosses 20,000 Organ Transplants in 2025: India recorded 20,138 organ transplants in 2025, which was the first time the annual total crossed 20,000 in India. The National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) compiled the annual figures, and the 2025 total was higher than 18,911 transplants in 2024 and 4,990 transplants in 2013. NOTTO functions under the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and coordinates organ donation and transplantation activities in India. The national digital pledge portal launched in 2023 has recorded over five lakh Aadhaar-verified organ donation pledges. Delhi-NCR recorded 4,564 transplants in 2025, which was the highest among Indian regions. Tamil Nadu recorded 2,796 transplants, Maharashtra 2,136, Telangana 1,523, and Kerala 1,489.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Australia’s UNSW Sydney Inaugurates First International Campus in India: The University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney), Australia, has inaugurated its first international campus in India at Embassy Manyata Business Park, Bengaluru, Karnataka. UNSW Sydney received the Letter of Approval from the University Grants Commission (UGC), enabling it to establish and operate its campus in India under the UGC’s regulations.
2. 1 – 7 August – World Breastfeeding Week: World Breastfeeding Week is observed every year from 1 to 7 August to raise awareness about the importance of breastfeeding for infants’ health and development. Theme 2026 : Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works The week promotes exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of a baby’s life and highlights its benefits for both mother and child health. It is coordinated globally by organisations including the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) to support breastfeeding-friendly environments.
3. Boeing 737 MAX 7 Gets FAA Certification: The Boeing 737 MAX 7, also called the 737-7, received an amended type certificate from the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on 3 August 2026. The aircraft is the smallest and longest-range variant in the Boeing 737 MAX family and is cleared for commercial service after a certification process that lasted nearly a decade. A type certificate is an official approval issued by an aviation regulator for an aircraft design. In the United States, the FAA grants type certification under federal aviation rules after review of design, testing, safety analysis, and compliance with airworthiness standards. An amended type certificate is issued when an existing certified aircraft design receives approved changes. The Boeing 737 MAX 7 certification covered the 737-7 model within the broader 737 MAX programme. The Boeing 737 MAX family is a narrow-body commercial aircraft series developed from the Boeing 737 platform. The 737-7 has a seating capacity of about 135 to 160 passengers and offers around 10% more range potential than its sibling variants.
4. BEL signs MoU with Esri India for defence GIS projects: Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Esri India signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 3 August 2026 in New Delhi for collaboration in Geographic Information System, Location Intelligence, and GeoAI solutions for the defence sector. The agreement covers joint work on geospatial capabilities, defence electronics, systems integration, and training support for in-house development using the Indo ArcGIS platform. Geographic Information System is a computer-based framework for capturing, storing, analysing, and displaying spatial data. In defence applications, GIS is used for mapping, terrain analysis, asset tracking, mission planning, and operational coordination.
5. India, Uzbekistan Target $3 Billion Bilateral Trade: India and Uzbekistan have set a target to double bilateral trade to about $3 billion within three years. The target was discussed at the India-Uzbekistan Business Forum in New Delhi on 3 August 2026, along with proposals to explore a Free Trade Agreement and expand cooperation in multiple sectors. Bilateral trade between India and Uzbekistan grew by 30% in the previous year and crossed 1.3 billion for the first time. In 2025, bilateral trade stood at 1.32 billion, with Indian exports to Uzbekistan at 1.15 billion and Uzbekistan’s exports to India at more than 164 million. Uzbekistan is a landlocked Central Asian republic and a member of the Commonwealth of Independent States. India and Uzbekistan established diplomatic relations in 1992 after the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
6. India Targets 874 GW Power Capacity by 2031-32: India’s installed power generation capacity is projected to reach 874 GW by 2031-32. As of 30 June 2026, the total installed capacity stood at 548,858 MW, or about 548.86 GW. Non-fossil fuel sources accounted for 54.18% of the installed capacity on the same date, above the Nationally Determined Contribution target of 50% for 2030. Installed power capacity is the maximum electrical power that generating stations can supply at a given time. India’s capacity mix includes thermal, hydro, nuclear, solar, wind, and other renewable sources. The expansion plan for 2031-32 covers generation, storage, and transmission assets across these categories. India plans to add at least 80 GW of coal-fired thermal power capacity by 2031-32. Between April 2023 and June 2026, 21,080 MW of coal-based capacity was commissioned, and 47,545 MW remained under construction. Thermal power continues to provide firm baseload supply in the national grid.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. Air Marshal Tejpal Singh Takes Charge as Deputy Chief of the Air Staff of Indian Air Force: Air Marshal Tejpal Singh has assumed charge as the Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (DCAS) of the Indian Air Force (IAF). He has succeeded Air Marshal Awadhesh Kumar Bharti as the new Deputy Chief of the Air Staff. Air Marshal Tejpal Singh brings extensive experience as a fighter pilot, Experimental Test Pilot, and senior IAF officer with over 3,500 hours of flying experience.
2. Indian Air Force Concludes Counter-Drone Exercise ROTOR CLAP III in Rajastha: The Indian Air Force (IAF) successfully concluded Exercise ROTOR CLAP III at the Pokhran Field Firing Range in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. The exercise focused on the theme “Counter-UAS”, aimed at enhancing capabilities to detect, track, and neutralise Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)/drones.
3. Vice Admiral Manish Chadha Assumes Charge as DGNO: Vice Admiral Manish Chadha, AVSM, VSM, assumed charge as the Director General Naval Operations (DGNO) on 3 August 2026. The Director General Naval Operations is a senior operational appointment in the Indian Navy linked with maritime security, fleet deployment, and naval operational planning. Vice Admiral Chadha is a Communication and Electronic Warfare specialist with more than 35 years of service in the Indian Navy. He was commissioned on 1 July 1991 after graduating from the 78th course of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla. His command appointments include Coast Guard Ship CGS-05, INS Veer, INS Kirpan, and the guided missile destroyer INS Mysore. He also served as the Naval Attaché at the Embassy of India in Moscow and commanded the Maharashtra Naval Area and the Gujarat, Daman and Diu Naval Area.
SPORTS
1. Cabinet Approves ₹36,441 Crore for Expanded Khelo India Scheme and Sports Development: The Union Cabinet has approved an expanded Khelo India Scheme and enhanced Assistance to National Sports Federations (ANSFs) with a combined outlay of ₹36,441 crore for the period 2026–27 to 2030–31. The initiative aims to strengthen sports infrastructure and athlete development from the grassroots level to the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), providing a clear pathway for talented youth to achieve excellence in sports.
2. Ramkumar Ramanathan and Vijay Sundar Prashanth Win Bonn Open 2026 Doubles Title: Ramkumar Ramanathan and Vijay Sundar Prashanth won the doubles title at the Bonn Open 2026 by defeating Scott Duncan (England) and Adam Heinonen (Sweden) in the final. The victory marked Ramkumar Ramanathan’s 13th ATP Challenger title and his second ATP Challenger doubles trophy of 2026 after winning the Texas Spine and Joint Challenger Men’s Championship in June.
3. Asmita Dey and Harsh Singh Win India’s First-Ever Judo Gold Medals at Commonwealth Games 2026: Asmita Dey and Harsh Singh created history by winning India’s first-ever judo gold medals at the Commonwealth Games 2026 held in Glasgow, Scotland. Asmita Dey won the women’s 48kg judo gold medal by defeating Canada’s Heidi Quach 2-1 in a golden score contest, becoming the first Indian judoka to win a Commonwealth Games gold medal. Harsh Singh secured the men’s 60kg judo gold medal after defeating Australia’s Joshua Katz 10-0 by waza-ari, becoming the first male Indian judoka to win Commonwealth Games gold. Before these victories, India had won 11 judo medals at the Commonwealth Games (5 silver and 6 bronze) but had never won a gold medal in the sport.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. IBM and Sarvam Partner to Advance Sovereign AI Solutions in India: IBM and Indian AI startup Sarvam have partnered to accelerate the development and adoption of Sovereign Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions for the Government of India and regulated enterprises. The collaboration will integrate IBM Sovereign Core with Sarvam’s India-first AI stack, enabling secure, locally governed, multilingual, and voice-enabled AI solutions. The partnership will focus on citizen services, grievance redressal, document processing, and administrative workflows, aiming to enhance secure and efficient government-to-citizen service delivery.
2. Government Launches National Technothon by NIOT: The National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), an autonomous institute under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, launched a National Technothon on 3 August 2026. The initiative seeks technologies for the sustainable collection of deep-sea polymetallic nodules and supports India’s Deep Ocean Mission. NIOT was established in 1993 in Chennai and functions under the Ministry of Earth Sciences. The institute works on ocean technology, marine engineering, and deep-sea systems for Indian conditions. Polymetallic nodules are potato-shaped mineral concretions found on the deep ocean floor. They contain nickel, cobalt, copper, and manganese, which are used in electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, and advanced batteries.
3. India Achieves Near-Universal Banking Coverage of Inhabited Villages: India achieved near-universal banking coverage of inhabited villages by 3 August 2026, with 99.92% of inhabited villages served by a banking outlet within a 5-km radius. The coverage data were uploaded by banks on the Jan Dhan Darshak App and included bank branches, Business Correspondents, and India Post Payments Bank centres. The objective of the banking access framework is to provide a banking outlet within 5 km of every inhabited village. The Reserve Bank of India permits commercial banks, small finance banks, payments banks, local area banks, and regional rural banks to open branches anywhere in India without prior approval, subject to a 25% branch requirement in unbanked rural areas.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. GST Collections Rise 15.4% to ₹2.11 Lakh Crore in July 2026: Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections reached ₹2,11,205 crore in July 2026, registering a 15.4% year-on-year growth from ₹1,83,065 crore in July 2025. Gross domestic GST revenue stood at ₹1,44,695 crore, reflecting a 10.1% increase compared to the corresponding month last year. GST revenue from imports rose sharply by 28.8% to ₹66,511 crore, significantly contributing to the overall GST collections for the month.
2. Centre Releases Additional ₹1.09 Lakh Crore as Tax Devolution to States: The Union Government released an additional tax devolution instalment of ₹1,09,019 crore to State Governments, over and above the regular monthly transfer scheduled for 10 August. The additional release aims to provide states with greater fiscal space to accelerate capital expenditure and development projects. Uttar Pradesh received the highest allocation of ₹19,208 crore, followed by Bihar (₹10,845 crore) and Madhya Pradesh (₹8,010 crore).
3. Maldives Launches Real-Time Fund Transfers to India via UPI: The Maldives has launched real-time cross-border fund transfers to India by integrating its Favara instant payment system with India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI). Under the new facility, users can send money in Maldivian Rufiyaa (MVR), which is credited directly in Indian Rupees (INR) to UPI-enabled bank accounts in India. The service is initially available to customers of Bank of Maldives Plc and Maldives Islamic Bank Plc, and was implemented through collaboration between the Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA), Reserve Bank of India (RBI), and NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL).
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