NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Shivraj Singh Chouhan Releases ₹21 Crore+ Scholarships for Agriculture Students via NSP-DBT: Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan released scholarship and fellowship funds for agriculture students through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) in New Delhi. Under the initiative, more than 6,000 students received over ₹21 crore directly through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mechanism. Agriculture students will now receive their scholarships every month directly through DBT, ensuring timely, transparent and hassle-free financial assistance.
2. Government Sanctions Additional ₹1,000 Crore Under PM E-DRIVE to Boost Electric Two-Wheelers: The Central Government has sanctioned an additional ₹1,000 crore for electric two-wheelers (e2Ws) under the PM E-DRIVE scheme to continue incentives for the segment. The additional funding will extend e2W incentives until March 2028, after the earlier deadline of 31 July 2026 was due to expire. India’s current electric two-wheeler penetration is around 7.6%, with the government aiming to increase it to 9–10% to support mass mobility and last-mile transportation. Under the PM E-DRIVE scheme, originally notified in September 2024 with a total outlay of ₹10,900 crore, each approved e2W is eligible for an incentive of up to ₹5,000.
3. PM Modi to Release Former President Ram Nath Kovind’s Autobiography ‘Triumph of the Indian Republic’: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to release the autobiography of former President Ram Nath Kovind, titled “Triumph of the Indian Republic: My Life, My Struggles.” The book will chronicle Ram Nath Kovind’s life, struggles and journey in public service, offering insights into his experiences and contributions to India.
4. India Raises Urea Imports From Alternative Suppliers: India increased urea imports from Egypt, Algeria, Nigeria and Georgia in 2026 to support domestic fertiliser availability during supply disruptions linked to the West Asia war. During April to June 2026, India sourced 52% of its 2.5 million tonnes of imported urea from these non-traditional suppliers. India imported 15.08 lakh tonnes of urea and 7.11 lakh tonnes of diammonium phosphate between April and June 2026 from 17 countries. June 2026 import data included 3.95 lakh tonnes from Egypt, 1.65 lakh tonnes from Algeria, 1.38 lakh tonnes from Nigeria and 1.22 lakh tonnes from Georgia. The subsidy disbursement for imported urea rose by 128.4% to ₹47,956.24 crore in 2025–26 from ₹21,000 crore in 2024–25. Fiscal projections placed the fertiliser subsidy bill at up to ₹3.4 lakh crore for 2026–27, against an initial budget allocation of ₹1.71 lakh crore.
5. Widow and Orphan Cess on Fuel Begins in Himachal Pradesh: Himachal Pradesh introduced a Widow and Orphan Cess on petrol and high-speed diesel under Section 6-A of the Himachal Pradesh Value Added Tax Act, 2005. The State Taxes and Excise Department issued the notification on 11 August 2026, and the levy took effect from midnight on the same day. The levy was enabled by the Himachal Pradesh Value Added Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2026. The notification authorised the State Government to impose a cess on fuel sold within Himachal Pradesh, with a statutory ceiling of up to ₹5 per litre. The initial rate of the cess was fixed at ₹0.60 per litre on petrol and high-speed diesel. The cess is collected from oil dealers at the first point of sale within Himachal Pradesh, and retail consumers began paying the revised price from 12 August 2026.
6. Government Strengthens SMILE-Beggary Rehabilitation Framework: The Government of India has placed the SMILE-Beggary scheme under a wider rehabilitation framework for persons engaged in begging. The scheme was launched on 23 October 2023 and is implemented by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. SMILE stands for Support for Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise. The beggary component of the scheme covers rehabilitation, shelter, education, skill development, and family reunification for persons rescued from begging. Between 23 October 2023 and 31 July 2026, a total of ₹45.59 crore was released under the scheme. Of this amount, ₹40.04 crore was allocated directly to implementing authorities and cities. The scheme is operational across 216 major cities and towns in India.
7. Colletes bhutanicus Found in Arunachal Pradesh: Colletes bhutanicus, a rare solitary Himalayan bee, was recorded in India for the first time in Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh on 12 August 2026. The species was documented by scientists from the Zoological Survey of India during a survey in the Eastern Himalayas, and its first Indian record expanded its known range beyond Bhutan and China. Colletes bhutanicus belongs to the group of solitary bees and is also called a plasterer bee. Solitary bees do not form large eusocial colonies like honeybees, and each female generally nests individually. The species was first described from Bhutan in 2003 and later recorded from high-altitude areas of China, including the Xizang region. Field surveys conducted between 2019 and 2022 found the species in Tawang at elevations from 1,500 to 3,800 metres. The bee has been documented in high-altitude Himalayan habitats, which are part of the Eastern Himalayan biodiversity region. Its presence in India adds a new locality to the known distribution of the species.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Assam Records World’s First-Ever Release of Captive-Bred Slender-Billed Vultures: Assam has recorded the world’s first-ever release of captive-bred slender-billed vultures, with five birds bred at the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) conservation facility released into the wild. The five slender-billed vultures, along with five captive-bred white-rumped vultures, were released at the Jatayu Soft Release Centre in Biswanath Division of Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve. India’s Gyps vulture population has declined by around 99% over the last two decades, mainly due to veterinary drugs; although several drugs have been banned, pesticide poisoning continues to threaten vultures in Assam.
2. Lebanon Parliament Abolishes Death Penalty, Replaces It With Life Imprisonment: Lebanon’s Parliament voted to abolish the death penalty, making Lebanon the first country in the Arab world and the Middle East to formally eliminate capital punishment. The law replaces death sentences with life imprisonment with aggravated hard labour. A majority of the 128-member Parliament backed the measure, while the Hezbollah parliamentary bloc opposed it. Venezuela was the first country in the world to permanently abolish the death penalty for all crimes.
3. Andras Baka Elected Hungary’s Next President Amid Fidesz Boycott: Hungary’s Parliament elected former Supreme Court chief Andras Baka as the country’s next President, a largely ceremonial position. Baka secured the support of lawmakers from the governing centre-right Tisza party, while opposition Fidesz lawmakers boycotted the vote.
4. 12 August – International Youth Day: International Youth Day is observed every year on 12 August to highlight the challenges and opportunities faced by young people worldwide. Theme 2026 – Different Contexts, Common Aspirations. The day was designated by the United Nations General Assembly in 1999, following a recommendation by the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth.
5. 10 August – World Biofuel Day: World Biofuel Day is observed annually on 10 August to highlight the importance of biofuels as an alternative source of energy. The day aims to promote the use of renewable and sustainable fuels and reduce dependence on conventional fossil fuels.
6. Lebanon Formally Abolishes Death Penalty: Lebanon’s Parliament voted on 11 August 2026 to formally abolish the death penalty and replace it with life imprisonment with aggravated hard labour for future offences. The law also commutes the sentences of people on death row and codifies a de facto moratorium under which no executions had been carried out in Lebanon since 17 January 2004. Capital punishment is the legal execution of a person as a criminal penalty. Countries that abolish it may do so in law, in practice, or for ordinary crimes only, while retaining it for exceptional offences under military or wartime law. Lebanon became the first country in the Middle East to legally end capital punishment. It is also described in some records as the second member of the 22-state League of Arab States to abolish the death penalty, after Djibouti.
7. RCF Kapurthala to Roll Out First LHB Coach Rake for Bangladesh: The Rail Coach Factory (RCF) at Kapurthala in Punjab is scheduled to roll out its first rake of 19 Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) broad gauge passenger coaches for Bangladesh Railway on 12 August 2026. The rake is part of a 2024 export contract executed through RITES Ltd. for 200 broad gauge passenger coaches in seven variants. Linke Hofmann Busch coaches are a type of passenger coach used in broad gauge railway systems. In India, LHB coaches are associated with improved ride quality, higher speed potential, and stainless steel or aluminium-based construction in many variants. The first 19-coach rake includes three AC Sleeper Cars, three AC Chair Cars, 11 Non-AC Chair Cars, and two Power Cars. The coaches operate at 415 V, which differs from the conventional 750 V systems used in Indian Railways passenger coaches. The rake also includes a strengthened roof structure for roof-load conditions and a crashworthy car body shell designed to comply with European Standard EN 15227. EN 15227 is a railway crashworthiness standard used in Europe for passenger rolling stock.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. Indian Navy’s Second Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessel ‘Shruti’ Launched by GRSE in Kolkata: The Indian Navy’s second Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessel (NGOPV), named INS Shruti (Yard 3037), was launched by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) in Kolkata, West Bengal. The 11-ship NGOPV programme was contracted by the Ministry of Defence on 30 March 2023 at a cost of ₹9,781 crore, with 7 ships assigned to Goa Shipyard Limited and 4 to GRSE. GRSE’s NGOPVs are 113 metres long, have a 3,000-tonne displacement, a maximum speed of 23 knots, and an endurance of 8,500 nautical miles at 14 knots. GRSE had earlier launched the first NGOPV, Sanghmitra (Yard 3039), on 20 May 2026 and plans to launch the remaining two contracted NGOPVs by the end of FY 2026–27.
2. Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessel Shruti Launched: The Indian Navy’s second Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessel (NGOPV), named Shruti and designated Yard 3037, was launched on 11 August 2026 by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd (GRSE) in Kolkata, West Bengal. The vessel was launched in the presence of Vice Admiral Sanjay Sadhu, Controller of Warship Production & Acquisition, and Manika Sadhu performed the formal launch ceremony. The NGOPV programme is an 11-ship Indian Navy project for offshore patrol duties. The Ministry of Defence signed the contract on 30 March 2023 for ₹9,781 crore, with seven ships assigned to Goa Shipyard Limited and four ships assigned to GRSE. GRSE’s NGOPVs are 113 metres long and 14.6 metres wide. The vessels have a displacement of 3,000 tonnes, a maximum speed of 23 knots, and an endurance of 8,500 nautical miles at 14 knots.
3. Indigenous Unmanned Systems to Be Showcased at Pokhran: Indigenous unmanned systems will be showcased for the Indian Air Force at the Pokhran Firing Range in Rajasthan in September 2026. The demonstration will include long-range unmanned aerial vehicles, swarm drone technologies, expendable surveillance drones, logistics drones, and one-way attack drones. Pokhran Firing Range is a military training area in Rajasthan and lies about 270 kilometres from the Pakistan border. The site has been used for field trials, weapons testing, and military exercises by the Indian Armed Forces. Unmanned systems in military use include unmanned aerial vehicles, loitering munitions, and logistics drones. These platforms are used for surveillance, intelligence gathering, cargo delivery, casualty evacuation, and strike missions.
SPORTS
1. India Wins 5 Honours at 23rd International Linguistics Olympiad 2026 in Romania: India won 1 gold, 3 bronze medals and 1 Honourable Mention at the 23rd International Linguistics Olympiad (IOL) 2026, held in Bucharest, Romania. Shrilakshmi Venkatraman won the individual gold medal with a score of 70.0, while Aarav Anil Rao, Nishanth Shankar Lakshmanan and Advay Misra secured bronze medals. With this performance, India’s cumulative IOL tally since its first participation in 2009 reached 37 individual medals — 6 gold, 9 silver and 22 bronze.
2. India’s Para-Cyclists Win 12 Medals in Denmark: Indian para-cyclists won 12 medals at the UCI Parasport Denmark Grand Prix in Odense, Denmark, after a three-day track cycling competition that began on 7 August 2026 and ended on 10 August 2026. The Indian tally included 2 gold, 5 silver and 5 bronze medals in para-cycling events. The UCI Parasport Denmark Grand Prix was a track cycling competition under the Union Cycliste Internationale framework. Para-cycling events at such meets commonly include the individual time trial, individual pursuit, scratch race, elimination race and 200m sprint. Arshad Shaikh of Andhra Pradesh won six individual medals in the MC2 category and emerged as India’s most successful athlete at the event. His medal haul included two gold medals in elimination races, three silver medals in the individual time trial, individual pursuit and scratch race, and one bronze medal in the 200m sprint.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. PM Modi Inaugurates ‘Param Pragya’ AI Supercomputing Facility at IIT Delhi’s 57th Convocation: Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the 57th Convocation Ceremony of IIT Delhi as the chief guest and presented prestigious awards to meritorious graduating students. PM Modi inaugurated ‘Param Pragya’, an AI-powered supercomputing facility, at the Sonipat campus of IIT Delhi, aimed at strengthening advanced computing and AI capabilities. He conferred prestigious honours including the President’s Gold Medal, Director’s Gold Medal, Shankar Dayal Sharma Gold Medal, and Perfect Ten Gold Medals on outstanding students.
2. Meta Launches ‘Muse Glimmer’, a New Open-Weight AI Model for Agentic Tasks: Meta has launched Muse Glimmer, a new open-weight AI model designed primarily for agentic AI tasks, enabling AI systems to perform multi-step tasks with limited human intervention. Muse Glimmer is relatively smaller than leading frontier AI models and can run directly on a Mac or PC using a single GPU, making it more accessible for local AI deployment.
3. NASA Invites ISRO for Moon Base Programme: NASA has invited the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to join its Moon Base programme under the Artemis Accords. The discussions on lunar cooperation and open scientific data sharing were linked to India’s signature on the Artemis Accords on 21 June 2023. The Artemis Accords are a set of non-binding principles for civil space exploration and use. They were launched by the United States in 2020 and cover transparency, interoperability, emergency assistance, release of scientific data, and the registration of space objects. India became a signatory to the Artemis Accords on 21 June 2023. Other signatories include several spacefaring nations that support cooperation in lunar and deep-space activities.
4. Skyroot Signs Multi-Launch Deal After Vikram-1 Success: Skyroot Aerospace, a Hyderabad-based private space company, signed a Multi-Launch Agreement (MLA) with HEX20, a Thiruvananthapuram-based spacetech startup, for Earth-observation and payload demonstration missions. The agreement covers three dedicated launches on Skyroot’s Vikram series of launch vehicles, with missions scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2027. A Multi-Launch Agreement is a commercial contract for multiple satellite launches over a defined period. In this case, the agreement was finalised on 6 August 2026 and was signed by Naga Bharath Daka, co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of Skyroot Aerospace, and M.B. Aravind, co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of HEX20.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. 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 name Tathyakosh is derived from two Sanskrit words. “Tathya” means truth or “that which it is”, and “Kosh” means repository or storehouse. The portal is designed as a searchable platform for public datasets. 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.
2. Andhra Pradesh Signs Lithium and Gallium Exploration Pact: The Andhra Pradesh Department of Mines and Geology signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research-National Geophysical Research Institute on 12 August 2026 for exploration of lithium and gallium deposits in the Kadapa Basin. The agreement was signed at the State Secretariat in Vijayawada in the presence of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Mines Minister Kollu Ravindra. Lithium is a light metal used in rechargeable batteries, ceramics, lubricants, and alloys. Gallium is a post-transition metal used in semiconductors, light-emitting diodes, integrated circuits, and solar-related technologies. Critical minerals are minerals that have strategic industrial use and limited supply chains. Lithium and gallium are included in this group because they are used in energy storage, electronics, and advanced manufacturing.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1. Sangeet Natak Akademi Announces 2024 and 2025 Awards: Sangeet Natak Akademi announced the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship, also called Akademi Ratna, and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards, also called Akademi Puraskar, for the 2024 and 2025 cycles. The Akademi’s General Council selected seven fellows, 108 Akademi Awardees, and 106 young artists for the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar. Sangeet Natak Akademi is India’s national academy for music, dance, and drama. It functions under the Ministry of Culture and recognises performers and scholars in the performing arts. The seven selected Akademi Fellows are Ramlal Bareth, A V Anand, Rita Ganguly, Puru Dadheech, Chittaranjan Jyotishi, Pasumarthi Rattaiah Sarma, and Sudharani Raghupathy. The 2024 music awardees include Arun Nagesh Kashalkar, Nirmalya Dey, Bharat Bhushan Goswami, Sanjay Mukherjee, Krishna Vageesh, and Rakesh Chaurasia.
