Daily GK Update- 15th Aug, 2026

 NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Major Types of Criminal Warrants in India: A warrant is a written judicial order that authorizes arrest, search, or execution of a sentence. In India, criminal warrants are governed by the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, which replaced the CrPC from July 1, 2024. A warrant is issued by a court on behalf of the state. It is used to secure the presence of an accused, preserve evidence, or ensure execution of a judicial order. A search warrant authorizes law enforcement to search a specific place, building, or vehicle to find and seize evidence, documents, or stolen property. It is governed by Section 96 of the BNSS. A transit warrant, also called transit remand, permits police to transport an arrested person from the place of arrest to the jurisdiction of the trial court.

 

2. Sprite Tejas Express Becomes India’s First Brand-Named Train: The Lucknow-Delhi Tejas Express, train numbers 82501 and 82502, will run as the Sprite Tejas Express under a commercial branding arrangement. The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation manages the train’s branding and services, while Indian Railways continues to own the railway infrastructure and collect standard hauling charges. Tejas Express is a category of air-conditioned superfast trains operated under the Indian Railways network. The Lucknow-Delhi Tejas Express became the first private corporate train in India when IRCTC took charge of its operation and service management. Sprite, a beverage brand of Coca-Cola, secured the train-branding and advertising rights for the route. The arrangement allows exterior vinyl wraps and internal advertisements inside the train, and it is used as a non-fare revenue model in the railway sector.

 

3. Fourth Rail Line Approved in Siliguri Corridor: The Central Government of India approved a fourth railway line in the Malda–New Jalpaiguri section through the Siliguri Corridor, also known as the Chicken’s Neck. The approval was announced on 13 August 2026 by the Northeast Frontier Railway, and it adds to earlier plans for a third line in the same strategic route. The Siliguri Corridor is a narrow land link in West Bengal that connects mainland India with the eight northeastern states. The corridor is commonly described as the Chicken’s Neck because of its narrow shape and strategic location. The corridor is about 20 to 22 kilometres wide at its narrowest point. It carries road, rail, and utility links that connect the Northeast with the rest of India. The approved railway expansion includes a fourth line in the Malda–New Jalpaiguri section and a nearly 29-km double-line underground railway project between Tinmai Ghat and Bagdogra. The Northeast Frontier Railway also stated that doubling work in the Barsoi section is under way.

The Katihar division is part of the wider rail network in the region and handles passenger and freight movement across north Bengal and adjoining areas. The expansion is linked to higher traffic on existing rail routes in the corridor.

 

4. Railway Board Approves Seven New Amrit Bharat Express Trains: The Railway Board approved seven new Amrit Bharat Express trains in August 2026 for long-distance interstate rail connectivity in India. The sanctioned services include weekly trains on routes linking Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Gujarat, and other states. Amrit Bharat Express is a category of Indian Railways trains used for long-distance passenger movement on inter-state routes. The service pattern in the approved routes includes weekly operations and numbered train pairs such as 15095/15096, 22363/22364, and 20436/20435. The Gorakhpur–Delhi Special train was regularised as the weekly Gorakhpur–Delhi Amrit Bharat Express on 10 August 2026. The Gorakhpur–Bandra Terminus service was approved on 13 August 2026 with major halts including Kota, Ratlam, and Vadodara. The Dhanbad–Coimbatore Amrit Bharat Express was sanctioned for a route connecting Jharkhand and Tamil Nadu via Nagpur, Vijayawada, and Salem. The Charlapalli–Gorakhpur Amrit Bharat Express was approved for a Telangana–Uttar Pradesh link via Bhopal, Jhansi, and Lucknow.

 

5. Census 2027 to Include 40 Questions on Caste and Aadhaar: The Union Government of India notified 40 questions for the Population Enumeration phase of Census 2027 on 14 August 2026. The schedule includes demographic, educational, and socio-economic particulars under the Household Schedule, and it also asks for identification details such as Aadhaar number, voter ID, driving licence, and passport number where applicable. The Census of India is conducted under the Census Act, 1948, which provides the legal basis for collection of population data. The Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India oversees census operations, including the preparation of schedules, training of enumerators, and tabulation of results. The 2027 exercise is the first digital census in India, with data collection planned through electronic devices instead of paper schedules in many areas. The first phase, called House Listing and Housing Census, began on 1 April 2026.

 

6. ISMA and ICAR-ISRI Sign MoU for Sugarcane Seed Centre: The Indian Sugar & Bio-Energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA) and the ICAR-Indian Sugarcane Research Institute (ICAR-ISRI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 13 August 2026 to set up an Advanced Centre for Quality Sugarcane Seed Production. The centre will come up at the ICAR-ISRI campus in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, and will serve sugar mills in the subtropical region. ISMA is an industry body representing sugar and bio-energy manufacturers in India. ICAR-ISRI is a research institute under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and works on sugarcane science, breeding, and crop improvement. The project involves a total investment of ₹80 crore. ISMA and ICAR-ISRI will share the cost equally, with ₹40 crore contributed by each partner. The facility will be established in Lucknow, which is a major agricultural and research centre in Uttar Pradesh.

 

7. Important River Rejuvenation Projects in India: India has launched several national, regional, and city-level river rejuvenation initiatives to curb pollution, improve sewage treatment, restore river ecology, and support sustainable urban water management. On 12 August 2026, Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and Lieutenant General C. Rajesh Pushkar met in Hyderabad, where the Indian Army agreed to establish youth training centres at district headquarters across Telangana. The initiative is intended to prepare local youth for military recruitment drives and improve coordination during disasters, including rescue, evacuation, and rehabilitation in flood-affected areas.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Virender Singh Basoya Extradited from UAE to India: Virender Singh Basoya was extradited from the United Arab Emirates to India on 14 August 2026 after coordinated action by the Narcotics Control Bureau and diplomatic channels. He is named in a major narcotics case linked to cocaine and mephedrone trafficking, and he was brought to India on Air India flight 4310 from Dubai. Extradition is the formal surrender of a person by one state to another for prosecution or punishment. In India, extradition cases often involve a Non-Bailable Warrant, a Red Corner Notice, and coordination between law-enforcement agencies and the Ministry of External Affairs.

A Red Corner Notice is issued through Interpol to locate and provisionally arrest a wanted person pending extradition. A Non-Bailable Warrant is a court order under Indian criminal procedure that authorises arrest without the option of immediate bail.

 

2. Important Indian Heritage Artefacts Repatriated from Abroad: India has intensified efforts to recover stolen and smuggled cultural property from abroad. By June 2026, the country had brought back 662 historical artefacts, with the largest share returned by the United States. These recoveries reflect cultural diplomacy, international cooperation, and legal action against illicit antiquities trade. According to the Ministry of Culture, India has retrieved 662 artefacts from foreign countries up to June 2026. Of these, 589 were returned by the United States, 51 by Australia, 21 by the United Kingdom, and 1 by the Netherlands.

 

3. India-Israel Hackathon Focuses on Restorative Healthcare: The inaugural India-Israel Hackathon concluded on 14 August 2026 with the theme of Restorative Healthcare. The event brought together 1,300 young innovators from India and Israel in mixed cross-country teams to work on 14 problem statements linked to rehabilitation and patient mobility. Ori Kadvil, a member of the Indian Jewish community in Israel, organised the hackathon with other community members. Thapar University served as the nodal academic partner and functioned as a hub for early-stage innovation and health-tech research and development. India’s Ambassador to Israel, JP Singh, felicitated the winners on 14 August 2026. One Israeli prototype was a low-cost, electricity-free wheelchair-mounted limb mobilisation system that uses the mechanical rotation of a wheelchair’s front wheel for leg rehabilitation. One Indian prototype used real-time video processing and automated movement analysis to compare injured patients’ limb movements with those of healthy individuals.

 

4. Important Meteor Showers and Comets: Comets, meteoroids, meteors, and meteor showers are closely linked but scientifically distinct. Their composition, origin, and appearance help explain some of the most important recurring sky events. Comets travel in highly elliptical orbits. Short-period comets take less than 200 years to orbit the Sun and come from the Kuiper Belt beyond Neptune. Long-period comets take thousands of years to complete an orbit and originate from the Oort Cloud at the outer edge of the solar system. A meteor shower occurs when Earth passes through the trail of debris left behind by a comet. As Earth orbits the Sun, it crosses these dusty paths at the same time each year. The tiny particles of dust and rock, called meteoroids, collide with Earth’s atmosphere at high speeds. Friction heats the air around the particles, creating the glowing streaks of light we call meteors. All meteors in a shower appear to originate from a single point in the sky. This point is called the radiant. Astronomers name meteor showers after the constellation where the radiant lies.

 

5. Important University-Industry Collaboration Models in India: University-industry collaboration in India connects academic research with practical industrial needs through joint research, technology transfer, incubators, apprenticeships, and regional innovation networks. Policy support from NEP 2020 and UGC’s 2024 guidelines has made these partnerships more structured and outcome-oriented. India’s university-industry collaboration framework has recently gained momentum through UGC’s 2024 linkage guidelines and ANRF’s PAIR model. The focus is increasingly on research capacity, academic partnerships, and faster technology transfer.

 

6. Great Barrier Reef coral cover rebounds to 35.1%: The Australian Institute of Marine Science released the 2025/26 Long-Term Monitoring Program Annual Summary Report on 11 August 2026. The report recorded a rebound in hard coral cover in parts of the Great Barrier Reef after severe bleaching in earlier years. The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest coral reef system and lies off the north-eastern coast of Australia in the Coral Sea. Hard coral cover is a standard monitoring measure used to assess the proportion of reef surface occupied by living hard corals.

In the Northern region, hard coral cover rose to 35.1% in the field season ending June 2026, compared with a record low of 30% in 2025. In the Central region, hard coral cover increased from 28.6% in 2025 to 31.6% in 2026, while the Southern region declined from 26.9% to 26.4%.

The Long-Term Monitoring Program is AIMS’s long-running reef survey programme for tracking coral cover, coral mortality, and reef condition across the Great Barrier Reef. The 2025/26 survey covered 121 reefs, with coral cover unchanged on 56% of reefs, increased on 28%, and declined on 16%.

OTHER UPDATES:

 

DEFENCE

 

1. CENTCOM Announces Falcon Strike Drone Task Force: United States Central Command (CENTCOM) announced Task Force Falcon Strike on 13 August 2026 as its first multinational, multi-domain attack drone task force for operations in West Asia. The unit is designed around low-cost, one-way attack drones and includes unmanned systems operating above, on, and below the sea. Task Force Falcon Strike will have an integrated staff of American and regional military representatives. Personnel from United States Special Operations Command Central (SOCCENT) will lead the task force staff, and CENTCOM has begun consultations with Middle Eastern partners for participation. Multi-domain operations in military usage cover air, surface, and subsurface environments. The Falcon Strike concept includes unmanned systems that can operate in all three environments, and the attack profile uses expendable drones commonly described as one-way attack or kamikaze drones.

 

2. Indian Army Orders 840 Loitering Munitions from Tata, NIBE: The Ministry of Defence signed two contracts worth about ₹1,577 crore with Tata Advanced Systems Ltd and NIBE Pvt Ltd on 13 August 2026 for loitering munitions, also called one-way attack drones. The procurement covers 84 loiter munition systems, 840 loiter munitions, and associated accessories for the Indian Army. Loitering munitions are unmanned aerial systems that can remain airborne before striking a target. They are also known as suicide drones or one-way attack drones in defence usage. The systems in this procurement have a deep-strike range of more than 100 kilometres and include anti-jamming and anti-spoofing features. The order is being executed under the Buy (Indian) category through the Fast Track Procedure. This category requires at least 60% indigenous content in the equipment or system. The contract-splitting provision for the tender assigns 64% of the order to Tata Advanced Systems Ltd and 36% to NIBE Pvt Ltd.

 

SPORTS 

 

1. India Wins Maiden Overall Title at Commonwealth Fencing Championships: India won its maiden overall title at the Commonwealth Fencing Championships 2026 in Lagos, Nigeria, after finishing with 35 medals across the Under-23 and Senior divisions. The final tally included 13 gold, 8 silver, and 14 bronze medals, and India won the Wilkinson Sword Trophy for the best overall performance. The Commonwealth Fencing Championships is a fencing competition for athletes from Commonwealth nations. The 2026 edition was held in Lagos, Nigeria, over four days from August 9 to August 12, 2026. The championship includes individual and team events in the three Olympic fencing weapons: foil, épée, and sabre. These events are conducted separately for men and women in senior and age-group categories. India began the competition with 17 medals in the Under-23 individual events on August 9, 2026. The Under-23 gold medallists were Nikhil Wagh, Joys Ashita, Prachi Lohan, and Jeferlin. On August 10, 2026, Taniksha Khatri won gold in the Senior Women’s Épée individual event.

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. Scientists Explore Black Hole Star Explanation for Little Red Dots: Astronomers have identified a new class of cosmic object called a black hole star, written as BH”, in a study published in Nature on 12 August 2026. The object MoM-BH”-1 was detected by the James Webb Space Telescope during the Mirage or Miracle of the MoM survey and existed less than 660 million years after the Big Bang. A black hole star is a proposed early-universe object with a central black hole surrounded by a dense envelope of hydrogen and helium gas. In this model, the black hole powers the object in a way that differs from ordinary stars, which generate energy through nuclear fusion in their cores. MoM-BH”-1 is described as the most distant black hole star found so far. It is roughly the size of the Solar System and contains a central black hole about 100,000 times the mass of the Sun. The object appears to exist without a surrounding galaxy.

2. 18 Monuments Delisted from Protected Sites List: The Central Government has delisted 18 monuments from the list of centrally protected sites since 2021. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) now oversees and maintains 3,688 centrally protected monuments and sites across India after these delistings. Centrally protected monuments are sites declared of national importance under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (AMASR) Act, 1958. The ASI functions under the Ministry of Culture and is responsible for the conservation, protection, and maintenance of such monuments and archaeological sites. Section 35 of the AMASR Act, 1958 provides the legal basis for delisting monuments that cease to be of national importance. A gazette notification dated 8 March 2024 initiated the delisting process for 18 monuments on this ground. Once delisted, the ASI’s statutory responsibility for conservation and maintenance of the site ends.

 

3. Karnataka Approves SAMASTA for Health Record Digitisation: Karnataka approved the phased rollout of SAMASTA, an integrated community digital health platform for digitising health records and replacing manual paper-based record-keeping. The platform is linked with the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission and is designed for use at Ayushman Arogya Kendras and Primary Health Centres. SAMASTA is a mobile-based digital health system for community-level service delivery in Karnataka. It is intended for use by ASHA workers, Auxiliary Nurse Midwives, and health inspectors during field-level health work. The platform supports both online and offline data entry, which allows local storage of records in areas with poor internet connectivity. SAMASTA reduces the number of manual data elements in the ASHA diary from 485 to 134 digital data points. This change is projected to reduce the data-entry workload of field workers by about 75%. The platform also integrates family IDs, Aadhaar-based verification, and Ayushman Bharat Health Account IDs.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. India Cuts Windfall Tax on Petrol Exports to Zero: India reduced the windfall gains tax on exports of petrol, diesel and aviation turbine fuel (ATF) through a notification issued by the Ministry of Finance on 15 August 2026. The tax is officially called the Special Additional Excise Duty (SAED) and is levied on selected petroleum exports in India. SAED is a form of export duty applied to petroleum products when international prices and refinery margins create additional gains for producers. India uses fortnightly revisions for these duties, and the rates are linked to changes in global crude oil and fuel prices. On 15 August 2026, the export duty on petrol was reduced to nil from ₹3.5 per litre. The SAED on diesel exports was cut to ₹24 per litre from ₹25.5 per litre, while the duty on ATF exports was lowered to ₹19.5 per litre from ₹22 per litre. The latest reduction partially reversed a sharp increase notified on 3 August 2026, when the duty on petrol was raised to ₹3.5 per litre, diesel to ₹25.5 per litre and ATF to ₹22 per litre. The government also clarified that domestic excise duties on petrol and diesel for local consumption remained unchanged.

 

2. PM Modi Announces ₹85,000 Crore for Samudra Manthan : Samudra Manthan is the National Offshore Exploration Scheme under the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas. The Union Cabinet approved it on 31 July 2026 as a Central Sector Scheme up to FY 2030-31, and the Prime Minister announced an allocation of ₹85,000 crore on 15 August 2026 during the 80th Independence Day address at the Red Fort, New Delhi. The scheme covers high-quality seismic mapping, deepwater and ultra-deepwater exploratory drilling, scientific drilling in frontier basins, shared offshore infrastructure, and an integrated Oil & Gas Manufacturing and Services Zone. The approved Phase-I outlay was ₹84,084 crore, while the Independence Day announcement cited ₹85,000 crore for accelerated implementation. India’s Exclusive Economic Zone extends over 23.6 lakh square kilometres. Official maritime data placed the restricted offshore “no-go” area at 13.67 lakh square kilometres before it was reduced to 24,832 square kilometres, leaving 99% of coastal waters open for exploration.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. 301 Gallantry Medals Awarded to Police and Fire Personnel: On 14 August 2026, the Government of India announced 1,057 Gallantry and Service Medals for personnel in the police, fire services, Home Guard and Civil Defence, and correctional services. The awards were announced on the eve of the 80th Independence Day under the medal system administered by the Ministry of Home Affairs. The Medal for Gallantry (GM) is awarded for conspicuous courage in saving life or property, or in preventing crime or arresting offenders. The President’s Medal for Distinguished Service (PSM) is a service award, and the Medal for Meritorious Service (MSM) is given for valuable service marked by resourcefulness and devotion to duty. Official data showed that 301 Medals for Gallantry were awarded in 2026, including 272 for police personnel and 29 for fire service personnel. Of these, 197 awards went to personnel deployed in Left Wing Extremism-affected areas, 51 to personnel in Jammu and Kashmir, 12 to personnel in the North-East region, and 41 to personnel in other regions.

 

Daily GK Update- 14th Aug, 2026

 NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Centre Redefines Ganga Floodplain Norms: The Union Jal Shakti Ministry issued the River Ganga (Rejuvenation, Protection and Management) Authorities (Second Amendment) Order, 2026 on 7 August 2026, and the order was published in the official Gazette on 10 August 2026. The amendment revised the floodplain framework for the Ganga and its tributaries under the National Mission for Clean Ganga. The amendment defined the “Active Floodplain” of the Ganga and its tributaries for the first time as areas inundated during a flood with a one-in-five-year return period. The order retained strict building prohibitions in this zone, with limited exceptions for minor temporary structures such as religious events. The order also created a “Regulatory Zone” for areas flooded once every 5 to 25 years. Construction in this zone is permitted only after obtaining official clearances. A “Warning Zone” was introduced for outer-periphery areas subject to rare flooding with a 25-to-100-year frequency. Construction activities in this zone are also allowed subject to clearances.

 

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. Karnataka Information Technology and Biotechnology Minister Priyank Kharge unveiled the portal and made it live on 12 August 2026. The portal is linked with data-heavy applications in agriculture, healthcare, climate, legal research, and financial inclusion. Startups, researchers, and technology teams are listed as the main users of the platform.

 

3. Uttarakhand Approves High Court Relocation to Haldwani: The Uttarakhand government approved the relocation of the Uttarakhand High Court from Nainital to Haldwani in August 2026. The final executive order identified a 30-hectare site at Lamachaur on the Haldwani-Rudrapur highway (NH-05) for the new High Court campus. The Supreme Court of India set aside a 2024 Uttarakhand High Court order that had blocked the relocation. A bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice V Mohana held that establishing or shifting a High Court is an administrative decision. The Supreme Court directed Uttarakhand authorities to obtain the required clearances and hand over the identified land to the High Court within six weeks. The order was issued on 16 July 2026.

 

4. Important Public Interest Litigation Concepts in India: Public Interest Litigation (PIL) is a judicial tool that allows any public-spirited person or organization to seek relief for violations affecting the public, especially marginalized groups. It has become an important means of enforcing rights, ensuring accountability, and addressing issues of public concern. Public Interest Litigation (PIL) is a legal mechanism that allows any individual or organization to file a lawsuit in a court of law for the protection of public interest. Unlike traditional litigation, the petitioner does not need to be a personally aggrieved party. The primary objective of a PIL is to secure justice for marginalized, disadvantaged, or unrepresented groups of society. This litigation model focuses on matters of public concern, such as environmental pollution, consumer protection, human rights violations, and administrative lapses.

 

5. 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. The geological survey will focus on the Vempalle and Thummalapalle areas in the Kadapa Basin. Preliminary studies in these areas indicated lithium concentrations of up to 1,000 parts per million and gallium concentrations of up to 250 parts per million. The Kadapa Basin is a sedimentary basin in Andhra Pradesh and is known for mineral-bearing formations. Thummalapalle is also associated with uranium mineralisation in Andhra Pradesh.

 

6. NCLT Launches e-Inspection and e-Certified Copy Services: The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) launched e-Inspection and e-Certified Copy services on 12 August 2026 to provide electronic access to judicial records and certified copies. The services were inaugurated by NCLT President Justice Anupinder Singh Grewal through a video conferencing ceremony. The National Company Law Tribunal is a quasi-judicial body in India that adjudicates matters under the Companies Act, 2013, and the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016. It functions through benches that hear company law and insolvency-related cases across the country. The e-Inspection service allows advocates, litigants, and other stakeholders to access judicial records in electronic form. The e-Certified Copy service provides certified copies through a digital process, which reduces dependence on physical filing and manual collection.

 

7. IIHT SUTRA 2026 Held as First National Conclave: IIHT SUTRA 2026 was held on 12 August 2026 at the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi as the first National Conclave of the Indian Institutes of Handloom Technology (IIHTs). The event was organised by the Ministry of Textiles through the Office of the Development Commissioner (Handlooms) and brought together institutional, academic, and industry stakeholders linked to handloom education. The Indian Institutes of Handloom Technology are specialised institutions under the handloom education framework in India. The conclave referred to 6 Central IIHTs and 5 State IIHTs, which were discussed as centres of excellence for training, research, and skill development in the handloom sector. The official theme of the conclave was “IIHTs: Weaving the Future of the Indian Handloom Sector – Educate • Innovate • Transform”. The programme focused on technical innovation, modern design upgrades, and stronger industry linkages for weavers and artisans.

 

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Indian Railways Supplies Coaches to Bangladesh Railway: The Rail Coach Factory in Kapurthala, Punjab, rolled out the first rake of Linke Hofmann Busch broad gauge passenger coaches for Bangladesh Railway on 12 August 2026. The 19-coach rake is part of a 2024 export contract for 200 broad gauge passenger coaches across seven variants, with financing linked to the European Investment Bank. Rail Coach Factory supplied 120 passenger coaches to Bangladesh during 2015–2016. The 2026 delivery resumed Indian passenger coach exports to Bangladesh after a gap of about ten years. The first rake has three AC sleeper cars, three AC chair cars, 11 non-AC chair cars, and two power cars. Some early reports mentioned a 20-coach rake, but the Ministry of Railways clarified the initial batch as 19 coaches.

 

2. China’s Former Premier Zhu Rongji Dies: Zhu Rongji, China’s fifth premier, died in Beijing on 12 August 2026 at 11:06 a.m. local time after an unspecified illness. He served as premier from 17 March 1998 to 16 March 2003 and held major offices in Shanghai and the People’s Bank of China before becoming head of government. Zhu Rongji served as Mayor and Party Secretary of Shanghai from 1988 to 1991. He was Governor of the People’s Bank of China from 1993 to 1995, a post linked to monetary policy and financial administration in China. During the late 1990s, Zhu Rongji led economic reforms that closed thousands of inefficient state-owned enterprises. These reforms were associated with private sector expansion, debt reduction measures, and large-scale worker layoffs in China.

 

3. Russia Appoints D.Y. Chandrachud in Ukraine Arbitration: Russia has appointed former Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud as its arbitrator in an investment treaty arbitration filed by Ukraine’s state-owned Oschadbank. The dispute concerns assets and operations that Oschadbank says it lost in the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions after Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Investment treaty arbitration is a dispute-settlement process used under bilateral or multilateral investment agreements. It usually involves claims by an investor or a state-owned entity against a host state for alleged breaches of investment protection obligations. The present case is being heard under the 1998 Agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine on the Encouragement and Mutual Protection of Investments. Such agreements are commonly called bilateral investment treaties and often provide for arbitration before a three-member tribunal.

 

4. Important Railway Gauge Systems in India and Abroad: A railway track gauge is the clear minimum perpendicular distance between the inner faces of the two running rails. It shapes the size, speed, stability, and freight capacity of trains, and has played a major role in the development of railway networks in India and abroad. A railway track gauge is the clear minimum perpendicular distance between the inner faces of the two running rails. It determines the physical dimensions of the locomotives, coaches, and wagons that can operate on a rail network. Historically, different countries and regions developed varied gauge systems based on local terrain, economic conditions, and engineering philosophies.

 

5. Gujarat to Get Asia’s First Desert-Themed Night Safari: Gujarat has received approval for the Desert Zoological Park and Night Safari at Juna Deesa in Banaskantha district. The project will be developed on about 103 hectares of contiguous government land and is planned as Asia’s first desert-themed drive-through night safari. The estimated budget for the project is ₹542.14 crore. The park is planned to house around 2,700 animals and birds from nearly 83 species, including native, exotic, and avian species. The design includes a separate day zoo and five dedicated night safari enclosures. The night safari format is intended for viewing nocturnal species after sunset in controlled enclosures. The collection is planned to include Indian species such as chinkara, blackbuck, and Indian wild ass. It will also include African species such as cheetahs, giraffes, and zebras, along with Australian fauna such as kangaroos and emus. The project will use rainwater harvesting, solar energy, sewage treatment, and solid waste management systems. It is also planned as a centre for wildlife conservation breeding, rescue, rehabilitation, and environmental education.

 

6. Perseid Meteor Shower Peaks Across Northern Hemisphere: The Perseid meteor shower is an annual meteor display associated with debris from Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle, and it is visible mainly in the Northern Hemisphere. In 2026, the shower peaked around 12 August under a new moon phase, which created dark skies for observation across many regions. The Perseids are one of the most observed meteor showers of the year and are active from mid-July to late August. The meteors appear to radiate from the constellation Perseus in the north-eastern sky, which gives the shower its name. On 12 August 2026, the peak coincided with a new moon, and this phase reduced lunar brightness during the night. Astronomers estimated that rural observers in the United States could see about 30 to 50 meteors per hour, while ideal dark-sky conditions could produce up to 100 meteors per hour.

 

7. Important Ocean and Polar Science Initiatives in India: India’s ocean and polar science ecosystem is driven by the Ministry of Earth Sciences through major schemes, research stations, observatories, and deep-sea missions. These initiatives support climate research, blue economy goals, marine biodiversity studies, and sustainable exploration of polar and ocean resources. The Prithvi Vigyan (PRITHVI) scheme is an umbrella initiative of the Ministry of Earth Sciences. It integrates several specialized sub-schemes to study the earth system, oceans, and polar regions. The Deep Ocean Mission, also referred to as the “Samudra Manthan Mission,” is a five-year program launched in 2021. It carries a budget of USD 4,077 crore. The mission aims to develop indigenous technologies for deep-sea exploration and resource extraction.

 

8. Major Indian Institutions for Polar and Ocean Research: India’s polar and ocean research system is anchored by a set of specialized institutions under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, with support from CSIR. Together, they handle expeditions, ocean observations, deep-sea technology, marine ecology, and climate-related research. India manages its polar and oceanographic studies through a dedicated network of research institutes. The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) serves as the nodal administrative body for most of these institutions. The Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) also plays a critical role. Together, these bodies implement key national programs such as the Prithvi Vigyan (PRITHVI) scheme and the Deep Ocean Mission. Their collective objective is to map marine ecosystems, explore deep-sea mineral wealth, and monitor climate change processes in the polar regions. The National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) is an autonomous research and development institution under the Ministry of Earth Sciences. It was established in May 1998 in Vasco da Gama, Goa, originally under the name National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research (NCAOR). It acts as the nodal agency for planning, coordinating, and executing India’s polar and Southern Ocean scientific expeditions.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

DEFENCE

 

1. Important Military Test Ranges in India: India’s military test ranges are specialized facilities used to evaluate missiles, aircraft, artillery, explosives, and electronic warfare systems before induction into service. These ranges provide secure airspace, isolated land areas, and controlled conditions for safe trials and telemetry collection. This coastal facility is used mainly for short-range tactical missiles, surface-to-air systems, and multi-barrel rocket launchers. The beach is known for its low-tide phenomenon, when the sea recedes by up to 5 kilometres, exposing a hard sand bed that helps recover missile parts and debris. Weapons tested here include the Prithvi missile, Akash system, and Pinaka rocket system.

 

2. India Plans ₹1 Lakh Crore Tender for 60 Transport Aircraft: India’s Ministry of Defence issued a Request for Proposal on 12 August 2026 for 60 multirole transport aircraft for the Indian Air Force, with an estimated value of about ₹1 lakh crore. The procurement plan places Indian companies in the lead role with foreign original equipment manufacturers for domestic production and Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul facilities. Multirole transport aircraft are military aircraft designed for troop movement, cargo carriage, airdrop missions, and logistics support. The Indian Air Force is seeking aircraft in the 18-tonne to 30-tonne cargo-carrying category for replacement of the Antonov An-32 fleet, which is of Soviet origin. Under the proposed terms, about 20% of the aircraft are expected in fly-away condition, while the remaining 80% are to be manufactured in India through joint ventures. The indigenisation requirement begins at a minimum of 40% and rises to more than 60% indigenous content in a phased manner.

 

3. Major Defence Procurement Models in India: The Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020 is the main policy framework for capital procurement by the Indian Armed Forces. It replaced the Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) 2016 and gives top priority to indigenous design, development, and manufacturing. The capital acquisition of military hardware for the Indian Armed Forces operates under the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020. This document replaced the Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) 2016. It serves as the primary policy framework for buying warships, aircraft, tanks, and missiles. The framework covers requirements for the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard. The primary objective is to build self-reliance in defence manufacturing. It also aims to shorten acquisition timelines. The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by the Defence Minister, is the apex decision-making body for these procurements.

 

4. India and Malaysia Commence Exercise Udara Shakti 2026: The Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) commenced the bilateral air exercise Udara Shakti 2026 on 10 August 2026. The five-day exercise is scheduled to continue until 14 August 2026 at Subang Air Base in Malaysia. Udara Shakti is a bilateral air exercise between India and Malaysia. The exercise was inaugurated at the Air Warfare Centre in Subang Air Base by RMAF Exercise Director Colonel Shamsul Shahreen bin Isa and IAF Exercise Director Group Captain Parijat Jha. Indian Defence Adviser Colonel Praveen Sukumaran attended the opening ceremony. The exercise involves 83 personnel from both air forces. The IAF deployed four Rafale fighter jets from No. 101 Squadron and two C-17 Globemaster III strategic transport aircraft from No. 81 Squadron. The Rafale is a twin-engine, multirole combat aircraft developed by Dassault Aviation of France.

 

5. Army to Set Up Youth Training Centres in Telangana: The Indian Army has agreed to establish youth training centres at district headquarters across Telangana after a meeting between Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and Lieutenant General C. Rajesh Pushkar, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Southern Command, in Hyderabad on 12 August 2026. The proposal is linked to preparation of local youth for nationwide military recruitment drives and to closer coordination between the state government and the Army during disasters. The Indian Army conducts recruitment for soldiers through nationwide drives under the Agnipath scheme and other service-specific entry routes. District-level training support is used in several states for physical preparation, documentation guidance, and awareness about recruitment procedures. The Southern Command is one of the Indian Army’s operational commands and has its headquarters in Pune, Maharashtra. Telangana falls within the area where Army formations coordinate with civil authorities for security, disaster response, and ceremonial duties.

 

SPORTS 

 

1. Sports Ministry Suspends Table Tennis Federation of India Recognition: The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports suspended recognition of the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) on 12 August 2026 over governance deficiencies. The order cited the federation’s failure to hold organisational elections within the mandated timeframe and an unsatisfactory reply to a show-cause notice. In India, recognition of a national sports federation is granted by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports for administration of a sport at the national level. Recognition is linked with compliance on elections, office-bearer tenure, athlete selection, and adherence to the National Sports Development Code of India, 2011. The Table Tennis Federation of India is the national governing body for table tennis in India. It manages domestic competitions, selection processes, and affiliation with the International Table Tennis Federation, which is the world governing body for table tennis.

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. Digital India BHASHINI Division, NITI Aayog sign AI pact: The Digital India BHASHINI Division and NITI Aayog signed a Statement of Intent in New Delhi on 12 August 2026 to advance multilingual, voice-first artificial intelligence for public governance. The Digital India BHASHINI Division functions under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, and the partnership uses BHASHINI language translation application programming interfaces and reference applications across NITI Aayog’s digital platforms and communication workflows. BHASHINI is India’s national language technology mission for machine translation, speech-to-text, text-to-speech, and related language services. The platform supports Indian languages through application programming interfaces, reference applications, and digital tools for public service delivery.

 

2. Government Outlines Roadmap for Self-Reliant Nuclear Energy Ecosystem: India has set a target of 100 GWe of nuclear energy capacity by 2047 under the Nuclear Energy Mission. The roadmap combines large indigenous Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors at greenfield sites with Small Modular Reactors at brownfield sites, including locations of retiring fossil-fuel plants. The Nuclear Energy Mission is linked to a capacity target of 100 GWe by 2047. The government has also set a target to develop and operationalise at least five indigenously designed Small Modular Reactors by 2033 with support from a ₹20,000 crore allocation. Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors are a reactor type in which heavy water acts as both moderator and coolant. Small Modular Reactors are compact nuclear reactors designed for factory-based construction, modular deployment, and phased capacity addition. The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre is developing several domestic reactor designs for the programme. These include the 220 MWe Bharat Small Modular Reactor, the 55 MWe SMR-55, and a High Temperature Gas Cooled Reactor of up to 5 MWth for hydrogen production.

 

3. 8th BRICS Oceanic-Polar Science and Tech Meet Begins in Goa: The 8th Meeting of the BRICS Working Group on Ocean and Polar Science and Technology (OPST) began in Goa on 12 August 2026 and is scheduled to continue until 14 August 2026. The meeting is hosted by the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) under the Ministry of Earth Sciences as part of India’s 2026 BRICS Presidency. The BRICS Working Group on Ocean and Polar Science and Technology was established in 2018. BRICS is a grouping of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, and the OPST mechanism deals with marine and polar scientific cooperation among member states. The National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research is India’s nodal institution for polar and ocean research under the Ministry of Earth Sciences. Dr. Thamban Meloth, Director of NCPOR, chaired the 2026 meeting as the Working Group Chair and welcomed the delegates.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. India, SACU Sign Terms of Reference for Trade Pact Talks: India and the five-member Southern African Customs Union signed the Terms of Reference for negotiations on a Preferential Trade Agreement at Vanijya Bhawan in New Delhi on 12 August 2026. The Southern African Customs Union comprises South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho and Eswatini. A Preferential Trade Agreement is a trade arrangement in which participating economies reduce or eliminate tariffs on a selected list of goods. It differs from a comprehensive free trade agreement because it usually covers a positive list of products and may not include services, investment or intellectual property in the initial phase. The proposed India-SACU pact will initially cover eight chapters, including trade in goods, market access, customs procedures, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, trade remedies, technical barriers to trade, rules of origin and dispute settlement. Sanitary and phytosanitary measures relate to food safety, animal health and plant health, while technical barriers to trade cover product standards, testing and certification.

 

2. Indian Railways Approves Kavach 4.0 in Izzatnagar Division: Indian Railways approved the deployment of Kavach Version 4.0 across 660 route kilometres of the Izzatnagar Division of the North Eastern Railway on 12 August 2026. The sanctioned budget for the project is ₹295 crore, and the plan falls under the umbrella initiative titled “Provision of Kavach with communication backbone of Long-Term Evolution (LTE) on balance sections of Indian Railways”. Kavach is an indigenous Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system developed for Indian Railways. An ATP system is a train safety technology that monitors train movement, checks signal compliance, and applies brakes when required to prevent accidents. Kavach is designed to prevent Signal Passed at Danger (SPAD) incidents, which occur when a train passes a stop signal without authority. The system is also intended to reduce the risk of train collisions by maintaining continuous supervision of train operations.

 

Daily GK Update- 13th Aug, 2026

 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.