India's CPI Retail Inflation Climbs to 4.82% in August 2026 as Food Prices Accelerate
Key Updates:
- India's Consumer Price Index (CPI)-based retail inflation rose to 4.82% in August 2026 from 4.45% in July 2026, while food inflation increased to 5.95% from 5.52%, as per the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.
- Silver jewellery recorded the highest item-level inflation at 107.11% in August 2026, though lower than 109.89% in July 2026.
- Ginger inflation stood at 73.82% and onion inflation rose to 48.27% from 22.54% in July 2026, while garlic recorded 43.60% and gold/diamond/platinum jewellery recorded 35.53% inflation.
- Tomato recorded the sharpest price decline with negative inflation of -31.09% in August 2026 against -4.60% in July 2026, while potato (-13.14%), motor car and jeep (-6.72%), lady's finger (-5.41%), and parwal/patal and kundru (-3.60%) also remained below year-ago levels.
- Transport services for goods recorded the highest category-level inflation at 14.64% in August 2026, followed by food and beverage serving services at 8.41%, while purchase of vehicles saw the lowest at -4.38% and recreational durables at -1.25%.
- Rural inflation rose to 5.23% in August 2026 from 4.84% in July 2026, while urban inflation increased to 4.31% from 3.96%.
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has projected CPI inflation for 2026-27 at 5%, with retail inflation moving from a low near 2.7% in January 2026 to 4.82% in August 2026 against the RBI's 4% target.
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India's retail inflation rose to 4.45% in July 2026 from 4.38% in June, according to government data. Food inflation, measured by the Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI), increased to 5.52% in July from 5.32% in June.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), at its August 2026 Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting, kept the repo rate unchanged at 5.25% for the fourth consecutive meeting. The six-member MPC unanimously decided to continue…
India’s wholesale price inflation, based on the Wholesale Price Index (WPI), rose to 9.87% in June 2026, up from 9.68% in May 2026. The WPI Food Index inflation accelerated to 6.14% in June from 4.49% in May.
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry announced on September 14, 2026 that India's Wholesale Price Index (WPI) inflation for August 2026 reached 9.92%, up from 9.78% in July 2026. Inflation in the fuel and energy…
Centre Prohibits Fees on UPI Transactions Up to Rs 2,000 and RuPay Debit Card Payments
Key Updates:
- The Central government has barred banks and payment system providers from levying charges on Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions of up to Rs 2,000 and payments made through RuPay debit cards.
- On September 14, the government notified amendments to the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, specifying that banks cannot impose charges on UPI transactions of up to Rs 2,000.
- Under Section 10A of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, the Central Government prohibits banks and system providers from imposing, directly or indirectly, any charges on persons making or receiving payments using RuPay debit cards and UPI transactions up to Rs 2,000.
- A gazette notification classified RuPay-powered debit cards and UPI transactions of up to Rs 2,000 as electronic modes of payment.
- Charges could still be introduced on UPI transactions above Rs 2,000, although a Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) has not yet been implemented for UPI payments.
- In August, the government opened the door to introducing a nominal Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on a limited set of UPI merchant transactions above a certain threshold, while assuring that consumer and person-to-person payments will remain free.
- UPI processed a record 24.51 billion transactions worth Rs 29.8 lakh crore in August, according to the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).
- UPI transaction value in August was Rs 29.82 lakh crore, up from Rs 24.85 lakh crore a year ago, registering 20 per cent annual growth, while volume rose 22 per cent annually from 19.63 billion to 24.51 billion.
- Launched on August 25, 2016, UPI transaction value surged from Rs 0.07 lakh crore in FY17 to around Rs 314 lakh crore in FY26, a more than 4,000-fold increase.
- NPCI, an initiative of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Indian Banks' Association (IBA), is an umbrella organisation for operating retail payments and settlement systems in India.
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President Droupadi Murmu gave assent to the Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Act, 2026, and the Payment and Settlement Systems (Amendment) Act, 2007, on August 17, 2026. The Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Act…
The Lok Sabha passed the Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which amends the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007. The bill empowers the central government to notify electronic payment modes, including…
The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) launched UPI Tap & Pay and My UPI, an AI-powered payments assistant, at the Global Fintech Fest in Mumbai on September 10, 2026. UPI Tap & Pay lets users pay by bringing…
FOMO Pay and NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) announced a strategic partnership at Global Fintech Fest 2026 on September 9, 2026, to enable UPI QR code acceptance for merchants in Singapore. Resorts World…
MSE Issues India's First Tokenised Corporate Bond Under SEBI's Demat 2.0 Pilot
Key Updates:
- The Metropolitan Stock Exchange of India (MSE) facilitated its first tokenised corporate bond under the Securities and Exchange Board of India's (SEBI) Demat 2.0 pilot.
- The bond was issued by IIFL Finance Ltd through MSE's Electronic Bond Platform (MSE EBP), with Trust Investment Advisors Pvt Ltd as the arranger.
- It is India's first corporate bond issued natively on a distributed ledger, with ownership records held with statutory depositories and settlement in Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC).
- The Demat 2.0 pilot was launched at Global Fintech Fest 2026 in Mumbai on September 11 by SEBI Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey and Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Sanjay Malhotra.
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IDFC FIRST Bank priced its inaugural USD 500 million three-year fixed-rate senior notes due 2029. The notes carry a fixed coupon of 5.625% and were placed under Regulation S to investors outside the United States.
The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) facilitated the first-ever air shipment of Neelam and Totapuri mangoes from Karnataka to the Maldives. The export consignment comprised…
DBS became the first bank in Southeast Asia to be named 'World's Best Corporate Bank' by Global Finance since the category was introduced in 2005. DBS also won 'Asia's Best Bank' and 'Singapore's Best Bank' in the same…
The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) announced the Corporate Mitra scheme to create a cadre of professionals to help micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) meet regulatory requirements. The programme will start…
India: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Three-Day Sri Lanka Visit from September 8-10, 2026, First by an Indian Defence Minister in 38 Years
Key Updates:
- Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's official visit to Sri Lanka from September 8 to 10 marks the first such visit by an Indian Defence Minister in 38 years.
- The last Indian Defence Minister to visit Sri Lanka was K.C. Pant, who travelled there in 1988 while serving in Rajiv Gandhi's Cabinet.
- Singh is scheduled to hold consultations with Sri Lanka's top leadership on bilateral, regional and defence-related issues, and to interact with members of the Indian diaspora in Colombo.
- Discussions are set to cover defence cooperation, including possible collaboration in air-defence systems, and a review of ongoing security engagements between India and Sri Lanka.
- During the visit, Singh is expected to meet Sri Lankan President and Defence Minister Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, and Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Air Vice Marshal (Retd.) Sampath Thuyacontha.
- The two sides are expected to review the full and timely implementation of the India-Sri Lanka Defence Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Colombo on April 5, 2025.
- Singh is scheduled to visit Sri Lanka's National Defence College and inaugurate an infrastructure project.
- The visit reflects India's Neighbourhood First policy and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's MAHASAGAR vision, which stands for Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions.
- India-Sri Lanka ties received further impetus through India's assistance during Sri Lanka's economic crisis and humanitarian support after Cyclone Ditwah in 2025.
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INS Udaygiri, an indigenously constructed multi-role stealth frigate, arrived at Colombo, Sri Lanka, for a three-day operational visit from 08-11 September 2026, coinciding with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's visit to…
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh released 'Raksha', a 10-year blueprint for India's defence diplomacy, in New Delhi on September 3, 2026. The blueprint's key pillars include strategic partnerships, capacity building…
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh released 'Raksha', a comprehensive strategic framework outlining India's roadmap for defence diplomacy and global defence partnerships over the next 10 years. The framework identifies…
India and Sri Lanka signed MoUs on September 9, 2026 to upgrade six L70 legacy anti-aircraft guns for the Sri Lankan Air Force; the guns, of 1960s vintage, were earlier provided by India under a grant and upgraded by the…
International Space Summit 2026 Convenes in Paris on 9-10 September
Key Updates:
- The International Space Summit 2026 was held in Paris on 9 and 10 September 2026, aiming to open dialogue on challenges facing the space sector.
- The summit brought together Heads of State and Government, representatives of international and regional organizations, members of parliament, scientists, military personnel, astronauts, private-sector decision-makers, civil society, local communities, and development banks.
- Space technology channels associated with the summit include the European Space Agency (ESA), NASA, OHB SE, Avio SPA, Arianespace, and topics such as the International Space Station (ISS), spaceflight, spacewalks, and astronauts.
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The first edition of the International Space Summit in Paris, held on September 10, 2026, produced 51 announcements worth about Euro 20 billion, with PM Narendra Modi scheduled to address the summit later that Thursday.…
The 52nd Group of Seven (G7) Summit is being held in the French resort town of Évian-les-Bains from 15 to 17 June 2026 under the presidency of Emmanuel Macron. The G7 member leaders attending the summit include Mark…
ESTIC 2026 (Emerging Technology, Science, Innovation & Collaboration Summit) will be held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi from October 27 to 29, 2026. The three-day summit will feature discussions on artificial…
Modi and Xi Jinping Hold Talks at BRICS Summit in New Delhi, Back Mutually Acceptable Border Settlement
Key Updates:
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping met on the margins of the BRICS Summit in New Delhi, welcoming steady progress in India-China relations and committing to a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable resolution of the boundary question.
- Xi travelled to India for the first time in seven years, having last visited in 2019; the two leaders previously met at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit in Tianjin in August 2025.
- Modi emphasised that peace and tranquillity in border areas remains the essential basis for developing bilateral ties, that both sides should observe existing agreements on border-related issues, and that ties must be guided by mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interest.
- India and China held their first round of military commander talks in the eastern sector in Arunachal Pradesh on September 6-7, amid fresh tensions in the Taksing region during July and August.
- India and China reached an understanding in October 2024 on disengaging troops at friction points in the Ladakh sector of the Line of Actual Control, ending a standoff of more than four years.
- India-China trade grew from about $93 billion in 2019 to $127 billion in 2025, while the trade deficit rose from $57 billion to almost $100 billion in the same period.
- The two leaders underlined the need to address structural trade imbalance, supply chain issues and market access facilitation, and to promote cultural exchanges, business linkages and greater mobility between the two countries.
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China Southern Airlines announced it will resume regular passenger flights between Guangzhou and New Delhi from September 21, 2026, after a six-year suspension. Following the restart, the airline will operate more than…
India and China jointly announced an 8-point consensus following the Special Representatives (SR) dialogue co-chaired by Ajit Doval and Wang Yi. The consensus was announced ahead of President Xi Jinping's visit to India…
India and China held their first Corps Commander-level meeting in the Eastern Sector on September 6, 2026, at the Vacha-Damai Border Personnel Meeting Point in Arunachal Pradesh. The meeting marked an expansion of the…
Chinese President Xi Jinping announced at the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi that China will host the 2027 BRICS summit and assume next year's presidency. The 18th BRICS Summit is being hosted by India in New Delhi on…
PM Modi Raises Concerns Over Weaponisation of Technology and Critical Minerals at BRICS Summit 2026 in New Delhi
Key Updates:
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged concerns over the weaponisation of technology and critical minerals at the outreach session of the two-day BRICS Summit hosted by India in New Delhi, without naming any country, though the remarks appeared aimed at China's export restrictions on rare earths and hi-tech equipment.
- India's BRICS presidency focused on four pillars: resilience, innovation, cooperation, and sustainability, under the theme 'Resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability: Shaping the future for inclusive global growth'.
- BRICS members agreed on a BRICS Integrated Early Warning System for infectious diseases, Early Warning Data Integration Guidelines for disaster management, and the BRICS Logistics Supply Chain Cooperation Framework for reliable supply chains.
- Under the innovation pillar, the BRICS Incubator Network will connect startups and incubators, a BRICS Startup Innovation Fund has been proposed, and the BRICS Network on Digital Agriculture will link AI, geospatial technology and digital public infrastructure to farmers' needs.
- India promoted the BRICS Connect initiative, the BRICS MSME Cooperation Portal, and the BRICS Urban Mobility Hub to extend cooperation beyond governments.
- For sustainability, the BRICS Digital Centre of Excellence was established for smart grids and clean energy, along with Centres of Excellence for Agro-Ecology and Regenerative Agriculture.
- The New Delhi Declaration was adopted on Saturday, and Modi conveyed India's support to China for hosting the next BRICS Summit as the bloc entered its third decade.
- The summit was attended by leaders of 10 BRICS member states and an equal number of partner countries.
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The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 (MMDR Amendment Bill, 2026) was passed by Parliament after the Rajya Sabha approved it on August 13, 2026, following the Lok Sabha's approval on…
Union Minister of Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy launched the Critical Minerals Innovation Hackathon 2026 (CMiH 2026). The hackathon aims to strengthen the objectives of the National Critical Mineral Mission by…
The Ministry of Mines organised a roadshow for the 8th tranche of critical and strategic mineral block auctions in Patna, Bihar, on August 17, 2026. The 8th tranche includes 20 mineral blocks, comprising 3 Mining Lease…
The Ministry of Mines has notified rules to allow trading of major minerals on an exchange, expected to become functional by the next financial year. The Indian Bureau of Mines has been appointed as the nodal agency and…
New UN World Map Depicts Arunachal Pradesh and Aksai Chin as Separate Regions; India Backs 'Correct the Map' Resolution
Key Updates:
- The United Nations (UN) issued a new world map on July 1 that depicts Arunachal Pradesh and Aksai Chin as separate regions between Indian and Chinese border claims.
- The map eliminates Arunachal Pradesh's border with Nagaland, projecting it as an independent state bordering Assam and China, and shows Aksai Chin as an independent region bordering India on the west and China on the east.
- The UN General Assembly adopted an African Union-backed resolution titled 'Correct the Map', championed by Togo on behalf of the African Group, calling for more accurate and equitable cartographic representation, particularly of Africa; India backed the resolution.
- India's Foreign Ministry said its vote was on the underlying principle of promoting equal-area cartographic representation and that the resolution does not constitute endorsement of any specific map or depiction of national boundaries.
- The map is non-binding but is understood to be adapted as the standard depiction of the world by multilateral institutions worldwide.
- The map shows a dotted line representing approximately the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, with UN footnotes stating the final status of Jammu and Kashmir has not been agreed upon by the parties.
- India maintains that Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, including Aksai Chin, and Arunachal Pradesh are integral and inalienable parts of Indian territory.
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The National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning (NBSS&LUP) has developed India's first soil texture map. The map provides detailed information on soil characteristics across every hectare of the country.
The United Nations General Assembly adopted the 'Correct the Map' resolution on September 4, 2026, with 164 votes in favor, one against, and six abstentions. The resolution, introduced by Togo on behalf of the African…
The Arunachal Pradesh government deployed a Skyone Airways Mi-172 helicopter to deliver emergency food and medical supplies to areas isolated by flash floods and landslides. The isolated villages in Lower Siang district…
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) announced on 7 August 2026 the formal assignment of standard names to 27 places and geographical features in Arunachal Pradesh. The exercise was carried out in consultation with the…
Russian Drone Hits Kyiv-Warsaw Passenger Train Near Polish Border
Key Updates:
- On September 13, 2026, a Russian drone struck a Kyiv-to-Warsaw passenger train near the Polish border, about two kilometres from Poland, causing no casualties.
- Poland's PKP Intercity said the train carried 206 passengers and was delayed by more than six hours before continuing to Warsaw after border checks.
- Poland's Interior Minister Marcin Kierwinski said one drone hit near the Dorohusk-Yagodyn border crossing while the other struck the passenger train.
- Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of escalating the conflict.
- Russian attacks on September 13, 2026 killed at least two people in Kramatorsk, and 20 people including two children were wounded in a second day of attacks on Odesa.
- The Kremlin said three-way negotiations with Ukraine and the United States could take place in October, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov saying such a possibility was not ruled out.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he was willing to meet Putin at the G20 summit in Miami in December, but Peskov said that was impossible, repeating Moscow's demand that a meeting occur only in the Russian capital.
- Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov said on September 13, 2026 that there was still no coordinated package on which negotiations could be based.
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Russia test-fired a mobile solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome on August 28, 2026. The missile's training warheads traveled more than 6,700 km to the Kura test range in…
Russia offered India the advanced Izdeliye 177S engine as a potential replacement for the AL-31F/FP engines used in the Indian Air Force's Sukhoi Su-30MKI fleet, during President Vladimir Putin's visit to New Delhi for…
Ukrainian forces launched a nighttime long-range attack using FP-5 Flamingo missiles against the Titan-Barrikady defence enterprise in Volgograd. The Titan-Barrikady plant is a major Russian military-industrial complex…
Alternative for Germany (AfD) Co-chair Alice Weidel Vows to Halt Ukraine Aid and Demand Repayment
Key Updates:
- Alice Weidel, co-chair of Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, announced on September 13, 2026 that the party wants to stop financial and military aid to Ukraine and demand that Kyiv repay significant sums.
- Weidel also called for cancelling social benefits for some Ukrainians in Germany, particularly those liable for military service, saying the situation with over one million Ukrainians receiving benefits is financially unsustainable.
- She added that most Ukrainians should return to their country, especially young Ukrainian men of conscription age.
- Germany's interior ministers are discussing how to limit the access of the not-yet-formed AfD government in Saxony-Anhalt to sensitive security and intelligence information.
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World First Aid Day is celebrated every year on the second Saturday of September and has been observed since 2003. The theme for World First Aid Day 2026 is 'First Aid in Migration Contexts'.
Serhii Koretskyi was approved as the Prime Minister of Ukraine by the country's Parliament. He was previously the head of the state energy company Naftogaz.
The United Nations (UN) gender equality agency, UN Women, reported that at least one million women and girls have lost access to critical humanitarian support since January 2025. The report, titled Beyond the Breaking…
Ukraine and nine other countries announced the formation of a coalition to protect Europe from ballistic missiles at a summit in Paris on July 13, 2026. The participating countries are Denmark, France, Germany, Italy…
Pakistan Hikes Masood Azhar Bounty to PKR 70 Lakh, Lists JeM Chief as Fugitive Ahead of FATF Review
Key Updates:
- Pakistan has raised the bounty on Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar to PKR 70 lakh and listed him as a fugitive in its latest Red Book of most wanted terrorists.
- Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) increased the reward by PKR 20 lakh from the PKR 50 lakh bounty announced in 2021.
- The move comes ahead of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) plenary scheduled for October, with Pakistan seeking to avoid being placed back on the grey list.
- Pakistan had claimed in 2021 that Azhar was no longer in the country and had fled to Afghanistan, a position maintained by the Shehbaz Sharif-led government.
- In October, Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif is scheduled to meet US President Donald Trump on the UNGA sidelines.
- The Jaish-e-Mohammed, led by Masood Azhar, is held responsible for numerous terror attacks in India, including the 2001 Parliament attack.
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Pakistan will confer its highest civilian honour, the Nishan-e-Imtiaz, on two Indian doctors from Mumbai's Parsi community. A radiologist and a physician were recognised for keeping the terminal illness of Pakistan's…
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) designated 23 Pakistan-based operatives from Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) as terrorists. The designation was based on alleged involvement in terror recruitment…
Drosicha turkistanica, a sap-sucking insect pest, has been reported on poplar and willow trees in south Kashmir, including Kulgam, and can weaken trees or cause them to wither in severe infestations. The pest is…
Yemen's Houthis Capture Greater and Lesser Hanish Islands in Southern Red Sea, Pressuring Key Shipping Route
Key Updates:
- Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels have seized the strategic islands of Greater and Lesser Hanish in the southern Red Sea, strengthening their control over a key maritime shipping route near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
- The takeover followed the Houthis' seizure of the Red Sea port of Mokha and a strategic island the previous week, as Saudi-backed government forces tried to claw back territory amid the rebels' advances around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
- Repairs to Saudi Arabia's East-West Pipeline, damaged in an attack on September 10, could take three to five weeks, putting it mostly out of service; the pipeline moves crude from Gulf ports to Red Sea coast ports for export.
- Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world's traded oil and gas transits in peacetime, in the opening days of the war, prompting Saudi Arabia to use the Bab el-Mandeb Strait for crude oil exports.
- Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said Saudi Arabia had demanded that a Strait of Hormuz meeting, to be hosted by Oman, be scrapped for the time being, and said an Iran-Oman agreement on the strait has been finalised.
- China called Houthi attacks on Saudi energy infrastructure 'unacceptable' and said it was deeply concerned about further escalations by the rebels.
- Nearly 94,000 people have fled their homes in Yemen since fighting escalated this month, with 48,000 displaced in Taiz and Lahj and over 2,000 fleeing across the sea to Djibouti, according to the International Organisation for Migration.
- The United States Treasury Department issued full sanctions on Russia's VTB Bank, accusing it of helping Iran evade sanctions through correspondent relationships with sanctioned Iranian banks.
- US Energy Secretary Chris Wright criticised Iran's refusal to grant UN inspectors access to war-affected nuclear sites, saying Iran's time to address its negligence toward its obligations was up.
- Austria refused visas to Iran's nuclear chief and other delegation members for the International Atomic Energy Agency's general conference in Vienna, a decision Iran denounced as part of UN sanctions reinstated last year that include a travel ban on Iranian officials.
- The US-Saudi nuclear accord signed in July includes 'absolutely rigorous' anti-proliferation safeguards and could potentially allow Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium for its civilian nuclear programme.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Iturup Island on August 13, 2026. Iturup, known in Japan as Etorofu, is the largest of the disputed Southern Kurils, occupied by Russia since World War II and also claimed by…
Argentine President Javier Milei escalated his country's long-running dispute with Britain over the Falkland Islands on Thursday. Milei praised U.S. President Donald Trump for saying Washington could reconsider its…
Maharashtra government approved a ₹45-crore Eco-Nature Park at Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary (TCFS), which will feature India's first AI-powered bird detection and monitoring centre. The AI system uses cameras and…
NIXI and APNIC Sign Agreement to Boost IPv6 Adoption and Routing Security at APNIC 62 in Mumbai
Key Updates:
- The National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI) signed a partnership agreement with the Asia Pacific Network Information Centre (APNIC) during the 62nd APNIC Conference (APNIC 62), held in Mumbai from September 8 to 10, 2026.
- The agreement covers cooperation on IPv6 adoption, routing security, Resource Public Key Infrastructure (RPKI), Train-the-Trainer programmes, technical lab infrastructure and deployment of an RPKI Repository Mirror.
- NIXI is hosting APNIC 62 with the Internet Service Providers Association of India (ISPAI) as co-host, marking the conference's return to India after 14 years.
- RPKI uses cryptographic verification to help network operators confirm that IP address block announcements are authorised by their legitimate holders, reducing risks from erroneous or malicious route announcements.
- Senior participants at APNIC 62 included Sushil Pal, Dr Devesh Tyagi and APNIC Executive Council Chair Kenny Huang.
- NIXI, a not-for-profit organisation under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), facilitates domestic Internet traffic exchange and manages India's .IN and .भारत country-code top-level domains.
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The National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI) celebrated its 23rd Foundation Day in New Delhi. NIXI launched four new digital initiatives: the IX Portal, myIRINN Portal, .IN Auction Portal, and an AI-powered WHOIS…
More than 600 Internet experts, policymakers and technology leaders will meet in Mumbai in September for the 62nd APNIC Conference (APNIC 62), organized by the Asia Pacific Network Information Centre (APNIC), the…
Researchers Record Ophiopogon japonicus in India for the First Time in Arunachal Pradesh
Key Updates:
- Researchers from the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and the Uluberia Botanical Institute Herbarium, West Bengal, recorded Ophiopogon japonicus (Thunb) Ker Gawl in India for the first time, from West Kameng district, Arunachal Pradesh.
- The specimen was collected in May 2025 during a floristic survey from a moist, shaded forest floor at 2,185 m elevation, along roadside vegetation between Shergaon and Gyuto monastery.
- The findings were published in a peer-reviewed Springer Nature journal in a study titled 'Ophiopogon japonicus (Thunb) Ker Gawl (Asparagaceae), a new record for India'.
- Commonly known as dwarf lilyturf or mondo grass, the evergreen perennial is native to East Asia, found in China, Japan, Korea and Nepal at elevations of 200–2,800 m, and its tuberous roots (Ophiopogonis Radix or Maidong) are used in traditional Chinese medicine.
- The genus Ophiopogon of the Asparagaceae family has about 85 species worldwide; before this discovery, seven species had been formally recorded from India.
- The newly documented roadside population could face threats from road construction and landslides, and researchers have recommended further surveys and long-term monitoring in Arunachal Pradesh and northeast India.
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Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) scientists discovered two new spider species: Simonia lawbah from Meghalaya and Hamataliwa papikonda from Andhra Pradesh. Simonia lawbah, found in the Krem Lawbah cave, measures less than…
Scientists have recorded the rare Himalayan fish Schizopygopsis waddellii in India for the first time, from a natural high-altitude lake in Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh. The lake lies at an elevation of…
Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Bhupender Yadav, presided over the 28th Meeting of the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) Society in Coimbatore. The meeting was held at the Central Academy…
The Uttarakhand Forest Department plans to fit radio collars on herd-leading elephants to track their movements and reduce human-elephant encounters during the 2027 Kumbh Mela in Haridwar. The initiative is being…
Key Updates:
- IIT (ISM) Dhanbad has been granted an Indian patent for an electrochemical reactor that recovers copper from wastewater.
- The patent, titled 'An Electrochemical Reactor for Cathodic Recovery of Copper from Wastewater', was granted by the Patent Office, Government of India, to Prof Vipin Kumar of the Department of Environmental Science and Engineering and his PhD scholars Nishant Pandey and Ankur Singh.
- In the cathodic electrochemical process, copper particles deposit on the electrode as wastewater is treated, enabling recovery of the metal and reducing toxicity risks to water bodies and ecosystems.
- The technology has significant potential for mining and allied industries, where copper-heavy wastewater is a major environmental challenge.
- Prof Vipin Kumar's research focuses on environmental microbiology, microbial electrochemical systems, and waste management; he has over 100 published research papers and received the Inder Mohan Thapar Foundation Research Award.
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GalaxEye, an Indian space technology company, became the first Indian startup to receive a US patent for satellite imaging technology, covering the core technology behind its OptoSAR imaging capabilities. The US patent…
The Andhra Pradesh government signed an agreement with CSIR-NGRI for extensive exploration of lithium and gallium deposits in the Kadapa Basin. The exploration project will be funded entirely by the National Mineral…
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the University of Hyderabad (UoH) secured a patent for a next-generation solid rocket propellant fuel. The patent covers BAM-H24, a boron-, hydrogen- and…
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued new loan recovery directions on August 6, 2026. The new loan recovery rules will come into effect from January 1, 2027.
US Confirms for the First Time It Has Stationed Weapons in Orbit
Key Updates:
- The United States has confirmed for the first time that it has deployed weapons in space.
- Air Force Secretary Troy Meink announced at the Air and Space Cyber Conference in Maryland that the U.S. has fielded on-orbit space control weapons capable of defending the Joint Force against hostile adversary action, without detailing what the weapons are or how they work.
- In 2024, the U.S. said Russia was developing a new anti-satellite weapon that could be launched from space, though the White House said the danger was not imminent.
- Meink said the Air Force is adding more autonomous systems and predicted the service would look radically different by 2032, with one-way attack drones potentially replacing artillery as the primary killer.
- The Space Force was created by Trump in 2019.
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Samtel Avionics Ltd. (India) and BULL Co., Ltd. (Japan) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly explore space debris mitigation solutions. The collaboration combines BULL's proprietary passive Post-Mission…
The 46th Raising Day of the 21st Bihar Battalion was celebrated at the Bihar Regiment Centre (BRC) in Danapur cantonment. The 21st Bihar Battalion was raised on July 20, 1981, by Lt Col Mohammad Mansoor Malik.
On August 17, 2026, 210 Indian peacekeepers deployed with the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) were awarded the UN Medal for exceptional service in Juba. The awarded contingent included 6 women and 7 Staff Officers.
Dhiraj Bommadevara Becomes First Indian Man to Claim Recurve Gold at Archery World Cup Final
Key Updates:
- India's Dhiraj Bommadevara won a historic gold medal in the men's recurve event at the Archery World Cup Final 2026 held in Saltillo, Mexico, giving his Asian Games preparations a boost.
- The 25-year-old archer from Vijayawada defeated Japan's World Championships medallist Nakanishi Junya in a shoot-off in the final to become the first-ever Indian man to win a gold medal in recurve at the Archery World Cup Final.
- With the gold-medal match tied 5-5, each archer shot one arrow in the shoot-off; Dhiraj shot a 10 while Nakanishi managed only a 9.
- Nakanishi took a 3-1 lead after winning the second set 29-28, Dhiraj won the third set by the same scoreline, and Nakanishi's perfect fourth set against Dhiraj's 28 levelled the match at 5-5 to force the shoot-off.
- Dhiraj ended a 16-year wait for an Indian male recurve archer to finish on the World Cup Final podium, with Jayanta Talukdar the previous medallist through a bronze at Edinburgh 2010.
- Dola Banerjee is the only other Indian to have won an Archery World Cup Final gold, having claimed the women's individual title at the 2007 edition in Dubai.
- In the knockout stage, Dhiraj defeated Turkiye's Berkim Tumer 7-1 in the quarterfinals and France's Jean-Charles Valladont 7-1 in the semifinals; both opponents are Olympic medallists.
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Sheetal Devi won her first individual women's compound title at the World Archery Para Series Ahmedabad 2026, defeating Kazakhstan's Aizada Seidan in the final. The final was tied at 144, and Sheetal Devi won via a…
India's men's and women's teams won the Junior Asia Cup hockey titles at Moqi in China. The Indian men's team defeated South Korea 4-1 in the final to successfully defend its title, becoming the first team in tournament…
R Praggnanandhaa defeated Fabiano Caruana 15-13 in the final of the 2026 Grand Chess Tour Finals. He became the first Indian to win the Grand Chess Tour title.
125-Year-Old Wadda Gurdwara Sahib in Penang, Malaysia Reopens After Conservation Work
Key Updates:
- The 125-year-old Wadda Gurdwara Sahib in Penang, Malaysia, reopened after conservation and restoration work that preserved its original heritage appearance.
- Established in 1901, the gurdwara's reopening coincided with its 125th anniversary celebrations and the first Prakash Purab of Guru Granth Sahib.
- Akal Takht acting jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj performed the enshrinement (Prakash) of Guru Granth Sahib during Amrit Vela.
- The reopening function was attended by Malaysian federal minister Steven Sim, Penang deputy chief minister-II Jagdeep Singh Deo, Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh Deo, Punjab Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh, and India's High Commissioner to Malaysia Somnath Ghosh.
- Giani Gargaj noted that Sikhs who sacrificed their lives for Malaysia's freedom are inscribed on Malaysia's National Monument in Kuala Lumpur.
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The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has warned Pakistan to reverse reconstructions at two historical sites in Taxila to avoid being placed on the danger list. The specific sites…
The Union Government has revived the 39.68-km broad-gauge Qadian-Beas railway line project in Punjab at an estimated cost of approximately ₹1,400 crore. The project was originally approved by the North-Western Railway…
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) will launch the restoration of the 9th-century Prambanan Temple complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the Special Region of Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The Prambanan project…
The Jammu and Kashmir Government approved ₹10 crore for the repair and renovation of the historic Rattan Garh Fort in Bhaderwah, Doda. The project aims to conserve the fort's architectural and historical character while…
Tripura State Mental Health Authority Issues Show-Cause Notices to 19 Unauthorised De-Addiction and Mental Health Rehabilitation Centres
Key Updates:
- The Tripura government identified 19 illegal de-addiction and mental health rehabilitation centres and is contemplating measures against such facilities, following recent violence at a rehabilitation centre in Agartala.
- Officials announced on September 13, 2026 that the State Mental Health Authority had issued back-to-back show-cause notices to the 19 'unauthorised' private rehabilitation centres.
- The Swapna Foundation in Agartala, where a crime was recently committed, was among the centres served a notice.
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Amit Shah launched the Nasha Mukt Bharat 2029 roadmap, focusing on supply reduction, demand reduction, and harm reduction. The initiative aims to ensure no narcotics enter or leave India's borders.
The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) facilitated the export of 18 metric tonnes of NPOP-certified ethnic rice from Tripura to Austria and the Netherlands. The consignment…
The West Bengal government launched four toll-free helplines for public complaints. The helplines cover extortion (155334), syndicate (155335), illegal road/toll tax (155337), and illegal liquor (155339).
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has authorised district Collectors in eight states and Union Territories to process citizenship applications under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019. The authority was previously…
Karnataka Establishes Government Raisin Processing and Cold Storage Facility at Vijayapura
Key Updates:
- Karnataka has set up a raisin processing and cold storage unit at Thoravi village in Vijayapura, established by the Karnataka Grape and Wine Board and funded by NABARD and the State government under the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund, with access for farmers from November.
- The unit has a total capacity of 10,000 tonnes and can process four tonnes of raisins per hour, with raisins packed in 15-kg bags after processing.
- The unit will help grape farmers in Vijayapura, Bagalkot and Belagavi districts avoid transporting produce to Sangli or Pune in Maharashtra or paying higher charges at private processing units.
- Karnataka produces nearly 1.5 to 2 lakh tonnes of raisins annually, and of the State's 47,177 hectares under grape cultivation, 42,000 hectares are in Vijayapura, Belagavi and Bagalkot.
- Around 90% of raisin storage units in Vijayapura district are private, charging ₹700 to ₹800 per tonne per month, and the government facility plans to charge ₹50 to ₹100 less.
- The unit has a 250kW rooftop solar installation as backup for power disruptions, with plans to expand solar capacity to 500kW, and the board plans to add a residue-testing lab, e-auction unit and export unit.
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Satya Pal Kumar, a 2005-batch Indian Revenue Services (IRS) officer of the Income Tax Department cadre, was appointed as the Director of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU). The FIU is a national agency under the Union…
The Karnataka government banned the manufacture, processing, storage, distribution, transportation and sale of analogue/non-dairy paneer marketed as 'paneer' across the state for one year. The order was issued by the…
Karnataka Food Safety and Drug Administration (KFSDA) suspended food licences and registrations of Amazon, Swiggy Instamart, and BigBasket for selling Datura fruits and seeds as food. KFSDA Commissioner Srinivas K…
Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann Honours Martyr Colonel Manpreet Singh by Naming New Chandigarh Road and Park After Him
Key Updates:
- Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann named a 200-foot-wide road from Mullanpur Chowk to the T-Point in New Chandigarh as 'Shaheed Colonel Manpreet Singh Marg' and dedicated a park in his memory.
- Colonel Manpreet Singh was killed in a gunfight with terrorists in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir on September 13, 2023, while serving as Commanding Officer of the 19 Rashtriya Rifles Regiment.
- The Government of India posthumously conferred the Kirti Chakra, the country's second-highest peacetime gallantry award, on Colonel Singh on August 15, 2024.
- Born in 1982 in Bharonjian near Mullanpur in Mohali district, Colonel Singh was a chartered accountant and a third-generation soldier; he joined the Indian Military Academy after clearing the Combined Defence Services examination.
- Mann announced that the first batch of Agniveers completing their tenure will be adjusted in police, bank security and as forest guards, and that ₹1 crore financial assistance is given to families of soldiers who die in the line of duty.
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More than 1.8 lakh pedestrians were killed in road crashes across India between 2019 and 2024, averaging over 30,500 deaths annually. The National Highway (NH) network accounted for nearly 31% of all pedestrian…
Ravneet Singh Bittu resigned as Union Minister of State for Railways and Food Processing Industries on July 25, 2026. President Droupadi Murmu accepted his resignation on the advice of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Shaheed Udham Singh Martyrdom Day is observed every year on 31 July in India. Udham Singh was born on 26 December 1899 in Sunam, Punjab, and his birth name was Sher Singh.
Punjab launched a statewide digital portal named 'Pehchaan' to help identify unidentified and unclaimed deceased persons. The portal allows families in India and abroad to search records online and assists authorities in…
