12th August, 2026

1. MoSPI Signs MoUs with IDEAS and ISI Kolkata to Strengthen Data-Driven Statistical Analysis
2. India Donates Five Peacocks to UNOG, Including a Rare White-Feathered Male
3. Airtel Business Partners ITI Limited for Enterprise Digital Transformation Solutions in India
4. Adani Airport City Incorporates AACL Global IFSC
5. Padma Bhushan Awardee Physicist Deepak Dhar Wins Dirac Medal 2026
6. V.O. Chidambaranar Port Becomes India’s First Port to Receive ISO 50001:2018 Certification for Energy Management
7. Vietnam’s VinSpace Signs SpaceX Launch Deal for 2027 Transporter Rideshare Mission
8. World Steelpan Day 2026 – August 11
9. PM Modi to Release Autobiography of Former President Ram Nath Kovind in New Delhi
10. Parliament Passes Bill to Improve Efficiency and Transparency in Tribunal System
11. NASA Invites ISRO to Join Moon Base Programme Under Artemis Accords
12. Nation Pays Homage to Revolutionary Freedom Fighter Khudiram Bose on His 119th Martyrdom Day
13. India and Namibia Move to Strengthen Bilateral Trade Through Value Addition
14. Fitch Affirms India’s Sovereign Rating at BBB with Stable Outlook
15. NSE Announces Replacement of Stocks in Various Indices from September 30
16. Indian Fencers Win Two Gold, Three Silver and Four Bronze Medals at Commonwealth Championship
17. India Wins 17 Medals, Including Four Gold, on Opening Day of U-23 Commonwealth Fencing Championship
18. Hockey World Cup Introduces New Format; Quarterfinal Stage Scrapped
19. India Secures Two Medals at World Athletics U20 Championships in the US

National News

India Donates Five Peacocks to UN Geneva

• What: India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, Arindam Bagchi, formally handed over five Indian peacocks to United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG) Director-General Tatiana Valovaya during a special ceremony.
• Tell me more:
  • The group has four blue Indian peafowl and one rare white male with leucism, a condition that reduces feather colour, and they will live in Geneva’s Ariana Park surrounding the Palais des Nations complex of UN in Geneva.
  • This gesture revives a tradition Indira Gandhi started in 1981 by donating peacocks to UNOG. Peacock is India’s national bird, symbolising its biodiversity and heritage.

Tribunals Reforms Bill 2026 Passed by Parliament

• What: The Tribunals Reforms Bill, 2026 was passed by the Parliament to repeal the Tribunals Reforms Act, 2021 and bring service conditions in alignment with Supreme Court directives.
• Tell me more:
  • The proposed legislation establishes the National Tribunals Commission (NTC) to manage tribunal selections, performance reviews, complaints, and data infrastructure.
  • The NTC will comprise a chairperson (a Judge of the Supreme Court or a Chief Justice of a High Court), two judicial members, and two technical members with at least 25 years of domain experience.
  • Search-cum-selection committees constituted by the NTC will recommend one name and one waiting-list candidate for every vacant tribunal post.
  • Chairpersons and members of tribunals will serve a five-year tenure, subject to an upper age limit of 70 years and 67 years respectively.

India Observes 119th Martyrdom Day of Khudiram Bose

• What: India observed the 119th martyrdom day of freedom fighter Khudiram Bose (3 December 1889 – 11 August 1908) to commemorate his supreme sacrifice in the anti-British struggle.
• Tell me more:
  • British authorities hanged 18-year-old Khudiram Bose on 11 August 1908, Bengal’s first executed revolutionary, after his April 1908 bomb attack meant for magistrate Kingsford killed two British women instead.

India and Namibia Hold Fourth Joint Trade Committee Session

• What: India and Namibia held the Fourth Session of the India-Namibia Joint Trade Committee (JTC) in New Delhi to expand bilateral trade beyond raw materials towards value addition.
• Tell me more:
  • Bilateral merchandise trade rose to $592.94 million in FY26, with India’s exports at USD 349.09 million and imports at USD 243.85 million.
  • Invest India and the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board became investment focal points, while both nations agreed to form a dedicated Services Working Group by February 2027.
  • Both sides identified structured cooperation in critical minerals like lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements alongside the rollout of the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) based system WayaMe.
  • The countries planned the first health joint working group by December 2026 and finalized terms of reference for the India-Southern African Customs Union (SACU) Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA).
  • Cooperation expanded into gems and jewellery sourcing, renewable energy, green hydrogen, and railways, with the Fifth Session of the JTC scheduled in Namibia for 2028.

State News

VOC Port Secures ISO Energy Management Certification

• What: The V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority (VOC Port Authority) in Thoothukudi became the first major port in India to obtain International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 50001:2018 certification for its energy management system.
• Tell me more:
  • Global certification body Bureau Veritas recognized the facility as a Scope-2 emission-free port.
  • Renewable energy supplied 93.89% of the port’s total electricity in FY26, and the energy management system tracks consumption across cargo equipment, lighting, electric vehicles, and shore-to-ship power.

International News

VinSpace Signs Contract with SpaceX for Satellites

• What: Vietnamese aerospace firm VinSpace signed a contract with Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX) to send its first satellites into orbit aboard a rideshare mission in 2027.
• Tell me more:
  • SpaceX will launch the satellites developed by VinSpace on a Transporter rideshare mission to test technology in orbit.
  • VinSpace was established in November 2025 under Vingroup (founded by tycoon Pham Nhat Vuong), Vietnam’s largest private company, and its satellite launch deal supports Vietnam’s goal to become Southeast Asia’s mid-level space power by 2030.

Banking and Economy

Airtel Business and ITI Collaborate for Digital Solutions

• What: Airtel Business, the business-to-business arm of Bharti Airtel, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with telecom public sector company ITI Limited to jointly sell digital and telecom infrastructure solutions to enterprise customers.
• Tell me more:
  • Airtel partners with government-owned ITI Limited to reach defence and public sector clients more easily, and together they’ll offer internet, cloud storage, tracking tools, and cybersecurity services.
  • ITI Limited, India’s first Public Sector Undertaking after independence, makes telecom equipment and holds major government contracts, including a ₹7,796 crore defence communication network project.

Adani Airport City Incorporates New Subsidiary AACL

• What: Adani Airport City Limited, a step-down wholly owned subsidiary of Adani Enterprises Limited, incorporated a wholly owned subsidiary named AACL Global IFSC Limited on 15 July 2026.
• Tell me more:
  • This new company will act as Adani Group’s global money-management arm, based in India’s international finance zone (IFSCA), under the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) (Finance Company) Regulations, 2021.
  • The new entity has a total paid-up share capital of ₹5,00,000, and Adani Airport City Limited owns 100% of its shares.

BSE to Replace Wipro in NIFTY 50 Index

• What: NSE Indices Limited announced the inclusion of BSE Limited into the NIFTY 50 index, replacing Wipro Limited, as part of its semi-annual review effective from September 30, 2026.
• Tell me more:
  • BSE Limited qualified for inclusion with a six-month average free-float market capitalisation of ₹1.40 trillion, exceeding 1.5 times the ₹55,930 crore threshold of Wipro Limited.
  • Wipro Limited will move to the Nifty Next 50 index alongside new inclusions like Hitachi Energy India, Polycab India, Vedanta Aluminium Metal, and Vodafone Idea.
  • Five companies including Indian Hotels, Lodha Developers, REC, Shree Cement, and United Spirits will exit both the Nifty 100 and Nifty Next 50 indices.
  • The Nifty 500 will undergo a larger reshuffle with 27 companies moving out and 27 new companies entering, including Aether Industries and Clean Max Enviro Energy Solutions.

GDP Forecasts

Fitch Affirms India Sovereign Rating at BBB-

• What: Fitch Ratings affirmed the sovereign credit rating of India at the lowest investment grade of BBB- with a stable outlook, citing a strong growth outlook and solid external finance fundamentals.
• Tell me more:
  • The agency projected the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth of India at 6.4% for financial year 2027 (FY27).
  • Fitch Ratings highlighted high general government debt of 84.4% of GDP in financial year 2026 (FY26) as a major rating constraint.
  • Solid external finances balance these fiscal weaknesses, supported by estimated foreign exchange reserves of $733 billion.
  • The agency forecast headline inflation to average 4.1% in the current year and expects the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to raise policy rates by 25 basis points to 5.5%.
  • The general government deficit will likely decline to 7.3% of GDP in FY27, driven by central government fiscal consolidation efforts.
  • India’s sovereign credit rating from different global agencies:

Science and Technology

NASA Invites ISRO to Join Moon Base Programme

• What: The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) invited the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to join its Moon Base programme for lunar exploration and human spaceflight.
• Tell me more:
  • Announced in March 2026, NASA’s Moon Base programme aims to establish a humanity’s first outpost on the Moon using rovers, heavy-cargo landers, and surface infrastructure.
  • The Moon Base initiative builds upon bilateral civil and commercial space cooperation under the Transforming the Relationship Utilizing Strategic Technology (TRUST) Initiative.
  • NASA extended the offer during the ninth India-US Civil Space Joint Working Group meeting held in Bengaluru, which US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor addressed.
  • Both nations agreed to advance discussions for cooperation on open scientific data sharing under the Artemis Accords.
    • Established in 2020 by NASA, the Artemis Accords are non-binding international principles guiding peaceful, transparent, and sustainable civil space exploration, resource extraction, and scientific collaboration on the Moon and beyond.
    • On July 17, 2026, Mauritius became the 70th nation to sign the accords. In 2023, India signed the Artemis Accords which provides a framework for civil space exploration.
• Knowledge Nuggets:
  • The two space agencies previously launched the joint NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission aboard an ISRO GSLV-F16 rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota in 2025.
  • NISAR is the world’s first Earth observation satellite to carry dual-frequency synthetic aperture radars—L-band by NASA and S-band by ISRO—on a single platform.
  • It will deliver high-resolution, all-weather, day-and-night imagery of Earth’s land and ice surfaces, revisiting each location every 12 days.

Awards

Indian Physicist Deepak Dhar Wins Dirac Medal

• What: Theoretical physicist Deepak Dhar won the 2026 Dirac Medal awarded by the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) in Italy for his contributions to statistical mechanics.
• Tell me more:
  • Deepak Dhar shared the prestigious award with Bernard Derrida, Marc Mezard, and Haim Sompolinsky.
  • The award recognizes his mathematical solution to the sandpile model, which explains how small events trigger large unpredictable behaviors in complex systems.
  • Deepak Dhar previously won the Boltzmann Medal in 2022, becoming one of only ten researchers globally to secure both physics honors.
  • He currently serves as an Indian National Science Academy (INSA) distinguished professor at the International Centre for Theoretical Sciences (ICTS) in Bengaluru.

Important Days

World Steelpan Day 2026 – August 11

• The steelpan (aka Steel Drum) is a musical instrument that originated in Trinidad and Tobago, played solo or in steelbands, and the UN declared 11 August as World Steelpan Day to celebrate its social benefits.

Sports

India Wins 17 Medals at Commonwealth Fencing Championship

• What: The Indian contingent won 17 medals, including four gold, four silver, and nine bronze, on the opening day of the U-23 Commonwealth Fencing Championship in Lagos, Nigeria.
• Tell me more:
  • Indian fencers reached the podium in all six individual events across the Sabre, Foil, and Epee disciplines.
  • In the men’s events, Nikhil Wagh won gold in Sabre, while Tejas Patil and Lokesh Vemani claimed silver in Foil and Epee respectively.
  • In the women’s events, Joys Ashita won gold in Foil, Prachi Lohan secured gold in Epee, and Jeferlin bagged gold in Sabre.

Revamped Competition Format Announced for FIH Hockey World Cup 2026

• What: The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has scrapped the traditional quarter-final stage for the FIH Hockey Men’s and Women’s World Cup 2026, introducing a two-phase pool system leading directly to semi-finals.
• Tell me more:
  • Belgium and the Netherlands will jointly host the men’s and women’s tournaments simultaneously from 15 to 30 August 2026.
  • Sixteen teams in each competition will compete across four initial groups, with both Indian men’s and women’s teams placed in Pool D.
  • The top two teams from Phase 1 pools will form new Pools E and F, carrying forward head-to-head results into Phase 2.
  • The top two finishers from Pools E and F will advance directly into the semi-finals.
  • Classification matches for positions 5th to 16th will follow Phase 2 standings, concluding with medal matches on 29 and 30 August.

India Secures Three Medals at World Athletics U20 Championships

• What: Indian athletes Basant Kumar Meghwal and Shahnavaz Khan won silver and bronze medals in the men’s high jump and long jump respectively at the World Athletics Under-20 (U20) Championships 2026 in Eugene, Oregon.
• Tell me more:
  • Basant Kumar Meghwal cleared a personal-best-equalling 2.21 metres to become the first Indian athlete to win a high jump medal at the tournament.
  • Shahnavaz Khan registered a jump of 7.84 metres to become the first Indian male athlete to win a long jump medal at the event.
  • Ashish Yadav won a silver medal in the javelin throw event on the previous day.
  • The two new medals brought the overall tally of India to three medals, matching its best-ever performance from the 2021 and 2022 editions.

Memorandum of Understanding

MoSPI Signs Agreements for Research Studies

• What: The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) signed two Memoranda of Understanding with Institute of Data Engineering, Analytics and Science Foundation (IDEAS), Indian Statistical Institute (ISI), Kolkata for research studies.
• Tell me more:
  • MoSPI will provide financial assistance and data support for this collaborative knowledge-sharing initiative.
  • IDEAS will build a desktop tool for GDP Nowcasting and create an indicator framework linking government health scheme data with National Sample Survey (NSS) household data.

Miscellaneous

PM Modi Releases Ram Nath Kovind’s Autobiography

• PM Narendra Modi released the autobiography of former President Ram Nath Kovind titled ‘Triumph of the Indian Republic: My Life, My Struggles’ in New Delhi.

Start Quiz of 12th August 2026 on Mobile

Start Quiz of 12th August 2026 on Desktop