15th-17th August, 2026

1. CCI Hosts BRICS Competition Authorities Meeting in Udaipur, Rajasthan
2. IN-Space Approved India’s First Fully Commercial Earth Observation Sat Constellation
3. L&T to Set Up India’s Largest Nvidia B300 AI Factory in Chennai for Together AI
4. BHEL, Norway’s Hystar AS Tie-up for PEM Electrolyser Manufacturing in India
5. NCLT Launched e-Inspection and e-Certified Copy Services To Enhance Access to Judicial Records
6. IFSCA Grants Investment Banking License to Nexent Capital in GIFT City
7. JSW Neo Energy–DGPC Pact for 920 MW Punatsangchhu-III Hydro Project
8. Gaj Gaurav Award 2026: Honours Jaldapara Forest Staff for Elephant Rescue Operations
9. Kirti Chakra Awardee Major General Sunil Kumar Razdan Passed Away
10. Partition Horrors Remembrance Day 2026 – August 14
11. Karnataka Cabinet Approves Sandhya Kiran Scheme Offering Rs 5 Lakh Cashless Healthcare Cover to Pensioners
12. AP Govt and CSIR NGRI Sign Pact for Critical Mineral Exploration
13. India and Nepal Set Three-Year Target for Border Land Mapping
14. Supreme Court Asks 19 States and UTs to Consider Declaring Cancer a Notifiable Disease
15. Reliance, Rolls-Royce to Partner on India’s Fighter Jet Engine
16. Iran and Oman Reach Strait of Hormuz Shipping Route Agreement
17. PM Modi Announces Nationwide Talent Hunt for Children Aged 5–15 Ahead of India’s 2036 Olympics Dream
18. India Celebrates 80th Independence Day on 15th August 2026: Marking 150 Years of Vande Mataram & Yuva Shakti
19. PM Modi Independence Day Speech 2026: AI Training, Saptadhara, Free Coaching and Viksit Bharat 2047
20. President Approves 78 Gallantry Awards and 89 Mention-in-Despatches on Independence Day
21. 301 Gallantry Medals Awarded to Police, Fire Service Personnel
22. Independence Day 2026: PM Modi Unveils ‘Sapta Dhara’ Vision for Viksit Bharat

National News

India and Nepal to Map Border Land Occupation

• What: India and Nepal agreed to complete the mapping of cross-border land occupation within three years using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) following the 13th Survey Officials’ Committee (SOC) meeting in Lucknow.
• Tell me more:
  • Shifting rivers moved land, causing border disputes between the two countries. Teams must now fix 1,325 missing and 1,956 damaged border pillars, and aerial surveys will start after monsoon.

Supreme Court Urges States to Declare Cancer Notifiable

• What: A Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant asked the remaining 19 States and Union Territories to consider declaring cancer a notifiable disease to support early detection and patient care.
• Tell me more:
  • The Central Government informed the bench that health remains a State subject, noting that 17 States and Union Territories have already notified cancer.
  • The Supreme Court directed non-notified regions to evaluate these recommendations, submit compliance affidavits, and implement national cancer screening measures.

Prime Minister Key Announcements on 80th Independence Day

• What: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation on the 80th Independence Day, launching key youth employment, education, and sports initiatives to support the Viksit Bharat 2047 goal.
• Tell me more:
  • The Prime Minister launched the ₹1 lakh crore Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rojgar Yojana to create new employment opportunities for approximately 3.5 crore youth.
  • Under this scheme, the government will provide ₹15,000 to youth securing private sector jobs, alongside incentives for companies generating new employment.
  • The government announced free online coaching utilizing digital public infrastructure to ease the financial burden of coaching classes on middle-class families.
  • India aims to host the 2036 Olympics and 2030 Commonwealth Games while launching a nationwide Artificial Intelligence-backed talent hunt for children aged 5 to 15 years.
  • President Droupadi Murmu approved 78 gallantry awards, including 13 posthumous honours, for Armed Forces and Central Armed Police Forces personnel.

• Additionally, Army Dog Tyson of 2 PARA (Special Forces) received a Mention-in-Despatches under Operation Rakshak.

PM Modi Announces Sapta Dhara Framework for Viksit Bharat

• What: Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced “Sapta Dhara,” a seven-point reform framework, on India’s 80th Independence Day to accelerate the country’s goal of becoming a developed nation (Viksit Bharat) by 2047.
• Tell me more:
  • The first two streams focus on building a strong manufacturing value chain to global standards and helping farmers access global markets through Free Trade Agreements (FTAs).
  • The next two streams cover technology and innovation, including Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Made in India 6G, along with faster connectivity through high-speed rail and port-led growth (Gati Shakti).
  • The fifth stream targets self-reliance in defence, positioning India as a global supplier of hypersonic and next-generation defence technologies.
  • The final stream promotes a green and blue economy, covering renewable energy, green hydrogen, and ocean-based sectors like fisheries and coastal tourism.
  • These seven streams will help India achieve new goals and utilise its youth power over the next 5-7 years.

State News

BRICS Competition Authorities Meet in Udaipur, Rajasthan

• What: Competition Commission of India (CCI) hosted the meeting of heads of BRICS competition authorities in Udaipur, Rajasthan, where Chairperson Ravneet Kaur called for sustained cooperation to foster fair competition in renewable energy and digital markets.
• Tell me more:
  • Representatives presented findings from a collaborative study titled ‘Emerging Competition Landscape in the Renewable Energy Sector in BRICS’.
  • Officials adopted a joint statement titled ‘Strengthening Cooperation to Promote Fair Competition, including in Renewable Energy Markets’.
  • India currently holds the chair of BRICS and will host the leaders’ summit in New Delhi in September.

Karnataka Approves Sandhya Kiran Cashless Healthcare Scheme

• What: The Karnataka Cabinet approved the Sandhya Kiran scheme to provide cashless healthcare coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per year to state government pensioners under 70 years, family pensioners, and eligible dependents.
• Tell me more:
  • Suvarna Arogya Suraksha Trust (SAST) will implement the initiative under the Ayushman Bharat-Arogya Karnataka (AB-ArK) framework to cover about 4.93 lakh initial beneficiaries.

Andhra Pradesh Partners For Critical Mineral Exploration

• What: The Andhra Pradesh government signed two MoUs with the CSIR-National Geophysical Research Institute (CSIR-NGRI) and IIT-Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad-TEXMiN to explore lithium and gallium deposits and establish a Centre of Excellence for Mining.
• Tell me more:
  • The National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET) will fund the ₹140 crore exploration project entirely.
  • IIT (ISM) Dhanbad-TEXMiN will set up the Centre of Excellence for Mining in Andhra Pradesh to promote research, technology adoption, and skill development.
  • CSIR-NGRI will conduct detailed exploration in the Vempalle region to assess the mineral potential.
• Knowledge Nuggets:
  • Technology Innovation in Exploration & Mining Foundation (TEXMiN) is a section-8 company created under the aegis of the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS) programme by the Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India established at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad.
  • The objective of TEXMiN is to develop commercially feasible solutions for the mineral exploration and mining domain using cyber-physical systems such as IoT, AI/ML, blockchain, drones, robotics, and satellite imagery.

International News

Iran and Oman Finalize Shipping Route Agreement

• Iran and Oman agreed on coordinates for a temporary shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz, under which Iran would control entering ships and charge 5-7% cargo fees.

Banking and Economy

BHEL Partners Norway’s Hystar for Green Hydrogen Technology

• What: Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) signed a strategic tie-up with Norway’s Hystar AS to manufacture Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) electrolyser systems for green hydrogen projects in India.
• Tell me more:
  • The purpose is to reduce India’s dependence on imported PEM (Proton Exchange Membrane) electrolysers by gradually shifting their manufacturing to India, supporting domestic clean energy projects.
  • BHEL earlier partnered with thyssenkrupp nucera India for alkaline electrolyser systems, and this new tie-up makes it one of few Indian firms offering both alkaline and PEM electrolyser solutions.
  • The agreement supports India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission and the Make in India initiative.

NCLT Launches Digital Inspection and Certified Copy Services

• What: Hon’ble President of National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), Justice Anupinder Singh Grewal, launched e-Inspection and e-Certified Copy Services through video conferencing to provide faster access to judicial records and certified copies.
• Tell me more:
  • The new digital services form part of NCLT’s broader digital transformation drive under the ongoing e-Courts 2.0 initiative.
  • NCLT adopted a data-driven mechanism to monitor case pendency and redistribute workload across Benches.
  • This performance marks the highest first-quarter resolution count since the enactment of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC).

Nexent Capital Receives IFSCA Investment Banking Registration

• What: Nexent Capital IFSC Private Limited, the GIFT City-based unit of United States-based Nexent Capital Management, received formal registration from the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) to operate as an Investment Banker in India’s International Financial Services Centre (IFSC).
• Tell me more:
  • The regulator granted the registration on July 31, 2026, under the IFSCA (Capital Market Intermediaries) Regulations, 2025.
  • The approval lets the firm handle IPOs, depository receipts, debt market deals, and act as a financial advisor for companies.
  • The company will help fast-growing US and European firms raise capital via GIFT City’s stock exchanges, focusing on sectors like AI, cybersecurity, data centers, quantum computing, space tech, and energy.

JSW Energy Partners With Bhutan for Hydroelectric Project

• What: JSW Energy Limited signed a shareholders’ agreement with Druk Green Power Corporation Limited (DGPC) for the joint development of the 920 MW Punatsangchhu-III hydroelectric project in Bhutan’s Wangdue Phodrang district.
• Tell me more:
  • The project will run through a joint venture where DGPC will hold a 51% stake and JSW Neo Energy will own 49%.
  • This project marks JSW Energy’s first power generation venture outside India, and both companies are jointly preparing the Detailed Project Report for it.
  • JSW Energy currently holds 1,781 MW of operating hydro capacity as India’s largest private hydropower generator.
  • The company targets 30 GW generation capacity and 40 GWh energy storage capacity by 2030, aiming for carbon neutrality by 2050

Reliance and Rolls-Royce Partner for Indigenous Aircraft Engine

• What: Reliance Industries and Rolls-Royce announced a strategic partnership to jointly design, develop, and manufacture an indigenous combat aircraft engine for India’s Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme.
• Tell me more:
  • Reliance Industries will provide private capital, manufacturing scale, and execution capabilities, while Rolls-Royce will contribute its propulsion expertise.
  • The partnership will build an Indian Aerospace Gas Turbine Complex to design and manufacture jet engines, ending dependence on foreign suppliers for fighters like AMCA.

Science and Technology

IN-SPACe Approves First Private Earth Observation Constellation

• What: Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) approved a public-private partnership agreement with Allied Orbits Private Limited to build India’s first commercial Earth Observation (EO) satellite constellation.
• Tell me more:
  • Pixxel Space India leads the consortium alongside Dhruva Space, PierSight Space, and Satsure Analytics India.
  • The private consortium will invest over ₹1,200 crore to design, build, own, and operate a 12-satellite constellation by 2029.
  • Indian industry will manufacture all satellites domestically and launch them using Indian launch vehicles with domestic mission control.
  • The constellation includes five ultra-high resolution optical, three multispectral, two hyperspectral optical, and two Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellites.

Vyoma AI Secures India Largest AI Infrastructure Order

• What: Vyoma.AI, the data centre business of L&T, secured India’s largest single-cluster artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure, an Nvidia B300 AI factory, for a US-based start up Together AI. The order is worth ₹10,000-15,000 crore.
• Tell me more:
  • The AI factory, which will come up on Vyoma’s Chennai data centre campus, will power Together AI’s native cloud platform.
  • L&T previously transferred its data centre and cloud services business to Vyoma.AI Limited for ₹1,400 crore.

Awards

Gaj Gaurav Award 2026

• What: Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) Kirti Vardhan Singh presided over the national celebrations of World Elephant Day 2026 at Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh.
• Tell me more:
  • India released a Regional Action Plan with ₹500 crore support to address Human–Elephant Conflict (HEC) across southern states using a landscape-level approach.
  • The event highlighted key publications including 30 Giant Steps detailing major achievements under Project Elephant between 2020 and 2026.
  • The government presented the Gaj Gaurav Awards 2026 to individuals for exemplary contributions to elephant conservation and management.
    • Mahouts Bikash Kharia and Rajiv Oraon have been selected for rescuing five stranded kunki elephants from the floodwaters of Torsha and Malangi rivers in West Bengal.
    • Mahouts Ajibul Haque, Ajit Gabur, Mamtaj Alam, Amasur Kheriya and Dilip Munda will be honoured for rescuing rhinoceroses swept away by the swollen Torsha.
  • India currently manages 33 Elephant Reserves and 150 identified corridors, hosting nearly 60% of the world’s wild Asian elephant population.

Important Days

Partition Horrors Remembrance Day 2026 – August 14

• In New Delhi, officials inaugurated an exhibition at Central Park, Connaught Place, featuring archival material, personal narratives, and a poetry compilation titled “देहरी भई विदेश”, compiled by Dr. Sachidanand Joshi.
• The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) held academic and cultural outreach events across regional centres, including Jammu and Kashmir, Bengaluru, and Ranchi

Miscellaneous

Indian Defence Forces Mourn Major General Sunil Razdan

• Major General Sunil Kumar Razdan died. He was the first-ever General in the Indian Army who used a wheelchair.
• Major General Razdan won the Kirti Chakra, India’s second-highest peacetime gallantry award, for a 1994 hostage rescue in Kashmir, and the Vishisht Seva Medal.

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