22nd-24th August, 2026

1. ISRO Chief V Narayanan Announces India’s Space Station Goal
2. National Space Day 2026: Theme, History and Chandrayaan-3 Legacy
3. Indian Navy Receives Mangrol, Third Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft
4. National Teachers Awards 2026: Check List of 48 Awardees, Date, Selection Process and Key Details
5. Sophie Adenot Becomes First French Woman to Walk in Space
6. DRDO Transfers Submarine-Fired Decoy Technology to BDL
7. Supreme Court Reduces Practice Period for Judicial Service
8. Who Is Yu Zidi? Meet the 13-Year-Old Chinese Swimmer Set to Feature in Asian Games 2026
9. Ashutosh Parida to Receive Sarala Puraskar 2026 for Poetry
10. RBI Appoints S Somanath, Reappoints Anand Mahindra to Central Board
11. Delhi Master Plan 2047 Unveiled: Key Features Explained
12. Mirza Fakhrul Alamgir Elected Bangladesh’s 23rd President
13. What Is World Senior Citizens Day? Date and Importance
14. CMLRE Releases National Report on Deep-Sea and Distant-Water Fishery Resources in Indian EEZ
15. PhonePe Signs Key MoUs with DPIIT to Boost PM GatiShakti and Startup Ecosystem
16. Jindal Steel & IIT Hyderabad Signs MoU to Establish CoE for Advanced Steel Solutions
17. Wizzmoni Partners with Oman Air to Launch AI-Powered Co-Branded ‘Wizz Voyager’ Multi-Currency Travel Card
18. IDFC FIRST Bank Successfully Completed its Maiden USD 500 Million Bond Issuance
19. Two Indian Doctors Nominated for Pakistan’s Nishan-e-Imtiaz Award
20. Flying Wedge Defence Unveils India’s First AI Fighter Jet ‘FWD Supreme Lite’
21. Astronomers Discover Rocky 170-Million-Year-Old ‘Mega-Earth’ Named ‘GJ 523b’
22. Ahmedabad to Host Commonwealth Cue Sports Championships in October 2026
23. International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism 2026 – August 21
24. World Senior Citizen’s Day 2026 – August 21
25. Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal Inaugurates 7 Projects worth Rs.427.80 Crore at Paradip Port in Odisha
26. VP C. P. Radhakrishnan Inaugurates ‘MALHAR 2026’ in New Delhi
27. MYAS to Establish National Coach Accreditation Board to Standardise Coaching in India
28. India Signed Two Key Agreements with Mauritius, including 5-year Petroleum Supply Pact inked by Indian Oil
29. ADB Approves USD 230 Million for Chennai Water Supply Upgrade; Rs.1,750 Crore Loan to Karnataka
30. Razorpay Introduces Multi-Currency EEFC Settlement Facility for Exporters
31. Cochin Shipyard Limited Delivered INS Mangrol, 3rd ASW-SWC to IN
32. Indian defence Start-up D-Propulse Successfully Demonstrated India’s first indigenous 5 kN air-breathing RDE
33. Legendary Actress Padma Shri Sowcar Janaki Passed Away at 94
34. International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief 2026 – August 22
35. Himachal Pradesh Sign MoU With ISB to Unlock Rs.22,600 Crore Forest Economy Potential
36. Chhattisgarh Signs MoUs to Strengthen PM GatiShakti Implementation

National News

India Plans Bharatiya Antariksha Station By 2035

• What: Indian Space Research Organisation Chairman Dr V Narayanan announced plans to establish the Bharatiya Antariksha Station by 2035 during the third National Space Day celebrations held on August 23 in Ahmedabad.
• Tell me more:
  • India celebrated its 3rd National Space Day on 23 August 2026, with the theme “Towards Viksit Bharat: Innovating, Collaborating and Aspiring to Global Space Leadership,” organised by the Space Applications Centre, ISRO, Ahmedabad.
  • National Space Day is observed to commemorate Chandrayaan-3’s Vikram lander successfully soft-landing near the Moon’s south polar region (Shiv Shakti Point) on 23 August 2023.

Supreme Court Reduces Judicial Service Requirement

• What: The Supreme Court modified its May 2025 verdict by reducing the mandatory legal practice requirement for law graduates appearing in entry-level judicial service examinations from three years to one year.
• Tell me more:
  • Candidates appearing in exams notified between 25 May 2025 and 31 March 2027 remain eligible without prior experience, and selected candidates join as trainee judicial officers for 1 year of academy training, followed by another year of structured clerkship.
  • A Bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices A.G. Masih and K. Vinod Chandran issued the 2:1 split decision while dismissing the review petition.

Vice President Inaugurates Classical Music Celebration

• What: The Vice President Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan inaugurated a youth-centric, monsoon-themed classical music celebration named Malhar 2026, organized by Antar Hriday Connect in New Delhi.
• Tell me more:
  • Antar Hriday Connect creates opportunities for young people to experience classical music through free concerts.
  • The Malhar family of ragas traditionally associates with the monsoon season and represents renewal.

India and Mauritius Sign Fuel Supply Agreement

• Tell me more:
  • The aim is to strengthen India–Mauritius energy cooperation by ensuring reliable fuel supplies and price stability, while expanding collaboration in training, capacity building, petroleum products, and biofuels.

State News

Union Minister Manohar Lal Unveils Delhi Master Plan 2047

• What: Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs Shri Manohar Lal unveiled the Delhi Master Plan 2047 to guide the national capital’s sustainable development, population growth, and infrastructure expansion up to the year 2047.
• Tell me more:
  • The framework plans about 40 lakh affordable housing units, a Transit-Oriented Development policy for connected urban growth, expanded metro and transport infrastructure, and solutions for villages, unauthorised colonies, and markets to build a future-ready capital.

Paradip Port Authority Inaugurates Infrastructure Projects

• What: Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated seven major infrastructure projects worth ₹427.80 crore at Paradip Port Authority, marking the port’s achievement of an 18.5-metre deep-draft capability.
• Tell me more:
  • The inaugurated works include the Atharbanki Second New Bridge and an Advanced Vessel Traffic Management and Information System.
  • Paradip Port projects include capital dredging, a second Atharbanki bridge, advanced vessel traffic management, sports facilities, township redevelopment, PNG infrastructure, and utility and safety upgrades.

Himachal Pradesh Signs Forest Economy Agreement

• What: The Himachal Pradesh Forest Department signed a five-year MoU with the Bharti Institute of Public Policy, Indian School of Business to unlock the state’s estimated ₹22,600 crore untapped forest economy potential.
• Tell me more:
  • Over 500 forest guards conducted a joint forest inventory, collecting tree-level records and species-tagged images, while five major bio-resources hold an estimated ₹22,600 crore in untapped value, including amla, pine needles, and wild mangoes.
  • The memorandum of understanding covers four broad areas including community enterprise development, a Forest Intelligence Platform, and a grazing portal.
    • The grazing portal will be developed under the Himachal Pradesh Grazing Policy, 2026, with linkages to Aadhaar, Him Pariwar, Bharat Pashudhan and the PEHEL scheme.
    • The PEHEL (Pastoralists Empowerment in Himalayan Ecosystems for Livelihood) scheme aims to empower over 40,000 pastoral families in the state by supporting their livelihoods, livestock rearing, and seasonal migration while bringing them into government policy.
  • The initiative combines scientific data and digital technology to improve forest governance and strengthen rural livelihoods.

Chhattisgarh Government Signs PM GatiShakti Agreements

• What: The Chhattisgarh government signed two MoUs with the Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geo-informatics and National Logistics Data Services Limited to integrate geospatial technology and real-time logistics analytics into governance under the PM GatiShakti initiative.
• Tell me more:
  • Officials finalized the agreements during the regional PM GatiShakti and LEADS 2025 Dissemination Workshop in Raipur.
  • The state onboarded over 35 departments onto the PM GatiShakti platform, mapping 41 mandatory and more than 600 additional data layers.
  • GIS-based tools identify road accident black spots, unbanked villages, and bus routes under the Mukhyamantri Mahtari Ghar Ghar Bank initiative.
  • The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade recognized Chhattisgarh as a high-performing landlocked state in the LEADS 2025 assessment.

International News

French Astronaut Makes History During Spacewalk

• What: European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot became the first French woman to perform a spacewalk during an extravehicular activity on August 18, 2026, alongside NASA astronaut Anil Menon to replace an antenna on the International Space Station.
• Tell me more:
  • NASA scheduled a follow-up spacewalk for August 25 to complete the installation using the Canadarm2 robotic arm.
  • Crew members Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway assisted the spacewalkers with spacesuits and robotics inside the station.

Banking and Economy

Wizzmoni and Oman Air Launch Travel Card

• What: Wizzmoni Financial Services Limited and Oman Air partnered to launch the Wizz Voyager Multi-Currency Card, combining fintech capabilities with an international airline network to offer an artificial intelligence-powered multi-currency travel card.
• Tell me more:
  • Wizzmoni: An NBFC and AD-II licensed financial services provider with 350+ branches, offering digital wallets, travel cards, forex, remittances, gold loans, and insurance.
  • Wizz Voyager Card: An AI-powered multi-currency travel card supporting 35+ currencies, offering real-time tracking, smart controls, and full issuance control via Visa partnership.
  • Wizz Financial: A UAE and India-based fintech platform enabling cross-border payments and lending across India, GCC, Southeast Asia, and the United States.

IDFC First Bank Raises International Bonds

• What: IDFC First Bank Limited raised $500 million through its first international bond issuance, entering global debt capital markets and diversifying its funding base to support long-term expansion.
• Tell me more:
  • The three-year fixed-rate senior notes carry a 5.625% coupon and mature in 2029.
  • S&P Global Ratings previously assigned the private-sector lender a long-term issuer credit rating of BBB- with a stable outlook.

India and Asian Development Bank Sign Loan Agreement

• What: The Government of India and the Asian Development Bank signed a $230 million loan agreement for the Chennai Climate-Resilient Water Security and Sewerage Project to modernise and expand water supply and sanitation infrastructure.
• Tell me more:
  • The project will build 170+ km of water and sewer pipelines, upgrade 7 water and 38 sewer pumping stations, introduce Chennai’s first closed-loop ring-main system, and improve utility management through performance-based contracts.

Razorpay Launches Multi-Currency EEFC Account

• What: Razorpay Software Private Limited launched the Multi-Currency Exchange Earners’ Foreign Currency Account to enable exporters and international businesses to receive direct payment settlements in original transaction currencies without immediate conversion.
• Tell me more:
  • The purpose is to reduce foreign exchange costs for businesses by allowing them to keep overseas earnings in their original currencies and convert money only when needed for international payments.
  • Merchants receive settlements in currencies like USD, EUR, GBP, AED, and SGD through Razorpay’s banking partner ecosystem.

Reports and Indices

Comprehensive Report Released For Deep Sea Fishery Resources

• What: The Centre for Marine Living Resources and Ecology under the Ministry of Earth Sciences released a national report assessing deep-sea and distant-water fishery resources across India to support sustainable ocean development.
• Tell me more:
  • The name of the report is “National Report on Deep-Sea and Distant-Water Fishery Resources of the Indian EEZ”.
  • The document compiles four decades of research and three decades of systematic surveys across India’s exclusive economic zone.
  • Research expeditions utilized the fishery and oceanographic research vessel Sagar Sampada across multiple major water bodies.
  • The publication evaluates species located within the mesopelagic zone, continental slope, and distant waters.
  • Advanced technologies like fisheries acoustics, environmental DNA, and artificial intelligence support future marine resource assessment.
  • The overall assessment is that India’s deep-sea and open-ocean waters hold rich, largely unexplored marine resources, ranging from mesopelagic species that help regulate climate to demersal and distant-water species and key biodiversity hotspots.
    • The mesopelagic zone, also known as the twilight zone, is the layer of the ocean that extends from 200 to 1,000 meters below the ocean surface.
  • The report recommends using modern technology like artificial intelligence, satellite data, and environmental DNA to study and manage these resources sustainably for future marine planning.

Defence News

Cochin Shipyard Delivers Mangrol To Indian Navy

• What: State-run Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) delivered Mangrol, the third anti-submarine warfare shallow water craft, to the Indian Navy at Kochi.
• Tell me more:
  • The vessel, with over 80% indigenous content, is powered by diesel engines and waterjets, equipped with lightweight torpedoes, rocket launchers, and sonars, and handles surveillance, mine-laying, and rescue missions.

DRDO Lab Signs Defence Technology Transfers

• What: The Naval Science and Technological Laboratory under the DRDO signed two licensing agreements for transfer of technology with Bharat Dynamics Limited and Vertex Engineering Systems to boost indigenous defence manufacturing.
• Tell me more:
  • Bharat Dynamics Limited received production rights for the Submarine Fired Decoy Mohini to protect vessels against incoming torpedoes.
  • Vertex Engineering Systems acquired fabrication and commissioning technology for the LM2500 gas turbine used in modern warships.

Flying Wedge Defence Unveils AI Fighter Demonstrator

• What: Indian defence startup Flying Wedge Defence and Aerospace unveiled FWD Supreme Lite, its technology demonstrator for an artificial intelligence-piloted fighter aircraft programme, marking a shift from digital concepts to a physical aircraft.
• Tell me more:
  • Supreme Lite is being developed as a small autonomous combat aircraft that could operate in large numbers and take off from relatively short runways, supporting distributed military operations.

Startup Demonstrates Indigenous Rotating Detonation Engine

• What: Defence propulsion startup D-Propulse successfully demonstrated India’s first indigenously developed 5 kN air-breathing Rotating Detonation Engine integrated with an aerospike nozzle at a Defence Research and Development Organisation test facility.
• Tell me more:
  • The hot-fire test validated a 5 kN Rotating Detonation Engine at TRL-5, demonstrating 15–25% higher thermodynamic efficiency than conventional air-breathing systems without moving combustor parts.
  • The startup targets a flight-ready engine by December 2027 for future defense applications like cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles.

Science and Technology

Astronomers Discover Unusually Dense Giant Exoplanet

• What: Astronomers discovered an unusually dense, giant exoplanet named GJ 523b, weighing 23 times the mass of Earth while maintaining a predominantly rocky composition.
• Tell me more:
  • NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) initially detected the exoplanet during its transit, and the celestial body completes an orbit around its host star every 17.75 days.
  • The discovery paper was submitted to The Astronomical Journal.

Awards

President to Confer National Teachers Awards 2026

• What: President Smt Droupadi Murmu will confer the National Teachers Awards on 48 school teachers at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi on September 5, 2026 (Teachers’ Day in India).
• Tell me more:
  • The Department of School Education and Literacy selects awardees through a transparent online process, inviting self-nominations via the Ministry of Education portal, and the ministry will telecast the event live on Doordarshan and SWAYAM PRABHA channels.
  • Selected educators represent 27 states, 7 union territories, and 6 central government organisations.
  • September 5 is celebrated as Teachers’ Day in India to mark the birth anniversary of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. Globally, it is recognized by the United Nations as the International Day of Charity.

Two Parsi Doctors Receive Pakistan Award

• What: Pakistan selected two Parsi doctors from Mumbai to receive its highest civilian award, Nishan-e-Imtiaz, for keeping Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s terminal illness a secret during the partition period.
• Tell me more:
  • Physician Dr. Jal Ratanji Patel and radiologist Dr. Jal Dhaybho-Koo have been nominated for the Nishan-e-Imtiaz award.

Important Days

World Senior Citizen Day – August 21

• UN observes International Day of Older Persons on October 1.

International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism 2026 – August 21

• Theme: Healing through memory

International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief 2026 – August 22

Sports

Asian Games Torch Lighting Ceremony Held

• What: Japanese sprinter Yoshihide Kiryu lit the torch at Tokyo’s National Stadium during a ceremony for the 20th edition of the Asian Games, which will take place in Nagoya and the wider Aichi area from September 19 to October 4.
• Tell me more:
  • Organisers expect about 15,000 competitors and officials, with athletes staying in various accommodations, including a docked cruise ship, while a similar ceremony in Hiroshima will unite flames in Nagoya to start the relay.
  • Yu Zidi is a 13-year-old Chinese swimmer and world-class talent who set a new women’s 200m individual medley Asian record last year.
  • She turns 14 in October and will join the Chinese team, aiming to top the medals table again in this championship.

Ahmedabad To Host Commonwealth Cue Sports Championships

• What: Ahmedabad will host the Commonwealth Cue Sports Championships 2026 in October at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex, featuring elite athletes from 45 countries competing across five distinct disciplines.
• Tell me more:
  • The second edition features ten medal events across 10-Ball, Heyball, Blackball, Snooker, and English Billiards.
  • The Billiards & Snooker Federation of India and the World Confederation of Billiards Sports (HQ: Lausanne Switzerland) hold the event under their aegis.

Sports Authority Approves Coach Accreditation Board

• What: The Sports Authority of India governing body approved the establishment of a National Coach Accreditation Board to structure and govern the country’s sports coaching ecosystem based on task force recommendations.
• Tell me more:
  • The National Coach Accreditation Board will serve as the apex authority to set coaching standards, accredit institutions, and approve training pathways, strengthening India’s coaching system under the revamped Khelo India Scheme.

Memorandum of Understanding

DPIIT Signs MoUs with PhonePe and Shell India

• What: The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry signed MoUs with PhonePe and Shell India Private Limited to strengthen support for recognized startups and promote innovation across key sectors.
• Tell me more:
  • Both collaborations enhance access to digital infrastructure, market linkages, and strategic guidance to startups for sustainable scaling.
  • PhonePe offers fintech startups transaction credits, app store access, and educational masterclasses, while Shell India provides climate-tech ventures with mentorship, investor connections, and participation in the smart energy track.

IIT-Hyderabad Establishes Steel Centre

• What: The Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad (IITH) and Jindal Steel signed an MoU to establish a centre of excellence for developing advanced steel products and solutions at the IITH campus.
• Tell me more:
  • Jindal Steel funds the facility, combining academic and manufacturing expertise through workshops and internships to accelerate advanced steel adoption in infrastructure.

Appointments

Central Government Reappoints and Appoints Directors in RBI

• What: The central government reappointed Mahindra Group chairman Anand Mahindra and appointed former ISRO Chairman S Somanath as part-time, non-official directors on the Reserve Bank of India central board for four years.
• Tell me more:
  • Anand Mahindra began his service after his initial nomination to the board in June 2022.
  • S. Somanath previously served as secretary of the Department of Space and chairman of the space agency from January 2022 to January 2025.

Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir Becomes Bangladesh President

• Senior Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir took the oath as the 23rd President of Bangladesh at a ceremony in Dhaka.

Miscellaneous

Odia Poet Ashutosh Parida Wins Sarala Puraskar

• What: Noted Odia poet, essayist, and former scientist Ashutosh Parida has been selected for the prestigious Sarala Puraskar for his poetry collection ‘Bishwas De Pruthwi’.
• Tell me more:
  • The Indian Metals Public Charitable Trust presents its annual award for best literary achievement, comprising a citation, copper plaque, and ₹7 lakh cash prize, to be given on 25 October, alongside the Ila-Bansidhar Panda Kala Samman 2026 for excellence in art and sculpture.
  • The Ila-Bansidhar Panda Kala Samman 2026 was also announced for Odissi dance guru and Padma Shri awardee Durga Charan Ranbir, along with Bhaskar and art educator Damodar Behera, for their contributions to art and culture.

Veteran South Indian Actor Sowcar Janaki Passes Away

• Veteran South Indian film actor Sowcar Janaki passed away in Chennai.
• The actor appeared in over 400 films across Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam during her seven-decade career and received the Padma Shri (2022), Kalaimamani, and Nandi Awards.

Start Quiz of 22nd-24th August 2026 on Mobile

Start Quiz of 22nd-24th August 2026 on Desktop