21st August, 2026

1. UNHCR, SICCI & Ethiraj College Join Hands to Advance Refugee Education and Inclusion
2. Paul Merchants Finance Becomes India’s First NBFC to Set Up Exclusive Silver Loan Branches
3. Paramotor Digital Partners with NSDL Payments Bank to Issue Prepaid Cards
4. Google Acquires Spirit Airlines’ Business Data for AI Development
5. Dr. Eluri Sreedhar Appointed as Honorary Advisor to BRICS CCI
6. LIC Gets RBI Approval to Increase Stake up to 9.99% in HDFC Bank
7. CCI Approved Prudential’s Proposed Majority Stake Buy in Bharti Life Insurance
8. AkinAnalytics Launches Indigenous NIKA2 Kisan Medium Drone for Farmers
9. World Mosquito Day 2026 – August 20
10. 65th Subroto Cup International Football Tournament Opens in New Delhi
11. What is SAVE America Act? Why US President Trump Cites India’s Voter ID System
12. Viksit Bharat Quiz 2026 on MyGov: Registration, Quiz Questions, Rewards and Certificate
13. PM Modi chairs third high-level meeting with Secretaries to Government of India
14. India to host 12th BRICS Communications Ministers Meeting in Pune
15. BRICS Tourism Ministers’ meeting to begin in Jaipur
16. IndiaAI Mission organises workshop on AIKosh to strengthen India’s AI-ready data ecosystem
17. 35th Nepali Language Constitutional Recognition Day celebrated with great enthusiasm in India
18. MeitY partners with PhonePe to strengthen PM GatiShakti with granular data intelligence
19. Government allows duty-free imports of 10 lakh metric tonnes of raw sugar until 31st October
20. Supreme Court forms five-member panel to investigate violence during student protest across country
21. India and Japan agree to deepen defence technology partnership; Sign MoA on Maritime Security Cooperation

National News

MyGov Launches Viksit Bharat Quiz 2026

• What: MyGov launched the Viksit Bharat Quiz 2026 in July to celebrate 12 years of India’s development journey, inviting citizens to test their knowledge of India’s progress toward becoming a developed nation by 2047.
• Tell me more:
  • The top three performers will win cash prizes of ₹51,000, ₹31,000, and ₹21,000 respectively.
  • The next top 50 participants will get ₹4,000 each, and the following top 100 will get ₹3,000 each as consolation prizes.

PM Modi Chairs Third Meeting With Secretaries

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the third high-level meeting with Secretaries to the Government of India, discussing infrastructure, connectivity, security, external affairs, and governance.
• The meeting aimed to help officials look beyond immediate issues and statistics, overcome departmental silos, and adopt a long-term perspective on shaping India’s future.

IndiaAI Mission Holds Workshop On AIKosh Platform

• What: The IndiaAI Mission organized a workshop on AIKosh, the national datasets and models platform, at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, to unlock India’s data potential for Artificial Intelligence (AI).
• Tell me more:
  • AIKosh is a national platform under the IndiaAI Mission for datasets, AI models, and related resources for India’s AI ecosystem.
  • IndiaAI, the National e-Governance Division (NeGD), and the Centre for Digital Public Infrastructure (CDPI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen India’s AI ecosystem.
  • A second MoU was signed between IndiaAI Mission and EkStep Foundation to advance collaboration on India’s AI future.
  • AIKosh currently hosts over 15,000 datasets, 300 AI models, and 30 toolkits for researchers, startups, and developers.

Nepali Language Constitutional Recognition Day Observed In India

• What: The Nepali/Gorkha Community in India observed the 35th Nepali Language Constitutional Recognition Day, marking the inclusion of Nepali language in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution.
• Tell me more:
  • On August 20, 1992, the Indian Parliament passed the 71st constitutional amendment, including Nepali, Manipuri, and Konkani languages in the 8th Schedule.
  • The President of India gave consent to the amendment on August 31, 1992.

Supreme Court Forms Committee to Probe Student Protests

• What: The Supreme Court constituted a five-member High-Powered Enquiry Committee (HPEC), headed by Justice R Subhash Reddy, to examine violence during student protests at Jantar Mantar last month.
• Tell me more:
  • The HPEC will examine police and protester violence, submit periodic interim reports, and prioritize cases of targeted violence against female protesters.
  • Other members include former Chief Justice Ravi Shankar Jha, Justice Shalinder Kaur, former Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Director Rishi Kumar Shukla, and Dr. L.R. Bishnoi.
  • A three-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant passed the order while hearing petitions on the nationwide demonstrations.

State News

India Hosts 12th BRICS Communications Ministers Meeting in Pune

• What: Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia chaired the 12th BRICS Communications Ministers Meeting in Pune, focusing on cooperation in Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and digital transformation.
• Tell me more:
  • The meeting’s theme was “Innovate, Cooperate and Transform (ICT) for a Resilient Future,” held under India’s BRICS Chairship theme of resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability.
  • BRICS Communications Ministers discussed Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), future networks, cybersecurity, and resilient connectivity across member states.
  • The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) led the BRICS ICT Track in Pune from August 17 to 21, starting with the 7th BRICS ICT Working Group Meeting.
  • BRICS comprises 11 countries: Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates.

India Hosts 2nd BRICS Tourism Working Group Meeting

• What: The Ministry of Tourism hosted the 2nd BRICS 2026 Tourism Working Group (TWG) Meeting in Jaipur, chaired by Secretary Bhuvnesh Kumar, under India’s BRICS Chairship.
• Tell me more:
  • The meeting built on the 1st TWG meeting held virtually on May 25, 2026, focusing on four priorities: AI and Tourism, Sustainability, Skilling, and Seamless Travel Facilitation.
  • The meeting was held under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.”
  • Outcomes from this meeting will form the basis for the BRICS Tourism Ministers’ Meeting on August 21.

International News

US Leader Praises Indian Electoral System

• What: United States President Donald Trump praised the voter identity card system of India during a push for stricter voting rules.
• Tell me more:
  • United States President Donald Trump discussed electoral procedures with Chief Election Commissioner of India Gyanesh Kumar.
  • Lawmakers in the United States Congress introduced the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility-SAVE America Act on January 29.
  • The SAVE America Act aims to ensure only American citizens vote in federal elections.
  • It seeks to bring three key changes: mandatory valid ID and proof of citizenship before voter registration, restriction of mail-in ballots to specific cases (illness, disability, military service, or travel), and removal of non-citizens from state voter rolls.

Banking and Economy

Paul Merchants Finance Launches Silver Loans

• What: Paul Merchants Finance Private Limited launched a new loan against silver product following the Reserve Bank of India directions that permit regulated lenders to accept silver as collateral.
• Tell me more:
  • The initiative introduces an organised lending system for silver-backed loans, replacing informal moneylenders and helping individuals, business owners, and small businesses access quick, safe funds.
  • Operations began in Chandigarh with plans for phased branch expansion, offering loans from ₹2,000 to ₹15 lakh against eligible silver assets.

Paramotor Digital Partners With NSDL Bank

• What: Paramotor Digital Technology Limited entered into a co-branded partnership agreement with National Securities Depository Limited (NSDL) Payments Bank to issue prepaid cards across India.
• Tell me more:
  • NSDL Payments Bank is helping power Paramotor’s digital platforms (SpendPro, Yayyy.shop, RewardOn) with secure banking infrastructure, making the company’s business stronger just as it prepares for a stock market listing

Google Acquires Bankrupt Spirit Airlines Data

• What: Alphabet Inc.’s Google agreed to pay $10 million for internal business data from bankrupt Spirit Airlines to support product development and train artificial intelligence models.
• Tell me more:
  • Google will use bankrupt Spirit Airlines’ internal business data to develop products and train its AI models, expanding its AI training data sources.

Reserve Bank Approves Higher Stake in Bank

• What: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved an application from the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) to acquire up to 9.99% of the paid-up share capital or voting rights in HDFC Bank.
• Tell me more:
  • LIC held a 4.11% stake in the private sector lender as of August 14.

Competition Commission Approves Insurance Stake Acquisition

• What: The Competition Commission of India (CCI) approved the proposed acquisition of equity shareholding in Bharti Life Insurance Company Limited by Prudential Corporation Holdings Limited.
• Tell me more:
  • Prudential Corporation Holdings serves as the holding company for the acquirer group’s insurance and asset management operations in Asia.
  • Bharti Life Insurance Company is an insurer incorporated in India and licensed by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI).

Defence News

India-Japan Defence Ministers Meet In New Delhi

• What: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Japanese counterpart Shinjiro Koizumi co-chaired the India-Japan Defence Ministers Meeting in New Delhi, focusing on maritime security and defence cooperation.
• Tell me more:
  • Both Ministers signed a Memorandum of Arrangement on Maritime Security Cooperation.
  • The Ministers discussed aligning India’s MAHASAGAR vision with Japan’s Free and Open Indo-Pacific Initiative to protect Sea Lines of Communications.
  • The Ministers welcomed expanding bilateral exercises, including Dharma Guardian, JAIMEX, and the upcoming Veer Guardian 26 Air Force exercise.
  • India and Japan will celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations next year.

Science and Technology

AkinAnalytics Launches Indigenous Agricultural Drone Platform

• What: Hyderabad-based startup AkinAnalytics launched its indigenous NIKA2 Kisan Medium Drone in New Delhi to provide versatile technology-led solutions for farmers and field-intensive industries.
• Tell me more:
  • The purpose is to make farming flexible: the quick-change mechanism lets operators switch tasks easily, and terrain-following lets the machine work on uneven or sloped land.
  • AkinAnalytics is also developing an AI-augmented drone analytics platform and digital twin technologies for inspection, measurement, monitoring, and decision-making across agriculture, aquaculture, mining, energy, infrastructure, and defence.
  • It operates a DGCA-authorised remote pilot training organisation in Amalapuram, Andhra Pradesh, and is targeting global markets with backing from NIDHI PRAYAS, Startup India Seed Fund, MeitY SAMRIDH, and iDEX.
  • Founder Janaki Pulaparthi leads this women-led enterprise.

Agriculture and Rural Development

Government Allows Duty-Free Imports of Raw Sugar

• What: The government allowed duty-free imports of up to 10 lakh metric tonnes of raw sugar until October 31 this year to address domestic supply concerns.
• Tell me more:
  • The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) issued a notification permitting the imports under a tariff rate quota (TRQ) of 10 lakh metric tonnes.
  • The imports will be duty-free, subject to conditions, ahead of the festival season when sugar demand rises. India is the world’s second-largest sugar producer.

Important Days

World Mosquito Day 2026 – August 20

Sports

65th Subroto Cup Tournament Commences

• What: The 65th edition of the Subroto Cup International Football Tournament commenced at Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Stadium in New Delhi, bringing together 108 teams across three age categories to nurture grassroots football.
• Tell me more:
  • Participating teams compete across Junior Girls (U-17), Junior Boys (U-17), and Sub-Junior Boys (U-15) categories.

Memorandum of Understanding

UNHCR Signs MoU For Refugee Inclusion

• What: The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the Southern India Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI), and Ethiraj College for Women signed an MoU to promote refugee self-reliance and inclusion in India.
• Tell me more:
  • The partnership combines academic expertise with technical and operational experience to support socio-economic inclusion, including for Sri Lankan refugees in Tamil Nadu.

MeitY Signs MoU With PhonePe For GatiShakti

• What: The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with PhonePe to strengthen the PM GatiShakti mission using hyperlocal data intelligence.
• Tell me more:
  • Under the MoU, PhonePe PulsePro metrics will be integrated into the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan portal.
  • The portal is managed in collaboration with the Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geo-informatics (BISAG-N).
  • The MoU aims to support national infrastructure planning, economic analysis, and holistic urban and rural development through data-driven decision-making.

Appointments

Dr. Sreedhar Appointed BRICS CCI Advisor

• What: Dr. Sreedhar received an invitation to serve as Honorary Advisor to the BRICS Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BRICS CCI) to support economic collaboration and inclusive development initiatives.
• Tell me more:
  • Chairman of BRICS CCI – Sameep Shastri

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