25th August, 2026

1. DoT under India’s BRICS Chairship Hosted BRICS ICT Track in Pune, Maharashtra
2. Union MoS Anupriya Patel Addresses IIMA Healthcare Summit 2026 on Advancing AI in Healthcare
3. IA’s Territorial Army Launches Terrier Cyber Quest 2026 National-Level Hackathon
4. NSDC Launches Nationwide Cloud & AI Skilling Initiative with AWS
5. Five African Countries End Polio Type 2 Outbreaks: WHO
6. VinFast India Sign MoU with Federal Bank to Strengthen Dealer Financing Ecosystem
7. PNB & Indian Army Sign MoU to Offer ‘PNB LUXURA Metal’ & ‘PNB Parakram’ Credit Cards for Army Personnel
8. Government Appoints Three Part-Time Non-Official Directors to RBI Central Board
9. 2026 BWF World Championships: France’s Alex Lanier & South Korea’s An Se-young Win Men’s & Women’s Singles Champions
10. Indian Chess Grandmaster Pranesh M Wins Kanizsa Open 2026 in Hungary
11. East Bengal FC Clinched 135th Durand Cup 2026 Football Title by Defeating Mohun Bagan Super Giant
12. Maharashtra Govt Signs MoU with Germany’s Hesse for Investment, Innovation & Skills
13. NSG Launches First All-Women Commando Course in Haryana
14. National Conclave on Tribal Languages and Museums Begins in Mysuru
15. Mumbai Debuts in IWG 2026 Work From Anywhere Index With 77
16. India Restored 21.76 Million Hectares of Land During 2011–2020
17. India Launches First Non-GMO High-Expansion Popcorn Maize Hybrid
18. Kaziah Liz Mejo Crowned Miss Universe India 2026
19. India’s GM Pranesh M Wins Kanizsa Open 2026 Title in Hungary
20. Andhra Pradesh Approves ₹31,387-Crore Green AI Data Centre
21. Makkah Joint Defence Agreement: How This Pact Could Reshape West Asian Security and Impact India
22. Mitchell Starc Becomes Leading Wicket-Taker in WTC History
23. India Produces First 100% Indigenous AK-203 ‘Sher’ Rifle
24. UP Approves 180-Day Maternity Leave Twice for Women
25. Lando Norris Wins Dramatic Dutch Grand Prix 2026
26. India’s Rocket Launch Costs: When Small Rockets Carry a Bigger Price Tag

National News

Government Focuses on AI Innovation in Healthcare

• What: Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA) hosted the third edition of the IIMA Healthcare Summit 2026 on the theme “Advancing AI in Healthcare” to discuss research, innovation, and artificial intelligence (AI) integration.
• Tell me more:
  • Union Minister Smt. Anupriya Patel urged India to transform from the “Pharmacy of the World” into the “Laboratory of the World” through research and emerging technologies.
  • The government highlighted the ₹5,000 crore Promotion of Research and Innovation in Pharma-MedTech Sector (PRIP) Scheme and the ₹10,000 crore Biopharma SHAKTI mission to support innovation.
  • Centres of Excellence for AI in healthcare have been set up at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) New Delhi, PGIMER Chandigarh, and AIIMS Rishikesh.
  • The event also saw the launch of the India Pharma Archives digital initiative and a book on India’s COVID-19 vaccine development (titled as a chronicle of India’s COVID-19 Vaccine Journey in official communications).

NSDC Partners With Cultus Education and AWS

• What: The National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and Cultus Education launched a nationwide cloud and Artificial Intelligence (AI) skilling initiative in collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to train 1.5 lakh learners.
• Tell me more:
  • The fully online programme provides foundational AI and cloud literacy to 1.5 lakh youth across all States and Union Territories, targeting Tier 2 and Tier 3 towns.
  • Additionally, 10,000 eligible participants will receive intensive, instructor-led job-ready training through the AWS re/Start programme.
  • The curriculum covers programming, cloud infrastructure, networking, security, and databases through digital content, hands-on labs, and certification exams.

National Conclave on Tribal Languages Begins in Mysuru

• What: The Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) is organising a three-day National Conclave on Tribal Languages and Museums from August 24 to 26 in Mysuru, Karnataka, to document, preserve, and revitalise tribal languages.
• Tell me more:
  • The event features the release of Karnataka Primers in tribal languages and the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between MoTA and the Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL).
  • MoTA will launch a Chatbot alongside a major update to the Adi Vaani platform, which includes an iOS application and five new languages.

India Restores Land Under Global Bonn Challenge Commitments

• What: Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav highlighted India’s land restoration achievements and enhanced commitment to restore 26 million hectares by 2030 during the 17th Conference of the Parties (CoP 17) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
• Tell me more:
  • India released its Second Progress Report on the Bonn Challenge, showing 21.76 million hectares of degraded land restored between 2011 and 2020.
  • The reported restoration activities generated approximately 1.22 billion person-days of employment across agriculture, forestry, and water conservation sectors.
  • India is undertaking the 2021–2025 reporting cycle with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) Centre of Excellence on Sustainable Land Management.
  • Key schemes supporting national restoration efforts include the Green India Mission, the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA), and the Nagar Van Yojana.

State News

India Hosts BRICS ICT Track Meetings In Pune

• What: The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) will lead the Information and Communication Technologies Track (ICT Track) under India’s BRICS Chairship for 2026 in Pune from 17 to 21 August 2026.
• Tell me more:
  • The five-day event features the theme “Innovate, Cooperate and Transform (ICT) for a Resilient Future.”
  • Eleven member nations including Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and United Arab Emirates (UAE) will participate.
  • The event comprises the 7th Working Group Meeting, the Digital BRICS Forum and Expo, and the 12th Communications Ministers Meeting.

Maharashtra Signs MoU with Hesse for Investment Partnership

• What: Maharashtra signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the German state of Hesse at Sahyadri Guest House in Mumbai to strengthen cooperation in investment, industry, innovation, employment, and skill development.
• Tell me more:
  • Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Hesse Minister-President Boris Rhein signed the MoU to enhance strategic economic partnership between the two regions.
  • Hesse will serve as Maharashtra’s entry point to Germany and Europe, while Maharashtra will provide Hesse access to India and the Indo-Pacific region.

Andhra Pradesh Approves Investments Worth over ₹31,800 Crore

• What: The Andhra Pradesh state government approved two major investment projects totaling over ₹31,800 crore to build a green artificial intelligence (AI) data centre and an electronics manufacturing unit.
• Tell me more:
  • AM AI Factory (Vizag) Private Limited will build a 512 megawatt green integrated AI data centre facility in Bheemunipatnam mandal of Visakhapatnam district with an investment of ₹31,387 crore.
  • The project comes under the Andhra Pradesh Data Centre Policy (4.0) 2024–29 and has a completion timeline of two years and four months.
  • The state government also allotted 21.75 acres of land at the Electronics Manufacturing Cluster (EMC) in Kopparthy, Kadapa district, to AIL Dixon Technologies Private Limited.

Uttar Pradesh Cabinet Approves Key Infrastructure and Employee Decisions

• The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet approved a proposal to grant 180-day maternity leave to state government women employees twice during their service without requiring a two-year gap between leaves.

International News

Five African Nations Stop Spread of Polio

• What: The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Africa confirmed that Burundi, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Congo, and Uganda stopped poliovirus type 2 transmission following technical reviews.
• Tell me more:
  • The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), which includes WHO, Rotary International, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Gates Foundation, and Gavi, supported national health authorities.

Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Pakistan Sign Defence Pact

• What: Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement to establish a mutual defence framework stipulating that an attack on one signatory shall be regarded as an attack on all three.
• Tell me more:
  • The closure of the Strait of Hormuz and Houthi attacks on the Bab el-Mandeb have disrupted Saudi Arabia oil transport to Asian markets and Russian crude shipments to India.
  • The pact establishes collective self-defence commitments among the three nations, though its exact geographical scope and operational limits remain unspecified.
  • Divergent regional threat perceptions exist among the signatories, with Turkey focusing on Syria, Pakistan on India and Afghanistan, and Saudi Arabia on regional maritime security.
  • The agreement builds upon the previous Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement (SMDA) signed between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, under which Pakistan deployed military troops to Saudi Arabia.
  • The diplomatic situation coincides with ongoing discussions regarding an international MoU aimed at lifting economic sanctions against Iran to restore global oil supply stability.

Banking and Economy

VinFast India Partners With Federal Bank

• What: VinFast India, the Indian subsidiary of electric vehicle manufacturer VinFast, signed an MoU with Federal Bank to provide customized inventory financing solutions for its nationwide dealer network.
• Tell me more:
  • The collaboration aims to strengthen VinFast’s dealership network and working capital, support its Tamil Nadu manufacturing facility, and build a complete electric mobility ecosystem in India.
  • Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of VinFast Asia – Tapan Ghosh

Reports and Indices

Mumbai Debuts in Global Work From Anywhere Index

• What: Mumbai scored 77 points to become the sole Indian city featured in the International Workplace Group (IWG) 2026 Work From Anywhere Index, ranking ahead of global destinations such as London and Miami.
• Tell me more:
  • IWG evaluated locations using parameters like climate, transport costs, accommodation, broadband speed, food, culture, and flexible workspace availability.
  • Mumbai performed well in transport costs, flexible workspace access, climate, and accommodation, but lagged in broadband quality, local events, and the happiness index.
  • Data from Cushman & Wakefield shows India achieved a 100 score on the flexible workspace maturity index, with flexible office stock projected to cross 100 million square feet in 2026.
  • An IWG survey revealed 51% of workers have Work From Anywhere options, while Bangkok topped the overall index with 106.5 points.
  • Top 10 Rankers:

Defence News

Territorial Army Launches Cyber Security Hackathon TCQ 3.0

• What: The Territorial Army (TA) launched Terrier Cyber Quest 2026 (TCQ 3.0) in collaboration with CyberPeace as a national-level hackathon to develop solutions for defence, cybersecurity, and information-domain challenges.
• Tell me more:
  • The event brings together technical talent from academia, industry, research institutions, government organisations, and the Armed Forces.
  • TCQ 3.0 focuses on Artificial Intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, threat mitigation, and digital awareness to encourage indigenous solutions for national security.
  • The competition consists of three tracks: Bug Hunting for vulnerability identification, AI Kavach for predictive threat intelligence, and Creators Challenge for awareness campaigns against online threats.
  • Registrations close on 31 August 2026, followed by online shortlisting from 1 to 10 September 2026, and the Grand Finale in New Delhi from 6 to 8 October 2026.

PNB Partners With Indian Army to Offer Exclusive Credit Cards

• What: Punjab National Bank (PNB) signed an exclusive Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Army to launch two customized credit cards for serving Army personnel.
• Tell me more:
  • PNB will issue the PNB LUXURA Metal Credit Card for Army officers and the PNB Parakram Credit Card for Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs) and other ranks.
  • Major General VK Purohit and PNB General Manager Deepak Kumar signed the MoU at the Indian Army Headquarters in Delhi.

NSG Launches First Mahila Commando Conversion Course

• What: The National Security Guard (NSG) has launched its first 12-week Mahila Commando Conversion Course (MCCC) at Manesar in Haryana’s Gurugram district to train women personnel from State Police Forces and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) in counter-terror operations.
• Tell me more:
  • The initiative aims to build a larger pool of skilled women commandos, strengthens interoperability and operational capability, and supports women’s empowerment under the theme “She Who Dares, Leads.”

IRRPL Produces First Fully Indigenous AK-203 Assault Rifle

• What: Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL) produced and successfully test-fired the first AK-203 Sher assault rifle made entirely from 100% Indian components and input materials at its Amethi facility.
• Tell me more:
  • IRRPL will manufacture additional indigenous rifles for Indian Armed Forces trials from September 2026 under its ₹5,200-crore contract to produce and supply 6,01,427 AK-203 rifles.
  • IRRPL aims to produce one rifle every 100 seconds to expand manufacturing capacity and complete all deliveries by December 2030, nearly two years ahead of the original October 2032 deadline.

Agriculture and Rural Development

India Launches First Non-GMO Popcorn Maize Hybrid

• What: Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan launched India’s first non-genetically modified (non-GMO) high-expansion popcorn maize hybrid seed at the Gourmet Popcornica facility in Musunuru, Eluru district, Andhra Pradesh, to boost agricultural self-reliance.
• Tell me more:
  • The indigenous hybrid seed will end India’s long-standing dependence on imported hybrid technology for high-quality popcorn maize while creating global export opportunities.
  • The initiative connects over 17,500 farming families across eight states cultivating nearly 40,000 acres to the popcorn value chain without taking agricultural loans.
  • Gourmet Popcornica, under Pattabhi Rao, has evolved into one of Asia’s largest popcorn maize processors.
  • The launch highlights central schemes including Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN), Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), Kisan Credit Card (KCC), and Namo Drone Didi.

Awards

Kaziah Liz Mejo Crowned Miss Universe India 2026

• What: Nineteen-year-old law student Kaziah Liz Mejo from Kerala was crowned Miss Universe India 2026 at a finale held at Zee Studios in Jaipur.
• Tell me more:
  • Miss Universe India 2025 Manika Vishwakarma passed on the crown, while Vaishnavi Gannesh of Tamil Nadu, the first runner-up, won the Miss International India 2026 title.
  • The national titleholder will represent India at the 75th Miss Universe competition in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Important Days

BWF World Championships 2026 Concludes In New Delhi

• What: The Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Championships 2026 concluded in New Delhi with champions crowned across five categories from 17 to 23 August 2026.
• Tell me more:
  • Alex Lanier defeated Kodai Naraoka to become the first French player to win the men’s singles world title.
  • Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue secured France’s first-ever gold medal at the tournament by winning the mixed doubles category.
  • An Se-young won her second women’s singles world title by defeating Akane Yamaguchi in the final.
  • Baek Ha-na and Lee So-hee ended a 31-year wait for South Korea by winning the women’s doubles title, while Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang won men’s doubles for China.

Pranesh M Wins Kanizsa Open 2026 Title

• What: Indian Grandmaster Pranesh M (from Tamil Nadu) won the Kanizsa Open 2026 title in Nagykanizsa, Hungary, after defeating Germany’s Vadim Petrovskiy in the ninth and final round.
• Tell me more:
  • Pranesh holds a rating of 2673 and ranks 44th in the International Chess Federation (FIDE) World Rankings for August 2026.

East Bengal FC Wins Durand Cup 2026 Title

• What: East Bengal Football Club (East Bengal FC) defeated arch-rival Mohun Bagan Super Giant 4-1 in the final of the Durand Cup 2026 at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata.
• Tell me more:
  • The 24-team tournament was hosted across five cities—Kolkata, Ranchi, Shillong, Imphal, and Guwahati, with Ranchi added as a new venue.
  • The Indian Armed Forces have been conducting the tournament since its inception in 1888.
  • The All India Football Federation (AIFF) used the tournament as the official season opener to help Indian Super League (ISL) and lower-tier clubs prepare for the long league calendar.

Mitchell Starc Becomes Highest Wicket-Taker in WTC History

• Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc became the highest wicket-taker in International Cricket Council (ICC) World Test Championship (WTC) history with 234 wickets after taking ten wickets in the second Test match against Bangladesh at Mackay, Queensland.

Norris Wins Eventful Dutch Grand Prix 2026

• McLaren driver Lando Norris won the Formula 1 Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2026 at Zandvoort, securing his second consecutive victory of the season by defeating Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli.

Appointments

Annie George Mathew Appointed to RBI Central Board

• What: The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) appointed former senior finance ministry official Annie George Mathew as a part-time, non-official director on the Central Board of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for a four-year term.
• Tell me more:
  • The ACC approved the appointment under Section 8(1)(c) of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, increasing the board strength from 11 to 14 members.
  • Mathew, a 62-year-old former Special Secretary in the Department of Expenditure, currently serves as a full-time member of the Sixteenth Finance Commission.
  • Janmejaya Kumar Sinha and Syed Akbaruddin were also appointed alongside her to add diverse expertise to the Central Board of the RBI.
    • Janmejaya Kumar Sinha: He has served as Chairman of BCG India and BCG Asia-Pacific, bringing expertise in corporate strategy, economics, financial-sector reforms, and policy advisory committees.
    • Syed Akbaruddin: He served as India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, MEA spokesperson, and IAEA representative, bringing extensive diplomatic and international policy expertise.

Start Quiz of 25th August 2026 on Mobile

Start Quiz of 25th August 2026 on Desktop