PM Jan Dhan Yojana Completes 12 Years of Transforming India’s Financial Inclusion
Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) completed 12 years, emerging as the world’s largest financial inclusion initiative and transforming access to formal banking services across India.
PM SVANidhi Completes One Year of Restructuring: Expanding Credit, Digital Inclusion
Prime Minister Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) completed one year of its restructured phase, marking a significant milestone in strengthening the livelihoods and expanding financial inclusion for street vendors across India.
- The revamped scheme, launched on 27 August 2025, has expanded beyond credit delivery to include formal financial access, digital payments, social security, capacity building, and entrepreneurship, and has been extended until 31 March 2030.
Banas Bio-CNG Model Plant Inaugurated in Banaskantha, Gujarat
Banas Bio-CNG Model Plant, a joint initiative of Banas Dairy, Suzuki Motor Corporation and the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), was inaugurated at Vinchhivadi in Dhanera taluka, Banaskantha district, Gujarat, to promote clean energy, circular economy and additional income opportunities for livestock farmers.
Hindalco Commissions India’s First PPT ATH Plant in Karnataka
Hindalco Industries Limited commissioned India’s first Superfine Precipitated Aluminium Trihydrate (PPT ATH) manufacturing plant in Belagavi, Karnataka.
- The greenfield facility marks the first domestic production of this high-value specialty alumina product, strengthening India’s capability in fire-safety materials and supporting the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
RBI Relaxes Weekly Access Rule for FCNR(B) Swap Facility for Transactions Above USD 100 Million
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) relaxed access norms for its dollar-rupee swap facility under Foreign Currency Non-Resident (Bank), FCNR(B) deposits, allowing banks to undertake swaps above USD 100 million outside weekly windows across India, to strengthen foreign exchange (forex) reserves and support rupee stability.
Bajaj General Launches ‘My Family Complete’ Covering Pets
Bajaj General Insurance Limited, formerly Bajaj Allianz General Insurance, launched ‘My Family Complete’, India’s first health insurance policy that includes pet dogs and cats as insured family members under a single integrated plan.
NABARD & NaBFID Signs MoU to Strengthen Rural Infrastructure Financing
National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) and the National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development (NaBFID) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance financing support for rural infrastructure projects and Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects by providing long-term and competitively priced finance.
Japan’s Yuko Keicho Appointed as Vice President & Auditor General of World Bank Group
World Bank (WB) Group appointed Yuko Keicho, a Japanese national, as Vice President (VP) and Auditor General, strengthening its governance and internal audit framework.
- She will lead the Internal Audit Vice Presidency (IAD), overseeing governance, risk management, and operational integrity across World Bank Group institutions.
L&T Delivers ‘Samarthak’, Indian Navy’s First Indigenous Multi-Purpose Vessel
Indian Navy (IN) received its first indigenous Multi-Purpose Vessel (MPV), Samarthak, built by Larsen & Toubro Ltd. (L&T) under the Samarthak-class MPV project at its Kattupalli Shipbuilding Facility, Tamil Nadu (TN).
- Indian Navy Ship (INS) Utkarsh, the second vessel of the series, was launched on 14 January 2025 and is currently undergoing tests and sea trials before final delivery.
CSIR-IHBT Researchers Discover New Sunflower Species ‘Doronicum Sanctum’ in AR
Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (IHBT), under Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), discovered a new sunflower family species ‘Doronicum sanctum’ in Tawang district, Arunachal Pradesh (AR), at ~4,000 metre (m) altitude, highlighting Himalayan biodiversity through botanical survey and laboratory analysis.
- The findings were published in an international peer-reviewed journal by Springer Nature.
Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa Becomes 1st Indian to Win Grand Chess Tour 2026
Indian Chess Grandmaster (GM) Rameshbabu (R) Praggnanandhaa won the Grand Chess Tour (GCT) 2026 Finals, becoming the first Indian champion by defeating United States of America (USA) GM Fabiano Caruana 15–13 in the finals held at Saint Louis Chess Club in St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America (USA) from 22 to 27 August 2026.
- GM Wesley So of the USA secured third place with a score of 18–12, while GM Vincent Keymer of Germany finished fourth.
VP C. P. Radhakrishnan Releases Ghanshyam Tiwari’s Book ‘Sankalp Se Siddhi Ka Modi Yug’
Vice President (VP) of India C. P. Radhakrishnan released the book ‘Sankalp Se Siddhi Ka Modi Yug’ authored by Ghanshyam Tiwari, Member of Parliament (MP),Rajya Sabha , at Uprashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi, Delhi. The book was published by Rupa Publications.
- The author portrays Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi as ‘Setu Purush ‘, a bridge linking national thinkers’ visions with their implementation in contemporary India.
World Sanskrit Day 2026 – August 28
World Sanskrit Day, also known as Sanskrit Diwas / Vishva Samskrita Dinam, is observed annually across the world on Shravana Purnima (full moon day of Shravana month) to promote Sanskrit, one of India’s oldest languages.
- World Sanskrit Day 2026 was observed on 28 August 2026.
Meghalaya Launches CM-IMPACT Read & Rise Programme to Improve Foundational Literacy
Government of Meghalaya launched the CM-IMPACT
(Chief Minister’s Initiative for Maximising Pass Achievement and Classroom Triumph) Read & Rise Meghalaya Programme to enhance foundational reading skills among schoolchildren and address learning gaps, especially in rural and remote areas.
- The programme was launched by Meghalaya Chief Minister(CM) Conrad K. Sangma at the Assembly Annexe Hall, Shillong, in the presence of State Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui.
AP Approves India’s First Dedicated Quantum and AI University Campus in Amaravati
N. Chandrababu Naidu, Chief Minister (CM) of Andhra Pradesh (AP) approved the establishment of India’s first dedicated Quantum and Artificial Intelligence (AI) University Campus in Amaravati, AP.