Union Minister Amit Shah Inaugurate NUCFDC’s New Premises in Mumbai
Union Minister Amit Shah, Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) and Ministry of Cooperation (MoC) inaugurated the new premises of the National Urban Cooperative Finance and Development Corporation (NUCFDC) at Sharada Sadan in Fort, Mumbai.
Union Minister Giriraj Singh inaugurates IIHT SUTRA 2026, first National Conclave of IIHTs in New Delhi, Delhi
Union Minister Giriraj Singh, Ministry of Textiles MoT) inaugurated IIHT SUTRA 2026, the first national conclave of the Indian Institutes of Handloom Technology (IIHTs), organised by the Office of the Development Commissioner (Handlooms) of MoT, at the Dr Ambedkar International Centre (DAIC) in New Delhi, Delhi.
DIBD and NITI Aayog Signed SoI to Advance Multilingual AI for Inclusive Governance
Digital India BHASHINI(BHASHa INterface for India) Division (DIBD) which works under the Digital India Corporation (DIC), Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), signed a Statement of Intent (SoI) with the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog), to advance multilingual, voice-first Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions for inclusive governance and citizen-centric public services through the BHASHINI for Seva/Sanchalan initiative.
Union Minister Amit Shah Launches Gramin Gyan Setu App to Interconnect Libraries in Gandhinagar
Union Minister, Amit Shah, Ministry of Home Affairs(MHA) and Ministry of Cooperation, launched the ‘Gramin Gyan Setu’ application(app) through video conferencing to integrate libraries across the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency of Gujarat.
PCIM&H and IPC Renew MoU to Strengthen ‘One Herb, One Standard’ Initiative
Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine & Homoeopathy (PCIM&H), Ministry of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy) and the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC), Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW), renewed their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen scientific standardisation of medicinal plants under the ‘One Herb, One Standard’ initiative.
India and SACU Signed ToR for Negotiations towards a Preferential Trade Agreement
Government of India (GoI) and the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), an African regional economic organisation, signed the Terms of Reference (ToR) for negotiations towards a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA), at Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi (Delhi), marking India’s first ToR with the African region.
This development represents a major step towards strengthening trade and economic engagement between India and the SACU Member States.
India and Malaysia Commence Exercise Udara Shakti 2026
Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) commenced the 3rd edition of bilateral Exercise Udara Shakti at Subang Air Base, Selangor, Malaysia, from 10 to 14 August (with the flying phase from 11 to 13 August) to enhance interoperability, operational coordination and defence cooperation between the two air forces.
- The exercise was inaugurated by RMAF Exercise Director Colonel Shamsul Shahreen bin Isa and IAF Exercise Director Group Captain Parijat Jha, with Indian Defence Adviser Colonel Praveen Sukumaran in attendance.
MCX, NISM Sign MoU to Set Up Commodity Markets Research Centre
Multi Commodity Exchange of India Limited (MCX) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with National Institute of Securities Markets (NISM) at the Global Commodity Conclave 2026 to establish a dedicated Commodity Markets Research Centre for research, knowledge creation and capacity building in India’s commodity derivatives market.
Bank of America to Acquire Up to 49.9% Stake in Jio Credit for Rs. 18,268 Crore
Bank of America Corporation (BofA) and Jio Financial Services Limited (JFSL) entered into a Joint Venture (JV) Agreement under which BofA will acquire up to 49.9% stake in Jio Credit Limited(JCL), the wholly owned Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) lending subsidiary of JFSL through the exercise of warrants.
CSL Delivers 2nd HS EcoFreighter MPV ‘MS Maria’ to Germany-Based HS Schiffahrts
Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) delivered MS Maria, second of the eight HS EcoFreighter series of Multi-Purpose Vessels (MPVs) to Germany-based shipping firm HS Schiffahrts UG (haftungsbeschränkt) & Co KG, Germany.
Delhi University Scientists Discover 3 New Cascade Frog Species in Northeast India
Scientists led by Prof. S. D. Biju from University of Delhi discovered three new cascade frog species in Northeast India: Ammachi’s Cascade Frog (Amolops ammachi) from Tripura, Sendenyu Cascade Frog (Amolops sendenyu) from Nagaland, and Beautiful Cascade Frog (Amolops bella) from West Bengal (WB).
- The study was published in the Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, highlighting India’s rich amphibian diversity.
Former Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji Passed Away at 97
Former Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji, known for spearheading major economic reforms and restructuring state-owned industries, passed away at the age of 97 in Beijing, China. He was born in 1928 in Hunan province, China.
About Zhu Rongji:
Profile: He was a key architect of China’s economic reforms, driving changes in state-owned enterprises, taxation, inflation control and housing, while promoting China’s integration into the global economy.
International Left Handers Day 2026 – August 13
International Left-Handers Day is observed annually across the world on 13 August to celebrate left-handed individuals and raise awareness about the challenges they face in a predominantly right-handed world.
World Organ Donation Day 2026 – August 13
World Organ Donation Day is annually observed across the globe on August 13 to commemorate the first successful organ transplant in 1954 while raising awareness about organ donation and encouraging people to become donors to help save lives.