ICAR develops India's first T2T reference genome for pigeonpea.

Dated: 07 August 2026

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research released India's first fully annotated telomere-to-telomere reference genome for the pigeonpea variety Asha. The genome was developed by ICAR-National Institute for Plant Biotechnology in New Delhi. This achievement provides a complete genetic resource to support advanced pigeonpea research, crop improvement and higher pulse production in India.

Key Points:
•   The T2T reference genome was developed using the Asha variety of pigeonpea, also known as Arhar or Tur.
•   The genome contains 752.65 million base pairs of DNA and includes all 11 chromosomes.
•   It includes 11 centromeres, 22 telomeres and identifies 36,557 genes producing 48,008 mRNAs.
•   ICAR-NIPB published the world's first draft genome of a pulse crop, pigeonpea, in 2011.
•   The final T2T assembly, called NIPBCct2T4, was completed in 2026 and deposited in the NCBI database.
•   The development supports the Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses, which targets 35 million tonnes pulse production by 2030-31.

Additional Information:
•   ICAR-NIPB was established in 1985 and is headquartered in New Delhi.
•   Pigeonpea is scientifically known as Cajanus cajan and is commonly called Arhar or Tur.
•   India is the world's largest producer and consumer of pigeonpea.

NITI Aayog launches Reimagining Care report for Viksit Bharat@2047.

Dated: 07 August 2026

NITI Aayog released the Reimagining Care report on 5 August 2026 to strengthen and professionalise India's caregiving ecosystem. The report focuses on empowering family and professional caregivers as a skilled workforce. It proposes policy and institutional measures to address the care needs of elderly persons and persons with disabilities under Viksit Bharat@2047.

Key Points:
•   The report was released by NITI Aayog Vice Chairperson Ashok Kumar Lahiri along with Member R. Balasubramaniam and CEO Nidhi Chhibber.
•   It was prepared by the Social Justice and Empowerment Division after stakeholder consultations and international benchmarking.
•   The report proposes a National Policy on Caregiving to provide a structured policy framework.
•   It recommends creation of a National Caregiver Council for institutional coordination.
•   The strategy aims to professionalise caregivers and recognise them as an important skilled workforce.
•   It focuses on social security and institutional support for family as well as professional caregivers.

Additional Information:
•   NITI Aayog was established on 1 January 2015 to replace the Planning Commission.
•   It is the premier policy think tank of the Government of India.
•   The Prime Minister is its ex-officio Chairperson and its headquarters is in New Delhi.

Lalit Kala Akademi celebrates 72nd Foundation Day.

Dated: 07 August 2026

Lalit Kala Akademi celebrated its 72nd Foundation Day on 5 August 2026 at Rabindra Bhavan in New Delhi. The event honoured the Akademi's role in promoting visual arts in India. It included book releases, live painting, an interactive research-scholar session and artistic collaboration with the National Institute of Kathak Kendra.

Key Points:
•   The Foundation Day event was organised at Rabindra Bhavan in New Delhi.
•   Two books by Kanaiyalal Fakirchand Patel, popularly known as Kanu Patel, were released during the event.
•   The released books were Chitrakar Kanu Desai and Kalaguru Ravishankar Raval.
•   Rajesh Sharma gave a live painting demonstration during the main programme.
•   Bhagvan S. Chavan conducted an interactive session at the Chennai Regional Centre.
•   The National Institute of Kathak Kendra presented cultural performances during the event.

Additional Information:
•   Lalit Kala Akademi was established in 1954 as the National Academy of Art.
•   It functions under the Ministry of Culture.
•   It is the apex institution for visual arts in India and is headquartered at Rabindra Bhavan, New Delhi.

Prasanta Mahapatra appointed Executive Director of SEBI.

Dated: 07 August 2026

Prasanta Mahapatra took charge as Executive Director of the Securities and Exchange Board of India on 6 August 2026. He has been assigned responsibilities related to the Corporation Finance Investigation Department and the Recovery and Refund Department. He joined SEBI in April 1999 and was previously serving as Chief General Manager.

Key Points:
•   Prasanta Mahapatra assumed charge as Executive Director of SEBI on 6 August 2026.
•   He will lead the Corporation Finance Investigation Department of the market regulator.
•   He has also been assigned the Recovery and Refund Department.
•   Mahapatra joined SEBI in April 1999.
•   Before this appointment, he was serving as Chief General Manager.
•   He has served at SEBI's Eastern Regional Office in Kolkata.

Additional Information:
•   SEBI was established as a non-statutory body on 12 April 1988.
•   It received statutory powers on 30 January 1992 under the SEBI Act, 1992.
•   SEBI is headquartered in Mumbai and regulates India's securities market.

Massachusetts officially declares 15 August as India Day.

Dated: 07 August 2026

The State of Massachusetts and the City of Boston officially proclaimed 15 August 2026 as India Day. The declarations were issued by Governor Maura Healey and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu to commemorate India's independence. The proclamation also recognised the role of the Indian-American community, students and the expanding India-US relationship in the region.

Key Points:
•   Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu issued the India Day declarations.
•   The day commemorates India's independence gained in 1947.
•   The proclamation highlighted the planned Indian Consulate in Boston for visa services, trade and tourism.
•   INS Sudarshini visited the state for the SAILBOSTON-250 maritime festival.
•   The declaration acknowledged the contribution of the Indian-American community and students at Harvard and MIT.
•   SAILBOSTON-250 is a global maritime festival featuring historic tall ships.

Additional Information:
•   INS Sudarshini is a three-masted barque sail training ship of the Indian Navy.
•   It was built by Goa Shipyard Limited and commissioned in 2012.
•   Massachusetts is located in the New England region of the United States and its capital is Boston.

Hiroshima Day observed on 6 August marking 81st anniversary.

Dated: 07 August 2026

Hiroshima Day was observed globally on 6 August 2026 to commemorate victims of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima in Japan during World War II. The year marked the 81st anniversary of the bombing. The day promotes peace, remembrance and awareness about the destructive consequences of nuclear weapons.

Key Points:
•   Hiroshima Day marks the atomic bombing of Hiroshima by the United States in 1945.
•   The year 2026 marked the 81st anniversary of the Hiroshima atomic bombing.
•   The first Hiroshima Day Peace Festival was held on 6 August 1947.
•   The festival was organised by the Hiroshima Peace Festival Association to promote peace.
•   The annual memorial ceremony is held at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park in Japan.
•   The Genbaku Dome is the principal memorial structure in the park.

Additional Information:
•   Genbaku Dome was the only structure to survive the 1945 atomic bombing of Hiroshima.
•   It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996.
•   UNESCO was established in 1945 and is headquartered in Paris, France.

Air India and Azerbaijan Airlines sign codeshare partnership.

Dated: 07 August 2026

Air India and Azerbaijan Airlines entered into a codeshare partnership on 6 August 2026 to improve connectivity between India and Azerbaijan. The partnership allows Air India to place its AI code on flights operated by Azerbaijan Airlines. It will enable passengers to travel to Baku through a single ticket and coordinated itinerary.

Key Points:
•   Air India can place its AI designator code on Azerbaijan Airlines operated flights.
•   The partnership includes daily Delhi-Baku and Mumbai-Baku flights.
•   Passengers will be able to book travel to Baku on a single ticket and itinerary.
•   The agreement builds upon an existing interline arrangement between the airlines.
•   The codeshare is expected to promote connectivity and tourism between India and Azerbaijan.

Additional Information:
•   Air India was founded in 1932 as Tata Airlines and is headquartered in New Delhi.
•   Azerbaijan Airlines is the national flag carrier of Azerbaijan and is headquartered in Baku.
•   The capital of Azerbaijan is Baku and its currency is Azerbaijani Manat.

Former Governor and Padma Shri awardee Dr. D. Y. Patil passes away.

Dated: 07 August 2026

Former Governor of Tripura, Bihar and West Bengal, Dr. D. Y. Patil passed away on 4 August 2026 at the age of 90 in Kolhapur, Maharashtra. He was a Padma Shri awardee and had a long political and public-service career. He also served as a member of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly for two terms.

Key Points:
•   D. Y. Patil served as Governor of Tripura from 21 November 2009 to 21 March 2013.
•   He served as Governor of Bihar from 22 March 2013 to 26 November 2014.
•   He held additional charge as Governor of West Bengal for a brief period in July 2014.
•   He was an MLA in Maharashtra from 1967 to 1978 and represented Panhala for two terms.
•   He was elected to the Kolhapur Municipal Council in 1957.
•   He received the Padma Shri for his contribution to the nation.

Additional Information:
•   Dr. D. Y. Patil was born on 22 October 1935 in the then Bombay State.
•   He remained associated with the Indian National Congress during his political career.
•   Padma Shri is India's fourth-highest civilian award.

Jupiter Wagons and Lucchini RS partner for railwheel manufacturing in India.

Dated: 07 August 2026

Jupiter Wagons Limited entered into a strategic partnership with Italy's Lucchini RS Holding on 4 August 2026. The partnership aims to build an integrated railwheel manufacturing platform in India. It will cover the full value chain from raw-material processing to finished railway wheels, axles and wheelsets.

Key Points:
•   Lucchini RS will acquire a 15 percent stake in Jupiter Tatravagonka Railwheel Factory.
•   SIMEST SpA will acquire a 10 percent stake in the company.
•   The combined 25 percent stake has been valued at 28 million euros, approximately Rs 307 crore.
•   The partnership will manufacture railway wheels, axles and wheelsets in India.
•   It will integrate the existing unit at Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
•   A new greenfield manufacturing complex will be developed in Odisha.

Additional Information:
•   Jupiter Wagons is headquartered in Kolkata, West Bengal.
•   It manufactures railway wagons, passenger coaches and alloy steel castings.
•   SIMEST is an Italian government-backed financial institution.

Ministries of Culture and Tourism launch As Seen on Netflix section.

Dated: 07 August 2026

Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat launched the As Seen on Netflix section on the Incredible India portal on 5 August 2026. The initiative is a collaboration among the Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Culture and Netflix India. It seeks to promote cultural tourism by showcasing Indian locations and traditions featured in Netflix productions.

Key Points:
•   The launch event was held at the National Gallery of Modern Art in New Delhi.
•   The initiative marked the completion of 10 years of Netflix operations in India.
•   A dedicated interactive As Seen on Netflix section has been added to the Incredible India portal.
•   The platform will showcase real filming locations and cultural traditions shown in Netflix content.
•   It aims to promote India's creative economy and civilisational heritage.
•   The initiative targets global audiences to promote cultural tourism through storytelling.

Additional Information:
•   Gajendra Singh Shekhawat is the Union Minister for Culture and Tourism.
•   NGMA was established on 29 March 1954 and its principal gallery is at Jaipur House, New Delhi.
•   Netflix launched its service in India in 2016.

GlobalPay secures RBI AD Category II licence under FEMA.

Dated: 07 August 2026

WSFx Global Pay Limited received an expanded Authorised Dealer Category II licence from the Reserve Bank of India on 3 August 2026. The licence allows the fintech company to provide a broader set of regulated foreign-exchange and cross-border payment services under FEMA. The approval will help expand the company's reach in regulated exchange services.

Key Points:
•   GlobalPay received Authorised Dealer Category II status from RBI.
•   The licence permits eligible non-trade current account transactions, except gifts and donations.
•   It can facilitate inward and outward trade remittances up to Rs 25 lakh.
•   The company can appoint Forex Correspondent Agencies to expand regulated foreign-exchange services across India.
•   The licence broadens its cross-border payment and foreign-exchange service capabilities.

Additional Information:
•   RBI was established on 1 April 1935 under the RBI Act, 1934.
•   FEMA facilitates external trade and payments and replaced FERA.
•   RBI is headquartered in Mumbai.

Tewolde Gebremariam appointed CEO and MD of Air India.

Dated: 07 August 2026

The Air India Board of Directors appointed Tewolde Gebremariam as the airline's Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director on 5 August 2026. He succeeds Campbell Wilson after the completion of Air India's initial stabilisation and integration phase. Gebremariam earlier served for more than a decade as CEO of Ethiopian Airlines Group.

Key Points:
•   Tewolde Gebremariam was appointed CEO and MD of Air India by the airline's Board of Directors.
•   He succeeds Campbell Wilson as Air India enters its next phase of development.
•   He served as CEO of Ethiopian Airlines Group for more than a decade.
•   He is credited with helping transform Ethiopian Airlines into Africa's largest and most profitable airline.
•   His experience includes development of Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul facilities and aviation training infrastructure.

Additional Information:
•   Air India was founded in 1932 as Tata Airlines by J. R. D. Tata.
•   The airline was nationalised in 1953 and re-acquired by Tata Group in January 2022.
•   Air India is headquartered in New Delhi.

Assam observes 357th Alaboi Ron Smriti Divas.

Dated: 07 August 2026

Assam observed the 357th Alaboi Ron Smriti Divas on 6 August 2026 at Amingaon in Kamrup district. The observance honoured Ahom warriors who died in the Battle of Alaboi in 1669. The event focused on preserving the memory of the Ahom kingdom's resistance and passing its historical heritage to future generations.

Key Points:
•   The event was held at Alaboi Ron Smriti Soudh in front of the Office of the District Commissioner, Kamrup.
•   It commemorates the Ahom warriors who lost their lives during the Battle of Alaboi.
•   The battle was fought on 5 August 1669.
•   The Directorate of Archaeology, Assam was among the organising agencies.
•   Kamrup District Administration and Saraighat Journalists Forum also supported the event.
•   The observance aims to preserve the historical heritage of the Ahom kingdom.

Additional Information:
•   The Battle of Alaboi is considered an important chapter in Assam's history.
•   The Directorate of Archaeology, Assam preserves the state's historical and archaeological heritage.

Telangana operationalises Dial 112 unified emergency response system.

Dated: 07 August 2026

Telangana operationalised Dial 112 as a unified emergency helpline on 5 August 2026, replacing the earlier Dial 100 system. The new system integrates police, fire, ambulance, disaster response and women and child safety services into a single number. It is designed to reduce emergency response time and improve location-based assistance for people in distress.

Key Points:
•   Dial 112 merges police, fire, ambulance, disaster response and women and child safety services.
•   Emergency call-processing time has reduced by 30 percent, from 190 seconds to 133 seconds.
•   The system provides location-based services with 95 percent accuracy for distress callers.
•   It filters about 14 lakh daily IVR calls to focus on around 18,000 genuine incidents.
•   The system is operated from the Integrated Command and Control Centre in Hyderabad.
•   It integrates 1,860 patrol vehicles, including four-wheelers and two-wheelers.

Additional Information:
•   ERSS is a pan-India initiative for a single emergency number across states and UTs.
•   It replaces legacy emergency numbers such as 100 for police, 101 for fire and 108 for ambulance.
•   The J. S. Verma Committee recommended a unified emergency system after the 2012 Nirbhaya incident.

Pawan Hans signs MoU with Norway's Noemi for electric seaplanes.

Dated: 07 August 2026

Pawan Hans Limited signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Norway-based Noemi Aerospace on 7 August 2026. The partnership will explore electric seaplane technology and sustainable aviation solutions. It supports green aviation, skill development and regional as well as island connectivity under the Make in India initiative.

Key Points:
•   The partnership will explore next-generation sustainable aviation and electric seaplane technology.
•   It includes technical knowledge sharing, workshops and feasibility studies.
•   The agreement focuses on skill development and capacity building for electric aviation.
•   It supports regional and island connectivity under the Make in India initiative.
•   Union Budget 2026 introduced a Viability Gap Funding scheme for seaplane operations.
•   Dedicated Seaplane Operations Guidelines will simplify the regulatory framework.

Additional Information:
•   Pawan Hans is a Mini Ratna Category-I PSU established in 1985.
•   It functions under the Ministry of Civil Aviation and is headquartered in Noida.
•   Noemi Aerospace is headquartered in Bergen, Norway.

Inventory-based cross-border e-commerce export framework notified.

Dated: 07 August 2026

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry operationalised an inventory-based cross-border e-commerce export framework under the Foreign Trade Policy 2023 on 5 August 2026. The framework creates an organised model for exporters and sellers to manage goods, customs processes, logistics and payments. It is expected to help Indian MSMEs access organised export fulfilment networks.

Key Points:
•   The framework uses a registered Exporter-on-Record to procure goods from Sellers-on-Record.
•   The Exporter-on-Record will manage packaging, labelling, customs formalities and logistics.
•   Procurement will be allowed only against confirmed export orders.
•   A digital repository will be mandatory for traceability of export inventory.
•   Speculative inventory build-up and diversion of export inventory to domestic sales are prohibited.
•   Export rebates and refunds must be passed to sellers in proportion to Free on Board value.

Additional Information:
•   Foreign Trade Policy 2023 became effective on 1 April 2023.
•   The policy targets total exports of 2 trillion US dollars by 2030.
•   The Ministry of Commerce and Industry manages the Directorate General of Foreign Trade.

Cabinet Secretary and Home Secretary receive one-year extensions.

Dated: 07 August 2026

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved one-year service extensions for Cabinet Secretary T. V. Somanathan and Home Secretary Govind Mohan on 6 August 2026. Both officers were originally appointed in August 2024. The extension was granted under rules allowing service beyond the retirement age for specific high-ranking posts.

Key Points:
•   T. V. Somanathan received a one-year extension beyond 30 August 2026.
•   Govind Mohan received a one-year extension from 22 August 2026 to 22 August 2027.
•   T. V. Somanathan is a 1987-batch IAS officer of the Tamil Nadu cadre.
•   Govind Mohan is a 1989-batch IAS officer of the Sikkim cadre.
•   Both officers were originally appointed to their current posts in August 2024.
•   The extensions were processed under All India Services retirement-benefit rules.

Additional Information:
•   Cabinet Secretary is the senior-most civil servant of the Government of India.
•   The Cabinet Secretary is ex-officio Chairman of the Civil Services Board.
•   The post functions under the direct administrative control of the Prime Minister.

Chhattisgarh Cabinet approves Rs 500 crore Artificial Intelligence Mission.

Dated: 07 August 2026

The Chhattisgarh Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai approved a Rs 500 crore Artificial Intelligence Mission on 5 August 2026. The mission is aligned with the IndiaAI Mission and seeks to integrate artificial intelligence into education, skills, startups and digital governance. It includes targets for AI labs, centres of excellence, public services and human-capital development.

Key Points:
•   The Chhattisgarh AI Mission has an approved outlay of Rs 500 crore.
•   The mission will establish 100 AI Data Labs and five Centres of Excellence in five years.
•   AI training will be provided to 6 lakh students and 1.5 lakh government employees.
•   The mission will support more than 300 AI startups in the state.
•   More than 50 AI-enabled public services will be developed to improve governance transparency.
•   The Cabinet also approved concessional land allotment to BEML for a heavy earth-moving equipment plant.

Additional Information:
•   Chhattisgarh was formed on 1 November 2000 as India's 26th state.
•   The capital of Chhattisgarh is Raipur.
•   BEML was established in 1964 and is a PSU under the Ministry of Defence.