Tamil Nadu launched Vetri Vaanmagal Scheme on 6 August 2026 under the 2026-27 agriculture budget to train women drone pilots for precision farming. The scheme combines women's skill development, drone subsidy and village-level farm machinery services.

Key Highlights:
•   Training will be conducted through the Remote Pilot Training Organisation of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University.
•   The scheme targets 500 eligible candidates, including 100 women drone operators.
•   ?1.50 crore has been allocated for drone operator training and pilot licences.
•   Financial support will be provided to 50 women to purchase agricultural drones.
•   Women beneficiaries will receive subsidy equal to 50 percent of the agricultural drone cost.
•   ?2.50 crore has been earmarked for the drone subsidy component.
•   Fifty village-level Agricultural Machinery Custom Hiring Centres will be established at a cost of ?4 crore.
•   Women Self-Help Groups will receive 30 percent reservation in the total outlay for the hiring centres.

Additional Information:
•   The solar dryer subsidy ceiling was raised from ?3.50 lakh to ?4.40 lakh.
•   Tamil Nadu will distribute 20,000 microgreen kits in major cities under its Micro Greens Scheme.
•   Tamil Nadu Agricultural University was established in 1971 and is headquartered in Coimbatore.

Shenzhou-23 crew completed the first full seed-to-seed harvest of rice grown in microgravity aboard China's Tiangong Space Station on 5 August 2026. The achievement supports research on sustainable food systems for long-duration human missions to Moon and Mars.

Key Highlights:
•   China became the first country to complete a full life-cycle rice harvest in a space environment.
•   The seed-to-seed rice experiment was conducted by the Shenzhou-23 crew.
•   The Tiangong Space Station operates at an orbital altitude of about 400 kilometres above Earth.
•   The experiment aims to support sustainable grain production for future Moon and Mars missions.
•   The study evaluates genetic stability and crop regeneration capacity under microgravity conditions.
•   Special plant growth chambers controlled light, temperature, humidity and nutrient delivery during cultivation.

Additional Information:
•   Tiangong means Heavenly Palace and is operated by China Manned Space Agency.
•   The Tiangong station consists of Tianhe, Wentian and Mengtian modules.
•   China's Shenzhou crewed spaceflight programme was initiated in 1992.

RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra announced that polymer banknotes will be introduced by the beginning of FY28 to make Indian currency more durable and secure. The transition will begin with notes of smaller denominations that have high circulation frequency.

Key Highlights:
•   RBI plans to introduce polymer banknotes by the beginning of FY 2027-28.
•   The initial rollout will focus on ?10 and ?20 banknotes with high circulation velocity.
•   The notes will use Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene based polymer substrate.
•   Polymer banknotes are expected to last three to four times longer than paper currency.
•   Security features will include see-through windows, micro-optic holograms and specialised inks.
•   The initial requirement has been assessed at 68,000 reams of polymer sheets.
•   BRBNM and SPMCIL will handle production of the polymer banknotes.

Additional Information:
•   Polymer notes are used by around 60 countries, including Australia, Canada, UK and Singapore.
•   Australia was the first country to introduce polymer currency notes.
•   The rollout is part of RBI's Utkarsh 2029 agenda for banknote indigenisation.

Uttar Pradesh Cabinet approved Uttar Pradesh Private Business Park Development Scheme 2025 to attract global investment, reduce project delays and offer ready-to-use infrastructure for businesses. The scheme will enable private developers to establish parks through the PPP framework.

Key Highlights:
•   Business parks will be developed through Public-Private Partnership under DBFOT framework.
•   Private developers will need a minimum land parcel of 10 acres to establish a business park.
•   Projects will receive a concession period of 45 years, which can be extended further.
•   At least 50 percent of developed area will be reserved for IT and knowledge-based industries.
•   Land ownership will remain with State Industrial Development Authorities.
•   The model is aimed at Global Capability Centres, R&D units and MSMEs.
•   The scheme includes an Integrated Manufacturing and Logistics Centre in Sambhal.
•   174.12 acres in Budhaki, Greater Noida, have been allocated for a multimodal logistics hub.

Additional Information:
•   DBFOT means Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer.
•   Uttar Pradesh was formed on 24 January 1950 and celebrates this day as UP Day.
•   Uttar Pradesh is India's first state to launch a dedicated MSME policy for plug-and-play industrial sheds.

Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare deployed National Joint Outbreak Response Team to Gujarat and Rajasthan on 5 August 2026 to manage the Chandipura Virus outbreak. The team will conduct epidemiological, vector, animal and genomic investigations.

Key Highlights:
•   NJORT includes experts from NCDC, ICMR and Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying.
•   NCDC Public Health Emergency Operations Centre has been activated for field coordination.
•   The team will investigate sandflies and other arthropods such as mosquitoes, ticks and mites as possible vectors.
•   The investigation will examine disease presentation from mild fever to Acute Encephalitis Syndrome.
•   Cattle, buffaloes and goats are being tested to assess their role as possible virus reservoirs.
•   Whole-genome sequencing of current samples is being performed at Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre in Gandhinagar.

Additional Information:
•   Chandipura Virus belongs to the Rhabdoviridae family and can cause rapid-onset encephalitis in children.
•   The virus was first isolated in 1965 from Chandipura district of Maharashtra.
•   NCDC functions under the Directorate General of Health Services and is headquartered in New Delhi.

Ministry of Information and Broadcasting inaugurated BRICS WAVES Bazaar in Mumbai on 6 August 2026 as an international marketplace for creative industries. The event promoted cooperation in audiovisual production, digital media and cultural commerce among BRICS countries.

Key Highlights:
•   More than 500 delegates from 21 BRICS member and partner countries attended the event.
•   The event was held under India's BRICS chairship theme of resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability.
•   The Bazaar focused on the Orange Economy that connects heritage, creativity and modern commerce.
•   Discussions covered film, animation, VFX, gaming, music and digital media collaboration.
•   Delegates discussed international co-production, content financing and intellectual property issues.
•   The global creative economy contributes 3.1 percent to global GDP and over USD 1.4 trillion in service exports.
•   BRICS Film Festival will be held with IFFI in November 2026.

Additional Information:
•   The next edition of WAVES is scheduled to be held in Mumbai in 2027.
•   BRIC was formed in 2006 and South Africa joined the grouping in 2010.
•   The National Film Development Corporation was established in 1975 and is headquartered in Mumbai.

Scientists at Bose Institute, Kolkata developed General Concurrence Percolation protocol to improve long-distance quantum communication networks. The framework enhances quantum entanglement connections while lowering resource requirements for linking distant nodes.

Key Highlights:
•   The GCP framework was developed by Dr Deep Nath and Professor Soumen Roy at Bose Institute.
•   GCP stands for General Concurrence Percolation.
•   The protocol establishes stronger long-distance quantum communication links using fewer resources.
•   It uses geometric routing to strengthen entanglement along shortest communication paths.
•   The method does not require disconnection of intermediate network stations.
•   The protocol lowers the minimum entanglement threshold for connecting an entire quantum network.
•   The framework uses percolation universality class concepts from statistical physics.
•   The research seeks to overcome environmental noise that weakens distant quantum links.

Additional Information:
•   Bose Institute was founded by Sir Jagadish Chandra Bose in 1917.
•   Bose Institute is headquartered in Kolkata and functions under the Department of Science and Technology.
•   Quantum entanglement is a basis for secure data transmission in quantum communication systems.

Department of Pharmaceuticals organised the 9th India Medical Device 2026 conference at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, on 7 and 8 August 2026 with FICCI. The conference focused on building India as a global hub for quality medical devices under Viksit Bharat vision.

Key Highlights:
•   The conference was held at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi.
•   Department of Pharmaceuticals organised the event in collaboration with FICCI.
•   The conference theme was Towards Viksit Bharat: Advancing India as a Global Hub for Quality Medical Devices.
•   Technical sessions addressed Software as a Medical Device and Artificial Intelligence in healthcare.
•   The event discussed localisation of component manufacturing in the medical device sector.
•   One session focused on reimbursement mechanisms for innovative therapies and universal health coverage.

Additional Information:
•   Department of Pharmaceuticals was established in 2008 under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers.
•   FICCI was founded in 1927 and is headquartered in New Delhi.
•   DCGI heads CDSCO and approves specified categories of drugs and medical devices in India.

APEDA organised BIOFACH INDIA 2026 from 6 to 8 August 2026 at India Expo Centre and Mart in Greater Noida to promote certified organic products and strengthen global market access for Indian organic producers.

Key Highlights:
•   BIOFACH INDIA 2026 was held at India Expo Centre and Mart in Greater Noida.
•   APEDA organised the event with Nuernberg Messe India and IFOAM Organics International.
•   The exhibition featured more than 200 companies, including over 60 under APEDA Pavilion.
•   Participants included FPCs, FPOs, startups and women entrepreneurs.
•   More than 35 international buyers from 13 overseas markets participated in the event.
•   The exhibition showcased certified organic cereals, pulses, millets, spices and medicinal plants.
•   Regional organic products from Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Uttarakhand and Maharashtra were displayed.

Additional Information:
•   APEDA was established under the APEDA Act, 1985 and functions under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
•   APEDA is headquartered in New Delhi.
•   IFOAM Organics International was founded in 1972 and is headquartered in Bonn, Germany.

Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat launched Har Ghar Tiranga 2026 campaign from 9 to 17 August 2026. The campaign commemorates 150 years of Vande Mataram and encourages citizens to hoist the National Flag for Independence Day celebrations.

Key Highlights:
•   The campaign will be observed nationwide from 9 to 17 August 2026.
•   Ministry of Culture is the nodal ministry for the campaign.
•   Ministry of External Affairs is coordinating international participation in the campaign.
•   The campaign commemorates 150 years of India's National Song Vande Mataram.
•   Suryapath Tiranga will involve Indian Missions in a global flag relay from East to West.
•   Partition Horrors Remembrance Day will be observed on 14 August in Delhi, Kolkata and Amritsar.
•   The campaign includes a MyGov quiz and an online tutorial for correct rendition of Vande Mataram.

Additional Information:
•   Vande Mataram was composed by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay in the 1870s.
•   The song was published in Anandamath in 1882 and adopted as National Song on 24 January 1950.
•   Har Ghar Tiranga was launched in 2022 under Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.

President of India presented Sant Kabir Handloom Awards and National Handloom Awards 2025 during 12th National Handloom Day celebrations at Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre in New Delhi on 7 August 2026. The awards recognise exceptional craftsmanship, design, innovation and marketing in the handloom sector.

Key Highlights:
•   The award ceremony was held at Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre in New Delhi.
•   Ministry of Textiles organised the 12th National Handloom Day celebration.
•   A total of 22 prestigious awards were conferred on handloom artisans.
•   Three Sant Kabir Handloom Awards were presented as the highest national recognition for weavers.
•   Nineteen National Handloom Awards recognised innovation, design and marketing achievements.
•   Four commemorative postage stamps were released to celebrate diverse weaving traditions.
•   The event released the book Earth. Root. Thread - Aal Dyed Handloom Textiles of Central India.
•   The event included live Kani weaving and Wall Hanging weaving demonstrations.

Additional Information:
•   The awards are given under Handloom Marketing Assistance component of National Handloom Development Programme.
•   National Handloom Day commemorates the Swadeshi Movement launched on 7 August 1905.
•   The first National Handloom Day was observed in 2015.

Karnataka government launched Composite Digital Crop Survey in Bengaluru on 6 August 2026 to combine Artificial Intelligence, satellite technology and field data for authenticated plot-level crop information. The survey will improve evidence-based agricultural planning and resource allocation.

Key Highlights:
•   The survey integrates Synthetic Aperture Radar and high-resolution satellite imagery.
•   It will use drones, GIS data and Machine Learning algorithms for crop assessment.
•   The project will begin on a pilot basis in five selected hoblis across Karnataka.
•   Department of e-Governance will manage the survey with Revenue, Agriculture and Horticulture departments.
•   Sericulture, Fisheries and IT-BT departments are also associated with implementation.
•   Karnataka State Remote Sensing Applications Centre and NRSC provide technical collaboration.
•   The survey aims to provide authenticated plot-level crop data for governance and policy decisions.

Additional Information:
•   Karnataka Digital Crop Survey was originally launched in 2018 as a GIS-based mobile application.
•   NRSC is a major ISRO centre for remote sensing data acquisition and processing.
•   NRSC is headquartered in Hyderabad.

Standard Chartered received in-principle approval from International Financial Services Centres Authority on 6 August 2026 to launch wealth management business and distribute capital market products from GIFT City. The approval strengthens cross-border investment and offshore wealth solutions from India's IFSC.

Key Highlights:
•   IFSCA granted Standard Chartered in-principle approval for wealth management services in GIFT City.
•   The bank can distribute capital market products through its GIFT City operations.
•   The expansion marks its move from corporate banking to retail wealth management.
•   The service will provide cross-border investment and offshore wealth solutions.
•   Standard Chartered became the first foreign bank to start operations in GIFT City in 2020.
•   The bank has financed more than USD 25 billion across products in the GIFT City hub.

Additional Information:
•   IFSCA was established in April 2020 under the IFSCA Act, 2019.
•   IFSCA is headquartered in Gandhinagar and serves as the unified regulator for IFSCs.
•   GIFT City is India's first operational smart city and International Financial Services Centre.

Squadron Leader Bhawana Kanth became the first woman pilot to qualify as a Fighter Combat Leader after clearing the course at Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment in Gwalior on 6 August 2026. The qualification enables her to lead complex air combat missions.

Key Highlights:
•   Bhawana Kanth completed the Fighter Combat Leader course at TACDE, Gwalior.
•   She became the first woman pilot in India to qualify as a Fighter Combat Leader.
•   The course is a rigorous 20-week programme in advanced combat tactics.
•   Fighter Combat Leader graduates are trained to lead air-to-air and air-to-ground operations.
•   Bhawana Kanth was commissioned into Indian Air Force in June 2016.
•   She was among India's first batch of three women fighter pilots with Avani Chaturvedi and Mohana Singh.

Additional Information:
•   TACDE was established in 1971 as Tactics and Combat Development and Training Squadron.
•   TACDE was redesignated as Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment in 1972.
•   TACDE is located in Gwalior and is considered India's equivalent of the US Navy Top Gun programme.