Monthly current affairs for August 2026

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has signed an MoU with PhonePe to leverage insights from the enterprise data intelligence platform of the latter, PhonePe PulsePro, to support the PM GatiShakti mission.

Under the partnership, the metrics of the platform will be integrated into the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan portal, which is managed in collaboration with the Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geo-informatics (BISAG-N).

According to a report titled “Key Sectors to Position India as a Global Manufacturing Hub” released by NITI Aayog, which provides a data-driven assessment of the manufacturing sector in India, 12 manufacturing sectors have been identified to accelerate the transition of India into a global manufacturing hub.

Among the 12 key sectors, four high-potential sectors identified to drive manufacturing growth and strengthen the position of India in global value chains are chemicals, textiles, telecom and networking equipment, and solar photovoltaic (PV) manufacturing. The study conducted for the report followed a 4-phase methodology.

Hakainde Hichilema, the leader of the United Party for National Development (UPND), has been re-elected as the President of Zambia for a second consecutive five-year term (2026–2031).

China has successfully completed the full-parameter testing of the world’s largest superconducting fusion magnet.

The magnet is designed to act as an “invisible magnetic cage” within the next-generation Burning Plasma Experimental Superconducting Tokamak (BEST) reactor.

Meghalaya CM Conrad K Sangma has inaugurated a Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Eri Silk Weaving at the Integrated Textile Tourism Complex (ITTC) in Ri Sai, Nongpoh.

The inauguration was held on August 7 as part of the 12th National Handloom Day celebrations and the conclusion of National Handloom Week. It is to be noted that Eri Silk, also known as Ryndia, is a silk variety indigenous to Meghalaya.

Justin Greaves and Hayley Matthews of West Indies have been named the International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s and Women’s Player of the Month for July 2026, respectively.

Major General Sunil Kumar Razdan (Retd), a Kirti Chakra awardee and the first wheelchair-borne General of the Indian Army, passed away at the age of 70.

The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) has organised the 8th meeting of the BRICS Working Group on Ocean Polar Science and Technology (OPST) in Goa, hosted by the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR).

India also hosted the 13th BRICS Education Ministers’ Meeting and the 3rd BRICS Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, chaired by Union Minister Pralhad Joshi of the Ministry of Education (MoE). The session concluded with the adoption of the 13th BRICS Education Ministers’ Declaration, which outlines 5 priority areas under the BRICS Education Track.

The 14th meeting of the India-Nepal Joint Working Group (JWG) was held in Dehradun, Uttarakhand. During the meeting, delegations from both countries reviewed bilateral cooperation concerning border management and security.

The Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), launched by PM Narendra Modi in 2019 under the Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS), has completed seven years of implementation. The Union Cabinet has extended the implementation deadline for the mission to December 2028.

The primary objective of the JJM is to provide a Functional Household Tap Connection (FHTC) to every rural household, ensuring a supply of 55 litres of water per person per day. It is to be noted that rural tap-water coverage under the mission has increased to over 15.91 crore households, and more than 2 lakh villages have been officially declared ‘Har Ghar Jal’ certified.

Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has inaugurated 7 major infrastructure projects at the Paradip Port Authority (PPA) in Odisha, with a total outlay of ₹427.8 crore. The projects are intended to strengthen the capacity and operational efficiency of the port.

The PPA has attained an 18.5-metre deep-draft capability, enabling the handling of larger cargo vessels. Furthermore, concession agreements for 3 mechanisation projects were signed with a cumulative investment of ₹1,580.36 crore. The port also reached an environmental milestone by completing its one-millionth tree plantation.

According to data by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI), the total exports of India (merchandise and services) grew by 13.31% year-on-year (y-o-y) to $80.14 billion in July 2026. The total imports of the nation increased by 15.83% to $95.16 billion during the same period.

The total trade deficit for July 2026 was recorded at $15.03 billion, which is an increase from the $11.43 billion deficit registered in July 2025.

Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) Bank has entered into a Corporate Agency Agreement (CAA) with HDFC Life Insurance Company Ltd (HDFC Life) to offer a range of customer-centric insurance products.

Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) has signed an MoU with the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) to facilitate equity financing for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) through capital markets.

The Government of India has signed a $230 million loan agreement with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for the “Chennai Climate-Resilient Water Security and Sewerage Project”.

The initiative aims to modernize water supply and sanitation infrastructure in Chennai to strengthen the resilience of the city against climate change. The project also seeks to improve public health and quality of life by establishing a more efficient and financially sustainable urban water system.

India has signed an MoU with Brazil to enhance bilateral cooperation in the fields of Telecommunications and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT).

The agreement was signed by Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia and the counterpart Frederico de Filho on the sidelines of the BRICS ICT Track Meeting held in Pune, Maharashtra.

Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has entered into a strategic collaboration with Norway-based Hystar AS for the phased indigenisation and local manufacturing of Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) electrolyser systems.

The partnership aims to support green hydrogen projects in India by establishing localized production capabilities for the advanced electrolyser technology.

India has unveiled “JAL-YAAN”, the first solar-integrated and self-powered mobile water purification van of the country, in Nagpur, Maharashtra. The vehicle was jointly developed by the CSIR-Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute (CSIR-CSMCRI) and Rite Water Solutions.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has conferred the “Gaj Gaurav Awards 2026” during the national celebrations of World Elephant Day in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.

7 Mahouts and Elephant Handlers from Jaldapara National Park in West Bengal were honoured with the award. They were recognised for their exceptional bravery during severe flash floods.

The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) has organised the “PMIS Industry Awards 2026” in New Delhi to recognize partner companies participating in the Prime Minister Internship Scheme (PMIS). Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd was named the “Overall Industry Champion” during the ceremony.

HDFC Bank was conferred the “Pre-Internship Excellence Award”, and Shriram Finance Ltd received the “Internship Management Excellence Award”. Additionally, IBM India Pvt Ltd was recognized for “Innovation in Program Implementation”, while Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (POWERGRID) was honoured for “Innovation in Exit Pathways”.