Current Affairs 25 August 2026

We are here for you to provide the important Recent and Latest Current Affairs August 25 2026, which have unique updates of Latest Current Affairs 2026 events from all newspapers such as The Hindu, The Economic Times, PIB, Times of India, PTI, Indian Express, Business Standard and all Government official websites.

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NATIONAL AFFAIRS

MeitY Notifies Rs 62,500 Cr MPMS Scheme to Boost Handset Production in India
In August 2026, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), notified the Mobile Phone Manufacturing Scheme (MPMS) with a budgetary outlay of Rs 62,500 crore (Cr) aimed at scaling up handset production in India.
About Mobile Phone Manufacturing Scheme (MPMS) Scheme:
Objective: The scheme aims to enhance global competitiveness, deepen Domestic Value Addition (DVA), and strengthen manufacturing capabilities in mobile phone production.
Time Period: The tenure of the scheme is 5 years, from Financial Year
2026-27 (FY27) to FY31.
Two Segments: The scheme comprises two Target Segments (TS) with differentiated incentives: TS1, aimed at incentivising mobile phone manufacturing, offers incentives ranging from 2.25% to 5%, while TS2, aimed at supporting Indian mobile phone brands, provides a 5% incentive, along with an additional 3% incentive for Indian design and Research & Development (R&D).

DoT under India’s BRICS Chairship Hosted BRICS ICT Track in Pune, Maharashtra
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) under the Ministry of Communications,  organised the BRICS  (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) ICT Track (Information and Communication Technologies Track) in Pune, Maharashtra  from August 17 to 21  2026, under the theme “Innovate, Cooperate and Transform (ICT) for a Resilient Future”.

• The five-day-long event  brought  together Communications Ministers, senior government officials and ICT experts from BRICS member countries  to bolster cooperation in ICT and advance a secure, inclusive and resilient digital future.

Highlights of BRICS ICT Track:
Key Events: The BRICS ICT Track featured three key events: 7th Meeting of the BRICS WG for Cooperation in ICTs; Digital BRICS Forum and Expo; and 12th BRICS Communications Ministers Meeting.

• India and Brazil signed an MoU on the sidelines of the BRICS ICT Track Meeting to strengthen digital and telecom cooperation in Artificial Intelligence (AI), 5G/6G, Open Radio Access Network (Open RAN), Internet of Things (IoT), and Direct-to-Device (D2D) connectivity.

2nd BRICS Tourism Working Group (TWG) Meeting: BRICS Tourism Meetings: India hosted the 2nd BRICS Tourism Working Group (TWG) Meeting in Jaipur, Rajasthan, on August 19, 2026, followed by the Tourism Ministers’ Meeting (TMM), where BRICS countries adopted the Jaipur Declaration and Ministers’ Communique to promote cooperation in AI, sustainable tourism, skill development and seamless travel.
BRICS Youth Council Meeting, Youth Summit: The Department of Youth Affairs (DoYA), Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS), hosted the BRICS Youth Council Meeting and the BRICS Youth Summit held from August 19 to  20, 2026 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

• Also, DoYA hosted the BRICS Youth Ministers’ Meeting, chaired by the Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, MoYA, on August 22, 2026 in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh (AP).
• The meeting adopted a Joint Statement and launched ‘Friends of MY Bharat’, a digital initiative connecting Indian-origin youth abroad with nation-building, volunteering and youth programmes in India.

12th BRICS Environment Ministers’ Meeting: Under its 2026 BRICS Chairship, India hosted the 12th BRICS Environment Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi, Delhi, chaired by Union Minister Bhupender Yadav, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).

• The meeting concluded with the adoption of a Joint Ministerial Statement (JMS) and the launch of four compendiums.

DRDO’s NSTL Signs Two LAToT to Boost Indigenous Defence Manufacturing
In August 2026, the Naval Science & Technological Laboratory (NSTL), a laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh (AP), signed two Licensing Agreements for Transfer of Technology (LAToT) to strengthen indigenous defence manufacturing capabilities.

• The agreements cover the transfer of Submarine Fired Decoy (SFD) ‘Mohini’to Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) and the fabrication, installation, and commissioning technology of LM2500 Gas Turbine to Vertex Engineering Systems Private Limited, Hyderabad, Telangana.

About LAToT: 
Overview: LAToT is a formal agreement through which the DRDO transfers developed technologies to Indian industries for manufacturing, fabrication, installation, and commissioning.
Dignitaries: The agreements were signed in the presence of Vice Admiral Sanjay Bhalla, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (FOC-in-C), Eastern Naval Command (ENC), Dr. R. Balamuralikrishnan, Director General (DG) (Naval & Strategic Systems), DRDO and Dr. Abraham Varughese, Director, NSTL.
Significance: The initiative bridges the gap between DRDO laboratory development and industrial production by supporting indigenous defence manufacturing, private sector participation, and the Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision in the defence sector.

Union MoS Anupriya Patel Addresses IIMA Healthcare Summit 2026 on Advancing AI in Healthcare
In August 2026, Union Minister of State (MoS), Anupriya Patel, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) and Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers (MoCF) addressed the 3rd Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad (IIMA) Healthcare Summit 2026 on “Advancing AI in Healthcare” at Ahmedabad, Gujarat.

• The summit focused on transforming India from the “Pharmacy of the World” to the “Laboratory of the World” through research, innovation, and Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven healthcare.

Highlights of the Healthcare Summit:
AI Healthcare:  AI supports drug discovery, personalised treatment, disease surveillance, and clinical decisions through safe and human-centred adoption. Centres of Excellence (CoE) for AI in healthcare have been established at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) New Delhi, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) Chandigarh, and AIIMS Rishikesh.

• The summit launched India Pharma Archives, a digital initiative by the Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA) in collaboration with IIMA  Archives, and released a book on India’s COVID-19 vaccine development journey.

Pharma Growth:  The Rs 5,000 crore Promotion of Research and Innovation in Pharma-MedTech Sector (PRIP) Scheme promotes pharma research, while the Rs 10,000 crore Biopharma SHAKTI Mission, National Biopharma Mission, and IndiaAI Mission strengthen biologics, biosimilars, clinical capabilities, and AI-based innovation.
Digital Health:  The Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) has developed a digital health ecosystem with over 96 crore Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) Identification (IDs) and 1,000 crore health records. AI-enabled Sanjeevani has benefited more than 20 crore patients.

IA’s Territorial Army Launches Terrier Cyber Quest 2026 National-Level Hackathon
In August 2026, the Territorial Army, in collaboration with CyberPeace, launched Terrier Cyber Quest 2026 (TCQ 3.0), a national-level hackathon to develop innovative solutions for defence, cybersecurity, and information-domain challenges.
About Terrier Cyber Quest 2026:
Objective:  TCQ 3.0 promotes indigenous solutions in Artificial Intelligence
(AI), cybersecurity, threat mitigation, and digital awareness through participation from academia, industry, government organisations, research institutions, and the Armed Forces.
Tracks:  The hackathon includes Bug Hunting, AI Kavach, and Creators Challenge tracks, focusing on vulnerability detection, AI-based defence solutions, and awareness against digital threats.
Schedule: Registrations close on August 31, 2026, followed by online shortlisting from September 1–10,2026, the Grand Finale in New Delhi from October 6–8,2026 and the award ceremony on October 9, 2026.
Drone Unit:  The IA also raised its first Baaz Battalion, equipped with advanced drones, in Punjab under the Vajra Corps (11 Corps) to strengthen aerial surveillance and battlefield capabilities.

NBSS&LUP Develops India’s First Soil Texture Map for Precision Agriculture 
In August 2026, the National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning (NBSS&LUP), a premier institute under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), announced the India’s first Soil Texture Map
during the 50th Foundation Day in Nagpur, Maharashtra.

• The map, released in July 2026, provides hectare-level soil information to support crop planning, irrigation management, and land-use decisions.

About India’s 1st Soil Texture Map:
Soil Texture: It refers to the proportion of sand, silt and clay in soil, which determines its water-holding capacity, drainage, aeration and suitability for different crops.
Technology:  The map was prepared using field studies, remote sensing, satellite imagery, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) by integrating soil and geospatial data.
Applications:  The map supports crop selection, irrigation planning, soil classification, and precision agriculture by helping farmers make location-specific decisions.
About NBSS&LUP:  Established in 1976 and headquartered in Nagpur, Maharashtra, is currently headed by Dr. N.G. Patil as Director.

NSDC Launches Nationwide Cloud & AI Skilling Initiative with AWS 
On August 23 2026, the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), and Cultus Education launched a nationwide ‘Cloud and Artificial Intelligence (AI) Skilling Initiative’ in collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS).
About Cloud & AI Skilling Initiative:
Objective: The initiative aims to provide foundational AI and cloud literacy to 1.5 lakh learners through AWS digital training content and deliver job-ready cloud training to 10,000 participants through the AWS re/Start programme.
Framework: The programme includes instructor-led training, hands-on labs, real-world scenario-based learning and professional mentorship across areas such as cloud infrastructure, networking, security, programming, relational databases and AI fundamentals.
Implementation: The programme will be delivered 100% online through Cultus Education, the NSDC-selected delivery partner, enabling learners from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities to access training across all States and Union Territories (UTs) with priority given to underserved communities.
Support: Participants will receive an AWS Certification along with interview opportunities and industry connections, with the programme concluding through a National Hackathon.
About NSDC: Established on 31 July 2008, NSDC is a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) company headquartered in New Delhi, Delhi.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

Five African Countries End Polio Type 2 Outbreaks: WHO 
In August 2026, the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Africa confirmed the closure of poliovirus type 2 outbreaks in Burundi, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Republic of the Congo, and Uganda after Independent Outbreak Response Assessment (OBRA) conducted between January and June 2026.

• The development reflects progress in Africa’s polio eradication through stronger immunisation, surveillance, laboratory systems, and community interventions

Highlights of Polio Outbreak Closure: 
Assessment: The Independent Outbreak Response Assessment (OBRA) reviewed surveillance systems, laboratory evidence, epidemiological data, population immunity, and vaccination campaign performance.
Measures: The countries strengthened routine immunisation, rapid detection, community participation, and targeted vaccination campaigns to interrupt transmission.
Milestones: Burundi responded to the March 2023 outbreak; Republic of Congo recorded its last detection in December 2023; Uganda enhanced response after detection in May 2024; Ghana improved laboratory capacity; and Guinea-Bissau reported no detection since July 2021.

BANKING & FINANCE

VinFast India Sign MoU with Federal Bank to Strengthen Dealer Financing Ecosystem 
In August 2026, VinFast India, the Indian subsidiary of Vietnamese electric vehicle manufacturer Vingroup JSC, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Federal Bank Limited, a leading private sector bank in India, to provide customized inventory financing solutions for its Authorised Dealer (AD) network.

• The agreement was signed by Tapan Ghosh, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of VinFast Asia; and Kumkum Jain, Additional Senior Vice President (SVP) of Federal Bank Limited.

Key Details of MoU:
Key Role: Under this newly formed collaboration, Federal Bank will provide customized inventory financing solutions that enable dealers of VinFast to optimize working capital, maintain vehicle inventory, and respond efficiently to customers’ demand.
Objective: By integrating the bank’s financial strength and nationwide reach with VinFast’s extensive dealer network, the partnership seeks to build a stronger, more resilient retail foundation to support the company’s long-term growth in one of world’s fastest-growing electric (e)-vehicle  markets.
About Federal Bank: Founded in 1931, Federal Bank Limited, offers retail and corporate banking services, with its headquarters in Aluva, Kerala.

PNB & Indian Army Sign MoU to Offer ‘PNB LUXURA Metal’ & ‘PNB Parakram’ Credit Cards for Army Personnel
In August 2026, Punjab National Bank (PNB), India’s 2nd largest Public Sector Bank(PSB), signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Army (IA) to offer two credit cards ‘PNB LUXURA Metal Credit Card’ and ‘PNB Parakram Credit Card’, designed for IA officers and Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs) and other ranks personnel, respectively.

• The MoU was signed by Major General VK Purohit, IA and Deepak Kumar, General Manager (GM), Credit Card Division of PNB, in New Delhi, Delhi.

Key Details of Two Credit Cards:
Key Benefits: These new credit cards will offer a wide range of lifestyle and financial benefits like: 3% cashback on purchases at Canteen Stores Department (CSD) outlets, complimentary domestic and international airport lounge access, zero forex markup, and Buy One Get One (BOGO) movie ticket offers.
Eco-friendly Design: The design of the PNB Parakram Credit card is eco-friendly in nature as it is made from  bio-degradable  material.
About PNB: It is India’s first Swadeshi Bank, which commenced operations on April 12, 1895, in Lahore (then British India), and is currently headquartered in New Delhi, Delhi.

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

Odia Poet Ashutosh Parida Selected for 47th Sarala Puraskar for ‘Bishwas De Pruthwi’
In August 2026, renowned Odia poet, essayist, and former scientist, Ashutosh Parida was selected for the 47th Sarala Puraskar for his poetry collection ‘Bishwas De Pruthwi(2024)’. The award will be presented  at a ceremony scheduled to be held in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, on October 25, 2026.

• The 2026 Ila-Bansidhar Panda Kala Samman, recognising lifetime excellence in the arts, was awarded to Odissi maestro Guru Durga Charan Ranbir and sculptor Damodar Behera.

About Sarala Puraskar Award: 
Award:  The Sarala Puraskar is a premier annual literary award in Odisha, India, recognising outstanding contributions to Odia literature. Instituted in 1980, the award promotes and honours significant literary works by Odia writers.
Institution:  The award is presented by the Indian Metals Public Charitable Trust (IMPaCT), the social wing of Indian Metals & Ferro Alloys Ltd (IMFA).
Prize: The Sarala Puraskar Award carries a Rs 7 lakh cash prize, citation, and copper plaque.

• Each Ila-Bansidhar Panda Kala Samman awardee will receive a cash prize of Rs 2.5 lakh, a citation, and a copper plaque.

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Government Appoints Three Part-Time Non-Official Directors to RBI Central Board 
In August 2026, the Government of India (GoI) appointed Annie George Mathew, Janmejaya Kumar Sinha, and Syed Akbaruddin as part-time, non-official directors on the Central Board of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for a 4-year term. 

• The appointments were approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) on 22 August 2026 based on the proposal of the Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance (MoF) under Section 8(1)(c) of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Act, 1934.

About the Appointee: 
Annie George Mathew:  Officer of the Indian Audit and Accounts Service, she is a full-time member of the Sixteenth Finance Commission of India (16thFC) in New Delhi, Delhi and a former Special Secretary (Expenditure), with over 34 years of experience in public finance, government audit and accounts, procurement, and financial management.
Janmejaya Kumar Sinha: Chairman of Boston Consulting Group (BCG) India, with experience in economics, financial-sector reforms, and economic transformation.
Syed Akbaruddin: Former Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations (UN), with expertise in international diplomacy and foreign affairs.
About RBI:  The RBI was established on 1 April 1935, is headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra, and is currently headed by Governor Sanjay Malhotra.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Sophie Adenot Becomes First French Woman to Walk in Space 
In August 2026, European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Sophie Adenot, from France, carried out a mission to repair a communications system on the International Space Station (ISS), becoming the 1st French woman to walk in space.

• Also, she became the 2nd European woman to walk in space after Samantha Cristoforetti, from Italy (in 2022).

Highlights of the Mission:
Task: Under the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)’s Extravehicular Activity (EVA) mission which was 6 hours and 23 minutes (mins) long , Adenot along with American astronaut Anil Menon were tasked to replace a Space-to-Ground Antenna (SGANT)  that connects the ISS with mission control in Houston, Texas, the United States of America (USA).
Previous Milestone: Earlier in February 2026, Sophie Adenot became the 2nd French woman to travel into space after Claudie Haignere, who flew missions in 1996 and 2001 but did not perform any EVAs.

SPORTS

2026 BWF World Championships: France’s Alex Lanier & South Korea’s An Se-young Win Men’s & Women’s Singles Champions 
The 30th edition of the Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Championships(2026), was held from 17 to 23 August 2026 at the Indira Gandhi Arena in New Delhi, Delhi, where Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand won the bronze medal in women’s doubles, securing India’s first medal in the category since 2011.

• Alex Lanier of France became the first French player to win a world singles title by defeating Kodai Naraoka of Japan 21–11, 21–11, while An Se-young of South Korea won her second women’s singles world title by defeating Akane Yamaguchi of Japan 21–17, 21–14.

About 2026 BWF World Championships:
Host: India hosted the championships for the second time, after previously staging them in Hyderabad, Telangana, in 2009, marking a 17-year gap.
Organiser: The event was organised by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) in collaboration with the Badminton Association of India (BAI), the host association.
Events: The competition featured top players from around the world across five disciplines: Men’s Singles, Women’s Singles, Men’s Doubles, Women’s Doubles, and Mixed Doubles.

Indian Chess Grandmaster Pranesh M Wins Kanizsa Open 2026 in Hungary
In August 2026, 19-year-old Indian Grandmaster (GM) Pranesh M from Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu (TN), won the Kanizsa Open 2026 Group A title in Nagykanizsa, Hungary, after defeating Germany’s Vadim Petrovskiy in the ninth and final round. He finished the tournament with 7 points from 9 rounds.

• Pranesh finished jointly on 7/9 with Or Bronstein of Israel, Andrei Volokitin of Ukraine and Karthik Venkataraman of India, but secured the title on a superior tiebreak.
• The tournament was held from 15 to 23 August 2026 at Kanizsa Aréna, Nagykanizsa, in a 9-round Swiss-system format.

About Pranesh M:
Origin – Pranesh M progressed through the titles of International Chess Federation (FIDE) Master (FM) in 2019, International Master (IM) in 2020, and GM in January 2023 at age 16.
Achievements: Following his GM title, he secured joint first at the Silver Lake Open in Serbia (2023) and Tsaghkadzor Open in Armenia (2023), and won the Challengers section of the Chennai Grand Masters in 2025 with 6.5/9.
Ranking: Pranesh’s FIDE rating rose from 2633 in March 2026 to 2673 by August 2026, placing him 44th in the world rankings.

East Bengal FC Clinched 135th Durand Cup 2026 Football Title by Defeating Mohun Bagan Super Giant 
In August 2026, East Bengal Football Club (FC) won the 135th Durand Cup 2026 football tournament by defeating arch-rivals Mohun Bagan Super Giant 4–1 in the final at Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, Kolkata, West Bengal (WB), with Edmund Lalrindika scoring a first-half hat-trick.

• The victory marked their first title since 2004, ending a 22-year wait and equalling the all-time record of 17 titles in Asia’s oldest football competition.

About Durand Cup 2026:
Match: East Bengal dominated the first half with four goals, including an opener by Bipin Singh assisted by Mohammed Rashid, while Manvir Singh scored the lone goal for Mohun Bagan before half-time.
Performance: Lalrindika’s hat-trick and Rashid’s midfield control highlighted East Bengal’s clinical finishing despite Mohun Bagan enjoying more possession and chances.
Organiser: The tournament is regarded as Asia’s oldest football competition and is organised by the Durand Football Tournament Society (DFTS) in cooperation with the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and the Indian Armed Forces.
Significance: The win avenged their 2023 final defeat to Mohun Bagan, levelled both Kolkata giants at 17 titles each in the 135-year history of the tournament, and reinforced the city’s legacy as a major football hub under coach Antonio López Habas.

IMPORTANT DAYS

National Space Day 2026 – August 23
National Space Day (NSpD) is observed across India on 23 August to commemorate the historic success of the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO’s) Chandrayaan-3 mission and the successful deployment of the Pragyan Rover.

• 2026 Theme: “Towards Viksit Bharat: Innovating, Collaborating and Aspiring to Global Space Leadership”.

Background:
Declaration: In August 2023, the Government of India (GoI) announced that 23rd August would be observed annually as NSpD to commemorate the success of the Chandrayaan-3 Mission.
Announcement: The declaration was made by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi during his meeting with the ISRO at the ISRO Telemetry, Tracking, and Command Network (ISTRAC) Mission Control Facility (MCF) in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
First Observance: NSpD was celebrated for the first time in 2024.

STATE NEWS

Maharashtra Govt Signs MoU with Germany’s Hesse for Investment, Innovation & Skills
In August 2026, the Government of Maharashtra and the German State of Hesse signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation in areas including investment, industry, innovation, employment and skill development.

• The MoU was signed by Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister (CM), Maharashtra and Boris Rhein, Minister-President of Hesse, at Sahyadri Guest House, Mumbai, Maharashtra.

Maharashtra–Hesse Partnership Framework:
Implementation: A Joint Working Group (JWG) will be established within 90 days of signing the MoU to finalise the implementation framework, identify cooperation opportunities, support investors and businesses, and facilitate the exchange of business delegations.
Focus Areas: The partnership will promote industrial cooperation and business partnerships across key sectors including pharmaceuticals, healthcare, engineering, automobile industry, financial services, and logistics.
Collaboration: The agreement will enable collaboration in Information Technology (IT), digital economy, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Research & Development (R&D) to encourage technological advancement and innovation-driven growth.
Capacity Building: The partnership will strengthen employment opportunities and workforce capabilities through initiatives focused on skill development, cross-border mobility, and talent exchange programmes.

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