Daily Current Affairs and GK Updates (29th August, 2026) |

National News

Centre Appoints Three Senior Officers to National Testing Agency

The Centre has appointed two directors and one joint director to the National Testing Agency (NTA).
IPS officer Ravi Kumar Singh and IAS officer Prasanna Venkatesh V have been appointed as directors.
2016-batch IRS officer Amit Samdariya has been appointed joint director.
The appointments were announced through separate Personnel Ministry orders issued on August 27.
The officers have been directed to assume their new responsibilities within three weeks.
Key Fact: The NTA is also undergoing a broader examination overhaul, including a four-tier paper-checking system and induction of domain specialists.

Ministry Of Tribal Affairs Launches Jago AI Assistant

The Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs has launched the Jago AI Assistant, a conversational AI tool for tribal welfare information.
Users can ask questions in simple language about government schemes, policies, programmes and official documents.
The platform is currently available in English and Hindi.
It aims to bridge the gap between government information and tribal beneficiaries by simplifying complex policy material.
Its AI architecture can continuously expand its knowledge base as new schemes and documents are added.
Key Fact: The ministry said conversations on the Jago AI Assistant are secure and private.

BIS Expands Silver HUID Hallmarking Network Nationwide

The Bureau of Indian Standards has expanded the Silver HUID hallmarking network ahead of the festive season.
The ecosystem now covers 341 Silver Assaying and Hallmarking Centres across 102 districts.
More than 25,000 silver jewellers are registered with BIS.
Since the Silver HUID portal was launched on September 1, 2025, over 77 lakh silver jewellery pieces have received HUID-based hallmarking.
Consumers have been advised to verify the six-digit HUID through the BIS CARE app and purchase from registered jewellers.
Key Fact: The six-digit HUID provides traceability for silver jewellery and artefacts.

India Reports Nearly 80% Malaria Decline Over Decade

India has recorded nearly an 80% decline in malaria cases and deaths between 2015 and 2025.
The number of high-burden districts fell sharply from 155 to 33 during the period.
Between 2022 and 2025, 160 districts reported zero indigenous malaria cases.
However, the remaining 33 high-burden districts accounted for 64% of malaria cases and 54% of deaths in 2025.
The government has stressed surveillance, District and Village Action Plans and uninterrupted diagnostic and treatment services.
Key Fact: India aims to achieve malaria elimination by 2030, aligned with its Sustainable Development Goal target.

State News

Delhi Leads States In Own Revenue Share During FY25

Delhi recorded the highest own-revenue share among states and comparable Union Territories in the 2024-25 Budget Estimates.
Its own revenue accounted for 93.2% of total revenue receipts.
Haryana ranked second at 80.4%, followed by Telangana at 78.4%, Karnataka at 77.3% and Tamil Nadu at 75.5%.
Manipur, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura and Mizoram recorded the lowest shares.
Own revenue includes both tax and non-tax revenue collected by a state.
Key Fact: Delhi’s 93.2% own-revenue share was the highest among the comparable regions.

Gujarat Launches India’s First Sports Genomics Programme

Gujarat has launched India’s first state-level Sports Genomics Programme.
The initiative combines genomics, sports science, physiology and nutrition for athlete identification and high-performance training.
The Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre is leading the programme under the Department of Science and Technology.
Gujarat plans to collect around 2,000 athlete samples annually, reaching nearly 10,000 samples over five years.
Researchers will study genetic factors associated with endurance, power, recovery and injury risks.
Key Fact: Gujarat plans to create a Gujarat Athlete Genome Database to support personalised training and nutrition strategies.

Tamil Nadu Notifies Three Elephant Corridors Covering 10,300 Hectares

Tamil Nadu has notified three elephant corridors in the Cauvery North Wildlife Sanctuary under the Hosur Forest Division.
The corridors aim to improve habitat connectivity and facilitate safer elephant movement between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
The largest, Jawalagiri–Panai–Anchetty corridor, covers 6,881.47 hectares and stretches 20.90 km.
Jawalagiri–Ulibanda–Thaggatti covers 3,241.53 hectares, while Billikkal Jawalagiri covers about 196 hectares.
The notification followed directions of the Madras High Court and recommendations of expert committees.
Key Fact: The three notified corridors together cover approximately 10,300 hectares.

Andhra Pradesh Launches AI-Powered Accounting Software System

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu launched the ‘Pramaan Operating System’.
The platform is an AI-driven accounting and statutory compliance software developed by Pramanique Infotech Private Limited.
It combines AI-powered accounting functions, automated compliance workflows and data security measures.
The system uses artificial intelligence and data analytics to simplify financial reporting.
It is designed for businesses, chartered accountants and finance professionals.
Key Fact: The platform aims to make financial management faster, more secure and efficient through AI and automation.

Ladakh Gets High Court Bench After Presidential Regulation

President Droupadi Murmu has promulgated a regulation allowing sittings of the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court in Ladakh.
The regulation was notified on August 27, following Union Cabinet approval on August 20.
Judges and divisions of the common High Court can hold sittings at locations designated by the Chief Justice with the Lieutenant Governor’s approval.
The principal seat of the common High Court will remain unchanged.
The move addresses the long-standing demand for easier access to higher judicial remedies in the geographically challenging region.
Key Fact: The initiative is expected to reduce travel time and expenses for litigants and advocates in Ladakh.

International News

Trump Honours Artemis II Crew, Announces US Space Academy

US President Donald Trump honoured the four-member Artemis II crew with the Congressional Space Medal of Honor.
Commander Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen were recognised after their historic lunar flyby.
They became the first humans to travel to the Moon in more than five decades.
The mission brought the crew within 4,067 miles of the lunar surface while testing NASA’s Orion spacecraft.
Trump also announced plans for a new US Space Academy involving NASA, the Space Force and commercial space companies.
Key Fact: Artemis II was the first crewed mission to travel to the Moon’s vicinity in more than 50 years.

Italy Seeks €8 Billion Under EU SAFE Defence Programme

Italy has requested €8 billion from the European Union’s Security Action for Europe, or SAFE, programme.
SAFE is an EU-backed joint borrowing mechanism designed to boost defence investment and industrial capabilities.
The programme can provide up to €150 billion in competitively priced, long-term loans.
Funding focuses on urgent and large-scale defence investments and common procurement.
EU partner countries, including India, can participate in eligible common procurement arrangements under specified conditions.
Key Fact: The SAFE programme has a total lending capacity of up to €150 billion.

Trump Announces Major Venezuela Oil Deal With US

US President Donald Trump announced a major oil agreement involving the United States and Venezuela.
Trump described it as the “biggest oil deal in world history.”
The proposed arrangement would give the US majority control of 65 billion barrels of proven Venezuelan petroleum reserves.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the deal could attract nearly $100 billion in private investment to Venezuela.
US companies are expected to participate in developing Venezuelan oil fields, although questions remain over infrastructure and previous nationalisation.
Key Fact: Venezuela possesses the world’s largest proven oil reserves, making the proposed deal strategically significant.

Economy News

India’s Industrial Output Slows To 6.7% In July

India’s industrial production growth slowed to 6.7% in July, compared with 7.3% in June.
The slowdown was mainly caused by a 0.9% contraction in mining and quarrying output.
Manufacturing grew 7.3%, while electricity and gas supply increased 8.7%.
As many as 19 of 23 manufacturing industry groups recorded growth.
Consumer durables growth reached 10.5%, while vehicle and tractor sales also strengthened.
Key Fact: India’s IIP growth for April-July reached 6.3%, compared with 4% during the same period a year earlier.

India’s Forex Reserves Hit Record $729.3 Billion

India’s foreign exchange reserves increased by $12.4 billion to a record $729.3 billion in the week ended August 21.
The rise was supported by capital inflows through the RBI’s concessional swap window and revaluation gains.
Foreign currency assets rose $9.48 billion to $591.33 billion.
Gold reserves increased $2.8 billion to $114.22 billion.
The country’s forex reserves have risen by $62.4 billion over eight weeks.
Key Fact: India’s forex reserves now cover more than 11 months of goods imports and 94% of external debt.

Business News

Peyman Kargar Named TVS Motor CEO From January 2027

TVS Motor Company has appointed Peyman Kargar as its new director and chief executive officer from January 27, 2027.
He will succeed K N Radhakrishnan, who has led the company since 2008.
Radhakrishnan will continue through the transition before becoming a non-executive director.
Kargar currently serves as TVS Motor’s president for international business and has more than three decades of automotive experience.
International operations under his leadership became a major contributor, accounting for 29% of sales volume.
Key Fact: TVS Motor recorded 5.9 million global vehicle sales and 30% revenue growth in FY26.

Jio Platforms IPO Gets SEBI Approval, Could Set Record

The proposed Jio Platforms IPO has received SEBI’s observations, clearing a major regulatory hurdle.
The issue is expected to exceed ₹37,000 crore, potentially making it India’s largest public issue.
It could surpass Hyundai Motor India’s ₹27,870-crore IPO record.
Jio Platforms has proposed a fresh issue of up to 27 crore equity shares with no current offer-for-sale component.
A substantial portion of the proceeds could be used to repay or prepay borrowings by Reliance Jio Infocomm.
Key Fact: The IPO could raise more than ₹37,000 crore, potentially setting a new record for India’s largest IPO.

Defence News

India-Kuwait Hold First Joint Defence Committee Meeting

India and Kuwait held the inaugural meeting of their Joint Defence Committee in New Delhi on August 28.
Discussions covered military training, exercises, military medicine, staff talks, defence industry and research and development.
The meeting was co-chaired by Joint Secretary Amitabh Prasad and Kuwait’s Brigadier General Raed Alsakran.
The committee aims to implement objectives under the India-Kuwait defence cooperation agreement.
The agreement was signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Kuwait in December 2024.
Key Fact: This was the first meeting of the India-Kuwait Joint Defence Committee.

India To Acquire Javelin Missiles After 17-Year Wait

The Indian Army has signed its first contract for the American FGM-148 Javelin anti-tank guided missile.
The acquisition ends a 17-year effort to procure the weapon.
The purchase is being processed through the Foreign Military Sales route under emergency procurement powers.
Javelin uses an imaging infrared seeker and allows operators to move immediately after launching the missile.
Its top-attack capability targets the weaker upper armour of tanks, while its tandem warhead can counter explosive reactive armour.
Key Fact: India first explored Javelin procurement in 2009, but earlier proposals did not materialise.

Sports News

Velavan Senthilkumar Wins PSA Budapest Squash Open

Indian squash player Velavan Senthilkumar won the PSA Budapest Squash Open in Hungary.
He defeated home favourite Balazs Farkas 3-0 in the final.
In the quarterfinals, Senthilkumar defeated World No. 18 and Asian Games gold medallist Eain Yow Ng 3-0.
He then overcame fellow Indian Veer Chotrani 3-2 in a closely contested semifinal.
Senthilkumar dominated the final to complete a straight-games victory.
Key Fact: Senthilkumar won the Budapest title without dropping a game in the quarterfinal and final.

India Loses Belgium Shootout, Finishes Eighth World Cup

India finished eighth in the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup after losing to Belgium.
The match ended 3-3 after regulation time before Belgium won the shootout 4-3.
Abhishek gave India an early lead before Belgium responded with two goals.
Harmanpreet Singh scored twice, including a late equaliser that forced the shootout.
India converted three shootout attempts through Shilanand Lakra, Dilpreet Singh and Abhishek.
Key Fact: Belgium defeated India 4-3 in the shootout to secure seventh place, leaving India eighth.

Spain and Germany Set Up Hockey World Cup Final

Spain and Germany have reached the men’s Hockey World Cup final.
Spain defeated co-hosts Netherlands 4-3 in a dramatic semifinal in Amstelveen.
José Basterra scored a hat-trick for Spain, while Pepe Cunill also found the net.
Germany defeated Argentina 2-1, with goals from Justus Weigand and Paul-Philipp Kaufmann.
Argentina’s only goal was scored by Tomas Domene.
Key Fact: Spain and Germany will face each other for the men’s Hockey World Cup title.

Important Days News

National Sports Day 2026 Celebrates Dhyan Chand and Fitness

India observes National Sports Day on August 29 every year to honour hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand.
Dhyan Chand, popularly known as the “Wizard of Hockey”, helped India win Olympic gold medals in 1928, 1932 and 1936.
National Sports Day was first observed in 1995 to promote sports and fitness.
The Fit India Movement, launched on August 29, 2019, further strengthened the focus on active lifestyles.
In 2026, celebrations are being held from August 28 to 30.
Key Fact: The 2026 National Sports Day theme is “Tribute, Play, and Move.”

Obituaries News

Norway’s King Harald V Dies at Age 89

Norway’s King Harald V has died at the age of 89, according to the palace.
He became king in 1991 following the death of his father, King Olav V.
Harald remained monarch during decades of economic growth largely driven by Norway’s oil and gas sector.
He modernised the royal household while retaining the largely symbolic constitutional role of the monarchy.
Born in 1937 near Oslo, he spent part of his childhood in exile in the United States during Nazi Germany’s occupation of Norway.
Key Fact: Harald V was Norway’s longest-serving monarch and Europe’s oldest reigning monarch.