National News
01
Chhattisgarh Flood Preparedness Drill
Chhattisgarh conducted a mock drill across all 33 districts to prepare for flood disasters.
02
Assam Vehicle Violence Discussion
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma spoke with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma about violence against Assam-registered vehicles and tourists during a black-flag bike rally in Shillong.
03
Union Minister Reviews Women and Child Welfare Schemes
Union Minister Annapurna Devi reviewed the implementation of women and child welfare schemes in West Bengal.
04
Manipuri Language Day Celebration
The 35th Manipuri Language Day was celebrated across Manipur, commemorating the inclusion of Manipuri in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution on 20 August 1992.
05
Delhi Master Plan 2047 Unveiled
The Delhi Master Plan 2047 was unveiled, providing a long-term spatial, economic, and institutional framework to transform Delhi into a globally competitive, environmentally resilient, and inclusive capital.
06
Delhi Lieutenant Governor Reviews Community Policing
Delhi Lieutenant Governor TS Sandhu held a review meeting with Delhi Commissioner of Police Anurag Kumar to evaluate specialized community policing initiatives, public welfare platforms, and targeted safety measures across the National Capital Territory.
07
Andhra Pradesh Municipal Election Process Initiated
The Andhra Pradesh government issued formal orders to initiate the preliminary process for elections to 100 urban local bodies, beginning the official groundwork for municipal elections.
08
Andhra Pradesh Seat-Sharing Formula Clarification
Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and Jana Sena Party president K. Pawan Kalyan stated that the 21-seat formula used in the 2024 assembly elections would not determine seat-sharing for upcoming local body polls.
09
Tibetan Martyr Commemoration in Dharamshala
A prayer meeting and peaceful march were held in Dharamshala to mark the 49th day since the sacrifice of Tibetan martyr Lobsang Palden, organized jointly by the Kashag and the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile.
10
Chhattisgarh Tilapia Exports Begin
Chhattisgarh became the first inland Indian state to export value-added Tilapia products, shipping 382 tonnes to the United States, following a review meeting in Raipur on the notified Tilapia cluster.
11
Duty-Free Raw Sugar Imports Allowed
The government permitted duty-free imports of up to 10 lakh metric tonnes of raw sugar until 31 October, under a tariff rate quota, subject to conditions, as per a DGFT notification.
12
South Zone Council Meeting Concludes in Mahabalipuram
The 31st South Zone Council meeting concluded in Mahabalipuram under Home Minister Amit Shah, facilitating discussion among Chief Ministers and senior officials on regional development and shared priorities.
13
PhonePe Integrates PulsePro with PM GatiShakti Portal
PhonePe signed an MoU with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to integrate its enterprise data intelligence platform, PulsePro, into the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan portal, coordinated with the Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geo-informatics.
14
Former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar Passes Away
Former Indian National Congress MP Sajjan Kumar died at age 80, having served a life sentence for involvement in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and previously represented the Outer Delhi constituency in the Lok Sabha three times.
Legal Report
01
Nagaland Inter-State Drug Trafficking Network Busted
Mon Police in Nagaland busted an inter-state drug trafficking network and seized approximately 800 grams of heroin, locally known as ‘Shan Flower,’ in a major anti-drug operation.
02
Jharkhand High Court Stays PSC Appointment Cancellations
The Jharkhand High Court stayed the state government's decision to cancel appointments made through the 11th to 13th JPSC Civil Services examination and the Food Safety Officer recruitment until further orders.
03
Security Operation Launched in Kathua
Security forces launched a search operation in the bordering areas of Kathua district following reports of suspicious movement.
Union Cabinet approval
01
Establishment of High Court Bench in Ladakh
The Union Cabinet approved the creation of a Bench of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir in Ladakh, as announced by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on social media.
Law enforcement
01
Cannabis smuggling arrests in Tripura
Police in East Agartala arrested three women allegedly involved in cannabis smuggling near Jogendranagar Railway Station.
Legal action
01
Defamation suit by IPS officer
IPS officer A. Arun filed a defamation suit against YouTuber ‘Savukku’ Shankar (alias A. Shankar), seeking damages exceeding ₹1 crore plus 12% annual interest from the filing date until payment.
Withdrawal of proposal
01
Withdrawal of green AI data centre EoI
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands administration withdrew an Expression of Interest seeking feasibility proposals for a private‑sector‑led green AI data centre.
Railway enforcement
01
Penalty on catering licensee
IRCTC imposed a Rs 2 lakh penalty on a catering licensee after a passenger reported poor‑quality food on a Vande Bharat Express train.
Mishaps
01
Bhavnagar hooch tragedy death toll
The death toll in the Bhavnagar hooch tragedy rose to eight, with at least eight others remaining in critical condition.
Defence news
01
Nepal recruitment under Agnipath scheme
Calls for Nepal to allow its citizens to join the Indian Army under the Agnipath scheme intensified ahead of Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth’s participation in an ex‑servicemen rally for Gorkha veterans in Pokhara.
02
COAS Commendation Medal award
Agniveer Arjun Rana, recruited in 2024 under the Agnipath scheme and serving with the 19 Grenadiers, received the Chief of Army Staff Commendation Medal for courageous action during a militant attack on an Army camp in Assam.
International news
01
Congratulation to Zambia's President
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Hakainde Hichilema on his re‑election as President of Zambia.
02
India‑Japan Defence Ministers meeting
Defence Ministers Rajnath Singh (India) and Shinjiro Koizumi (Japan) co‑chaired the India‑Japan Defence Ministers Meeting in New Delhi, focusing on maritime security, ‘Make in India’ defence technology, and strategic trust.
03
India‑Singapore Ministerial Roundtable
The 4th round of the India‑Singapore Ministerial Roundtable (ISMR) was held in Singapore, attended by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, and Minister of State Jitin Prasada.
04
India‑Nepal border management meeting
The 14th meeting of the India‑Nepal Joint Working Group on border management began in Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
05
Humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan
India delivered medicines and medical consumables to a Government Hospital in Kabul, reaffirming its health partnership with Afghanistan.
06
BRICS Communications Ministers Meeting
The 12th BRICS Communications Ministers Meeting is scheduled to be held on 21 August 2026.
World news
01
US economic measures against Iran
US President Donald Trump announced sweeping new economic warfare measures against Iran.
02
Bangladesh presidential election
Veteran BNP leader Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir was elected as Bangladesh's 23rd President, securing 255 votes in the parliamentary election.
03
Ship hijackings involving Indian nationals
Two vessels were hijacked off the coasts of Yemen and Somalia; a total of 22 Indian nationals were taken hostage, including crew of the Polar Movement Shipping vessel carrying weapons destined for a Turkish military training facility in Mogadishu.
Sports
01
Badminton doubles victory
The fifth‑seeded Indian pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty defeated Junaidi Arif and Roy King Yap of Malaysia in the pre‑quarterfinals of the BWF World Championships 2026 in New Delhi.
02
Union Minister Calls for Talent Roadmap
Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, urged an accelerated and comprehensive talent identification roadmap to build India's athlete pool for the 2036 Olympics.
03
Women's Hockey Team Advances
The Indian women's hockey team advanced to the second round of the FIH World Cup after drawing 0-0 with England in their final Pool D match in Amstelveen, Netherlands.
04
Subroto Cup 2026 Kicks Off
The 65th Subroto Cup 2026 began in New Delhi on August 18, 2026, featuring 108 teams across three age categories. Meghalaya defeated Chandigarh in the Junior Girls Under-17 category in the opening match.
Finance
01
Currency Exchange Rates
Approximate exchange rates: GBP ₹128, EUR ₹109, USD ₹96, CAD ₹68, AUD ₹67, AED ₹26, CNY ₹14, MVR ₹6.17, NPR ₹0.63, BDT ₹0.77, PKR ₹0.34, LKR ₹0.30.
02
Stock Market Indices
BSE SENSEX closed at 77,537.72, up 628.04 points (0.82%). NIFTY closed at 24,231.85, up 153.55 points (0.64%).
03
Precious Metal Prices
Gold priced at ₹15,500 per gram (24 karat). Silver priced at ₹2,45,000 per kilogram.
Entertainment
01
Govinda's Wife Withdraws Divorce Petition
Actor Govinda's manager Shashi Sinha confirmed that Sunita Ahuja withdrew her divorce petition against Govinda.
Facts About India
01
Kerala Overview
Kerala, formed on November 1, 1956, is located on the southwestern Malabar Coast. It was created from the unification of Travancore and Cochin in 1949. Known as Parasurama Kshetram, its name may derive from 'Kera' (coconut) and 'alam' (land), meaning 'land of coconuts.' The earliest recorded form is 'Keralaputra' in a 3rd-century BCE Ashoka inscription. Key agricultural outputs include pepper, natural rubber, coconut, tea, coffee, cashew, and spices.
Thought of the Day
01
Thought of the Day
Nothing is particularly hard if you break it down into small jobs.
Joke of the Day
01
Chintu's Phone Joke
Chintu's friend asked when he bought his new phone. Chintu replied it wasn't new—it belonged to his girlfriend. He added that she used to say, 'Don't ignore my phone,' and today he finally answered it.
Sanskrit
01
Sanskrit Phrase
साध्वोः शीघ्रं मैत्री भवति। (saadhvoh sheeghran maitree bhavati) translates to 'Good people become friends quickly.'
Science Fact
01
Why Chopping Onions Makes You Cry
Chopping onions releases syn-propanethial- S-oxide, a chemical irritant that stimulates tear-producing glands in the eyes.
Navratri Fasting Science
01
Navratri Fasting Dietary Categories
Ayurveda classifies foods into three types: Raajasic (unripe, weak, resentful, destructive), Taamasic (carnal energy-inducing, includes onion and garlic), and Saatvik (fresh fruits, curd, rock salt, seasonal vegetables, subtle spices like coriander and black pepper). Onion and garlic are considered Taamasic and are avoided during Navratri fasts to prevent distraction from spiritual focus.
Onion Chemistry
01
Lachrymatory-factor synthase release
Released into the air when an onion is cut.
02
Sulfoxides conversion
The enzyme converts onion sulfoxides into sulfenic acid.
03
Sulfenic acid rearrangement
The unstable sulfenic acid rearranges into syn-propanethial-S-oxide.
04
Irritant effect
Syn-propanethial-S-oxide irritates the eyes, causing tears.
Currency
01
Ruble to Rupee exchange rate
1 Russian Ruble equals 1.34 Indian Rupee.
02
Ruble sign
The currency sign for the Russian Ruble is ₽.
Idioms
01
Like a chicken with its head cut off
To act in a frenzied manner, crazily.
Synonyms and Antonyms
01
Synonym for obtain
Access, Inherit.
02
Antonym for obtain
Forfeit.
Political Figure
01
Pema Khandu
Born 21 August 1979, Indian politician serving as the 9th and current Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh since 2016.
Vedic Dietary Restrictions
01
Onion and garlic taboo
Considered non-vegetarian due to origin from a sacrificed cow's body; tamasic and rajasic; not offered in Vaishnava rituals.
02
Mythological origin
According to Puranic narrative, onions and garlic originated from parts of a sacrificed cow revived by mantras.
03
Spiritual classification
Classified as non-vegetarian, tamasic, and rajasic; thus avoided by Vaishnavas.
04
Poison claim
Onions and garlic contain 21 different types of slow poison.
Home Remedies
01
Watermelon and basil drink
Effective for hydration; watermelon balances electrolytes with magnesium, potassium, and salt; basil aids digestion and detoxifies the gut.
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