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Lionel Messi announced retirement from international football, ending his 20-year Argentina career with 207 appearances, the 2022 FIFA World Cup title and two Copa América trophies.
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On the sidelines of the SCO Summit, India and Uzbekistan elevated relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, set a target of USD 5 billion annual bilateral trade by 2030; Uzbekistan conferred its 'Oliy Darajali Do'stlik' Order on PM Narendra Modi, and both countries agreed on a long-term uranium supply framework for India's civil-nuclear energy.
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The 26th Meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of State was held in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic from 31 August to 1 September 2026 marking SCO's 25th anniversary; leaders adopted the Bishkek Declaration, four MoUs and over 20 decisions, agreed to make English an official SCO language, and India will host the first SCO Civilisation Dialogue Forum later in 2026.
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The GOBARdhan Central Sector Scheme with total outlay of ₹23,731 crore came into effect on 1 September 2026; it will be implemented till 2035-36 and aims to increase Compressed Biogas production nearly tenfold.
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India's defence production reached approximately ₹1.8 lakh crore in 2025-26, with Defence Public Sector Undertakings contributing ₹1.29 lakh crore; the Government has set a target of ₹3 lakh crore annual defence production and ₹50,000 crore defence exports by 2029.
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On 1 September 2026, Air Marshal Vivek Hande took over as DGMS(Air), Air Marshal KAA Sanjeeb as Air Officer-in-Charge Maintenance, Air Marshal Sandeep Thareja as the 47th DGAFMS, and Surgeon Vice Admiral Manish Honwad as Director & Commandant of AFMC Pune; Air Vice Marshal Shakti Sharma became the first non-medical woman officer to attain the two-star Air Vice Marshal rank, assuming the appointment of Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Education).
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India's real GDP grew 7.8% in Q1 FY 2026-27 (April-June 2026), the highest Q1 real GDP growth during 2023-24 to 2026-27; real GVA rose 8.2%.
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Under PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana, the average score of 100 districts improved from 22.54 in April 2026 to 38.85 in July 2026; the scheme converges 36 central schemes of 11 Ministries.
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The last date for National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMSS) 2026-27 applications has been extended to 30 September 2026; it provides ₹12,000 per annum per student, one lakh fresh scholarships for Class IX, parental income not more than ₹3.5 lakh, and minimum 55% marks in Class 8.
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S&P Global Ratings affirmed India's 'BBB/A-2' sovereign credit ratings with a Stable Outlook; the long-term rating was upgraded to 'BBB' in 2025 after an 18-year gap.
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As of 19 August 2026, Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana accounts stood at 59.09 crore, deposits at ₹3,16,514 crore, and 41.29 crore RuPay debit cards had been issued; India's Financial Inclusion Index rose from 53.9 in 2018 to 67 in 2026.
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The 4th Indo-German Environment Forum was held in New Delhi with the theme 'Together For More Resilience'; India and Germany signed a Joint Declaration of Intent on Conservation and Wise Use of Wetlands of International Importance.
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The 26 August 2026 flash flood in Gyirong county, Tibet killed 16 people and left 546 missing; Nepal's Himalayan floods death toll reached 987, around 4,000 including 583 foreigners remained missing, nearly 12,000 were rescued, and 163 Indian nationals were rescued.
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Belgium Prime Minister Bart De Wever is scheduled to visit India from 2 to 4 September 2026; he will meet PM Narendra Modi on 3 September and an exchange of MoUs is expected.
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The 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders' Meeting was held in Koror, Palau on 1 September 2026 under the theme 'B.E.L.A.U – Building Economies: Life. Action. Unity'; Minister of State Pabitra Margherita represented India at the Dialogue Partner Session.
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Union Minister Kiren Rijiju represented India at the High-Level Commemorative Meeting marking the 65th Anniversary of the First Conference of Heads of State/Government of the Non-Aligned Movement, hosted by Serbia; India is one of the five founders of NAM.
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India participated in the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting in Asheville, US; the G20 Leaders' Summit is scheduled in Miami on 14-15 December 2026.
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India rejected the World Bank-constituted Court of Arbitration ruling on the Indus Waters Treaty, saying the panel has no jurisdiction; India suspended the treaty after the Pahalgam terror attack in April last year.
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The Ministry of Civil Aviation launched Hub & Spoke International Flight Operations from Ahmedabad, making it the third Indian airport integrated after Varanasi and Amritsar.
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India Post Payments Bank celebrated its 9th Foundation Day and launched DakPay Sound Box, Digital Insurance Technology and Digital Mutual Fund Platforms; its pan-India customer base stood at 13.25 crore as on 31 March 2026.
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Ministry of Coal secured the top rank in space freed and third rank in revenue earned in DARPG's Assessment Report of Special Campaign 5.0.
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GST collections in August 2026 rose 14.8% year-on-year to ₹1,99,853 crore; domestic GST revenue was ₹1,37,249 crore and import GST was ₹62,604 crore.
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India's merchandise and services exports in July 2026 were estimated at USD 80.14 billion, up 13.31% year-on-year; April-July 2026 cumulative exports were USD 316.42 billion, up 13.16%.
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A record 7.8 crore+ Income Tax Returns were filed for Assessment Year 2026-27 by 31 August 2026, the revised deadline for non-audit business and professional taxpayers.
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The All India Institute of Ayurveda launched the 'AyurVarta' digital dialogue series ahead of Ayurveda Day, which is observed on 23 September.
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Dr Jitendra Singh launched the 5th edition of 'Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar 2026', scheduled from 12 to 19 September 2026 as a nationwide ocean conservation campaign.
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At NCERT's 66th Foundation Day, Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi said new textbooks for Grades 1-8 are being prepared in all 22 languages of the Eighth Schedule and 121 primers including 93 tribal languages; revised textbooks for classes 10-12 are being prepared in mission mode.
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The Digital India BHASHINI Division organised the BHASHINI SANGAM International Engagement Workshop in Kathmandu, Nepal to strengthen India-Nepal collaboration on multilingual AI.
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The Indian Army organised PNG Transition Webinar-2026 and plans to convert 41 Army Stations to Piped Natural Gas during FY 2026-27.
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NHAI received 10 bids for the 79.4 km Rameshwar-Konark Package-I and 7 bids for the 80.7 km Konark-Paradeep Package-II of the 160 km coastal corridor in Odisha; total capital cost is ₹8,300.79 crore.
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The Government reduced the sugar stock holding limit for dealers from 4,000 quintals to 2,000 quintals effective 15 September 2026 till 30 November 2026; Kolkata retains the 4,000-quintal limit.
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The Government revised Special Additional Excise Duty on fuel exports effective 1 September 2026: petrol ₹1.5/litre, diesel ₹25/litre, ATF ₹19/litre.
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The first Kanda Express rake carrying 450 MT of onions reached Delhi on 27 August 2026 and the second carrying 840 MT reached Chennai on 31 August 2026; buffer onions are being sold at ₹35 per kg.
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IMD issued a flash flood warning for 10 districts of Jharkhand; Dumaria in East Singhbhum recorded the highest rainfall of 217 mm, and the Kharkhai River at Adityapur Bridge was 4.10 metres above danger level.
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Kerala recorded 22% deficient southwest monsoon rainfall from June 1 to August 31, 2026, receiving 1,367.1 mm against a normal of 1,746.8 mm; Wayanad had the highest deficit at 50%.
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International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances was observed on 30 August.
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CARA launched the theme for Adoption Awareness 2026: 'Legal Adoption. Safe Childhood. Secure Future. Say No to Illegal Adoption!'
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Shri Suman Ray was appointed Executive Director of the Reserve Bank of India with effect from 1 September 2026.
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As per RBI money market operations on 31 August 2026, the Marginal Standing Facility rate was 5.50% and the Standing Deposit Facility rate was 5.00%.
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India's current account deficit in Q1 FY 2026-27 was US$4.2 billion (0.5% of GDP); FDI net inflow was US$6.1 billion, FPI net outflow was US$9.6 billion, and foreign exchange reserves declined by US$22.5 billion in April-June 2026.
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India's 15-member men's T20I squad for the three-match series against Afghanistan was announced; Shreyas Iyer is captain, Tilak Varma vice-captain; matches will be played at Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi on 13, 15 and 17 September; Afghanistan is the designated host.
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Akashvani FM Gold celebrated its Silver Jubilee on 1 September 2026; it was launched on 1 September 2001 as AIR FM-II.
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Middle East Energy 2026 is being held at the Dubai World Trade Centre from 1-3 September 2026; the India Pavilion with 45 exhibitors was inaugurated by India's Consul General in Dubai, Dr E. Vishnu Vardhan Reddy.
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In the 138th Enforcement Task Force meeting, CAQM reviewed 121 inspections across NCR, proposing closure of 4 projects/industries and sealing of 17 DG sets.
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Under WDC-PMKSY 2.0, 1,220 watershed projects covering 52.93 lakh hectares have been sanctioned at a total cost of ₹12,404 crore; 28.50 lakh farmers have benefited so far.
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The Directorate General of Foreign Trade enabled automated issuance of Free Sale and Commerce Certificates on the DGFT portal to promote ease of doing business.
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The Supreme Court ordered closure of FIRs against student protests over the NEET paper leak held 20-25 July; the CJI Surya Kant-led bench invoked Article 142, and the Centre has to formulate a compensation policy for families of deceased students within three months.
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On the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Bishkek, PM Narendra Modi held bilateral meetings with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
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PM Modi participated in the opening ceremony of the 6th World Nomad Games in Bishkek along with SCO leaders.
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During his Kyrgyzstan visit, PM Narendra Modi gifted Bibek Debroy's 10-volume English translation of the Mahabharata and a Ladakhi Tsug-dul blanket to Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, and Dokra artwork to PM Adylbek Kasymaliev.
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Indian Railways approved the Bhavnagar Para Yard Remodeling project in Gujarat at ₹125 crore, Kavach 4.0 on 712 route km of Moradabad Division at ₹170 crore, Electronic Interlocking at 21 stations of Samastipur Division at ₹233 crore, and an Adra-Joychandipahar bypass line at ₹272 crore.
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PM Narendra Modi will address the valedictory session of the first Departmental Summit of the Ministry of Jal Shakti on 2 September 2026 at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan, New Delhi; focus includes Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari and Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0.
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For Kharif Marketing Season 2026-27, paddy procurement estimate was fixed at 708.64 LMT and e-KYC coverage under food distribution reached 90.64% as on 30 July 2026.
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Ganga Swachhta Pakhwada is observed annually from 16th to 31st March under the Namami Gange Programme, which was launched in 2014.
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NHRC launched the online 'Human Rights Quiz 2026' on MyGov ahead of its 33rd Foundation Day; the quiz has 15 questions, a 300-second limit, and top prize of ₹15,000 for first place.
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The Indian Institute of Mass Communication conferred first-ever postgraduate degrees as a Deemed University, awarding MA in Public Communication & Governance to Indian Information Service Officer Trainees.
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At the 30th Foundation Day of the Technology Development Board, Dr Jitendra Singh called for wider awareness about the ₹1 lakh crore Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund.
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As of 1 September 2026, Vikram Misri is India's Foreign Secretary and Randhir Jaiswal is the Official Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs.
