Current Affairs - Places

Hyderabad will host Amgen’s new Science and Innovation Centre at Genome Valley, with the facility scheduled to become operational in 2027. The centre will focus on discovery chemistry, drug metabolism, pharmacokinetics, precision medicine, and the integration of experimental science with data technology. The project is expected to create employment opportunities for around 200 highly skilled professionals. Amgen had earlier established its Global Capability Centre in Hyderabad in February 2025. Genome Valley is India’s first systematically developed life sciences research and development cluster and has become an important hub for biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies.

Lucknow is the location where India’s first-of-its-kind Eco-Educational Hub, ‘Prakriti Gyan Dham’, was inaugurated at the Banthra campus of CSIR-NBRI on August 8, 2026. The hub was dedicated to the nation by Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh. It includes the PAaVan Path interpretive heritage trail, Indian Heritage Garden, Vibhav Enclave for rare and threatened plants, Bhairav Enclave featuring State Plants, and Bamboosteum with 43 bamboo species. The initiative promotes experiential environmental education, biodiversity awareness, and conservation. CSIR-NBRI, headquartered in Lucknow, is a constituent laboratory of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research.

The 9th India Medical Device 2026 conference was organised at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi on August 7 and 8, 2026. The event was organised by the Department of Pharmaceuticals in collaboration with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI). Its theme was “Towards Viksit Bharat: Advancing India as a Global Hub for Quality Medical Devices”. Key technical sessions focused on Software as a Medical Device (SaMD), Artificial Intelligence in healthcare, localisation of component manufacturing and reimbursement mechanisms for innovative therapies. The conference aimed to strengthen India’s medical device sector and support the country’s goal of becoming a global hub for quality healthcare technologies.

IIT Delhi hosted the successful conclusion of the Ministry of Textiles Handloom Hackathon 2.0, themed “Weaving Innovations,” on August 2, 2026. The event was held at the Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer (FITT) and witnessed participation from more than 2,500 participants and 100 shortlisted teams. Innovations were recognised across four categories, including weaver livelihoods, digital market access, sustainability, and design and operations. The hackathon aimed to combine India’s traditional handloom heritage with modern technology to improve the livelihoods of weavers and artisans. IIT Delhi, established in 1961, is located in Hauz Khas, New Delhi.

Hyderabad, Telangana, hosted the Second BRICS Anti-Corruption Working Group (ACWG) meeting on August 4–5, 2026. The meeting was organised by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) under India’s BRICS Presidency 2026. It focused on strengthening transparency, accountability, international cooperation, asset recovery, and measures to combat cross-border corruption. The event also addressed emerging corruption risks associated with FinTech and digital assets. Alongside the ACWG meeting, the Second BRICS Expert Network on Asset Recovery meeting was conducted. A special side event on ethical governance through technology was also scheduled during the gathering.