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Sanjay Lohiya was nominated by the Central Government as a Director on the Central Boards of both the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the State Bank of India (SBI) on June 11, 2026. A 1994-batch IAS officer of the Assam-Meghalaya cadre, he serves as the Secretary of the Department of Financial Services (DFS) under the Ministry of Finance and assumed charge on June 1, 2026. His nomination followed the retirement of Nagaraju Maddirala. The appointment became effective immediately and will remain in force until further orders, strengthening coordination between the government and key financial institutions.

Dr Srinivasa Kumar Tummala has been appointed as the Secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) by the Government of India with the approval of the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC). He has over 30 years of experience in satellite oceanography, tsunami warning systems, climate services, disaster risk reduction, and coastal hazard management. Before assuming this role, he headed the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (IOTWMS) Secretariat under UNESCO-IOC in Perth, Australia. He also played a key role in establishing India's Tsunami Early Warning Centre at INCOIS, significantly strengthening the country's disaster preparedness and ocean science capabilities.

Vivek Tripathi was appointed as the Whole-Time Director of AU Small Finance Bank, marking an important addition to the bank’s leadership structure. As a Whole-Time Director, he becomes part of the full-time executive management, contributing to strategic and operational decisions. Such appointments in banking institutions require regulatory oversight and alignment with provisions under the Companies Act, 2013. AU Small Finance Bank, headquartered in Jaipur, has evolved from a Non-Banking Financial Company into a Scheduled Commercial Bank, and leadership appointments like this play a key role in guiding its growth and governance.

Rajan Bajaj has been appointed as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Slice Small Finance Bank following approval from the bank’s board, shareholders, and the Reserve Bank of India. He is the founder of Slice, which began as a fintech startup in 2016 and later merged with North East Small Finance Bank in 2024 to become a regulated small finance bank. Under his leadership, the bank aims to strengthen AI-driven digital banking services and promote financial inclusion, particularly for underserved and rural populations across India.

Swiggy partnered with HDFC Bank to introduce two new co-branded credit cards named BLCK and Ornge. These cards are designed to provide rewards and benefits for customers who frequently use digital platforms for food delivery, grocery purchases, and online shopping. Cardholders can receive a combination of cashback and partner discounts that may lead to savings of up to ₹48,000 annually. The cards specifically target regular users of Swiggy’s services, such as food delivery, Instamart for groceries, and dining experiences. This collaboration between Swiggy and HDFC Bank reflects the growing integration of fintech solutions with digital consumer platforms to enhance convenience and value for users.

Bank of America agreed to acquire a 49.9% stake in Jio Credit, the lending arm of Jio Financial Services, for ₹18,268 crore. Under the transaction structure, the American banking major will initially acquire a 26.5% equity interest through preferential allotment. Its stake is expected to eventually increase to 49.9% through the exercise of warrants, subject to regulatory and statutory approvals. The transaction reflects growing foreign investment in India’s financial sector. Jio Financial Services was established as a separate entity in 2023 following its demerger from Reliance Industries and operates across digital lending, insurance broking, and payments.

Uttarakhand is the state where the 7th edition of the India–Japan Joint Military Exercise ‘Dharma Guardian’ is being held at the Foreign Training Node in Chaubattia. The exercise involves participation from the Indian Army and the Japan Ground Self-Defence Force, with 120 personnel from each side. The drill focuses on enhancing interoperability, strengthening military collaboration, and improving joint operational capabilities in semi-urban environments. Activities such as heliborne operations, cordon and search missions, intelligence grid development, and house intervention drills are conducted to ensure combat readiness and coordinated response to regional security challenges.

The agreement involved a major collaboration between POSCO Group of South Korea and JSW Steel of India to establish a large integrated steel plant in Odisha. The project, valued at $7.3 billion, is a significant step toward boosting India’s steel production capacity. Both companies will hold equal stakes of 50 per cent in the joint venture, highlighting a balanced partnership. The plant is expected to produce 6 million tons of steel annually and will cover the entire production process at a single site. This initiative aligns with India’s long-term goal of increasing its steel production capacity under the National Steel Policy.

National Constitution Day, also known as Samvidhan Divas, is observed every year on November 26 to commemorate the adoption of the Constitution of India by the Constituent Assembly in 1949. The day honours the efforts of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and other framers of the Constitution, highlighting the values of justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity. It aims to deepen constitutional literacy among citizens, especially students and public servants, by encouraging engagement with India’s democratic principles. National Constitution Day also reinforces the importance of fundamental rights, duties, and the moral foundations of governance in contemporary Indian society.

India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has been launched in Qatar, beginning with Hamad International Airport’s duty-free stores. This makes Qatar the eighth country to accept UPI, facilitating real-time, cashless payments for Indian tourists and reducing dependency on foreign currency or international cards. The rollout is part of a collaboration between NPCI International Payments Ltd (NIPL), Qatar National Bank (QNB), and Japanese payments gateway NETSTARS. By enabling seamless transactions, UPI supports both Indian travelers and local Qatari businesses, promoting digital payment adoption and strengthening India’s international financial footprint while enhancing convenience and security for tourists in high-traffic commercial zones.

Poland has announced a €4.7 billion investment to become part of the NATO Pipeline System (NPS), a critical infrastructure established during the Cold War to supply fuel and lubricants to NATO forces. The NPS spans approximately 10,000 kilometers across 12 countries and includes extensive storage and distribution facilities such as depots, refineries, and air bases. Poland’s participation aims to strengthen its defence logistics, enhance energy security, and contribute to NATO’s overall operational readiness and strategic resilience in Europe.

Sanchar Saathi was the application involved in the government’s withdrawn directive that initially required smartphone manufacturers to pre-install it on all devices. Developed by the Department of Telecommunications, the app is designed to combat cyber fraud, mobile theft, SIM-related misuse, and unauthorised connections. Despite its strong security benefits—such as tracing stolen phones, disconnecting fraudulent mobile connections, and blocking scam attempts—the mandatory installation raised widespread concerns regarding privacy, potential snooping, and lack of stakeholder consultation. As a result, the government opted for a voluntary model, reinforcing its commitment to user choice, transparency, and safeguarding digital rights while continuing to promote cybersecurity awareness.

The Mega Health Camp, organised by DRVA Charitable Trust and Doctor 365, achieved international recognition for its scale and impact. The event was held in Mumbai, where it received acknowledgement from the IEA and ACE Book of World Records as the world’s largest health camp of 2026. The camp delivered extensive free healthcare services, including health checkups, distribution of medicines worth ₹2.5 crore, and issuance of nearly 5 lakh health cards. Hosting such a large-scale public health initiative in Mumbai highlights the city’s role as a major hub for social, medical, and charitable activities in India.

Jodhpur in Rajasthan will host the International Type 1 Diabetes Summit 2026 from July 30 to August 1, 2026. The three-day global conference will bring together leading diabetes specialists, researchers, policymakers, government officials, and patient representatives from countries including India, the USA, and Australia. Organised by Friends of Mewar, Breakthrough T1D, and the William J. Clinton Foundation, the summit will focus on improving access to affordable insulin, advancing diabetes technologies such as continuous glucose monitoring and insulin pumps, promoting digital health solutions, strengthening international research collaboration, and enhancing the quality of life for people living with Type 1 diabetes.

Indian para-cyclists secured a total of 12 Medals at the UCI Para Sport Denmark Grand Prix held in Odense, Denmark, from August 7 to 9, 2026. India’s medal tally consisted of 2 Gold, 5 Silver, and 5 Bronze medals. Arshad Shaikh of the MC2 category was the leading Indian performer, winning 6 medals, including 2 Gold, 3 Silver, and 1 Bronze. Vishwa Vasani, competing in the WC3 category, won 4 Bronze medals, while 16-year-old Anshuman of the MC1 category contributed 2 Silver medals. The Indian team was trained under Chief Coach Aditya Mehta.

Goa signed the Memorandum of Understanding with the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission to strengthen drug safety and improve quality standards nationwide. The collaboration aims to enhance pharmacovigilance systems and improve the reporting of Adverse Drug Reactions (ADR). It also promotes the rational use of medicines and focuses on professional training and capacity-building programs for pharmacists. Through these coordinated initiatives, the effort seeks to elevate regulatory compliance, ensure safer pharmaceutical practices, and improve overall healthcare delivery across the country.

The Swachha App was launched on May 30, 2026, in West Bengal by Union Minister Manohar Lal to improve urban waste management through real-time reporting. The initiative was introduced in Kolkata and initially covers 10 municipalities across the state, including Asansol, Durgapur, Basirhat, Pujali, Tufanganj, Contai, Krishnanagar, Baidyabati, and Madhyamgram. The app allows citizens to upload geo-tagged photographs of garbage accumulation, automatically forwards complaints to municipal authorities, and provides a digital feedback system with before-and-after cleaning verification, supporting efficient and scientific waste management practices.

Rajasthan is the state where the 47th Raising Day of Project Chetak was celebrated at Bikaner on April 4, 2026. Project Chetak, under the Border Roads Organisation, plays a crucial role in developing and maintaining infrastructure in India’s western border regions. Established in 1980, the project has significantly contributed to strengthening connectivity and supporting national security. It covers a vast network of over 4,000 kilometres of roads across Rajasthan, Punjab, and parts of Gujarat, ensuring efficient movement for defence forces and promoting regional development in strategically important areas.

Bellatrix Aerospace, a Bengaluru-based space startup, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) in March 2026 to collaborate on the development of satellite systems and payloads designed for Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO). This partnership focuses on building advanced satellite platforms capable of operating at altitudes between 100 and 450 kilometers above Earth. Satellites operating in VLEO offer several advantages, including higher-resolution Earth observation, lower communication latency, and improved atmospheric and climate data collection. Additionally, the natural orbital decay in VLEO reduces long-term space debris risks and lowers launch and operational costs compared to traditional orbits like LEO, MEO, and GEO.

PhonePe introduced an AI-powered natural language search feature built on Microsoft Foundry, transforming how users interact with the app. The feature enables customers to make payments, recharge FASTag, check gold prices, and track transactions using simple voice or text commands. Designed with a hybrid AI model combining on-device and cloud inferencing, it ensures strong privacy safeguards and secure data handling. The conversational interface replaces traditional menu-based navigation with intent-driven routing, making digital payments more intuitive and personalised. With millions of users and merchants across India, this innovation significantly enhances convenience and accessibility in fintech services.