NATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS
India–Afghanistan Joint Working Group (JWG) on Trade
- India and Afghanistan held a virtual meeting of the Joint Working Group (JWG) on Trade, Commerce and Investment to strengthen bilateral trade and economic cooperation through improved connectivity, customs coordination and sectoral collaboration
- About JWG: It is a bilateral mechanism that promotes cooperation in trade, commerce and investment while addressing issues affecting economic relations between the two countries.
- Key Focus Areas: Discussions covered trade facilitation, faster customs clearance, enhanced data-sharing, cargo connectivity, port-related issues, banking links, energy cooperation, and regulatory coordination in the pharmaceutical and agriculture sectors.
- Trade Facilitation: Both sides explored visa facilitation for Afghan traders and tariff concessions to improve market access.
Read More:
FIFI and EICA Sign MoU to Promote Culinary Innovation
- The Forum of Indian Food Importers (FIFI) and the Eastern India Culinary Association (EICA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote culinary innovation, food trade and hospitality development, with a special focus on Eastern and North-Eastern India.
- Objective: To strengthen Eastern India as a hub for culinary innovation, food tourism, hospitality development and global food & beverage trade.
- Key Initiatives: The partnership will organise joint workshops, food festivals, chef engagement programmes and global product showcases, connecting regional culinary talent with international food and beverage stakeholders.
- Regional Coverage: EICA has an active presence across West Bengal, Sikkim, Odisha, Jharkhand and the North-Eastern states, with planned expansion into Bihar and Chhattisgarh.
Read More:
Odisha’s ₹24,700 Crore Shipbuilding Cluster Gets Centre’s Nod
- The Centre has granted in-principle approval to Odisha’s proposed ₹24,700 crore shipbuilding cluster in Kendrapara, marking a major step towards developing an integrated shipbuilding and heavy-industries hub along the Mahanadi River.
- About Project: The cluster will be developed under the Shipbuilding Development Scheme (SbDS) of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways by National Shipbuilding and Heavy Industries Park Odisha Ltd (NSHIPOL).
- Key Features: Planned opposite the IFFCO plant near Paradip, it will include one or more large shipyards with a combined annual capacity of around 1.2 million gross tonnes (GT), along with ship-repair and related industries.
- Development: The project will be implemented through an SPV involving the Odisha Maritime Board (OMB) and Paradip Port Authority (PPA).
- Significance: Its proximity to Paradip Port and Odisha’s mineral-rich industrial hinterland provides access to steel, coal and established maritime logistics.
- Next Step: Final approval requires statutory clearances, including environmental and Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) permissions.
Read More:
SCCA and GCAI Sign MoU to Strengthen India–Singapore Legal Collaboration
- Key Development: The Singapore Corporate Counsel Association (SCCA) and General Counsels’ Association of India (GCAI) signed MoU to strengthen cooperation between the in-house legal communities of India and Singapore.
- Focus: Signed during the “India-Singapore Legal Bridge: Enabling Growth, Investment and Effective Dispute Resolution in a Changing Global Economy” event held alongside Singapore Convention Week, the MoU promotes knowledge exchange, professional development and cross-border engagement.
- About SCCA: SCCA is Singapore’s national association representing in-house counsel, supporting the profession through conferences, networking, professional-development programmes, leadership initiatives and industry dialogues.
- About GCAI: GCAI is an association formed and led by in-house legal counsel, aimed at creating a distinct professional identity for General Counsels and establishing in-house legal practice as a specialised stream.
Read More:
BANKING | ECONOMY CURRENT AFFAIRS
Vodafone Idea Appoints Shah Rukh Khan as Brand Ambassador
- Vodafone Idea (Vi) has appointed Shah Rukh Khan (SRK) as its brand ambassador and unveiled a new brand logo, reinforcing its market presence amid ongoing network expansion and fundraising efforts.
- Brand Initiative: SRK will lead Vi’s new branding campaign as the company strengthens customer engagement and brand visibility.
- Expansion Plans: Vi is pursuing a ₹45,000 crore capital expenditure plan over the next three years, focused on 4G expansion and 5G rollout. It has already raised ₹6,400 crore as the first tranche of its planned ₹35,000 crore fundraise.
- Financial Support: The company is close to securing funding from State Bank of India (SBI) with guarantees from its promoters.
- Growth: Vi added 2.4 lakh customers in July, recording its highest monthly subscriber gain in two years and continuing its customer growth momentum.
Read More:
DEFENCE CURRENT AFFAIRS
AVM Shakti Sharma Becomes First Non-Medical Woman Air Vice Marshal
- Air Vice-Marshal (AVM) Shakti Sharma has become the first non-medical woman officer in the Indian Armed Forces to attain the rank of Air Vice Marshal (or equivalent). She has also assumed charge as the Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Education) at Air Headquarters.
- Career: Commissioned into the Indian Air Force’s Education Branch on 18 June 1994, she has served at training establishments, field stations, command headquarters, and Air Headquarters.
- Key Contributions: She strengthened academic and strategic collaboration by establishing IAF Chairs of Excellence at IIT Kanpur and Pune University.
- Historic Achievement: She was also the first woman officer from the Tri-Services to command a Sainik School, serving as the Principal of Sainik School, Kapurthala.
Read More:
Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra Appointed CEO of Ram Temple Trust
- Retired Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra has been appointed as the first full-time Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. The appointment aims to strengthen the temple’s growing administrative and management responsibilities.
- Career: Commissioned as a fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force on 6 December 1986, he served for nearly 40 years before retiring in April 2026.
- Leadership: He served as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Air Command, leading air operations during Operation Sindoor launched on 7 May 2025 following the Pahalgam terror attack.
- Recognition: He was awarded the Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal for exceptional operational leadership.
Read More:
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CURRENT AFFAIRS
India Launches First AI-Powered Industrial Safety Platform, ‘Agni Kawach’
- About Agni Kawach: Agnikawach Safety Solutions Pvt. Ltd. has launched Agnikawach™, described as India’s first indigenous AI-integrated process-safety and consequence-modelling platform. It aims to make advanced industrial safety technology more accessible, affordable and scalable.
- Technology: The platform integrates Artificial Intelligence (AI), GPU-native computing, adaptive-mesh Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), cloud delivery and risk modelling into a unified safety workflow.
- Industrial Hazards Covered: Agni Kawach can model eight major hazards—jet fires, pool fires, flash fires, explosions, BLEVE/fireballs, toxic dispersion, cryogenic releases and structural domino effects.
- Significance: Spearheaded by INDRAX: Centre of Higher Sciences in Safety and Energy Solutions, the platform seeks to reduce dependence on expensive foreign safety software and support a self-reliant Indian industrial-safety ecosystem under the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047.
Read More:
Türkiye Becomes 71st Country to Join Artemis Accords
- Key Development: Türkiye has officially joined the Artemis Accords, becoming the 71st country to sign the US-led framework for safe, transparent and peaceful exploration of the Moon, Mars and beyond.
- West Asian Participation: Türkiye is the seventh West Asian country to join the accords, after the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Jordan and Israel, strengthening regional participation in international space cooperation.
- About Artemis Accords: Launched in 2020 by NASA and the US Department of State, the non-binding framework is based on the 1967 Outer Space Treaty and establishes principles for responsible space exploration.
- Key Principles: Signatories commit to sharing scientific data, assisting astronauts during emergencies, promoting interoperability of space systems, and preserving historically significant sites and objects on the Moon and other celestial bodies.
Read More:
AWARDS & EVENTS CURRENT AFFAIRS
National Nutrition Week 2026 (1–7 September)
- National Nutrition Week is observed annually in India from 1–7 September to promote awareness about balanced nutrition, healthy diets and appropriate dietary practices.
- Objective: To spread awareness about balanced diets, dietary diversity, micronutrients, maternal and child nutrition, and healthy eating habits for improved health and well-being.
- Implementation: Anganwadi centres, schools, healthcare institutions and community organisations conduct nutrition education and awareness programmes throughout the week.
- Background: Initiated in 1982 by the Food and Nutrition Board to address nutritional challenges and encourage better dietary practices across the country.
- Related Initiatives: Major nutrition programmes include POSHAN Abhiyaan, Poshan Pakhwada, Anaemia Mukt Bharat, and National Nutrition Week, collectively strengthening India’s nutrition and public health efforts.
Read More: