As we mark World Humanitarian Day on 19 August, WHO pays tribute to humanitarian and health workers who put their duty of care above their own safety and, too often, their own lives, as they serve communities affected by conflict and crises.
World Humanitarian Day was designated by the UN General Assembly in 2008 to commemorate the 2003 bombing of the UN headquarters in Baghdad and honour aid workers worldwide.
This year's global campaign, led by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), focuses on "Families of Fallen Humanitarians", highlighting the personal stories of aid workers through the voices of families, loved ones, and the communities they left behind.
The theme for World Humanitarian Day 2026, observed on August 19, continues the United Nations campaign "Act for Humanity," with official organizational focuses emphasizing the protection of health care, strengthening global solidarity, and empowering local communities.
Lok Sabha passed a Bill to amend the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007 that authorises the government to permit banks and other service providers to levy charges on payments through unified payments interface (UPI) and other notified electronic payment modes.
The amendment passed by the House without discussion amid din seeks to remove the existing legal provision that prevents banks and payment service providers from charging Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on notified electronic payment modes.
Real-time payments made through RTGS and NEFT are done by paying a service charge.
However, UPI transactions have been exempted from such charges so far.
The proposed changes in Payment and Settlement Systems Act is a part of comprehensive legislation on taxation, which was introduced in the House.
As soon as the House re-assembled, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman moved the Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026 further to amend the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007 and the Income Tax Act, 2025, and to amend the Finance Act, 2026, to be taken into consideration.
The government's approach aims to levy small charge on digital payment services for consumers and small businesses while ensuring a sustainable revenue model for banks, payment service providers (PSPs), and payment infrastructure firms that drive the digital payments ecosystem.
Section 10A of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007 prohibits banks and system providers from imposing any charges on electronic payments while Section 269SU of the Income Tax Act requires large businesses with a turnover exceeding Rs 50 crore to accept payments through specific electronic modes, including RuPay debit cards and BHIM-UPI QR codes.
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, and MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh, who is also a Professor of Medicine and Diabetologist, has called for making preventive healthcare and prevention of diabetes a national priority.
Stressing that the growing burden of diabetes in rural India requires a community-led, technology-enabled and data-driven response.
The RSSDI 'Diabetes Rural Outreach Digital Portal' and launch of VISHWAS, the Diabetes Awareness Video Library, Dr. Jitendra Singh said that with more than 70 per cent of India’s population below the age of 40, protecting the health and productive potential of the country’s young population is essential to the vision of India@2047.
The RSSDI Rural Outreach Programme is a community initiative focused on improving diabetes awareness, early diagnosis, treatment, follow-up and prevention in rural India through village adoption by RSSDI members.
The newly launched digital portal provides a standardised platform for beneficiary registration, treatment documentation, longitudinal follow-up, programme monitoring and generation of anonymised real-world data for public health planning and research.
Airtel Payments Bank Limited announced a leadership transition, with Shabnam Sinha set to take over from Sunil Bharti Mittal as non-executive chairperson. Mittal will step down from the Board, effective September 30, 2026.
Shabnam Sinha will assume the role of chairperson of Airtel Payments Bank Limited for a three-year term beginning October 1, 2026, following her appointment by the Board and approval by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
Mittal, founder and chairman of Bharti Enterprises, was appointed non-executive chairman of Airtel Payments Bank in April 2016.
Airtel Payments Bank currently serves more than 121 million monthly active users and nearly 30 million bank account customers through the Airtel Thanks App and a network of over 500,000 banking points. The network reaches three out of four villages across India.
The bank has expanded access to formal banking services and has emerged as the country's second-largest mobile bank and UPI Autopay player. One in five of its rural banking points is operated by women banking correspondents.
Sinha currently serves as an independent director on the Board of Airtel Payments Bank. She chairs the Special Committee of the Board for Monitoring Frauds and is a member of the Risk Management and IT Committees.
Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Dr Jitendra Singh confered the National Anubhav Awards, 2026 to 15 selected awardees in New Delhi.
The awardees have contributed to the Nation-building and have been part of various government projects like, Passport Seva Kendra, repealing of old rules and formulation of new rules, Technological adaptation in the administration and accounting.
The Anubhav platform provides a forum for retiring or retired employees of Central Government employees, 12 Public Sector Banks & Central Public Sector Enterprises to share their experiences of working in the Government. During the event, the Handbook on Pension Mitra, and Guidelines for the Nation-wide Digital Life Certificate Campaign – 5 were released
Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema has been re-elected for a second five-year term. The Electoral Commission of Zambia has announced the result. President Hichilema secured more than 51 per cent of the votes, winning the presidential election outright and avoiding a run-off.
According to the Electoral Commission, Hichilema polled 29 lakh 65 thousand 326 votes, while his closest rival, opposition leader Brian Mundubile, secured 18 lakh 56 thousand 217 votes.
The election had been closely watched after vote counting was suspended and resumed several hours later amid heightened security.
The Electoral Commission had reported attacks on some polling station officials and the theft of ballot papers. Several senior opposition figures were also arrested on election night, with police alleging that they posed a threat to state security.
Stock exchange BSE Ltd and PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) announced a partnership to promote equity financing and expand capital-market access for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) across the country.
The two organisations signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to create greater awareness among MSMEs about equity financing, particularly through the BSE SME platform, and help eligible businesses navigate the listing process.
Under the partnership, BSE will provide subject-matter experts and trainers for awareness programmes, seminars, workshops, roadshows and knowledge sessions aimed at helping MSMEs understand the benefits and requirements of raising capital through the markets.
The collaboration will also provide MSMEs with access to mentorship, expert guidance and capacity-building initiatives, besides establishing a nodal-point mechanism to assist businesses in exploring suitable capital-market opportunities.
BSE Managing Director and CEO Sundararaman Ramamurthy said the partnership would help take awareness about SME listing closer to businesses across the country.
The chamber will leverage its network of member associations, industry bodies and regional chambers to reach out to SMEs and undertake awareness and capacity-building initiatives.
India has launched its first ever Guide to Grasslands and Other Open Natural Ecosystems (ONEs) at the 17th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
The ONEs of India encompass a variety of landscapes, including Himalayan and Terai grasslands, the Thar and Banni landscapes, Deccan savannas, rocky plateaus, ravines, scrublands, coastal ecosystems and desert environments.
The document emphasises the rich diversity, ecological significance and socio-economic importance of India's grasslands, savannas, deserts and other open natural ecosystems. This initiative marks a significant step towards enhancing their conservation, restoration and sustainable management.
The Guide compiles comprehensive information on major Open Natural Ecosystems throughout India, detailing their geographical settings, ecological characteristics, biodiversity, and the communities and tribes associated with them.
The Guide compiles comprehensive information on major Open Natural Ecosystems throughout India, detailing their geographical settings, ecological characteristics, biodiversity, and the communities and tribes associated with them.
Grassland ecosystems support diverse biodiversity, contribute to soil and water processes, store substantial carbon in their soils, and sustain pastoral, livestock based and agricultural livelihoods.
Veteran Bengali filmmaker Raja Sen, known for his films as ‘Damu’, ‘Atmiyo Swajan’ and ‘Laboratory’ passed away on Sunday at the age of 71.
The filmmaker's prolonged health problems began years ago when he sustained a serious back injury after falling on the set of his film Maya Mridanga.
Raja Sen began as a documentary filmmaker in the 80s, before finding recognition with his docu feature, Suchitra Mitra, which won the National Award for Best Arts/Cultural Film in 1993. Four years later, he directed his first feature film, Damu.
The film, which remains his most popular work, won the National Award for Best Children's Film. In 1999, he won the National Film Award for Best Film on Family Welfare for Atmiyo Swajan. His films have won laurels at international film festivals as well.
His films included Atmiyo Swajan, Desh, Debipaksha, Krishnakant er will, Laboratory, and Maya Mridanga. His 2002 film Desh featured Jaya Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan.
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) launched the Incident Reporting Portal & Cyber Suraksha Portal to streamline communication from market intermediaries about cybersecurity incidents.
The incident reporting portal will make reporting cybersecurity incidents more structured and timely, aligning it with the Financial Stability Board’s format.
In a landmark collaboration, Qatar Post and India Post have unveiled PosTransfer, an efficient remittance service that streamlines money transfers directly to UPI-enabled accounts in India. By visiting designated Qatar Post outlets and sharing the recipient's UPI ID, customers can initiate seamless transactions.
This service not only promotes secure digital payments but also caters to the extensive Indian diaspora in Qatar, making cross-border remittances easier than ever.
Indian Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth has been conferred the rank of Honorary General of the Nepal Army by President Ramchandra Paudel during an investiture ceremony at Sheetal Niwas in Kathmandu.
Indian Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth has been conferred the rank of Honorary General of the Nepal Army by President Ramchandra Paudel during an investiture ceremony at Sheetal Niwas in Kathmandu.
Nepal Vice President Ram Sahaya Prasad Yadav, Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal, India’s Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava & high officials of the Nepal Army & the Nepal government were present during the ceremony. General Seth reached the Himalayan Nation on an official visit at the invitation of his Nepalese Army counterpart, General Ashok Raj Sigdel.
The conferral of the honorary rank continues a long tradition that started in 1950, under which Nepal and India confer the honorary rank of general on each other’s army chiefs.
General Seth also met General Sigdel at the Nepal Army headquarters and the two leaders discussed matters of mutual interest and ways to strengthen bilateral military relations.
General Seth also met Ambassador Srivastava at the Indian Embassy and the two discussed ways to further strengthen comprehensive relations between New Delhi and Kathmandu.
General Seth also handed over some military and medical equipment to the Nepal Army. He planted a sapling in the premises of the Nepal Army Headquarters.
The Indian Army contingent has departed for Thailand to participate in the 15th edition of the India-Thailand Joint Military Exercise MAITREE-XV (2026). The exercise, commencing, will conclude on the 31st of this month.
The Defence Ministry said that the aim of Exercise MAITREE is to foster Military Cooperation between India and Thailand.
The Exercise will enhance combined capabilities in executing Joint Counter Insurgency/ Terrorist Operations in Jungle and semi-urban environments under Chapter 7 of United Nations Charter. The training will include field exercises, combat discussions, lectures, demonstrations and a culminating validation exercise.
The contingents will also exchange operational experience and showcase contemporary equipment and technologies employed during joint operations.
The Ministry also said that the Indian Army and Royal Thai Army contingents comprise 85 personnel each.
The Indian Army contingent is represented primarily by troops from 9 Gorkha Rifles, while the Royal Thai Army contingent comprises personnel from the 3rd Battalion, 25th Infantry Brigade, 5th Division. The exercise will involve company-level joint training focused on operations in jungle and semi-urban terrain.
The Last edition of the same exercise was conducted at Foreign Training Node, Umroi, Meghalaya in September last year.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) imposed a Rs 59.20 lakh penalty on IndusInd Bank for non-compliance with certain provisions of directions on deposit rates and securitisation of standard assets.
The regulator found that the bank had paid interest on deposits held in certain current accounts and had undertaken activities in the nature of ‘synthetic securitisation’.
Fusion Finance was penalised Rs 2.7 lakh for non-compliance with the RBI’s KYC Directions.
West Bengal Chief Minister Subhendu Adhikari formally launched Ayushman Bharat, the Central Government’s flagship health insurance scheme, in the state. He also launched the Mukhyamantri Swasthya Bima Yojana. Those not covered under Ayushman Bharat will be eligible for the state health insurance scheme.
The Chief Minister said that 1,950 diseases would be covered under the two schemes. Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Patel was also present at the event.
“Ayushman Bharat, the flagship health insurance scheme of the Central Government, was launched in West Bengal.
