INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Russia–Ukraine Investment Treaty Arbitration: D.Y. Chandrachud Appointed as Arbitrator
• Russia has appointed former CJI D.Y. Chandrachud as its arbitrator in an investment treaty dispute initiated by Ukraine’s state-owned Oschadbank.
• Oschadbank’s claim relates to assets and business operations it says were lost in Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia following Russia’s 2022 invasion.
• The proceedings are based on the 1998 Russia–Ukraine Investment Protection Agreement, which provides a legal framework for resolving investment disputes.
• The case is being heard by a three-member arbitral tribunal, with each side appointing one arbitrator and a jointly selected president.
• Stavros Brekoulakis was nominated by Oschadbank, while Dyalá Jiménez of Costa Rica was jointly chosen to chair the tribunal.
• Justice D.Y. Chandrachud retired from the Supreme Court on 10 November 2024, after serving as a Supreme Court judge from 2016 and later as Chief Justice of India.
• Chandrachud had reportedly declined earlier Russian requests to arbitrate other treaty disputes involving Wintershall Dea and Ukrenergo, highlighting the importance of independence and conflict disclosures in arbitration.
• Oschadbank is represented by Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan and Asters, while Pinna Goldberg represents Russia; an earlier Oschadbank case concerning Crimea resulted in damages of about US$1.1 billion.
Russia Imports Gasoline from India for the First Time
• Russia began importing gasoline from India in 2026 for the first time, amid a domestic fuel shortage caused by repeated Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian oil refineries.
• The first physical cargo reached Russia in August 2026, after being shipped from India through the Egyptian port of Damietta.
• A tanker loaded 42,000 tonnes of gasoline at the Vadinar refinery in Gujarat on 18 June 2026. The refinery is operated by Nayara Energy Ltd.
• Nayara Energy has Rosneft-backed ownership links, connecting the fuel trade to the wider India–Russia energy relationship.
• Russia’s crude-oil processing fell to around 3.6 million barrels per day in July 2026, approximately one-third below the normal seasonal level, following attacks on refineries.
• Russia maintained restrictions on gasoline and diesel exports to protect domestic supplies, while industry estimates suggested that it could require up to 400,000 tonnes of gasoline imports per month.
• The Indian cargo was transferred at Damietta, Egypt, before continuing towards Russia, illustrating the changing shipping routes in the international energy market.
• The development came amid strong India–Russia energy ties, with Russian crude accounting for about 48% of India’s total crude imports in June 2026.
Pakistan’s Jinnah-1 Lunar Rover
• Jinnah-1 is Pakistan’s first-ever lunar rover, named by the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO).
• The rover is planned for launch in 2029 aboard China’s Chang’e-8 mission and is intended to explore the Moon’s south polar region.
• The name Jinnah-1 honours Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan and its first Governor-General.
• The name was selected through a nationwide public competition that received more than 4,000 submissions. The winning entry was submitted by 17-year-old Tayyab Karim from Bahawalnagar.
• SUPARCO, established in 1961, is Pakistan’s national space agency and works in satellite development, remote sensing and space science.
• Pakistan and China signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 5 February 2025 for Pakistan’s participation in the Chang’e-8 mission and integration of the rover.
• Jinnah-1 is expected to weigh about 35 kg and will study the Moon’s plasma, radiation and surface geology, particularly around the south pole.
• Chang’e-8 is part of China’s Chang’e lunar exploration programme and is associated with the proposed International Lunar Research Station, a China-led framework for long-term lunar exploration.
New York and New Jersey Proclaim 15 August as India Independence Day
• New York and New Jersey issued official proclamations in August 2026 designating 15 August 2026 as “India Independence Day” and “Indian Independence Day”, respectively.
• The proclamations marked India’s 80th Independence Day, observed annually on 15 August to commemorate India’s independence from British rule in 1947.
• New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed the proclamation declaring 15 August 2026 as “India Independence Day”.
• New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill issued a parallel proclamation designating the date as “Indian Independence Day”.
• The New Jersey proclamation highlighted the contributions of the Indian-American community to education, healthcare, technology, business and civic leadership.
• The New York proclamation recognised the economic, cultural and civic contributions of the Indian-American diaspora in the state.
• The Consulate General of India in New York acknowledged the proclamations, reflecting the broader India–United States relationship and public diplomacy.
• Earlier, Massachusetts and the city of Boston had also recognised 15 August as “India Day”; such state or municipal proclamations do not create a federal holiday in the United States.
NATIONAL NEWS
Revamped India Code Portal Launched in 2026
• The revamped India Code Portal was launched on 13 August 2026 at Kartavya Bhavan 2, New Delhi by Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal.
• India Code is the official digital repository of Indian legislation maintained by the Legislative Department.
• The portal provides digital access to the Constitution, Central Acts, subordinate legislation and other legal documents in a searchable format.
• It introduces AI-assisted search, semantic search and speech-based search to make legal research faster and more accessible.
• The portal provides multilingual access to laws in all 22 languages listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
• It is integrated with the e-Gazette ecosystem and provides QR-enabled access and a citizen feedback mechanism.
• Users can trace legislative history, amendments and links between primary Acts and subordinate legislation through the upgraded portal.
• The technical development involved the Legislative Department, National Informatics Centre (NIC) and IndiaAI Mission, strengthening India’s digital legal infrastructure.
Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026
• The MMDR Amendment Bill, 2026 was passed by both Houses of Parliament on 13 August 2026.
• It seeks to amend the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, India’s key law governing mineral development and regulation.
• G. Kishan Reddy introduced the Bill on 10 August; it was passed by the Lok Sabha on 12 August and the Rajya Sabha on 13 August 2026.
• The Bill will become law after receiving Presidential assent under Article 111 of the Constitution.
• It strengthens central regulation of mineral-bearing lands and limits States’ power to impose independent taxes, cesses or levies on mineral rights.
• Certain earlier unpaid or unrecovered State mineral levies would be invalidated, while taxes already collected would not have to be refunded.
• Existing mining leases would get greater flexibility to include minerals such as lithium, cobalt, graphite, gold and silver, while restrictions on selling minerals from captive mines would be removed.
• The Bill has raised federalism concerns over States’ fiscal powers, particularly in relation to the Seventh Schedule and the constitutional division of powers between the Union and States.
NCLT Launches e-Inspection and e-Certified Copy Services
• The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) launched e-Inspection and e-Certified Copy services on 12 August 2026 to provide electronic access to judicial records and certified copies.
• The services were inaugurated by NCLT President Justice Anupinder Singh Grewal through a video-conferencing ceremony.
• The e-Inspection service enables advocates, litigants and other stakeholders to access judicial records electronically, reducing dependence on physical records.
• The e-Certified Copy service allows stakeholders to obtain certified copies through a digital process, making record access faster and more convenient.
• The NCLT is a quasi-judicial body constituted under the Companies Act, 2013, dealing primarily with company law and insolvency matters.
• The tribunal adjudicates matters under the Companies Act, 2013 and Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), 2016 through its various benches across India.
• The new services form part of NCLT’s broader digital transformation programme, including its revamped website and integration with the e-Courts 2.0 initiative.
• During April–June 2026, the NCLT approved 78 resolution plans involving about ₹5,517.66 crore, described as its highest first-quarter performance since the IBC came into force.
Parliamentary Committee Report on Forest Fires in the Himalayan Region, 2026
• The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Technology, Environment, Forests and Climate Change presented its 412th Report on forest fires in the Himalayan region in August 2026.
• The report examined causes of forest fires, mitigation measures, pine-needle management, biomass utilisation, satellite monitoring and disaster-response capacity in the Western Himalayas.
• Chir Pine forests account for about 57% of forest-fire incidents in the Western Himalayas, with dry pine needles, locally called pirul, contributing to fire risk.
• The Committee recommended a National Pine-Needle Utilisation Policy with State Governments, including identification of fire-prone areas and fiscal incentives for collection of dry biomass.
• It proposed a Himalayan Biomass Management Framework and a Himalayan Pirul Management Mission, along with a minimum procurement price of ₹3–4 per kg for collected pine needles.
• The Committee recommended establishing a National or Regional Pine Needle Management Board to oversee the clearing, collection and utilisation of pine needles.
• It suggested using processed pine-needle pellets, having an energy value of about 5,500 kcal/kg, for co-firing in thermal power stations, converting fire-prone biomass into an energy resource.
• The report also recommended a dedicated geostationary satellite for forest-fire monitoring, at least two regional NDRF centres for Himalayan fire response, and a region-specific historical-ecological study by the Forest Research Institute, Dehradun.
STATE NEWS
Uttarakhand High Court to be Relocated from Nainital to Haldwani
• The Uttarakhand government approved the relocation of the Uttarakhand High Court from Nainital to Haldwani in August 2026.
• A 30-hectare site at Lamachaur, Haldwani, along the Haldwani–Rudrapur highway (NH-05), has been identified for the new High Court campus.
• The Supreme Court, on 16 July 2026, set aside the 2024 Uttarakhand High Court order that had blocked the relocation and held that establishing or shifting a High Court is an administrative decision.
• The Supreme Court directed the Uttarakhand authorities to obtain the necessary clearances and hand over the identified land to the High Court within six weeks.
• The Uttarakhand Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, approved the transfer of forest land at Lamachaur on 7 August 2026.
• The final Government Order issued on 12 August 2026 replaced the earlier June 2023 proposal for 26.08 hectares at Gaulapar with the 30-hectare Lamachaur site.
• A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed in the Uttarakhand High Court on 7 August 2026, raising environmental concerns and alleging that the proposed site is a reserved forest and elephant corridor.
• The final approval was issued by Principal Secretary (Justice) Amit Kumar Sirohi, while the Public Works Department was directed to expedite construction formalities; existing judicial infrastructure at Nainital will be handed over to the state government after relocation.
Parichha Weir Recognised as World Heritage Irrigation Structure
• The 140-year-old Parichha Weir in Jhansi was designated a World Heritage Irrigation Structure (WHIS) by the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID) on 13 August 2026.
• The Parichha Weir is located on the Betwa River and is an important component of the Betwa Canal system, serving agricultural areas in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
• The weir is a rubble-stone masonry structure, measuring 1,174 metres in length and standing 16.8 metres above the riverbed.
• It has 318 steel falling shutters and a reservoir capacity of approximately 2,400 million cubic feet.
• The associated Betwa Canal system extends around 2,654 km and irrigates approximately 4,28,360 hectares across five districts of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
• The canal system was proposed by Captain Strachey in 1855; construction began in 1881 at a cost of ₹40 lakh and the system was commissioned in 1886.
• The Parichha Weir became the second major irrigation structure in the Jhansi region to receive ICID heritage recognition, after the Sukwa-Dukwan Weir was recognised in 2022.
• The formal award presentation is scheduled in France in October 2026 during the 26th ICID International Congress and 77th International Executive Council meeting.
Gujarat’s Desert Zoological Park and Night Safari at Juna Deesa
• Juna Deesa in Banaskantha, Gujarat, has been selected for a major desert-themed zoological park and night safari.
• The Central Zoo Authority approved the project on 12 August 2026, clearing the proposal of the Gujarat Forest Department.
• The facility will cover nearly 103 hectares of contiguous government land and is planned as Asia’s first desert-themed drive-through night safari.
• The project carries an estimated investment of ₹542.14 crore and is expected to accommodate about 2,700 animals and birds representing 83 species.
• The layout will feature a separate daytime zoo along with five specialised night-safari enclosures for observing nocturnal wildlife.
• Planned Indian species include chinkara, blackbuck and Indian wild ass, while exotic collections may feature cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, kangaroos and emus.
• The park will incorporate rainwater harvesting, solar power, sewage treatment and solid-waste management to support environmentally sustainable operations.
• Besides tourism and education, the facility is intended to support wildlife breeding, rescue, rehabilitation and conservation, with the Central Zoo Authority overseeing zoo regulation under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
Karnataka Regulation of Use of Government Premises and Public Property Bill, 2026
• The Karnataka State Cabinet cleared the Bill on 13 August 2026 to regulate the use of government premises and public property.
• The Bill requires prior government permission for events, rallies and gatherings on state-maintained land, buildings, roads, parks and playgrounds.
• It covers political rallies, religious gatherings, route marches and processions involving more than 10 persons; marriage and funeral processions are exempted.
• Unauthorised use of public property for the first time is treated as trespass, punishable with imprisonment up to 2 years, fine up to ₹1 lakh, or both.
• A subsequent offence may attract imprisonment up to 3 years and a fine up to ₹2 lakh, while continuing violations may invite an additional fine of up to ₹5,000 per day.
• Offences under the proposed law are classified as cognisable and non-bailable, and police officers of the rank of Sub-Inspector or above may arrest without a warrant.
• The proposed law seeks to replace an earlier Government Order regulating public spaces, which had been stayed by the Karnataka High Court.
• The Bill has triggered political debate, with the BJP alleging that it targets RSS shakhas, while the Congress-led government maintains that it applies uniformly to the use of public assets.
AWARDS
Gaj Gaurav Awards 2026
• The Gaj Gaurav Awards 2026 were conferred on 13 August 2026 in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, during the national celebrations of World Elephant Day.
• The awards were presented by Kirti Vardhan Singh, Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, to recognise frontline contributions to elephant conservation and management.
• Seven mahouts from Jaldapara National Park, West Bengal, received the awards for their exemplary work during flood-rescue operations.
• Bikash Kharia and Rajiv Oraon rescued six stranded captive elephants, while Ajibul Haque, Ajit Gabur, Momtaz Alam, Amasur Kharia and Dilip Munda helped guide 13 displaced wild rhinoceroses to safety.
• The Ministry released “30 Giant Steps”, documenting 30 achievements and policy initiatives under Project Elephant between 2020 and 2026.
• A Regional Action Plan for Comprehensive Understanding and Management of Human–Elephant Conflict in Southern India was launched for Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, with a ₹500-crore financial commitment.
• World Elephant Day is observed annually on 12 August, while Project Elephant is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme aimed at elephant conservation and habitat protection.
• Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Konidala Pawan Kalyan attended as Guest of Honour and introduced the H.A.N.U.M.A.N. initiative, a technology-driven system for wildlife monitoring and human–wildlife conflict management.
Sangeet Natak Akademi Award 2025 – Shubhada Varadkar
• Shubhada Varadkar, a renowned Odissi exponent, received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award 2025 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, on 13 August 2026.
• The award comprises ₹1 lakh, a Tamrapatra and an Angavastram, recognising excellence in the performing arts.
• Established in 1953, the Sangeet Natak Akademi is India’s national academy for music, dance and drama under the Ministry of Culture.
• The Akademi Puraskar honours outstanding contributions to music, dance, theatre, folk and traditional arts, and puppetry.
• Odissi, originating in Odisha, is among India’s eight classical dance forms, known for its Tribhanga posture and graceful movements.
• Odissi evolved from temple traditions, Mahari and Gotipua practices, with Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra being a leading modern exponent.
• Varadkar, a former economics professor, trained in Odissi after attending a workshop by Kelucharan Mohapatra and authored Mayurpankh and The Celestial Plume.
• Her family has links with the Quit India Movement, while President Droupadi Murmu presented the award during the official ceremony.
