INTERNATIONAL NEWS

India and United Nations Peacekeeping Operations

• A total of 210 Indian peacekeepers received the United Nations Medal in Juba, South Sudan, on 17 August 2026, including six women and seven staff officers serving with UNMISS.

• UNMISS stands for the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, which was established in 2011 following South Sudan’s independence.

• The mandate of UNMISS includes protection of civilians, support for humanitarian assistance, and assistance to the peace process in South Sudan.

• India is the second-largest contributor of uniformed personnel to UN peacekeeping operations, with more than 4,200 Indian military and police personnel, including 155 women, deployed globally in 2026.

• Since 1948, India has contributed more than 200,000 personnel to 49 of the 71 UN peacekeeping missions established by the United Nations.

• More than 160 Indian peacekeepers have died while serving under the United Nations flag, reflecting India’s longstanding contribution to international peacekeeping.

• UN peacekeeping began in 1948 with the deployment of United Nations military observers in the Middle East, and peacekeeping missions operate under the authority of the UN Security Council and General Assembly.

• A separate group of Indian peacekeepers received UN medals in UNISFA on 15 August 2026. UNISFA stands for the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei and operates in the disputed Abyei Area between Sudan and South Sudan.

STATE NEWS

India’s First Virtual Zoo in Indore

• Indore, Madhya Pradesh has India’s first virtual zoo at the Kamala Nehru Prani Sangrahalaya, also known as the Indore Zoological Museum.

• The virtual zoo covers approximately 8,000 square feet and was developed under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model at an estimated cost of ₹4.5 crore.

• The facility uses digital projection, sound, motion and special effects to create an immersive simulation of wildlife and forest environments.

• Major attractions include a 3-D dome theatre, 14-D cinema and digital jungle safari, providing visitors with technology-based wildlife experiences.

• The 14-D cinema incorporates multiple sensory effects, including moving seats, wind blasts, water sprays, fog, bubbles and physical vibrations.

• The facility features a gorilla-shaped entrance, neon-lit 3-D jungle pathways, fibre-optic glow garden, roar-simulating maze, and a mirror bridge featuring a Hanuman hologram.

• The virtual zoo was opened to the public on 17 August 2026, with the entry ticket fixed at ₹70 per person.

• The facility operates Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, conducting 16 shows daily, with each show lasting approximately 20 minutes.

SUMMIT AND CONFERENCE

BRICS Information and Communication Technologies Track 2026

• Pune, Maharashtra is hosting the five-day BRICS Information and Communication Technologies Track from 17 to 21 August 2026 under India’s BRICS Chairship.

• The 7th Meeting of the BRICS Working Group for Cooperation in ICTs began on 17 August 2026, with India’s chairship theme being “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.”

• BRICS currently comprises 11 countries — Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates.

• The meeting was organised by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Government of India, and was inaugurated by Amit Agrawal, Secretary, Department of Telecommunications.

• The ICT Working Group discussed inclusive digital environments, ICT start-ups, digital skills and trusted Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), along with priorities identified in India’s chairship Issues Note.

• The BRICS Institute of Future Networks Council also met during the programme and reviewed activities relating to artificial intelligence, next-generation communications, Industry 4.0 internet applications and electromagnetic field exposure.

• Digital Public Infrastructure refers to reusable digital systems such as digital identity, digital payments and data-sharing platforms, which can support both public and private services.

• The Digital BRICS Forum & Expo is scheduled for 20 August 2026, ahead of the 12th Communications Ministers Meeting, and will focus on digital ecosystems and technological cooperation among BRICS members.

DEFENCE

India-Nepal Military Relations and Honorary General Rank

• Indian Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth received the Honorary Rank of General of the Nepali Army on 17 August 2026 at Sheetal Niwas, Kathmandu, from Nepal’s President Ram Chandra Paudel.

• India and Nepal have followed the reciprocal practice of conferring the honorary rank of General on each other’s Army Chiefs since 1950, reflecting the longstanding military relationship between the two countries.

• The ceremony was part of General Seth’s official visit to Nepal and was accompanied by military engagements, including an inspection of the Guard of Honour at the Nepali Army Headquarters.

• General Seth also laid a wreath at the Army Pavilion in Tundikhel and held bilateral discussions with Nepali Army Chief General Ashok Raj Sigdel on mutual strategic interests and defence cooperation.

• The investiture ceremony was attended by Nepal’s Vice President Ram Sahaya Prasad Yadav, Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal, and India’s Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava.

• As part of India’s defence support, General Seth handed over military and medical equipment to the Nepal Army, further strengthening bilateral defence cooperation.

• India and Nepal share an open border of approximately 1,751 kilometres and maintain close defence relations through military training, equipment assistance, professional exchanges and joint engagements, including disaster-response cooperation.

• During his visit, General Seth was scheduled to address student officers at the Army Command and Staff Course in Shivapuri on 18 August 2026 and visit Pokhara on 19 August 2026 for an Ex-Servicemen Rally.

MISCELLANEOUS

India’s First Guide to Grasslands and Other Open Natural Ecosystems

• India launched its first-ever Guide to Grasslands and Other Open Natural Ecosystems (ONEs) of India on 17 August 2026 during the 17th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the UNCCD in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

• The guide classifies 24 types of open natural ecosystems found across India, including grasslands, savannas, scrublands, rocky plateaus, ravines and coastal ecosystems.

• Major ecosystems covered include Himalayan and Terai grasslands, Deccan savannas, Thar and Banni landscapes, rocky plateaus, ravines, scrublands and coastal ecosystems.

• The guide was developed by the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE) in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) and other partners.

• The document contains thematic sections on pastoralism, fire ecology and carbon sequestration, highlighting ecological processes as well as traditional livelihood systems associated with open ecosystems.

• Bhupender Yadav referred to Oran and gauchar landscapes of Ajmer, Rajasthan, during the launch. Oran refers to traditional community-protected sacred groves or commons, while gauchar refers to village grazing land.

• UNCCD stands for the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, a global environmental treaty adopted in 1994, while COP17 denotes its 17th Conference of the Parties.

• The guide is intended to support policymakers, conservation practitioners and researchers in developing science-based conservation strategies for open ecosystems that support biodiversity, grazing and traditional livelihoods.