🎓 UK Chevening Scholarship 2027-28 applications are live

The UK Government has launched applications for the Chevening Scholarship for 2027-28. This prestigious funding supports Indian students pursuing a one-year master's degree at eligible UK universities. Applicants must be Indian citizens with at least two years of work experience and an undergraduate degree equivalent to a UK 2:1. The submission deadline is October 6, 2026, at 11:00 UTC. This scholarship aims to develop future leaders who will contribute back to India. 🎓

📉 Rupee slips against dollar amid high oil and yields

The Indian Rupee fell to 95.28 against the US Dollar in early trading on Friday. This dip occurred as a firmer greenback and increased US Treasury yields put pressure on the currency. The rupee previously ended the last session at 95.22 after a 14-paise decline. Forex traders noted that importer dollar purchases and profit-taking outweighed positive global factors. Looking ahead, global oil prices and dollar strength are expected to keep the rupee under pressure.

🎖️ Territorial Army: Citizen-Soldier Force Gets Spotlight

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stated that the Territorial Army is a vital force for emergencies and nation-building activities. This was mentioned by him on Thursday, August 6, 2026, while chairing a Parliamentary Consultative Committee meeting. Currently, the force has about 44,400 personnel spread across 59 units as of the statement. The army helps with disaster relief like floods and has planted nearly 10 crore saplings. Singh encourages youth to join, noting the army bridges military and civil society roles.

⚖️ Bofors case ends, but is Congress finally free?

The Supreme Court has officially closed the 40-year Bofors case against the Hinduja brothers on Thursday. This legal closure happens in the context of the Delhi High Court’s 2005 decision quashing proceedings. The controversy, which started in April 1987 with allegations of kickbacks, has become a political label for Congress. Rivals, especially the BJP, continue to use it to symbolize corruption in Indian politics. Observers debate if this final court order truly exorcises Congress's biggest political ghost.

💡 Setbacks fueled Perplexity AI CEO's rise

Aravind Srinivas faced multiple rejections before founding Perplexity AI, including being denied Computer Science at IIT Madras. He narrowly missed a branch change by 0.01 CGPA and was initially rejected by MIT for his PhD application. Srinivas later worked at OpenAI, Google, and DeepMind before co-founding Perplexity AI in August 2022. His journey highlights that success is often built by how one responds to 'no,' not just uninterrupted wins. He advises students to prioritize velocity, continuous learning, and deep curiosity. 🚀

🐒 China's drug research faces 'monkey problem'

Lab monkey costs in China have drastically shot up, making sourcing them incredibly difficult for biotech firms. This issue is affecting Chinese companies operating in the country, where the cost for a cynomolgus macaque reached about $26,294 in June. China now holds about a third of the global innovative drug pipeline, making primate safety data crucial for trials. Study planning timelines are extending by four to ten months due to these delays and age requirements. Imports from Cambodia are expected to help bridge the anticipated shortage through 2028. 🐒

🏏 ICC Seeks Bids for 2027 Cricket World Cup Marketing

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has opened the bidding process for its marketing and PR mandate for the 2027 Men's Cricket World Cup. This major global tournament is set to take place in 2027. The ICC is looking for agencies to handle promotional and public relations aspects of the event. The contract will cover extensive branding and media outreach for the biggest cricket spectacle. Successful bidders will partner with the ICC to drive engagement for the tournament.

🚨 Husband Molests Guest, Then Rapes Daughter

A woman in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, left her home after her husband molested her friend staying with them. The situation escalated when the husband subsequently raped their four-year-old daughter. The 32-year-old accused was arrested under the POCSO Act after the incident on August 7, 2026. The friend accused the husband of lewd advances, causing the wife to leave with her children. A medical examination at Gandhinagar Civil Hospital confirmed the sexual assault. 💔

🏥 Simple doorstep system slashes maternal deaths in MP

Health workers struggled to reach vulnerable pregnant women in remote Shahdol district, Madhya Pradesh. IAS officer Shivam Prajapati and his team noticed the gap was in follow-up, not supplies. They launched 'Maa Ka Haal' in January 2026, ensuring home visits and calls for 5,380 high-risk women. This low-tech, high-touch monitoring led to maternal deaths halving from 14 to 7. The district plans to sustain this intense monitoring year-round for better health outcomes. 🏥

🌱 Deloitte drops new framework for sustainability ROI

Deloitte unveiled a new framework to measure the business value of sustainability investments. This was presented at the Mint Sustainability Summit by Shubhranshu Patnaik and Shailesh Tyagi. The framework moves companies beyond mere compliance to assess long-term enterprise value. It captures both tangible gains like energy savings and intangible benefits such as brand value. Companies should integrate this into their strategy to better handle future risks. 📈

🏠 Bengal CM renames housing scheme, aids 10 lakh people

West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari renamed the housing scheme from ‘Banglar Bari’ to ‘Paschim Banga Awas’ on August 6, 2026. He announced the release of the final financial installment to over 10 lakh beneficiaries in Howrah, West Bengal. Specifically, 10,20,379 beneficiaries received ₹60,000 each, totaling over ₹6,000 crore. This scheme assists rural poor families who were previously identified under the TMC regime. The first installment for new applicants will be released after the Durga Puja festival in October.