Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) and Safran Helicopter Engines have signed the final contract with their joint venture, SAFHAL Helicopter Engines Pvt Ltd, to develop and manufacture the Aravalli, a new-generation, high-power helicopter engine.

The significance of the agreement goes beyond the engine itself. The Aravalli has been selected to power the 13-tonne Indian Multi-Role Helicopter (IMRH) and its naval variant, the Deck-Based Multi-Role Helicopter (DBMRH).

Both are twin-engine helicopters, meaning the Aravalli will need to be developed, integrated and tested before either platform can enter operational service. Its development schedule will therefore have a direct bearing on the timelines of the two helicopter programmes.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully tested its Military Combat Parachute System (MCPS) at 22,000 feet in one of the world’s highest-altitude drop zones in Nyoma, Ladakh.

Recently, the Indian Air Force (IAF) commissioned an airbase at Nyoma, which is among the world's highest airbases for fighter aircraft operations. Nyoma has previously been used for several military exercises, including the para-dropping of troops, vehicles and equipment.

The parachute was deployed at 20,000 feet, with the jumpers landing safely at an altitude of 13,700 feet. The trial was conducted in temperatures as low as minus 15°C .

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs will organise a three-day National Conclave on Tribal Languages and Museums from today till Wednesday in Mysuru, Karnataka. The Conclave will bring together a national dialogue on the documentation, preservation and revitalisation of tribal languages.

The event will strengthen tribal museums and tribal freedom fighter museums across the country. The National Conclave advances the Prime Minister’s roadmap for a Viksit Bharat 2047, under which reviving India’s traditional knowledge systems and ensuring no community is left behind remain key pillars of inclusive national development. The conclave will be inaugurated by Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Durgadas Uikey.

The inaugural session will see the release of Karnataka Primers in tribal languages, the signing of an MoU between the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and Central Institute of Indian Languages. The conclave will witness the launch of Chatbot, and a major update to the Adi Vaani platform – including its new iOS application and the addition of five new languages and multiple new features on the platform.

After extensive inter-ministerial consultations, the Centre has finally decided to lease out 11 Airports Authority of India (AAI) airports through five bundled concessions, official document reviewed by businessline showed.

Accordingly, the Public Private Partnership Appraisal Committee (PPPAC) has given in-principle approval for the leasing out of the airports.

The development marks a key step forward in the Centre’s plan to bring private-sector participation into the operations, management and development of these airports.

The daily global average sea surface temperature has reached its highest level on record in August 2026, according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service of the European Union. The extra-polar ocean region, covering waters between 60 degrees north and 60 degrees south, averaged 21.1 degrees Celsius (°C) on August 22. The previous record of 21.09°C was set on March 1, 2024.

The new record, at 21.104°C according to the ERA5 dataset by Copernicus, was only slightly higher than the previous peak. The same value was also recorded on August 21. Both days were about 0.67°C above the 1991-2020 daily average for that point in the year, the widest such gap of 2026 so far.

The timing of the record is also notable. Global ocean temperatures are typically highest in March and April, after the southern hemisphere summer. This record was reached in August.

The Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN) under the finance ministry and the Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India (PHARMEXCIL), set up by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, on Monday signed an agreement to boost exports of pharma products.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is aimed at facilitating legitimate international trade and preventing the diversion of pharma products.

Recognising India's position as a leading global supplier of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), bulk drugs, formulations, biologics, and medical devices, the MoU aims to balance the promotion of India's pharmaceutical exports with effective regulatory oversight, the finance ministry said in a statement.

All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), New Delhi has introduced a new course titled GARBHINI MITRA to Strengthen Ayurveda-Based Maternal Wellness Support for the 2026-2027 academic session.

The Ministry of AYUSH said that the six-month course is designed to develop trained personnel to provide appropriate health education, lifestyle guidance, and community-level support to women during pregnancy and the postnatal period.
The ministry noted that Candidates of 18 years or above, who have passed the Senior Secondary examination from any recognized board are eligible to apply before its last date that is 31st August.

Once completed, candidates can work as Garbhini Mitra Assistants, Prenatal or Postnatal Care Assistants, Antenatal Wellness Guides and Maternal Health Support Workers, across different Ayush centres, maternity clinics and wellness institutions.

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), through MeitY Startup Hub (MSH), has launched the third cohort of its GENESIS Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) programme to support aspiring entrepreneurs, innovators, researchers, students and early-stage startup founders in turning technology-driven ideas into viable ventures.

GENESIS EIR 3.0 was launched at the GENESIS NextGen Startup Summit – Coimbatore Edition, held on August 4 at Rathinam Global University in Coimbatore. The call for applications is now open, with eligible applicants able to apply until September 3, 2026.

The programme is part of the GENESIS (Gen-Next Support for Innovative Startups) scheme, which seeks to identify, support and accelerate startups, particularly those emerging from Tier-II and Tier-III cities.

Union Food Processing Industries Minister Chirag Paswan has said that more than two lakh individual micro food processing enterprises have benefited from Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme so far.

Speaking at PMFME Conclave in New Delhi today, Mr Paswan said, out of total beneficiaries, about 80 per cent are first-generation entrepreneurs and 44 per cent of them are women. He said, the scheme which was launched in 2020 has provided ten lakh direct employment.

Mr Paswan said that food processing is the key to economically empowering farmers. He said Free Trade Agreements, being signed with various countries, are opening up global markets for Indian products. Mr. Paswan highlighted the PMFME scheme has transformed the lives of many people, enabling them to market their products not only across India but also in international markets

In a pioneering initiative aimed at strengthening the operational capabilities of women in India’s counter-terrorism framework, the National Security Guard (NSG) Training Academy in Manesar has commenced the first Mahila Commando Conversion Course (MCCC) for women personnel from State Police Forces and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs).

The NSG described the initiative as a new milestone in Nari Shakti, saying the course is aimed at preparing women personnel for demanding specialised roles in counter-terrorism operations. The intensive 12-week course has been designed to develop physically robust, technically proficient and operationally prepared women commandos.

The training programme includes rigorous physical conditioning, weapons handling and marksmanship, tactical intervention, hostage rescue and other specialised aspects of counter-terrorism operations.