The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways launched the e-NAVIK portal alongside the E-Samudra platform. e-NAVIK is a 24×7 digital grievance redressal system for Indian seafarers and maritime employers. It facilitates resolution of issues related to employment disputes, wage contracts and safety complaints. The portal aims to provide a transparent, accessible and time-bound mechanism for addressing seafarers’ grievances. It supports India’s implementation of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), 2006, particularly regarding seafarers’ working conditions and social protection.

Indian weightlifter Maharajan Arumugapandian won the silver medal in the men’s 65 kg category at the Asian Junior Weightlifting Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. He recorded a personal-best total of 285 kg, lifting 128 kg in snatch and 157 kg in clean and jerk. Vietnam’s Hoang Thach won gold with a total lift of 291 kg, six kilograms ahead of Maharajan.

The 8th edition of the India-US Bilateral Naval Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Exercise 2026 was conducted between August 10 and 14, 2026. The exercise was hosted at the Southern Naval Command in Kochi. This specialized maritime exercise focused on advanced technology demonstrations, including the deployment of Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs). The five-day bilateral drill involved intense Subject Matter Expert Exchanges (SMEE) and practical simulations to address underwater mines, unexploded ordnance, and improvised maritime explosive remnants, reinforcing the defense ties and tactical cooperation between the two partner navies.

The Thoti tribal community has recently come into focus because of concerns over its declining population and socio-economic conditions. The Thoti are a Scheduled Tribe (ST) and one of the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) recognised in Telangana. They are mainly found in the erstwhile Adilabad region, particularly in northern Telangana. Their population is estimated at around 4,811, making them one of the smallest vulnerable tribal communities in the state.

The National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL), a constituent board of the Quality Council of India (QCI), launched India’s first accreditation scheme for Mobile Food Testing Laboratories. The scheme was launched at the ‘Gunvatta Samanvaya – A Multilateral MoU Exchange Ceremony’ in New Delhi. It aims to bring reliable, quality-assured and internationally benchmarked food testing services closer to communities. The initiative will strengthen food safety surveillance, faster regulatory action and consumer confidence.