Updates on 5 September 2026
All of September 2026 →LIC Gets RBI Approval to Acquire Up to 9.99% Stake in ICICI Bank
On 4 September 2026, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) granted approval to the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) to acquire an aggregate stake of up to 9.99% in ICICI Bank. This approval is valid for one year, within which LIC must complete its acquisition. This follows a similar RBI approval for LIC to raise its stake to 9.99% in HDFC Bank. LIC held a 4.35% stake in ICICI Bank as of the first quarter of 2026, reflecting its growing investment footprint in private banks, subject to compliance with statutory and regulatory conditions.
Mindoro Bleeding-heart Pigeon Rediscovered After 20 Years in Philippines
The critically endangered Mindoro bleeding-heart pigeon (Gallicolumba platenae), endemic to the Philippine island of Mindoro, was photographed in August 2026 in the Puerto Galera rainforest, marking the first confirmed photographic record in two decades since 2005. The rediscovery underscores the importance of Puerto Galera as a UNESCO biosphere reserve and highlights the role of Indigenous Iraya Mangyan communities in conservation efforts.
Giorgia Meloni becomes Italy's longest-serving postwar Prime Minister
On 4 September 2026, Giorgia Meloni set a historic record by becoming the longest continuously serving postwar Prime Minister of Italy, completing 1,413 consecutive days in office since her assumption on 22 October 2022. She surpassed Silvio Berlusconi's previous record of 1,412 days. Meloni is also Italy's first female Prime Minister and leads the right-wing Brothers of Italy party. This tenure marks a milestone in Italy's volatile political history, which has seen 68 governments in 80 years since World War II. Her government has brought a rare period of political stability, with implications for European politics and bilateral ties such as cooperation on the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor.
India Achieves Historic Nine Medals at 19th International Earth Science Olympiad 2026
India secured its best-ever performance at the 19th International Earth Science Olympiad (IESO) held in Turin, Italy from August 20 to 27, 2026. The four-member Indian student team won a total of nine medals comprising four gold, three silver, and two bronze medals. India competed against 39 countries with about 17,800 students in the national selection process. The Indian contingent was felicitated by Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh upon their return.
BIO-NIVESH: A Strategic Platform to Catalyse Biotechnology Investment in India
On 3 September 2026, the Government of India launched the BIO-NIVESH platform in New Delhi to strengthen engagement between biotechnology innovators and investors, aiming to accelerate the flow of private capital into biotechnology innovations for scale-up and commercialization. The initiative was led by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State for Science and Technology, and is created by the Department of Biotechnology and Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC).
Supreme Court directs States to raise retirement age of District Judges to 62 years in seven consenting states
The Supreme Court of India has ordered seven states—Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal—to amend their judicial service rules to raise the retirement age of district judges from 60 to 62 years. This decision aims to address the high pendency of cases in district courts, currently exceeding 5.18 crore, by retaining experienced judicial officers longer. The extension to 62 years is subject to suitability assessment by the respective High Courts when judges reach 60. States not consenting to this change have been given two weeks to reconsider, with the next hearing scheduled for October 1, 2026. The Supreme Court also clarified that judicial officers form a separate service class from general state government employees, justifying different retirement ages due to their later entry age and distinct service regimes.