Now Reading: Today in India: 21 August 2026
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Today in India: 21 August 2026
Skyroot puts India in private orbit club with its first go. SEBI digitises FPI power of attorney. SBI and ICICI give contrasting growth reads. Japan PM lands in Delhi for BRICS discussions. LIC gets RBI nod to double HDFC Bank stake.
SEBI allows FPIs digital PoA submission
SEBI has let foreign portfolio investors submit a digitally signed Power of Attorney to custodians, removing need for notarisation or apostillisation. The August 20 rule, under the Information Technology Act, aims to speed up FPI registration. The regulator has earlier introduced other digital measures for onboarding.
6 sources, 6 neutral
India BRICS digital bridge tops summit agenda
India’s proposal for a digital link between BRICS domestic payment networks is the top item for the bloc’s Delhi summit on September 12-13, South Africa’s IOL reported. BRICS nations face high exposure to dollar energy trade and US finance. The system would allow near-instant settlements in local currencies, bypassing the dollar.
3 sources, 1 pro-government, 1 government-critical, 1 neutral
Army chief Gen Seth meets Nepal PM
Indian Army chief General Dhiraj Seth met Nepal’s PM Balendra Shah in Kathmandu on Tuesday to discuss defence ties. Indian Ambassador Naveen Srivastava attended. The visit comes amid border disputes over Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura and Kalapani and Gurkha recruitment suspension under Agnipath. Gen Seth was conferred honorary rank.
4 sources, 1 government-critical, 3 neutral
SBI sees 7% Q1 growth, ICICI warns on H2 moderation
India’s economy likely grew around 7% in Q1 FY27, said SBI Research, against RBI’s 7.3% projection. ICICI Bank expects H2 moderation due to high base, with full-year FY27 growth at 6.9% and FY28 at 7.2%. The MPC kept the repo rate unchanged at 5.25%.
2 sources, 1 pro-government, 1 government-critical
More from today
Deepika exit: profit share demand, script leak claims
Producer Pranay Reddy Vanga said Deepika Padukone’s exit from Prabhas-starrer Spirit came after her team sought 10% of net profits, not just working hours. Director Sandeep Reddy Vanga replaced her. Vanga claimed confidential script details were leaked via her PR team after her departure. South casting is ongoing.
4 sources, 3 neutral, 1 sensationalist
RBI allows LIC to raise HDFC Bank stake to 9.99%
RBI approved LIC’s application to increase its HDFC Bank stake from 4.11% to 9.99%, subject to SEBI and other norms. LIC, India’s largest insurer, is a major institutional investor. HDFC Bank shares closed at Rs 726.50 on BSE, recovering from a 52-week low of Rs 715.10.
3 sources, 3 neutral
Raj Kundra felt suicidal in jail on Shilpa divorce rumours
Raj Kundra, arrested in the 2021 pornography case, said he felt suicidal in Arthur Road Jail after media reports claimed Shilpa Shetty planned divorce. He survived on Parle-G and water for 63 days, losing 17-18 kg. Shilpa dismissed reports in a phone call, telling him she trusted him.
5 sources, 2 neutral, 3 sensationalist
Aamir, Hrithik back Salman’s 7 Dogs release
Aamir Khan and Hrithik Roshan supported Salman Khan’s film 7 Dogs, releasing August 21. Aamir called producers Turki Alalshikh, Salman and Sanjay Dutt his brothers. Directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, the film stars Egyptian actors, Monica Bellucci and Giancarlo Esposito. The directors called working with Salman like film school.
4 sources, 4 neutral
Japan PM Takaichi visits India amid slipping support
Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi arrived for a three-day visit, meeting PM Modi on Thursday. Economic security, strategic cooperation and innovation tech were on agenda, SCMP reported. Analysts said the trip aims to shore up a coalition against China’s influence and give Takaichi an easy win as domestic support slips due to economic hardship.
2 sources, 2 neutral
Skyroot orbital debut places India third in private launch
Skyroot Aerospace’s Vikram-1 rocket reached orbit on first attempt Saturday, placing India third after US and China in private orbital launch. The Aagaman mission from Sriharikota injected multiple customer payloads into a 450-km orbit. The feat drew comparisons with SpaceX’s Falcon 1. The launch is fuelling a funding surge as India targets 8% of global space market.
3 sources, 3 neutral
Useful today
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8th Pay Commission fitment factor awaited
The 8th Pay Commission is consulting groups for over one crore central staff. A 2.57 fitment factor would raise basic pay from Rs 7,000 to Rs 18,000 at the lowest level. Decision awaited.
2 sources, 2 neutral
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iPhone and Nothing phone prices drop on Amazon, Flipkart
iPhone Air listed on Amazon at Rs 97,900, effective Rs 93,900 with bank offers. Nothing Phone 3 at Rs 49,999 on Amazon from Rs 79,999. iPhone 17e at Vijay Sales for Rs 61,900. Flipkart offers differ.
2 sources, 2 neutral
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Maharashtra FDA bans open edible oil sale
Maharashtra FDA banned open sale of loose oil. Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe said 77 substandard and 15 misbranding cases found from 1,142 samples. Stock worth Rs 5.31 crore seized. Consumers must buy sealed packs only.
2 sources, 2 neutral
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NTA defends Rs 200 answer key challenge fee
NTA said the Rs 200 fee is to discourage frivolous objections and is refunded if a challenge is upheld. A correct challenge can correct records for lakhs of candidates. The agency faces scrutiny over recent exam issues.
2 sources, 2 neutral
The closing thought
Today’s news puts India’s private space sector alongside a cautious RBI stance on growth and a push for digital finance in BRICS. The real test for Skyroot will be whether it can convert one successful orbit into a sustained business pipeline. The contrasting growth forecasts from SBI and ICICI remind us that a strong Q1 does not guarantee a smooth year. Watch how LIC’s larger HDFC Bank stake and SEBI’s FPI digitisation shape foreign capital flows in coming months.
This digest is refreshed through the day at indianopinion.org/today.
This digest was compiled and written by AI from the day’s Indian Opinion coverage.
