Official releases, distilled into exam-ready intelligence.

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment's Department of Social Justice and Empowerment is expanding its collaboration with spiritual organizations under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) to advance the vision of a drug-free India. Memoranda of Understanding are scheduled to be signed with Adhyatm Vigyan Satsang Kendra, Chinmaya Mission, Divya Jyoti Jagrati Sansthan, and Hare Krishna Movement. This builds upon prior partnerships with organizations such as The Art of Living, Brahma Kumaris, Sant Nirankari Mission, ISKCON, Shri Ram Chandra Mission, All World Gayatri Pariwar, Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Dhanwantari Ashram, and the University of Patanjali. These partnerships support mass-awareness, volunteer mobilization, and the integration of yoga, meditation, and spiritual counselling into de-addiction efforts.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Japan Air Self Defence Force (JASDF) are conducting the bilateral air exercise, Veer Guardian-2026, at Air Force Station Jodhpur from September 9 to September 22, 2026. The IAF is participating with frontline combat aircraft including the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, Su-30 MKI, and Rafale, while the JASDF is participating with F-2A fighter aircraft. The fourteen-day exercise includes advanced operational missions, mission planning conferences, subject matter expert exchanges, and discussions on engineering and aerospace safety to foster operational synergy and tactical proficiency between the two nations.

The 62nd APNIC Conference (APNIC 62) is being hosted in Mumbai by the National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI) and co-hosted by the Internet Service Providers Association of India (ISPAI), marking the return of the Asia Pacific Internet community's flagship conference to India after 14 years. During the event, NIXI and the Asia Pacific Network Information Centre (APNIC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen cooperation in Internet development, technical capacity building, routing security, and community outreach. The partnership focuses on collaborative initiatives such as IPv6 and RPKI adoption, Train-the-Trainer programmes, technical lab infrastructure, and the deployment of an RPKI Repository Mirror to support secure and efficient network operations across India and the region.

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is planning a grand national event by the end of the month to mark the 6th anniversary of the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA), aiming to mobilize over 10 crore citizens for a National Mass Pledge Against Drug Abuse. A high-level coordination meeting chaired by Joint Secretary Dr. Sandeep Rewaji Rathod discussed a comprehensive strategy involving a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach across various line ministries, educational institutions, PSUs, and voluntary organizations. Launched on August 15, 2020, NMBA operates under the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR) to combat substance abuse through preventive education, awareness generation, rehabilitation, and helpline services.

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the Global Fintech Fest 2026 in Mumbai. During his address, he highlighted India's robust economic growth during the April to June quarter and noted the upgrade of the nation's sovereign ratings to the A- category by a Japanese credit rating agency. The Prime Minister emphasized the role of the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) as a driver of India's fintech transformation, noting its growth in transaction volumes, integration with partner countries, and contribution to financial inclusion. Furthermore, he outlined a four-point roadmap for the fintech sector focusing on cybersecurity, ethical data protection standards, a regulator-industry innovation ecosystem, and a fintech consumer protection index, while highlighting the extension of schemes like PM SVANidhi until 2030.

The Union Minister of Coal and Mines launched the first-ever sector-wide Comprehensive CSR Framework for Indian Coal Companies, prepared by the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA) to guide outcome-oriented corporate social responsibility in coal mining areas. The event also celebrated milestones achieved under Coal India Limited's (CIL) flagship healthcare CSR initiatives: the Thalassemia Bal Sewa Yojana (TBSY), which has completed over 1,050 Bone Marrow Transplants for rare genetic blood disorders, and Nanha Sa Dil, which has facilitated over 1,500 free corrective cardiac surgeries for congenital heart defects. Officials emphasized transparency, accountability, and a whole-of-society approach to community development and health interventions in mining regions.

The Prime Minister inaugurated the Global Fintech Fest (GFF) 2026 in Mumbai, where he highlighted India's fintech journey and the success of UPI. During his address, he outlined key priorities for the sector, including expanding UPI's global footprint, scaling fintech beyond payments into credit, insurance, savings, investments, and pensions, and harnessing emerging technologies like Agentic AI, Tokenisation, and Quantum. He also emphasized top-notch cyber security, ethical data protection, a stronger fintech consumer protection index, and increased innovation, asserting that India's reform express will gather more speed.

Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurated a Day-Care Cancer Facility at Atal Bihari Vajpayee Government Medical College in Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh, developed with technical support from the Tata Memorial Centre (TMC) under the Department of Atomic Energy. Addressing the rising cancer burden—projected to reach around 2 million new cases annually by 2030—the initiative aims to decentralize and expand cancer-care facilities beyond major metropolitan centers. The phased Vidisha programme encompasses medical and surgical oncology, advanced pathology, radiotherapy (including an upcoming LINAC facility), preventive care, population and hospital-based cancer registries, and palliative care. Furthermore, TMC's institutional network spans 11 units across seven States, while the National Cancer Grid connects over 380 cancer centres nationwide.

Union Minister of State for MSME, Sushri Shobha Karandlaje, is scheduled to inaugurate a ₹156 crore Technology Centre at Devanahalli, Bengaluru, Karnataka, on 10 September 2026. Developed across 10 acres with an investment by the Ministry of MSME and land provided by the Government of Karnataka, the facility features modern training, production, administrative, and residential infrastructure. Focused primarily on the Electronics System Design & Manufacturing (ESDM) sector, the Centre is equipped with advanced machinery and laboratories to provide MSMEs with access to cutting-edge technologies, testing, prototyping, and advisory support. Additionally, the Centre is equipped to train 10,000 youth annually in specialized technical skills, thereby supporting local industry ecosystems and employment generation.

Researchers at the ICAR-National Research Centre on Mithun (ICAR-NRC on Mithun) in Nagaland, in collaboration with other institutions, have developed an artificial intelligence-based system for the real-time detection and tracking of Mithun (Bos frontalis) behaviour in a natural farm environment. Known as the 'Cattle of the Hills', the Mithun holds cultural and economic importance in Northeast India. The framework uses 12 high-definition CCTV cameras, the YOLOv8n model for behaviour detection, and DeepSORT technology for tracking individuals. It monitors four key behaviours—feeding, standing, lying, and mounting—under day-and-night conditions, achieving high precision scores and processing speeds. The technology aims to overcome the limitations of manual observation and support livestock health, welfare, and reproductive management.

The President of India has issued an order appointing Shri Vinai Kumar Saxena, the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, to perform the functions of the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir. This appointment is an additional duty assigned to him during the period of absence on leave of the incumbent Lieutenant Governor, Shri Manoj Sinha.

The Prime Minister shared an article written by Union Minister Smt. Annpurna Devi marking 10 years of the Matru Vandana Yojana and Poshan Maah. The article highlights transforming the Anganwadi system into a people's movement and details how direct benefit transfer (DBT), social audits, and nutritious food provide support to children, women, and adolescent girls. It notes that under the vision of “Hamari Anganwadi, Hamari Zimmedari”, these initiatives contribute toward a malnutrition-free and Viksit Bharat.

The Ministry of Defence is organising IAF Dronathon-2026 to provide domestic manufacturers an opportunity to showcase their capabilities in Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems (CUAS). Scheduled at the Pokhran range, Jaisalmer, from September 14 to 16, 2026, the event features static displays and live demonstrations to evaluate combat effectiveness and identify contemporary solutions. Key focus areas include surveillance and reconnaissance, autonomous operations, swarm technologies, and electronic warfare. The initiative aligns with Atmanirbhar Bharat by integrating industry experts, start-ups, and innovators to bolster the indigenous defence ecosystem.

The release details the journey of 26-year-old Diwakar Kumar from Bihar, who progressed from a skilled sewer and septic tank worker to a self-reliant Swachhta Udyami under the NAMASTE-SUY Initiative. After gaining experience operating Jetting-cum-Grabber Machines in Noida, he applied for assistance under the Swachhta Udyami Yojana component of the NAMASTE Initiative. He received financial backing consisting of an upfront capital subsidy and a loan totaling a project cost of Rs. 14,77,500, enabling him to procure a sanitation vehicle and machinery. The intervention enhanced his earning capacity, allowing him to achieve financial security and independence.

Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC), in association with the MC²⁺ Foundation, hosted the Mumbai City Connect of the MC²⁺ Ignite energy innovation accelerator at IIT Bombay. A tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the MC²⁺ Foundation, IIT Bombay, and the Society for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (SINE), IIT Bombay, to strengthen collaboration between industry, academia, and startups. The accelerator aims to support up to 30 high-potential early-stage startups with funding of up to ₹2 crore per startup across seven thematic areas, including AI-driven Subsurface Intelligence, hydrogen and mobility, and bioenergy.

Researchers at the International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials (ARCI), an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), have developed a bi-layered single-piece dental implant combining titanium alloy (Ti6Al4V) and yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ). Fabricated using Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS), the implant integrates the load-bearing strength of titanium alloy with the wear-resistant and aesthetic qualities of zirconia. This single-piece structure addresses the limitations of traditional multi-component implants—such as micromovements, corrosion, and the need for multiple surgical procedures—thereby reducing surgical complexity, patient discomfort, and improving long-term stability and biocompatibility.

Union Minister of State for Education, Shri Jayant Chaudhary, spoke at the national-level celebration of International Literacy Day 2026 in New Delhi, stating that literacy and education must be reimagined as instruments of empowerment, active citizenship, financial literacy, and digital literacy. Highlighting the ULLAS - Nav Bharat Saakasharta Karyakam initiative, he noted its role in empowering learners with confidence and dignity. The event featured addresses by state education ministers and officials, noting achievements like Tripura's 95.6% literacy rate. The Ministry of Education is organizing a Literacy Fortnight from September 1-14, 2026, alongside an ULLAS Mela, to foster mass participation and foundational literacy.

Vice-President Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan visited the INA Museum at Moirang and Sainik School Imphal in Manipur. During his visit, he paid homage to the Indian National Army, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, and the freedom fighters who made sacrifices during India's freedom struggle. While interacting with cadets at Sainik School Imphal, he emphasized the role of Sainik Schools in fostering national integration under the spirit of Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat. He also highlighted the importance of discipline, leadership, patriotism, technological awareness, and performing everyday duties to contribute toward Viksit Bharat.

The Press Information Bureau release details the educational and professional journey of Dr. M. K. Ponselvakumari from Karaikal district in Puducherry, highlighting the impact of the National Fellowship for Scheduled Caste Students (NFSC) Scheme. Facing financial constraints, mobility challenges, and the costs associated with specialized research materials, laboratory access, and outsourced analyses during her doctoral studies, she began receiving assistance under the NFSC Scheme in 2017–18. This fellowship and contingency support enabled her to complete her Ph.D. and secure full-time employment, demonstrating the role of institutional support in facilitating higher education and professional advancement for scholars.

The Ministry of Law and Justice announced the appointment of judges and additional judges to the Chhattisgarh High Court and the Gauhati High Court by the President, in exercise of powers conferred by the Constitution of India and in consultation with the Chief Justice of India. The appointees for the Chhattisgarh High Court as judges include judicial officers Santosh Sharma, Smt. Sushma Sawant, and Sudhir Kumar. Additionally, Nchumbemo Mozhui (Advocate) and Smt. Helen Dawngliani (Judicial Officer) have been appointed as additional judges of the Gauhati High Court.