Official releases, distilled into exam-ready intelligence.

Bharat Taxi, launched on 6 June 2025 under the Multi‑State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002, is India’s first cooperative‑led ride‑hailing platform. Backed by eight national cooperative institutions, it operates a zero‑commission, subscription‑based model that lets driver‑owners (“Sarathis”) retain full fare earnings and participate in governance through shareholding and board representation. As of 25 July 2026 the platform reports nearly 8 lakh registered drivers and 41 lakh customers across several cities, with plans for nationwide rollout by 2029. It integrates with Digital India services (DigiLocker, UMANG, API Setu) and offers women‑centric features, social security via e‑Shram, and partnerships with agencies such as Delhi Traffic Police and State Bank of India.

The Ministry of Communications announced that the Qatar‑India PosTransfer service, powered by India’s UPI, is now operational through Qatar Post outlets. Developed jointly by Qatar Post, India Post, the Universal Postal Union’s Interconnection Platform (UPU‑IP) and NPCI International Payments Limited, the service lets customers in Qatar remit funds directly to UPI‑enabled bank accounts in India. Transactions range from QAR 10 to QAR 4,000 (up to ₹1 lakh) with a flat charge of QAR 15. The launch on 15 August 2026, coinciding with India’s Independence Day, underscores the role of postal networks and digital public infrastructure in enhancing cross‑border financial inclusion for the Indian diaspora in Qatar.

The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has launched the Employees’ Enrolment Campaign (EEC) 2026, a special one‑time window for employers to voluntarily enrol workers who were outside EPF coverage between 1 April 2009 and 31 March 2026. The campaign runs from 1 July 2026 to 31 October 2026. Under the scheme, the employee’s share of EPF contribution is waived if it was not deducted, while employers must pay their share along with interest, administrative charges and a lump‑sum damage of ₹100. Enrolment is done digitally via the EPFO Employer Portal using face‑authentication‑based UAN generation and ECR‑linked TRRN filing.

Union Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Dr. Jitendra Singh, said that technology‑driven pension service delivery has enhanced efficiency while saving manpower and financial resources. He highlighted the Digital Life Certificate and Face Authentication initiatives that replace physical verification with a digital process, and noted the Bhavishya portal and other technology‑enabled platforms that simplify pension processing. The Minister also announced the release of the Handbook on Pension Mitra, the ANUBHAV Awards, and guidelines for the Nationwide Digital Life Certificate Campaign‑5. He emphasized ongoing simplification of pension procedures, strengthening of family‑pension provisions, and the role of retiring employees’ experiences in informing reforms.

On 17 August 2026, India hosted the 7th BRICS ICT Working Group Meeting in Pune under its BRICS Chairship. The meeting was inaugurated by Shri Amit Agrawal, Secretary, Department of Telecommunications, who outlined the Chairship theme “Innovate, Cooperate and Transform (ICT) for a Resilient Future” and its four pillars. Delegates from the BRICS nations discussed artificial intelligence, next‑generation communications, Industry 4.0 applications, electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure, and digital ecosystem integration. The Council of the BRICS Institute of Future Networks reviewed national branch activities and study‑group updates, while the Working Group examined issue‑note priorities and member responses to a survey questionnaire. Subsequent sessions will include a Focus Group on Digital Public Infrastructure and a Digital BRICS Task Force meeting.

The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship convened the ‘Kaushal Manthan’ Regional Conference of Skill Ministers in Kolkata, chaired by Minister of State Shri Jayant Chaudhary. The meeting brought together ministers and senior officials from several states and a Union Territory to enhance Centre‑State coordination and promote an industry‑connected, outcome‑oriented skilling ecosystem. Key discussions focused on the PM‑SETU scheme for transforming ITIs, alignment of skilling with state economic priorities, AI‑readiness through the SOAR programme (over 2.10 lakh learners by 16 July 2026), apprenticeship, and the launch of an international skilling programme for 600 OBC youth from Madhya Pradesh targeting employment in Japan and Germany.

The Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) observed the Har Ghar Tiranga Campaign 2026 from 9 – 17 August 2026, a programme launched by the Government of India in 2022 under Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav to encourage citizens to hoist the National Flag. On 13 August 2026 the Ministry organised a special event where the Secretary distributed the Tiranga to officers, highlighted the 150th anniversary of the National Song “Vande Mataram”, and urged participation in the “Selfie with Tiranga” initiative via www.harghartiranga.com. The celebrations aimed to foster patriotism, national unity and respect for the Flag across Ministry offices.

The Prime Minister’s Office announced, via a PIB release dated 17 August 2026, that the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) will provide an ex‑gratia of Rs 2 lakh to the next‑of‑kin of each person who died and Rs 50,000 to each injured person in the recent incident in Lakhisarai, Bihar. The announcement was shared on the Prime Minister’s X account, reiterating the amounts to be disbursed. This constitutes a direct financial relief measure by the central government for victims of a specific disaster.

The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment highlighted the Inter‑Caste Marriage Incentive through the story of Ashok Kumar Samantaray (33, General category) and Sabita Das (30, Kaibarta SC) from Khordha district, Odisha. Facing strong family and community opposition, the couple married and received ₹2.5 lakh financial assistance under the scheme. The aid provided financial relief, helped them save for their daughter’s education, and contributed to a gradual shift in community attitudes, enabling them to lead a stable, happy family life.

The Prime Minister announced, via the Prime Minister's Office, an ex‑gratia payment from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) of Rs 2 lakh for the next‑of‑kin of each person who died and Rs 50,000 for those injured in the mishap in Birbhum, West Bengal.

Vice President Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan addressed the 11th Convocation of the Central University of Tamil Nadu, Thiruvarur, congratulating 1,103 graduates – 616 women and 50 gold‑medalists – and underscoring that education should be measured by independent thinking, communication, collaboration and lifelong learning, not merely examinations. He highlighted the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, stressing the need to curb unfair practices and protect honest students. The Vice President also urged strict action against drug peddlers, calling drug abuse a threat to individuals, families and society, and appealed to youth to “Say No to Drugs”.

The eighth edition of the IN–USN Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Exercise 2026 concluded at the Southern Naval Command in Kochi on 14 August 2026. The bilateral exercise involved Indian and US Navy teams exchanging best practices, conducting Subject Matter Expert Exchanges on IED threats, render‑safe procedures, mine neutralisation and unmanned underwater systems, and undertaking cross‑training in diving, wreck location, salvage and specialist equipment usage. The joint training aimed to enhance the professional competence of the diving teams, improve mutual understanding and interoperability, and demonstrate the navies’ commitment to operational synergy in specialised maritime operations.

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi posted a Sanskrit Subhashitam on X on 17 August 2026, urging collective resolve, unity of minds and mutual cooperation as the foundation for India’s progress and prosperity. The verse stresses that identical resolve and shared mindset enable societal advancement, reflecting the Prime Minister’s emphasis on cultural values and social cohesion.

The Ministry of Mines will hold a Roadshow and a National Mineral Exploration and Development Trust (NMEDT) workshop in Patna on 17 August 2026. The event will present the 8th tranche of auctions comprising 20 critical and strategic mineral blocks – 3 Mining Lease and 17 Composite Licence blocks – covering minerals such as graphite, rare‑earth elements, vanadium, gallium, titanium, molybdenum, tungsten, potash, phosphorite and glauconite. Senior officials from the Ministry, GSI, MECL, industry and prospective investors will discuss the auction framework, bidding process, and the NMEDT scheme for partial reimbursement of exploration costs. A technical workshop will address mineral‑exploration planning, the National Geoscience Data Repository, and report preparation, underscoring the government’s push for private‑sector participation and mineral security.

India will host the 12th BRICS Environment Ministers’ Meeting on 18 August 2026 in New Delhi, preceded by the Senior Officers’ Meeting of the Environment Working Group and the Contact Group on Climate Change and Sustainable Development on 17 August 2026. The meetings will be chaired by Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shri Bhupender Yadav and will focus on four priority areas identified by India: Sustainable Lifestyles; Afforestation, Forest Fire Management and Disaster Resilience; Circular Economy; and Climate Adaptation. The event builds on virtual dialogues held from March to July 2026, covering resource efficiency, carbon markets, land degradation, desertification, drought and wildfire management. The BRICS Environment Working Group, set up in 2015, and the Contact Group (2024) provide the institutional framework for these deliberations.

General Dhiraj Seth, Chief of the Army Staff, embarked on an official visit to Nepal from 17‑19 August 2026. The itinerary included laying a wreath at the Army Pavilion, receiving a Guard of Honour, briefing by the Nepali Army’s Director General Military Operations, and being conferred the honorary rank of General of the Nepali Army at an investiture ceremony. He addressed student officers at Shivapuri, interacted with senior dignitaries, and attended an ex‑servicemen rally in Pokhara before returning to India on 19 August. The visit aims to deepen defence cooperation and military‑to‑military ties between the two countries.

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) conducted a month‑long intelligence‑led operation that uncovered a large‑scale fraud involving the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) agreement. Syndicates imported areca nuts from Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and other South‑East Asian countries but falsely declared them as Bangladeshi origin to claim full customs duty exemption. The scheme is estimated to have caused a revenue loss of over Rs 2,500 crore, with Rs 75 lakh in cash and about 160 MT of areca nuts seized. Nine persons were arrested, a customs broker’s licence was suspended, and the investigation highlighted the use of hawala channels and dummy entities. The illegal imports distort domestic prices and undermine regulated trade practices.

The National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT), under MeitY, launched CYBER KUSHTI 2026 on 15 August 2026 as a national cybersecurity and AI hackathon that emphasises human judgment over mere detection speed. The competition, conducted in three rounds (Akhada, Dangal, Kesari), provides identical, deliberately imperfect security assessment packages to all teams, requiring them to prioritise, correct, and defend findings using any AI tools. It is aligned with the 3rd National Conference on Cyber Security, Digital Forensics and Intelligence (NCCDFI 2026) and involves collaboration with ISAC Foundation, the National Security Database, and CERT‑In as knowledge partner. Awards include titles such as “Cyber Kesari 2026” and NSD recognition credits.

The PIB release details the transformation of Ruby Devi, a 32‑year‑old Scheduled Caste woman from Karanpura, Vaishali (Bihar), who moved from daily‑wage labour to operating a grocery store after receiving support under the Sustainable Livelihood Scheme (SJY) and the PM‑AJAY scheme. She received a total of ₹10,000 (SIF), ₹20,000‑₹27,000 (grocery assets), ₹7,000 (LGF), ₹17,000 (PM‑AJAY), and ₹10,000 (Mukhyamantri Mahila Rozgar Yojana) along with three rounds of CBED training and refresher sessions. Her monthly income rose from ₹2,000‑₹3,000 to ₹15,000‑₹20,000, assets are now valued at about ₹1,45,640, and she has opened a bank account, saved money, and enrolled her children in government schools. She also accessed multiple welfare services (ration card, Ayushman, gas, electricity, Indira Awas, toilet, tap water, insurance).

Vice President Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan addressed the 22nd Convocation of SRM Institute of Science and Technology, urging graduates to use their knowledge for nation‑building and to adopt the principle ‘Nation First – Rashtra Pratham’. He highlighted the rapid expansion of higher education since 2014 – citing the establishment of 16 IIITs, 8 Central Universities, 8 IIMs, 7 IITs, 2 IISERs, 1 NIT and 12 AIIMS, and noting that India now has over 1,425 universities, 54,000 colleges and 16,850 standalone institutions. He pointed to a 42.2 % rise in women’s enrolment (from 1.57 crore in 2014‑15 to 2.24 crore in 2023‑24). The Vice President emphasized emerging fields such as Artificial Intelligence, Quantum Technologies, semiconductor research, robotics, biotechnology and sustainable development as drivers of future economies. He also condemned drug‑related violence, referencing a recent student murder in Tamil Nadu, and urged graduates to stay away from drugs.