Official releases, distilled into exam-ready intelligence.

On World Elephant Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted that India harbours more than 60 % of the world’s wild Asian elephants. He noted that the country currently has 33 Elephant Reserves that provide habitats and support long‑term conservation of the species. The Prime Minister also praised forest personnel, scientists, veterinarians, mahouts and local communities for their role in these efforts. The statements were released via a PIB press release and reiterated in the Prime Minister’s post on X on 12 August 2026.

The Department of Space answered a Lok Sabha question on space startups, noting that about 440 space‑technology startups are registered in India. IN‑SPACe has granted 113 authorisations to 52 non‑government entities, of which 18 are startups (Annexure‑I). It has provided financial, technical and incubation support (Annexure‑II) and facilitated 118 technology‑transfer agreements through NSIL, covering critical technologies such as SSLV, IMS‑1 bus and ISRO laser gyro. The government has introduced a liberalised FDI policy, a ₹1,000 crore venture‑capital fund, a ₹500 crore Technology Adoption Fund, and other measures to promote private participation, skill development and infrastructure access. Cumulative private investment in space startups reached roughly USD 618.5 million as of 31 Mar 2026.

The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) reports that the Dhruva reactor at BARC produces the key medical radioisotopes Mo‑99, I‑131 and Lu‑177, which together account for about 90 % of nuclear‑medicine applications. Production data for the last five years show annual outputs ranging from 268 Ci to 693 Ci for Mo‑99‑99mTc, 623 Ci to 813 Ci for I‑131 and 473 Ci to 976 Ci for Lu‑177. During reactor shutdowns, imports were made – e.g., 460 Ci of Mo‑99 from Australia and Russia in 2021‑22 and 136 Ci of Lu‑177 from Russia in 2025‑26. Shortfalls occurred, with up to 19 batches of Mo‑99 missed in 2024‑25. DAE has secured sanction for an “Engineering and Construction of Isotope Production Reactor” slated to start around 2035 with a 0.5 MCi capacity.

The Department of Atomic Energy states that nuclear power plants have comprehensive security measures, including periodic internal audits, regulatory inspections by the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) and assessments by external government agencies. All plants employ electronic security systems such as Perimeter Intrusion Detection, Access Control, X‑Ray Baggage Inspection and CCTV monitoring. Cybersecurity is prioritised through continuous monitoring, regular audits, vulnerability assessments and the involvement of CERT‑In and the National Cyber Coordination Centre. Emergency Preparedness Plans approved by the regulator are exercised regularly; Table‑Top, Integrated Command, Control & Response (ICCR) and Mock exercises are conducted at stipulated intervals, with recent ICCR drills at Kudankulam (15 April 2025) and Kalpakkam (17 July 2026). The details were provided by Union Minister of State Dr Jitendra Singh in a Lok Sabha written reply.

The Department of Atomic Energy’s Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD) has identified a beach‑sand mineral (BSM) deposit in Pudupuram‑Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu containing 1.912 Mt of total heavy minerals, including monazite, ilmenite and zircon. To curb illegal beach‑sand mining and unauthorized export of strategic monazite, the Government has (i) amended the monazite threshold to 0.00 % under Ministry of Mines Notification G.S.R 134(E) (Feb 2019), (ii) routed BSM export through the State Trading Enterprise and IREL under DGFT Notification 26/2015‑2020 (Aug 2018), (iii) reinstated Monazite Test Certification for each export consignment, (iv) mandated registration and reporting of all mineral activities under Rule 45 of the Mineral Conservation and Development Rules 2017, (v) asked states to form task forces, and (vi) deployed the satellite‑based Mining Surveillance System. Radiation‑hazard safeguards include mandatory EIA with radiological surveys by BARC before lease issuance, back‑filling of mined land, and continuous monitoring by BARC’s Health Physics Unit.

The Ministry of Earth Sciences reports that AI, ML and Big Data are being integrated into weather forecasting and early‑warning services. The National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF) is linking AI/ML‑based forecast guidance with data assimilation, Earth‑system modelling, ensemble prediction and HPC. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) uses these AI‑derived products, including a deep‑learning rain‑downscaling model (meteoGAN) for Delhi‑NCR and an AI‑based medium‑range forecast model using ERA5 data. Under Mission Mausam, AI/ML supports bias‑correction of rainfall forecasts, lightning prediction, the “MausamVani” generative‑AI app, and a hybrid model that sent SMS advisories to about 5.28 crore farmers in 2026. An integrated National AI‑based Early Warning Platform is being built to deliver impact‑based forecasts and risk‑based warnings in regional languages.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued its First Stage Long‑Range Forecast for the 2026 Southwest Monsoon on 13 April 2026, projecting rainfall at 92 % of the Long Period Average (LPA). The Second Stage forecast revised this to 90 % of LPA and anticipated El Niño development. By 2 August 2026, cumulative seasonal rainfall was 12 % below LPA, matching the forecast despite intra‑seasonal variations. June recorded 35 % below‑normal rainfall (70 % districts deficit); July was 1 % above LPA overall but 47 % of districts still faced deficient rainfall. Weak to moderate El Niño over the equatorial Pacific was identified as a major climate driver suppressing monsoon circulation, leading to dry spells, meteorological drought, lower soil moisture and stress on rain‑fed crops. IMD continues to issue sub‑divisional alerts to aid disaster preparedness and agricultural planning.

The National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, has developed a seabed mining system and successfully conducted mobility and power trials at 5,270 m depth in the Central Indian Ocean Basin (CIOB) site allocated by the International Seabed Authority (ISA). NIOT is also developing nodule‑collection and crushing components in line with ISA guidelines. The Ministry has signed contracts with ISA for exploration of polymetallic nodules and sulphides in the Indian Ocean beyond national jurisdiction, undertaking resource and environmental impact assessments and multidisciplinary oceanographic studies to establish baseline conditions. Currently, only exploration activities in the international seabed are permitted. This information was provided by Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Earth Sciences Dr. Jitendra Singh in a Lok Sabha written reply.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman delivered the keynote at a seminar in Jaipur on the role of the New Development Bank (NDB) in mobilising private capital across BRICS member countries. She underscored that multilateral development banks de‑risk projects, enhance bankability and boost investor confidence. Citing India’s experience, she listed reforms such as Viability Gap Funding, Hybrid Annuity Model, credit‑enhancement mechanisms, Infrastructure Investment Trusts, the National Infrastructure Pipeline and the PM Gati Shakti master plan. She also noted that the Union Budget 2026‑27 proposes new Dedicated Freight Corridors, High‑Speed Rail Corridors, operationalisation of new National Waterways and a Coastal Cargo Promotion Scheme to attract private investment.

The Ministry of Heavy Industries reported that 88,209 electric vehicles (EVs) were subsidised in Madhya Pradesh during FY 2025‑26 under the PM E‑DRIVE scheme, comprising 81,840 e‑2‑wheelers and 6,369 e‑3‑wheelers. A total of 94,277 EVs were deployed in the state in the same period, but no electric buses were allocated. The release also outlines related central schemes – FAME‑II (₹11,500 cr), PLI‑Auto (₹25,938 cr), PLI‑ACC (₹18,100 cr), PM E‑DRIVE (₹10,900 cr) and PM e‑Bus Sewa (₹3,435.33 cr) – and measures such as a 5 % GST on EVs, green licence plates, and state‑level road‑tax waivers aimed at promoting clean‑energy transport.

The Ministry of Earth Sciences, through the Centre for Marine Living Resources and Ecology (CMLRE) in Kochi, runs a programme to assess and monitor Marine Living Resources (MLR) in India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Between 2023 and 2026, CMLRE conducted about 19 surveys covering fishery resources and marine biodiversity. Data generated are used for sustainable MLR management, marine conservation and evidence‑based policy, including eight‑year fishery yield estimates, identification of Ecologically & Biologically Significant Areas, biodiversity inventories, genomic reference libraries, and fish spawning grounds. The programme also supports national and international commitments such as the Convention on Biological Diversity and SDG‑14. Initiatives include long‑term ecosystem monitoring, the Bhavasagara National Repository for deep‑sea specimens, advanced scientific technologies, capacity building and collaborations with national and international institutions. The information was provided by Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Earth Sciences Dr. Jitendra Singh in a Lok Sabha written reply.

The Ministry of Earth Sciences, responding to a Parliament question, detailed enhancements to India’s early warning infrastructure. Under Mission Mausam, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) added 50 Doppler weather radars, 1,008 automatic weather stations and 6,885 rain‑gauge stations, improving severe‑weather forecast accuracy by 40‑50 %. Flood monitoring is supported by 25 Flood Meteorological Offices issuing 7‑day precipitation forecasts for 220 sub‑basins and integrated warning systems in Chennai and Mumbai. INCOIS serves as the tsunami service provider for 28 Indian‑Ocean‑Rim nations and has enabled 26 Odisha coastal villages to achieve UNESCO‑IOC Tsunami Ready status. The Multi‑Hazard Early Warning‑Decision Support System (MHEW‑DSS) was launched as a digital platform for real‑time weather monitoring. The National Seismological Network was expanded to 174 observatories, lowering the earthquake detection threshold to magnitude 3.0 nationwide (2.5 in Delhi‑NCR and the North‑East).

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued district‑level rainfall forecasts and colour‑coded impact warnings for all districts of Upper Assam before and during heavy to very heavy rains from 18‑20 July 2026, with a 7‑day lead time. The forecasts followed standard IMD rainfall classifications and were supported by daily weather bulletins archived at the Regional Meteorological Centre, Guwahati. IMD’s performance metrics for extreme rainfall forecasts in Assam’s sub‑regions (West, South, Central, Northeast) show percentages of correct forecasts ranging from ~51 % to ~85 % and varying probabilities of detection, false‑alarm ratios and critical success indices across Day 1‑Day 5 lead times. Seasonal outlooks consider ENSO and IOD, while flood‑risk assessment integrates IMD forecasts with Central Water Commission hydrological models. High‑resolution BharatFS (6 km) and the Multi‑Hazard Early Warning‑Decision Support System under Mission Mausam have been operationalised to improve sub‑district forecasting in Northeast India.

The Ministry of Heavy Industries, under the Scheme for Enhancement of Competitiveness in the Indian Capital Goods Sector, has trained about 33,000 persons through its SAMARTH centres and over 8,500 persons at the Common Engineering Facility Centre (CEFC) at BHEL, Trichy in the last three years. The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship’s Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) 4.0 has trained 2,731,699 candidates in the same period, with 16,946 training centres accredited. Additionally, 1,253,158 enrolments were recorded in ITIs under the Craftsmen Training Scheme for the capital goods and manufacturing sector.

The Ministry of Cooperation, using the National Cooperative Database (NCD), launched a Ranking Framework on 24 January 2025 to rank primary cooperative societies sector‑wise and by State/UT/district/block. The framework allows State/UT Registrars of Cooperative Societies to generate rankings for 12 sectors based on five parameters – audit compliance, operational activities, financial performance, infrastructure and basic identity information – with a total weightage of 100 marks. It is intended to improve transparency, efficiency, effectiveness, credibility and competitive capability of cooperatives and to disseminate best practices of top‑performing societies. The information was provided by Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.

On 12 August 2026, India and the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) signed a Terms of Reference (ToR) at Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi, to commence negotiations for a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA). The ToR outlines eight chapters covering trade in goods, market access, rules of origin, customs procedures, trade remedies, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, technical barriers, dispute settlement and legal provisions. Union Minister Piyush Goyal highlighted India’s potential role in supplying affordable medicines, IT talent and integrating SACU economies into global supply chains, while stressing the need for a balanced, development‑oriented outcome. The signing marks India’s first ToR with the African region and aims to deepen South‑South cooperation.

The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying reports that under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) a total outlay of Rs 20,750 crore is being spent from 2020‑21 to 2026‑27 for fisheries and aquaculture across India, including Chhattisgarh. In Chhattisgarh, projects approved worth Rs 956.86 crore (central share Rs 321.01 crore) have been sanctioned, of which Rs 274.16 crore has been released. Implemented interventions comprise 28 fish‑seed hatcheries, 3,200 ha of new fish ponds, 287 recirculatory aquaculture systems, 820 bio‑floc units, 14 feed mills, 511 transport vehicles, 8,500 reservoir cages and an integrated aqua park, along with social security measures such as accidental insurance for 5.52 lakh fishers annually and credit support to 4,189 fishers via KCC. These actions have raised fish production from 3.14 lakh mt in 2014‑15 to 8.73 lakh mt in 2024‑25, enhancing incomes and rural employment in the state.

The Ministry of Education clarified the conduct of CBSE sports competitions as per the CBSE Games Guidelines and annual circulars. Competitions are organised at Cluster, Zonal and National levels, with specific games allocated to each tier and age criteria based on the 31 December cut‑off. Schools register online (UID‑based) and, if selected, receive a fixed sports grant – Rs 2 lakhs for Cluster/Zonal events, Rs 3 lakhs for Nationals, and higher amounts for athletics and swimming – to cover referees, equipment, ground maintenance and related expenses. Organising schools must hire technically qualified officials, submit audited expenditure proformas, and adhere to a written protest mechanism that involves a Rs 1,000 fee and a Jury of Appeal whose decision is final.

National Cooperative Organics Limited (NCOL), under the Ministry of Cooperation, markets its certified organic produce under the “Bharat Organics” brand through e‑commerce platforms, modern retail chains, cooperative outlets such as Safal/Mother Dairy, NAFED, NCCF and its own Direct‑to‑Consumer portal. The benchmark for organic production in India is the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP), notified by APEDA; NCOL sources only from NPOP‑certified farmer groups, Internal Control Systems (ICS) or certified operators and subjects the produce to stringent quality testing, traceability and mandatory laboratory checks for pesticide residues. NCOL also promotes the creation of NPOP‑certified ICS groups via cooperatives and has signed MoUs with 28 states/UTs to expand the organic cooperative ecosystem.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi released former President Ram Nath Kovind’s autobiography titled *Triumph of the Indian Republic: My Life, My Struggles* on 12 August 2026. In his speech, Modi highlighted Kovind’s humble origins in a village in Kanpur, the loss of his mother in a fire, and the support he received from neighbours, portraying his rise to the presidency as a testament to perseverance and democratic values. The PM urged the audience, especially the youth, to read the book for lessons on personal struggle, public service, and the vision of a ‘One Nation, One Election’ that Kovind continues to advocate. Modi framed the autobiography as a heritage for Indian democracy and society.