Official releases, distilled into exam-ready intelligence.

In 2025 India emerged as the world’s leading ship‑recycling nation, raising its global market share from 30.1% in 2024 to 35.4% and increasing recycling volume from 1.86 million to 2.99 million gross tonnes – a near‑60% rise. The Alang‑Sosiya cluster, accounting for about 98% of domestic activity, has an annual capacity of ~6 million GT and aims to double to 9 million LDT through a master‑plan. Regulatory reforms – Ship Recycling Act (2019), Rules (2021) and Regulations (2026) – align domestic practice with the Hong Kong International Convention (effective 26 June 2025) and have enabled 115 yards to achieve compliance, supported by ₹53.5 crore modernisation funds. The sector supplies ~3.5 million MT of steel annually, creates large‑scale employment, and contributes to resource security, circular‑economy goals and environmental sustainability.

The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare highlighted ongoing government efforts to promote sustainable agriculture through multiple schemes. Under the Soil Health & Fertility Scheme, 26.18 crore Soil Health Cards have been issued and Integrated Nutrient Management is encouraged. The Per Drop More Crop Scheme has brought 114.60 lakh hectares under micro‑irrigation, benefitting about 100 lakh farmers, and promotes fertigation. Organic farming is supported via PKVY (18.93 lakh hectares, 33.63 lakh farmers) and MOVCDNER (2.36 lakh hectares, 2.74 lakh farmers) with a Rs 15,000 per‑ha DBT. The Agroforestry Scheme has established 826 nurseries and raised 1062.18 lakh saplings in three years. The National Mission on Natural Farming covers 11.81 lakh hectares in 24,031 clusters, benefiting 24.69 lakh farmers, with a Rs 4,000 per‑acre incentive. Evaluation by NITI Aayog reports high farmer‑reported improvements in water use efficiency, fertilizer efficiency, soil health, and reduced input costs across these schemes. The Central Ground Water Board’s 2026 pre‑monsoon assessment shows 87.8 % of 9,085 wells in the normal category, indicating stable groundwater conditions.

Union Minister of State Dr. Jitendra Singh outlined an integrated roadmap for Odisha that links the Government’s Rare‑Earth Corridor, marine biotechnology, space capabilities and life‑science infrastructure. The meeting with Odisha Science & Technology Minister Shri Krushna Chandra Patra finalised the expansion of the Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneswar with an additional 50 acres from the state. A key focus is the Odisha Marine Biotechnology Research & Innovation Corridor (OMBRIC), which partners with IIT Bhubaneswar, NIT Rourkela, IISER Berhampur and others, and will be aligned with Earth Sciences, CSIR and the Department of Biotechnology. The roadmap also proposes a Space Research and Manufacturing Centre in PPP mode, and highlights Odisha’s role in the Rare‑Earth ecosystem and the Deep Ocean Mission.

In response to rising cloudbursts, flash floods, landslides and extreme rainfall in Himachal Pradesh, the Ministry of Home Affairs has set up a Multi‑Sectoral Central Team (MSCT). The team includes experts from NDMA, CBRI Roorkee, IITM Pune, IIT Indore and inputs from IMD, CWC and GSI. It is tasked with scientific assessment of the causes of extreme weather events, analysis of geography and ground conditions of the worst‑affected zones, data compilation from various agencies and formulation of long‑term mitigation measures. The MSCT’s findings attribute increasing intensity and frequency of extreme rainfall in the Himalayas to climate change, accelerated snowmelt, moraine instability and anthropogenic factors, as highlighted by Minister of State Shri Nityanand Rai.

The Ministry of Panchayati Raj released a National Study Report (30 June 2026) on low participation in Gram Sabha meetings, identifying factors such as livelihood constraints, weak awareness, poor communication, limited grievance responsiveness, and absence of officials. The report also notes gender‑specific barriers like household duties, social hesitation and male dominance. To address these issues, the Ministry has issued advisories and launched several initiatives: the Revamped Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) for capacity‑building of elected representatives, the Shashkta Panchayat Netri Abhiyan training module for women representatives, the Model Youth Gram Sabha (MYGS) in schools, and the People’s Plan Campaign for participatory planning. Digital tools under the e‑Panchayat Mission Mode Project – eGramSwaraj and Panchayat NIRNAY – are being deployed to improve transparency and management of Gram Sabha meetings. The information was provided by Union Minister Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh in a Lok Sabha reply on 11 August 2026.

An independent impact evaluation by the National Productivity Council covered Sagarmala projects across port modernization, connectivity, coastal community development and inland waterways, noting no projects sanctioned under the port‑led industrialisation pillar. In FY 2025‑26, cargo movement on National Waterways reached 218 million mt. The government approved a 35 % incentive scheme (Jalvahak) for cargo owners and scheduled services on NW‑1, NW‑2 and NW‑16 under the Indo‑Bangladesh Protocol. Major ports reduced average turnaround time to 48.84 hours (2025‑26) from 52.87 hours (2021‑22). The Union Budget 2026‑27 announced a Coastal Cargo Promotion Scheme aiming to raise the combined modal share of coastal shipping and inland waterways from 6 % to 12 % by 2047, and earmarked development of National Waterway‑5 in Odisha. Extensions of the tonnage‑tax scheme and new regulations for private investment in inland‑waterway terminals were also highlighted.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has established the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) as an attached office to handle cyber crimes comprehensively. Under I4C, the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP) and the ‘Sahyog’ portal have been launched to facilitate reporting and notice issuance to IT intermediaries. By 30 June 2026, 3,718 mobile apps, including fraudulent loan apps, were blocked under the IT Act. The Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System (CFCFRMS) saved over Rs 11,158 crore across 32.80 lakh complaints. Additionally, more than 15.75 lakh SIM cards and 5.77 lakh IMEIs have been blocked, and extensive awareness campaigns have been undertaken.

The Ministry of New & Renewable Energy reports that under the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM), the SIGHT (Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition) Mode‑2B scheme has awarded a total green‑hydrogen production capacity of 30 KTPA to four refineries – Indian Oil Corp. (Panipat, 10 KTPA), Bharat Petroleum (Bina, 5 KTPA), Hindustan Petroleum (Vizag, 5 KTPA) and Numaligarh Refineries (10 KTPA). The projects will be executed on a BOO (Build‑Own‑Operate) basis by private developers. The Union Minister of State for New & Renewable Energy, Shri Shripad Yesso Naik, stated that domestic green‑hydrogen production is expected to cut imported fossil‑fuel dependence, boost energy security and advance India’s clean‑energy and net‑zero goals.

The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying has drafted a guidance document, in consultation with MPEDA, EIC and NFDB, to boost inland fisheries exports by enhancing quality assurance, traceability, post‑harvest management and market access. Under PMMSY and the Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund, the Department approved projects worth ₹2,797 crore for cold‑chain and marketing infrastructure, including 775 cold storages, 28,489 transport units and numerous retail and wholesale markets. A pilot project funded at ₹116.85 lakh is testing drone‑based transport of live fish (up to 100 kg over ~10 km). An MoU with ONDC aims to create a digital marketplace for fisheries stakeholders. The government is also leveraging FTAs and trade fairs to expand market access for inland seafood products.

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has launched the National‑level Network Program on Precision Agriculture (ICAR‑NePPA) involving 16 ICAR institutes. The programme develops and validates AI, IoT, sensor, drone and satellite‑based technologies for crop, soil, post‑harvest, aquaculture and livestock management. Demonstrated interventions include sensor‑based irrigation, drone spraying, AI‑driven decision support tools, precision shrimp farming (120‑150 t/ha/yr), smart micro‑irrigation, hydroponics, agrivoltaic farming and AI‑enabled disease‑early‑warning systems. Field demonstrations have covered over 41,000 ha, benefitting more than 4.5 lakh farmers, and have shown gains in productivity, farmer income, water‑use efficiency and reduced CO₂ emissions.

The Ministry of Cooperation, through the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC), is implementing several women‑focused schemes – Swayam Shakti Sahakar Yojna, Nandini Sahakar and Yuva Sahakar Yojana – to strengthen cooperative infrastructure and empower women‑led SHGs across India. Financial assistance under these schemes is fully funded by NCDC, with disbursements of ₹0.44 crore in FY 2023‑24 and ₹190.16 crore in FY 2025‑26 for Rajasthan. Concurrently, the Ministry is digitising the cooperative sector via the Computerisation of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (₹2,925.39 crore outlay), Registrar of Cooperative Societies, and Agriculture & Rural Development Banks, and has launched the National Cooperative Database (NCD) portal 3.0 and GeoTag mobile app to improve data transparency and governance.

India’s textile and apparel exports (including handicrafts) grew at a compound annual growth rate of about 4.5% from 2019‑20 (₹2,49,250 cr) to 2025‑26 (₹3,25,339 cr). Export value rose 1.8% in 2025‑26 over the previous year, with growth recorded in more than 100 destinations. The top exporting districts in 2025‑26 were Tiruppur (₹38,677 cr), Gautam Buddha Nagar (₹21,095 cr) and Bengaluru Urban (₹16,205 cr). The government has extended customs‑duty exemptions on cotton and key man‑made fibre inputs, rationalised GST rates, and continued schemes such as PM MITRA parks, PLI for textiles, and the Tex‑Eco Initiative to promote circular economy and ESG standards. Export‑promotion measures include the RODTEP, RoSCTL, and RELIEF schemes, alongside a market‑diversification strategy covering 40 priority countries and 16 FTAs.

The Ministry of Textiles announced the PM MITRA Parks scheme with an outlay of Rs 4,445 crore for 2021‑22 to 2027‑28 to create integrated textile manufacturing hubs in seven states – Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra. The scheme follows a ‘5F’ vision (Farm‑to‑Fibre‑to‑Factory‑to‑Fashion‑to‑Foreign) and aims to develop the complete textile value‑chain from spinning to garmenting. MoUs have been signed with all states, 100 % land acquired, environmental clearances obtained, and SPVs formed for the five greenfield sites. DPRs worth Rs 13,537 crore have been finalised, and investment interest of Rs 68,590 crore has been received. Core infrastructure works worth Rs 1,720 crore have begun, with Rs 524 crore spent so far.

The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, has built a Roll‑on‑Roll‑off (Ro‑Ro) terminal at Muktyala on National Waterway‑4 (Krishna River) and handed over four floating jetties to the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation for tourism. A Ro‑Ro terminal project at Harishchandrapuram has been awarded. Funds allocated to NW‑4 rose from Rs 0.67 crore (2023‑24) to Rs 1.22 crore (2024‑25) and Rs 18.28 crore (2025‑26). In 2025‑26, cargo movement on NW‑4 was 5.71 million tonnes and passenger movement 2.34 million. Development is constrained by water‑depth dependence on Pulichintala Dam releases, low‑level bridges, old locks and encroachments, and land transfer of 3.80 acres at Ibrahimpatnam is in progress.

On 5 August 2026, the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) and the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) signed a Memorandum of Understanding at Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi. The MoU aims to accelerate the commercialisation and global market access of India’s Geographical Indication (GI) products by integrating GI collectives onto the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) and the Government e‑Marketplace (GeM) under a “Bharat GI” banner, and by co‑sponsoring GI pavilions at trade expos. The agreement aligns DPIIT’s IP‑protection mandate with MSME’s enterprise‑development mandate, seeking to enhance livelihoods of artisans, strengthen the One District One Product (ODOP) ecosystem, and promote capacity‑building and digital enablement for export‑ready GI enterprises.

The Union Budget 2026‑27 announced the Container Manufacturing Assistance Scheme (CMAS) with a ₹10,000 crore outlay over five years to develop a domestic container manufacturing ecosystem. The scheme aims to raise annual capacity to about 7.5 lakh TEUs – roughly ten times the current level – and to generate around 3,000 direct and 50,000 indirect jobs. It provides capital and operational support for greenfield and brownfield facilities, testing infrastructure, skilling and capacity‑building. CMAS is linked to broader maritime reforms such as the Bharat Container Shipping Line, PM Gati Shakti, the National Logistics Policy and the Sagarmala Programme, seeking to reduce reliance on the import of nearly 2 million empty containers per year and strengthen supply‑chain resilience.

The PM GatiShakti National Master Plan (PMGS NMP), launched in October 2021, is a ‘Whole of Government’ initiative that brings together central ministries, departments and all 36 states/UTs for integrated, data‑driven infrastructure planning and execution. The Network Planning Group (NPG) has evaluated 396 projects worth about ₹ 18.66 lakh crore; 256 have been sanctioned and 198 are under implementation. The platform, operational since September 2025, hosts ~1,800 data layers, 65 software modules and over 100 mobile/web applications, providing analytics to public and private users. Government assessments claim that integrated initiatives like PM GatiShakti have reduced logistics cost to 7.9 % of GDP and boosted manufacturing competitiveness.

The Ministry of AYUSH implements an Information Education and Communication (IEC) scheme to promote AYUSH systems, including Yoga and Naturopathy, through awareness activities such as National/State level Arogya Fairs, Yoga Fests/Utsavs and celebrations of International Day of Yoga (21 June) and Naturopathy Day (18 November). The scheme engages beneficiaries via physical participation and digital outreach on social media. Expenditure under the scheme for FY 2023‑24, 2024‑25 and 2025‑26 is detailed in Annexure‑I, covering costs for International Day of Yoga (₹24.16 cr, ₹16.45 cr, ₹57.38 cr), National Arogya Fair (₹3.60 cr, ₹0.90 cr, ₹1.80 cr), State Arogya Fair (₹0.35 cr, ₹1.02 cr, ₹0.70 cr), Yoga Parv/Fest (₹0 cr, ₹0.29 cr, ₹0.20 cr) and Naturopathy Day (₹1.33 cr, ₹0.23 cr, ₹0.60 cr). The information was provided by Union Minister of State (I/C) for AYUSH, Shri Prataprao Jadhav, in a written reply in Rajya Sabha.

The 392nd report of the Department‑related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture, chaired by Shri Sanjay Kumar Jha, proposes a suite of reforms to modernise India’s bus sector. Key proposals include replacing the All‑India Tourist Permit with an All‑India Passenger Permit linked electronically to VAHAN, FASTag and vehicle location data; establishing a National Bus Terminals Authority to separate terminal ownership from operations; creating a National Bus Digital Grid for live‑tracking, unified booking and GIS‑based performance metrics; instituting operator‑centric safety measures such as district‑wise automated testing stations and safety ratings; and launching a Fleet Transition Compact to promote electric buses through leasing, scrapping incentives and regional manufacturing clusters. The full report is available on the Rajya Sabha website.

The Sagarmala Startup and Innovation Initiative (S2I2) was launched on 19 March 2025 to create an innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem for India’s maritime sector. The Maritime India Foundation (MIF) is the implementing agency. Maritime Innovation Hubs have been set up at IIT Madras, IIT Bombay, IIT Kharagpur and the Indian Maritime University, Chennai, to support technology development and startup incubation. Under S2I2, the first maritime hackathon – MAR‑a‑THON 2025 – was held on 25 August 2025 at IIT Madras, followed by a boot‑camp on 16‑17 October 2025. The initiative attracted 330 startup applications for 51 problem statements across six thematic areas, leading to the selection of 36 startups for 40 projects. Visakhapatnam Port identified four problem statements, and two Andhra‑Pradesh startups have been onboarded to address them, as noted by the Union Minister in a Rajya Sabha reply.