Official releases, distilled into exam-ready intelligence.

The Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA), under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, together with the National e‑Governance Division (NeGD), held a stakeholder engagement session with Companies’ Nodal Officers to demonstrate the Integrated IEPFA Portal 2.0. The session showcased new digital features – KYC integration, pre‑filled Form IEPF‑5, entitlement search, a three‑step e‑Verification Report (EVR) workflow and provisions for Rule 7(3) delay fees – and outlined the rollout timeline (UAT in August 2026, training in September, pilot in October, launch in November 2026). Participants suggested enhancements such as Aadhaar eKYC address validation, bulk DSC/eSign, and automated fraud alerts, which were forwarded to the NeGD team for consideration.

The Ministry of AYUSH monitors the implementation of the National AYUSH Mission (NAM) in tribal and rural areas, although public health is a State subject. Monitoring mechanisms include periodic collection of physical and financial data from States/UTs, field visits by central teams, regional review meetings chaired by the Minister/Secretary, one‑to‑one State reviews, and a mid‑term evaluation by NITI Aayog through a third‑party. Under NAM, States can propose the establishment of 50/30/10‑bed integrated AYUSH hospitals and new dispensaries, with funding routed via the State Annual Action Plan. The annexure lists allocations and expenditures for various AYUSH schemes from 2023‑24 to 2025‑26, e.g., National AYUSH Mission allocated Rs 1,200 crore (BE) in 2023‑24, with actual spend of Rs 869.30 crore in 2025‑26.

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) conducted three intelligence‑driven operations along India’s North‑Eastern frontier, seizing 15 kg of methamphetamine tablets, about 11 metric tonnes of foreign‑origin poppy seeds and 10 metric tonnes of foreign‑origin areca nuts smuggled from Myanmar. The methamphetamine was intercepted in an ambulance near Aizawl, the poppy seeds were recovered from a godown in Badarpur, Assam, and the areca nuts were seized from a train at Rangia Railway Station. All contraband were confiscated under the NDPS Act, 1985 or the Customs Act, 1962, and three persons were arrested. The poppy seeds were valued at roughly Rs 1.67 crore and the areca nuts at Rs 1 crore, underscoring revenue loss and the challenge of illicit cross‑border trade.

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways reports that the Government has launched several policy and promotional measures for the Inland Water Transport (IWT) sector, including the National Waterways (Construction of Jetties/Terminals) Regulation 2025, the Jalvahak scheme and extension of tonnage‑tax benefits, alongside development of multi‑modal and inter‑modal terminals, jetties and fairway maintenance. Annexure‑I lists 27 projects on National Waterway‑1 covering multimodal terminals, community jetties, ship‑repair facilities, river‑cruise terminals, freight villages, quick‑pontoon mechanisms and fairway development in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal, with costs ranging from ₹2.60 crore to ₹76220 crore. Annexure‑II and III detail completed and ongoing projects in the North‑Eastern Region and other waterways, including high‑level jetties, cargo‑cum‑tourist terminals, and concrete pontoon terminals across Assam, Tripura, Goa, Gujarat, Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka, Odisha, Kerala and West Bengal.

The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for AYUSH, Shri Prataprao Jadhav, chaired the 2nd Governing Body Meeting of the National Institute of Sowa‑Rigpa (NISR) in New Delhi. He outlined a roadmap to strengthen Sowa‑Rigpa through scientific research, establishment of an independent research council, promotion of international standards, and expansion beyond the Indian Himalayan Region. The Minister emphasized digitising and translating hundreds of Bhoti manuscripts, conserving rare medicinal plants, and fostering bio‑prospecting and agroforestry with Himalayan communities. The Ministry reaffirmed support for NISR’s role in education, clinical services, research, and capacity building, and congratulated Director Dr Padma Gurmet on receiving the Padma Shri in 2026.

The Ministry of Ayush, in coordination with the Ministry of Tourism, is promoting Ayush‑based medical and wellness tourism through a National Strategy and a dedicated Ayush Visa introduced on 27 July 2023. Two Medical Value Travel Summits have been held (Mumbai, 30 Sept 2024; Chennai, 26 May 2025) to strengthen India’s position in this sector. Kerala hosts several research institutes under CCRH, CCRAS, CCRUM, and CCRS, conducting projects on medicinal plants, Panchakarma, and clinical validation of traditional medicines. Under the National Ayush Mission, Kerala receives recurring and non‑recurring grants for medicines, infrastructure, and human resources. Central sector schemes such as the Conservation, Development and Sustainable Management of Medicinal Plants and Ayurswasthya Yojana have funded research projects and Centres of Excellence in the state.

The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, invoking the Policy Guidelines for Community Radio Stations (CRS), has urged Chief Secretaries and Disaster Management Departments to promote new CRS in flood‑prone, coastal and other disaster‑vulnerable areas. The central‑sector scheme “Supporting Community Radio Movement in India”, continued for 2026‑27 to 2030‑31 with a ₹50 crore outlay, aims to strengthen CRS by funding equipment such as UPS, generators and solar systems. An Emergency Grant of ₹11.50 lakh is available to operational CRS affected by floods, earthquakes, lightning or similar natural disasters. The Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting communicated this in response to a Rajya Sabha question.

Union Environment Minister Shri Bhupender Yadav attended Haryana’s 77th Van Mahotsav in Manesar, where he praised the state’s efforts to make Gurugram a green city and highlighted implementation of Centre‑recommended measures such as solid‑waste rules for housing societies, installation of Online Continuous Emission Monitoring Systems (OCEMS) and Air Pollution Control Devices (APCDs), smart traffic management and greening activities. He noted a recent review of Haryana’s air‑quality situation and commended the state’s progress. Chief Minister Shri Nayab Singh Saini reiterated the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ initiative, setting a target of 1.4 crore trees for the year, and reported district‑level Van Mahotsav programmes across all districts, along with the launch of two publications and awards for environmental competitions.

The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) of the Ministry of Home Affairs reports a sharp rise in WhatsApp‑account takeover scams targeting chartered accountants, company directors, CFOs and finance teams. Fraudsters circulate zip files named “Statement of Account.zip”, “RBI.zip” or “MCA.zip” via WhatsApp, SMS or e‑mail; the archives contain a malicious Windows executable and DLL that install a Trojan, hijack the victim’s WhatsApp Web session and propagate the file to contacts. The compromised senior‑executive accounts are then used to instruct finance staff to transfer funds to mule accounts – a scheme dubbed the “Boss Scam”. I4C has intimated over 58,000 potential victims, protected more than 10,000 Indians through geo‑blocking, and shared threat indicators with CERT‑In, Microsoft and Indian anti‑virus firms. It advises organisations to verify urgent fund‑transfer requests and to enforce strict software‑restriction policies.

The Scan and Register service, part of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, has crossed 25 crore OPD registrations since its launch in October 2022. It operates in 30,800 healthcare facilities across 36 states and Union Territories, covering 24,323 public and 6,481 private centres. On average, nearly 4 lakh patients use the QR‑code based service daily, cutting registration waiting times and enhancing operational efficiency. Bihar leads with over 7.30 crore transactions, while AIIMS New Delhi records the highest government‑facility registrations at 54.29 lakh. The milestone underscores expanding citizen trust and the growing adoption of ABHA‑enabled digital health solutions.

The Ministry of AYUSH has launched multiple schemes to boost the production, quality, research, marketing and global acceptance of AYUSH medicines. Key initiatives include the Ayush Oushadhi Gunvatta Evam Uttpadan Samvardhan Yojana (AOGUSY) for quality assurance, GMP compliance and capacity building; the AYURGYAN Scheme for evidence‑based research and higher education; the Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine & Homoeopathy (PCIM&H) for pharmacopoeial standards; the International Cooperation Scheme for export promotion and academic chairs abroad; and the Ayush Export Promotion Council (Ayushexcil) for facilitating exports through exhibitions and digital platforms. A three‑tier Pharmacovigilance network and an online portal “Ayush Suraksha” have been set up to monitor adverse drug reactions and misleading advertisements.

The Government, through the Ministry of Science & Technology, reaffirmed that the Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund is governed by a robust institutional framework that emphasizes transparency, merit‑based evaluation and strict conflict‑of‑interest (COI) safeguards. Senior officials from the Department of Science and Technology, Technology Development Board (TDB) and Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) explained that project approvals are made by an Investment Committee of independent external experts, with decisions requiring a super‑majority and members recusing themselves where a conflict exists. The COI guidelines mandate full disclosure of interests and prohibit members from participating in proposals where they have a stake. The Fund provides soft‑loan assistance linked to specific technology projects, mobilising private investment while maintaining financial discipline.

The Directorate General of Taxpayer Services (DGTS), Mumbai, in partnership with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Western Region, held a Seminar‑cum‑Webinar on 7 August 2026 titled “Impact of Geopolitics on our Trade – Import & Exports”. The event targeted exporters, importers, industry representatives and other stakeholders to raise awareness of how global geopolitical shifts, tariffs, sanctions and supply‑chain disruptions affect trade. Speakers highlighted the need for market diversification, continuous monitoring of geopolitical trends, and compliance with evolving trade regulations. The programme also underscored recent CBIC trade‑facilitation reforms such as integrated customs systems, e‑Bond, electronic bank guarantees and faceless assessment, and marked the 27th DGTS outreach initiative since April 2026.

The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting notified the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media, Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 on 25 February 2021 under the IT Act, 2000. Part III of the Rules mandates a Code of Ethics for digital news publishers and OTT platforms, requiring classification of content on themes such as violence, nudity, sex, language, drug and substance abuse, horror and specifically liquor, smoking and tobacco, as detailed in Part II of the Schedule. Violations are addressed through a three‑tier grievance redressal mechanism, with complaints forwarded by the Ministry to the concerned OTT platform. An advisory dated 26 November 2024 reiterated compliance for content involving narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.

The Ministry of Railways reported that Indian Railways, which serves about 58 crore meals annually, received only 0.0008 % food‑quality complaints on average. In response to complaints over the past three years, IRCTC imposed fines totalling ₹5.13 crore, issued 54 show‑cause notices, terminated six contracts and debarred several licensees for food‑quality and hygiene violations. To strengthen food safety, the Railways have commissioned modern base kitchens, installed CCTV cameras, introduced QR codes on meal packets, deployed food‑safety supervisors, ensured mandatory FSSAI certification, and conduct regular surprise inspections and third‑party audits. The list of debarred licensees is available on the IRCTC website.

On 7 August 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted the nation on National Handloom Day, highlighting India’s rich handloom heritage and praising the skill, creativity and dedication of weavers and artisans. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting the handloom sector, describing it as an important pillar of rural empowerment, women‑led development and the vision of an Atmanirbhar Bharat. The Prime Minister urged citizens to share their favourite handloom products and GRWM videos on social media using the #NationalHandloomDay hashtag.

The Rajya Sabha’s Department‑related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice presented its 165th report on 7 August 2026, focusing on creating and developing institutional mechanisms for the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) ecosystem. The report reviews the performance of the India International Arbitration Centre (IIAC) and Delhi International Arbitration Centre (DIAC), recommends expanding arbitrator panels, improving infrastructure, enhancing outreach, and instituting regular performance reviews. It highlights the Mediation Act, 2023, urging mandatory pre‑institution mediation, faster establishment of the Mediation Council of India, and stronger monitoring. The Committee also suggests reforms for Lok Adalats and strengthening NALSA to improve access to justice.

The Ministry of AYUSH, through the National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), is implementing the Central Sector Scheme for Conservation, Development and Sustainable Management of Medicinal Plants across India, with a focus on Ladakh’s high‑altitude species such as seabuckthorn, rhodiola, artemisia and aconitum. The scheme supports infrastructure for quality planting material, IEC activities, post‑harvest management, marketing, and quality testing. NMPB has launched the “e‑CHARAK” mobile app and web portal to promote and market medicinal plants, providing fortnightly prices from 25 herbal markets, including Ladakh. The State Medicinal Plant Board, UT Ladakh, conducts training, seminars and buyer‑seller meets, while a Centre of Excellence for seabuckthorn has been established at Nimoo, Leh with Rs 789.33 lakh funding, technical support from DRDO‑DIHAR, and facilities for research, demonstration, and capacity‑building. Over the last five years, the Ministry has released Rs 705.11 lakh for Ladakh projects, of which Rs 534.24 lakh has been utilized.

The Ministry of Railways reports that freight loading rose from 1,098 MT in 2014‑15 to 1,670 MT in 2025‑26, making Indian Railways the world’s second‑largest freight carrier. Key drivers include the Gati Shakti Multi‑Modal Cargo Terminal (GCT) policy – 142 GCTs commissioned with a handling capacity of 224 MTPA and private investment of about ₹10,000 crore – and the operation of two Dedicated Freight Corridors (EDFC and WDFC), which together handle about 443 trains daily. Additional measures comprise wagon investment schemes (≈275 special‑purpose and 397 general‑purpose rakes) and the Joint Parcel Product‑Rapid Cargo Service scheme. Infrastructure expansion over the last 12 years added 36,429 km of new track (8.32 km/day) and sanctioned 514 projects covering 40,000 km at an estimated cost of ₹8.31 lakh crore.

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has expanded the "Source from India" service on the Trade Connect ePlatform to include DPIIT‑recognised start‑ups. Effective 6 August 2026, eligible start‑ups can create dedicated digital microsites marked with a unique "Start‑up Badge" for visibility to overseas buyers. A special onboarding provision allows start‑ups with a valid Import Export Code (IEC) not listed in the Denied Entity List to join even if they do not meet the usual export performance criteria, subject to DGFT IEC database verification. The move aims to boost innovation‑led exports, diversify India’s export basket and position the country as a global hub for entrepreneurship.