Official releases, distilled into exam-ready intelligence.

The Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs, Shri Durgadas Uikey, told the Lok Sabha that Bundwan block in Purulia district, West Bengal, is the only block that meets the prescribed criteria for setting up an Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS). The State Government has identified land for the school. The EMRS in Kalimpong is currently operating in an alternate building, with construction of a permanent structure underway. A total of Rs 20.91 crore has been approved for the Kalimpong EMRS, of which Rs 9.96 crore has already been released.

The Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs announced that 156 villages across 7 blocks in Chamba district, Himachal Pradesh have been identified for development under the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DAJGUA). The district has two Integrated Tribal Development Projects (ITDPs) – ITDP Bharmour (30 villages) and ITDP Pangi (48 villages). Funds approved amount to ₹551.11 lakh for Bharmour and ₹851.00 lakh for Pangi. Specific interventions include construction of classrooms, hostels, toilet blocks, repairs, a Tribal Multi‑Purpose Marketing Centre, and FRA, with total approved funds of ₹1,090.32 lakh. Year‑wise releases show ₹708.44 lakh in 2025‑26 and ₹381.88 lakh in 2026‑27, with none in 2023‑24 and 2024‑25.

The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying is implementing the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) with a ₹20,750 crore outlay to develop fishing harbours and fish landing centres (FLCs) on a 60:40 centre‑state cost‑sharing basis. Under PMMSY, the National Roll‑out Plan for the Vessel Communication and Support System (VCSS) has been approved at a cost of ₹364 crore, aiming to install transponders in 1 lakh marine fishing vessels and launch the ‘Nabhmitra’ app, developed by ISRO, free for eligible fishermen. Of the 1,547 notified marine FLCs, 423 have been included in infrastructure development projects, selected based on vessel numbers, fisher dependence, landing volume and other techno‑financial criteria. Security personnel and arrangements at FLCs are coordinated by state/UT administrations with law‑enforcement agencies.

The Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas stated that the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) programme’s rollout of the E20 blend was carried out after scientific validation and extensive stakeholder consultation involving NITI Aayog, automobile manufacturers, OMCs, ARAI, SIAM, IIP and other technical bodies. Laboratory studies and field trials by these agencies examined engine durability, drivability, startability, corrosion resistance, material compatibility, emissions and fuel efficiency, concluding that E20 is safe for legacy vehicles. The government cited large‑scale experience – about 8 crore vehicles daily, with over 20 crore two‑wheelers and 3 crore cars operating on E15‑E20 blends for more than two years – without evidence of widespread engine failure or abnormal wear. Manufacturers continue to honour warranties for vehicles using E20, reinforcing confidence in its safety and reliability.

The Ministry of Textiles will inaugurate the Centre of Excellence for Handloom Technology (CoE-HT) at IIT Delhi on 3 August 2026, with Union Minister Shri Giriraj Singh presiding. Funded with a Government of India investment of ₹11.99 crore, the centre aims to integrate handloom heritage with research, innovation and digital technologies. Over five years it will create a national digital repository, develop AI‑enabled tools, modernise looms, facilitate patents, incubate startups and train weavers and faculty. The launch will also unveil five flagship initiatives—Handloom 4.0, Handloom e‑Vidya, HandloomX, Kalagriha Handloom Studio, and Threads of Valour—targeting productivity, sustainability, entrepreneurship and circularity.

The Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs, Shri Durgadas Uikey, stated in Lok Sabha that the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM‑JANMAN) was launched on 15 November 2023 to improve socio‑economic conditions of the 75 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) communities across 18 states and one Union Territory. The mission targets basic amenities such as housing, drinking water, education, health, nutrition, road and telecom connectivity, electrification and livelihood opportunities through 11 interventions coordinated by nine line ministries. As of 30 June 2026, state‑wise data (Annexure I) show cumulative sanctions of 482,554 houses, 305,860 km of roads, 7,991.93 km of other works and 18,756 AWCs, among other metrics. A habitation‑level survey using the PM Gati Shakti mobile app has been undertaken to capture PVTG population and infrastructure gaps (Annexure II).

Rear Admiral Srinivas Maddula, VSM, took over as Commander of the Indian Navy’s Western Fleet on 27 July 2026, succeeding Vice Admiral Vivek Dahiya, NM. He was commissioned on 1 January 1994 and is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, the U.S. Marine Corps Command and Staff College, and the Naval War College, Goa. His sea‑and‑shore postings include command of INS T‑80, INS Nipat, INS Godavari, INS Ganga, INS Trikand and the depot ship INS Kadamba. Earlier, he served as Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Foreign Cooperation and Intelligence) and as Flag Officer Sea Training in the Southern Naval Command, Kochi.

On 28 July 2026, the Anti‑Evasion Wing of the Central GST Commissionerate, Kolhapur, conducted simultaneous search and inspection operations on seven prominent builders and developers in Kolhapur. The raids, prompted by data‑analytics‑driven risk assessments, uncovered widespread non‑compliance with GST provisions, including ineligible availing and non‑reversal of Input Tax Credit, violation of procurement norms (minimum 80% of inputs and 100% of cement from registered suppliers), short payment of tax on construction services, and wrongful use of ITC to settle outward tax liabilities. Financial records, purchase registers, sales ledgers and digital evidence were seized, and the total quantum of evaded tax is being quantified. The Commissionerate reiterated its commitment to strict anti‑evasion measures and a level playing field for compliant taxpayers.

The Central Bureau of Investigation, in coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs and Maharashtra Police, secured the deportation of Red‑Notice subject Rahul Shamrao Kalokhe from Fiji to India on 30 July 2026. The fugitive was wanted for a large‑scale investment fraud involving false promises of high returns and misappropriation of investors’ money. After a Red Notice was issued via INTERPOL, the subject was located, arrested by Fijian authorities and escorted back to India. The release notes that, through such coordinated INTERPOL‑mediated efforts, more than 170 wanted criminals have been extradited to India in recent years.

The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying is implementing the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) with a total outlay of Rs 20,750 crore (FY 2020‑21 to date) for fisheries development across India, including Odisha. In Odisha, projects worth Rs 1,086.51 crore (central share Rs 416.84 crore) have been approved, and the Paradip Fishing Harbour is being modernised at a cost of Rs 108.91 crore. Under the Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF), 13 projects in the state have been approved with a total cost of Rs 784.32 crore, of which Rs 286.39 crore is eligible for up to 3 % interest subvention. The state’s Mukhyamantri Maschyajibi Kalyan Yojana provides a livelihood assistance of Rs 15,000 per marine fisher family during the annual turtle‑conservation ban. Additionally, Odisha has undertaken deep‑sea fishing promotion, cold‑chain infrastructure (1,178 units including ice plants, fish kiosks and refrigerated vehicles), and a shrimp export cell offering up to 30‑35 % subsidy for processing units.

The Department of Atomic Energy disclosed that India currently operates 24 nuclear power reactors with a combined installed capacity of 8,780 MW. Data supplied in response to a Rajya Sabha question shows unit‑wise generation (in million units) for the fiscal years 2019‑20 to 2023‑24. Except for KAPS‑4, which entered commercial operation in March 2024, the average plant load factor (PLF) of nuclear stations (excluding major refurbishment periods) has been higher than the average all‑India thermal PLF (excluding gas‑based plants), as per a CEA report. The information was provided by Union Minister of State Dr Jitendra Singh in a written reply to the Parliament.

The Ministry of Culture, through the National Mission on Libraries (NML) Scheme’s ‘Setting up of NML Model Libraries’ component, has sanctioned financial assistance to one State Central Library and one District Library in each State/UT, plus six libraries identified by the Ministry (Annexure‑A). The release provides year‑wise budget allocations, funds released and actual expenditures from FY 2016‑17 to FY 2025‑26, showing variations in allocations and spending. The Ministry notes that libraries are a state subject under the Seventh Schedule and function under the administrative control of respective State/UT authorities. This information was supplied by Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.

The Ministry of Culture reports that the Underwater Archaeology Wing of the Archaeological Survey of India is conducting research at Dwarka and Bet Dwarka (Gujarat), Mahabalipuram (Tamil Nadu) and Karaikal (Puducherry). Licences for underwater excavation have been granted to the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology (Poompuhar) and to the Marine Archaeology Centre, National Institute of Oceanography (Bet Dwarka, Chhari and Gangata Bet, Gujarat). Budget allocations show Rs 75.40 million (2025‑26) and Rs 66.50 million (2026‑27) for the Wing, with expenditures of Rs 74.91 million and Rs 25.64 million respectively; Tamil Nadu earmarks Rs 7 crore and NIO Rs 20 lakh. A focused training programme has been launched and sites slated for exploration up to 2030 include Dwarka, Bet Dwarka, Vijay Durg, Janjira, Karaikal and Mahabalipuram, as disclosed by Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in the Rajya Sabha.

The Department of Fisheries, under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), has approved twelve Integrated Aquaparks at a total cost of ₹713.80 crore. The Andhra Pradesh proposal for one such park was approved for ₹88.08 crore, covering components such as Seafood Processing, Shrimp, Marine Finfish, Crab, Seaweed and Ornamental Fish. For non‑beneficiary‑oriented activities, cost‑sharing is 90:10 (Centre:State) for North‑Eastern and Himalayan states, 60:40 for other states, and 100 % Centre funded for Union Territories. Additional measures include approval of 34 production clusters, 11 new and 11 upgraded fishing harbours, 23 modern fish landing centres, 284 deep‑sea vessels, 121 value‑added enterprises, and 18 private‑sector projects under the Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund. The NFDB has conducted 4,041 training programmes benefitting 1,75261 fishers nationwide.

The Blue Economy Strategy for Women in Coastal Fisheries, under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), earmarks women as a priority beneficiary. Women receive up to 60% government financial assistance for fisheries and aquaculture activities, compared with 40% for the general category. In Andhra Pradesh, the Andhra Pradesh Fishermen Cooperative Federation (AFCOF) has converted 66 women fisher‑workers’ cooperatives into Fish Farmer Producer Organisations (FFPOs), releasing ₹69,11,452 for management costs and equity grants to 10 FFPOs, and sanctioning a one‑time ₹90,000 grant to an FFPO in Nellore. The scheme also supports diversified activities such as deep‑sea fishing, seaweed cultivation, cage culture, and fish processing, aiming to enhance livelihood resilience for coastal women.

The Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance, launched India’s first sovereign‑backed Protection & Indemnity (P&I) insurance product under the Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool (BMIP) on 12 May 2026. Designed by New India Assurance, the product offers indemnity limits up to USD 1.5 billion and covers third‑party liabilities such as crew, cargo, pollution and wreck removal. Since operationalisation, war‑risk premium rates have fallen by about 35‑40% compared with peak levels during the West Asia conflict, and 1,608 cargo and hull war‑risk policies had been issued by 29 July 2026. The initiative aims to build domestic underwriting capacity, reduce reliance on foreign insurers and strengthen India’s maritime risk‑management framework.

The Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs, Shri Durgadas Uikey, stated that 728 Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs) have been approved nationwide, of which 508 are functional. In Bihar, 3 EMRSs are approved and 2 are functional. During 2025‑26, 43 new EMRSs were inaugurated to expand the network. To address staffing gaps, 9,111 teaching and non‑teaching staff have been recruited and examinations have been held for another 7,267 candidates. The Ministry highlighted infrastructure upgrades, modern classrooms, labs, and skill‑development programmes to improve education quality for Scheduled Tribe students.

The National Academy of Direct Taxes – Regional Campus (NADT‑RC), Mumbai has operationalised its Ministerial Staff Training Unit (MSTU) in Thane by launching the inaugural "Special Course on Grievance Redressal". The programme, inaugurated by Chief Commissioner of Income Tax, Thane, Dr. Sarita Mishra Kolhe, aims to enhance the capacity of Income Tax officials in handling taxpayer grievances. Senior officials, including Principal Commissioners of Income Tax‑1 and the Verification Unit‑1, attended the event. The MSTU will enable officials posted in Thane and nearby stations to receive regular, locally‑based training, thereby strengthening the department’s training ecosystem in the Pune region.

The Centre for Development of Telematics (C‑DOT), the Department of Telecommunications’ premier R&D centre, signed a tripartite agreement with the Foundation for Science Innovation and Development (FSID) and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, to set up a C‑DOT Centre of Excellence (CoE) at IISc. The CoE will focus on high‑impact research in wireless communications, quantum technologies, cybersecurity and AI‑driven communication systems, including emerging 5G Advanced/6G, massive MIMO, integrated sensing‑communication, AI‑native networks and post‑quantum communications. It aims to accelerate indigenous innovation, generate IP, support deep‑tech start‑ups and foster academia‑industry collaboration. This is C‑DOT’s fifth CoE, following similar partnerships with IITs Hyderabad, Kanpur, Gandhinagar and Roorkee.

The Ministry of Earth Sciences, via the India Meteorological Department (IMD), stated that El Nino events are classified as weak, moderate, strong or very strong based on sea‑surface‑temperature anomalies. For the 2026 southwest monsoon, IMD predicted El Nino development: conditions were weak in June 2026, rose to moderate in July 2026, and are expected to strengthen further in the October–December 2026 period, potentially reaching a very strong category. IMD continuously monitors ocean‑atmosphere conditions and issues seasonal, monthly, extended‑range forecasts and daily Impact‑Based Forecasts (IBFs) and risk‑based warnings for the next seven days to central and state governments and disaster‑management authorities. This information was provided by Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Earth Sciences Dr Jitendra Singh in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.