Official releases, distilled into exam-ready intelligence.

The Department of Health Research – ICMR concluded the second edition of ICMR‑SHINE (Science & Health Innovation for the Nextgen Explorers) on 11‑12 August 2026. The outreach programme reached 83 locations in 31 States and Union Territories, taking mobile BSL‑3 laboratories to Nagpur and Gorakhpur and conducting live demonstrations, poster walks and BMI‑hygiene exercises for students of Classes 9‑12. ICMR also launched the SHINE website and announced a nationwide school competition on public‑health challenges, with applications open till 11 September 2026. Teachers welcomed the exposure and urged more frequent events, noting its role in fostering a scientific outlook for a ‘Swasth and Viksit Bharat’.

As of 10 August 2026, the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) 2.0 has issued Sujal Gaon IDs to 12,67,808 of the 16,96,213 rural habitations in India, covering 75 % of habitations across all States and Union Territories. The Sujal Gaon ID is a unique number assigned through the JJM digital platform to enable systematic identification, monitoring, reporting, tracking and verification of water‑supply service areas. Sujalam Bharat, a federated Digital Public Infrastructure, integrates these IDs with GIS‑validated mapping, geospatial data and the PM GatiShakti platform, providing end‑to‑end source‑to‑tap visibility, asset tracking and lifecycle management of Rural Piped Water Supply Schemes. The Minister of State for Jal Shakti, Shri V. Somanna, disclosed these figures in a Lok Sabha reply.

As on 07‑08‑2026, the Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) Phase II reports that 5,63,809 of the 5,86,944 villages (≈96 %) have liquid waste management (LWM) arrangements. The programme, launched on 1 April 2020, targets ODF Plus villages through solid‑and‑liquid waste management (SLWM) and visual cleanliness. States/UTs have reported 42,98,194 community GWM assets, including soak‑pits, leach‑pits, magic‑pits, drainage facilities and treatment systems such as DEWATS and phytorid technology. Financial support of up to Rs 280 per capita (villages ≤5,000) and Rs 660 per capita (villages >5,000) is provided by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, supplemented by State funds and other sources.

The Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, approved additional financial allocations for Rajasthan (Rs 340.59 crore) and Telangana (Rs 265.12 crore) under the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (PM‑RKVY) and the Krishonnati Yojana (KY). The approvals follow a review of each state’s annual action plans, first Mother Sanctions, and expenditure progress. Rajasthan’s allocation comprises Rs 216.12 crore (RKVY) and Rs 124.47 crore (KY); Telangana’s comprises Rs 157.66 crore (RKVY) and Rs 107.46 crore (KY). The minister highlighted Telangana’s new Farmer‑ID and fertiliser distribution model, urged greater focus on Kisan Credit Cards in Rajasthan, and called for monitoring of oilseeds and pulses missions.

The Vice President and Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan, met the Kenyan Parliamentary Delegation led by Speaker Moses M. Wetang’ula. He underscored the close parliamentary ties and offered India’s experience in digital technology for a paper‑less Parliament. The Vice‑President cited development partnership projects such as the refurbishment of the Mahatma Gandhi Graduate Library in Nairobi and CT‑scan infrastructure at the Kenyan Navy Base, as well as India’s assistance during the Ebola outbreak. He highlighted capacity‑building support through around 400 scholarships, training for 20 Kenyan diplomats, and an increase in ICCR scholarships to 100 per year. The meeting also touched on Kenya’s support for India’s UN Security Council candidature and the prospect of Kenya joining the International Solar Alliance and International Big Cat Alliance.

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs reviewed the Phase‑I implementation of the Adi Karmayogi Abhiyan, noting the establishment of a nationwide community‑based capacity‑building framework aimed at strengthening last‑mile governance in tribal areas. Approximately 15 lakh Adi Karmayogis have been mobilised through a cascading training architecture, with over 210 State Master Trainers, 2,200 District Master Trainers and 11,000 Block Master Trainers developed. The programme has set up 56,422 Adi Sewa Kendras (ASKs) and 4,03,306 Adi Sahyogis, and approved 62,187 Tribal Village Vision 2030 plans through Gram Sabhas, thereby institutionalising participatory decision‑making at the village level.

The Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs, Shri Durgadas Uikey, informed that the Department of Telecommunications, via the Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN), has approved mobile projects to provide 4G connectivity in uncovered tribal villages. In the Sasaram Lok Sabha constituency (Kaimur and Rohtas districts, Bihar), 75 towers were planned in Kaimur (24 in Rohtas); as of 30 June 2026, 71 and 22 towers respectively were on‑air, covering 122 villages in Kaimur and 27 in Rohtas. Funds disbursed under the DBN‑DAPST scheme from 2021‑22 to 2025‑26 totalled ₹2,183.10 crore, with Bihar receiving ₹99.43 crore. The 4G coverage status shows 1684 of 1692 villages in Kaimur and 2068 of 2072 villages in Rohtas are covered, leaving 12 villages uncovered. The constituency has 4,377 4G and 1,110 5G base transceiver stations. The government aims to achieve telecom saturation in underserved tribal areas under the PM‑JANMAN mission, monitored through MIS dashboards and field‑level reviews.

The Ministry of Culture reports that 3,688 ancient monuments and archaeological sites are declared of national importance, of which 414 have reported encroachments. Under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) does not need to acquire land to protect a monument but takes action against unauthorised activities. ASI has completed survey, geo‑referencing and digitisation of monument boundaries and uploaded the data on the Bhuvan portal, coordinating with state revenue officials to integrate this information with state land records. The figures are state‑wise, with Tamil Nadu (72), Uttar Pradesh (78) and Karnataka (60) recording the highest encroachments.

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs is implementing the Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS) scheme to deliver quality education to tribal students while preserving local art and culture. EMRSs are set up in blocks with >50% ST population and at least 20,000 tribal persons (Census 2011). Nationwide, 728 EMRSs have been approved, of which 508 are functional. In West Bengal, 9 EMRSs have been approved and all are functional; none of the blocks in Alipurduar meet the criteria. The autonomous National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS) oversees policy and implementation, with State Societies and District Committees handling local administration. District‑wise enrolment for 2025‑26 totals 3,152 students across the nine functional schools.

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs runs five central scholarship schemes for Scheduled Tribe (ST) students – Pre‑Matric (Class IX‑X) and Post‑Matric (Class XI and above) with an annual family income ceiling of Rs 2.50 lakhs; National Scholarship for Higher Education (Top Class) and National Overseas Scholarship with a ceiling of Rs 6.00 lakhs; and National Fellowship for Higher Education (NFST) with no income limit. The National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation (NSTFDC) offers concessional loans to ST persons whose annual family income does not exceed Rs 3 lakhs. Kerala’s own Pre‑Matric and Post‑Matric scholarships have no income ceiling. Housing assistance for PVTGs is provided under PM JANMAN/PMAY‑G (no income limit) and Kerala’s LIFE Mission (income ceiling Rs 3 lakhs). The Expenditure Finance Commission is reviewing the income limits for continuation of these schemes for FY 2026‑27 to 2030‑31.

The INSPIRE Programme of the Ministry of Science & Technology, covering four components – INSPIRE‑MANAK, INSPIRE‑SHE, INSPIRE Fellowship and INSPIRE Faculty Fellowship – has supported a growing number of students and young researchers over the last five years. INSPIRE‑MANAK benefitted 52,720 students in 2021‑22, 43,381 in 2022‑23, 46,926 in 2023‑24, 50,009 in 2024‑25 and 49,805 in 2025‑26. INSPIRE‑SHE awarded 12,000 scholarships annually, with beneficiaries ranging from 18,039 to 24,276 across the same period. INSPIRE Fellowship supported 2,768‑3,364 fellows annually, while INSPIRE Faculty Fellowship supported 474‑477 post‑doctoral fellows each year. The programme also emphasizes outreach to rural and remote districts through state‑level dissemination, exhibitions, and mentorship collaborations with premier institutions.

Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla met Rt. Hon. Dr. Moses M. Wetang'ula, Speaker of Kenya’s National Assembly, and highlighted the millennial‑old ties between India and Kenya. Kenya supports India’s bid for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council and has recognised Persons of Indian Origin as an indigenous community. Both speakers noted shared democratic values and the planned installation of a Mahatma Gandhi statue in Kenya’s Parliament. Birla cited India’s use of Artificial Intelligence in parliamentary functioning and offered to share this experience. He also referred to parliamentary friendship groups and PRIDE‑organised programmes for Kenyan legislators.

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs, through its Scholarship Division, runs five scholarship schemes for Scheduled Tribe (ST) students in Ladakh: Pre‑Matric (Class IX‑X), Post‑Matric (Class XI‑post‑Graduation), National Scholarship for Higher Education, National Fellowship for Higher Education, and National Overseas Scholarship. The first two are Centrally Sponsored Schemes implemented by the UT/State, with open‑ended eligibility for students whose parental income does not exceed Rs 2.5 lakh per annum; funds are released by the Ministry after state proposals and disbursed via DBT. The remaining three are Central Sector Schemes funded directly by the Ministry, with payments made to students or institutions through DBT or, for overseas scholarships, via the Ministry of External Affairs. Annexure‑I lists beneficiary numbers and funds released for Ladakh over the last five years.

A three‑day Multimedia Photo Exhibition (ICOP) was inaugurated on 13 August 2026 at the Bus Stand, Bhandara, by District Collector Shri Sawan Kumar, IAS. Organized by the Central Bureau of Communication (CBC), Field Office, Nagpur, under the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, the exhibition runs until 15 August and displays multimedia content, photographs and outreach activities on the Government’s 12‑year achievements, the VB‑GRAMG initiative and the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign. Field Publicity Officer Shri Saurabh Khekde briefed attendees, while Deputy Collector Dr Prashant Padghan and other officials were present. Cultural performances by the CBC’s PRT troupe and stalls on VB‑GRAMG, Self‑Help Groups and Health Department initiatives were also featured.

The Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs informed Parliament that the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) examines complaints of rights deprivation, including the displacement of Scheduled Tribes from tiger reserves. Relocation of villages from core tiger habitats is voluntary under Section 38 V(5) of the Wildlife (Protection) Act 2006 and Section 4(2) of the Forest Rights Act 2006, guided by the National Tiger Conservation Authority’s 2012 guidelines. State governments and UT administrations implement relocation through District‑Level Committees, offering a rehabilitation package that was increased from ₹10 lakh to ₹15 lakh per family in 2021. The process requires Gram Sabha consent, and no reports of involuntary relocation have been received by monitoring committees.

The Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs reported the status of interventions under PM JANMAN in West Bengal as of 30 June 2026. In the state, 418 houses were sanctioned, 86 completed; 16 km of roads sanctioned, with no completions reported. MoP (RDSS) recorded 3,372 houses sanctioned and electrified. In Purulia district, 5 villages were sanctioned (none saturated), 3 MMUs were operational, and 1 VDVK was sanctioned (no business started). Under the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan, projects worth ₹12,574.70 lakhs were approved, including 204 classrooms (₹2,417.3 lakhs), one hostel renovation (₹39.99 lakhs) and one Tribal Multi‑Purpose Marketing Centre (₹100 lakhs). The state has identified 495 PVTG habitations across 4 districts, covering 19,991 households (68,720 people), and surveyed 18,173 PVTG households. Funding allocation and proposal submission remain the responsibility of the West Bengal government.

The Chairman’s valedictory remarks on the conclusion of the 271st Rajya Sabha session note that the House functioned for only 37 hours 49 minutes, achieving a productivity of 39.17 per cent. Despite frequent disruptions, 12 Bills were considered and either passed or returned. Members raised 285 Starred Questions, 380 Zero‑Hour submissions and 380 Special Mentions, of which only 16 Questions, 52 Zero‑Hour submissions and 93 Special Mentions were taken up. The session featured a two‑day orientation programme for 35 newly elected/nominated members and the introduction of ‘Vani Setu’ AI‑based translation and the ‘Sadasya Setu’ mobile app for attendance and other parliamentary transactions.

The Department of Space reports that, according to the DPIIT Start‑up India Portal, 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, listing firms such as Agnikul Cosmos, Skyroot Aerospace and Pixxel Space. Year‑wise facilitation (2022‑2026) includes testing services, launch‑slot access and hardware support for these startups. Funding data (as of 31‑July‑2026) show cumulative allocations of Rs 214,000 Lakhs across schemes like the IN‑SPACe Seed Fund, Venture Capital Funds, Technology Adoption Fund, SBAAS and Common Technical Facilities. IN‑SPACe also operates a digital single‑window platform for authorisation, funding, mentorship and access to ISRO/IN‑SPACe facilities.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation organised a Tiranga Rally on 13 August 2026 as part of the Independence Day celebrations under the Har Ghar Tiranga Campaign 2026. Union Civil Aviation Minister Shri Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, joined by Minister of State Shri Murlidhar Mohol, Secretary Shri Samir Kumar Sinha and senior aviation officials, inaugurated a Digital Video Wall, led a procession from Udaan Bhawan to Aviation Park, and concluded with the National Anthem. Officers, staff of the Ministry, its attached and subordinate offices, PSUs and autonomous bodies participated, carrying the national flag to promote the campaign’s aim of encouraging citizens to display the flag and foster national unity and pride.

The Ministry of Earth Sciences is implementing Mission Mausam, a Central Sector scheme launched by the Prime Minister on 14 January 2025, to make India a “Weather‑ready and Climate‑smart Nation”. The Union Cabinet approved the mission in 2024 with a budget of ₹2,000 crore for 2024‑25 and 2025‑26, and the 2026‑27 estimate is ₹1,342.29 crore (₹855.29 crore revenue, ₹487.00 crore capital). The scheme seeks to upgrade weather‑surveillance technologies, high‑resolution observations, next‑generation radars, satellites, AI/ML‑driven modelling, high‑performance computing and decision‑support systems. For 2026‑31 it will be executed through six verticals (OBSERVE_ALL, DEVELOP, Weather_MOD, ATCOMP, FRONTIER, NEAT). Expected outcomes include more accurate, timely, location‑specific forecasts and early warnings for cyclones, floods, heatwaves, etc., benefiting agriculture, fisheries, aviation, disaster management and the broader economy.