Official releases, distilled into exam-ready intelligence.

The Ministry of Finance issued a clarification regarding the strategic restructuring and disinvestment process of IDBI Bank. It details the framework followed by the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM), the role of the Core Group of Secretaries on Disinvestment (CGD) empowered by the Cabinet Committee of Economic Affairs (CCEA), and the valuation methodologies employed. The release addresses the bidding rounds, the use of independent valuation agencies, market multiple methods utilizing listed public sector banks as comparators, and the handling of the reserve price and financial bids.

The Ministry of Labour & Employment has announced that the Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) has extended the 'New Amnesty Scheme, 2025' from 01.10.2026 to 31.12.2026 following representations from stakeholders. The scheme serves as a one-time dispute resolution initiative designed to reduce court case backlogs and promote voluntary compliance under the erstwhile ESI Act. It allows employers to settle ad-hoc assessments by paying actual contributions and interest without damages, withdraw cases upon payment of 10 percent of disputed damages where dues are already paid, and withdraw cases filed for non-submission of records or delayed payments upon compliance and court permission. Court cases filed up to 31.03.2025 are eligible.

The Department of Science and Technology (DST) hosted a session on Autonomous Systems, Physical AI, and Robotics at the Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave (ESTIC) 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. DST Secretary Prof. Umesh V. Waghmare highlighted the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems, noting that technology innovation hubs have been established at 25 leading academic institutions, with Phase I scheduled to conclude in December 2027. Prof. Abhay Karandikar, Member, NITI Aayog, discussed Physical AI as a systems engineering challenge requiring reliability, safety, and trustworthiness, and mentioned stakeholder consultations considering a proposal for a Physical AI Mission.

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi is scheduled to release the 24th instalment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme from Banaskantha, Gujarat. Through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), more than Rs 18,690 crore will be transferred to over 9.34 crore eligible farmers. Alongside this, the Prime Minister will dedicate 521 units developed under the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund to strengthen agricultural storage and processing, and inaugurate 12 horticulture clusters to promote high-value crops and boost farmer incomes.

The Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has released the Sub-Sectoral Trial Index of Services Production (ISP) for August 2026, using 2024–25 as the base year. The data covers 19 sub-sectors including wholesale and retail trade, transport, accommodation, banking, insurance, IT, real estate, and professional services. Published on an experimental basis as a trial series, the index aims to help MoSPI examine data quality, test resilience, and gather stakeholder feedback.

The Union Minister for Education inaugurated the new Academic Building and Main Entrance Gate of the National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA) in New Delhi. During the inauguration, the Minister highlighted NIEPA's responsibilities in educational planning, research, and monitoring the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 by working closely with state governments. He emphasized shifting from rote learning to conceptual understanding and mentioned digital and financial support initiatives like the PM Vidyalaxmi Scheme, SWAYAM, and DIKSHA.

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah spoke with the Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh, Puducherry, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh in the wake of Cyclone Arnab. He assured them of complete assistance from the central government to mitigate public hardships. The release notes that National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams are carrying out rescue and relief operations, and Inter-Ministerial Central Teams (IMCTs) will be dispatched to assess the disaster impact and determine further requirements.

The Prime Minister of India is scheduled to visit Gujarat on October 30-31, 2026, to launch, inaugurate, and lay the foundation stone for various development projects worth over ₹14,000 crore in Banaskantha and over ₹400 crore in Ekta Nagar. Key highlights include the release of the 24th instalment of the PM-KISAN scheme amounting to approximately ₹19,000 crore, dedication of the Bharat Bovine Breeding and Research Centre for Kankrej cattle, and laying the foundation for Ahmedabad Metro Phase-2 extensions and Bio-CNG plants. The visit also encompasses the celebration of Rashtriya Ekta Diwas on the 151st birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, featuring the Ekta Parade, cultural events highlighting achievements against Left-Wing Extremism, and the inauguration of Bharat Parv 2026.

Smt Mona K Khandhar, Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, visited the Government Drug Rehabilitation Centre in Raiwala, Uttarakhand, which is managed by the Society for Promotion of Youth and Masses (SPYM). During her visit, she interacted with residents and observed the facility's holistic approach to rehabilitation, which combines medical care, professional counselling, and wellness practices like yoga and naturopathy. She proposed exploring collaboration with the Ministry of AYUSH to pilot and scientifically evaluate the integration of traditional wellness practices into drug rehabilitation programmes under proper clinical supervision.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognizance of media reports regarding the police parading three arrested individuals in a semi-nude condition with ropes tied around their waists in Kolkata, West Bengal. According to the report, the three individuals, including a girl's father, her maternal uncle, and his friend, were brought to the locality and made to walk shirtless and barefoot for crime scene reconstruction following an incident where an 18-year-old youth and his friend were assaulted and humiliated. The NHRC observed that these allegations, if true, raise serious human rights violations and has issued a notice to the Kolkata Police Commissioner requesting a detailed report within two weeks.

The All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), New Delhi, celebrated the sixth Foundation Day of its incubation centre, AIIA-iCAINE, by launching the National Open Ayurveda AI Challenge in collaboration with Techfest, IIT Bombay. The incubator has supported 52 problem statements, mentored over 100 startup ideas, and provided seed support to nine startups over six years. Two strategic MoUs were signed with the World Ayurveda Foundation and Reliance Retail Limited respectively to promote AI-driven research, startup incubation, and commercialisation of Ayurveda-based skincare products. An Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Facility for Ayurveda and a glossary titled 'Ayupreneur' were also launched during the event.

This press release highlights a success story under the National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) Scheme, focusing on a sanitation worker from Rajasthan named Ramesh Kumar. The account details his transition from unsafe working conditions involving occupational hazards and a lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) to receiving safety and PPE kits in 2025 under the scheme. According to the release, this intervention helped address workplace safety concerns, reduce exposure to occupational risks, strengthen livelihood security, and promote dignity for sanitation workers.

The National Career Service Centres for Differently Abled (NCSC-DAs) under the Ministry of Labour and Employment organised a Diwali Mela to showcase handmade products, craftsmanship, and vocational skills of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs). Trainees and alumni from centres in Delhi, Thiruvananthapuram, Dehradun, Bhubaneshwar, Kolkata, and Mumbai displayed items such as jute bags, candles, paintings, and woodwork. The event aimed to provide a platform for PwDs to display creativity, interact with visitors, and explore self-employment and market linkages. The Ministry plans to expand the event into a larger national platform in future editions.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) released findings from an Independent Drive Test conducted across the Kachchh area, including Gandhidham and Bhuj cities, and the Bhuj to Bhachau highway in the Gujarat LSA during September 2026. The testing evaluated real-time mobile network quality, covering voice and data services provided by various Telecom Service Providers. Key metrics assessed included coverage gaps, call setup success rates, dropped calls, call silence instances, packet loss rates, and data download and upload throughput across 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G networks.

The Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare visited AIIMS, New Delhi, to review cleanliness, sanitation, and waste management initiatives under Special Campaign 6. During the visit, the minister inspected the newly constructed Aashray Shelter at the AIIMS Trauma Centre Extension Campus, built by Bharat Electronics Limited under Corporate Social Responsibility to accommodate 897 patients and attendants. The institute's sustainable practices were highlighted, including wastewater recycling, energy conservation measures, electric vehicle shuttle services, and regular training and wage monitoring for sanitation workers.

The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship highlighted the academic achievement of a research scholar from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, who completed his doctoral research with assistance from the National Fellowship for Scheduled Caste Students (NFSC) Scheme. The scholar received cumulative financial assistance of approximately ₹20 lakh, covering fellowship assistance, House Rent Allowance (HRA), and contingency support, which enabled him to manage research and living expenses, maintain focus, and successfully complete his doctoral work before securing employment. The release underscores the role of government fellowship schemes in supporting eligible Scheduled Caste students to access higher education and research opportunities.

The Ministry of Textiles highlighted the Jute Corporation of India’s participation in Special Campaign 6, focusing on cleanliness, space management, record management, scrap disposal, and e-waste reduction in official functioning. Conducted between October 2 and October 27, 2026, the initiatives included the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' plantation drive, office and public area cleaning, retting tank cleaning, and file digitization across various locations. The campaign aimed to promote environmental sustainability, resource utilization, and good governance.

The Ministry of Textiles has highlighted the achievements of the Textile Committee under Special Campaign 6, conducted between 2nd and 31st October 2026. The campaign focused on institutional cleanliness, record management, space optimization, and sustainable waste disposal practices. Across its three reported weeks, activities included reorganizing and cleaning record rooms, removing unserviceable items, scrap disposal, and clearing accumulated waste and remnant samples. The campaign generated ₹4,38,444 in revenue through scrap disposal across the headquarters and regional offices, promoting administrative efficiency and resource management.

Indian Railways has surpassed several key targets under Special Campaign 6, implemented from 2nd to 31st October 2026. The campaign focused on cleanliness, scrap disposal, e-waste management, disposal of pending matters, and process simplification. As part of this initiative, a public-centric program called Rail Jan Samvaad was held on 22nd October 2026 across 5,884 railway stations to gather direct passenger feedback on cleanliness, passenger amenities, and service delivery. Key officials, including the Chairman and CEO of the Railway Board and the Secretary of DARPG, participated in the interactions at various stations to identify local issues and improve services.

The induction course Aarambh–2026 for newly recruited Inspectors of Income Tax was inaugurated at the National Academy of Direct Taxes, Regional Campus (NADT-RC), Mumbai. Spanning 60 training days until January 22, 2027, the programme focuses on domain, functional, and behavioural competencies. Aligned with Mission Karmayogi, the course seeks to develop tax administration officials who embody the traits of a PRUDENT Karmayogi for a taxpayer-centric administration.