Official releases, distilled into exam-ready intelligence.

The Ministry of Science & Technology’s latest “Research and Development Statistics 2025‑26” shows government R&D outlay rising from ₹87,813.47 crore in 2019‑20 to ₹117,861.21 crore in 2023‑24, while the share of GDP has hovered around 0.41‑0.45 %. The Ministry oversees 71 institutions across DST, DBT and DSIR/CSIR, listed in Annexure‑I. Annexure‑II details yearly allocations, expenditures and patents for each department, with total allocation increasing from ₹7,357.10 crore (FY 2021‑22) to ₹8,934.81 crore (FY 2025‑26) and patents ranging from 542 to 893. These figures were provided by the Minister of State for Science & Technology in a Rajya Sabha reply.

The Tenth BRICS Industry Ministers’ Meeting was concluded in Jaipur on 6 August 2026 under India’s BRICS Chairship 2026. The meeting, themed “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”, saw the adoption of a Joint Declaration and several sector‑specific frameworks – a SME Working Group framework, Terms of Reference and Action Plan for a Photovoltaic Industry Working Group, and an Action Plan for innovation‑led growth by startups. India also proposed a BRICS Incubator Network and a BRICS Startup Innovation Fund. The event preceded the 16th BRICS Trade Ministers’ Meeting scheduled for 7 August 2026, also in Jaipur, focusing on trade, MSME participation, and resilient global value chains.

Union Minister for Steel and Heavy Industries H.D. Kumaraswamy, speaking at the 7th CII International Energy Conference, said India’s energy security now depends on manufacturing capability and resilient supply chains. He highlighted steel as the backbone of the clean‑energy transition and reiterated the target of 300 million tonnes of steel‑making capacity by 2030, pursued through sustainable practices. The Minister cited major schemes – the PM E‑DRIVE Scheme (₹10,900 crore), the Production‑Linked Incentive for advanced‑chemistry‑cell batteries (₹18,100 crore for 50 GWh capacity) and the ₹7,280 crore programme for sintered rare‑earth permanent magnets – to boost domestic manufacturing and reduce import dependence. He urged industry‑academia‑research collaboration to build resilient supply chains for clean‑energy technologies.

The Ministry of Science & Technology’s Department of Biotechnology (DBT) has outlined the BioE3 policy, identifying six thematic verticals – bio‑based chemicals, bioplastics, APIs and enzymes; functional foods and smart proteins; precision biotherapeutics (monoclonal antibodies, mRNA, cell & gene therapy); climate‑resilient agriculture; biofuels and carbon capture; and futuristic marine and space research. Five priority sectors – Ayurveda, agriculture innovations, genome diagnostics, synthetic biology and biomolecular design – are slated for Bio‑AI hubs. Bio‑enablers (biomanufacturing hubs, biofoundries, Bio‑AI hubs) are selected via multi‑tier technical and financial evaluation. The policy aims to create ~1,500 jobs in Tier‑II/III cities, offers up to 70% project‑cost assistance, and has mobilised private investment of Rs 602.09 cr, targeting a $300 billion bio‑economy by 2030.

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs briefed the Lok Sabha on the suite of schemes targeting Scheduled Tribes (ST) in Alipurduar, West Bengal. Central and State‑shared scholarship programmes – Pre‑Matric, Post‑Matric, National Top‑Class Scholarship, National Fellowship and National Overseas Scholarship – are available, with specific beneficiary numbers for 2023‑26. The Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DAJGUA) and Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN) cover Alipurduar, allocating substantial central and state funds for infrastructure, hostels, mobile medical units and livelihood centres. Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVKs) number seven in the district, serving 1,134 beneficiaries with Rs 55.05 lakh sanctioned. No Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) exist in Alipurduar, though nine are functional in West Bengal.

The Ministry of Electronics & IT announced amendments to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, aimed at curbing AI‑generated deepfakes. The changes mandate clear labelling and traceable metadata for permissible AI content, reduce the timeline for removal of unlawful material from 36 to 3 hours, and tighten grievance redressal periods. Intermediaries, especially Significant Social Media Intermediaries (SSMIs), must deploy automated tools to detect and block synthetic content that violates law, including child sexual exploitation and non‑consensual intimate imagery. Non‑compliance leads to loss of exemption under Section 79 of the IT Act. The framework is supported by existing provisions in the IT Act, 2000 and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and coordinated through bodies such as I4C and the SAHYOG portal.

The Ministry of Electronics & IT reports that the IndiaAI Mission, approved on 7 March 2024 with a Rs 10,371.92 crore outlay, is advancing sovereign AI infrastructure through 20 indigenous foundation models, 237 subsidised compute projects (93.18 lakh GPU hours) and the establishment of 58 AI Centres of Excellence, of which 22 are operational in 13 states/UTs. A high‑performance AI compute system of about 1.1 EFLOPS is being installed at the NIC Data Centre, Delhi. Concurrently, the Union Cabinet approved Semicon 2.0 on 15 July 2026 with Rs 1,27,500 crore to expand semiconductor fabs, design capabilities and ecosystem support. India also joined the Pax Silica coalition at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 to secure the global silicon supply chain. The Stanford Global AI Vibrancy Report (Nov 2025) ranks India third worldwide in AI competitiveness.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved a 135.871 km, 4‑lane access‑controlled Guwahati‑Tezpur corridor on NH‑15 in Assam. The project will be executed on a Built‑Operate‑Transfer (BOT) toll basis at a capital cost of Rs 8970.20 crore. It includes 5 major bypasses (58.7 km), 15 major bridges, 30 minor bridges, 19 flyovers, an Emergency Landing Facility (4.9 km) in coordination with the IAF, 46 underpasses, and 210 km of service roads. The corridor aims to double average speeds, halve travel time, improve safety, fuel efficiency and connect key economic, social and logistics nodes across Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs announced that the Prime Minister launched the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DAJGUA) on 2 Oct 2024. The programme comprises 25 interventions implemented by 17 line ministries to bridge infrastructural gaps in 63,843 villages, targeting health, education, Anganwadi services and livelihood opportunities for more than 5 crore tribals across 549 districts and 2,911 blocks in 30 States/UTs over five years. Eligibility is limited to tribal‑majority villages with a population of ≥ 500 and at least 50 % tribal residents. The Ministry seeks state/UT lists of such villages and conducts regular inter‑ministerial and state‑level coordination meetings, supported by a Project Management Unit for monitoring.

The Union Cabinet approved GOBARdhan, a National Unified Scheme for Compressed Biogas (CBG), with an outlay of Rs 23,731 crore for FY 2026‑27 to FY 2035‑36. The scheme seeks to boost domestic CBG production nearly ten‑fold by providing assured offtake, a stable price of Rs 2,110 per MMBTU, capital assistance up to Rs 2 crore per TPD, pipeline connectivity, credit guarantees and an ecosystem challenge fund. It aims to convert agricultural residue, cattle dung and municipal organic waste into clean fuel and organic manure, creating rural income, attracting private investment and enhancing India’s energy security while reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels.

The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), in partnership with Nuernberg Messe India, organised BIOFACH INDIA 2026 (6‑8 August 2026, Greater Noida) to promote India’s certified organic sector. Over 200 Indian companies, including more than 60 under the APEDA Pavilion, displayed a wide range of organic foods from 12 states. The event hosted more than 35 international buyers from 13 overseas markets, facilitating structured Buyer‑Seller Meets. Technical conferences addressed organic certification, traceability, sustainability and global market requirements. Senior officials, including the Secretary of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, highlighted the exhibition’s role in expanding export opportunities and supporting farmers and enterprises.

The Ministry of Jal Shakti announced the launch of Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari: Catch the Rain (JSJB : CTR) on 1 June 2026, extending the JSJB programme and linking it with the Jal Shakti Abhiyan : Catch the Rain (JSA : CTR) campaign. JSJB : CTR mobilises community funds, CSR contributions and convergent financing from schemes such as VB‑GRAM G, AMRUT, PMKSY, CAMPA and Finance Commission grants to build low‑cost rainwater harvesting structures (borewells, recharge shafts, pits) for groundwater recharge. The initiative is monitored through an online portal (jsjb.mowr.gov.in). Annexure‑I lists state‑wise completed works under JSJB : CTR 2026 (total 133,724 structures) and under earlier JSJB 1.0 and 2.0 phases. The release also cites PMKSY‑HKKP assistance for Surface Minor Irrigation and Repair‑Renovation‑Restoration of water bodies, and reports that groundwater recharge rose from 432 BCM (2017) to 448.52 BCM (2025) with ‘Safe’ assessment units increasing to 73.14 %. Additionally, it provides MGNREGA water‑related expenditure for 2023‑27 across states (total ₹13,18,470.84 lakh).

The Bhubaneswari Opencast Project (OCP) of Mahanadi Coalfields Limited, operating at a peak capacity of 30 MTPA, produced 26.477 million tonnes of coal in FY 2025‑26, achieving 105.98 % of its target. The mine employs 100 % blast‑free surface miner technology and a covered conveyor system with 25 MTPA First Mile Connectivity, enabling over 85 % of coal dispatch by rail, thereby reducing dust, noise, and emissions. It has earned a Five‑Star environmental rating and the Kalinga Environment Excellence Award, and maintains a zero‑fatality record for five consecutive years. Financially, it generated a profit before tax of ₹1792.60 crore in FY 2025‑26, underscoring its role in India’s energy security.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change clarified that AI data centres do not automatically need Environmental Clearance (EC) under the EIA Notification, 2006, but those classified as large building projects (built‑up area > 20,000 sq m) or township projects (area ≥ 50 ha or built‑up ≥ 150,000 sq m) must obtain EC from the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority. During EC appraisal, water availability, water‑balance reports, grey‑water generation, recycling and reuse are examined, and water use/discharge is regulated by the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, with monitoring by State Pollution Control Boards or Pollution Control Committees. Groundwater extraction follows guidelines issued by the Ministry of Jal Shakti (Notifications S.O. 3289(E) 2020, amended 2023). The Bureau of Energy Efficiency’s District Cooling Guidelines 2023 advise using treated water for cooling‑tower make‑up to cut freshwater demand, and a Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology working group has been created to study energy efficiency and water management in AI infrastructure.

The Ministry of Electronics & IT reports that under the Digital India programme, 2.21 lakh Gram Panchayats have been made service‑ready under BharatNet as of June 2026 and 5.01 lakh Common Service Centres (CSCs) are functional nationwide, with 18,240 CSCs in Tamil Nadu. Telephone connections rose from 93.3 crore (Mar 2014) to over 133 crore (Mar 2026) and internet subscribers from 25.15 crore to 109.27 crore in the same period. Aadhaar enrolments exceed 1.44 billion (8.18 crore in Tamil Nadu) and DBT has transferred over Rs 52 lakh crore. UPI now serves 55.49 crore users and 6.5 crore merchants, while DigiLocker has 71.66 crore users. The PM‑Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan has trained 6.39 crore people nationwide (14 lakh in Tamil Nadu).

The Passenger Reservation System (PRS), introduced in 1986, is the technology‑enabled backbone of Indian Railways ticketing. It has evolved from manual registers to a nationwide platform supporting counters, the IRCTC website and mobile apps, handling 65.08 crore reservations (89% online) between June 2025‑June 2026 and serving over 20.5 lakh passengers daily. The system, maintained by the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS), is being upgraded to a cloud‑enabled next‑generation PRS that will support over 1.5 lakh bookings and 40 lakh enquiries per minute, a multilingual interface, and greater scalability. Recent passenger‑centric reforms include reducing the advance reservation period to 60 days, Aadhaar‑authenticated Tatkal booking (July 2025), and OTP verification.

Union Minister of State Dr. Jitendra Singh briefed the Rajya Sabha that the Gaganyaan human‑spaceflight programme has reached key human‑rating milestones. The Human Rated Launch Vehicle (HLVM3) has completed development and ground testing of all propulsion stages and structures, and the propulsion systems of the Crew and Service Modules have been qualified. The Engineering Model of the Environmental Control and Life Support System, Thermal Protection System, Deceleration System, Crew Module Up‑righting System and end‑to‑end avionics have also been successfully tested. All five motors of the Crew Escape System have been static‑tested, and related infrastructure such as the Orbital Module Preparation Facility and Gaganyaan Control Centre is in place. The TV‑D1 test vehicle mission and two integrated air‑drop tests have validated the escape and deceleration systems, while a ground communication network and crew recovery plan have been finalised. An uncrewed mission carrying the half‑humanoid Vyommitra is slated for Q4 2026, followed by two more uncrewed flights in 2027 before the crewed mission. The Bharatiya Antariksh Station is planned for 2035, with the first module approved. A budget of ₹20,193 crore for eight missions was approved in September 2024, and ISRO is collaborating with ESA, ASA, CNES and Roscosmos for various support functions.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved a 135.871 km, 4‑lane access‑controlled Guwahati‑Tezpur corridor on NH‑15 in Assam at a capital cost of Rs 8970.20 crore on a BOT‑toll model. The project includes 5 major bypasses (58.7 km), 15 major bridges, 30 minor bridges, 19 flyovers, an elephant under‑pass, 46 under‑passes, and 210 km of service roads, along with an emergency landing facility coordinated with the IAF. It aims to double average travel speeds, halve travel time, improve road safety, fuel efficiency and lower vehicle operating costs, thereby enhancing connectivity to economic, social and tourism nodes across Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs reported that in the 2025‑26 academic year EMRSs achieved a 93.62% pass rate in Class X and 87.82% in Class XII, with 173 schools attaining 100% pass in Class X and 92 schools in Class XII. Students from EMRSs qualified for national‑level exams: 346 for JEE Main, 41 for JEE Advanced, 408 for NEET, 9 for NIFT and 1 for CLAT. Digital learning has been enhanced through 284 smart classrooms, digital boards, computer labs, a dedicated DTH TV channel and the AI‑enabled Medha AI platform. Eight Centres of Excellence and the ENABLE programme provide focused coaching for IIT‑JEE and NEET aspirants. Institutional reforms such as the establishment of NESTS, State EMRS Societies and District EMRS Committees aim to improve governance and accountability of EMRSs.

Under Namami Gange Mission‑II, 70 sewerage infrastructure projects (including 25 sewage treatment plants) were implemented in 2025, raising total sewage treatment capacity to 4,263 MLD by June 2026. A total of 219 STP projects (₹ 35,970 crore) have been taken up, with 146 completed, creating 6,610 MLD capacity. The mission also advanced biodiversity conservation: scientific surveys covered ~7,680 km of river, documenting 3,037 gharials and 215 fish species; 6,800 aquatic animals were rescued, 1,500 turtle hatchlings produced, and 1,603 turtles and gharial yearlings released. Seven Ganga Biodiversity Parks were developed, afforestation spanned 33,024 ha, and 5,500+ Ganga Prahari volunteers mobilised. Wetland management plans were prepared, leading Uttar Pradesh to notify 20 wetlands. The Ministry reported these achievements in a Lok Sabha reply on 6 Aug 2026.