Official releases, distilled into exam-ready intelligence.

The Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), launched in August 2019, aims to provide potable tap water to rural households. By 18 July 2026, tap connections rose from 3.24 crore (16.72 %) to 15.89 crore households (82.09 %). Under JJM, water quality must meet BIS 10500 standards. A ‘Concise Handbook for Monitoring Water Quality of Piped Drinking Water Supply to Rural Households’ (released Dec 2024) guides states to test samples at source, treatment, storage and distribution points and prescribe remedial actions for chemical or bacterial contamination. States/UTs report the number of water samples tested annually; total samples tested in laboratories increased from 75 lakh (2023‑24) to 23.28 lakh (2026‑27) and field test kits from 1.08 crore to 34.93 lakh over the same period. The Union Minister for Jal Shakti provided these details in response to a Lok Sabha question.

On 27 July 2026, a Memorandum of Settlement was signed between ACC Limited’s Bargarh Cement Works and its workmen (represented by Hira Cement Shramika Sangha, Bardol) to resolve a dispute triggered by a closure notice dated 19 June 2026. The settlement, facilitated by Shri Chiranjeev Saikia, Deputy Chief Labour Commissioner (Central) – Conciliation Officer, secures a minimum financial package of Rs 26.81 crore for at least 61 shop‑floor associates and includes provisions for welfare and service‑related entitlements. The conciliation process emphasized statutory obligations of the management under labour laws and the need for harmonious industrial relations.

Union Minister of State for AYUSH, Shri Prataprao Jadhav, chaired the 27th Governing Body meeting of the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) in New Delhi. He virtually inaugurated an Animal House at CCRAS‑RARI Pune, a staff quarters complex at RARI Ranikhet, and performed the Bhoomi Poojan for a new 50‑bed Ayurveda Hospital at RARI Nagpur. The Minister launched CCRAS‑PARAMPARA for documenting and scientifically validating local health traditions, the CCRAS National Research Recognitions portal (including CCRAS PRAKASA, NAVONMESA, PRABODH 3MT), and ‘Ayur‑dict’, an Android app consolidating Ayurveda dictionaries. Emphasis was placed on technology‑driven, evidence‑based Ayurveda, entrepreneurship, and global outreach in line with the Prime Minister’s vision of “Heal by Ayurveda, Heal in India, Make in India.”

The Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) released the CPGRAMS monthly report for June 2026, noting that the Department of Financial Services (Insurance Division) secured the 3rd rank in the Group A category of the Grievance Redressal Assessment & Index (GRAI), while its Banking Division ranked 6th. The DFS has remained among the top 10 ministries/departments since November 2025. In June 2026, the DFS disposed of over thirty thousand grievances, with senior officials personally reviewing randomly selected cases. Regular workshops on “Effective Grievance Redressal Mechanism” are conducted to enhance coordination, technology use, and a customer‑centric approach, reflecting a sustained commitment to transparent and accountable service delivery.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, urged citizens on 6 August 2026 to celebrate National Handloom Day on 7 August by showcasing India’s rich handloom heritage. In a PIB release, he encouraged sharing videos of favourite handloom products, including ‘Get Ready With Me’ (GRWM) clips, on social media and using the hashtag #NationalHandloomDay. The PM posted the message on X, emphasizing the need to make India’s handloom diversity popular. The call highlights the government’s promotion of traditional handloom sectors through a digital campaign.

The Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks (CGPDTM) has issued a tentative schedule for the Patent Agent Examination (PAE) 2027 on 10 January 2027 and the Trade Marks Agent Examination (TAE) 2027 on 9 January 2027. Both exams will be conducted at 15 centres across India, including Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai and others. Each examination comprises three stages – Paper I (objective, 100 marks), Paper II (descriptive, 100 marks) and a Viva Voce (50 marks). Candidates must secure at least 50 marks in each paper and an overall 60 % to pass and be eligible for registration as Patent or Trade Marks agents, as per the Patents Rules 110 and Trade Marks Rules 144.

On 6 August 2026, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi shared a Sanskrit Subhashitam on the social media platform X, stating that the Earth is the nurturing mother of all life and must be respected as the moral order that sustains it. The verse quoted is: "विश्वस्वं मातरमोषधीनां ध्रुवां भूमिं पृथिवीं धर्मणा धृताम्। शिवां स्योनामनु चरेम विश्वहा॥" The Prime Minister’s message underscores living in harmony with the planet.

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs implements the Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission (PMJVM) and Pradhan Mantri Janjati Maha Nyaya Abhiyan (PM‑JANMAN) through the Tribal Co‑operative Marketing Development Federation (TRIFED) to promote livelihood and entrepreneurship among tribal communities via Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVKs). In Telangana, the Telangana State Girijan Co‑operative Corporation Ltd is the designated state implementing agency for establishing VDVKs, as notified by the Tribal Welfare Department, Government of Telangana. Additionally, the Ministry has extended equity support to the Tribal Cooperative Finance Corporation (TRICOR) under the scheme ‘Equity support to National/State Scheduled Tribe Finance and Development Corporation’ to enable concessional loans for tribal entrepreneurs.

The Government of India has set up three Centres of Excellence (CoEs) in Artificial Intelligence (AI) focusing on Agriculture, Sustainable Cities and Healthcare, led respectively by IIT Ropar, IIT Kanpur and IISc Bangalore, with a combined budget outlay of ₹990 crore. In the Union Budget 2025‑26, a fourth AI‑CoE for Education was announced with a ₹500 crore allocation, established at IIT Madras. Financial releases include ₹27 crore (FY 2023‑24 & 2024‑25) to consortiums and, in FY 2025‑26 & 2026‑27, ₹74.39 crore to IIT Kanpur, ₹62.64 crore to IIT Ropar, ₹69.07 crore to IISc Bengaluru and ₹43 crore to IIT Madras. The CoEs have developed AI models for language technologies, crop‑pest‑disease detection, air‑pollution attribution and urban‑flood prediction, operating under layered governance involving an Apex Committee, a Project Monitoring and Review Committee and a Central Project Management Unit.

India’s electric‑vehicle (EV) ecosystem is expanding rapidly. EV sales have risen ~46‑fold since 2016, reaching 2.3 million units in 2025, while exports grew from USD 1.2 million in 2020 to USD 84 million in 2024. Government schemes such as the National Mission on Manufacturing, the PLI‑Auto scheme, and the PM E‑DRIVE scheme (₹10,900 cr) are driving domestic manufacturing, charging‑infrastructure rollout (16,561 fast chargers out of 52,718 stations as of July 2026), and subsidies (15‑25 % capital subsidies, 5 % GST). The India Electric Mobility Index (launched 2025) tracks state‑wise progress, with Delhi, Maharashtra and Chandigarh classified as “Frontrunners”. Investment in the sector reached USD 1.4 billion in FY 2025, and the market is projected to grow to USD 191 billion by 2034 (CAGR ≈ 55 %).

The Department of Space outlined progress on the Gaganyaan human‑spaceflight programme, noting completion of development and ground testing of the Human Rated Launch Vehicle (HLVM3) and key orbital module systems, including propulsion, ECLSS, thermal protection and avionics. Crew Escape System motors have been static‑tested and related structures qualified. Infrastructure such as the Gaganyaan Control Centre and crew training facilities have been established, and the first Test Vehicle mission (TV‑D1) and Integrated Air‑Drop Tests (IADT‑01, IADT‑02) have been successfully completed, with TV‑D2 in progress. An uncrewed experimental mission with the Vyommitra half‑humanoid is slated for Q4 2026, followed by two uncrewed missions and the first crewed flight by 2027. The Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) is planned for operationalisation by 2035, with the first module approved and under development. A budget of ₹20,193 crore for eight missions was approved in September 2024, and ISRO is collaborating with ESA, ASA, CNES and Roscosmos on various technical and recovery aspects.

Mission Karmayogi, the National Programme for Civil Services Capacity Building, was approved in September 2020 to shift HR from a rule‑based to a role‑based system and to develop civil servants with a global outlook rooted in Indian ethos. The iGOT Karmayogi platform, created under this programme, now has all Union ministries, departments, states and union territories onboarded, with 30 State/UT MoUs signed. It hosts over 5,600 courses in 23 languages (including 1,433 in Hindi/other Indian languages) and has more than 1.70 crore registered users. AI‑focused courses (218) have recorded over 7.3 crore enrolments and 3.35 crore completions, with AI‑driven features such as iGOT AI Tutor. From FY 2025‑26, all central employees and All‑India Services officers must complete prescribed iGOT courses, linked to their Annual Performance Appraisal Reports. Odisha alone has onboarded 4,31,725 officials with 31,72,167 course completions.

The Prime Minister marked the seventh anniversary of the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35(A) on 5 August 2019, describing it as a defining milestone for inclusive development in Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. He asserted that in the intervening seven years the region has seen extensive infrastructure growth and expanded opportunities in education, healthcare, entrepreneurship and sports, with women and marginalized communities now empowered through the full application of the Constitution. The commemoration was linked to the 125th birth anniversary of Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee, whose vision the government says was fulfilled by the 2019 decision.

The Press Information Bureau note states that low‑Earth‑orbit (LEO) satellites face heightened collision risk because of a dense population of space objects. In 2025 ISRO carried out 20 collision‑avoidance manoeuvres (CAMs) and has executed 9 CAMs so far in 2026. A policy framework on the State’s liability for third‑party damages caused by Indian space objects, prepared by IN‑SPACe, is under consideration. India participates in several international forums on space‑debris mitigation, including IADC, UN‑LTS, and IAA STM Working Group, and has contributed to revised IADC guidelines. The upcoming optical telescope at Hanle (NETRA project) will enhance tracking of objects ≥30 cm at GEO altitude, complementing the existing multi‑object tracking radar at Sriharikota.

The Department of Space detailed progress on the Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme. All propulsion stages and structures for the Human Rated Launch Vehicle (HLVM3) have been developed and ground‑tested. Key subsystems – Orbital Module propulsion, Environmental Control & Life Support System, deceleration, crew‑module up‑righting, thermal protection, avionics and the Crew Escape System – have been realised, qualified and tested. Infrastructure such as the Orbital Module Preparation Facility, Gaganyaan Control Centre and crew‑training centre are in place, and the first test vehicle mission (TV‑D1) and air‑drop tests have been successfully completed, with TV‑D2 underway. The first crewed flight is targeted for 2027, and the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) is planned for launch of its first module by 2035, with critical technologies like flight suit and docking system under indigenous development.

The Government has announced a Nuclear Energy Mission aiming for 100 GW of nuclear capacity by 2047. Existing projects under construction include RAPP‑8 (Rawatbhata, 700 MW, commissioning in 2026) and KKNPP‑3&4 (Kudankulam, 2 × 1000 MW, expected by June 2027/June 2028). New projects are at various stages: pre‑project activities (e.g., GHAVP‑3&4 in Haryana) and planned sites such as RAPP‑9&10, KAPP‑5&6, and JNPP‑1‑6. Safety concerns raised by local communities have been addressed through public‑awareness programmes, with safety emphasized across siting, design, construction, commissioning and operation. The information was provided by Union Minister of State Dr Jitendra Singh in a Lok Sabha written reply.

The Ministry of Education, citing the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, is prioritising health education, hygiene and environmental consciousness in schools. It highlights schemes such as Samagra Shiksha, Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN), School Health and Wellness Programme (SHWP), Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) and Eco Clubs for Mission LiFE. Under PM POSHAN, about 10.23 crore students in 10.33 lakh government/ aided schools receive nutritious meals and hygiene education. Samagra Shiksha supports Eco Clubs that conduct plantation, cleanliness drives and other eco‑activities. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare jointly runs SHWP, training two teachers per school as Health and Wellness Ambassadors to cover 11 health‑related themes. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change implements the Environment Education Programme (EEP) to sensise children on sustainable lifestyles through workshops, waste‑management projects and nature‑based activities.

Under the Nuclear Energy Mission announced in the Union Budget 2025–26, Rs 20,000 crore has been earmarked for the design, development and deployment of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) with a target to operationalise at least five indigenous SMRs by 2033. BARC is developing three demonstration units – the 220 MWe BSMR‑200, the 55 MWe SMR‑55 and a 5 MWth High‑Temperature Gas‑Cooled Reactor (HTGCR) for hydrogen production – each having received in‑principle engineering and construction approvals and site clearances (Tarapur for BSMR‑200 and SMR‑55; BARC Vizag for HTGCR). The recently enacted SHANTI 2025 Act aims to broaden participation of public and private entities to achieve a 100 GW nuclear power capacity by 2047. Indigenous technology, including advanced reactor vessel alloys and critical components, is being developed with Indian industry support.

The Nuclear Energy Mission (NEM), announced in the Union Budget 2025‑26, targets the design, development and operation of at least five indigenous small modular reactors (SMRs) to help achieve a 100 GWe nuclear capacity by 2047. Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) is developing the 220 MWe BSMR‑200, the 55 MWe SMR‑55 and a high‑temperature gas‑cooled reactor (HTGCR) of up to 5 MWth for hydrogen production, all as demonstration units. Indigenous technologies such as the Advanced Purified Reactor Vessel Alloy (ApuRVA) and control‑rod drive mechanisms have been created with Indian industry. The Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Act, 2025, enacted by the Ministry of Law and Justice, opens the nuclear sector to private participation, grants statutory status to the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), and reforms the liability regime. Under NEM, Rs 20,000 crore has been earmarked for SMR research and deployment, with in‑principle approvals and site clearances obtained for BSMR‑200 (Tarapur), SMR‑55 (Tarapur) and HTGCR (BARC, Vizag), and an estimated construction period of 60‑72 months.

The Ministry of Home Affairs outlined steps to curb narcotics smuggling, beginning with the Vision Document on Narcotics Control (2026‑2029) released on 26 June 2026, which sets a three‑year roadmap with ‘Whole‑of‑Government’ and ‘Whole‑of‑Society’ approaches. A four‑tier Narco‑Coordination Centre (NCORD) and an NCORD portal have been instituted to improve coordination among the Narcotics Control Bureau, Drug Law Enforcement Agencies, State Police and other stakeholders. A Joint Coordination Committee chaired by the DG‑NCB monitors major drug cases, having held 11 central and 75 state‑level meetings. International cooperation has been enhanced through bilateral agreements with 27 countries and MoUs with 19 countries, and regular DG‑level talks are held with neighbours and the USA. Seizure data from NCRB (2020‑2024) and NCB (2021‑2025) are provided in annexures, showing trends in opium, cannabis, cocaine, ATS, and other substances.