Official releases, distilled into exam-ready intelligence.

The Ministry of Coal reports that over the past five years the Government has undertaken structural and procedural reforms to make coal allocation and mining more transparent, efficient and scientific. Key measures include shifting to open competitive auctions with a revenue‑share model and the National Coal Index, opening commercial coal mining without eligibility constraints and allowing 100 % FDI, and simplifying coal linkage allocation through the SHAKTI and CoalSETU windows. Efficiency‑enhancing steps comprise the Single Window Clearance System (PARIVESH 2.0), accreditation of 44 private prospecting agencies, and the Mine Developer‑Operator mode. Technological upgrades feature the Koyla Shakti Dashboard, AI‑driven command centres, and initiatives for coal washing, gasification, renewable energy integration and an Integrated Coal Logistics Plan.

The Deep Ocean Mission (DOM), launched by the Government of India in 2021, operates across six verticals covering deep‑sea mining technology, ocean climate advisory services, biodiversity exploration, deep‑ocean surveys, ocean‑based energy and freshwater, and an advanced marine station. Notable achievements include the completed design of the human submersible MATSYA‑6000 and successful trials, collection of over 100 kg of cobalt‑rich nodules from 1,173 m depth, development of ocean models for sea‑level and cyclone forecasts, deployment of 60 wave drifters and 92 Argo floats, isolation of 2,038 deep‑sea microbes, discovery of four hydrothermal vent fields, and procurement of land for an advanced marine station in Chennai. The mission supports India's Blue Economy and aligns with International Seabed Authority safeguards.

The Ministry of Earth Sciences, through the India Meteorological Department (IMD), has upgraded weather forecasting using high‑performance computing, AI‑enabled tools and a dense observation network (manual stations, AWS, ARG, Agro‑AWS, DWR, satellites). Under Mission Mausam, the Bharat Forecasting System (6 km resolution) provides Panchayat‑level forecasts, accessible via e‑Gramswaraj, Meri Panchayat, e‑Manchitra and Mausamgram. IMD’s Gramin Krishi Mausam Sewa (GKMS), in partnership with 55 host institutes, operates 130 Agrometeorological Field Units across 127 agro‑climatic zones, issuing district‑specific agro‑meteorological advisories twice weekly and impact‑based forecasts up to seven days. Dissemination is through apps (MAUSAM, MEGHDOOT, DAMINI, UMANG), SMS, TV, radio and social media, with periodic surveys guiding service improvements.

The Parliamentary Consultative Committee of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change met in New Delhi on 5 August 2026, chaired by Union Environment Minister Shri Bhupender Yadav. The meeting focused on human‑wildlife conflict (HWC) mitigation, reviewing actions taken since the previous meeting (18 Dec 2025) and examining state‑wise strategies from Assam, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh. Key institutional developments highlighted were the Centre of Excellence on Human‑Wildlife Conflict (CoE‑HWC) at SACON, Coimbatore, and the launch of the National HWC Portal on 10 July 2026. The Committee discussed the use of GIS, AI, drones, radio telemetry and predictive analytics, alongside community‑based measures, compensation mechanisms and habitat restoration, urging coordinated national and state‑level action.

The Ministry of Home Affairs reports that the National Policy and Action Plan (2015) has led to the eradication of Left‑Wing Extremism (LWE) across India. No district in Chhattisgarh or any other state is currently LWE‑affected; 38 districts are now classified as ‘Legacy & Thrust’ districts requiring continued security and development support. The government has undertaken extensive development initiatives in former LWE areas, including 4,314 km of roads, 1,511 telecom towers, 9 ITIs, 14 skill centres, 45 Eklavya Model Residential Schools, 1,508 post offices, 413 bank branches, 269 ATMs, and a 240‑bed super‑specialty hospital in Bastar. Security infrastructure has been strengthened with 663 fortified police stations (135 in Chhattisgarh) and substantial financial assistance under schemes such as SRE (₹3,805.04 cr), SIS (₹1,761 cr), and ACALWEMS (₹1,303.68 cr). Additional measures include title‑deed distribution (5,34,068 deeds), Tribal Youth Exchange Programme (37,655 participants), and conversion of security camps into Jan Suvidha Kendras for livelihood and service delivery.

The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has deployed a National Joint Outbreak Response Team (NJORT) to Gujarat and Rajasthan to bolster the response to the ongoing Chandipura Virus Disease outbreak. The multidisciplinary team, comprising experts from NCDC, ICMR and the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, will assist state governments in outbreak investigation, epidemiological assessment, clinical management, laboratory coordination, vector surveillance and public‑health measures. Concurrently, intensified active surveillance for acute febrile illness and AES, community serosurveys, animal sampling and vector analysis are underway. Whole‑genome sequencing of virus isolates is being conducted to detect any genetic changes, reflecting a coordinated ‘One Health’ approach.

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs, through TRIFED, is executing two schemes – Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission (PMJVM) and Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM‑JANMAN) – to boost tribal entrepreneurship and livelihood. A PMJVM VDVK consists of 15 SHGs (20 beneficiaries each) and a PM‑JANMAN VDVK has 5 SHGs (10 beneficiaries each). So far, 4,172 PMJVM VDVKs (12.48 lakh beneficiaries) and 540 PM‑JANMAN VDVKs (0.46 lakh beneficiaries) have been sanctioned across 28 and 18 States/UTs respectively. Training has been imparted to beneficiaries of 2,922 VDVKs (7.13 lakh people) on sustainable MFP collection, processing and marketing. Currently, 3,406 VDVKs are operational, having sold value‑added products worth about Rs 174 crore via local markets, fairs and the Bharat Tribes Fest, thereby enhancing income and entrepreneurship among tribal communities, including women.

The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has used its indigenous AI/ML‑based ENSO prediction system, together with the Global Ocean Data Assimilation System, to assess that the El Niño that began in May 2026 is likely to persist from June 2026 to February 2027 with a 70‑90 % probability. While El Niño historically correlates with weaker Indian Summer Monsoon rainfall, the Ministry notes that monsoon outcomes also depend on the Indian Ocean Dipole, Madden‑Julian Oscillation and other regional ocean‑atmosphere interactions. The government has enhanced ocean state forecasting and multi‑hazard early‑warning services via high‑resolution models and an expanded observation network (gliders, buoys, Argo floats, tide gauges, satellites). It has allocated ₹145.06 crore under the Deep Ocean Mission for marine resource mapping and deployed autonomous vehicles for seafloor exploration. These measures aim to improve climate and ocean predictions, issue timely advisories, and bolster coastal resilience.

The Department of Personnel and Training hosted the Second BRICS Anti‑Corruption Working Group Meeting and the Second BRICS Expert Network on Asset Recovery in Hyderabad on 4‑5 August 2026, under India’s BRICS Presidency. Senior policymakers from all BRICS countries discussed anti‑corruption cooperation, culminating in an in‑principle agreement to establish a BRICS Network of Law‑Enforcement Practitioners for tracing fugitive offenders and supporting extradition. Participants also endorsed a BRICS Repository on informal cooperation and a Directory of Focal Points to enhance practitioner‑level information exchange. A side event highlighted technology‑driven governance, citing digital procurement, AI, and big‑data analytics as tools to improve transparency and reduce corruption risks. The meetings addressed emerging financial‑technology risks, urging risk‑based regulatory frameworks to curb misuse of FinTech and virtual assets.

The Ministry of Cooperation is promoting forest‑produce‑based cooperative societies in tribal districts of Jharkhand and Gujarat. The National Cooperation Policy 2025 calls for strengthening cooperatives of weaker sections, adding value to minor forest produce (MFP), and using the National Cooperative Database for district‑wise planning. TRIFED implements the Van Dhan programme, establishing Van Dhan Vikas Kendra clusters with 100 % government assistance. Financial assistance is available through the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) and other schemes; NCDC disbursed ₹44.40 crore in Jharkhand and ₹2,302.22 crore in Gujarat. Measures include aggregation, processing, branding, market linkages, digitisation of societies, and representation of SC/ST members on multi‑state cooperative boards.

The Ministry of Cooperation’s ‘Sahakar Se Samriddhi’ initiative aims to boost the cooperative sector’s role in economic growth, rural development and livelihood generation. It seeks to expand cooperative coverage to uncovered Panchayats and villages, increase members’ incomes through diversification and better market access, promote transparent, technology‑enabled governance, and ensure greater participation of women, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other weaker sections. To achieve this, the Government has launched more than 150 schemes, including model bye‑laws for Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS), computerisation of PACS, establishment of new multipurpose PACS/dairy/fisheries cooperatives, a grain‑storage plan, and various financial and operational reforms for urban and rural cooperative banks. Specific measures for Himachal Pradesh are detailed in Annexure‑B, covering digitisation, credit access, and sector‑specific support.

The Ministry of Cooperation launched the Cooperative Ranking Framework on 24 January 2025 to assess cooperative societies using standard parameters such as audit compliance, financial performance and operational activities. In Jammu & Kashmir, 1,611 new cooperative societies were registered by 15 July 2026 (232 multipurpose PACS, 1,339 dairy and 40 fishery societies) and 760 existing dairy societies plus one fishery society were strengthened. Under the centrally‑sponsored computerisation project, 708 PACS were sanctioned, hardware was supplied to 537 PACS and they were migrated to an ERP‑based national platform as e‑PACS. Additional measures include digital profiling of PACS, adoption of model bye‑laws for >25 activities, capacity‑building, and linking PACS to Common Service Centres and national cooperative networks. The Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah, conveyed this information in a Rajya Sabha written reply.

The Ministry of Electronics & IT highlighted the progress of the Digital India programme since its launch in July 2015, focusing on digital infrastructure, cyber security and data protection. Key achievements include expansion of internet connectivity through BharatNet (2.21 lakh Gram Panchayats service‑ready, 80,472 PoPs) and 24,784 towers under Digital Bharat Nidhi; growth in telecom and broadband penetration (telephone connections up to 133 crore, internet subscribers 109.27 crore as of March 2026); widespread adoption of digital public services such as Aadhaar (1.44 billion IDs), DBT (₹52 lakh crore transferred), UPI (55.49 crore users), DigiLocker (71.66 crore users) and CSCs (5.01 lakh functional). Digital skills initiatives (PMGDISHA, FutureSkills Prime, NIELIT) have trained over 6.39 crore and 34 lakh candidates respectively. Cyber security measures include NCSC, CERT‑In, NCCC, CSK, I4C and NCIIPC. The Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023 and Rules 2025 provide a framework for data protection. The IndiaAI Mission, approved in March 2024 with a ₹10,371.92 crore outlay, aims to build AI infrastructure, indigenous models, talent pipelines and responsible AI governance.

The Ministry of Education, citing NEP 2020 and NCF‑SE 2023, announced the rollout of a Computational Thinking and Artificial Intelligence curriculum for Classes III‑VIII from the 2026‑27 academic year, with a finalized AI curriculum for Grades 9‑12. NCERT and CBSE have prepared teacher handbooks and facilitator guides, and schools must ensure requisite digital infrastructure as per CBSE affiliation bye‑laws. The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship’s SOAR programme will deliver three 15‑hour AI modules for students (Classes 6‑12) and a 45‑hour module for teachers, covering AI basics, generative AI, ethics, and career pathways. Implementation responsibility for AI and robotics labs rests with State/UT governments under the Concurrent List.

The Ministry of Education highlighted that Gross Expenditure on Research and Development (GERD) rose from Rs 60,196.75 crore in 2010‑11 to Rs 1,27,380.96 crore in 2020‑21, and the government sanctioned Rs 99,494.24 crore (FY 2020‑21 to 2025‑26) for premier technical institutions. India’s Global Innovation Index rank improved from 81st (2015) to 38th (2025), and it ranked 3rd in Science‑Engineering publications (2022) and 6th in patent applications (2022). The Prime Minister’s Research Fellows (PMRF) Scheme (Rs 1,650 crore) has admitted 3,688 scholars, while the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (Rs 50,000 crore) and the Research Development and Innovation Scheme (Rs 1 lakh crore) were launched to strengthen the research ecosystem.

The Ministry of Education reports that central allocation for the Department of Higher Education rose from Rs 34,006.39 crore in 2021‑22 to Rs 50,747.66 crore in 2025‑26. Under the Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) – re‑branded as PM‑USHA – an outlay of Rs 12,926.10 crore has been approved for 2023‑24 to 2025‑26 to fund underserved districts, with funds released to states based on utilization performance. The scheme prioritises focus districts identified on low enrolment and social indicators and supports infrastructure, online learning, smart classrooms and research facilities. The 2025‑26 budget also approved Rs 11,828.79 crore for research parks at five new IITs, and the 2026‑27 budget proposes five university townships and a girls’ hostel in every district.

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs briefed the Rajya Sabha on the status of major schemes for Scheduled Tribes (STs) covering the last five financial years. Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) have 479 functional schools against a target of 728, with cumulative enrolment rising from 92,075 (2020‑21) to 138,336 (2024‑25). Pre‑Matric and Post‑Matric scholarships continue to provide financial assistance, with funds and beneficiaries detailed in Annexures II and III. The PM‑JANMAN programme, launched on 15‑Nov‑2023, funds Multi‑Purpose Centres and Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVKs) for PVTGs, with 540 VDVKs benefitting 46,042 persons (Annexure V). Additional schemes include PMJVM‑VDVKs (4,172 centres, 12,48,067 beneficiaries), development of PVTGs, Article 275(1) grants, NSTFDC concessional loans, and grants to NGOs and Tribal Research Institutes. An online monitoring system (stcmis.gov.in) tracks DAPST fund allocations and expenditures.

The Ministry of Earth Sciences, via the Mission Mausam, is enhancing monsoon science and climate research by adopting advanced multi‑model ensemble and coupled dynamical climate models for monthly and seasonal forecasts, upgrading numerical weather prediction (NWP) models, and expanding the national observation network with additional Doppler Weather Radars, Automatic Weather Stations, rain gauges and other platforms. It has developed high‑resolution climate reanalysis datasets (global 25 km, regional 12 km) and is integrating satellite, radar and in‑situ data from both national and international sources. The programme also collaborates with IITs, universities, WMO and other agencies, and disseminates forecasts through the Panchayat Mausam Seva Portal and other digital channels.

The Antariksh Venture Capital Fund (AVCF), a SEBI‑registered Category II Alternative Investment Fund, became operational after SEBI approval on 31‑Oct‑2025. As of 24‑Jul‑2026, IN‑SPACe has contributed a total of ₹188.93 crore, including ₹182.87 crore in FY 2026‑27. The Fund’s Investment Committee has selected three space‑tech start‑ups for equity investment, aiming to support technology development, commercialization and scaling of operations in line with its stated investment objective and strategy. No quantified estimate of the fund’s impact on India’s space economy is currently available; impact will be assessed over time based on portfolio performance.

The Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) built at Kalpakkam achieved its first criticality on 6 April 2026, marking a key step in India’s three‑stage nuclear power programme. The PFBR, the first commercial fast reactor in India, uses MOX fuel and a U‑238 blanket to breed more fissile material than it consumes. The Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR) provided comprehensive engineering, material, equipment, design, safety, and commissioning support, achieving nearly 90 % domestic manufacturing. The reactor’s success underpins the planned expansion of fast‑breeder and PHWR capacity, projected to raise total installed capacity from 8 780 MW to 22 480 MW by 2031/32, enhancing long‑term energy security.