Official releases, distilled into exam-ready intelligence.

The Government of India is launching Special Campaign 6.0 from 2 October to 31 October 2026, focusing on cleanliness (Swachhata), reduction of pendency, record management, efficient office space utilization, and the scientific disposal of e-waste in government offices. The campaign is structured into three phases: a Preparatory Phase (15–30 September 2026) for identifying targets like pending references and reviewing files, an Implementation Phase (2–31 October 2026) for carrying out cleanliness and disposal activities, and an Evaluation Phase (16–30 November 2026) to assess outcomes. The initiative builds upon Special Campaign 5.0, which reviewed physical files, freed up office space, generated revenue from scrap disposal, and cleaned numerous sites.

The Ministry of Tourism is preparing to implement Special Campaign 6.0 from October 2 to October 31, 2026, focusing on cleanliness (Swachhata), reducing pendency, and managing e-waste. The campaign comprises a preparatory phase from September 15 to September 30, 2026, and an implementation phase, covering Ministries, attached offices, public sector undertakings, and field offices. Preparatory work involves identifying cleanliness sites, planning space management, scrap disposal, and record management. The Ministry also highlighted previous outcomes from Special Campaign 5.0, which included freeing 92,749 square feet of space, earning ₹12.69 lakh through scrap disposal, and weeding out physical files.

Acting on information received from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Special Cell of Delhi Police, in coordination with central agencies, apprehended two government officials in New Delhi on 28 September 2026. The officials—a Senior Accountant and an Accountant—allegedly sought illegal gratification to facilitate pending Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) registration for an association. One official is posted in the Foreigners Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs, while the other is in a Pay & Accounts Office and previously served in the Foreigners Division. Preliminary questioning revealed they were in contact with associations for registration and renewal in exchange for illegal gratification. The Ministry stated it has zero tolerance towards corruption and that all FCRA services are delivered online through the official portal without authorized intermediaries.

The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) has prepared for the launch of Special Campaign 6, scheduled from October 2 to October 31, 2026, following its participation in Special Campaign 5.0. Special Campaign 6 focuses on institutionalizing cleanliness, disposing of pending references, efficient record and e-waste management (under the E-Waste Management Rules, 2022), space utilization, and improving workplace experience. During the previous Special Campaign 5.0, MSDE conducted over 1,836 cleanliness drives, disposed of numerous public grievances and references, reviewed physical and e-files, freed approximately 4,000 square feet of office space, and generated around ₹7.58 lakh in revenue through scrap disposal.

Students from the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) secured two silver medals and one Medal for Excellence at the 48th WorldSkills Competition held in Shanghai, China (September 23–26, 2026). NIFT participants competed in four skill areas: Fashion Technology, Digital Interactive Media Design, Retail Sales, and Visual Merchandising. Specifically, Kovid Ajay Gangrade (NIFT Mumbai) won silver in Digital Interactive Media Design, Saniya Joshi (NIFT Panchkula) won silver in Retail Sales, and Vidhi Niravkumar Suthar (NIFT Gandhinagar) earned a Medal for Excellence in Fashion Technology. India, participating with 70 competitors across 63 skills, secured the 10th position overall. The event highlighted emerging skill categories, reflecting the integration of technology and digital platforms within the creative and fashion industries.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) is undertaking Special Campaign 6.0 from 2nd to 31st October 2026, preceded by a preparatory phase from 15th to 30th September 2026. The initiative focuses on cleanliness and upkeep of National Highways and Toll Plazas—including garbage removal, toilet refurbishment, road signage improvement, and making highways pothole-free—along with reducing administrative pendency, managing records, and promoting e-waste disposal. A 50-km stretch with one toll plaza will receive focused intervention by deputed headquarters officers who will geo-tag deficiencies and monitor rectifications.

The Principal Controller of Communication Accounts (Pr. CCA), Department of Telecom (DoT), is organizing Jeevan Praman Camps across Delhi-NCR throughout October 2026. These camps aim to assist telecom pensioners with the submission of Digital Life Certificates. The initiative provides training on the Jeevan Praman portal and the face authentication application. Additionally, the camps facilitate the submission of 'Know Your Pensioner' (KYP) forms and serve as a platform for addressing grievances and queries. Pensioners are advised to bring necessary documentation, including Aadhar cards, PAN cards, PPO copies, and photographs for on-the-spot verification. These camps are scheduled at various MTNL exchange locations, with operational hours from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

The Ministry of Coal is scheduled to conduct Special Campaign 6 from October 2 to October 31, 2026, across its administrative offices and Public Sector Undertakings. Aligned with the national "Waste to Wealth" vision, the initiative targets scientific e-waste disposal, scrap clearance, office space optimization, and workplace digitalization. Ahead of the campaign, preparatory review meetings were chaired by senior officials including Additional Secretary Smt. Rupinder Brar and Joint Secretary Shri Sanjeev Kumar Kassi. Associated entities such as Coal India Limited, NLC India Limited, the Coal Controller’s Organisation, and the Coal Mines Provident Fund Organisation are participating through identification and segregation drives, youth innovation workshops, and cleanliness awareness events.

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of various infrastructure projects worth more than ₹1,941 crore aimed at strengthening connectivity and improving travel in Delhi. Key projects include the dedication of the Barapullah Elevated Road Phase-3, built at a cost of ₹1,635 crore, which is designed to provide signal-free connectivity between East and South Delhi, reduce traffic congestion, and save travel time. Additionally, the foundation stones were laid for the Modi Mill-Savitri Cinema Flyover and the Loni Underpass.

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) and its organisations have completed the preparatory phase for "Special Campaign 6," which runs from 15 to 30 September 2026, ahead of the implementation phase scheduled for 2 to 31 October 2026. The campaign aims to clear pending work, organise old files, dispose of over 11,000 files and 5,624 e-waste items, and improve institutional efficiency. Additionally, the Ministry observed "Swachhata Pakhwada" from 16 to 30 September 2026, undertaking cleanliness drives, plantation activities, and community outreach.

The Ministry of Textiles and its associated organisations conducted cleanliness and awareness activities under the Swachhata Hi Seva (SHS) 2026 campaign. Activities included an essay writing competition at the Ministry on the theme “Swachhata Mein Sahbhag, Swachh Bharat Viksit Bharat,” social media outreach, and cleanliness drives by bodies like the Jute Corporation of India Limited (JCI), Central Cottage Industries Corporation of India Ltd (CCIC), Textiles Committee, Office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), and the National Jute Board (NJB). Initiatives featured sports ground cleaning drives, door-to-door used clothes collection drives, waste-to-art workshops, office sanitation maintenance, and waste management inspections at mill premises.

Various organizations under the Ministry of Textiles have undertaken cleanliness, awareness, and environmental initiatives as part of the "Swachhata Hi Seva Campaign 2026." The Jute Corporation of India Limited (JCI) conducted post-Ganesh Visarjan riverbank cleanup activities and cleanliness drives at tourist and religious spots like the Maa Bolla Kali Temple on World Tourism Day. The Textiles Committee carried out a nationwide Shramdaan drive across its Mumbai headquarters and regional offices. The National Jute Board organized a book donation event alongside student sensitization on hygiene. NIFT campuses focused on post-Ganesh Visarjan segregation and composting of floral waste. The Cotton Corporation of India promoted reuse and recycle awareness, while the National Handloom Development Corporation undertook tree plantation under the "Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam" initiative.

Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region and Communications, Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, launched the trailer for the documentary series ‘The Enchanting 8: A Culinary Journey Through the Northeast’ in New Delhi. Supported by the Ministry of Development of North-East Region (MDoNER) and the North Eastern Council (NEC), and implemented via the North Eastern Region Community Resource Management Society (NERCRMS), the series showcases the culinary traditions, indigenous communities, localized ingredients, and cultural heritage of all eight Northeastern States. The documentary utilizes a bottom-up storytelling approach driven by local voices and food producers.

The Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change presided over the 4th Eco Warrior Awards and Eco Warrior Conclave in New Delhi, organised by the Indian Forest Service Association (IFSA) and Indian Masterminds. The event honoured senior forest officers, conservation professionals, and frontline personnel across various categories including Protected Area Management, Wildlife Protection, Environment Conservation, Community Connect, Technology Usage, and Special Projects like Project Elephant and the Great Indian Bustard conservation project. Senior IFS Officer Shri B. K. Singh received the Lifetime Achievement Award. Discussions during the conclave focused on AI and technology in conservation, corporate roles in forest management, and sustainable development.

The Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojna (PM-AJAY) is a 100% centrally sponsored scheme launched in FY 2021-22 by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment. It merges three erstwhile schemes: Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana, Special Central Assistance to Scheduled Castes Sub Plan, and Babu Jagjivan Ram Chhatrawas Yojana. The scheme aims to achieve socio-economic and educational empowerment of Scheduled Castes (SCs), who constitute 16.6% of India's population. It operates through three main components: developing SC-dominated villages into Adarsh Grams, providing grants-in-aid for socio-economic and livelihood projects at state/district levels, and constructing or repairing student hostels. The government has also launched the 'PM-AJAY' Mobile App and Portal to transition to an end-to-end digital workflow.

The 14th Meeting of the India-UAE High Level Joint Task Force on Investments (HLJTFI) was held in Mumbai, co-chaired by the Indian Minister of Commerce & Industry and the Managing Director of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA). The meeting reviewed the progress of bilateral economic cooperation, noting that bilateral trade reached US$101.25 billion in FY 2025-26 and non-oil trade reached US$76.2 billion in 2025 under the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). Both sides discussed initiatives to expand investment flows toward a shared goal of US$200 billion in bilateral trade by 2032, reviewed specific projects including the Food Park in Gujarat and an integrated aluminium complex in Odisha, and evaluated financial cooperation involving local-currency settlements and central-bank digital currencies.

The Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change reviewed Delhi's winter air pollution mitigation plan with the Chief Minister of Delhi. The strategy emphasizes time-bound, coordinated, and technology-driven interventions to curb pollution from vehicular emissions, road dust, biomass burning, and industrial sources. Key measures include the 'No PUCC, No Fuel' mandate at petrol pumps, promotion of public transport via the Delhi Metro Sarthi app, and strict enforcement of the 'Zero Burning' campaign. The plan involves setting up monitoring teams, road redevelopment, and implementing seasonal restrictions such as construction bans and work-from-home protocols during peak winter. Enhanced citizen participation and inter-agency coordination through AI-enabled monitoring systems are central to the upcoming winter action plan.

The Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change (EFCC) recently chaired a high-level meeting with the Delhi Chief Minister to review the capital's Air Pollution Mitigation Action Plan ahead of the winter season. The strategy emphasizes 'Jan Bhagidari' (public participation) across 37 identified hotspots and coordinated enforcement across NCR states. Key measures include the 'No PUCC, No Fuel' campaign at 500 fuel stations, promotion of electric vehicles, and strict restrictions on construction and demolition activities from November to January. The plan also focuses on road redevelopment, dust mitigation, enhanced waste management, and the implementation of a 'Winter Protocol' involving staggered office timings, parking fee hikes, and restrictions on non-BS-VI vehicles to improve air quality.

At the 28th Session of the FAO Committee on Forestry (COFO 28) in Rome, India showcased its achievements in forest and landscape restoration. India reported that its forest and tree cover spans 82.74 million hectares (25.17% of its geographical area), and noted its ranking of 9th globally in forest area and 3rd in net annual forest area gain according to the FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment 2025. India also highlighted progress under national and international commitments, including the Bonn Challenge, the Aravalli Green Wall initiative, the MISHTI initiative for mangrove restoration, the expansion of Ramsar Sites to 101, and the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam – Plant4Mother' campaign. Furthermore, India emphasized the importance of international cooperation, technology transfer, and sustainable financing for developing countries.

The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying highlights the role of the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY) in transforming risk management for India's aquaculture farmers through aquaculture insurance. India has emerged as the second-largest fish-producing nation globally, with aquaculture accounting for over 74% of total production and driving significant rural employment and export earnings. To protect small and marginal farmers from financial distress caused by diseases, natural calamities, and climatic variability, PM-MKSSY provides a one-time incentive of up to 40% of the insurance premium via Direct Benefit Transfer through the National Fisheries Digital Platform. Additional incentives are available for SC, ST, and women beneficiaries. The scheme mandates time-bound claim settlements and seeks to build a durable risk-mitigation framework for the sector.