Official releases, distilled into exam-ready intelligence.

The Department of Space (DoS) reports that the Government of India is employing satellite and geospatial technologies for disaster management in Ladakh. A glacier inventory covering >2,000 glaciers (2020‑23 data) and change mapping for >1,000 glaciers over two decades has been created. An inventory of 3,219 glacial lakes (>0.25 ha) and GLOF risk modelling for high‑risk lakes such as Katkar and Suru have been completed. Daily snow‑cover maps have been generated from 2019 to September 2025. Wetlands (4,912) and waterbodies (≈41 >5 ha) are monitored via the Bhuvan Waterbody Information System. ISRO projects include the Cryosphere Science and Applications Programme, LAMA, SILAAS (since 2023), the National Hydrology Project (2017‑2025), and the Geo‑Ladakh geo‑portal. Advanced R&D aims to strengthen early‑warning systems for GLOF, extreme weather, and landslides, and space‑based information is provided during disaster response. Capacity‑building trainings have also been conducted for Ladakh participants.

The Ministry of Education, citing the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, has integrated skill‑based and experiential learning across school and higher education. Under Samagra Shiksha, classes VI‑VIII receive pre‑vocational exposure through bagless days, off‑textbook programmes and the Kaushal Bodh series, while classes IX‑XII offer NSQF‑aligned skill modules as additional or elective subjects. Higher‑education pathways include Community Colleges, B.Voc. programmes and the Apprenticeship Embedded Degree Programme (AEDP) 2025. Digital initiatives such as PM eVidya and DIKSHA provide ICT labs, smart classrooms, e‑content, virtual labs and broadband (BharatNet) to enhance access, especially in rural and tribal areas.

The Ministry of Education’s Department of School Education & Literacy launched the National Initiative for Proficiency in Reading with Understanding and Numeracy (NIPUN Bharat Mission) on 5 July 2021 to achieve universal foundational literacy and numeracy (FL + N) by the end of Grade 2, in line with NEP 2020. Implemented under Samagra Shiksha, the mission covers the 3‑6 year age group and includes initiatives such as the play‑based Vidya Pravesh programme (benefiting over 5 crore students), Jaadui Pitara learning kits (available in 22 languages), the e‑Jaadui Pitara app, and NISHTHA online teacher training on DIKSHA. State‑wise enrolment figures for the foundational stage and fund allocations for 2023‑27 are provided in Annexures I and II.

The Ministry of Women and Child Development reports that the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) programme, launched on 22 January 2015, has been expanded under the SAMBAL vertical of Mission Shakti to all districts, aiming to improve the Child Sex Ratio (CSR) and promote the safety, security and empowerment of girls. Under the Samagra Shiksha scheme, vocational education for classes VI‑XII has been rolled out in 31,477 schools, with skill education implemented in 25,181 schools, benefitting 3,949,875 students, and focusing on non‑traditional sectors such as IT, AI, robotics and renewable energy. The New India Literacy Programme (NILP) has enrolled 33,652,317 learners, of whom 22,984,292 are women, contributing to an increase in female literacy from 65.46 % (2011) to 74.9 % (PLFS 2025).

Since 2021 the India Meteorological Department (IMD) under the Ministry of Earth Sciences has employed an advanced Multi‑Model Ensemble (MME) approach for long‑range forecasting. The MME system, which combines multiple coupled dynamical climate models, has reduced the mean absolute forecast error to 2.2 % of the Long Period Average (LPA) for the 2021‑2025 period, compared with 7.8 % for 2016‑2020. Table data show that, for all‑India monsoon rainfall, the first‑stage forecasts (issued in April) and second‑stage forecasts (issued in May) have stayed within the ±5 % and ±4 % error bands respectively, with only one exceedance (14 % error) in 2019. The government is further enhancing forecasting capability through upgrades of numerical weather prediction models, expansion of observation networks (Doppler radars, AWS, ARG, satellite platforms) and the use of AI/ML tools, with forecasts disseminated via mobile apps, APIs, SMS, TV, radio and social media.

The Ministry of Earth Sciences, via the National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR), monitors micro‑, meso‑ and macro‑plastics and marine litter at selected coastal sites such as Thoothukudi and the Gulf of Mannar. Studies show synthetic filaments dominate microplastic composition, with riverine discharge and abandoned, lost or discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) as main sources. NCCR has created a Clean Coast Index (CCI) that rates both locations as ‘moderately clean’, with microplastic abundance ranging from 28 to 60 particles per 50 g of sediment and no major hotspots identified. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has banned certain single‑use plastics (effective 1 July 2022) and issued the Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2022, introducing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) targets; about 232 lakh tonnes of plastic packaging waste have been processed under this framework. A draft National Marine Litter Policy has been prepared for MoEFCC’s consideration.

The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) outlines its National Nuclear Medicine Expansion Programme, detailing contributions from BARC, VECC, and Tata Memorial Centre (TMC). BARC operates clinical services at Mumbai and Kolkata, while VECC’s 30 MeV cyclotron produces radioisotopes for cancer diagnostics. TMC provides gamma camera imaging, PET‑CT, and a six‑bed high‑dose radionuclide therapy ward, using isotopes such as I‑131, Lu‑177 and Ga‑68 compounds. A dedicated Isotope Production Reactor is under construction at BARC, Visakhapatnam, to boost domestic isotope supply. DAE also runs specialised training programmes (MD, M.Sc., Diploma) to build skilled manpower for nuclear medicine and cancer care.

Union Environment Minister Shri Bhupender Yadav, speaking at the Global Tiger Day 2026 event in New Delhi, said that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership the number of tigers in India has risen to 3,682 and tiger reserves have increased to 58. He also noted growth in elephant reserves, national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, protected areas, community reserves and wetlands over the past 12 years. The minister launched the NTCA Eco‑tourism webpage, highlighted the role of the International Big Cat Alliance, and announced NTCA Awards for exemplary tiger‑conservation work. Five publications, including a security audit of 24 tiger reserves, were released to underscore science‑based conservation and public awareness.

The Ministry of Electronics & IT announced that India has signed Memoranda of Understanding with 24 countries to share population‑scale digital public infrastructure (DPI) solutions. The MoUs cover capacity building, knowledge exchange, joint workshops, feasibility studies and the development, piloting and scaling of proven digital solutions such as DigiLocker, e‑Sanjeevani, e‑Office and UPI. Under the ITEC programme, a DPI course was delivered to a Cuban delegation in December 2025, and bilateral talks are ongoing with nations including Lao PDR, Seychelles, Venezuela, Armenia, Fiji, Guyana and Colombia. The government also approved the Social Impact Fund to support DPI pilots in low‑ and middle‑income countries. Annexures list the partner countries and the nations where UPI is operational.

The Department of Atomic Energy reports that India’s installed nuclear power capacity stands at 8,780 MW (8.78 GW) across 24 plants, contributing about 3.1 % to total electricity generation in 2025‑26. Ongoing projects include RAPP‑8 (1 × 700 MW, 96.26 % complete, commissioning in 2026), KKNPP‑3&4 (2 × 1000 MW, 82.65 % complete, commissioning by June 2027/2028), KKNPP‑5&6 (2 × 1000 MW, 45 % complete, commissioning by June 2029/March 2030), GHAVP‑1&2 (2 × 700 MW, six‑year timeline), and KAIGA‑5&6 (2 × 700 MW, commissioning by June 2031/2032). The Government’s Nuclear Energy Mission targets 100 GW by 2047, with an interim goal of 22 GW by 2031‑32 and an additional 32 GW beyond 2032 via NPCIL, plus approved pre‑project activities for 2 × 500 MW fast‑breeder reactors. Safety is highlighted as a priority, governed by the AERB, and the SHANTI Act 2025 expands public‑private participation.

The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) states that radioactive solid waste from nuclear power plants averages about 0.15 cubic metres per year per MW of capacity. All waste quantities and locations are reported to the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB). Safe management is governed by the Atomic Energy (Safe Disposal of Radioactive Wastes) Rules, 1987, which require AERB authorisation for effluent discharge and prescribe limits based on international norms. Waste is treated (gaseous, liquid, solid) using adsorption, filtration, ion‑exchange, vitrification, etc., and disposed in engineered trenches and storage facilities monitored continuously. No release of radioactivity or impact on public health has been reported. The framework aligns with IAEA guidelines and includes environmental monitoring labs at each plant.

The Ministry of Electronics & IT reports that Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) under the Digital India programme now covers 144 crore Aadhaar IDs, 55.49 crore UPI users, 71.66 crore DigiLocker users and 5.01 lakh functional Common Service Centres (CSCs). BharatNet has made 2.21 lakh Gram Panchayats service‑ready, while the API Setu portal hosts 8,904 APIs from central and state departments. The National Language Translation Mission (Bhashini) aims to remove language barriers, and the Meri Pehchaan single‑sign‑on platform enables unified access to multiple government services. Over 6.39 crore citizens have been trained in digital literacy, and 34 lakh candidates have registered on FutureSkills Prime for emerging‑technology skilling.

The Ministry of Personnel’s Mission Karmayogi aims to make civil servants future‑ready by prioritising AI and digital skills. The iGOT Karmayogi platform, with over 1.70 crore government employees from central, state and UT bodies, hosts 218 courses on Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies. Learners have recorded more than 3.3 crore completions of these AI‑related courses. The Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023 and Rules 2025, notified on 13 Nov 2025, mandate lawful processing of personal data with explicit consent. No AI trial has been conducted in the Sidhi Lok Sabha constituency, and all AI courses on iGOT are available to employees there.

The Ministry of Women and Child Development reiterated that the Government of India gives top priority to child safety. It highlighted the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 and its 2020 Rules, which provide a gender‑neutral legal framework, graded punishments (including death penalty for certain aggravated offences), mandatory reporting, child‑friendly procedures, and special courts. The release noted the establishment of Fast‑Track Special Courts (including 20 exclusive e‑POCSO courts in Tamil Nadu) under the Nirbhaya Fund, and the extension of the scheme to 30 Sept 2026. It also cited enhancements in forensic infrastructure (new CFSLs, DNA and cyber labs) and victim‑compensation mechanisms such as the Central Victim Compensation Fund and statutory medical support under the BNSS, 2023.

The Ministry of Home Affairs reports that, as of March/April 2026, no district is classified as Left‑Wing Extremism (LWE) affected; the number of Naxal‑affected districts fell from 126 in 2018 to zero in 2026. The Government’s 2015 National Policy and Action Plan, together with State cooperation, has driven this outcome through security measures (CAPF deployment, fortified police stations, helicopter support, and Rs 3,805.04 crore under the Security Related Expenditure scheme) and development initiatives (road construction, telecom towers, schools, skill centres, and financial inclusion). Rehabilitation packages for surrendered cadres, special central assistance (Rs 4,289.20 crore since 2017), and community‑rights programmes (over 2.1 million title deeds) are also highlighted.

The Ministry of Education, in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, reiterated the constitutional mandate under Article 350A and Section 29(2)(f) of the Right to Education Act for mother‑tongue instruction at the primary level. Building on NEP 2020, NCERT has prepared the National Curriculum Framework (NCF‑SE 2023) and released new textbooks for Grades 1‑9, translating them into all 22 scheduled languages – 460 textbooks in total, with 368 already digitised. Digital initiatives such as DIKSHA (supporting 135 languages) and AI‑enabled translation of modules, along with programmes like NISHTHA, Bhasha Sangam, and Bharatiya Bhasha Utsav, aim to broaden multilingual education across states and union territories.

The Department of Space reported that in 2026 private sector investment in space reached $187 million and IN‑SPACe granted 108 authorisations to non‑government entities for activities such as satellite operation and launch services. The Indian Space Policy 2023, a liberalised FDI regime, a ₹1,000 cr Venture Capital Fund, a ₹500 cr Technology Adoption Fund, and the IN‑SPACe Seed Fund Scheme are among the measures to boost space startups. Over 400 private firms now operate, cumulative private funding rose to $618.5 million by March 2026, and notable milestones include two sub‑orbital launches, more than 30 satellites placed by NGEs, and the POEM platform for low‑cost in‑orbit validation.

The Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has revised the base year of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) from 2012=100 to 2024=100, releasing the new series on 12 February 2026. Under the revised series, price collection now covers 1,465 rural and 1,395 urban markets across 434 towns, with an additional 12 online markets in towns of over 2.5 million population. The CPI basket has been expanded from 299 to 358 items (goods 259→308, services 40→50) based on the 2023‑24 Household Consumption Expenditure Survey. Inflation data for the new series is available from January 2026, and linking factors plus back‑series data (2013‑2024) are provided on the e‑Sankhyiki portal.

The Department of Atomic Energy reported that in the fiscal year 2023‑24 ten nuclear reactors were under construction or commissioning, with a total planned capacity of 8,000 MW. Three reactors (2 × 700 MW at Kakrapar, Gujarat and 1 × 700 MW at Rawatbhata, Rajasthan) have begun commercial operation, adding 2,100 MW. New construction includes units at Rawatbhata (RAPP‑8, 1 × 700 MW), Kudankulam (KKNPP‑3&4 and KKNPP‑5&6, each 2 × 1,000 MW), Kalpakkam (FBR‑1, 1 × 500 MW), Kaiga (KAIGA‑5&6, 2 × 700 MW) and Gorakhpur (GHAVP‑1&2, 2 × 700 MW). The 2025 SHANTI Act is slated to broaden participation of private firms and research institutes in the nuclear sector.

The Ministry of Cooperation is implementing White Revolution 2.0, aiming to establish 75,000 new Dairy Cooperative Societies (DCSs) in uncovered panchayats/villages and strengthen 46,422 existing DCSs. To date, 24,097 new DCSs have been formed and 31,394 existing societies have been strengthened. Progress is monitored through monthly state‑level reviews, quarterly national review conferences, and annual regional workshops coordinated with the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) and the National Dairy Development Board. Financial assistance under the revised National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD) has been released to states, covering items such as bulk milk coolers, automatic collection units, testing equipment, processing infrastructure, working capital and technical support. Annexures provide state‑wise data on DCS formation, strengthening, and funds released.