Official releases, distilled into exam-ready intelligence.

The Ministry of Education highlighted a special Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE) session held on 21 September 2019 to discuss the Draft National Education Policy (NEP). The NEP 2020 stresses that its implementation needs long‑term vision, expertise and coordinated action at national, state, institutional and individual levels, and recommends strengthening CABE as a consultative platform. To aid NEP implementation, the Ministry created the Education Advisory Council (EdAC) of experts to advise on policy, develop a roadmap, review interventions and suggest measures for CABE. The government emphasizes cooperative federalism, citing multiple recent engagements with states and UTs—including conferences, NITI Aayog meetings, workshops and a two‑day conclave (22‑23 July 2026)—to review centrally‑sponsored education schemes and enhance centre‑state collaboration.

The National Cooperative Database (NCD) records 8,53,430 cooperative societies in India as of 15 July 2026. Of these, 6,62,811 are functional, 1,41,442 are non‑functional and 49,177 are under liquidation. Among functional societies, 3,55,680 are profit‑making, 2,50,442 are loss‑making and financial data are missing for 56,689 societies. Sector‑wise details list agriculture, dairy, credit, housing, etc., while state‑wise tables show distribution, functional status and profit/loss figures. The Ministry of Cooperation is converting primary agricultural credit, dairy and fisheries cooperatives into multipurpose societies and has created a Co‑operative Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Development Fund under the MSCS (Amendment) Act, 2023 to revive sick multi‑state cooperatives.

The Ministry of Education clarified that teacher recruitment and vacancy filling are primarily the responsibility of State Governments and Union Territories, as education falls under the Concurrent List. Vacancies arise from retirement, resignation, new post creation, and changes in enrolment, especially in rural, tribal and aspirational districts. The Centre advises states to use transparent, merit‑based processes—often via autonomous recruitment boards—and provides financial assistance under the Samagra Shiksha scheme to maintain the prescribed Pupil‑Teacher Ratio (PTR). According to UDISE+ 2025‑26, the national PTR is 10 (Foundational), 12 (Preparatory), 17 (Middle) and 21 (Secondary), meeting NEP‑2020 targets, with Telangana and Andhra Pradesh also within norms. Data on teachers in‑position and total schools for 2023‑24 to 2025‑26 are presented in Annexures I and II.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report that on 26 July 2026 an explosion at a metal‑processing factory in Cachar district, Assam killed four workers and severely injured two others, with molten metal spilling over them. The NHRC issued notices to the Assam Chief Secretary and the Cachar Superintendent of Police, seeking a detailed report within two weeks on the injured workers’ health status and on compensation to the victims’ families. The media report noted that over 100 workers were present at the time of the blast.

The Directorate General of Taxpayer Services, Mumbai Zonal Unit, in partnership with ASSOCHAM U.P.-U.K., conducted a webinar on 28 July 2026 to explain the Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal (GSTAT) appeal procedures and recent clarifications. The session highlighted the newly introduced token system, noting that the 60‑day filing period starts from token generation and that tokens must be generated by 31 July 2026. GSTAT officials described the Tribunal’s structure, jurisdiction, e‑filing process, pre‑deposit requirements and common filing errors. The webinar also featured expert presentations and a Q&A on portal issues. This was the 23rd taxpayer outreach programme organised by DGTS Mumbai since April 2026, aimed at enhancing taxpayer awareness and voluntary compliance.

The National Cooperative Database recorded 1,840 Multi‑State Cooperative Societies (MSCS) in India as of 15 July 2026, of which 73 are located in West Bengal. The Central Sector Project for Computerisation of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS), launched in 2022, aims to bring functional PACS onto a common ERP‑based national software. The project’s coverage was expanded from 63,000 to 79,630 PACS, with the financial outlay raised from ₹2,516 crore to ₹2,925.39 crore. In West Bengal, 4,187 PACS have been sanctioned, receiving a total assistance of ₹50.79 crore (₹30.54 crore in FY 2022‑23, ₹15.25 crore in FY 2025‑26, and ₹5.00 crore in FY 2026‑27). The National Cooperation Policy 2025, unveiled on 24 July 2025 by the Home & Cooperation Minister, outlines six strategic pillars, 16 objectives and 83 recommendations, and is overseen by a National Steering Committee on Cooperation Policy chaired by the Minister of Cooperation and a Policy Implementation and Monitoring Committee chaired by the Secretary, Ministry of Cooperation. The information was provided by Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah in a Rajya Sabha written reply.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report that on 26 July 2026 a sanitation worker and a security guard died after inhaling toxic gases inside a sewage‑treatment plant at a residential society in Noida, Uttar Pradesh. The Commission noted that, if the report is accurate, the incident raises serious human‑rights concerns. Consequently, NHRC issued notices to the District Magistrate and the Police Commissioner of Gautam Buddh Nagar, demanding a detailed report within two weeks covering the investigation status and any compensation paid to the victims’ next‑of‑kin.

The Ministry of Earth Sciences, under its Hydrology and Cryosphere programme, sanctioned a joint research project between the University of Kashmir and IIT Roorkee titled “Identifying current and future GLOF risk over contrasting topographic and climate zones of Indian Himalaya using Earth observation data and modelling.” The project, approved in 2022, has a total cost of Rs 91.2 lakhs. It aims to develop a methodological approach to study glacial lakes across different time scales and assess hazard potential using physically based models in varied climatological and geomorphological zones of the Indian Himalayan Region, thereby improving prediction of lake‑formation hazards to downstream populations and infrastructure. The Ministry has released Rs 62.03 lakhs in the last three years, as disclosed by Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Earth Sciences Dr Jitendra Singh in a Lok Sabha written reply.

The Government approved the World's Largest Grain Storage Plan on 31 May 2023 under the Ministry of Cooperation. The plan aims to create agri‑infrastructure at Primary Agriculture Credit Society (PACS) level—including warehouses, custom hiring centres, processing units and Fair Price Shops—by converging existing schemes such as the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund, Agricultural Marketing Infrastructure Scheme, Sub‑Mission on Agricultural Mechanisation and PMFME. State‑wise data show 1,015 projects approved, 313 godowns constructed and 203 projects under construction, with Gujarat, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh leading in approvals and construction. The details were furnished by Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah in a Rajya Sabha written reply.

The Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) issued the 50th CPGRAMS monthly report for June 2026. Central ministries/departments redressed 1,99,968 grievances, with an average disposal time of 14 days. New user registrations on the portal totalled 83,544 (15,287 from Uttar Pradesh) and the Feedback Call Centre recorded 75,318 feedbacks (42,226 for central ministries). Through Common Service Centres, 6,262 grievances were lodged. The Grievance Redressal Assessment & Index (GRAI) highlighted the Department of Posts, Department of Telecommunications and Department of Financial Services (Insurance) as top performers in Group A, and the Ministries of Textiles, Tourism and Information & Broadcasting in Group B. As of 30 June 2026, 377 review meetings were held, 24 of them in June.

The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs has launched a Youth Parliament Programme comprising three components: (1) competition‑based Youth Parliament competitions for schools, Kendriya Vidyalayas, Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, universities/colleges and Eklavya Model Residential Schools; (2) a participation‑based scheme accessed through the NYPS 2.0 web‑portal, which is voluntary, open to all citizens and has so far attracted about 1.7 lakh participants, offering certificates via the NYPS Helpdesk; and (3) financial assistance to States/UTs for organising competitions, with reimbursement ceilings of ₹3 lakh (≤100 members), ₹4 lakh (101‑200 members), ₹5 lakh (>200 members) and ₹2 lakh for Union Territories without a legislature. Orientation courses are conducted for principals and teachers before each competition, but no funding is provided for these courses.

The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) are conducting anti‑encroachment drives on National Highways to comply with a Supreme Court directive to remove unauthorised structures and illegal accesses. NHAI’s PIU Rajkot surveyed about 693 km of highways, issued 1,403 notices and has already cleared more than 361 illegal accesses and closed 150 unauthorised median gaps, in coordination with district magistrates and police. The drives aim to restore Right of Way, improve traffic flow, enhance safety, and protect public investment in highway infrastructure.

The Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) released the 47th monthly report of the Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS) for States/UTs for June 2026. In that month, 96,190 public grievance (PG) cases were received and 93,170 were redressed, leaving a total pendency of 2,16,032 across all States/UTs. Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest disposals (31,460) and also the highest new‑user registrations (15,287 of 83,544 total). The Feedback Call Centre logged 75,318 feedbacks, of which 33,092 originated from States/UTs. Under the Sevottam Scheme, 1,196 training courses were conducted in the last five financial years, training approximately 39,509 officers.

The Department of Fisheries, Government of India, is implementing the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) since FY 2020‑21 and the Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) since FY 2018‑19 in Goa. To date, projects worth Rs 147.23 crore under PMMSY and Rs 107.00 crore under FIDF have been approved. About 463 beneficiaries (fishermen, fish farmers, cooperatives and SHGs) have benefited under PMMSY and 4,339 under FIDF. The Ministry has also launched the National Fisheries Digital Platform (NFDP) and extended the Kisan Credit Card facility to fisheries stakeholders. Several infrastructure projects, including climate‑resilient coastal villages and modern fish landing centres, have been sanctioned to strengthen post‑harvest facilities.

The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying reported that under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), the Government of India has approved fisheries development projects worth Rs 1413.91 crore in Kerala over the last five years and the current year. Approved interventions include livelihood support for 1,71,033 traditional fishers during fishing bans, provision of 200 boats and nets, establishment of 9 Integrated Modern Coastal Fishing Villages and 6 Climate‑Resilient Coastal Fishing Villages, procurement of 20 deep‑sea vessels, 1,140 bivalve cultivation units, 468 fish‑transport units, 42 artificial reefs, 10 Matsya Seva Kendras, and engagement of 222 Sagar Mitras for advisory services. Additionally, 18,908 Kisan Credit Cards have been sanctioned to fishers and fish farmers in the state.

The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying is implementing the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) with a total outlay of Rs 20,750 crore from FY 2020‑21 to date for fisheries development across all States and Union Territories, including Andhra Pradesh. Under PMMSY, the Group Accidental Insurance Scheme (GAIS) provides social security to marine and inland fishers and allied workers. Premiums are shared Centre‑State in a 60:40 ratio (90:10 for Himalayan and North‑Eastern States), while Union Territories are fully funded by the Centre. Coverage includes Rs 5 lakh for death or total disability, Rs 2.5 lakh for partial disability, and Rs 25,000 for hospitalization. Andhra Pradesh did not participate in GAIS for the previous five years; a proposal for covering 284,888 fishers was received for FY 2026‑26, and the state entered GAIS for the first time in FY 2026‑27 with no claims reported so far. Claims must be intimated within 120 days of the accident and fully documented within 180 days, with standardized formats and regular coordination meetings to ensure timely settlement.

The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying reiterated the Government’s commitment to accelerate livestock and dairy growth via targeted schemes, infrastructure development, disease control, genetic improvement and value‑chain strengthening. It noted a 70 % rise in milk production (146.31 Mt in 2014‑15 to 248 Mt in 2024‑25) and a 90 % rise in egg production (78.48 bn to 149.11 bn) over the last decade. Key programmes cited are Rashtriya Gokul Mission, National Livestock Mission, Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme, National Programme for Dairy Development and the Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund. The Bharat Pashudhan database, a 12‑digit animal ID system, aims to enhance traceability and export competitiveness. The Government also highlighted self‑sufficiency in milk, with 2024‑25 production (247.87 Mt) exceeding the projected 2025‑26 demand (243 Mt).

The Ministry of Home Affairs announced a suite of technology‑driven initiatives to enhance the speed, efficiency and transparency of the judicial process. Key components include the Crime & Criminal Tracking Network and System (CCTNS) for end‑to‑end police case management, the Interoperable Criminal Justice System (ICJS) platform for seamless data exchange among police, courts, prisons and forensic labs, and specialised applications such as e‑Sakshya for digital evidence handling, Nyay Shruti for virtual court appearances, and e‑Prison for cloud‑based prison management. These measures were detailed by Minister of State Shri Bandi Sanjay Kumar in a Rajya Sabha reply.

The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has positioned the live events sector as a catalyst for economic growth, employment, tourism and cultural promotion. To advance this agenda, the Live Events Development Cell (LEDC) was set up in July 2025, chaired by the I&B Secretary and comprising central, state and industry representatives. LEDC has rolled out an Execution Framework and an online permission system on the India Cine Hub portal, with 29 States/UTs appointing nodal officers. A Model Executive Order for licensing has been issued (implemented in three states), and a Greenfield Venue Development Policy has been drafted. Additionally, the RBI has removed the bank‑guarantee requirement for service imports exceeding USD 500,000, effective 1 Oct 2026.

The Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA), Shillong, under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, held a webinar on 27 July 2026 to create awareness of the Corporate Mitra Scheme among youth, students, MSMEs, professionals and enterprises in Mizoram. The scheme, announced in the Union Budget 2026‑27, seeks to empower MSMEs—especially in Tier‑2 and Tier‑3 cities—by training qualified para‑professionals (‘Corporate Mitras’) to provide regulatory, compliance, financial and governance support. For the Northeast region, IICA‑Shillong is the nodal agency; 200 seats are reserved with a 50 % fee concession for candidates from the region. Registration for the Corporate Mitra course runs from 15 July to 31 July 2026, and the webinar attracted over 650 participants from universities, institutes and enterprises across Mizoram.