Official releases, distilled into exam-ready intelligence.

The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, has been implementing the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) since FY 2020‑21. Over the last six years, projects worth Rs 21,461 crore (central share Rs 9,571 crore) were approved, with Rs 6,206 crore released to States/UTs. Fish production rose from 141.64 lakh tonnes in 2019‑20 to a record 197.75 lakh tonnes in 2024‑25, creating 58 lakh direct and indirect jobs and increasing exports from Rs 46,663 crore to Rs 73,890 crore (2019‑20 to 2025‑26). NITI Aayog’s evaluation recommended continuation; the scheme will run till September 2026, with a Rs 2,500 crore central budget for FY 2026‑27. Additionally, Rs 544.86 crore funded the formation of 2,195 Fish Farmers Producer Organisations (FFPOs) during FY 2021‑22 to FY 2025‑26.

The Government of India has approved the National Forensic Infrastructure Enhancement Scheme (NFIES) with a total outlay of ₹2,254.43 crore for FY 2024‑25 to 2028‑29. Of this, ₹1,309.13 crore is earmarked for setting up nine campuses of the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) and ₹860.3 crore for establishing seven Central Forensic Science Laboratories (CFSLs). Funds of ₹119.09 crore have already been released and utilized for the campuses and labs. The approved campuses are in Nagpur, Raipur, Khordha, Chengalpattu, Rajasthan, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal; the CFSLs are in Raipur, Khordha, Chengalpattu, Rajasthan, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Kerala, with six co‑located with NFSU campuses. Land has been allotted in five locations and the campuses are operating from transit buildings. The details were provided by MoS Home Affairs Shri Bandi Sanjay Kumar in a Lok Sabha reply.

The Ministry of Textiles is implementing the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Textiles to boost production of MMF apparel, MMF fabrics and technical textiles. A total of 170 companies have been approved nationwide, of which 24 are in Maharashtra, with cumulative investment of ₹167.51 crore in the state as of 31 March 2026. The scheme was revised in October 2025, adding 17 new HSN codes, halving the minimum investment threshold, and lowering the incremental turnover requirement from 25 % to 10 %. Following these changes, MSME participation rose to 68 % (65 of 96 applications) in Round 3. The Ministry conducts weekly open‑house sessions, monthly workshops and state‑level outreach to facilitate implementation and resolve issues.

Under the World’s Largest Grain Storage Plan in the Cooperative Sector, 1,015 Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) have been identified for godown construction; work is completed in 313 PACS, creating a total capacity of 1.80 LMT. State‑wise, Rajasthan (121), Andhra Pradesh (117), Gujarat (44) and other states have built godowns as listed in Annexure‑I. The plan converges existing schemes such as the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF), Agricultural Marketing Infrastructure (AMI), Sub‑Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM) and PMFME, with scheme‑specific modifications (e.g., AIF credit guarantee extended to 2+8 years; AMI margin money reduced to 10%). It aligns with the Food Corporation of India’s storage requirement of ~26.03 LMT across 216 locations, offering a 9‑year hiring assurance for warehouses of ≥2,500 MT capacity.

The Government approved Vibrant Villages Programme‑I (VVP‑I) as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme on 15 February 2023 for comprehensive development of select villages in 46 blocks across 19 districts of Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand and the UT of Ladakh. To date, 832 projects in Arunachal Pradesh, 98 in Himachal Pradesh, 79 in Ladakh, 87 in Sikkim and 152 in Uttarakhand have been sanctioned with a total outlay of ₹3,065.32 crore, of which ₹953.47 crore has been released to the States/UT. 662 villages have been identified for priority development; 111 road projects (outlay ₹2,481.93 crore) aim to provide all‑weather connectivity to 134 villages. 528 villages have 4G connectivity, 625 have piped drinking water, 621 have electricity (on‑grid/off‑grid), 140 off‑grid solar and 7 micro‑hydel projects are sanctioned, alongside 43 power‑distribution projects (outlay ₹238.30 crore). Additionally, 40 mobile medical units and 146 school‑infrastructure projects have been approved. No third‑party evaluation has been conducted. The details were provided by Minister of State for Home Affairs Shri Nityanand Rai in a Lok Sabha reply.

The Ministry of Home Affairs announced the ‘Justice Centric System’ comprising new Sanhitas that shift focus from punishment to victim‑centred justice. Key provisions include online incident reporting, Zero FIR filing at any police station, free FIR copies, right to inform a chosen person upon arrest, mandatory display of arrest information, and guaranteed updates to victims within 90 days. Timelines mandate completion of preliminary enquiry (14 days), investigation (90 days), document supply (14 days), case commitment (90 days), and judgment (45 days), with limited adjournments. Additional reforms introduce community service for minor offences, expanded summary trials, witness protection schemes, curbing arbitrary arrests, and trial in absentia for proclaimed offenders. The Minister of State, Shri Bandi Sanjay Kumar, conveyed these details in a Lok Sabha reply.

Under the ‘Mission LiFE’ initiative, the Indian Air Force’s Maintenance Command organised a multi‑speciality ‘Freedom Health Camp’ on 26 July 2026 in Ghorad village, Nagpur district. Inaugurated by Air Marshal Yalla Umesh, the camp offered free preventive health check‑ups and specialist consultations in General Medicine, ENT, Ophthalmology, Surgery, Gynaecology, Paediatrics and Dental Care to over 600 villagers. The Armed Forces Medical Services team, led by Air Vice Marshal Sachin S Shouche, also conducted health screenings and dental examinations. Nutrition packs, sports kits and stationery were distributed to under‑privileged children, and a tree‑plantation drive was carried out under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ initiative.

The Department of Urology at AIIMS Nagpur has set up a Video Urodynamics Lab equipped with Electromyography (EMG) and Urethral Pressure Profilometry (UPP). The state‑of‑the‑art facility was inaugurated by Executive Director & CEO Prof. (Dr.) Prashant P. Joshi, attended by senior hospital officials. Video urodynamics combines pressure measurements with real‑time X‑ray imaging to assess bladder and urethral function, while EMG evaluates pelvic floor muscle coordination and UPP measures urethral pressure. The lab aims to serve patients across Vidarbha and neighbouring states, reducing dependence on costly private investigations and travel, and underscores AIIMS Nagpur’s commitment to advanced, technology‑driven urological care in Central India.

The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) Regional Office in Goa has urged employers in the state to utilise ‘VISHWAS 2026’, a one‑time scheme launched by the Ministry of Labour & Employment on 29 June 2026. The scheme, open for six months, enables employers to settle pending disputes under Section 14B of the EPF & MP Act and Section 128 of the Code on Social Security through a simplified online process at substantially reduced damage rates. It covers pending litigation, finalized recovery cases with dues unpaid, and pre‑adjudication cases. Successful applicants receive a digitally signed VISHWAS Certificate, avoiding prolonged court litigation.

The Government of India, through the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, will impose stock‑holding limits on sugar dealers nationwide from 1 August 2026 to 30 November 2026. The limits aim to curb hoarding, speculative trading and artificial scarcity that have driven up ex‑mill and retail sugar prices. Dealers must declare their stocks and update their positions weekly on the Department’s online portal (https://foodstock.dfpd.gov.in/). The measure seeks to maintain orderly domestic supply, protect consumer interests and ensure price stability.

The ICAR‑Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (ICAR‑CMFRI) reports that trawl‑based landings did not show a palpable decline during 2021‑2025 and that 91.1% of the 135 marine fish stocks evaluated in India’s EEZ were deemed sustainable (Marine Fish Stock Status of India, 2022). Fisheries is a state subject; each coastal state enacts a Marine Fishing Regulation Act (MFRA) governing activities up to 12 nautical miles, including zoning, mesh‑size, gear rules, seasonal bans, size limits, and bans on destructive practices such as paired/bull trawling and artificial lights. The central Department of Fisheries implements the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), promoting Turtle Excluder Devices, sea ranching, artificial reefs, deep‑sea vessels, open‑sea cage culture and seaweed farming to protect traditional fishers’ livelihoods. ICAR‑CMFRI conducts long‑term monitoring using FAO‑recommended stratified multistage random sampling, generating time‑series data from over 1,300 landing centres along India’s 11,000 km coastline and running programmes on marine biodiversity, benthic health, trophic interactions and bottom‑trawl impacts. The information was provided by Minister Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh (Lalan Singh) in Lok Sabha.

The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying reiterated the Government’s commitment to boost dairy and livestock sectors through continued investments in processing infrastructure, fodder availability and market access. It announced implementation of two key schemes – the National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD) and the Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF) – including a 3,000‑litre bulk milk cooler in Bhind (M.P.) and collection infrastructure at 48 dairy cooperative societies. Under the National Livestock Mission, 1.62 lakh tonnes of fodder seeds have been produced, 204 feed‑fodder units approved, and 100 fodder‑centric FPOs set up across 19 states. Delhi’s milk demand, estimated at 111 LLPD in 2019, is projected to reach 173.5 LLPD by 2030, currently met by existing suppliers. The sector’s output has risen markedly, with milk production climbing from 146.31 Mt (2014‑15) to 248.87 Mt (2024‑25) and egg production from 78.48 bn to 149.11 bn.

The Ministry of Cooperation, aiming to realise the vision of Sahakar‑se‑Samriddhi, has launched initiatives to strengthen cooperative banks, enabling them to act as ‘Corporate Agents’ for insurance distribution. The Reserve Bank of India, following the Ministry’s efforts, removed the ₹50 crore minimum net‑worth requirement for Rural Cooperative Banks to obtain a Corporate Agent licence, facilitating broader participation in the insurance sector. Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah conveyed this information in a written reply in Lok Sabha.

The Raksha Mantri announced two policy reforms for the Indian Coast Guard (ICG). The first introduces a gender‑neutral framework, allowing women to be inducted into both Short Service Appointments (SSA) and Permanent Appointments (PA) on par with men, and opening SSA for male candidates. Existing women officers in PA will be eligible for promotion and SSA women can convert to PA subject to conditions. The second reform authorises declaring ICG personnel missing at sea as ‘presumed dead’ for ex‑gratia purposes, thereby expediting compensation and terminal benefits to their next‑of‑kin.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, met with Members of Parliament from Assam on 28 July 2026 and discussed the prevailing flood situation across the state. He stated that the Centre is working closely with the Assam Government to assist those affected and prayed for the safety and well‑being of all people. The meeting and the Prime Minister’s remarks were posted on X (formerly Twitter).

The Ministry of Textiles is executing the "Grant for Research and Entrepreneurship across Aspiring Innovators in Technical Textiles (GREAT)" scheme under the National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM) since 2023. The scheme aims to bolster the start‑up ecosystem in technical textiles by offering up to Rs 50 lakh per start‑up, with a total outlay of Rs 15.40 crore (Rs 13.65 crore as Government of India share) for 31 approved ventures. These start‑ups operate across six technical‑textiles segments—Indutech, Meditech, Protech, Oekotech, Buildtech and Sportech—and are distributed in several states, including Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, and Uttarakhand. A Review and Monitoring Committee oversees progress, linking grant releases to commercialization milestones such as prototype development, field trials, market launch, investor funding, job creation and turnover. Public events, workshops and outreach activities have been conducted nationwide to promote the scheme and facilitate industry‑startup interaction.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, congratulated weightlifter Valluri Ajaya Babu for winning the silver medal in the Men’s 79 kg category at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2026 and for setting a Commonwealth Games record in the Snatch event. The PM posted the congratulatory message on X, wishing him success in future endeavours.

The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare is implementing the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), a Centrally Sponsored Scheme aimed at holistic development of the horticulture sector. MIDH provides institutional, technical and extension support for protected cultivation through State Horticulture Missions, Technical Support Groups, Precision Farming Development Centres, Centres of Excellence, ICAR Institutes, State Agricultural Universities, Krishi Vigyan Kendras and other recognised bodies. Sixty‑one crop‑specific Centres of Excellence have been set up under Indo‑Israel, Indo‑Dutch, and research institute collaborations. Under the Mission Management component, 2.5 % of the annual allocation is earmarked for State‑level activities. The scheme also funds construction of protected‑cultivation structures and commercial‑scale horticulture projects, as detailed by Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shri Ramnath Thakur in the Lok Sabha.

The Fertilizer Control Order (FCO), 1985 (amended on 13‑12‑2024) mandates a three‑sample protocol for fertilizer quality testing. One sample is retained by the dealer/importer/manufacturer/marketer, the second is sent to the state‑designated laboratory, and the third is held by a state‑appointed authority. If the first analysis reports a non‑standard sample, the dealer must apply for re‑testing within 15 days, after which the state authority forwards the dealer’s sample and its own custody sample to the National Test House (NTH) for a second analysis. The NTH report is final unless the two analyses differ, in which case a third analysis is conducted at the Central Fertiliser Quality Control and Training Institute (CFQCTI), Faridabad, whose report is final. Data for 2025‑26 show 3,906 samples received, of which 2,128 were standard and 1,778 non‑standard; for 2026‑27 (up to June) 578 samples were received, with 321 standard and 257 non‑standard. The FCO also prescribes specific timelines: state officers must send samples to NTH within three working days, NTH must complete analysis and report within fifteen days, and subsequent communications must occur within three working days at each step. The information was provided by Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shri Ramnath Thakur in a Lok Sabha reply.

The Ministry of Cooperation’s PIB release dated 28 July 2026 provides the latest enrollment status of cooperative societies in three national‑level entities – National Co‑operative Exports Limited (NCEL), National Cooperative Organics Limited (NCOL) and Bharatiya Beej Sahakari Samiti Limited (BBSSL). NCEL has 17,105 societies enrolled (16,743 PACS), NCOL 14,550 (14,280 PACS) and BBSSL 38,665 (37,972 PACS). In the Pali Lok Sabha constituency, 135, 33 and 177 societies are enrolled respectively. For ‘Bharat Organics’, 34 states/UTs have nominated nodal agencies and 28 states/UTs have signed MoUs; for ‘Bharat Beej’, 33 states/UTs have nominated nodal agencies and 26 states/UTs have signed MoUs. NCEL has exported 1,489,102 metric tonnes of 50 agri‑commodities worth ₹5,866.10 crore to 38 countries and paid a dividend of ₹8,31,34,024 (20 % of paid‑up share capital) to its members for FY 2023‑24 & 2024‑25.