Official releases, distilled into exam-ready intelligence.

The President of India, acting on the Prime Minister’s advice, accepted the resignation of Shri Dharmendra Pradhan from the Union Council of Ministers with immediate effect under clause (2) of Article 75 of the Constitution. The President also directed that Shri Pralhad Joshi, a Cabinet Minister, be given the charge of the Ministry of Education in addition to his existing portfolio.

The High Court of Madhya Pradesh reports that 67 Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs), including 56 exclusive POCSO Courts, are operational under the centrally‑sponsored FTSC scheme. In Ratlam district, two FTSCs (one exclusive POCSO Court) are functional; in Jhabua district, one FTSC is functional; no FTSCs operate in Alirajpur district. The tables show that in Ratlam, 472 cases were instituted in 2024 with 260 disposed and 691 pending, while in 2025, 343 were instituted, 338 disposed and 696 pending. In Jhabua, 266 cases were instituted in 2024 with 135 disposed and 418 pending, and in 2025, 231 instituted, 154 disposed and 495 pending. The establishment of such courts is a state‑government function in consultation with the High Court, and no proposal for additional FTSCs is currently under consideration.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) is conducting a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in phases across the country to ensure accuracy and remove ineligible or duplicate entries. Phase I began in Bihar ahead of the 2025 state elections, involving house‑to‑house enumeration by Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and publication of draft rolls for claims. Phase II covered nine states and three Union territories from October 2025 to April 2026, following the same procedure. Phase III is underway or planned for the remaining states/UTs, including Delhi, with data on additions, deletions, and corrections being published by the ECI and state Chief Electoral Officers. Safeguards include multiple BLO visits before deletion, statutory claim periods, appeal mechanisms, and involvement of Booth Level Agents nominated by political parties. The Supreme Court upheld the SIR’s statutory basis under the Representation of the People Act, 1950, and its alignment with the Commission’s constitutional mandate under Article 324.

The Ministry of Law and Justice reports that legal aid under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 extends to persons with disabilities as defined in the 1955 Disabilities Act. The NALSA (Legal Services to Persons with Mental Illness and Persons with Intellectual Disabilities) Scheme, 2024 has set up ‘Manonyay’ Legal Services Units in all States/UTs except Lakshadweep, delivering services at mental health establishments, police stations, courts, transport hubs, prisons and through home visits. Legal aid beneficiaries recorded were 11,591 (2023‑24), 8,313 (2024‑25) and 15,280 (2025‑26). A centrally‑sponsored court‑infrastructure scheme mandates disabled‑friendly designs, while the e‑Courts Mission Mode Project Phase III allocates Rs 27.54 crore for accessible ICT facilities and Rs 6.35 crore for the S3WaaS platform to aid visually impaired users.

On 25 July 2026, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri inaugurated the spudding of the first appraisal well, MN‑DWN18‑1‑HD, in the Mahanadi Offshore Basin. The well is the first of four planned deep‑water wells aimed at evaluating one of India’s most prospective offshore basins using world‑class drilling technology. The minister linked the activity to a decade of reforms – the Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy (HELP), the Open Acreage Licensing Programme (OALP), a transparent revenue‑sharing framework and the opening of nearly 99 % of former offshore “No‑Go” areas – which have led to 172 blocks (≈3.8 lakh km²) being awarded with over USD 4.3 billion in committed investments. In FY 2025‑26, about 674 wells were drilled, five new discoveries made and seven discoveries monetised, underscoring the drive toward energy self‑reliance.

On July 25 2026, President Droupadi Murmu concluded her state visit to Romania by addressing the Indian community and ‘Friends of India’ at a reception in Bucharest. She highlighted the diaspora’s cultural and economic contributions, noting Indian IT engineers, scholars, researchers, healthcare professionals and students are establishing a presence in Romania. The President reiterated India’s ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’ vision and urged the community to remain active partners in India’s development. She also referred to the upcoming India‑European Union Free Trade Agreement and the potential for expanded cooperation in defence, renewable energy, digital technology, education, research, healthcare, and advanced manufacturing between India and Romania.

The Ministry of Law and Justice reports that under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for District and Subordinate Court infrastructure (running since 1993‑94), Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh have the following available facilities as of 31‑May‑2026: Karnataka – 1,278 court halls and 1,199 residential units for judges (against a sanctioned strength of 1,398 judges); Himachal Pradesh – 180 court halls and 161 residential units (against 192 judges). In the last five years, Karnataka completed 586 court halls and 129 residential units, with 218 halls and 46 units under construction; Himachal Pradesh completed 4 halls, 0 units, with 36 halls and 5 units under construction. Central funds released (in crore rupees) from FY 2021‑22 to FY 2025‑26 totalled ₹ 315.18 cr for Karnataka and ₹ 31.87 cr for Himachal Pradesh. Mother sanctions for FY 2026‑27 are ₹ 5.33 cr (Karnataka) and ₹ 5.195 cr (Himachal Pradesh). Additionally, e‑Courts Phase III funding of ₹ 151.73 cr (Karnataka) and ₹ 20.66 cr (Himachal Pradesh) has been released for digital infrastructure.

The Indian Coast Guard, in coordination with civil administration, rescued 170 persons from flood‑affected areas of Daman, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and South Gujarat through 11 operations conducted from the night of 22 July 2026. Key missions included evacuating five persons from Khanvel, three fishermen from Kadaiya, 60 persons from Welspun Industrial Area, and air‑lifting 33 persons from Mendar Village. Operations were carried out despite incessant rainfall, swift currents and hazardous conditions, underscoring the Coast Guard’s readiness to support disaster relief efforts.

On 25 July 2026, the Central Bureau of Communication (CBC) Field Office, Nagpur, under the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, held an awareness programme on Kargil Vijay Diwas‑2026 and the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan at Nagval Madhyamik Vidyalaya, Katol Road, Nagpur. Retired Captain Deepak Limse, as Chief Guest, paid tribute to Kargil war martyrs and urged students to consider a career in the Armed Forces. Shri Kishor Dada Jichkar, President of the School Management Committee, appealed for patriotic values and a drug‑free lifestyle. The event featured a lamp‑lighting ceremony, cultural performances, a street play on drug‑free India, pledge taking, and a selfie booth, with winners of prior drawing and essay competitions felicitated.

The Union Minister of State Dr. Jitendra Singh affirmed that the Government is committed to engaging employee organisations through regular dialogue and constructive consultations. He highlighted that legacy service‑related grievances pending for about 25‑30 years have been resolved owing to a focus on transparency, accountability and employee welfare. The remarks were made during an interaction with a 12‑member delegation of the Bhartiya Postal Employees Federation (BPEF), affiliated to the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, where issues such as service matters, welfare, and pending administrative and legal cases were discussed. The Minister underscored that every genuine representation is examined on merit and that the Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) plays a key role in promoting transparent and citizen‑centric governance.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation has issued a public advisory warning that fraudulent websites are impersonating the Air Suvidha 2.0 portal and directing passengers to unauthorized payment gateways. The advisory states that Air Suvidha 2.0 services, including the Self‑Declaration Form, are provided free of cost and no payment is required. Passengers are instructed to use only the official portal (https://airsuvidha.civilaviation.gov.in/) and to verify URLs before sharing personal or travel information or making any payments.

The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, through the National Film Development Corporation, announced that the 57th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) will be held in Goa from 20‑28 November 2026. Academy‑award‑nominated filmmaker Ashutosh Gowariker has been appointed Festival Director. Entries are invited for Indian Panorama (25 feature and 20 non‑feature films), Best Debut Director award (cash prize ₹5 lakh), Best Web Series (OTT) award (cash prize ₹10 lakh), and three International Cinema competitions with a combined prize pool of ₹1.36 crore. The last date for online Indian Panorama and OTT entries is 10 August 2026; hard copies by 17 August, and International Cinema entries by 31 August 2026.

The Department of Health Research (DHR) budget has risen more than five‑fold, from ₹932 crore in 2014‑15 (RE) to ₹4,821.21 crore in 2026‑27 (BE), representing 0.012 % of GDP. The 2026‑27 allocation is about 24 % higher than the revised estimate for 2025‑26 (₹3,900.69 crore). The Union Government has broadened the health‑research funding ecosystem: ICMR has restructured its intramural and extramural grants into Small/ANVESHAN (up to ₹2 crore), Intermediate/NISCHAYAK ANVESHAN (₹2‑₹8 crore), First‑in‑the‑World Challenge (up to ₹8 crore) and Centres for Advanced Research (up to ₹15 crore). These instruments aim to support investigator‑initiated, proof‑of‑concept, high‑risk, multidisciplinary and advanced research programmes.

The PIB Backgrounder "Saving Soil, Securing Farms" (24 July 2026) highlights soil as a strategic national resource underpinning agricultural productivity, food security and rural livelihoods. It reports that the Soil Health Card Scheme has issued 25.89 crore cards, the National Mission on Natural Farming has expanded to 18,786 clusters covering 8.80 lakh ha, and the Khet Bachao Abhiyan has engaged over 1.07 crore farmers. The document details diverse Indian soil types, the role of soil in carbon sequestration, and links to climate‑resilient missions such as NMSA, GIM and the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme. It also outlines digital initiatives—geospatial mapping, AI‑driven advisory platforms and the Digital Agriculture Mission—aimed at precision soil management and improved nutrient efficiency.

India’s services exports rose to USD 421.3 billion in FY 2025‑26, up from USD 254.5 billion in FY 2021‑22. The telecom, computer and information services sector contributed USD 206.6 billion (49.03% of total), while business services added USD 124.2 billion (29.5%). The government attributes this growth to a multi‑pronged strategy that includes sector‑specific market focus, addressing domestic challenges, and leveraging Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) to secure market access, national treatment, and time‑bound regulatory provisions. Additional measures involve Mutual Recognition Agreements for professional qualifications, supportive frameworks for students and social security, and trade‑promotion activities by the Services Export Promotion Council (SEPC) such as participation in international fairs and sectoral summits.

Union Minister of State for Communications Dr. Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani inaugurated the modernised Kothapeta and Chandramouli Nagar Sub‑Post Offices in Guntur under the Jan Seva Connect programme. The Ministry highlighted a ₹5,785 crore digital transformation of India Post under IT 2.0 and Advanced Postal Technology 2.0, integrating AI, cloud platforms and real‑time data across more than 1.65 lakh post offices. In Q1 FY 2026‑27, India Post posted a record revenue of ₹4,009 crore (22 % YoY growth) and the Andhra Pradesh Postal Circle emerged as the top performer, achieving 102 % of its target and a 140 % rise in parcel business. The renovated centres now offer integrated postal, banking, digital (UPI, Aadhaar), insurance and e‑commerce services, positioning them as next‑generation citizen service hubs.

The National Health Authority (NHA) convened a BRICS side‑event titled “From Digital Health Records to AI‑Enabled Healthcare: Strengthening the Continuum of Care Through Interoperable Data Infrastructure and Responsible Artificial Intelligence” during the 16th BRICS Health Ministers’ Meeting. Union Health Secretary Smt. Punya Salila Srivastava underscored that continuity of care is the true measure of digital health and AI’s impact, stressing the need for interoperable digital health records and responsible AI. She highlighted India’s Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission achievements – over 940 million ABHA IDs and more than one billion linked digital health records – and referenced the SAHI framework for responsible AI. The event released the BRICS TWG‑4 Compendium on Digital Health Architecture, promoting shared standards, governance, and collaborative research among BRICS nations.

The Ministry of Women and Child Development has launched Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, a centrally‑sponsored mission that subsumes Anganwadi services, Poshan Abhiyaan and the Scheme for Adolescent Girls in aspirational districts and the North‑Eastern region. It targets children (0‑6 years), pregnant and lactating women, and adolescent girls (14‑18 years). The ‘Poshan Tracker’ app, introduced in March 2021, monitors Anganwadi centres, workers and beneficiaries in near‑real‑time and now incorporates a facial‑recognition system for take‑home rations. Nutrition norms under the National Food Security Act were revised in January 2023 to include balanced calories, protein, fats and micronutrients. A joint protocol with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare addresses severe acute malnutrition, emphasizing community‑based detection and treatment. Community mobilisation activities such as Jan Andolans, Poshan Maah and Poshan Pakhwada are mandated, with each Anganwadi worker required to hold two community‑based events per month.

On 24 July 2026, the Income Tax Department, Pune Region marked the 167th Income Tax Day at Symbiosis Auditorium, Viman Nagar. Chief Guest Dr. Narendra Jadhav highlighted the theme of de‑dollarisation, noting the dollar’s decline in global reserves and urging promotion of rupee‑denominated trade and digital rupee usage. Principal Chief Commissioner Shri Vivek Wadekar cited a collection of over ₹23 lakh crore in the last fiscal, with Pune contributing ₹1.33 lakh crore (ranked 6th nationally). He emphasized the shift to AI‑driven assessments, with only 1.65 lakh of 9 crore returns selected for digital scrutiny, reflecting greater taxpayer trust. The event also honoured top taxpayers and showcased officers’ talents through cultural and sports competitions.

The Weather Information Network and Data System (WINDS) is a Government initiative to set up a national network of Automatic Weather Stations and Automatic Rain Gauges, generating hyper‑local weather data for crop insurance, agricultural advisories and disaster‑risk resilience. Seven states/UTs have adopted WINDS, with 16,843 sites approved, civil work finished at 1,188 sites and 892 AWS/ARGs installed. Under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, the Yield Estimation System‑Technology (YES‑TECH) was launched from Kharif 2023 for paddy, wheat and soybean, covering 12 states and 344 districts in 2025‑26, with state‑specific weightage. The government has also created the National Crop Insurance Portal and the Digiclaim Module, introducing a 12 % penalty for delayed claim payments and mandating the Crop Loss Assessment App for all states/UTs.