Official releases, distilled into exam-ready intelligence.

The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), including its constituent units, Public Sector Undertakings, and aided institutions, has outlined its progress and upcoming participation in institutional cleanliness and governance campaigns. Following efforts under the sequel to Special Campaign 4.0 and 5.0 conducted between December 2025 and July 2026—which involved reviewing 82,901 files, weeding out 82,002 files, disposing of public grievances, generating over Rs. 4 crore from scrap, and freeing up 8,882 square feet of space—the Department is preparing for Special Campaign 6. The preparatory phase runs from 15 September to 30 September 2026, with the implementation phase scheduled from 2 October to 31 October 2026.

The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment highlights the impact of the National Fellowship for Scheduled Caste Students (NFSC) scheme through the case of Shri Samir Makhal, a 33-year-old Ph.D. scholar from Howrah district, West Bengal. Makhal faced severe financial constraints, limited research opportunities, and family responsibilities that delayed his doctoral studies. Since receiving NFSC assistance starting in May 2020—including the fellowship, House Rent Allowance, and contingency support—he met educational and daily expenses, improved his access to study materials and laboratory facilities, and achieved greater financial stability to focus on academic goals.

The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, has commenced the 'Swachhata Hi Seva' Campaign 2026, which is scheduled to continue until October 2, 2026. The campaign began with the Secretary of the Department administering the Swachhata Pledge to officers and officials of all ranks. Participating officials committed to devoting 100 hours annually to voluntary cleanliness work, avoiding littering, and encouraging community participation and individual action toward achieving clean workplaces, neighbourhoods, and the Swachh Bharat Mission.

The Ministry of Coal has clarified that Uttar Pradesh is not facing a critical coal shortage for its thermal power plants under the Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited (UPRVUNL). Addressing media reports of power shortages due to coal supply disruptions, the Ministry stated that UPRVUNL's coal stock increased from 7.25 lakh tonnes on September 1, 2026, to 8.41 lakh tonnes on September 15, 2026, with sustained supplies from Coal India Limited (CIL). However, the Ministry urged Uttar Pradesh to expedite the development of its Saharpur Jamarpani captive coal block in Jharkhand, allotted in August 2015, which remains unoperational over a decade later. Additionally, the Ministry noted that UPRVUNL's low plant load factor of around 48% and plant-end unloading constraints are responsible for generation issues rather than coal availability.

The Ministry of Culture has reported progress in reducing pendency and conducting cleanliness initiatives under the Special Campaign for Disposal of Pending Matters (SCDPM) from November 2025 to August 2026. During this period, the Ministry disposed of public grievances, Prime Minister’s Office references, Member of Parliament references, and State Government references, alongside reviewing and weeding out physical files. The Ministry also organised a Swachhata Pakhwada featuring a pledge, quiz, and essay competitions, and issued guidelines for its attached, subordinate, and autonomous organisations to participate in the upcoming Special Campaign 6.0 scheduled for October 2026.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared an article written by former President Ram Nath Kovind concerning India’s development trajectory. The article argues that India’s growth journey is shifting toward incorporating sections of society previously described as 'unheard, unseen, or underserved' into the national mainstream. According to the former President’s analysis, this transition is driven by the government's guiding mantra of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas.' The article further posits that this policy focus effectively moves individuals and regions previously situated at the 'periphery' toward the center of India's development ambition.

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addressed a gathering during the release of an installment under the Annapurna Yojana in West Bengal via video conferencing. Marking the occasion, the Prime Minister announced that the fourth installment of 3,000 rupees is reaching the bank accounts of approximately 1.5 crore women beneficiaries in the state. He highlighted that the scheme provides financial dignity, autonomy in decision-making, and support for household necessities, medicines, and children's education. Furthermore, the Prime Minister listed multiple central welfare initiatives spanning the lifecycle of women—including Matru Vandana Yojana, Beti Bachao - Beti Padhao, Mudra loans, Ujjwala gas, Har Ghar Jal, Ayushman cards, and PM Awas Yojana—aiming to improve the Ease of Living and foster women-led development.

The Department of Defence conducted 2,229 cleanliness drives across its attached and subordinate offices between November 2025 and August 2026, following Special Campaign 5.0 held in October 2025. These initiatives, carried out with participation from organisations such as the Directorate General Defence Estates, Directorate General Armed Forces Medical Services, Border Roads Organisation, Controller General of Defence Accounts, and Canteen Stores Department, freed up 45,448 square feet of space and generated ₹97.07 lakh through the disposal of scrap and unserviceable materials. The efforts aim to foster a clean, efficient, and productive workplace while institutionalising Swachhta in official functioning.

The Vice President attended the Hyderabad Liberation Day celebrations at Secunderabad Parade Ground, paying tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and the heroes of the Hyderabad liberation struggle. The event marked the integration of the erstwhile princely state of Hyderabad into India on September 17, 1948. Dignitaries including the Union Minister of Culture and Tourism, the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, and the Governor of Telangana highlighted the decisive role of Sardar Patel, the courage of the armed forces and the Jodhpur Lancers, and the struggle of the people against the Nizam's rule and Razakars. The ceremony featured a march past by Central Armed Police Forces, cultural performances, a quiz competition felicitation, and a historical exhibition.

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), along with its subordinate offices under the Ministry of Finance, is set to participate in Special Campaign 6.0 for Swachhata and efficiency from 2nd to 31st October 2026. Led by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), the campaign builds on the achievements of Special Campaign 5.0, which included cleaning sites, disposing of physical and e-files, freeing office space, generating revenue from scrap, and resolving public grievances. Special Campaign 6.0 will focus on four key areas: disposal of e-waste, record management, space optimisation and office beautification, and accelerated grievance redressal.

The Ministry of Labour & Employment has reported on its measures to institutionalize Swachhata and reduce administrative pendency between December 2025 and August 2026. Key achievements highlighted by the Ministry include weeding out 416 physical files, achieving 100% adoption of the e-Office platform for paperless workflows, resolving 98% of public grievances (2,13,805 out of 2,18,472) and 98% of grievance appeals (47,850 out of 48,828), and conducting over 1,000 cleanliness drives at various sites. Additionally, the Ministry announced preparations for Special Campaign 6.0, scheduled for October 2026, which will focus on e-waste management, record management, and optimizing office space.

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi shared an article authored by Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia highlighting the evolution of India Post into a modern, technology-driven, and professionally managed institution. According to the article, India Post integrates its extensive reach with digital capabilities spanning logistics, financial services, and citizen-centric services, while maintaining its public-service role under the guiding motto of 'Dak Seva, Jan Seva.'

The Vice-President of India participated as the Chief Guest at the 79th Hyderabad Liberation Day celebrations held at Parade Ground, Secunderabad, Telangana. He described the integration of the erstwhile Hyderabad State into the Indian Union following the events of September 1948 and Operation Polo as a decisive chapter in independent Bharat's history. He paid tribute to freedom fighters and leaders such as Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Ramji Gond, Turrebaz Khan, and Komaram Bheem, highlighting the role of the people's movement and the Central Armed Police Forces in national integration and maintaining territorial integrity.

The Prime Minister shared an article written by Vice-President Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan highlighting India's progress under the Blue Revolution. According to the article, India is looking beyond its shores to unlock its marine wealth. Furthermore, sustainable fisheries are stated to be creating new opportunities for coastal communities, youth, and women, thereby strengthening the economic life of coastal India.

The Union Cabinet has approved the Ministry of Labour & Employment's proposal to increase the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) wage ceiling for mandatory coverage from Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 25,000 per month. This change is expected to bring over 51 lakh additional employees within the mandatory social security net, expanding access to provident fund savings, pension protection under the Employees’ Pension Scheme, and insurance protection under the Employees’ Deposit Linked Insurance Scheme. The revision reflects sustained wage growth and formal employment expansion since the last revision in September 2014. The estimated five-year government expenditure for the measure is approximately Rs. 56,696 crore.

Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana–Urban (PMAY-U) is a flagship mission launched in June 2015 to ensure 'Housing for All' in urban areas by providing pucca houses with basic civic amenities to eligible EWS, LIG, MIG families, and slum dwellers. Building on implementation experiences and increasing demand, PMAY-U 2.0 was launched in September 2024 to provide financial assistance of up to ₹2.50 lakh per unit to an additional 1 crore urban poor and middle-class families through four verticals: Beneficiary-Led Construction (BLC), Affordable Housing in Partnership (AHP), Affordable Rental Housing (ARH), and Interest Subsidy Scheme (ISS). The mission places a strong emphasis on inclusivity, mandating ownership or co-ownership of houses for women, and prioritizes vulnerable groups including SCs, STs, OBCs, and persons with disabilities. Technological interventions such as geo-tagging, dashboards, and the Unified Web Portal are utilized for transparent monitoring.

The Union Cabinet approved an increase in the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) wage ceiling for mandatory coverage from Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 25,000 per month, effective 17 September 2026. Announced by the Union Minister of Labour & Employment, the decision aims to expand statutory social security protection, provident fund savings, pension, and insurance coverage to employees drawing wages between Rs. 15,000 and Rs. 25,000 per month. The government stated that the wage ceiling had remained unchanged since September 2014. The estimated annual government outgo for the enhancement is approximately Rs. 11,339 crore, with a total estimated expenditure of about Rs. 56,696 crore over a five-year period.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change hosted the national celebration of the 32nd World Ozone Day in Mumbai under the theme 'Global Action for a Cooler Planet'. During the event, India's Net Zero Portal and the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) Dashboard were launched to track climate commitments and missions. Officials noted that India has exceeded its Montreal Protocol obligations, phased out controlled chlorofluorocarbons, carbon tetrachloride, and halons, and met HCFC phase-out targets ahead of schedule. Additionally, 248 Industrial Training Institutions were adopted by 12 Refrigeration and Airconditioning manufacturers to train technicians in eco-friendly technologies.

The Union Cabinet has approved the Ministry of Labour & Employment's proposal to raise the wage ceiling for mandatory coverage under the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) from Rs.15,000 to Rs.25,000 per month. This change is expected to bring over 51 lakh additional employees within the mandatory EPFO framework, extending access to provident fund savings, pension protection under the Employees’ Pension Scheme (EPS), and insurance protection under the Employees’ Deposit Linked Insurance Scheme (EDLI). The revision accounts for sustained wage growth, rising incomes, and the expansion of formal employment since the ceiling was last updated in September 2014. The estimated five-year expenditure stands at approximately Rs.56,696 crore.

The Central Government of India has reported on the implementation and progress of the PM Young Achievers Scholarship Award Scheme for Vibrant India (PM-YASASVI), aimed at the educational empowerment of students belonging to Other Backward Classes (OBCs), Economically Backward Classes (EBCs), and Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (DNTs). According to the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, a total of Rs 15,555.53 crore has been released from 2014-15 to 2025-26 under various components—such as Pre-Matric and Post-Matric Scholarships, hostel infrastructure construction for boys and girls, and Top Class Education initiatives at school and college levels—supporting more than 1069 lakh beneficiaries overall.