Official releases, distilled into exam-ready intelligence.

This press release highlights the academic journey of Shewani Kumari, a 29-year-old scholar from the Scheduled Caste community who completed her Ph.D. in Sociology despite financial, social, and educational barriers. Coming from a family with limited income, she faced hurdles in meeting tuition, book, research, and travel expenses. Her trajectory was aided by financial assistance through the NFSDC Fellowship for Higher Education and Research, which provided Rs. 31,000 per month as a Junior Research Fellow and Rs. 35,000 per month as a Senior Research Fellow. The fellowship offered financial stability, helping her complete her doctorate, gain teaching experience, and work as a lecturer while aspiring to become an Assistant Professor.

The Ministry of Jal Shakti has released the anthem for the “Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari – Catch the Rain” initiative, aimed at promoting water conservation and rainwater harvesting through public participation. Sung by Shankar Mahadevan, the anthem promotes the Prime Minister's call of "Catch the Rain – Where It Falls, When It Falls." The initiative seeks to transform water conservation into a people-led movement by encouraging the creation and rejuvenation of groundwater recharge structures, involving citizens, communities, and institutions to ensure a water-secure future.

The National Institute of Social Defence (NISD), operating under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, is utilizing the TAPAS (Training for Augmenting Productivity and Services) online learning management platform to offer self-paced certificate courses in social defence. According to a senior Ministry official, the platform recorded 6,866 student enrolments between 2021 and 2026, which included 733 enrolments in 2026. The platform utilizes a four-quadrant approach consisting of video lectures, supplementary material, discussion forums, and self-assessment exercises. TAPAS offers five distinct courses spanning 48 modules covering Geriatric and Elderly Care, Social Defence Issues, Substance Abuse Prevention, Transgender Issues, and the Care and Management of Dementia.

Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs & Sports Smt. Raksha Khadse visited Aizawl to review the sports ecosystem in Mizoram. She met with Mizoram Sports Minister Pu Lalnghinglova Hmar to discuss Centre-State coordination, infrastructure development, and nurturing regional talent. During her visit to the Sports Authority of India (SAI) centre in Aizawl, she interacted with athletes, coaches, and support staff, emphasizing quality coaching, scientific support, nutrition, and rehabilitation. The release highlights government efforts through the Khelo India scheme and infrastructure projects, such as a synthetic hockey turf and lighting at the SAI Training Centre in Aizawl. It also notes Mizoram's sporting potential, citing examples like Lalremsiami Hmarzote.

This Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment release details the rehabilitation journey of an individual from Akola district, Maharashtra, who received support through an Integrated Rehabilitation Centre for Addicts (IRCA). The source outlines the challenges of addiction, including family conflicts, financial difficulties, and social stigma. It highlights the intervention provided by the IRCA starting October 2025, which included free medical treatment, psychological therapy, family counselling, addiction-related medicines, free food, and regular follow-up services. The structured support helped the individual develop stress-management techniques, improve emotional control, and restore family relationships.

The CSIR-National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research (CSIR-NIScPR) is utilizing SARAL AI—an initiative of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF)—to convert published scientific research into engaging and accessible videos. Encouraged by the Ministry of Science & Technology, the initiative aims to leverage emerging digital technologies to simplify complex scientific research, expand its reach beyond the traditional research community, and make it more discoverable for students and the general public through a dedicated YouTube playlist. The Institute recently organized a hands-on workshop for editors and researchers to facilitate this adoption.

The Department of Higher Education (DoHE) has reported outcomes from Special Campaign 5.0, where it reviewed 95.2% of physical files and 87.46% of e-files. The campaign resulted in clearing 14,44,839 sq. ft. of office space, generating ₹6.89 crore in revenue through scrap disposal, and weeding out or closing 90,629 files. Moving forward, the DoHE is launching Special Campaign 6.0, scheduled from October 2 to 31, 2026. This initiative focuses on reducing pendency in government offices and Centrally Funded Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), with an emphasis on record management and the scientific disposal of e-waste. The campaign includes a preparatory phase (September 15–30, 2026) followed by an implementation phase targeting public grievances and parliamentary assurances.

Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT), Nagpur, celebrated its 24th Convocation on Engineers’ Day, highlighting achievements in academics, research, innovation, and industry collaboration for 2025–26. Dignitaries emphasized the integration of technical expertise with ethical responsibility, sustainability, and nation-building. The institute introduced new programmes in emerging technological areas, established the VNIT Ventures Vault Foundation incubation centre, secured funding under the DST-NIDHI TBI scheme, and filed numerous patents and R&D projects. Furthermore, VNIT formed a collaboration with Hyundai Motor Group for a Centre of Excellence and recorded strong placement statistics.

The Prime Minister paid homage to the Bengali writer Saratchandra Chattopadhyay on his 150th birth anniversary. The Prime Minister highlighted the enduring significance of Chattopadhyay's literary works, noting their translation into every Indian language and multiple foreign languages. His writings are recognized for their accurate portrayal of 19th-century India and rural Bengali society, along with his commitment to social reform, women's rights, and nationalism.

Expert astrophotographers and amateur astronomers from across India participated in the fourth edition of the Hanle Dark Sky Reserve (HDSR) Star Party from 7–12 September 2026, held at the Indian Astronomical Observatory in Hanle, Ladakh. Jointly organized by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Department of Wildlife Protection of UT Ladakh, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), and the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), the event brought together around 40 amateur astronomers to utilize the dark skies. An Open Night on 10 September drew over 1,200 visitors, and training sessions were conducted for local HDSR Astronomy Ambassadors. Notified in December 2022, the HDSR initiative aims to reduce light pollution for scientific research and promote astro-tourism for local socio-economic development.

The Defence Accounts Department (DAD) achieved 100% normalization of discrepant pension cases for the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy on the System for Pension Administration – Raksha (SPARSH) platform. Undertaken as a special drive in mission mode, DAD successfully normalized 1,12,638 Air Force cases and 32,544 Navy cases. Additionally, the Department made substantial progress regarding the Indian Army by normalizing 3,90,336 out of 3,94,779 discrepant cases, reaching 98.8% completion. The effort was led through focused examination, coordinated action, and close monitoring by the Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA) and the Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (Pension).

The Press Information Bureau release discusses the global and domestic expansion of Ayurveda and the broader Ayush sector ahead of the 11th Ayurveda Day on September 23, 2026, themed “Ayurveda for a Healthier Tomorrow”. It notes significant economic growth in the Ayush market from USD 2.85 billion in 2014 to USD 43.4 billion in 2023, and highlights findings from the first All-India Survey on Ayush. The release details recent strategic policy developments, including NITI Aayog's “Strategic Roadmap for Making Ayurveda Global” released in July 2026, the introduction of the Ayush Visa, India's partnership with WHO via the Global Traditional Medicine Centre in Jamnagar, and the inclusion of traditional medicine modules in ICD-11.

The Ministry of Coal highlights the transformation of coal block allocation in India following the Supreme Court's cancellation of 204 coal blocks in 2014 and the launch of commercial coal mine auctions on June 18, 2020. The transparent online bidding process features no end-use restrictions, 100% FDI through the automatic route, and low upfront payments. To date, 147 coal mines have been auctioned across nine states, involving 44 new companies and legacy public sector undertakings. The system generates revenue through competitive revenue sharing, statutory royalties, District Mineral Foundation (DMF) contributions, and National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET) contributions, while boosting domestic production and contributing to energy self-reliance.

Union Minister of Commerce and Industry of India, Piyush Goyal, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay, Mario Lubetkin, acting in the exercise of the Pro Tempore Presidency of MERCOSUR, announced the launch of negotiations to expand the Preferential Trade Agreement between India and MERCOSUR. Both sides agreed to broaden the existing agreement to cover areas of mutual interest to deepen economic relations and generate greater opportunities for their private sectors. Currently, India and MERCOSUR are finalizing the Terms of Reference that will define the scope and structure of the expanded agreement.

India's digital economy expansion has driven significant growth in data centre infrastructure, which supports e-governance, banking, and emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence. Installed data-centre power capacity increased from approximately 375 MW in 2020 to 1.57 GW as of August 2026, and is projected to reach nearly 8 GW by 2030, with electricity demand potentially hitting 17 GW by 2031-32 according to the Central Electricity Authority. The Government has supported this ecosystem through measures such as including data centres in the Harmonized List of Infrastructure in the Union Budget 2022-23 and introducing a tax holiday for eligible foreign cloud service providers until 2047 in the Union Budget 2026-27. Additional linked ecosystem initiatives include the Semicon India Programme (Semicon 2.0), IndiaAI Mission, Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS), and PLI Scheme 2.0 for IT Hardware.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the fifth edition of SEMICON India 2026 at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi, held from September 17–19, 2026. Organised jointly by the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM), the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), and SEMI, the event carries the theme 'Silicon to Systems: Building the Ecosystem.' It will host over 600 exhibitors, 300 international companies from more than 40 countries, six country pavilions, and twelve state pavilions. The event showcases India's growing capabilities across the semiconductor value chain, supported by the Semicon India Programme, the Design Linked Incentive (DLI) Scheme, and Semicon 2.0 initiatives.

Researchers at the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Bengaluru, have discovered an unusual wave-like heat transport regime in a copper chalcogenide material, thallium copper selenide (TlCu5Se3). The material's complex three-dimensional cloverleaf knot-like crystal framework restricts copper atom motion, generating strong lattice anharmonicity while maintaining structural stability. This confined dynamic disorder leads to wave-like phonon transport and ultralow lattice thermal conductivity, resulting in a high thermoelectric figure of merit (zT of 1.7). The finding offers a potential mechanism for converting industrial waste heat into electricity across sectors like power plants, cement industries, steel plants, automobiles, data centres, and battery thermal management.

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment reported that the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) has reached over 34.54 crore citizens, including 13.70 crore youth and 10.64 crore women. To strengthen community participation, more than 1.67 lakh Nasha Mukti Mitras have joined, and over 31.40 lakh awareness and outreach activities have been conducted. Additionally, more than 755 new de-addiction facilities have been established in the last two years under the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR). The Ministry also launched the NMBA 2.0 Mobile Application to help citizens locate treatment services and aims to mobilize over 10 crore citizens for a National Mass Pledge against drug abuse.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of India, in partnership with the Ministry of External Affairs, inaugurated the fifth Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Executive Capacity Building Programme on Human Rights in New Delhi. The six-day programme brings together about 38 senior functionaries from National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) across 14 countries of the Global South. During the inaugural address, the NHRC Chairperson highlighted current human rights challenges arising from shifting social values, emerging technologies such as synthetic and digital technology, and global armed conflicts. Other senior officials emphasized values like international cooperation, pluralism, and the philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.

The Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change visited the Great Indian Bustard (GIB) habitat at Naliya in Kachchh district, Gujarat. During the visit, he inaugurated a GIB Soft Release Centre, reviewed comprehensive conservation and habitat-management measures including grassland restoration and predator-proof fencing, and interacted with local pastoralist and agricultural communities. The Minister also flagged off 33 new patrolling and rescue vehicles, inaugurated the Sayara Van Kavach developed via the Miyawaki afforestation method, and reviewed mangrove plantation and livelihood efforts under the MISHTI (Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes) programme at Jakhau.