Official releases, distilled into exam-ready intelligence.

The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) reports that under the Skill India Mission, the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) 4.0 is being delivered through the Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH), a unified digital platform for training, assessment, certification and employment services. The scheme emphasizes industry‑led, demand‑driven skilling in emerging technologies such as AI, ML, Robotics, Cloud Computing, IoT and Green Technologies, and has expanded access across states including Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh. An independent impact evaluation by AJNIFM shows employment of short‑term training candidates rising from 26.6% to 45.4% and income improvements for 41‑49% of beneficiaries. Funds released to PMKVY, JSS and NAPS total over Rs 13,600 crore, while the PM‑SETU programme will upgrade 1,000 government ITIs with a Rs 60,000 crore investment. International MoUs with 14 countries and partnerships with firms like IBM, Cisco and AWS aim to align skill development with global industry standards.

The Ministry of Power reports that coal‑based generation capacity stands at about 230.8 GW, contributing 69.54 % of electricity supplied in April‑June 2026. Peak non‑solar generation reached 188.8 GW (≈75 % of total generation). As of 12 July 2026, 42.8 MT of coal stock at thermal plants can sustain operations for 14 days at 85 % PLF, with daily coal receipts meeting demand. FY 2025‑26 added 9,470 MW of thermal capacity and 2,260 MW has been commissioned in the current FY. Coal supply is monitored daily by a joint committee of Power, Railways and Coal ministries, and an Inter‑Ministerial Committee reviews dispatches. The CEA’s 2023 regulation requires coal units to maintain a minimum 40 % technical level, and 2,669 MW of BESS and 7,426 MW of pumped storage have been commissioned to support non‑solar hours.

The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways has approved the four‑laning of the Armoor‑Jagtial‑Mancherial stretch of NH‑63 (under the Hybrid Annuity Model) and the Jagtial‑Karimnagar stretch of NH‑563 (on a Build‑Operate‑Transfer Toll basis). Covering 190.76 km, the projects involve an investment of ₹7,597.16 crore. The upgraded corridors will improve connectivity to pilgrimage sites, industrial hubs, SEZs, food parks and agricultural markets, and are expected to cut travel time by about 1 hour 30 minutes on the Armoor‑Mancherial route and 45 minutes on the Jagtial‑Karimnagar route. The Ministry links the projects to the PM Gati Shakti initiative and to broader national highway networks such as NH‑44, NH‑363 and NH‑163G.

The Ministry of Coal outlines a series of policy and regulatory measures aimed at boosting domestic coal production and reducing import dependence. Key actions include regular reviews of coal block development, the 2021 MMDR Act allowing captive mine owners to sell up to 50% of production, a single‑window clearance portal, and a Project Management Unit to expedite approvals. Commercial mining auctions launched in 2020 offer a 50% rebate for early production and incentives for coal gasification, with liberal terms such as 100% FDI and revenue sharing based on the National Coal Index. Timelines for mine development have been shortened, prospecting licences dispensed, and coking coal declared a critical mineral. The government also increased the Annual Contracted Quantity to 100% of normative demand and extended coking‑coal linkage tenures to 30 years, further curbing imports. Environmental sustainability measures, including mechanised extraction, dust‑control technologies, and plantation initiatives, accompany these reforms.

The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) under the Skill India Mission (SIM) is aligning skill training with industry needs through schemes such as PMKVY 4.0, NAPS, CTS, and PM‑SETU. Initiatives include demand‑driven up‑skilling in AI, ML, robotics, IoT, green technologies, and 32 new‑age courses in ITIs. 36 Sector Skill Councils and the National Council for Vocational Education and Training have approved 10,209 qualifications. MSDE has signed MoUs with 14 countries and leading tech firms (IBM, Cisco, AWS, Microsoft) to ensure industry linkages, and launched the Skill India Digital Hub to connect trained candidates with employers. The PM‑SETU scheme earmarks Rs 60,000 crore to upgrade 1,000 ITIs in a hub‑and‑spoke model, enhancing employability and entrepreneurship prospects.

The Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs (PM‑SETU) scheme, with a total outlay of Rs 60,000 crore (Rs 30,000 crore central, Rs 20,000 crore state, Rs 10,000 crore industry), aims to improve vocational training quality. It has two components: (i) upgrading 1,000 government ITIs (200 hub and 800 spoke) with smart classrooms, modern labs, digital content and new industry‑aligned courses; and (ii) capacity augmentation of five NSTIs with sector‑specific Centres of Excellence. Six Strategic Investment Plans (SIPs) from anchor industry partners across Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Gujarat have been approved. Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh have identified clusters and issued RFPs, while 36 States/UTs have formed State Steering Committees and 23 have floated industry‑interest proposals. The scheme will be implemented over five years.

The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship reports that the number of Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) rose from 9,642 in 2014 to 13,856 in 2026, with enrolments increasing from 9,51,168 (2014‑15) to 14,70,277 (2025‑26). The Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs (PM‑SETU) scheme, with a total outlay of Rs 60,000 crore (central share Rs 30,000 crore, state share Rs 20,000 crore, industry share Rs 10,000 crore), aims to upgrade 1,000 government ITIs under a hub‑spoke model and augment capacity of five National Skill Training Institutes. The scheme introduces 32 new‑age trades, such as Additive Manufacturing and Cyber Security, and involves industry‑led SPVs and state‑wise proposals for anchor industry partners.

President Droupadi Murmu made a historic State Visit to Moldova on 20 July 2026, the first by an Indian President. Accompanied by senior officials, she met President Maia Sandu, discussed the entire bilateral partnership and agreed to deepen cooperation in agriculture, logistics, healthcare, renewable energy, Digital Public Infrastructure, Artificial Intelligence and innovation. India announced it will double ITEC training slots for Moldovan professionals, including AI and cyber‑diplomacy courses, and invited Moldova to join the Coalition for Disaster‑Resilient Infrastructure and the Global Biofuels Alliance. The visit underscores expanding economic and strategic ties between the two countries.

The National Coal Gasification Mission aims to achieve 100 Million Tonnes (MT) of coal gasification capacity by 2030. Currently, about 22.6 Million Tonnes Per Annum (MTPA) is operational or under implementation, comprising Jindal Steel Limited (~8 MTPA operational), Talcher Fertilisers Limited (~2.6 MTPA under implementation) and eight projects approved under the ₹8,500 crore Financial Incentive Scheme (~12 MTPA under implementation). To bridge the gap, the Government approved a new ₹37,500 crore scheme on 13 May 2026 for surface coal/lignite gasification, targeting ~75 MTPA and offering incentives up to 20 % of plant and machinery cost. The scheme seeks to boost coal‑to‑chemical, methanol and synthetic natural gas production and strengthen India’s energy security.

The Ministry of Labour & Employment’s e‑Shram portal, launched on 26 August 2021, has registered over 31.78 crore unorganised workers as of 14 July 2026, assigning each a Universal Account Number (UAN). State/UT‑wise registrations are detailed in Annexure‑I, with Uttar Pradesh contributing the highest number (8.45 crore) and Lakshadweep the lowest (2,876). Fifteen central schemes—including PM‑Kisan, PM‑AYUSHMAN BHARAT, PM‑JEEVAN JYOTI BIMA, and PM‑MVY—have been integrated into e‑Shram, enabling workers to access benefits through a single platform. Additional linkages exist with National Career Service, Skill India Digital Hub, and PM‑SYM for pensions.

India’s 8th Trade Policy Review (TPR) at the WTO will be held on 21 and 23 July 2026, led by Commerce Secretary Shri Rajesh Agarwal. The TPR, conducted every five years, covers the period 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2025 and began in June 2025 with participation from over 100 ministries and organisations. During the review period, India’s merchandise and services exports reached a record US$ 863.1 billion in 2025‑26, a 6.3 % increase from US$ 676.5 billion in 2021‑22. The Government Report highlights achievements such as active FTAs, GST rationalisation, and digital trade facilitation (UPI). Over 900 WTO questions have been submitted and more than 40 members are expected to deliver statements, underscoring global interest in India’s trade profile.

On 20 July 2026 India deposited its Instrument of Acceptance for the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies (AFS), becoming the 123rd WTO Member to join the pact. The Agreement, adopted in June 2022 and effective from 15 September 2025, targets subsidies linked to illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and over‑exploited stocks, aiming to protect marine ecosystems and the livelihoods of traditional and small‑scale fishers. Aquaculture and inland fisheries are excluded from its scope. The government highlighted that the move reinforces India’s commitment to sustainable fisheries, enhances its credibility as a responsible seafood exporter, and aligns with existing domestic frameworks such as the EEZ Rules 2025 and the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana.

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, together with the National Institute of Urban Affairs, held a national interaction with 75 AMRUT Shallow Aquifer Management (SAM) cities under the ‘Catch the Rain’ campaign. The forum enabled ULBs to share progress on groundwater recharge interventions such as recharge shafts, injection wells, check dams, gabion walls, circular khals and modular pits. Cities reported outcomes like Korba’s plan to revive 95 defunct borewells, Vizianagaram’s rise in groundwater levels, Nagpur’s commitment to add 100 recharge structures this monsoon, and Bhubaneswar’s mitigation of urban flooding through improved storm‑water infiltration. Experts highlighted community participation as vital for long‑term sustainability.

The Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs reports that the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana‑Urban (PMAY‑U) has been active since 25 June 2015 and its implementation period has been extended to 30 September 2026. A revamped PMAY‑U 2.0 ‘Housing for All’ Mission was launched on 1 September 2024, adding four verticals (BLC, AHP, ARH, ISS) and targeting 1 crore additional beneficiaries over the next five years. Nationwide, 127.68 lakh houses have been sanctioned, 121.02 lakh grounded and 99.07 lakh completed as of 13 July 2026. In Tamil Nadu, 6.86 lakh houses were sanctioned (0.18 lakh under PMAY‑U 2.0), with more than 6.74 lakh grounded and 6.32 lakh completed. Completion timelines range from 12‑36 months, with progress monitored through reviews, video‑conferences and field visits.

The Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN), under the Ministry of Finance, seized a consignment of 120 million (12 crore) high‑strength Tramadol Hydrochloride tablets (250 mg) weighing about 30 metric tonnes from a Delhi warehouse. The shipment, declared for Guinea‑Bissau but intended for diversion to Libya, was intercepted during “Operation Vajra” (10‑20 July 2026) across Bengaluru, Delhi and Kochi. Coordinated actions with the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, the International Narcotics Control Board and other agencies led to the arrest of three key suspects – one in Bengaluru and two in Kochi – under the NDPS Act, 1985. The operation highlights India’s risk‑based export controls and inter‑agency cooperation to curb transnational synthetic opioid trafficking.

The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) highlighted several initiatives to boost skill development in tribal areas. TRIFED has sanctioned 4,172 Van Dhan Vikas Kendra (VDVKs) covering 12,48,067 tribal members, including 20 VDVKs for 5,900 beneficiaries in Dahod, Gujarat. Under the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DAJGUA), 30 Tribal Skilling Centres have been set up across 30 tribal districts in 15 states. MSDE’s project to establish 1,200 vocational skill labs in 400 Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas and 200 Eklavya Model Residential Schools aims to train 1,200 skill teachers. In Dahod district, six training centres have been accredited under PMKVY 4.0, delivering courses such as Kisan Drone Operator and traditional tribal skills, with 2,351 candidates trained in the Dahod Lok Sabha constituency up to June 2026.

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has added two citizen‑centric features to the RajmargYatra mobile app: a digital ‘Local Pass’ and the ‘MargMitra’ Help Centre. The Local Pass, first launched at the Mundka‑Bakkarwala Toll Plaza on Urban Extension Road‑II in Delhi, lets residents within a 20 km radius purchase a monthly toll pass digitally, eliminating the need to visit the toll plaza and submit physical documents. Eligibility is verified through consent‑based integration with DigiLocker, VAHAN and GIS‑based checks. MargMitra is an AI‑driven, multilingual (22 languages) assistance platform that provides information, FASTag services, grievance redressal and real‑time monitoring of complaints, all within the app.

The Department of Land Resources, Ministry of Rural Development, together with Goa’s Directorate of Settlement and Land Records, issued a clarification on the NAKSHA pilot project, stating that all existing property titles, boundaries and land records remain fully protected. NAKSHA, under the Digital India Land Records Modernisation Programme, is a GIS‑based urban parcel mapping exercise aimed at improving town planning and land administration, not land acquisition or tax increase. The rights of non‑resident owners are safeguarded, and the survey does not affect ongoing legal disputes. After completing ground‑truthing, a formal inquiry will be held from 16 July to 14 August 2026, where owners must appear with title documents at the Inspector of Survey and Land Records office in Margao.

The Office of Economic Adviser, DPIIT, has released a revised Index of Core Industries (ICI) series with base year 2022‑23, replacing the earlier 2011‑12 series. The new series, now comprising nine core industries (adding iron ore), uses gross production data for steel and retains only raw coal to avoid double counting. A linking factor of 1.47 connects the old and new series. Provisional data for June 2026 show the ICI grew 5.0 % YoY, driven mainly by iron ore (43.9 %) and electricity (9.8 %). Cumulative growth for April‑June 2026 was 3.6 % YoY. The revised series and its data are available on the OEA portal.

The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, through the Directorate General of Training, is upgrading Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) under schemes such as the Model ITI upgradation and the STRIVE scheme. Under STRIVE, Rs 25.88 crore was allotted to Andhra Pradesh for 15 ITIs. A 2024 tracer study reported 78.8 % satisfaction with ITI infrastructure. Over the last five years, 21 CTS courses, 15 short‑term courses, 17 Flexi‑MoU courses and one CITS course were approved by the NCVET, and 40 CTS courses were revised. Additionally, 32 “New Age” courses (e.g., Green Hydrogen Production Technician, IoT Technician) were introduced, raising enrolment from 8,611 (2022‑23) to 42,338 (2025‑26). State‑wise fund releases for the Model ITI scheme are detailed in Annexure‑I.