Official releases, distilled into exam-ready intelligence.

The Ministry of Textiles is implementing the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) under the Handloom Weavers’ Welfare component of the National Handloom Development Programme. These insurance schemes are offered on an annual basis (1 June–31 May) to eligible handloom weavers/workers across India, including Andhra Pradesh. Since 2021‑22 the schemes have been executed through State/UT governments, with targets set based on indicative eligible numbers and funds released accordingly. The release details show cumulative enrolments of 202 393 beneficiaries (2025‑26) and total funds of ₹ 335 crore released up to FY 2025‑26. Awareness is created via Weavers Service Centres, handloom helplines, and awareness camps, and an independent agency has evaluated the schemes’ impact.

The Ayush Grid project, described as the IT backbone of the AYUSH sector, has created 24 e‑governance platforms. The master portal (MAISP) integrates all AYUSH applications, and an AI‑enabled chatbot (beta) assists users. The Ayush Hospital Management Information System (AHMIS) has digitised 5,386 AYUSH health facilities, enabling electronic health records and referrals. The Swasthya Assessment Scale (SAS) has onboarded 1,335 doctors from 221 facilities for holistic health assessments. GIS mapping via the PM GatiShakti portal has charted 6,002 AYUSH facilities. Additionally, the Yoga Portal’s Yoga Sangam event on International Day of Yoga 2026 recorded over 7.6 lakh organisations and 8 lakh photographs, illustrating extensive digital outreach.

The Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying informed Parliament that the Government is undertaking multiple measures to strengthen the dairy and livestock sector. There is no proposal to introduce a Minimum Support Price for milk; prices remain market‑driven by cooperatives and private dairies. The Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF) is financing dairy and meat processing units, feed plants and related infrastructure, with 113 projects in Maharashtra approved for ₹4,700.13 crore and an interest subvention of ₹123.46 crore. The National Digital Livestock Mission assigns a 12‑digit Tag ID to each animal and records vaccination, breeding and treatment data using AES‑256 encryption, though Mobile Veterinary Units are not yet linked to the portal. Existing schemes such as the National Livestock Mission, Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme and AHIDF aim to boost production, farmer incomes and rural employment.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched a nationwide HPV vaccination programme on 28 February 2026 targeting about 1.2 crore girls aged 14 across all 36 States and Union Territories. By 15 July 2026, 5,210,302 girls had received the vaccine free of cost at government health facilities such as Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, PHCs, CHCs, SDHs/DHs and GMCs. Training of medical and paramedical staff was completed nationwide, and vaccination coverage is recorded on the U‑WIN digital portal. Awareness activities using IEC materials aim to overcome hesitancy, especially in rural, tribal and urban‑slum areas. The Union Government’s cervical‑cancer strategy also includes screening, early diagnosis at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs and treatment via Day Care Cancer Centres.

The Ministry of Fisheries, Government of India approved Karnataka’s Modernisation and Upgradation of Mangaluru Fishing Harbour in 2024, allocating Rs 37.47 crore (central share Rs 22.48 crore) under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY). The state reports 25 % physical progress and expenditure of Rs 6.31 crore, aiming to provide berthing for 1,600 vessels and benefit about 18,000 fishers, with pending works slated for completion by 21 May 2027. Across Karnataka, PMMSY projects total Rs 1,053.60 crore (2020‑21 to 2026‑27) covering 212 beneficiaries in three coastal districts, including deep‑sea vessels and cold‑chain assets. The information was conveyed by Fisheries Minister Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh in Lok Sabha.

The Department of Fisheries is implementing the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) with a total outlay of Rs 20,990.79 crore from FY 2020‑21 to date. For Uttar Pradesh, proposals approved under PMMSY amount to Rs 1,294.32 crore, with a central share of Rs 412.30 crore, and Rs 336.61 crore has been released to the state for FY 2020‑21 to 2026‑27. In Chandauli district, 10 PMMSY projects have been executed, benefiting 229 farmers. The district has 447 Gram Sabha ponds (427.15 ha); 421 ponds (417.24 ha) are leased for aquaculture, and fisheries activities are ongoing in 5 of its 8 reservoirs.

The Government has introduced a Digital market access and quality assurance framework for AYUSH products. An AYUSH vertical has been set up in the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) to enforce safety and quality, and CDSCO issues WHO Certificate of Pharmaceutical Product to compliant AYUSH drugs. The Quality Council of India runs a Quality Certifications Scheme granting Ayush Standard and Ayush Premium marks after third‑party evaluation. The Ministry of AYUSH implements the Ayush Oushadhi Gunavatta Evam Uttpadan Samvardhan Yojana (AOGUSY) to support manufacturers, upgrade pharmacies and testing labs, and operate a three‑tier pharmacovigilance network. The Ayush Quality Mark (AQM) is awarded through the Ayush Export Promotion Council after verification of GMP, WHO‑GMP and other certifications, aiming to boost global competitiveness. The Central Consumer Protection Authority has advised e‑commerce platforms to require a valid prescription for certain AYUSH drugs, and the Ayush Suraksha Portal enables real‑time reporting of misleading ads and adverse reactions.

Under the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for Textiles, 170 companies have been approved. By 31 March 2026, these firms have invested ₹8,117.64 crore and created 33,427 jobs. State‑wise, Gujarat leads with 46 companies, ₹1,903.38 crore investment and 4,493 jobs; Tamil Tamil Nadu follows with 17 firms, ₹1,277.16 crore and 7,930 jobs; Karnataka has 6 firms, ₹1,515.99 crore and 5,611 jobs. Other states contribute smaller shares of investment and employment as detailed in the release.

The Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) is an umbrella scheme comprising three components: the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) and Har Khet Ko Pani (HKKP) implemented by the Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, and the Watershed Development Component (WDC) implemented by the Department of Land Resources, Ministry of Rural Development. Central assistance is provided to states for creating irrigation potential, command‑area development and on‑farm activities. Projects are executed by state governments through competitive tendering, allowing private contractors as per state procurement rules, but the scheme contains no specific provision for private‑sector investment. Capacity‑building and training on efficient water management are undertaken by states/UTs, yet consolidated data on farmers and field‑level workers trained is not maintained centrally. The information was provided by Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Ramnath Thakur, in a Lok Sabha written reply.

The Ministry of Textiles is implementing the "Grant for Research and Entrepreneurship across Aspiring Innovators in Technical Textiles (GREAT)" scheme under the National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM) since 2023. To date, 31 start‑ups have been approved with a total outlay of Rs 15.40 crore, of which Rs 13.65 crore is funded by the Government of India. Each start‑up can receive up to Rs 50 lakh. The approved projects span advanced functional textiles, smart graphene‑based fabrics, energy‑harvesting and shape‑memory wearables, high‑performance composites for automotive, construction and defence, as well as sustainable bio‑based and medical textile innovations. State‑wise, the highest number of start‑ups are in Maharashtra (7) and Delhi (5).

The Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA), under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, inaugurated the eighth batch (2026–28) of its Post Graduate Insolvency Programme (PGIP). The two‑year residential programme, launched in 2019, aims to create a skilled cadre of insolvency and restructuring professionals through a multidisciplinary curriculum covering law, finance, management, valuation, technology and ethics. The inaugural address was delivered by Justice Ashok Bhushan, former NCLAT chair and former Supreme Court judge, who highlighted the transformative impact of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016. Shri Ravi Mittal, Chairperson of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India, emphasized the programme’s role in producing competent insolvency and resolution professionals, while IICA officials outlined recent innovations such as AI‑enabled learning and research incentives.

The Ministry of Home Affairs outlined recent measures to curb illicit narcotics trafficking. Key actions include active enforcement by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Drug Law Enforcement Agencies and State Police under the NDPS Act, 1985, and the release of a 2026‑2029 Vision Document on Narcotics Control. A four‑tier Narco‑Coordination Centre (NCORD) and a Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) chaired by the DG‑NCB have been instituted for better coordination and monitoring of major drug cases. Capacity‑building efforts involve workshops, training with the US‑DEA, and expansion of NCB’s regional, zonal and field offices, increasing posts by 568 and establishing a dedicated Directorate of Prosecution.

The National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC), under the Ministry of Cooperation, is implementing the fully funded Yuva Sahakar and Swayam Shakti schemes. Yuva Sahakar aims to encourage newly formed cooperative societies with innovative ideas, while Swayam Shakti seeks to provide affordable, cost‑effective financial services to the poor, including women Self‑Help Groups, to promote sustainable livelihoods. No cooperative from the Hisar Lok Sabha constituency in Haryana has submitted a proposal. NCDC monitors implementation through 19 regional and 9 sub‑offices, conducting periodic field visits to ensure timely credit flow. The information was provided by Union Minister for Home and Cooperation Amit Shah in a Lok Sabha reply.

The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying reports that under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), Integrated Modern Coastal Villages are being developed at a unit cost of ₹750 lakh to boost livelihoods through sustainable practices. A separate component creates Climate‑Resilient Coastal Fishermen Villages (CRCFV) at ₹200 lakh per village, fully funded by the Government of India. Andhra Pradesh has identified 15 villages, with a total project cost of ₹30 crore approved and ₹15 crore released so far. Interventions include jetty extensions, fish‑drying platforms, solar drying units, seaweed farms, GPS units, life‑saving equipment and other climate‑resilient assets. The PMMSY scheme is extended up to 30 September 2026.

The Ministry of Cooperation, together with CSC e‑Governance Services India Limited, has integrated eligible Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) in Andhra Pradesh as Common Service Centres (CSCs). A total of 1,958 PACS have been onboarded, of which 1,869 are currently active, delivering digital services such as banking, insurance, Aadhaar‑linked services, utility bill payments, PAN card issuance, agricultural and allied services, and other G2C/B2C offerings. Performance is tracked through periodic review meetings and status reports from CSC SPV. The annexed district‑wise data shows active PACS ranging from 1 in some districts to 403 in Krishna district, with 89 PACS inactive overall. The information was provided by Union Minister for Home and Cooperation Shri Amit Shah in a Lok Sabha written reply.

The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying reports that under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), projects worth Rs 544.86 crore were approved from FY 2021‑22 to FY 2025‑26 for the formation of 2,195 Fish Farmers Producer Organisations (FFPOs). This includes 195 new FFPOs and the conversion of 2,000 existing Primary Fisheries Cooperative Societies (PFCSs) into FFPOs. To date, 2,104 FFPOs have been formed nationwide, with 192 in Andhra Pradesh. In Andhra Pradesh, 10 new FFPOs received Rs 328.20 lakh in support, and 182 existing PFCSs were converted into FFPOs with an investment of Rs 963.73 lakh, covering management costs and equity grants. A total of 39,022 members are associated with these FFPOs in the state.

Researchers from the MACS Agharkar Research Institute, Pune, using combined morphological and multi‑locus DNA sequencing (mtSSU, nrLSU, RPB2), discovered and described five new lichen‑forming fungal species of the genus Allographa from the Western Ghats. The study, the first comprehensive molecular phylogenetic investigation of Allographa in this region, also generated new molecular data for several known species and highlighted that morphologically similar species may not be closely related. An updated checklist and molecular reference sequences were compiled, providing a baseline for biodiversity assessments, conservation planning, and future taxonomic work.

Under the National Ayush Mission (NAM), 12,500 Ayush Health & Wellness Centres (now called Ayushman Arogya Mandir) have been approved for operationalisation by upgrading 10,941 Ayush dispensaries and 1,559 Sub‑Health Centres, all reported functional. A total allocation of Rs 1872.71 crore has been released, of which Rs 1802.15 crore was utilised over the last two financial years. The Government’s co‑location strategy has placed Ayush facilities in 6,302 Primary Health Centres, 3,191 Community Health Centres and 475 District Hospitals as of 31‑Dec‑2025. Quality‑control measures include mandatory compliance with the Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940, GMP under Schedule T, and the operation of 118 private and 34 state drug‑testing labs. The Ministry of Ayush also runs schemes for medicinal‑plant conservation and the Ayush Quality Mark Programme launched on 19‑Dec‑2025.

The 135th meeting of the Enforcement Task Force (ETF) of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) for the NCR reviewed enforcement actions for the period 01‑07‑2026 to 13‑07‑2026. In 14 days, CAQM’s Flying Squads conducted 175 inspections covering 17 construction‑demolition sites, 90 industrial units and 68 diesel‑generator inspections. Based on violations, proposals were made for one project/industry closure, sealing of 19 DG sets, nine compliance orders and four Environmental Compensation impositions. The ETF noted 25 resumption orders issued after compliance verification (2 in Delhi, 11 in Haryana, 10 in Uttar Pradesh, 2 in Rajasthan). Cumulative inspections total 27,925 units with 1,803 closure directions and 1,446 resumption orders. The Ghaziabad road redevelopment was found fully compliant with CAQM’s Standard Framework, underscoring the emphasis on road‑dust mitigation.

The Ministry of Cooperation’s ‘Meri Samiti Mera Patal’ initiative, conceptualised and launched by the Regional Institute of Cooperative Management (RICM), Chandigarh under the National Council for Cooperative Training (NCCT), aims to empower Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) and Multi‑purpose Cooperative Societies (MPCS). It creates digital profiles for each society, establishing a centralized, transparent, real‑time data system to aid informed decision‑making. The programme covers Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Delhi, Chandigarh and Leh‑Ladakh. No proposal exists to expand the portal nationwide. Benefits highlighted include enhanced identity and transparency, greater public visibility, and real‑time data access. The information was provided by Union Minister for Home and Cooperation Shri Amit Shah in a Lok Sabha reply.