Official releases, distilled into exam-ready intelligence.

The Ministry of Finance has announced that the Bankers’ Books Evidence Act, 2026, which received presidential assent on 13th August 2026, will come into force from 1st October 2026. This Act replaces the Bankers’ Books Evidence Act, 1891, to modernise the legal framework for using banking records as evidence. It adopts a technology-neutral approach by recognising physical, electronic, digital, virtual, and cloud-based banking records, and allows certification through manual, digital, or electronic signatures. Furthermore, the Act limits the summoning of bank officials where the bank is not a party to proceedings by requiring a 'special cause' recorded in writing, and enables the Central Government to extend provisions to other specified financial sector entities.

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) approved over 29,000 additional houses during the 9th meeting of the Central Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee (CSMC) under Pradhan Manti Awas Yojana - Urban 2.0 (PMAY-U 2.0), bringing total scheme sanctions to 18.77 lakh. Chaired by the Secretary, Department of Urban Development, the meeting covered approvals for Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Telangana, Tripura, and Uttar Pradesh under the Beneficiary Led Construction and Affordable Housing in Partnership verticals. The scheme aims to benefit EWS, LIG, and MIG families with annual incomes up to ₹9 lakh. The release highlights that 92% of the sanctioned houses under PMAY-U 2.0 are allotted to women, alongside specific allocations for senior citizens, SC, ST, and OBC beneficiaries.

The Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) organized a two-day national conference in Bengaluru on the quality and safety of biosimilars to align with the Biopharma SHAKTI Vision. The event focused on addressing regulatory, scientific, and safety challenges in biopharmaceuticals and launched the Indian Pharmacopoeia Reference Substance (IPRS) for Enoxaparin Sodium for bioassays. This reference material is intended to support accurate biological activity assessment and strengthen indigenous pharmaceutical quality infrastructure in line with Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat goals.

Speaking at the Dryland Congress 2026 in New Delhi, the Secretary of the Department of Land Resources (DoLR) emphasised shifting from post-drought responses to building climate-resilient dryland landscapes using integrated watershed development, digital public infrastructure, and community participation. Highlighting that rainfed agriculture covers 43% of India's net sown area and contributes 40% of food production, the Secretary detailed the achievements of the Watershed Development Component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (WDC-PMKSY). Over 12 years, 7,602 projects covering 34 million hectares have been implemented, yielding a Benefit-Cost Ratio of about 2:1, improving water harvesting, and supporting farmers' incomes towards the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047.

Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh addressed the 3rd Global Summit on Advanced Materials, Critical Minerals, & Metals organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in New Delhi. He emphasized that critical minerals are central to India's energy security, industrial competitiveness, and national security. Highlighting India's shift to a confident global player in emerging technologies, he called for a whole-of-nation approach to build resilient value chains across exploration, extraction, refining, processing, and manufacturing. He noted the opening up of the nuclear sector to private players, the implementation of the RDI Fund to boost private investment, and stressed early industry linkages with research, greater philanthropy for research, and robust domestic-international partnerships.

The National Safai Karamcharis Finance & Development Corporation (NSKFDC), operating under the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, advances socio-economic empowerment and sustainable livelihoods for Safai Karamcharis, waste pickers, manual scavengers, and their dependents. Established in January 1997, NSKFDC provides concessional financial assistance up to Rs. 30 lakh for individuals and Rs. 75 lakh for groups to undertake viable self-employment activities. Interest rates range from 6% to 9% per annum, with a 1% rebate for women and an additional 0.5% rebate for timely repayment. Loans are routed through State Channelizing Agencies, Regional Rural Banks, and Public Sector Banks. Additionally, the corporation implements non-loan-based skill development and capacity-building programmes. As of 10 September 2026, NSKFDC has disbursed Rs. 3,365.93 crore, benefiting 6,10,902 persons.

The Election Commission of India organised its fifth regional conference on "Electoral Literacy Clubs and ECINET" in Ahmedabad, focusing on strengthening electoral literacy and democratic awareness among young citizens. Chief Election Commissioner Shri Gyanesh Kumar stated that Electoral Literacy Clubs (ELCs) across India help strengthen the backbone of democracy. ELC 2.0 reimagines these clubs as structured, digitally-enabled platforms across schools, colleges, and universities under the tagline "Learn Democracy. Lead Democracy." The initiative leverages the ECINET digital platform and targets India’s extensive educational network to promote electoral education, registration, polling processes, and informed participation. Additionally, the CEC interacted with Booth Level Officers (BLOs) of Gujarat regarding the Special Intensive Revision of Electoral Rolls.

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi met with the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, H.E. Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian, on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in New Delhi. This meeting marked their second interaction in under two weeks, following an earlier meeting on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Bishkek on August 31. The leaders discussed bilateral relations, regional developments in West Asia, and cooperation within multilateral platforms such as BRICS. Prime Minister Modi thanked Iran for its high-level participation in BRICS meetings and the BRICS Business Forum. Additionally, the Prime Minister reiterated India's position on resolving issues through dialogue and diplomacy while stressing regional peace, stability, freedom of navigation, and the safety of seafarers.

The second day of Dryland Congress 2026 in New Delhi commemorated 50 years of collaboration between the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT). Leaders and experts from both institutions reflected on achievements, deliberated on a roadmap toward Viksit Bharat 2047, and focused on resilient farming systems, seed systems in the Global South, and gender- and youth-centred transformation. Panel discussions, parallel technical sessions, and poster presentations highlighted strategies for climate-smart agriculture, inclusive policies, and scaling scientific innovations for dryland agri-food systems.

The Ministry of Coal reports steady growth in coal production from captive and commercial mines. Captive mine production rose from 167.44 million tonnes in FY 2024-25 to 184 million tonnes in FY 2025-26. Combined with commercial mines, the segment accounted for 210 million tonnes out of a total domestic production of 1,039 million tonnes in FY 2025-26. Performance has continued into the current year, with captive mines producing 68.98 million tonnes up to 10 September 2026, marking a 5% growth over the corresponding period in FY 2025-26 despite monsoon challenges. Furthermore, new capacity additions are underway, with nine captive and commercial mines expected to commence production in FY 2026-27.

The Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA), in collaboration with the Government of NCT of Delhi and Delhi SARA, organized an Adoption Awareness Workshop under the theme “Legal Adoption. Safe Childhood. Secure Future. Say No to Illegal Adoption.” The workshop brought together approximately 200 participants from child protection, health, police, and grassroots sectors to build awareness regarding transparent legal adoption processes and the severe risks of illegal adoption. Discussions covered emerging trends, inter-departmental coordination among agencies like CWCs and DCPUs, and the enforcement of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015. A fiction film and a thematic play were also launched to emphasize child rights and safety.

Senior officers of the Ministry of Rural Development undertook a two-day Area Officer visit to Manipur from September 8 to 10, 2026, to monitor rural development schemes in Bishnupur and Churachandpur districts. The officials interacted with Self-Help Groups, beneficiaries, and stakeholders, reviewed scheme implementation, and advised district administrations to expedite projects and conduct grassroots awareness programmes. Emphasis was placed on inter-scheme convergence. Specific grievances regarding delays in Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana–Gramin and National Social Assistance Programme payments were addressed, and DAY-NRLM Self-Help Groups were noted for their performance toward achieving Lakhpati Didi goals.

This press release highlights the impact of the Swachhta Udyami Yojana (SUY) under the NAMASTE Scheme of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, through the success story of Ajay Kumar, a sanitation worker from Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh. Benefiting from an upfront capital subsidy and a loan totalling a project cost of Rs. 11,34,000, he procured mechanised equipment (a tractor-cum-sewer suction machine). This institutional financial assistance helped him expand his sanitation services, improve his income to Rs. 30,000–Rs. 35,000 per month, support his family's living standards, fund his daughters' education, and manage regular medical expenses for his mother.

AIC BARC Anushakti Foundation (AIC Anushakti) organized a Technology Transfer & Incubation Agreement Signing, Product Launch and Certificate Distribution Ceremony in association with the Technology Transfer and Collaboration Division. The event marked the signing of 22 technology transfer agreements, 2 incubation agreements, and 3 product launches. Transferred technologies included hydrogen mitigation systems for reactors, Tele ECG, textile effluent decolouring systems, boron carbide production, and bio-waste converters. Established under the Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog, AIC Anushakti serves as the technology translation arm of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) to commercialize spin-off technologies and support the startup ecosystem.

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Shri Nitin Gadkari launched ‘OneTag’, a NETC FASTag portability solution, at the Global Fintech Fest 2026 in Mumbai. Developed as a joint initiative of the Indian Highways Management Company Limited (IHMCL) and the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), OneTag allows NETC FASTag users to switch their issuer banks without replacing the existing physical tag affixed to their vehicle. The service will be hosted on NHAI’s Rajmargyatra mobile app. The initiative aims to improve interoperability, lower operational and reissuance costs, and streamline the customer onboarding process while supporting the goal of achieving a barrier-free tolling system.

The Vice-President of India addressed a public function at Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Government College during his maiden visit to the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu (DNHDD). He described the Union Territory as a "mini India" for its social diversity and harmony. The Vice-President highlighted various developmental achievements over the past decade under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Administrator Praful Patel, including infrastructure projects worth over ₹13,000 crore, improvements in healthcare such as new medical colleges and hospitals, expansions in education through new schools and professional institutions, growth in tourism and industrial strength, and initiatives like 100 per cent solarisation of government buildings and distribution of PM Vishwakarma toolkits.

MY Bharat Goa, operating under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, organized an awareness and mobilization program on the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue (VBYLD) 2027 at Goa University. The event was attended by the Governor of Goa, the Vice-Chancellor and Registrar of Goa University, and the Director of MY Bharat Goa. The program aimed to encourage students to participate in VBYLD 2027, highlighting its six pathways: Viksit Bharat Challenge, Cultural Track, Design for Bharat, Hack for Social Cause, Youth Entrepreneurs Challenge, and Youth Parliament. The multi-tier progression of the Viksit Bharat Challenge takes participants through district and state levels, culminating in the National VBYLD 2027 summit in New Delhi.

The Prime Minister paid tributes to Acharya Vinoba Bhave on his Jayanti. He noted that Vinoba Bhave's call of 'Jai Jagat' placed humanity above all boundaries and that his efforts focused on the welfare and empowerment of all. The Prime Minister also highlighted that Vinoba Bhave's faith in equality, dignity, and service provided strength to the marginalized.

NITI Aayog Member (Health) Prof. (Dr.) M. Srinivas visited the CCRAS-National Institute of Indian Medical Heritage (NIIMH) in Hyderabad. During the visit, he was briefed on the institute's digital portals, repositories, historical research, and documentation of traditional systems of medicine. He commended the digitisation of rare manuscripts and the maintenance of historical scientific records. Prof. Srinivas suggested adopting international standards for museum maintenance, introducing training and post-doctoral programmes, positioning NIIMH as an educational tourism destination, engaging with regulatory bodies like NCISM and NMC, and developing mini-museums at Institutions of National Importance.

The Ministry of Culture, Government of India, and the Government of Maharashtra through CIDCO have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop a dedicated Art District at Sector 24, Central Park, Kharghar. CIDCO will provide approximately 4 hectares of land for the project. The Art District will include art galleries, cultural institutions, artist studios and residencies, art storage facilities, art education spaces, and allied infrastructure. Developed in a phased manner with Phase I undertaken by the Ministry of Culture, the project aims to commence operations within three years to support the creative economy and cultural ecosystem.