Official releases, distilled into exam-ready intelligence.

The Ministry of New & Renewable Energy reports that under the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM), the SIGHT (Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition) Mode‑2B scheme has awarded a total green‑hydrogen production capacity of 30 KTPA to four refineries – Indian Oil Corp. (Panipat, 10 KTPA), Bharat Petroleum (Bina, 5 KTPA), Hindustan Petroleum (Vizag, 5 KTPA) and Numaligarh Refineries (10 KTPA). The projects will be executed on a BOO (Build‑Own‑Operate) basis by private developers. The Union Minister of State for New & Renewable Energy, Shri Shripad Yesso Naik, stated that domestic green‑hydrogen production is expected to cut imported fossil‑fuel dependence, boost energy security and advance India’s clean‑energy and net‑zero goals.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) and its line agencies actively identify and monitor invasive alien plant species (IAPS). The Forest Survey of India (FSI) has prepared an album of 45 major invasive species, while the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) has submitted a state‑wise inventory of potential invasive species to the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) to aid the National Management Plan of Invasive Species. Removal and management of these species in Reserved Forests are carried out by State/UT governments under approved forest and wildlife management plans. The National Forest Policy 1988 and the National Working Plan Code 2023 both emphasize ecosystem‑based management, use of native species, and restoration measures that enhance soil moisture, groundwater recharge and overall ecosystem resilience. The information was provided by Minister of State Kirti Vardhan Singh in a Lok Sabha answer.

The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs launched an upgraded National Youth Parliament Scheme web portal (NYPS 2.0) on 11 September 2024. Unlike the earlier version, NYPS 2.0 is open to all educational institutions, groups and individual citizens across India. Between the launch (11‑09‑2024) and 21‑07‑2026, the portal recorded 4,939 institutional registrations, 1,611 group registrations, and 54,518 individual registrations, with a total of 103,791 participants (students and citizens). The Ministry has informed all State Governments, UT Administrations, State Legislatures and major educational boards (CBSE, CISCE) and promotes the portal through a video tutorial on Sansad TV. Details of 42 consultative committees are hosted on the CCMS portal.

Scientists, led by ARIES under the Ministry of Science & Technology, detected an unusually thick ozone layer at 21‑23 km over the North Bay of Bengal, with concentrations higher than typical for eastern India. Using a coordinated network of 206.5 MHz ST radars, weather balloons, Aura MLS and INSAT‑3DR satellites, and advanced atmospheric models as part of the Phase‑I NetRAD‑ASMA campaign, they found the enhancement persisted for over a day and was linked to transport of ozone‑rich air, downward motion and compression rather than photochemical processes. The results, published in the AGU journal *Earth and Space Science*, provide quantitative evidence of stratospheric ozone redistribution over the Indian subtropics during winter.

The CSIR‑National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR‑NEERI) has deployed its indigenous NEERI‑ZAR instant water‑filter units in flood‑hit Assam to provide safe drinking water where conventional supplies are disrupted. Initially five household‑based and five community‑based units were installed in Jonakimondal village (Jorhat district), followed by the handover of 70 household‑based and 20 community‑based units to the district administration for wider distribution. The filters operate without electricity, can be assembled using locally available materials in about two days, and are suitable for both household and community use, addressing water contamination during floods and other emergencies. The effort was a joint initiative of CSIR‑NEERI and CSIR‑North East Institute of Science and Technology (CSIR‑NEIST).

On 10 August 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared on X an article authored by Union Minister Bhupender Yadav highlighting the ‘remarkable comeback’ of India’s Asiatic lion. The post notes that the lion population is thriving, with its habitat and range expanding, and attributes this success to the Government’s unwavering commitment to conservation supported by strong community participation. The Prime Minister’s message underscores the role of policy‑driven wildlife protection and community involvement in preserving the species for future generations.

India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy reports that as of 31 July 2026 the country’s installed non‑fossil fuel power capacity reached 300.50 GW, surpassing the 300 GW milestone and accounting for over 54 % of the total generation capacity of about 552 GW. The capacity mix comprises 164.59 GW solar, 58.14 GW wind, 57.24 GW hydro, 11.75 GW bio‑power and 8.78 GW nuclear. In FY 2025‑26 a record 55.29 GW of non‑fossil capacity was added, driven mainly by 44.6 GW solar and 6 GW wind. Domestic manufacturing under the Production Linked Incentive scheme has pushed approved solar PV module capacity to 200 GW, up from 2.3 GW in 2014.

The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment highlighted the case of Ganesh Kumar, a 21‑year‑old B.Tech II‑year student belonging to the OBC‑NCL category, who received a scholarship of ₹87,000 in 2026. The financial assistance helped him overcome the economic barriers faced by his family and continue his higher‑education studies. The release underscores how targeted scholarship support can reduce the educational expenses of students from economically weaker families, enabling them to pursue their academic aspirations despite financial constraints.

The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) facilitated the first commercial sea shipment of 18 metric tonnes of GI‑tagged Mithila Makhana from the BIADA Industrial Area in Bihta, Bihar, to Australia. The consignment, sourced from Darbhanga district growers, was flagged off by Bihar’s Agriculture Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha and shipped by M/s NIAD Green with logistics support from the APEDA‑backed startup Jitban Supply Chain Pvt. Ltd. Farmers earned roughly 18 percent higher returns than prevailing market rates, underscoring the income benefits of export‑oriented value chains. The export aligns with India’s broader Makhana export growth—over 7,000 MT in FY 2025‑26—and follows the introduction of a separate HS code for Makhana in July 2025.

Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh dedicated the CSIR‑National Botanical Research Institute’s first‑of‑its‑kind Eco‑Educational Hub ‘Prakriti Gyan Dham’ at the Maharishi Parashar Bioresource Centre, Lucknow. The Hub integrates scientific research, biodiversity conservation and experiential learning through features such as the PAaVan Path heritage trail, Indian Heritage Garden with historic trees, threatened‑plants garden, and a Bamboosteum showcasing bamboo’s renewable‑resource potential. It also demonstrated science‑to‑society outreach by launching an herbal male‑reproductive‑health formulation and transferring four plant‑based products to Kerala’s Kudumbashree mission, and a low‑cost photobioreactor to a private firm. Dr Singh urged greater use of digital platforms and inter‑ministerial collaboration to link research with livelihoods.

The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment’s Top‑Class Education Scheme provided a scholarship of ₹1,29,100 to 19‑year‑old Annu Supriya, an OBC/Teli student, in 2025. The financial assistance enabled her to join the B.Tech programme at NIT Raipur despite her mother being a daily‑wage labourer and lacking resources for JEE coaching. The scheme’s support reduced her family’s financial stress, boosted her confidence, and allowed her to focus on academics, technical skill development (C, C++ and DSA) and extracurricular activities. The case illustrates how targeted scholarships can remove economic barriers for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, facilitating access to premier technical institutions.

On 8 August 2026, Vice‑President Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan visited the Cellular Jail in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. He laid a wreath at the Martyr’s Column, paid tribute at Veer Savarkar’s cell, and toured the Swatantra Jyoti, Central Tower, Gallows, Museum and Exhibition Gallery, also witnessing the Light‑and‑Sound Show. In his remarks, he described Veer Savarkar as a “unique and fearless revolutionary” whose patriotism inspired generations and highlighted Savarkar’s role in combating untouchability and social discrimination. The Vice‑President stressed that India’s quest for power is to avoid being dictated by anyone, equating this to real freedom. He was received at INS Utkrosh by the Lieutenant Governor, Admiral Devendra Kumar Joshi (Retd.), with a Guard of Honour, and will attend the launch of ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ and visit Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Island during his two‑day visit.

The e‑Courts Mission Mode Project, launched in 2007, is digitising India’s judiciary. Since 2014, case filings and disposals have nearly tripled and over 753 crore pages of court records have been digitised. Phase I (2011‑2015) computerised 14,000 courts; Phase II (2015‑2023) introduced the National Judicial Data Grid, e‑Filing and e‑Sewa Kendras and expanded video‑conferencing five‑fold. Phase III (2023‑2027) aims for paper‑less courts, virtual hearings and AI‑driven tools, with achievements such as 1,806 e‑Sewa Kendras, 4,519 courts with e‑filing, 7,553 establishments equipped with video‑conferencing, and 4.18 crore remote hearings conducted. The e‑Filing platform has processed 1.25 crore cases and Rs 1,404 crore in fees by June 2026.

The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare has launched AgriStack, a farmer‑centric Digital Public Infrastructure comprising Farmer Registry, Geo‑Referenced Village Maps and Crop Sown Registry, all maintained by State Governments/UTs. By 3 August 2026, over 10.31 crore Farmer IDs were generated, linking farmer details with digitised land records. The Digital Crop Survey (Rabi 2025‑26) covered 648 districts and more than 31.3 crore plots. AgriStack complies with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023, related rules 2025, and MeitY/CERT‑In cybersecurity guidelines, ensuring encrypted, consent‑based data handling. Under the YES‑TECH initiative, AI/ML‑based yield estimation is being piloted for paddy, wheat and soybean, and the Digital General Crop Estimation System (DGCES) has been developed for accurate crop‑yield data.

The Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) and the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to jointly develop globally benchmarked quality standards for Ayurveda and other AYUSH systems. The MoU, signed by Prof. (Vaidya) Rabinarayan Acharya and Shri Sanjay Pant in the presence of Secretary Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, aims to enhance laboratory quality, conformity assessment, scientific validation of traditional knowledge and promote international acceptance of Ayurvedic products. BIS currently has 128 Indian Standards under the Ayurveda Sectional Committee and 243 standards across AYUSH domains developed in the last three years, and this partnership is BIS’s 100th MoU and the first with an AYUSH organisation.

The PIB release notes that, according to the Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas of India (2021) by ISRO, 6.38 lakh ha of land were classified as man‑made desertified or degraded in 2018‑19. State‑wise figures are provided, with Maharashtra showing 14.31 million ha affected. The government, through ICAR, has promoted soil‑restoration and water‑conservation technologies such as contour cultivation, intercropping, mulching, gypsum application, and integrated watershed structures. It is implementing the National Innovations in Climate‑Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) across 651 districts, preparing District Agriculture Contingency Plans and demonstrating climate‑resilient practices in 448 villages. Multiple schemes – Per Drop More Crop, Rainfed Area Development, Soil Health and Fertility, Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana, and Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana – aim to mitigate yield losses and enhance resilience, while food‑grain production rose from 252.03 Mt (2014‑15) to 357.73 Mt (2024‑25).

BSNL Goa has invited local entrepreneurs, youth, students and self‑employed individuals to partner in the expansion of the BharatNet Fibre‑to‑the‑Home (FTTH) project in rural Goa. Under the Digital Bharat Nidhi programme, BSNL aims to inter‑connect every Gram Panchayat in the state with 1 Gbps broadband and then roll out FTTH services to households and businesses. Laying of optical fibre and Gram Panchayat inter‑connection is slated to start in October 2026, with FTTH deployment in phases. The scheme seeks local partners for last‑mile connectivity, promising business and employment opportunities while enhancing digital access in villages.

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has expanded the "Source from India" service on the Trade Connect ePlatform to include DPIIT‑recognised start‑ups. Effective 6 August 2026, eligible start‑ups can create dedicated digital microsites marked with a unique "Start‑up Badge" for visibility to overseas buyers. A special onboarding provision allows start‑ups with a valid Import Export Code (IEC) not listed in the Denied Entity List to join even if they do not meet the usual export performance criteria, subject to DGFT IEC database verification. The move aims to boost innovation‑led exports, diversify India’s export basket and position the country as a global hub for entrepreneurship.

On 7 August 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted the nation on National Handloom Day, highlighting India’s rich handloom heritage and praising the skill, creativity and dedication of weavers and artisans. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting the handloom sector, describing it as an important pillar of rural empowerment, women‑led development and the vision of an Atmanirbhar Bharat. The Prime Minister urged citizens to share their favourite handloom products and GRWM videos on social media using the #NationalHandloomDay hashtag.

The Ministry of AYUSH has launched multiple schemes to boost the production, quality, research, marketing and global acceptance of AYUSH medicines. Key initiatives include the Ayush Oushadhi Gunvatta Evam Uttpadan Samvardhan Yojana (AOGUSY) for quality assurance, GMP compliance and capacity building; the AYURGYAN Scheme for evidence‑based research and higher education; the Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine & Homoeopathy (PCIM&H) for pharmacopoeial standards; the International Cooperation Scheme for export promotion and academic chairs abroad; and the Ayush Export Promotion Council (Ayushexcil) for facilitating exports through exhibitions and digital platforms. A three‑tier Pharmacovigilance network and an online portal “Ayush Suraksha” have been set up to monitor adverse drug reactions and misleading advertisements.