Official releases, distilled into exam-ready intelligence.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change reported that India’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) has already met two of its three quantitative targets. By 2022, emissions intensity of GDP fell 37.38% from the 2005 baseline, short of the 45% reduction target for 2030. The share of non‑fossil‑fuel‑based installed electric power capacity crossed 50% in June 2025 and stood at 54.18% as of 30 June 2026, achieving the 2030 goal five years early. Additionally, India created an additional carbon sink of 2.44 billion tonnes CO₂‑e (2005‑2022), close to the 2.5‑3.0 billion‑tonne target. The first Biennial Transparency Report to the UNFCCC (April 2026) attributes these outcomes to renewable‑energy policies, energy‑efficiency measures, and forest‑conservation programmes. The NDC for 2035 has been upgraded to a 47% GDP‑intensity reduction, 60% non‑fossil electricity capacity, and a 3.5‑4.0 billion‑tonne carbon sink.

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs announced the establishment of 283 Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVKs) in Rajasthan’s tribal districts – Udaipur (110), Salumbar (39), Dungarpur (72) and Pratapgarh (62) – benefitting 85,349 tribal members. These centres focus on value‑addition, processing and marketing of Minor Forest Produce and agricultural items such as wheat, pulses, mango pickle, turmeric and honey. The State Implementing Agency has supplied toolkits and released approximately ₹2,253 lakhs for training and equipment. Annexure‑I provides block‑wise Scheduled Tribe (ST) population and percentage data for the eight districts, highlighting high ST concentrations (e.g., Kotra 95.82% ST).

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs, through the Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission (PMJVM) and Pradhan Mantri Janjati Maha Nyaya Abhiyan (PM‑JANMAN), is establishing Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVKs) via TRIFED to enhance tribal livelihoods. Under PMJVM, 4,172 VDVKs covering 12.48 lakh beneficiaries have been sanctioned across 28 States/UTs with a fund of ₹619.17 crore; under PM‑JANMAN, 540 VDVKs covering 0.46 lakh beneficiaries have been sanctioned in 18 States/UTs with ₹23.02 crore. In the last three financial years, 617 VDVKs (PMJVM) and 540 VDVKs (PM‑JANMAN) were sanctioned. These centres provide skill development, capacity building, value addition, processing, plantation, marketing assistance and self‑employment opportunities. Additionally, NSTFDC has disbursed concessional loans of ₹1,648.39 crore to 4,95,090 Scheduled Tribe beneficiaries over the past five years.

The Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs, Shri Durgadas Uikey, informed Parliament that under the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM‑JANMAN) the government has operationalised 831 Mobile Medical Units (MMUs) through the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare as of 30 June 2026, with an additional 474 MMUs under the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DAJGUA). DAJGUA also led to the approval of 15 Centres of Competence for sickle‑cell disease treatment. Annex I details state‑wise and district‑wise progress, including houses sanctioned/completed, roads sanctioned/completed, villages saturated, and numbers of AWCs, MMUs, and other interventions across 19 states and Union territories. The Ministry is coordinating with state tribal welfare departments and other line ministries to achieve saturation of eligible beneficiaries.

The INSPIRE Programme of the Ministry of Science & Technology, covering four components – INSPIRE‑MANAK, INSPIRE‑SHE, INSPIRE Fellowship and INSPIRE Faculty Fellowship – has supported a growing number of students and young researchers over the last five years. INSPIRE‑MANAK benefitted 52,720 students in 2021‑22, 43,381 in 2022‑23, 46,926 in 2023‑24, 50,009 in 2024‑25 and 49,805 in 2025‑26. INSPIRE‑SHE awarded 12,000 scholarships annually, with beneficiaries ranging from 18,039 to 24,276 across the same period. INSPIRE Fellowship supported 2,768‑3,364 fellows annually, while INSPIRE Faculty Fellowship supported 474‑477 post‑doctoral fellows each year. The programme also emphasizes outreach to rural and remote districts through state‑level dissemination, exhibitions, and mentorship collaborations with premier institutions.

The Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, approved additional financial allocations for Rajasthan (Rs 340.59 crore) and Telangana (Rs 265.12 crore) under the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (PM‑RKVY) and the Krishonnati Yojana (KY). The approvals follow a review of each state’s annual action plans, first Mother Sanctions, and expenditure progress. Rajasthan’s allocation comprises Rs 216.12 crore (RKVY) and Rs 124.47 crore (KY); Telangana’s comprises Rs 157.66 crore (RKVY) and Rs 107.46 crore (KY). The minister highlighted Telangana’s new Farmer‑ID and fertiliser distribution model, urged greater focus on Kisan Credit Cards in Rajasthan, and called for monitoring of oilseeds and pulses missions.

The Ministry of Science & Technology clarified that the INSPIRE‑SHE (Scholarship for Higher Education) scheme has not been discontinued; it is being redesigned to strengthen objectives, improve implementation and align with emerging priorities in science education and research. The release provides a state‑wise table showing that 136,298 students have benefited, with a total disbursement of Rs 2,784.15 crore. It also notes related overseas research support: 271 scholars have completed the INSPIRE‑SHE Mentorship Grant summer projects abroad, 63 participants have been funded under the Water Advanced Research and Innovation (WARI) Fellowship with the Indo‑U.S. Science and Technology Forum, and 55 beneficiaries have pursued Ph.D. studies abroad under the National Overseas Scholarship Scheme of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

The Monsoon Session of Parliament (2026) ran from 20 July to 13 August, encompassing 19 sittings over 25 days. A total of 12 Bills were passed by both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, covering diverse areas such as the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment, the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment), the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment), the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment, the Appropriation (No. 3) Bill, the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Amendment), the Bankers’ Books Evidence Bill, the Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment), the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, the National Co‑operative Development Corporation (Amendment), the Tribunals Reforms Bill and the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment. The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill was referred to a Joint Committee. Productivity of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha was reported at approximately 19 % and 39 % respectively.

The Indian Cancer Society (ICS) and Tata Memorial Hospital (TMH) inaugurated ‘Amrit Sparsh’, a dedicated Neuro‑Oncology Rehabilitation Centre on the second floor of the ICS Rehabilitation Centre in Parel, Mumbai. The centre, described as the first of its kind in India, offers multidisciplinary services—including physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech‑language therapy, audiology, cognitive rehabilitation, yoga and vocational training—to address physical, cognitive and psychosocial challenges of patients with brain and spinal tumours. Services are free for under‑privileged patients and heavily subsidised for others, aiming to restore independence and quality of life as part of comprehensive cancer care.

The ICMR‑National Institute of Virology (ICMR‑NIV) conducted the second edition of ICMR‑S.H.I.N.E. (Science and Health Innovation for the NextGen Explorers) on 11–12 August 2026, bringing together 755 students (Classes IX–XII) and 103 teachers from 50 schools across three states. The programme offered hands‑on exposure to virology through laboratory tours, presentations, PPE demonstrations and direct interaction with scientists, echoing the Prime Minister’s call for students to spend a day as a scientist. A nationwide SHINE 2026 school competition was also announced to encourage students to propose research solutions for public‑health challenges, thereby extending ICMR‑NIV’s outreach to rural schools.

The Department of Health Research – ICMR concluded the second edition of ICMR‑SHINE (Science & Health Innovation for the Nextgen Explorers) on 11‑12 August 2026. The outreach programme reached 83 locations in 31 States and Union Territories, taking mobile BSL‑3 laboratories to Nagpur and Gorakhpur and conducting live demonstrations, poster walks and BMI‑hygiene exercises for students of Classes 9‑12. ICMR also launched the SHINE website and announced a nationwide school competition on public‑health challenges, with applications open till 11 September 2026. Teachers welcomed the exposure and urged more frequent events, noting its role in fostering a scientific outlook for a ‘Swasth and Viksit Bharat’.

As of 10 August 2026, the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) 2.0 has issued Sujal Gaon IDs to 12,67,808 of the 16,96,213 rural habitations in India, covering 75 % of habitations across all States and Union Territories. The Sujal Gaon ID is a unique number assigned through the JJM digital platform to enable systematic identification, monitoring, reporting, tracking and verification of water‑supply service areas. Sujalam Bharat, a federated Digital Public Infrastructure, integrates these IDs with GIS‑validated mapping, geospatial data and the PM GatiShakti platform, providing end‑to‑end source‑to‑tap visibility, asset tracking and lifecycle management of Rural Piped Water Supply Schemes. The Minister of State for Jal Shakti, Shri V. Somanna, disclosed these figures in a Lok Sabha reply.

As on 07‑08‑2026, the Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) Phase II reports that 5,63,809 of the 5,86,944 villages (≈96 %) have liquid waste management (LWM) arrangements. The programme, launched on 1 April 2020, targets ODF Plus villages through solid‑and‑liquid waste management (SLWM) and visual cleanliness. States/UTs have reported 42,98,194 community GWM assets, including soak‑pits, leach‑pits, magic‑pits, drainage facilities and treatment systems such as DEWATS and phytorid technology. Financial support of up to Rs 280 per capita (villages ≤5,000) and Rs 660 per capita (villages >5,000) is provided by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, supplemented by State funds and other sources.

The e‑Courts Mission Mode Project, implemented in Phase III (2023‑27), aims to digitise India’s judicial system. Under this phase, 1,806 eSewa Kendras have been set up, 474 courts equipped for paper‑less operations, and 538 courts provided with virtual‑court infrastructure. Over 753.60 crore pages of court records have been digitised, and 4,519 courts now support e‑filing. Video‑conferencing facilities have been installed in 7,553 establishments, and 11 High Courts have live audio‑visual streaming. Training programmes, capacity‑building workshops and outreach initiatives have been conducted to improve digital literacy among litigants and lawyers. These measures are intended to enhance efficiency, accessibility and transparency of judicial administration.

The Vice President and Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan, met the Kenyan Parliamentary Delegation led by Speaker Moses M. Wetang’ula. He underscored the close parliamentary ties and offered India’s experience in digital technology for a paper‑less Parliament. The Vice‑President cited development partnership projects such as the refurbishment of the Mahatma Gandhi Graduate Library in Nairobi and CT‑scan infrastructure at the Kenyan Navy Base, as well as India’s assistance during the Ebola outbreak. He highlighted capacity‑building support through around 400 scholarships, training for 20 Kenyan diplomats, and an increase in ICCR scholarships to 100 per year. The meeting also touched on Kenya’s support for India’s UN Security Council candidature and the prospect of Kenya joining the International Solar Alliance and International Big Cat Alliance.

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs reviewed the Phase‑I implementation of the Adi Karmayogi Abhiyan, noting the establishment of a nationwide community‑based capacity‑building framework aimed at strengthening last‑mile governance in tribal areas. Approximately 15 lakh Adi Karmayogis have been mobilised through a cascading training architecture, with over 210 State Master Trainers, 2,200 District Master Trainers and 11,000 Block Master Trainers developed. The programme has set up 56,422 Adi Sewa Kendras (ASKs) and 4,03,306 Adi Sahyogis, and approved 62,187 Tribal Village Vision 2030 plans through Gram Sabhas, thereby institutionalising participatory decision‑making at the village level.

The Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs, Shri Durgadas Uikey, informed that the Department of Telecommunications, via the Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN), has approved mobile projects to provide 4G connectivity in uncovered tribal villages. In the Sasaram Lok Sabha constituency (Kaimur and Rohtas districts, Bihar), 75 towers were planned in Kaimur (24 in Rohtas); as of 30 June 2026, 71 and 22 towers respectively were on‑air, covering 122 villages in Kaimur and 27 in Rohtas. Funds disbursed under the DBN‑DAPST scheme from 2021‑22 to 2025‑26 totalled ₹2,183.10 crore, with Bihar receiving ₹99.43 crore. The 4G coverage status shows 1684 of 1692 villages in Kaimur and 2068 of 2072 villages in Rohtas are covered, leaving 12 villages uncovered. The constituency has 4,377 4G and 1,110 5G base transceiver stations. The government aims to achieve telecom saturation in underserved tribal areas under the PM‑JANMAN mission, monitored through MIS dashboards and field‑level reviews.

The Ministry of Culture reports that 3,688 ancient monuments and archaeological sites are declared of national importance, of which 414 have reported encroachments. Under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) does not need to acquire land to protect a monument but takes action against unauthorised activities. ASI has completed survey, geo‑referencing and digitisation of monument boundaries and uploaded the data on the Bhuvan portal, coordinating with state revenue officials to integrate this information with state land records. The figures are state‑wise, with Tamil Nadu (72), Uttar Pradesh (78) and Karnataka (60) recording the highest encroachments.

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs is implementing the Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS) scheme to deliver quality education to tribal students while preserving local art and culture. EMRSs are set up in blocks with >50% ST population and at least 20,000 tribal persons (Census 2011). Nationwide, 728 EMRSs have been approved, of which 508 are functional. In West Bengal, 9 EMRSs have been approved and all are functional; none of the blocks in Alipurduar meet the criteria. The autonomous National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS) oversees policy and implementation, with State Societies and District Committees handling local administration. District‑wise enrolment for 2025‑26 totals 3,152 students across the nine functional schools.

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs runs five central scholarship schemes for Scheduled Tribe (ST) students – Pre‑Matric (Class IX‑X) and Post‑Matric (Class XI and above) with an annual family income ceiling of Rs 2.50 lakhs; National Scholarship for Higher Education (Top Class) and National Overseas Scholarship with a ceiling of Rs 6.00 lakhs; and National Fellowship for Higher Education (NFST) with no income limit. The National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation (NSTFDC) offers concessional loans to ST persons whose annual family income does not exceed Rs 3 lakhs. Kerala’s own Pre‑Matric and Post‑Matric scholarships have no income ceiling. Housing assistance for PVTGs is provided under PM JANMAN/PMAY‑G (no income limit) and Kerala’s LIFE Mission (income ceiling Rs 3 lakhs). The Expenditure Finance Commission is reviewing the income limits for continuation of these schemes for FY 2026‑27 to 2030‑31.