Official releases, distilled into exam-ready intelligence.

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways reports that 111 inland waterways have been declared as National Waterways (NWs) under the National Waterways Act, 2016, of which 32 are currently operational for cargo and passenger movement. Based on the 2026‑27 budget and subsequent studies, 19 additional NWs have been identified for cruise tourism and passenger ferry services over the next five years. The annexure lists these new corridors with the fiscal year of implementation and the states concerned, e.g., NW‑49 (Jhelum River) in Jammu & Kashmir for FY 2026‑27, NW‑52 (Kali River) in Karnataka for FY 2027‑28, and NW‑98 (Sutlej River) spanning Himachal Pradesh & Punjab for FY 2030‑31. The Union Minister, Sarbananda Sonowal, emphasized developing existing feasible NWs before declaring new ones.

The Ministry of AYUSH implements an Information Education and Communication (IEC) scheme to promote AYUSH systems, including Yoga and Naturopathy, through awareness activities such as National/State level Arogya Fairs, Yoga Fests/Utsavs and celebrations of International Day of Yoga (21 June) and Naturopathy Day (18 November). The scheme engages beneficiaries via physical participation and digital outreach on social media. Expenditure under the scheme for FY 2023‑24, 2024‑25 and 2025‑26 is detailed in Annexure‑I, covering costs for International Day of Yoga (₹24.16 cr, ₹16.45 cr, ₹57.38 cr), National Arogya Fair (₹3.60 cr, ₹0.90 cr, ₹1.80 cr), State Arogya Fair (₹0.35 cr, ₹1.02 cr, ₹0.70 cr), Yoga Parv/Fest (₹0 cr, ₹0.29 cr, ₹0.20 cr) and Naturopathy Day (₹1.33 cr, ₹0.23 cr, ₹0.60 cr). The information was provided by Union Minister of State (I/C) for AYUSH, Shri Prataprao Jadhav, in a written reply in Rajya Sabha.

The 392nd report of the Department‑related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture, chaired by Shri Sanjay Kumar Jha, proposes a suite of reforms to modernise India’s bus sector. Key proposals include replacing the All‑India Tourist Permit with an All‑India Passenger Permit linked electronically to VAHAN, FASTag and vehicle location data; establishing a National Bus Terminals Authority to separate terminal ownership from operations; creating a National Bus Digital Grid for live‑tracking, unified booking and GIS‑based performance metrics; instituting operator‑centric safety measures such as district‑wise automated testing stations and safety ratings; and launching a Fleet Transition Compact to promote electric buses through leasing, scrapping incentives and regional manufacturing clusters. The full report is available on the Rajya Sabha website.

The Sagarmala Startup and Innovation Initiative (S2I2) was launched on 19 March 2025 to create an innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem for India’s maritime sector. The Maritime India Foundation (MIF) is the implementing agency. Maritime Innovation Hubs have been set up at IIT Madras, IIT Bombay, IIT Kharagpur and the Indian Maritime University, Chennai, to support technology development and startup incubation. Under S2I2, the first maritime hackathon – MAR‑a‑THON 2025 – was held on 25 August 2025 at IIT Madras, followed by a boot‑camp on 16‑17 October 2025. The initiative attracted 330 startup applications for 51 problem statements across six thematic areas, leading to the selection of 36 startups for 40 projects. Visakhapatnam Port identified four problem statements, and two Andhra‑Pradesh startups have been onboarded to address them, as noted by the Union Minister in a Rajya Sabha reply.

The Union Budget 2026‑27 earmarks Rs 4,408.93 crore for the Ministry of AYUSH, split among administrative expenses (Rs 114.86 crore), statutory/autonomous bodies (Rs 2,588.47 crore), Central Sector schemes (Rs 405.60 crore) and the National AYUSH Mission (Rs 1,300.00 crore). Key focus areas include establishing three new All‑India Institutes of Ayurveda, upgrading the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre in Jamnagar, training caregivers, promoting AYUSH in medical‑value tourism and enhancing certification standards. The Ministry is implementing the National AYUSH Mission and six Central Sector schemes such as IEC, International Cooperation, Ayurgyan, Ayurswasthaya Yojana, AOGUSY and Medicinal‑Plant management. Technical inputs have been provided for integrating AYUSH into the newly announced regional medical hubs, though no implementation proposals have yet been received.

The Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) has launched the PRAYATNA programme to enhance scientific writing skills of Ayurveda PG/Ph.D scholars through online orientations, manuscript assistance, and a three‑day hands‑on workshop, aiming for higher‑quality publications. CCRAS also unveiled a Digital Initiatives Dashboard (dashboard.ccras.org.in) that aggregates its web‑based resources, including office suites, institute websites, applications, journals and social media, with search functionality. Additionally, the release lists NABH and NABL accreditations for CCRAS institutes and laboratories, and announces a new CCRAS textbook on research methodology under the Ayurved Prabodhini series, prepared by 34 scientists and 16 faculty members. The information was presented by Union Minister of State (I/C) for AYUSH, Shri Prataprao Jadhav, in the Rajya Sabha.

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways is promoting Lighthouse Tourism to preserve India’s maritime heritage and enhance educational, cultural and tourism activities, as authorized under Section 23 of the Marine Aids to Navigation Act, 2021. Lighthouse museums have been set up at Chennai, Mahabalipuram, Alappuzha, Kannur, Muttom, Dwarka and Gopnath. Tourism infrastructure—including cafeterias, gardens, play areas, sound‑and‑light shows, amphitheatres and lifts—has been developed at 75 lighthouses across 10 states/UTs, listed in an annexure. The initiative was disclosed by Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.

The Ministry of AYUSH is implementing the Ayurgyan Scheme (FY 2021‑22 onward). Under its Research & Innovation and Ayurveda Biology Integrated Health Research (ABIHR) components, 11 high‑end Ayurveda projects received Rs 58.28 crore (FY 2023‑24 to 2025‑26) and 73 other research projects received Rs 11.82 crore in the last three years. All AYUSH research councils (CCRAS, CCRH, CCRUM, CCRS, CCRYN) conduct clinical, drug‑validation and public‑health research, with fund utilisation details shown in the annexure. Internationally, AYUSH collaborates with WHO on ICD‑11 Traditional Medicine Module‑2, WHO terminologies, benchmark documents, and a Global Traditional Medicine Centre. Bilateral MoUs with institutions in Germany, USA, Canada, UK, South Africa, Bangladesh, Tajikistan, Iran, UAE and Indonesia support research, education and quality‑assurance activities.

The Digital General Crop Estimation Survey (DGCES) was piloted in the Kharif 2023‑24 season across selected districts of 10 states and expanded in the Rabi 2023‑24 season to 22 states/UTs. It is now being implemented in 23 states/UTs. DGCES replaces traditional Crop Cutting Experiments with a fully digital, paper‑less workflow that captures data in real‑time via a mobile app, incorporating geo‑tagging, time‑stamping and photographic evidence. The system standardises data collection and validation, improving accuracy, reliability, consistency and timeliness of crop‑yield estimates, and enables online monitoring through web‑based dashboards. The rollout is phased, coordinated with state governments based on digital‑infrastructure readiness and capacity‑building of field staff, as stated by Minister of State for Agriculture Shri Ramnath Thakur in a Lok Sabha reply.

The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare is implementing the Sub‑Mission on Agricultural Mechanisation (SMAM) under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana. SMAM offers 40‑50 % financial assistance for purchase of farm machinery to small and marginal farmers, 40 % support (up to Rs 250 lakh) for setting up Custom Hiring Centres, and 80 % (95 % in North‑Eastern states) for Farm Machinery Banks (up to Rs 30 lakh). The scheme also promotes modern tools such as precision agriculture, drones and women‑friendly implements, and backs testing, certification, and capacity‑building. The Crop Residue Management scheme is now integrated with SMAM on a 60:40 Centre‑State funding pattern. The government permits 100 % FDI under the automatic route for agricultural machinery manufacturing and encourages private‑sector participation and agri‑start‑up incubation.

On 11 August 2026, Yard 3037 (Shruti), a Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessel (NGOPV), was launched at GRSE, Kolkata by Mrs Manika Sadhu in the presence of Vice Admiral Sanjay Sadhu, Controller of Warship Production & Acquisition. The NGOPV programme is being executed simultaneously at GSL, Goa and GRSE, Kolkata. The indigenously designed vessels are intended for maritime surveillance, search‑and‑rescue, protection of offshore assets, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and anti‑piracy missions. The ship is named ‘Shruti’, referencing the four Vedas, and its crest features the Ursa Major constellation and a red‑white lighthouse. The launch underscores India’s push for indigenous shipbuilding aligned with the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Make in India’ initiatives.

The Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Programme (PMNDP) is being implemented across all 36 States/UTs covering 751 districts (including 44 linked districts) through 1,856 haemodialysis centres equipped with 13,535 machines, as reported up to 30 June 2026. Centres are established on the basis of State/UT proposals in their annual Programme Implementation Plans and approved by the National Programme Coordination Committee. The Union Health Ministry monitors the programme via the Common Review Mission and senior officer visits, flagging any non‑operational centres for corrective action. State/UT governments and implementing partners are responsible for operationalisation and staffing. FY 2024‑25 and FY 2025‑26 saw additional centres in several states, e.g., Maharashtra (65→158), Gujarat (272→282), and Karnataka (200→214).

On 11 August 2026, Union Agriculture Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) for agriculture students at ICAR‑IARI, Pusa. Through the NSP‑DBT mechanism, scholarships worth Rs 21.35 crore were released directly to more than 6,000 students, ensuring monthly disbursement without delays. The Minister highlighted the need for practical training, innovation and entrepreneurship in agricultural education and linked the scheme to the government’s focus on food security, nutrition and farmers’ income. He also urged students to participate in plantation drives on ‘Hariyali Amavasya’ to promote environmental responsibility.

The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare is advancing agricultural technology through multiple schemes. Under the Sub‑Mission on Agricultural Mechanisation (SMAM), a component of Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), financial assistance is given for farm machinery, Custom Hiring Centres, High‑Tech Hubs and Farm Machinery Banks, enabling small and marginal farmers to access modern equipment. The Digital Agriculture Mission, supported by the AgriStack Farmer Registry, has generated over 10.33 crore farmer IDs and conducts the Digital Crop Survey, covering 604 districts and 28.5 crore plots in Kharif 2025. The BharatVistaar AI‑powered platform, part of the mission, has served more than 5.9 lakh farmers and answered over 93 lakh queries, while drone subsidies under SMAM improve pesticide and nutrient application efficiency.

The Department of Fisheries (DoF), Government of India, in partnership with the National Productivity Council, assessed post‑harvest losses in Karnataka’s marine fisheries for 2023‑24, finding losses between 6.21 % and 10.13 %. State reports, based on ICAR‑CIFT studies, place loss at around 6 % and by‑catch at 20‑40 % depending on gear. Under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), the DoF approved projects worth ₹ 1,053.60 crore for cold‑chain infrastructure—including 126 ice plants, 1,065 refrigerated transport units, live‑fish vending centres, and fish markets—and modernisation of Mangaluru, Gangolli and Malpe fishing harbours (totaling ₹ 72.17 crore). Karnataka fishermen are encouraged to use square‑mesh cod‑end nets and Turtle Excluder Devices to promote sustainable fisheries.

The PIB release dated 11 August 2026 presents the area coverage (in lakh hectares) for Kharif crops as on 07 August 2026. It lists the normal area (2020‑21 to 2024‑25), the final area coverage for 2025 and the area sown for 2025 and 2026, together with the change relative to 2025. For example, rice shows a normal area of 412.00 lakh ha, final 2025 area of 446.70 lakh ha, area sown 2025 of 344.78 lakh ha and 2026 of 360.67 lakh ha, a decrease of 15.90 lakh ha. Similar data are given for pulses, coarse cereals, oilseeds, sugarcane, jute‑mesta and cotton. The total Kharif area sown fell from 967.92 lakh ha in 2025 to 985.89 lakh ha in 2026, a net decrease of 17.96 lakh ha.

The Ministry of Textiles outlined multiple government initiatives to advance textile recycling and a circular economy. The Union Budget 2026‑27 introduced the ‘Tex‑Eco Initiative’ to foster innovative circular‑economy technologies, including waste management, recycled fibres and sustainable packaging. The Ministry has commissioned a study mapping the textile waste value chain. An ESG Task Force has been set up to address sustainable production, certification and exports, and to run programmes such as Circular Samvaad. Additional support comes via projects like the UNIDO‑GEF hazardous‑chemical elimination scheme, UNEP’s In‑Tex India LCA/PEF project, research under the National Technical Textiles Mission, a sustainability framework for PM MITRA Parks, and promotion of up‑cycled products in government procurement.

The second edition of ICMR‑SHINE (Science and Health Innovation for NextGen Explorers) was launched on 11‑12 August 2026, with around 30,000 school students (Grades 9‑12) invited to ICMR institutes, Model Rural Health Research Units and field units at 83 locations across India. Participants will tour laboratories, view research exhibitions, attend poster walks and live demonstrations, and interact with ICMR scientists. The programme, endorsed by Dr Rajiv Bahl, Secretary, DHR & DG, ICMR, also introduced the SHINE website and a nationwide student competition to propose solutions to public‑health challenges, aiming to nurture scientific temper and inspire careers in health research.

The Government of India released the Anemia Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan Operational Guidelines on 29 June 2026 during the 16th Central Council of Health and Family Welfare meeting. The guidelines introduce a 7 × 7 × 7 framework—seven beneficiary groups, seven interventions and seven institutional mechanisms—replacing the earlier 6 × 6 × 6 model. Key components include saturation of Hb testing with digital invasive hemoglobinometers, a shift from the T3 (Test‑Treat‑Talk) to T4 (Test‑Treat‑Talk‑Track) digital tracking approach, and a ‘Jan Bhagidari’ communication strategy to change public perception of anemia. Institutional mechanisms emphasize intra‑ministerial coordination, a National Centre of Excellence on anemia, and a dedicated portal for monitoring.

The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying reports that under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) proposals worth ₹21,461.03 crore (central share ₹9,571.09 crore) have been approved for all States/UTs, with Andhra Pradesh receiving ₹2,328.89 crore (central share ₹681.38 crore). The Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) has approved 253 projects costing ₹6,657.57 crore, with ₹4,979.04 crore earmarked for interest subvention. The Group Accident Insurance Scheme (GAIS) released ₹130.68 crore to insure 1.676 million fishers (average 33.52 lakh per year). Andhra Pradesh provided a diesel subsidy of ₹150 crore to 63,840 beneficiaries (2023‑26) and ₹511.46 crore to 255,731 marine fishers during the 2025‑27 fishing ban. ICAR‑CMFRI’s 2022 stock status indicates 91.1 % of 135 assessed marine fish stocks are sustainable, and no conclusive link between climate variability/pollution and overall marine fish production has been established.