Official releases, distilled into exam-ready intelligence.

The Ministry of Earth Sciences, through the India Meteorological Department (IMD), reported that no suitable site could be identified in Lahaul and Spiti Valley for an X‑Band Doppler Weather Radar (DWR) because of severe beam blockage, leading to the relocation of the planned radar to another part of the country. The state currently operates three X‑Band DWRs at Kufri, Jot and Murari Devi. IMD has also established a network in Himachal Pradesh comprising 24 Automatic Weather Stations (AWS), 4 Agro‑AWS and 66 Automatic Rain Gauge Stations (ARG). In Lahaul & Spiti and Kinnaur districts, ten AWS/ARG stations are operational, with specific locations listed in the release. The government has further adopted high‑performance computing, high‑resolution numerical weather prediction models and AI‑enabled forecasting tools to enhance weather monitoring and extreme‑event prediction, especially in remote and hilly regions.

The Government has announced a Nuclear Energy Mission aiming for 100 GW nuclear capacity by 2047, backed by the SHANTI Act to broaden public‑private participation. The plan emphasizes indigenous PHWR technology, R&D in SMRs and advanced reactors, and approves pre‑project work for two 500 MW Fast Breeder Reactors at Kalpakkam. Recent achievements include 2 100 MW added capacity (KAPP‑3&4 and RAPP‑7), foundation stone laying for Mahi Banswara units‑1‑4, refurbishment‑driven restart of TAPS‑1 & 2, first concrete pour for Kaiga Units‑5&6, and PFBR attaining criticality on 6 April 2026. The information was provided by Union Minister of State Dr Jitendra Singh in a Lok Sabha reply.

Machilipatnam (BY 529), the seventh of eight MAHE‑class Anti‑Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft built by Cochin Shipyard Limited for the Indian Navy, was launched on 29 July 2026 by Mrs Goolrukh Anand in the presence of Vice Admiral Atul Anand, Additional Secretary, Department of Military Affairs. The vessel is equipped for underwater surveillance, anti‑submarine warfare, low‑intensity maritime operations and mine‑warfare, and is intended to bolster coastal defence and maritime domain awareness. The project cites indigenous content exceeding 80 percent, underscoring domestic shipbuilding capability and the Aatmanirbhar Bharat defence initiative.

Cross‑border drug trafficking, especially of amphetamine‑type stimulants (ATS) and heroin, remains a major challenge in India’s North‑Eastern states due to proximity to the ‘Death Triangle’ and porous Indo‑Myanmar borders. Between 2021‑2025, 4,626 kg of ATS and 2,652 kg of heroin were seized. The Ministry of Home Affairs has responded with a 2026‑2029 Vision Document on Narcotics Control, a four‑tier Narco‑Coordination Centre (NCORD), state‑level Anti‑Narcotics Task Forces, expanded NCB zonal units (including new offices in Dimapur, Aizwal, Shillong and Gangtok), and deployment of anti‑drone and enhanced surveillance systems. NCRB data (2020‑2024) provide detailed state‑wise figures on drug seizures, arrests and convictions, highlighting the scale of the problem.

The Ministry of Electronics & IT announced that India has signed Memoranda of Understanding with 24 countries to share population‑scale digital public infrastructure (DPI) solutions. The MoUs cover capacity building, knowledge exchange, joint workshops, feasibility studies and the development, piloting and scaling of proven digital solutions such as DigiLocker, e‑Sanjeevani, e‑Office and UPI. Under the ITEC programme, a DPI course was delivered to a Cuban delegation in December 2025, and bilateral talks are ongoing with nations including Lao PDR, Seychelles, Venezuela, Armenia, Fiji, Guyana and Colombia. The government also approved the Social Impact Fund to support DPI pilots in low‑ and middle‑income countries. Annexures list the partner countries and the nations where UPI is operational.

The Ministry of Home Affairs, citing a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, reports that under the Nirbhaya Fund (≈₹4,800 crore) it is strengthening the forensic ecosystem. Key actions include: a state‑of‑the‑art DNA Analysis and R&D facility at the Central Forensic Sciences Laboratory, Chandigarh; upgrades to equipment across existing CFSLs covering new disciplines such as narcotics, digital forensics and forensic psychology; establishment of a National Cyber Forensic Laboratory in Hyderabad and approval for six more under the ‘Safety of Women’ umbrella; approval for eight new Central Forensic Science Laboratories and 14 additional campuses of the National Forensic Sciences University; training of 37,978 investigators, prosecutors and medical officers; and allocation of ₹420 crore for modernising state forensic labs and ₹496.66 crore for mobile forensic vans. A National Forensic Data Centre has also been approved.

The Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has revised the base year of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) from 2012=100 to 2024=100, releasing the new series on 12 February 2026. Under the revised series, price collection now covers 1,465 rural and 1,395 urban markets across 434 towns, with an additional 12 online markets in towns of over 2.5 million population. The CPI basket has been expanded from 299 to 358 items (goods 259→308, services 40→50) based on the 2023‑24 Household Consumption Expenditure Survey. Inflation data for the new series is available from January 2026, and linking factors plus back‑series data (2013‑2024) are provided on the e‑Sankhyiki portal.

The Ministry of Education, in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, reiterated the constitutional mandate under Article 350A and Section 29(2)(f) of the Right to Education Act for mother‑tongue instruction at the primary level. Building on NEP 2020, NCERT has prepared the National Curriculum Framework (NCF‑SE 2023) and released new textbooks for Grades 1‑9, translating them into all 22 scheduled languages – 460 textbooks in total, with 368 already digitised. Digital initiatives such as DIKSHA (supporting 135 languages) and AI‑enabled translation of modules, along with programmes like NISHTHA, Bhasha Sangam, and Bharatiya Bhasha Utsav, aim to broaden multilingual education across states and union territories.

The Department of Space (DoS) reports that the Government of India is employing satellite and geospatial technologies for disaster management in Ladakh. A glacier inventory covering >2,000 glaciers (2020‑23 data) and change mapping for >1,000 glaciers over two decades has been created. An inventory of 3,219 glacial lakes (>0.25 ha) and GLOF risk modelling for high‑risk lakes such as Katkar and Suru have been completed. Daily snow‑cover maps have been generated from 2019 to September 2025. Wetlands (4,912) and waterbodies (≈41 >5 ha) are monitored via the Bhuvan Waterbody Information System. ISRO projects include the Cryosphere Science and Applications Programme, LAMA, SILAAS (since 2023), the National Hydrology Project (2017‑2025), and the Geo‑Ladakh geo‑portal. Advanced R&D aims to strengthen early‑warning systems for GLOF, extreme weather, and landslides, and space‑based information is provided during disaster response. Capacity‑building trainings have also been conducted for Ladakh participants.

On Global Tiger Day (29 July 2026), Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended greetings to wildlife enthusiasts and highlighted that India harbours almost 70 % of the world’s tiger population. He linked tiger conservation to India’s long‑standing cultural harmony with nature and emphasized a science‑based approach, community participation, and sustainable development. The Prime Minister praised forest personnel, scientists and conservationists for their role in protecting tigers and reiterated India’s commitment to empower local communities and mitigate human‑wildlife conflict.

The Department of Atomic Energy reports that India’s installed nuclear power capacity stands at 8,780 MW (8.78 GW) across 24 plants, contributing about 3.1 % to total electricity generation in 2025‑26. Ongoing projects include RAPP‑8 (1 × 700 MW, 96.26 % complete, commissioning in 2026), KKNPP‑3&4 (2 × 1000 MW, 82.65 % complete, commissioning by June 2027/2028), KKNPP‑5&6 (2 × 1000 MW, 45 % complete, commissioning by June 2029/March 2030), GHAVP‑1&2 (2 × 700 MW, six‑year timeline), and KAIGA‑5&6 (2 × 700 MW, commissioning by June 2031/2032). The Government’s Nuclear Energy Mission targets 100 GW by 2047, with an interim goal of 22 GW by 2031‑32 and an additional 32 GW beyond 2032 via NPCIL, plus approved pre‑project activities for 2 × 500 MW fast‑breeder reactors. Safety is highlighted as a priority, governed by the AERB, and the SHANTI Act 2025 expands public‑private participation.

The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) states that radioactive solid waste from nuclear power plants averages about 0.15 cubic metres per year per MW of capacity. All waste quantities and locations are reported to the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB). Safe management is governed by the Atomic Energy (Safe Disposal of Radioactive Wastes) Rules, 1987, which require AERB authorisation for effluent discharge and prescribe limits based on international norms. Waste is treated (gaseous, liquid, solid) using adsorption, filtration, ion‑exchange, vitrification, etc., and disposed in engineered trenches and storage facilities monitored continuously. No release of radioactivity or impact on public health has been reported. The framework aligns with IAEA guidelines and includes environmental monitoring labs at each plant.

The Ministry of Earth Sciences reports that the national ocean observation network has been significantly expanded. It now includes 19 subsurface moorings, 17 directional wave rider buoys, 20 ADCPs, 32 AWS, 2 water‑quality buoys, 50 tide gauges, 302 Argo profiling floats (2014‑2025), 12 deep‑sea gliders, 45 drifting buoys, 64 wave drifters and a tsunami early‑warning system of 17 seismic stations, 7 deep‑ocean buoys, 36 coastal tide gauges, 35 GNSS receivers and strong‑motion accelerometers. Recent additions comprise 14 tide gauges, 15 GNSS receivers and a wave rider buoy off Mauritius. Real‑time data from these platforms are assimilated at INCOIS into global ocean data assimilation systems, improving monsoon and cyclone forecast accuracy (up to ~43 % for wave forecasts) and enabling tsunami advisories within 10 minutes.

The Ministry of Electronics & IT reports that under the Software Technology Park (STP) Scheme, the Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) has set up 73 centres nationwide, including a 6,600 sq ft centre in Kolhapur with 62 plug‑and‑play incubation seats, conference facilities, a Network Operations Centre and related infrastructure. In FY 2025‑26, seven STPI‑registered units at the Kolhapur centre exported IT services worth ₹241.49 crore. The Maharashtra government supports the ecosystem through tax rebates, electricity tariff concessions and an IT Park developed by MIDC, which hosts three operational plots. Kolhapur now has 372 IT/ITES units employing about 9,000 people, as stated by Minister of State Shri Jitin Prasada in a Lok Sabha reply.

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy announced that under PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana (PMSG: MBY) higher central financial assistance is provided for the first two kWp of rooftop solar (RTS) capacity, and collateral‑free loans are available from nationalised banks at a concessional rate of repo‑rate + 50 bps (5.75% per annum) for a ten‑year tenure. Budget allocations for the scheme are Rs 6,250 crore (2024‑25), Rs 20,000 crore (2025‑26) and Rs 22,000 crore (2026‑27), with expenditures of Rs 7,822.92 crore, Rs 16,166.23 crore and Rs 10,392.48 crore respectively (as on 22 July 2026). By that date, 3,972,447 RTS systems covering 4,802,717 households had been installed, leading to reduced electricity bills and 18.93 households reporting zero bills for some months.

The PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana (PMSG: MBY), launched in February 2024, is a demand‑driven scheme allowing residential consumers with grid‑connected electricity to install rooftop solar (RTS) systems via the portal www.pmsuryaghar.gov.in. As of 22 July 2026, 39,72,447 RTS systems have been installed, benefiting 48,02,717 households nationwide, including rural areas. In the fiscal year 2025‑26, 18.71 lakh RTS systems added 6.7 GW of capacity, covering 22.71 lakh households. Over 18.93 lakh beneficiaries have reported zero electricity bills after installation. The scheme also envisages RTS installations in government and commercial buildings but provides no central financial assistance to these categories.

The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying is implementing the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) with a total outlay of Rs 20,750 crore from FY 2020‑21 onward for fisheries development across all States/UTs. For Uttar Pradesh, projects approved under PMMSY total Rs 1,294.32 crore, with a central share of Rs 412.30 crore; of this, Rs 336.61 crore has been released and Rs 316.61 crore spent. The scheme supports pond development, hatcheries, feed mills, cold‑chain, Biofloc, RAS, cage culture and related modern interventions. Nationally, fish production rose from 141.64 lakh tonnes (2019‑20) to 197.97 lakh tonnes (2024‑25), and fisheries exports grew from Rs 46,662.85 crore (2019‑20) to Rs 73,890 crore (2025‑26).

The 17th Toy Biz International exhibition (4‑7 July 2026, New Delhi) showcased 400 Indian toy brands to 100 international buyers from 40 countries, generating around 30,000 business visits. The Government of India has undertaken multiple measures – a National Action Plan for Toys (21 actions across 14 ministries), increased basic customs duty on toys (20 %→70 %), a Quality Control Order (effective 1 Jan 2021), BIS licensing (≈1,800 domestic, >50 foreign), cluster support under SFURTI (18 clusters), startup recognition (>700), and export incentives via RoDTEP and several CEPA agreements. Consequently, toy imports fell 37.5 % (US$371.7 mn → 232.3 mn) while exports rose 89.1 % (US$203.5 mn → 384.7 mn) and 95 % of samples met quality standards in 2025, up from 33 % in 2019.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, congratulated weightlifter Valluri Ajaya Babu for winning the silver medal in the Men’s 79 kg category at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2026 and for setting a Commonwealth Games record in the Snatch event. The PM posted the congratulatory message on X, wishing him success in future endeavours.

The Ministry of Textiles reports that the Government of India has launched multiple schemes to uplift the textile sector, especially in Bhadohi, Uttar Pradesh. Key initiatives include the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Man‑Made Fibre (MMF) fabrics and technical textiles, with Rs 386.30 crore released and 170 companies selected (15 from Uttar Pradesh). The Raw Material Supply Scheme (RMSS) and National Handloom Development Programme have provided Rs 96.34 crore to 86 small and 1 mega handloom clusters, benefitting 25,885 workers, and facilitated 143 marketing events. The SAMARTH‑Scheme has trained 1,34,503 beneficiaries in Uttar Pradesh. The National Handicrafts Development Programme supported 138 artisans and sanctioned two Craft‑Based Resource Centres for carpet clusters.