Official releases, distilled into exam-ready intelligence.

The PIB release states that as of 15 July 2026, Bhagalpur district in Bihar has 788 cooperative societies, of which 728 are functional. The Government’s Central Sector Project for Computerisation of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS), launched in 2022, has been expanded to a financial outlay of ₹2,925.39 crore, covering 79,630 PACS nationwide and linking them to NABARD via State and District Cooperative Banks. Additionally, a plan approved by the Government aims to establish new multipurpose PACS/dairy/fisheries cooperatives across all panchayats and villages within five years, with 38,138 new societies registered and 21,292 dairy/fisheries societies strengthened as of 15 July 2026. The Ministry of Cooperation highlights ongoing digitalisation initiatives for cooperative institutions, including computerisation of registrar offices and agricultural development banks.

The National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), Ministry of AYUSH, is implementing a Central Sector Scheme for the conservation, development and sustainable management of medicinal plants across India. Under the scheme, activities such as IEC programmes, forward‑and‑backward supply‑chain linkages, in‑situ and ex‑situ conservation, livelihood linkages with forest‑related committees, research & development, and promotion/marketing of medicinal plants are being supported. NMPB’s Regional‑cum‑Facilitation Centres provide quality planting material and conduct GAP/GFCP training. From FY 2021‑22 to 2025‑26, 152 IEC projects received Rs 1,186.91 lakh (Rs 948.54 lakh released). Additionally, 15 forest‑area projects received Rs 3,363.24 lakh, 57 R&D projects were funded, and 12 integrated‑component supply‑chain projects were sanctioned during FY 2023‑24 to 2025‑26.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, shared an article by Union Minister Shri Chirag Paswan that underscores the Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme. According to the Prime Minister’s statement, the scheme is formalising micro‑food‑processing enterprises by providing affordable finance, technology, branding and market linkages. This is enabling local producers—especially women—to become job creators, thereby strengthening rural economies and contributing to an Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

On 14 July 2026, the Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises inaugurated a second PM Vishwakarma (PMV) stall at Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport, Chandigarh. The stall, set up with support from NABARD and a Self‑Help Group, provides three local artisans – a basket maker, a doll‑maker, and a potter – a platform to display and sell handcrafted products to domestic and international travellers. The initiative aims to enhance market visibility, enable direct customer interaction, and promote traditional crafts, aligning with the ‘Vocal for Local’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ objectives. The PM Vishwakarma Scheme, launched in 2023, supports artisans in 18 trades through skill training, modern tools, collateral‑free credit, digital incentives and market linkages.

The Merchant Shipping Act, 2025 came into force on 15 March 2026, updating India’s maritime legal framework to align with contemporary international standards. The Act enhances statutory safeguards for abandoned seafarers, tightens regulation of recruitment and placement services, and provides a robust legal basis for implementing evolving international maritime labour norms. In response to heightened security risks in conflict‑sensitive maritime zones, the Directorate General of Maritime Administration (DGMA) issued a series of advisories and circulars (e.g., DGS Advisory 14.01.2026, Circulars 09‑31 of 2026) directing Indian seafarers and shipping stakeholders to avoid deployments to Iran, maintain vigilance in the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz, register with Indian missions, and use a newly established 24 × 7 helpline for emergency assistance. These measures were communicated by Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.

The Rajya Sabha Committee on Subordinate Legislation, chaired by Shri Milind Murli Deora, submitted its 257th report on 21 July 2026, examining four 2024 Competition Commission of India (CCI) regulations and guidelines. The Committee observed a need for periodic review of the competition law framework, enhanced advocacy and outreach especially for MSMEs and start‑ups, and more vigorous enforcement to deter repeated violations. It highlighted the importance of transparent penalty calculations, capacity‑building for officers, and stronger coordination with other sectoral regulators through mechanisms such as MoUs. The report and its recommendations are available on the Rajya Sabha website.

The Ministry of Textiles is implementing the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) under the Handloom Weavers’ Welfare component of the National Handloom Development Programme. These insurance schemes are offered on an annual basis (1 June–31 May) to eligible handloom weavers/workers across India, including Andhra Pradesh. Since 2021‑22 the schemes have been executed through State/UT governments, with targets set based on indicative eligible numbers and funds released accordingly. The release details show cumulative enrolments of 202 393 beneficiaries (2025‑26) and total funds of ₹ 335 crore released up to FY 2025‑26. Awareness is created via Weavers Service Centres, handloom helplines, and awareness camps, and an independent agency has evaluated the schemes’ impact.

The Ayush Grid project, described as the IT backbone of the AYUSH sector, has created 24 e‑governance platforms. The master portal (MAISP) integrates all AYUSH applications, and an AI‑enabled chatbot (beta) assists users. The Ayush Hospital Management Information System (AHMIS) has digitised 5,386 AYUSH health facilities, enabling electronic health records and referrals. The Swasthya Assessment Scale (SAS) has onboarded 1,335 doctors from 221 facilities for holistic health assessments. GIS mapping via the PM GatiShakti portal has charted 6,002 AYUSH facilities. Additionally, the Yoga Portal’s Yoga Sangam event on International Day of Yoga 2026 recorded over 7.6 lakh organisations and 8 lakh photographs, illustrating extensive digital outreach.

The Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying informed Parliament that the Government is undertaking multiple measures to strengthen the dairy and livestock sector. There is no proposal to introduce a Minimum Support Price for milk; prices remain market‑driven by cooperatives and private dairies. The Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF) is financing dairy and meat processing units, feed plants and related infrastructure, with 113 projects in Maharashtra approved for ₹4,700.13 crore and an interest subvention of ₹123.46 crore. The National Digital Livestock Mission assigns a 12‑digit Tag ID to each animal and records vaccination, breeding and treatment data using AES‑256 encryption, though Mobile Veterinary Units are not yet linked to the portal. Existing schemes such as the National Livestock Mission, Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme and AHIDF aim to boost production, farmer incomes and rural employment.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched a nationwide HPV vaccination programme on 28 February 2026 targeting about 1.2 crore girls aged 14 across all 36 States and Union Territories. By 15 July 2026, 5,210,302 girls had received the vaccine free of cost at government health facilities such as Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, PHCs, CHCs, SDHs/DHs and GMCs. Training of medical and paramedical staff was completed nationwide, and vaccination coverage is recorded on the U‑WIN digital portal. Awareness activities using IEC materials aim to overcome hesitancy, especially in rural, tribal and urban‑slum areas. The Union Government’s cervical‑cancer strategy also includes screening, early diagnosis at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs and treatment via Day Care Cancer Centres.

The Ministry of Fisheries, Government of India approved Karnataka’s Modernisation and Upgradation of Mangaluru Fishing Harbour in 2024, allocating Rs 37.47 crore (central share Rs 22.48 crore) under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY). The state reports 25 % physical progress and expenditure of Rs 6.31 crore, aiming to provide berthing for 1,600 vessels and benefit about 18,000 fishers, with pending works slated for completion by 21 May 2027. Across Karnataka, PMMSY projects total Rs 1,053.60 crore (2020‑21 to 2026‑27) covering 212 beneficiaries in three coastal districts, including deep‑sea vessels and cold‑chain assets. The information was conveyed by Fisheries Minister Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh in Lok Sabha.

The Department of Fisheries is implementing the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) with a total outlay of Rs 20,990.79 crore from FY 2020‑21 to date. For Uttar Pradesh, proposals approved under PMMSY amount to Rs 1,294.32 crore, with a central share of Rs 412.30 crore, and Rs 336.61 crore has been released to the state for FY 2020‑21 to 2026‑27. In Chandauli district, 10 PMMSY projects have been executed, benefiting 229 farmers. The district has 447 Gram Sabha ponds (427.15 ha); 421 ponds (417.24 ha) are leased for aquaculture, and fisheries activities are ongoing in 5 of its 8 reservoirs.

The Government has introduced a Digital market access and quality assurance framework for AYUSH products. An AYUSH vertical has been set up in the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) to enforce safety and quality, and CDSCO issues WHO Certificate of Pharmaceutical Product to compliant AYUSH drugs. The Quality Council of India runs a Quality Certifications Scheme granting Ayush Standard and Ayush Premium marks after third‑party evaluation. The Ministry of AYUSH implements the Ayush Oushadhi Gunavatta Evam Uttpadan Samvardhan Yojana (AOGUSY) to support manufacturers, upgrade pharmacies and testing labs, and operate a three‑tier pharmacovigilance network. The Ayush Quality Mark (AQM) is awarded through the Ayush Export Promotion Council after verification of GMP, WHO‑GMP and other certifications, aiming to boost global competitiveness. The Central Consumer Protection Authority has advised e‑commerce platforms to require a valid prescription for certain AYUSH drugs, and the Ayush Suraksha Portal enables real‑time reporting of misleading ads and adverse reactions.

Under the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for Textiles, 170 companies have been approved. By 31 March 2026, these firms have invested ₹8,117.64 crore and created 33,427 jobs. State‑wise, Gujarat leads with 46 companies, ₹1,903.38 crore investment and 4,493 jobs; Tamil Tamil Nadu follows with 17 firms, ₹1,277.16 crore and 7,930 jobs; Karnataka has 6 firms, ₹1,515.99 crore and 5,611 jobs. Other states contribute smaller shares of investment and employment as detailed in the release.

The Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) is an umbrella scheme comprising three components: the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) and Har Khet Ko Pani (HKKP) implemented by the Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, and the Watershed Development Component (WDC) implemented by the Department of Land Resources, Ministry of Rural Development. Central assistance is provided to states for creating irrigation potential, command‑area development and on‑farm activities. Projects are executed by state governments through competitive tendering, allowing private contractors as per state procurement rules, but the scheme contains no specific provision for private‑sector investment. Capacity‑building and training on efficient water management are undertaken by states/UTs, yet consolidated data on farmers and field‑level workers trained is not maintained centrally. The information was provided by Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Ramnath Thakur, in a Lok Sabha written reply.

The Ministry of Textiles is implementing the "Grant for Research and Entrepreneurship across Aspiring Innovators in Technical Textiles (GREAT)" scheme under the National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM) since 2023. To date, 31 start‑ups have been approved with a total outlay of Rs 15.40 crore, of which Rs 13.65 crore is funded by the Government of India. Each start‑up can receive up to Rs 50 lakh. The approved projects span advanced functional textiles, smart graphene‑based fabrics, energy‑harvesting and shape‑memory wearables, high‑performance composites for automotive, construction and defence, as well as sustainable bio‑based and medical textile innovations. State‑wise, the highest number of start‑ups are in Maharashtra (7) and Delhi (5).

The Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA), under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, inaugurated the eighth batch (2026–28) of its Post Graduate Insolvency Programme (PGIP). The two‑year residential programme, launched in 2019, aims to create a skilled cadre of insolvency and restructuring professionals through a multidisciplinary curriculum covering law, finance, management, valuation, technology and ethics. The inaugural address was delivered by Justice Ashok Bhushan, former NCLAT chair and former Supreme Court judge, who highlighted the transformative impact of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016. Shri Ravi Mittal, Chairperson of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India, emphasized the programme’s role in producing competent insolvency and resolution professionals, while IICA officials outlined recent innovations such as AI‑enabled learning and research incentives.

The Ministry of Home Affairs outlined recent measures to curb illicit narcotics trafficking. Key actions include active enforcement by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Drug Law Enforcement Agencies and State Police under the NDPS Act, 1985, and the release of a 2026‑2029 Vision Document on Narcotics Control. A four‑tier Narco‑Coordination Centre (NCORD) and a Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) chaired by the DG‑NCB have been instituted for better coordination and monitoring of major drug cases. Capacity‑building efforts involve workshops, training with the US‑DEA, and expansion of NCB’s regional, zonal and field offices, increasing posts by 568 and establishing a dedicated Directorate of Prosecution.

The National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC), under the Ministry of Cooperation, is implementing the fully funded Yuva Sahakar and Swayam Shakti schemes. Yuva Sahakar aims to encourage newly formed cooperative societies with innovative ideas, while Swayam Shakti seeks to provide affordable, cost‑effective financial services to the poor, including women Self‑Help Groups, to promote sustainable livelihoods. No cooperative from the Hisar Lok Sabha constituency in Haryana has submitted a proposal. NCDC monitors implementation through 19 regional and 9 sub‑offices, conducting periodic field visits to ensure timely credit flow. The information was provided by Union Minister for Home and Cooperation Amit Shah in a Lok Sabha reply.

The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying reports that under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), Integrated Modern Coastal Villages are being developed at a unit cost of ₹750 lakh to boost livelihoods through sustainable practices. A separate component creates Climate‑Resilient Coastal Fishermen Villages (CRCFV) at ₹200 lakh per village, fully funded by the Government of India. Andhra Pradesh has identified 15 villages, with a total project cost of ₹30 crore approved and ₹15 crore released so far. Interventions include jetty extensions, fish‑drying platforms, solar drying units, seaweed farms, GPS units, life‑saving equipment and other climate‑resilient assets. The PMMSY scheme is extended up to 30 September 2026.