Official releases, distilled into exam-ready intelligence.

The Ministry of Power reports that 11 pumped‑storage projects (PSPs) with a combined capacity of 15,870 MW are under construction, while six additional PSPs (8,140 MW) have been concurred/appraised by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) but not yet started. Recent measures include MoEF&CC’s 2023‑2025 notifications facilitating faster environmental clearances, CEA’s reduction of DPR concurrence time from 90 to 50 days, and a 2025 Gazette revision raising the capital‑expenditure limit to ₹3,000 crore and exempting off‑stream closed‑loop schemes from CEA concurrence. The CERC has waived inter‑state transmission charges for 25 years for projects awarded before 30 June 2028. These steps aim to enhance private participation and support renewable‑energy integration through long‑duration storage.

India’s 8th Trade Policy Review (TPR) at the WTO will be held on 21 and 23 July 2026, led by Commerce Secretary Shri Rajesh Agarwal. The TPR, conducted every five years, covers the period 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2025 and began in June 2025 with participation from over 100 ministries and organisations. During the review period, India’s merchandise and services exports reached a record US$ 863.1 billion in 2025‑26, a 6.3 % increase from US$ 676.5 billion in 2021‑22. The Government Report highlights achievements such as active FTAs, GST rationalisation, and digital trade facilitation (UPI). Over 900 WTO questions have been submitted and more than 40 members are expected to deliver statements, underscoring global interest in India’s trade profile.

The Ministry of Finance reported that as of June 2026, 55.49 crore users were onboarded on the Unified Payments Interface (UPI). UPI transaction volume rose to 24,161.69 crore in FY 2025‑26, with a value of 314.23 lakh crore, up from 4,595.61 crore volume and 84.16 lakh crore value in FY 2021‑22. The government, RBI and NPCI have introduced risk‑based transaction limits, safeguards against unauthorized mobile number changes, and enhanced security frameworks (CUISF 2025 and Mobile Application Security Framework). NPCI International Payments Ltd. has expanded UPI to 12 foreign jurisdictions, including Bhutan, Singapore, UAE, France, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Qatar, Greece, and Cambodia, facilitating P2P and P2M cross‑border payments.

The Ministry of Labour & Employment’s e‑Shram portal, launched on 26 August 2021, has registered over 31.78 crore unorganised workers as of 14 July 2026, assigning each a Universal Account Number (UAN). State/UT‑wise registrations are detailed in Annexure‑I, with Uttar Pradesh contributing the highest number (8.45 crore) and Lakshadweep the lowest (2,876). Fifteen central schemes—including PM‑Kisan, PM‑AYUSHMAN BHARAT, PM‑JEEVAN JYOTI BIMA, and PM‑MVY—have been integrated into e‑Shram, enabling workers to access benefits through a single platform. Additional linkages exist with National Career Service, Skill India Digital Hub, and PM‑SYM for pensions.

The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) reports that under the Skill India Mission, the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) 4.0 is being delivered through the Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH), a unified digital platform for training, assessment, certification and employment services. The scheme emphasizes industry‑led, demand‑driven skilling in emerging technologies such as AI, ML, Robotics, Cloud Computing, IoT and Green Technologies, and has expanded access across states including Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh. An independent impact evaluation by AJNIFM shows employment of short‑term training candidates rising from 26.6% to 45.4% and income improvements for 41‑49% of beneficiaries. Funds released to PMKVY, JSS and NAPS total over Rs 13,600 crore, while the PM‑SETU programme will upgrade 1,000 government ITIs with a Rs 60,000 crore investment. International MoUs with 14 countries and partnerships with firms like IBM, Cisco and AWS aim to align skill development with global industry standards.

The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) highlighted several initiatives to boost skill development in tribal areas. TRIFED has sanctioned 4,172 Van Dhan Vikas Kendra (VDVKs) covering 12,48,067 tribal members, including 20 VDVKs for 5,900 beneficiaries in Dahod, Gujarat. Under the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DAJGUA), 30 Tribal Skilling Centres have been set up across 30 tribal districts in 15 states. MSDE’s project to establish 1,200 vocational skill labs in 400 Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas and 200 Eklavya Model Residential Schools aims to train 1,200 skill teachers. In Dahod district, six training centres have been accredited under PMKVY 4.0, delivering courses such as Kisan Drone Operator and traditional tribal skills, with 2,351 candidates trained in the Dahod Lok Sabha constituency up to June 2026.

The Ministry of Power reports that coal‑based generation capacity stands at about 230.8 GW, contributing 69.54 % of electricity supplied in April‑June 2026. Peak non‑solar generation reached 188.8 GW (≈75 % of total generation). As of 12 July 2026, 42.8 MT of coal stock at thermal plants can sustain operations for 14 days at 85 % PLF, with daily coal receipts meeting demand. FY 2025‑26 added 9,470 MW of thermal capacity and 2,260 MW has been commissioned in the current FY. Coal supply is monitored daily by a joint committee of Power, Railways and Coal ministries, and an Inter‑Ministerial Committee reviews dispatches. The CEA’s 2023 regulation requires coal units to maintain a minimum 40 % technical level, and 2,669 MW of BESS and 7,426 MW of pumped storage have been commissioned to support non‑solar hours.

The Ministry of Law and Justice has released the Draft Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2026 for stakeholder and public consultation. The draft, prepared in consultation with the Bar Council of India (BCI), was posted on the BCI website on 18 July 2026. Comments and suggestions from stakeholders and the public are invited until 31 July 2026 (03:00 PM) via draftadvact2026bill@gmail.com and lmpcell-dla@nic.in. The inputs will be examined before finalisation, reflecting the Department’s commitment to a transparent, participative legislative process aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.

The Mumbai Port Authority (MbPA) announced that it will pursue stringent legal and criminal action against chronic lease‑rental defaulters and unauthorised occupants on public land along Mumbai’s Eastern Waterfront. The Authority has engaged senior legal experts and leading law firms to recover outstanding dues, citing combined liabilities of about ₹3,500 crore from entities such as Indian Hotels Company Ltd., Crescent Dyes & Chemicals Ltd., and others. It highlighted violations including unauthorised construction, illegal sub‑letting, unapproved transfers and unauthorised land‑use changes, which it says threaten port security and public safety. The move is positioned as part of the Government of India’s Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 and related port‑centric infrastructure projects like the Viksit Bharat Mumbai Marina.

On 20 July 2026, President Droupadi Murmu addressed the India‑Moldova Business Forum in Chișinău, highlighting the warm bilateral relations since 1992 and the shared commitment to democratic values, peace and development. She noted India’s status as a fast‑growing major economy and Moldova’s strategic location and integration with European markets, underscoring opportunities for collaboration in digital technologies, AI, cyber‑security, fintech, digital public infrastructure, infrastructure development, renewable energy, advanced manufacturing, logistics, agriculture, food processing, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and healthcare. The President invited Moldovan firms to explore trade and investment in India and encouraged Indian businesses to pursue projects in Moldova, especially in renewable energy such as solar, battery storage, smart grids and green hydrogen.

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has added two citizen‑centric features to the RajmargYatra mobile app: a digital ‘Local Pass’ and the ‘MargMitra’ Help Centre. The Local Pass, first launched at the Mundka‑Bakkarwala Toll Plaza on Urban Extension Road‑II in Delhi, lets residents within a 20 km radius purchase a monthly toll pass digitally, eliminating the need to visit the toll plaza and submit physical documents. Eligibility is verified through consent‑based integration with DigiLocker, VAHAN and GIS‑based checks. MargMitra is an AI‑driven, multilingual (22 languages) assistance platform that provides information, FASTag services, grievance redressal and real‑time monitoring of complaints, all within the app.

The Indian Institute of Technology Goa held its 7th Convocation on 20 July 2026, conferring degrees on 188 students across B.Tech., M.Tech. and Ph.D. programmes. The ceremony highlighted a 92.25 % placement rate for the graduating batch, the award of President’s and Institute Gold Medals, and the Best Outgoing Student award. IIT Goa reported securing 15 Extramural Research projects with total funding of about ₹690.88 lakh and signing 11 strategic MoUs with national and international institutions. The institute also announced new academic initiatives, including a double‑major pathway, industry‑focused M.Tech specialisations, an M.S. by Research, and two‑year M.Sc. programmes.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi opened the Monsoon Session 2026 by linking the onset of the monsoon with a productive parliamentary session, emphasizing national well‑being. He highlighted recent milestones: an Indian citizen’s visit to the International Space Station, the private start‑up Skyroot’s launch of a space vehicle with an average team age of 28, the dedication of a major oil refinery in Rajasthan, the inauguration of India’s third semiconductor plant, and the launch of a green‑hydrogen‑powered train described as the longest and most powerful of its kind. He noted that despite the West Asian war‑induced energy disruptions, India grew at 7.7 % and became the fastest‑growing major economy, urging MPs to engage constructively in the session.

The Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI) monitors all ongoing Central Sector infrastructure projects costing Rs 150 crore and above through the online portal PAIMANA (Project Assessment Infrastructure Monitoring and Analytics for Nation‑Building). Line ministries, departments and implementing agencies update project data on PAIMANA via APIs or manual entry. Project‑wise details are published in a Flash Report on the portal (https://paimana-proj.mospi.gov.in/ReportPage). The portal offers rich data analytics, customizable dashboards and output‑oriented reports for apex‑level monitoring. Reported causes of delays include land‑acquisition issues, forest/wildlife/environmental clearances, law‑and‑order problems, utility shifting and civil‑work delays. Monthly review meetings and shared login credentials enable regular stakeholder coordination and evidence‑based interventions.

The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) facilitated the first export of 24 metric tonnes of frozen French fries from Kashipur, Uttarakhand, to Iraq, shipped by Virun Global Trade Pvt. Ltd. The export underscores India's growing processed vegetable sector, which in 2025‑26 recorded exports of USD 932.25 million (7,26,874.70 MT) and value‑added potato products of 277,108.51 MT worth USD 289.40 million. APEDA supported the exporter through participation in major trade fairs (SIAL, Gulfood, IndusFood, World Food India) and is collaborating with the Uttarakhand government on a State Agri Export Policy to address logistics costs and boost competitiveness.

TRAI released results of an Independent Drive Test (IDT) conducted in June 2026 across Bhopal city, the Indore‑Neemuch highway and the Bilaspur‑Ambikapur highway in Madhya Pradesh LSA. The drive test measured coverage gaps, dropped calls, call‑silence instances and data download/upload throughput for Airtel, BSNL, RJIL and VIL. Coverage gaps ranged from 0.5 % (Airtel in Bhopal) to 36 % (BSNL on the Bilaspur‑Ambikapur highway). Dropped‑call rates were highest for BSNL (up to 14 % on the Bilaspur‑Ambikapur route). Average download speeds varied from 10.68 Mbps (BSNL) to 291.53 Mbps (RJIL) and upload speeds from 4.99 Mbps (BSNL) to 34.92 Mbps (RJIL). The findings are published to inform consumers and prompt service‑provider improvements.

The National Statistical Office (NSO) under MoSPI has introduced digital tools to modernise India’s official statistical system. Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI) using handheld devices with validation checks, real‑time dashboards, GPS tagging and secure electronic transmission are now employed, automating sample selection, field monitoring and data processing. Administrative databases such as GSTN, Census 2011 village directory, and MCA are integrated into survey frames, enhancing sampling accuracy and timeliness. MoSPI has launched the Statistical Quality Assessment Framework (SQAF) and the National Metadata Structure (NMDS 2.0) to standardise quality and metadata. Public access is expanded via the Advance Release Calendar, eSankhyiki portal, revamped Microdata portal, AI‑enabled website and the GoIStat mobile app.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) released results of an Independent Drive Test (IDT) carried out from 16‑18 June 2026 on a 273.1 km city route and four hotspot locations in Virudhunagar and Tenkasi districts, Tamil Nadu. Using SIMs of all telecom service providers (TSPs) on 2G‑5G networks, TRAI measured key QoS parameters – coverage gap, call drop rate, call‑silence instances, and data download/upload throughput. Airtel recorded the lowest coverage gaps (456/41110 samples) and zero dropped calls, while BSNL showed the highest coverage gaps (3466/40362) and five dropped calls. RJIL achieved the highest average download speed (275.96 Mbps) and upload speed (19.06 Mbps). The detailed findings have been shared with the TSPs and are available on the TRAI website.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) released results of an Independent Drive Test (IDT) conducted in May 2026 across Hamirpur, Bilaspur and associated routes in Himachal Pradesh. Using SIMs from all major Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) – Airtel, BSNL, RJIL and VIL – the test measured key Quality of Service (QoS) parameters: coverage gap, call drop rate (CDR), call‑setup success rate (CSSR), call‑silence instances, and data download/upload throughput. For example, Airtel recorded a coverage gap of 479/16 503 samples and zero dropped calls, while BSNL showed higher gaps (e.g., 2 232/16 232 in Hamirpur) and multiple dropped calls. Average download speeds ranged from 11.29 Mbps (BSNL, 4G) to 243.12 Mbps (RJIL, 5G). The findings are published to inform consumers and prompt TSPs to improve services.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) released results of an Independent Drive Test (IDT) carried out across the Mumbai LSA during 10‑12 June 2026. The test measured key Quality of Service parameters – coverage gap, call drop rate, call‑silence instances, and data download/upload throughput – for Airtel, MTNL, RJIL and VIL using 2G‑5G networks. Coverage gaps were 102/54857 samples for Airtel, 17877/23461 for MTNL, 144/54576 for RJIL and 5/54511 for VIL. Dropped‑call ratios were 1/490 (Airtel), 28/203 (MTNL), 0/489 (RJIL) and 1/491 (VIL). Average download speeds recorded were 93.76 Mbps (Airtel), 237.81 Mbps (RJIL) and 70.69 Mbps (VIL); average upload speeds were 25.92 Mbps (Airtel), 40.92 Mbps (RJIL) and 25.57 Mbps (VIL). The findings have been shared with the service providers and are available on the TRAI website.