Official releases, distilled into exam-ready intelligence.

The Ministry of Cooperation has rolled out a suite of digital initiatives to modernise the cooperative sector under the ‘Sahkar Se Samriddhi’ vision. A centrally‑sponsored Computerisation of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) project, now funded at ₹2,925.39 crore, has onboarded 63,686 PACS onto an ERP‑based national software, recording over 51.58 crore digital transactions by 15 July 2026. The ePACS platform offers 22 ERP modules, Aadhaar‑linked services, cloud‑based storage, maker‑checker controls and multilingual support in 20 languages. Parallelly, the National Cooperative Database (NCD) now lists about 8.6 lakh cooperatives across 30 sectors, with a upgraded NCD 3.0 portal and GeoTag mobile app launched 6 July 2026. Additional reforms include computerisation of Registrar offices, a Cooperative Ranking Framework, and RBI‑approved relaxations for urban and rural cooperative banks, all aimed at enhancing transparency, governance and service delivery.

The Ministry of Education clarified that recruitment for faculty in Central Higher Education Institutions (CHEIs), including Central Universities, is autonomous and governed by each institution’s Acts, with vacancies filled by their respective Boards or Executive Committees. State university vacancies are managed by state governments and are not centrally recorded. The Ministry highlighted continuous vacancy creation due to retirements, promotions, and expansion, and noted measures such as year‑round advertisements, search‑cum‑selection procedures, and the UGC’s CU‑CHAYAN portal to enhance transparency. Mission‑mode recruitment drives were undertaken in 2021, 2022 and 2025, resulting in 32,114 posts (18,757 faculty) filled up to 23 May 2026.

The Ministry of Education, responding to a Rajya Sabha question, clarified that under the Samagra Shiksha and PM SHRI schemes, recruitment of Special Educators is a State/UT responsibility, with deployment at block or cluster level in an itinerant mode. The Department has notified a Pupil‑Teacher Ratio of one Special Educator per 10 CwSN at primary level and one per 15 CwSN at upper‑primary level (Notification S.O. 4586(E), 21‑09‑2022). According to UDISE+ 2025‑26, 1.17 lakh schools have a dedicated Special Educator, with a total enrolment of 2.21 million CwSN across India. State‑wise data on enrolment and schools with Special Educators is provided in the annexure. Capacity‑building measures include NISHTHA‑based online modules, handbooks by NCERT/CBSE, and two dedicated credits on Inclusive Education in the ITEP programme.

The Ministry of Education, referencing NEP 2020, has pursued a Digital University platform to broaden learner‑centric, technology‑enabled education. In October 2025, NIELIT (MeitY) launched the NIELIT Digital University (NDU) Platform, which now serves learners in over 750 districts, has recorded more than 2.70 lakh registrations and offers over 100 skill‑based courses in areas such as AI, cybersecurity and Industry 4.0. The associated Alumni‑cum‑Placement Portal has attracted over 35,000 learners and 190 recruiters. Under the National Mission on Education through ICT (NMEICT), the SWAYAM Plus platform provides over 500 employability‑focused courses curated with 80+ industry partners across 15 sectors, enrolling more than 6 lakh learners. The information was supplied by Minister of State for Education Dr Sukanta Majumdar in a Rajya Sabha reply.

The Ministry of Heavy Industries reported that 88,209 electric vehicles (EVs) were subsidised in Madhya Pradesh during FY 2025‑26 under the PM E‑DRIVE scheme, comprising 81,840 e‑2‑wheelers and 6,369 e‑3‑wheelers. A total of 94,277 EVs were deployed in the state in the same period, but no electric buses were allocated. The release also outlines related central schemes – FAME‑II (₹11,500 cr), PLI‑Auto (₹25,938 cr), PLI‑ACC (₹18,100 cr), PM E‑DRIVE (₹10,900 cr) and PM e‑Bus Sewa (₹3,435.33 cr) – and measures such as a 5 % GST on EVs, green licence plates, and state‑level road‑tax waivers aimed at promoting clean‑energy transport.

The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), through Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, has developed 72 improved crop varieties using radiation‑induced mutagenesis and cross‑breeding. These varieties – including 17 groundnut, 10 rice, 9 each mungbean and mustard, and others – have been released for commercial cultivation in partnership with ICAR and State Agricultural Universities, offering traits such as higher yield, early maturity and climate‑resilience (drought, heat, salinity tolerance). DAE promotes adoption via large‑scale seed production, collaborations with state seed corporations, KVKs, FPOs and NGOs, and outreach programmes. It also transfers radiation‑based food preservation technologies to private entrepreneurs and supports food‑irradiation units under the PMKSY scheme, with three facilities operational in Uttar Pradesh.

On World Elephant Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted that India harbours more than 60 % of the world’s wild Asian elephants. He noted that the country currently has 33 Elephant Reserves that provide habitats and support long‑term conservation of the species. The Prime Minister also praised forest personnel, scientists, veterinarians, mahouts and local communities for their role in these efforts. The statements were released via a PIB press release and reiterated in the Prime Minister’s post on X on 12 August 2026.

The Department of Space answered a Lok Sabha question on space startups, noting that about 440 space‑technology startups are registered in India. IN‑SPACe has granted 113 authorisations to 52 non‑government entities, of which 18 are startups (Annexure‑I). It has provided financial, technical and incubation support (Annexure‑II) and facilitated 118 technology‑transfer agreements through NSIL, covering critical technologies such as SSLV, IMS‑1 bus and ISRO laser gyro. The government has introduced a liberalised FDI policy, a ₹1,000 crore venture‑capital fund, a ₹500 crore Technology Adoption Fund, and other measures to promote private participation, skill development and infrastructure access. Cumulative private investment in space startups reached roughly USD 618.5 million as of 31 Mar 2026.

The Ministry of Electronics & IT reports that India’s data centre capacity has risen from 375 MW in 2020 to about 1,575 MW, yet it remains under 1 % of the nation’s installed power capacity. The Central Electricity Authority projects data‑centre power demand to reach roughly 17 GW by 2031‑32. To support this growth, the government is advancing energy‑efficiency and clean‑energy measures, including Green Energy Open Access Rules, Green Energy Corridor Scheme, GTAM, National Green Hydrogen Mission, Solar PV and Offshore Wind schemes, and the SHANTI Act for nuclear power. BIS has issued standards on PUE, CUE, CER and WUE, while the Bureau of Energy Efficiency has notified ECBC 2017 and ECSBC 2024 for buildings. Advanced cooling technologies such as direct‑to‑chip liquid cooling and immersion cooling are being adopted to curb water use.

On World Elephant Day 2026, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shri Bhupender Yadav reaffirmed India’s commitment to elephant conservation, citing that the country has 33 Elephant Reserves across 14 States and 150 scientifically validated elephant corridors. He highlighted advanced population monitoring and stronger measures to mitigate human‑elephant conflict, stating that securing elephants secures forests, biodiversity and ecological heritage. Union MoS Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh noted that nearly 60 % of the world’s wild Asian elephants reside in India, underscoring their role as ecosystem engineers and symbols of ecological heritage.

The Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) reports that the FAME India Scheme Phase‑II (2019‑2024) with a budget of ₹11,500 crore has supported the sale of about 16.72 lakh electric vehicles (e‑2Ws, e‑3Ws, e‑4Ws) and deployment of 5,299 e‑buses as of 31 July 2026, alongside allocation of ₹912.50 crore for 9,583 public charging stations (EV PCS). The PM E‑DRIVE scheme (₹10,900 crore) targets 28.30 lakh EVs and has earmarked ₹4,391 crore for 14,028 e‑buses and ₹2,000 crore for nationwide EV PCS. Additional incentives include a reduced GST of 5% on EVs and chargers, green licence plates, and road‑tax waivers. By 7 August 2026, 67,657 EV chargers (including 1,139 battery‑swapping stations) were installed across states and UTs.

The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) reports that the Dhruva reactor at BARC produces the key medical radioisotopes Mo‑99, I‑131 and Lu‑177, which together account for about 90 % of nuclear‑medicine applications. Production data for the last five years show annual outputs ranging from 268 Ci to 693 Ci for Mo‑99‑99mTc, 623 Ci to 813 Ci for I‑131 and 473 Ci to 976 Ci for Lu‑177. During reactor shutdowns, imports were made – e.g., 460 Ci of Mo‑99 from Australia and Russia in 2021‑22 and 136 Ci of Lu‑177 from Russia in 2025‑26. Shortfalls occurred, with up to 19 batches of Mo‑99 missed in 2024‑25. DAE has secured sanction for an “Engineering and Construction of Isotope Production Reactor” slated to start around 2035 with a 0.5 MCi capacity.

The Department of Atomic Energy states that nuclear power plants have comprehensive security measures, including periodic internal audits, regulatory inspections by the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) and assessments by external government agencies. All plants employ electronic security systems such as Perimeter Intrusion Detection, Access Control, X‑Ray Baggage Inspection and CCTV monitoring. Cybersecurity is prioritised through continuous monitoring, regular audits, vulnerability assessments and the involvement of CERT‑In and the National Cyber Coordination Centre. Emergency Preparedness Plans approved by the regulator are exercised regularly; Table‑Top, Integrated Command, Control & Response (ICCR) and Mock exercises are conducted at stipulated intervals, with recent ICCR drills at Kudankulam (15 April 2025) and Kalpakkam (17 July 2026). The details were provided by Union Minister of State Dr Jitendra Singh in a Lok Sabha written reply.

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) facilitated the selection of three Sanchar Mitra volunteers – Ankit Kumar Pal (Delhi), Manish Kumar Mandal (Bengaluru) and Susmita Sain (Guwahati) – as Generation Connect Youth Envoys (GCYE) for the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) for the 2026‑2030 period. The appointment, announced on International Youth Day 2026, recognises their contributions under the Sanchar Mitra scheme, which engages youth in telecom‑related awareness, digital safety and inclusion activities. The GCYE programme offers young participants a platform to contribute to national, regional and global ICT, digital transformation and inclusive development discussions, aligning with DoT’s goal of empowering youth in the digital future.

The Government of India will launch a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)‑based Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) in the Union Territories of Chandigarh and Dadra & Nagar Haveli on 14 August 2026. The rollout, announced by the Ministry of Company Affairs, will transfer food‑subsidy benefits directly into beneficiaries’ CBDC wallets as programmable Digital Rupee tokens, replacing conventional bank transfers. The scheme aims to provide a transparent, end‑to‑end traceable payment mechanism, reduce leakages and cash handling, promote financial inclusion, and serve as a proof‑of‑concept for wider adoption across other states and UTs.

The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) launched e‑Inspection and e‑Certified Copy Services, inaugurated by President Justice Anupinder Singh Grewal via video‑conference. The services aim to give advocates, litigants and other stakeholders quicker, convenient access to judicial records and certified copies as part of the Tribunal’s broader digital transformation, which includes a revamped website and the e‑Courts 2.0 initiative. The Tribunal also highlighted data‑driven case‑management measures that have reduced pendency, leading to the approval of 78 resolution plans in April‑June 2026—the highest first‑quarter performance since the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code’s enactment—covering roughly ₹5,517.66 crore. Detailed guidelines for case registration and listing have been issued in consultation with the Bar.

The Ministry of Cooperation launched Bharat Taxi, a cooperative‑led digital mobility platform operated by Sahakar Taxi Cooperative Limited (STCL), in Delhi‑NCR, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Rajasthan. By 4 August 2026 the platform had registered 8.48 lakh drivers (Sarathis) and 44.27 lakh customers, facilitating 11,106 daily rides and generating cumulative earnings of ₹83.70 crore for drivers. Daily rides per city are listed (e.g., 5,574 in Delhi‑NCR). Expansion to other cities depends on operational readiness, statutory compliance and state coordination. On 19 July 2026, STCL signed an MoU with the West Bengal government to support the Yatri Sathi platform. The information was provided by Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah in a Rajya Sabha reply.

The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying reports that under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) a total outlay of Rs 20,750 crore is being spent from 2020‑21 to 2026‑27 for fisheries and aquaculture across India, including Chhattisgarh. In Chhattisgarh, projects approved worth Rs 956.86 crore (central share Rs 321.01 crore) have been sanctioned, of which Rs 274.16 crore has been released. Implemented interventions comprise 28 fish‑seed hatcheries, 3,200 ha of new fish ponds, 287 recirculatory aquaculture systems, 820 bio‑floc units, 14 feed mills, 511 transport vehicles, 8,500 reservoir cages and an integrated aqua park, along with social security measures such as accidental insurance for 5.52 lakh fishers annually and credit support to 4,189 fishers via KCC. These actions have raised fish production from 3.14 lakh mt in 2014‑15 to 8.73 lakh mt in 2024‑25, enhancing incomes and rural employment in the state.

The Ministry of Electronics & IT has scaled up the CyberShakti programme, approved for two years from October 2024, to enhance cyber‑security awareness and skills among women government officials. Since its inception in 2024, 978 women officials—including police officers, cyber‑cell staff and officials handling cyber‑crime victims—have been trained through a 2‑week virtual instructor‑led and a 1‑week offline residential programme. State‑wise training covered 694 officials and Union Territory‑wise 284 officials. Additionally, 573 women participants attended webinars on cyber‑security sensitisation. The expansion follows the 2026 Standing Committee Report on Women’s empowerment and was presented by Union Minister of State Shri Jitin Prasada in the Rajya Sabha on 07‑08‑2026.

The Ministry of Education’s response to a Rajya Sabha question outlines several government initiatives aligned with NEP 2020’s emphasis on multilingualism. It highlights the BharatGen project – a multimodal Large Language Model for all 22 scheduled languages, anchored at IIT Bombay and developed by a consortium of premier institutes. The BHASHINI platform, under Digital India, hosts over 360 AI‑based language models offering services such as ASR, MT, TTS, OCR and transliteration, and supports tribal languages like Bhili and Santhali. The Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL), in collaboration with NCERT, has produced primers, datasets and a 12‑week Santhali course on SWAYAM, while the Linguistic Data Consortium for Indian Languages (LDC‑IL) provides speech and text corpora for Santhali and Mundari.