Official releases, distilled into exam-ready intelligence.

The Ministry of Finance issued a press release stating that UPI users will continue to incur no transaction charges and all person‑to‑person (P2P) payments will remain free. Merchant discount rates (MDR) may be introduced only on a limited set of transactions above a threshold and at a nominal rate, lower than current debit/credit‑card MDRs. The government links these provisions to an amendment of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, which it says will support UPI’s long‑term sustainability, technological upgrades and risk resilience as transaction volumes grow. The release also notes that UPI processed 2,366 crore transactions worth ₹29.9 lakh crore in July 2026 and is operational in 11 foreign countries.

The National e‑Governance Division (NeGD) of MeitY has partnered with the Association of Australian Education Representatives in India (AAERI) to launch the ‘AAERI Verify’ platform, integrated with DigiLocker. The consent‑based digital system enables Indian students to share source‑verified academic, identity and financial documents directly with Australian universities, replacing manual paperwork with a two‑stage verification workflow (Student Check and Sponsor Check). The initiative aims to reduce fraud, protect data privacy and accelerate application processing, showcasing India’s Digital Public Infrastructure in an international education context.

In exercise of powers under the Constitution of India and after consulting the Chief Justice of India, the President appointed a list of advocates and judicial officers as Judges or Additional Judges in several High Courts. Appointments include: Judges of the Madras High Court (Govindarajan Krishnaswamy, Rajnish Pathiyil, Ramesh Natarajan, G.K. Muthukumaar, Ramakrishnan Rajesh Vivekananthan, Raveekumar Sankaranarayanan); Additional Judges of the Madras High Court (Dilip Kumar Nagarajan, Ellappan Manoharan, Dr. P. Murugan, Smt. M. D. Sumathi, Smt. S. Alli, Smt. C. Thirumagal, Shanmugam Karthikeyan, Murugesan Baluchamy, N. Gunasekaran); Additional Judges of the Calcutta High Court (Aryak Dutt, Atarup Banerjee, Sandip Kumar De, Partha Pratim Roy, Sudip Deb, Anuj Singh, Arjun Ray Mukherjee, Rishad Medora, Raghavendra Seetharam Srivatsa); Additional Judges of the Karnataka High Court (Smt. Hema Kulkarni, Subramanya Rangarao, Vivekananda Thadagavadi Prakash, Pramod Bakkeswara, Shanthi Bhushan Hombe Gowda); and an Additional Judge of the Madhya Pradesh High Court (Amit Lahoti).

The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) facilitated the first commercial sea shipment of 18 metric tonnes of GI‑tagged Mithila Makhana from the BIADA Industrial Area in Bihta, Bihar, to Australia. The consignment, sourced from Darbhanga district growers, was flagged off by Bihar’s Agriculture Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha and shipped by M/s NIAD Green with logistics support from the APEDA‑backed startup Jitban Supply Chain Pvt. Ltd. Farmers earned roughly 18 percent higher returns than prevailing market rates, underscoring the income benefits of export‑oriented value chains. The export aligns with India’s broader Makhana export growth—over 7,000 MT in FY 2025‑26—and follows the introduction of a separate HS code for Makhana in July 2025.

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has signed five strategic MoUs with industry leaders – Cashfree Payments, Darwin Dynamics LLP, Vultr India Pvt Ltd, Cars24 Services Private Limited and the Council for Startup India – to bolster support for DPIIT‑recognised startups. The agreements aim to enhance digital payment infrastructure, expand inclusive entrepreneurship in Tier II/III and rural areas, provide cloud‑computing credits and technical assistance, foster AI‑driven mobility innovation, and improve access to investment, mentorship and global markets. Collectively, these MoUs seek to strengthen the startup ecosystem, reduce technology adoption barriers, and advance India’s innovation‑led growth agenda.

The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment announced that the Dr. Ambedkar Scheme for Social Integration through Inter‑Caste Marriages and the Dr. Ambedkar National Relief to SC/ST Victims of Atrocities Scheme were merged with the Centrally Sponsored Scheme for the Implementation of the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, effective 31 March 2023 to avoid duplication. Central assistance is now provided to State Governments and Union Territories, with implementation responsibility lying with them. A special initiative addressed pending backlog cases, releasing incentives in 385 inter‑caste marriage cases amounting to about ₹9 crore.

The Ministry of Railways has approved the merger of the 14109/14110 Chitrakutdham Karwi‑Kanpur Central Express with the 14123/14124 Maa Belha Devi Dham Pratapgarh‑Kanpur Central Express, creating the 14123/14124 Pratapgarh‑Chitrakutdham Karwi Express. The combined service will run directly between Pratapgarh, Kanpur Central, and Chitrakutdham Karwi, eliminating the need to change trains at Kanpur. Coach composition will be increased from 12 to 24, doubling passenger capacity and addressing overcrowding on the Kanpur‑Pratapgarh section. The train will continue to serve major stations across Uttar Pradesh, enhancing connectivity for pilgrimage, tourism, education, employment and other travel purposes.

Indian Railways has approved a daily passenger train (Train No. 51673/51674) between Itarsi Junction and Madan Mahal (Jabalpur) in Madhya Pradesh. The service will run each day, covering 242 km in about 5 hours 5 minutes, with departures at 11:40 hrs from Itarsi and 17:50 hrs from Madan Mahal. It will stop at Bagra Tawa, Sohagpur, Pipariya, Bankhedi, Salichauka Road, Gadarwara, Kareli, Narsinghpur and Sridham, enhancing rail access for intermediate towns. The train is aimed at providing affordable, daily connectivity for middle‑class, unreserved and short‑distance passengers, acting as a feeder to larger networks and facilitating access to employment, education, medical and pilgrimage centres in the region.

Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh dedicated the CSIR‑National Botanical Research Institute’s first‑of‑its‑kind Eco‑Educational Hub ‘Prakriti Gyan Dham’ at the Maharishi Parashar Bioresource Centre, Lucknow. The Hub integrates scientific research, biodiversity conservation and experiential learning through features such as the PAaVan Path heritage trail, Indian Heritage Garden with historic trees, threatened‑plants garden, and a Bamboosteum showcasing bamboo’s renewable‑resource potential. It also demonstrated science‑to‑society outreach by launching an herbal male‑reproductive‑health formulation and transferring four plant‑based products to Kerala’s Kudumbashree mission, and a low‑cost photobioreactor to a private firm. Dr Singh urged greater use of digital platforms and inter‑ministerial collaboration to link research with livelihoods.

On 7 August 2026, CSIR‑Central Road Research Institute (CSIR‑CRRI) demonstrated its indigenous Modified Mix Seal Surfacing Plus (MSS+) technology and the Smart Mix Pro Automatic Plant to the Chief Secretary and senior officials of the Rajasthan Government. The presentation highlighted the scientific basis, field performance, economic advantages and environmental benefits of MSS+, noting its ability to extend pavement life while cutting construction emissions, energy use and maintenance costs. A live demonstration on a Jaipur city road showcased rapid construction, consistent quality and reduced material wastage. Officials expressed interest in evaluating the technology for wider adoption in Rajasthan’s road‑maintenance programmes. The institute cited successful implementation of MSS+ on over 100 km of roads in Uttar Pradesh.

The Coordinators' Conclave‑cum‑Meeting of the Monitoring Committee for the First Year of Phase III (2025–30) of the CSIR Integrated Skill Initiative was held on 6‑7 August 2026 at CSIR‑NCL, Pune, organized by CSIR‑HRDC, Ghaziabad, with participation of 37 CSIR laboratories and senior officials from MSDE, Delhi Productivity Council, J.C. Bose University and LSSSDC. The two‑day event reviewed the 2025‑26 progress of Phase III, presented laboratory reports, discussed technical sessions on industry‑academia collaboration and project planning, and issued recommendations to improve the reach, quality and impact of the skill‑development programme aimed at creating a technology‑driven, industry‑ready workforce under the Skill India Mission.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, shared an article authored by Union Health Minister Shri JP Nadda on India’s growing self‑reliant med‑tech ecosystem. Modi noted that this self‑reliance is driven by domestic manufacturing, reduced import dependence and government schemes such as the Production‑Linked Incentive (PLI) programme and Medical Device Parks, positioning India as a trusted global med‑tech partner focused on affordable and accessible healthcare.

The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment’s ‘Top‑Class Education in College for OBC, EBC and DNT Students’ scheme provided financial assistance of ₹10.27 lakh to Telu Jhansi Vijay Krishna, a 25‑year‑old NC‑OBC student from Karnataka, on 23 April 2026. The aid reduced roughly 50 % of his education loan burden, enabling him to pursue an MBA with greater confidence. Vijay Krishna highlighted the scheme’s role in alleviating financial pressure, allowing him to focus on skill development and future contributions to India’s socio‑economic growth through business and startups. The case underscores how targeted scholarships can mitigate financial and societal barriers for disadvantaged students.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the 57th Convocation of IIT Delhi, praising the graduates’ achievements and urging them to apply their skills to nation‑building. He highlighted India’s push for self‑reliance across economic, technological and industrial sectors and cited emerging opportunities in AI, semiconductors, drones, space, quantum computing and other frontier fields. The PM announced support mechanisms such as the Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship, the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (targeting up to ₹1 lakh crore), and the ‘One Nation One Subscription’ programme for research journals. He emphasized continuous learning, resilience and the role of youth in driving India’s future growth.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a telephone call from U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance on 8 August 2026. During the call they reviewed progress in the India‑U.S. Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership and reaffirmed commitment to deepen cooperation in trade, defence, critical and emerging technologies, energy security and critical minerals. They also exchanged views on regional and global developments of mutual interest. The Prime Minister conveyed personal congratulations on the birth of the Vance family’s son.

The CSIR‑National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research (NIScPR) organised a two‑day Skill Training Programme on “Popular Science Writing” (6‑7 August 2026) under the CSIR Integrated Skill Initiative (Phase III). The programme targeted researchers, academicians, scientists, students, IT professionals and R&D personnel, with 21 participants from across India. It included expert lectures and hands‑on sessions on basics of popular science writing, AI‑driven content creation, digital media writing, press‑release drafting, and ethical aspects, delivered by specialists such as Ms Neha Tripathi, Dr Bornali Sarma, Dr Matiur Rahman and NDTV’s Science Editor Shri Pallav Bagla. Participants reported practical gains in communicating science to lay audiences, thereby enhancing the societal impact of research.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the 57th convocation of IIT Delhi and shared a series of posts on X highlighting the emotional atmosphere, personal satisfaction at being present, and memories of his virtual attendance during the COVID pandemic. He urged the graduating students to cherish mentors, stay connected to their institute, and prepare for a rapidly changing world where technology is reshaping industries. The PM emphasized that while exams have a syllabus, life does not, and encouraged graduates to turn challenges into opportunities. He linked the youth’s role to economic and technological self‑reliance and the building of a ‘Viksit Bharat’.

On 8 August 2026, Vice‑President Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan visited the Cellular Jail in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. He laid a wreath at the Martyr’s Column, paid tribute at Veer Savarkar’s cell, and toured the Swatantra Jyoti, Central Tower, Gallows, Museum and Exhibition Gallery, also witnessing the Light‑and‑Sound Show. In his remarks, he described Veer Savarkar as a “unique and fearless revolutionary” whose patriotism inspired generations and highlighted Savarkar’s role in combating untouchability and social discrimination. The Vice‑President stressed that India’s quest for power is to avoid being dictated by anyone, equating this to real freedom. He was received at INS Utkrosh by the Lieutenant Governor, Admiral Devendra Kumar Joshi (Retd.), with a Guard of Honour, and will attend the launch of ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ and visit Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Island during his two‑day visit.

The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment’s Top‑Class Education Scheme provided a scholarship of ₹1,29,100 to 19‑year‑old Annu Supriya, an OBC/Teli student, in 2025. The financial assistance enabled her to join the B.Tech programme at NIT Raipur despite her mother being a daily‑wage labourer and lacking resources for JEE coaching. The scheme’s support reduced her family’s financial stress, boosted her confidence, and allowed her to focus on academics, technical skill development (C, C++ and DSA) and extracurricular activities. The case illustrates how targeted scholarships can remove economic barriers for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, facilitating access to premier technical institutions.

The Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas reported that extensive testing of E20 petrol across the supply chain found chloride levels well within prescribed limits. At refineries, chloride was ≤1 ppm; ethanol from 80 distilleries showed <3 ppm; depot and terminal samples were also <3 ppm; and retail‑outlet testing of over 1,000 samples showed 0‑3 ppm, with only four isolated exceedances that were promptly addressed. Water‑ingress inspections of about 90,000 retail outlets revealed no ingress. The government’s high‑frequency monitoring and mobile laboratories underpin the claim that fuel quality remains consistently high and safe for consumers.