Official releases, distilled into exam-ready intelligence.

Under the Ministry of Textiles’ National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM), the ‘Grant for Research and Entrepreneurship across Aspiring Innovators in Technical Textiles (GREAT)’ scheme provides financial assistance to start‑ups, innovators, scientists and technologists for commercialising technical textile products. For FY 2026‑27, NTTM has a total budget of Rs 256 crore, part of which funds the GREAT grants. To date, 31 start‑ups have been approved with a cumulative cost of Rs 15.40 crore (Government share Rs 13.65 crore). An Evaluation and Monitoring Committee evaluates proposals and recommends approvals to the Empowered Programme Committee. The scheme seeks to foster industry‑start‑up collaborations, prototype development, market launch and generate employment in the technical textiles sector.

Bharat Tex 2026, organized by the Bharat Tex Trade Federation with Ministry of Textiles support, showcased the complete textile value chain from fibre to export-ready products. The event facilitated B2B, G2G and B2G interactions for manufacturers, exporters, artisans, MSMEs, start‑ups and weavers from Champion and Aspirational districts, featuring 1,647 exhibiting companies across 65,000 sq m, 29,000 structured B2B meetings and over 40 MoUs. A dedicated Eco‑Stitch Sustainability & Circularity Hub hosted six zones and 41 knowledge sessions on circular economy, ESG and related topics. The State of Chhattisgarh received a 100 sq m pavilion, and 22 new buyer markets and 500 new Indian exporters were added to the buyer network, expanding India’s global textile footprint.

The Mission for Cotton Productivity (KAPAS KANTI) was approved on 5 May 2026 with a total outlay of Rs 5,659.22 crore for 2026‑27 to 2030‑31. Component‑I(A) (DARE) is funded at Rs 555.05 crore, Component‑I(B) (DA&FW) at Rs 3,804.17 crore, while Component‑II (Cotton Corp. of India) and Component‑III (National Jute Board) have Rs 1,000 crore and Rs 300 crore respectively. For Karnataka, Rs 4,850.13 lakh (central Rs 2,910.08 lakh, state Rs 1,940.05 lakh) is allocated under Component‑I(B) for 2026‑27, with the state earmarking Rs 1,100.81 lakh for Raichur. The mission aims to raise cotton production to 40 lakh bales and productivity to 860 kg lint/ha by 2030‑31 in Karnataka, with detailed district‑wise technology‑upscaling targets and plans for 50 cotton‑testing labs and output‑based incentives for Kasturi Cotton Bharat‑certified bales.

As of 30 June 2026, the Ayushman Bharat‑Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB‑PMJAY) has authorized 12.69 crore cash‑less hospital admissions worth ₹1.92 lakh crore through 37,413 public and private hospitals. The scheme provides ₹5 lakh per family per year to 12 crore economically vulnerable families (bottom 40 % of the population). It was expanded in March 2024 to include about 37 lakh families of ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers and helpers, and in October 2024 to cover 6 crore senior citizens (age 70 +) belonging to 4.5 crore families irrespective of socio‑economic status. According to National Health Accounts (2022‑23), out‑of‑pocket expenditure fell from 62.6 % of total health spending in 2014‑15 to 43.4 % in 2022‑23, reflecting the scheme’s impact. The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Shri Prataprao Jadhav, highlighted these figures in the Rajya Sabha.

The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare outlined multiple initiatives to curb soil degradation. Under the Soil Health & Fertility Scheme (since 2014‑15), 26.09 crore Soil Health Cards have been issued, guiding balanced fertilizer use. The National Mission on Natural Farming (approved 25 Nov 2024) has registered 23.13 lakh farmers and covered 11.44 lakh ha, while Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is promoted through 48 Central IPM Centres and farmer trainings. The Khet Bachao Abhiyan (Kharif 2026) reached 1.36 crore farmers via 2.94 lakh programmes. Organic farming schemes (PKVY and MOVCDNER) have brought 21.29 lakh ha under organic cultivation, benefitting over 36 lakh farmers. Additionally, consumption of Fermented Organic Manure rose to 11.86 LMT in the current Kharif season.

The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), launched in 2016‑17, is a voluntary crop‑insurance scheme for states and farmers covering non‑preventable natural risks from pre‑sowing to post‑harvest for crops/areas notified by the state. Earlier, losses due to wild animals were excluded, but following a request from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and state governments, states may now include such losses as an add‑on cover funded by the state, as per the scheme’s Operational Guidelines. Inundation cover is available for all notified crops; for hydrophilic crops such as paddy, jute, mesta and sugarcane, it applies except for localized claims. The details were provided by Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shri Ramnath Thakur in a Lok Sabha written reply.

The Ministry of Coal announced that six coal blocks were successfully auctioned in the 15th round and the second attempt of the 13th round of commercial coal mine auctions. The auctions were launched on 17 April 2026 and the forward auctions took place from 3 to 4 August 2026. Four blocks are fully explored and two are partially explored, together holding about 1,503.93 million tonnes of geological reserves and a cumulative peak rated capacity of 11.62 MTPA. The blocks are expected to generate roughly ₹1,983.67 crore in annual revenue, attract about ₹1,743 crore of capital investment and create 15,710 jobs. Since 2020, 147 blocks have been auctioned, contributing to domestic coal production and the goal of self‑reliance in the coal sector.

The Ministry of Cooperation highlighted that organic farming is being promoted through two schemes – Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) and Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER). PKVY provides a total assistance of Rs 31,500 per hectare over three years, including Rs 15,000 per hectare via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) for on‑farm/off‑farm inputs. MOVCDNER offers Rs 46,500 per hectare over three years, with Rs 32,500 per hectare for inputs, of which Rs 15,000 is paid through DBT. Both schemes aim to form organic clusters, prioritising small and marginal farmers, and are implemented by State/UT governments. The information was conveyed by Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah, in a Lok Sabha reply.

Bhartiya Beej Sahakari Samiti Limited (BBSSL), an apex body under the Ministry of Cooperation, has introduced seeds of 18 crops and 124 varieties under the ‘Bharat Beej’ brand for nationwide distribution. It channels seeds through member cooperative societies, private distributors, State Seed Federations and Seed Corporations, leveraging various government schemes. Region‑wise Zonal Managers and Coordinators oversee distribution; in Maharashtra, seeds of fodder, cotton, sorghum and groundnut are supplied under centrally‑sponsored schemes (NMEO‑OS, NFSNM, Kapas Kranti Mission), while wheat and gram are distributed privately. In Dadra and Nagar Haveli, the Department of Agriculture acts as the nodal agency. The information was provided by Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah in a Lok Sabha written reply.

The Ministry of Cooperation has detailed the progress of the World’s Largest Grain Storage Plan across Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. Annexure‑A lists 168 projects approved, with 119 godowns constructed and 5 projects under construction. Madhya Pradesh, despite having surplus storage, built one godown in Paraswada Samiti, Balaghat. Annexure‑B records the number of PACS, godowns, custom hiring centres and fair price shops operational in each state. Under the Agricultural Marketing Infrastructure (AMI) scheme, subsidies have been released for Bihar (₹5.06 cr), Madhya Pradesh (₹0.13 cr) and Uttar Pradesh (₹0.05 cr); none to Andhra Pradesh. All facilities conform to WDRA technical standards and are registered under the WDRA framework, enabling access to the electronic Negotiable Warehouse Receipt (e‑NWR) system.

The National Cooperative Database (NCD) recorded 41,501 cooperative societies in Mumbai as of 15 July 2026, of which 40,853 were functional. Among these functional societies, 19,911 reported profits, 14,877 reported losses and financial data were missing for 6,065 societies. The Centrally Sponsored Project for computerising Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) was expanded in 2022 to cover 79,630 PACS with a revised outlay of ₹2,925.39 crore. The National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) has disbursed a cumulative ₹5,74,090.48 crore up to 30 June 2026, including ₹3,96,763 crore in the last five years. Key initiatives include model bye‑laws for PACS, capacity‑building programmes, strengthening the three‑tier credit structure, and the development of the National Cooperative Database for performance assessment.

The Ministry of Rural Development has launched eSARAS, a digital marketplace under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana‑National Rural Livelihoods Mission, to enable women‑led Self‑Help Groups (SHGs), FPOs and rural producers to sell their products online and on major e‑commerce platforms such as Flipkart, Amazon and Meesho. The Ministry mandates each State/UT Rural Livelihoods Mission to organise at least two SARAS Melas annually; in FY 2025‑26 four national‑level melas recorded cumulative sales of Rs 35.73 crore. Supporting measures include digital onboarding assistance, training in branding, packaging and digital marketing, a dedicated fulfilment centre, and capacity‑building programmes by the National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj. The Minister of State for Rural Development, Dr Chandra Sekhar Pemmansani, briefed the Lok Sabha on these initiatives.

The Ministry of Rural Development has operationalised the Self‑Help Entrepreneur‑Livelihoods and Enterprise Application for Prosperity and Sustainability (SHE‑LEAPS) under the DAY‑NRLM scheme. Launched on 29 June 2026, the platform—built on the LokOS digital framework—captures real‑time data on SHG enterprises, including annual turnover and continuity, and is being rolled out across 34 States and UTs through State Rural Livelihood Missions. Annexure‑I lists 1,22,871 SHG enterprises registered, with Karnataka alone reporting 57,731 enterprises and a cumulative total of 79,857 enterprises created via Community Investment Fund assistance from 2023‑2026. The Ministry also promotes SHG products through national and state‑level brands (e.g., Saras, UMED) and retail channels such as SarasAajeevika Gallery and the eSaras e‑commerce platform, partnering with GeM, ONDC, Amazon and others for market access.

The Ministry of Cooperation has launched Bharat Taxi, the country’s first cooperative‑led ride‑hailing platform, operated by Sahakar Taxi Cooperative Limited (STCL), a Multi‑State Cooperative Society registered under the Multi‑State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002. The platform aims to provide a driver‑centric and people‑centric mobility service that is reliable, affordable and transparent, promoting employment and self‑employment for Sarathis (drivers). As of 28 July 2026, 8.27 lakh drivers across six states are registered. The scheme receives no government financial assistance and follows safety, data‑protection (Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023) and grievance‑redressal mechanisms. Expansion will depend on operational readiness and coordination with state governments and cooperative institutions.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare released the National and State/UT Fact Sheets of NFHS‑6 (2023‑24) on 29 May 2026. The Technical Advisory Committee, comprising representatives from ministries such as DDWS, MoWCD, MoSPI, ORGI, NITI Aayog and DEPwD, finalised the indicators for these Fact Sheets in line with the Government’s Data Harmonisation Initiative to ensure consistency across official data sources. The Fact Sheets will focus on key health and family‑welfare indicators. The Ministry also decided to adopt anaemia prevalence figures from an independent ICMR survey that uses the gold‑standard intravenous haemoglobin testing method, as noted by Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Patel in the Rajya Sabha.

The Ministry of Panchayati Raj reports that under the SVAMITVA Scheme, drone surveys have been completed in 3.30 lakh villages, resulting in the preparation of 3.24 crore property cards for 1.97 lakh villages and distribution of about 2.72 crore cards to owners. The scheme aims to create a Record of Rights for rural inhabited areas and is being linked with institutional credit; 11,147 loans worth Rs 1,713 crore have been disbursed on the basis of these cards. State‑wise data show progress in drone coverage, card preparation and distribution across all states/UTs, with a target of covering 3.38 lakh villages by the end of the implementation period. The Ministry funds the Survey of India for drone work, while states handle ground verification and card issuance.

The Ministry of Panchayati Raj, via the Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation, reported that the 15th Finance Commission (FC‑XV) allocated a total of Rs 2.36 lakh crore as tied grants to Rural Local Bodies in 28 states for 2021‑22 to 2025‑26, with 60 % (Rs 1.42 lakh crore) earmarked for drinking water, rain‑water harvesting, water recycling and sanitation/ODF maintenance (Rs 0.71 lakh crore each). The release of these grants is contingent on states meeting criteria in the operational guidelines. Andhra Pradesh received the full interim amount of Rs 1,312.5 crore in 2020‑21 and subsequent yearly releases as detailed in the annexure. Central records do not maintain district‑wise or component‑wise utilisation data, and the FC‑XV cycle ended on 31 Mar 2026, after which pending amounts lapsed. The department has issued guidance for the 16th Finance Commission tied grants.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare reports that as of 26 June 2026, 100 % of public healthcare facilities have been assessed through the IPHS digital toolkit, with 64 % scoring above 50 %. To strengthen 24 × 7 emergency services, the Ministry provides technical and financial support to states for human resources, essential drugs, diagnostics, equipment, infrastructure, Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, First Referral Units and quality‑improvement programmes. It also backs the Free Diagnostics Service Initiative, offering free pathological and radiological tests at all public health levels, and supports comprehensive obstetric care under NHM, JSSK and JSY to improve maternal and neonatal outcomes. An open‑source IPHS dashboard launched on 28 June 2024 enables real‑time monitoring of facility compliance.

The Ministry of Panchayati Raj has introduced the Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI), formerly the Panchayat Development Index, as a composite framework to assess Gram Panchayats across nine themes of localized Sustainable Development Goals (LSDGs). For FY 2023‑24, 2.59 lakh Gram Panchayats/ equivalents from 33 states/UTs were onboarded onto PAI 2.0, with grades A+ to D detailed in Annexure‑I. No special incentive fund was created for ‘Frontrunner’ Panchayats in the 2026‑27 budget. Under the Revamped Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) scheme, 36,81,750 elected representatives and stakeholders were trained on LSDG themes from FY 2022‑23 to FY 2026‑27 (Annexure‑II). For FY 2026‑27, 1,56,019 Gram Panchayats took "Sankalp" for GPDP preparation, with 31,789 focusing on Theme 4 (Water‑Sufficient) and 32,806 on Theme 5 (Clean and Green). No collaboration with UNDP is reported.

The Ministry of Cooperation notes that since the decentralized grain storage plan for the cooperative sector was implemented on 31 May 2023, the state of Uttar Pradesh has not submitted any report on its progress. Employees of PACS/Cooperative Societies in Uttar Pradesh have received training in modern warehouse management from NABARD and WDRA, but Jaunpur district has not requested such training. The plan, part of the Pradhan Mantri Dhan‑Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY), involves creating agri‑infrastructure such as godowns, processing units and cold storage through convergence of schemes like AIF, AMI, SMAM and PMFME. Districts listed under PMDDKY, including Jaunpur, can participate after DCDC approval, with DPRs vetted by NABARD and physical verification by banks and NABARD. The information was provided by Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah in a Lok Sabha reply.