Official releases, distilled into exam-ready intelligence.

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the ‘Samudra Manthan’ – National Offshore Exploration Scheme – a central‑sector programme of the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas with an outlay of Rs 84,084 crore for implementation up to FY 2030‑31. The scheme aims to unlock offshore energy potential by acquiring high‑quality seismic data, accelerating deep‑water and ultra‑deep‑water drilling, developing common offshore production infrastructure, and establishing an integrated oil‑and‑gas manufacturing zone. It is projected to add over 600 MMTOE of reserves, boost domestic oil‑gas output, generate employment, and strengthen indigenous manufacturing under Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat.

The Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme is presented as a national initiative that safeguards food security, supports farmers and enhances energy security. The Ministry states that only surplus, damaged or unfit food grains—after meeting Public Distribution System, National Food Security Act and buffer‑stock obligations—are diverted to ethanol production, and that the programme increasingly uses second‑generation ethanol from agricultural residues. It claims that without ethanol blending, petrol would have cost about ₹125 per litre during a global oil price surge, whereas consumers paid ₹94.77 per litre, saving roughly ₹30 per litre. Reported outcomes include about ₹1.97 lakh crore in foreign‑exchange savings, substitution of over 316 lakh metric tonnes of crude‑oil imports, reduction of more than 950 lakh metric tonnes of CO₂ emissions and payments of over ₹1.66 lakh crore to farmers and distillers.

At the 4th Global Industrial Relations Summit in New Delhi, Union Labour Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya said that India’s social protection systems now cover about 101 crore people – roughly 68 % of the population – a figure highlighted by the International Labour Organization (ILO) at the recent BRICS Labour Ministers’ Meeting. He noted that employment elasticity has improved, with each 1 % rise in GDP generating 1.11 % employment growth versus 0.008 % twelve years ago. The Minister also proposed reforms such as designating well‑run private hospitals as ESIC facilities and moving EPFO claims to a fully digital platform. ILO Director Michiko Miyamoto praised the achievement, linking it to future economic growth.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has expanded the nation’s food testing infrastructure. It has notified 259 NABL‑accredited laboratories and 24 referral labs for sample analysis. Under the Strengthening of Food Testing System in the Country (SoFTeL) scheme, 47 state food testing laboratories have been upgraded with advanced analytical equipment and 34 specialized microbiology labs have been set up to detect chemical, heavy‑metal and biological contaminants. The Mobile Food Testing Laboratory (Food Safety on Wheels) programme now operates 305 vans across 35 states/UTs. Additionally, rapid‑test solutions such as the “Magic Box”, the DART book (44 household tests) and 88 approved RAPID kits enhance field‑level detection of adulterants.

The Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, held a day‑long workshop on “Trade and Sustainable Development (TSD): Evolving Policy Landscape” at Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi, on 31 July 2026. Senior officials, trade negotiators, industry, academia, think‑tanks and legal experts deliberated on the interface between international trade and sustainability. Commerce Secretary Shri Rajesh Agrawal stressed the need for an integrated, cross‑sectoral approach, citing the rise of sustainability regulations, carbon markets, pricing mechanisms, border adjustments and standards. Four sessions covered India’s domestic carbon framework, global TSD provisions in FTAs, the evolving carbon regulatory regime, and strategic options for India’s future TSD policy, including the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme, Indian Carbon Market and Extended Producer Responsibility framework.

The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has released over ₹24 lakh as Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) payments to beneficiaries across 11 states, a family‑run Murrah buffalo farm in Haryana (₹4.30 lakh), three national research institutions – ICAR‑NBPGR (₹4.61 lakh), ICRISAT (₹5.36 lakh) and ICAR‑NBFGR (₹0.14 lakh) – and the State Biodiversity Boards of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Telangana, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Odisha and Tamil Nadu (₹0.13‑₹3.22 lakh each). The payments relate to access to Murrah buffalo breeding stock, numerous crop and fish varieties, and cotton genetic resources. Under the NBA’s ABS framework, the funds are to be used for biodiversity conservation, research and capacity‑building, reflecting India’s commitment to fair benefit‑sharing for those who conserve biological resources.

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the Pradhan Mantri Surya Sarovar Yojana (PM‑SSY) to develop floating solar photovoltaic (FSPV) projects with co‑located energy storage systems (ESS). The scheme targets 5,000 MW of FSPV capacity and 10,000 MWh of storage (minimum two‑hour duration) with a total outlay of Rs 5,070 crore. Central Financial Assistance of Rs 1 crore per MW will be provided after commissioning, plus up to Rs 50 lakh per project for feasibility studies. The scheme aims to boost renewable capacity, utilize reservoirs and ponds, reduce land competition, enhance grid reliability, cut CO₂ emissions by about 10 million tonnes annually, and generate 16,000‑17,000 jobs.

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the ‘Samudra Manthan’ – National Offshore Exploration Scheme – a Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas with an outlay of Rs 84,084 crore for implementation up to FY 2030‑31. The scheme, derived from the Prime Minister’s Independence Day 2025 vision, aims to unlock offshore energy potential through large‑scale seismic data acquisition, deep‑water and ultra‑deep‑water drilling, scientific drilling, common offshore production infrastructure, and an integrated Oil & Gas Manufacturing and Services Zone. It also includes digital programme management, capacity‑building, technology adoption, stakeholder engagement and international outreach, with the objective of enhancing energy security, domestic production, indigenous manufacturing and employment.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka on 1 August 2026. In Andhra Pradesh he will walk‑through and inaugurate the Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram (a PPP‑funded greenfield airport costing over ₹5,640 crore and designed for 6 million passengers annually) and lay the foundation stone for the state’s first semiconductor manufacturing facility (ASIP project, investment ₹460 crore) as well as multiple transmission projects for the Kurnool renewable‑energy zones (total investment ≈₹9,920 crore). He will also dedicate and lay foundation stones for national‑highway projects worth ₹1,880 crore. In Karnataka he will inaugurate the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Youth Centre – Viveka Smaraka in Mysuru, a 81,000 sq ft facility aimed at value‑based education for over 10,000 students. The combined projects total over ₹17,900 crore and are presented as drivers of regional connectivity, clean‑energy integration, industrial growth and youth development.

Union Minister of State Dr. Jitendra Singh urged linking grassroots innovators with the formal innovation ecosystem, emphasizing that India’s next growth wave will stem from villages and small towns. At the Grassroots Innovator Recognition Ceremony 2026, 26 innovators from 16 states and 23 districts (including 11 women) were honoured for solutions in agriculture, healthcare, clean energy, water management and more. The Minister highlighted the Atal Innovation Mission’s expansion, noting 25 operational Atal Community Innovation Centres (ACICs) and another 25 under development, which have supported over 2,500 innovators. He called for stronger integration of these centres with the Department of Science and Technology’s NIDHI programme to provide incubation, validation, IP support and market linkages, aiming to transform local ideas into nationally scalable enterprises.

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the continuation of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM‑KISAN) Scheme for the financial years 2026‑27 to 2030‑31 with a total outlay of Rs 3.15 lakh crore. Launched in February 2019, the scheme provides Rs 6,000 per eligible farmer family annually in three DBT instalments, using Aadhaar‑based authentication. To date, more than Rs 4.47 lakh crore has been transferred in 23 instalments, benefiting over 9.49 crore farmers, including women beneficiaries. Independent evaluations report that over 92 % of recipients used the funds for agricultural investment and about 85 % saw income improvement, contributing to a 9.65 % rise in cultivated area, 10.53 % increase in productivity and 21.18 % growth in food‑grain output.

The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 was introduced in Lok Sabha to strengthen the 2024 Act against exam paper leaks and fraud. It raises jail terms (individuals 5‑10 years, fines up to ₹50 lakh; service providers up to ₹5 crore and longer bans; directors up to ₹5 crore; organised syndicates up to ₹10 crore) and adds a two‑month deadline for investigations, a new Special Task Force option, and mandatory Special Fast‑Track Courts with a three‑month trial deadline. Appeals are confined to the High Court with a 30‑day filing window.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, under the National Health Mission (NHM), has launched the Free Drugs Service Initiative (FDSI) and the Free Diagnostics Service Initiative to provide free medicines (113 drugs at Sub‑Health Centres up to 381 drugs at district hospitals) and free diagnostic tests (14 tests at Sub‑Centers up to 134 tests at district hospitals) in rural public health facilities, aiming to lower out‑of‑pocket expenditure. The Ministry also offers various monetary and non‑monetary incentives—hard‑area allowances, honoraria for specialist doctors, incentives for ANMs, negotiable salaries, and preferential postgraduate admission—to attract and retain health personnel in remote areas. Technical and financial support is extended to States/UTs through Programme Implementation Plans and Record of Proceedings approvals, with human‑resource gaps supplemented by NHM posts as per Indian Public Health Standards.

The Ministry of Law and Justice has introduced several measures via the Multi‑State Cooperative Societies (MSCS) (Amendment) Act & Rules, 2023 to protect depositor‑members of multi‑State cooperative societies. Key provisions include the appointment of a Co‑operative Ombudsman and an Information Officer, a strengthened audit framework with concurrent audits and uniform standards, mandatory disclosure of non‑unanimous board decisions, stricter disqualification and conflict‑of‑interest rules for directors, new prudential norms for societies engaged in thrift and credit, and expanded powers for the Central Registrar to investigate and wind up societies registered fraudulently. These steps aim to enhance transparency, governance and financial safety of cooperative societies.

The Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) announced that, on 30 July 2026, the Maldives instant payment system ‘Favara’ was integrated with India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI), enabling real‑time fund transfers from the Maldives to UPI‑enabled bank accounts in India. The service, launched with Bank of Maldives Plc and Maldives Islamic Bank Plc, allows individuals to send remittances in Maldivian Rufiyaa, which are credited in Indian Rupees. Permitted categories include family‑maintenance and gift remittances. The corridor was realised after a July 2025 agreement between NPCI International Payments Limited and MMA, and further phases will add QR‑based merchant payments and other digital services, deepening bilateral economic ties.

The Ministry of AYUSH has undertaken multiple initiatives to integrate Ayurveda with modern medicine. An Ayush Vertical under the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) was created to plan, monitor and support integration across public health programmes, medical education and capacity building. The vertical has issued evidence‑informed Standard Treatment Guidelines for common musculoskeletal and metabolic disorders and has conducted National Master Trainer programmes. Integrated AYUSH departments have been set up in central hospitals in Delhi, and Indian Public Health Standards for AYUSH facilities were released in 2024. Additional measures include public health advisories on heat‑wave and monkeypox, operational guidelines for Tobacco Cessation Centres in AYUSH colleges, co‑location of AYUSH services at PHCs/CHCs/DHs, and the AYURGYAN scheme supporting research, capacity building and the Ayurveda Biology Integrated Health Research component.

On 31 July 2026, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi paid tribute to the celebrated writer Munshi Premchand on his birth anniversary. The Prime Minister highlighted Premchand’s timeless literary works that powerfully express human emotions and remain relevant today. He also emphasized Premchand’s invaluable role in bringing the literary heritage of Kashi—his birthplace and karmabhoomi—to global recognition. Modi noted that Premchand’s immortal literature, rooted in realism and social equality, will continue to inspire the people of the country. The tribute was posted on the Prime Minister’s X account in Hindi, reaffirming Premchand’s lasting influence on Indian culture.

The Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA), launched in 2016, provides free, fixed‑day (9th of every month) antenatal care (ANC) through public health facilities and encourages private specialists to volunteer. Since inception, over 7.91 crore pregnant women have received ANC and 1.24 crore high‑risk pregnancies have been identified. Maternal Mortality Ratio fell from 130 to 87 per 1 lakh live births (SRS 2014‑16 to 2022‑24). First‑trimester ANC registration rose from 58.6 % to 76.2 %, women receiving ≥4 ANC visits increased from 51.2 % to 65.2 %, and institutional deliveries grew from 78.9 % to 90.6 % (NFHS‑4 to NFHS‑6).

The Ministry of Culture held the National Digitization Drive Workshop in New Delhi under the Gyan Bharatam Mission, attended by over 200 representatives from States/UTs, Centres, custodians, scholars, experts and technology partners. Union Minister Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat highlighted that more than 1.2 crore manuscripts have been reported nationwide and emphasized sustained, coordinated digitization to preserve India’s manuscript heritage. The workshop reviewed digitization targets, standardised imaging and metadata practices, and presented state and institutional models. It also showcased an emerging AI‑enabled National Digital Manuscript Ecosystem and announced funding for infrastructure, equipment and manpower to support simultaneous conservation and digitisation.

The Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) and IndiaAI have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of AYUSH to speed up the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in India’s traditional medicine sector. Under the agreement, AYUSH will feed anonymised health research artefacts—datasets, metadata, AI models, toolkits and use‑cases—into AIKosh, the nation’s sovereign AI repository. The shared resources are intended to help researchers, startups, academic institutions and innovators create AI‑driven solutions that align with national priorities, while leveraging the IndiaAI Compute ecosystem for advanced research. The MoU is valid for two years, with automatic renewal possible, and involves no financial commitments from either side.