Official releases, distilled into exam-ready intelligence.

The National Institute of Sowa Rigpa (NISR), Leh, celebrated the 11th Ayurveda Day on September 23, 2026, at its New Academic Building in Saboo Thang, Leh. Held under the theme “Ayurveda for a Healthier Tomorrow” and chaired by NISR Director Dr Padma Gurmet, the event brought together participants, scholars, practitioners, and stakeholders from Ladakh and various Himalayan regions including Lahaul, Dharamsala, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh. The programme featured expert presentations emphasizing Ayurveda and other traditional healthcare practices, the preservation of Himalayan traditional knowledge systems, and NISR’s ongoing efforts to promote traditional medicine and strengthen academic engagement.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has proposed a draft amendment to the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations, 2011, aimed at preventing the misleading representation of non-milk-derived analogue products as 'Paneer'. The proposed amendment requires products licensed under the 'Analogue in Dairy Context' category to discontinue using the term 'Paneer' in their nomenclature, labeling, or marketing. The draft regulation is intended to ensure accurate product presentation and help consumers make informed choices. FSSAI has invited public and stakeholder objections and suggestions within a 60-day period following the notification's availability in the Official Gazette.

The Ministry of Textiles organized mass cleanliness drives, green initiatives, and community campaigns under the Swachhata Hi Seva (SHS) 2026 campaign. Various bodies and institutions under the Ministry—including the Cotton Corporation of India Ltd., National Jute Board, Textiles Committee, Central Cottage Industries Corporation of India Ltd., National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), and The Jute Corporation of India Limited (JCI)—undertook activities such as clean desk and campus drives, the 'Kabad Se Jugaad' initiative for scrap disposal, the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' plantation drive, Swachhata pledges, cloth donation campaigns, 'Say No to Plastic' campaigns, and a 'Zero Waste Sports Competition' to promote sanitation, waste management, and environmental awareness.

Secretary of the Ministry of Ayush, Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, addressed the valedictory function of a three-day national workshop in Leh on the scope and challenges of Sowa Rigpa post-recognition. Organized by the National Institute of Sowa Rigpa (NISR), the event brought together experts, scholars, and practitioners from the Himalayan region to discuss institutional development, education, research, healthcare practices, and standardisation. The workshop was part of National Ayurveda Day celebrations and highlighted the potential of Sowa Rigpa in traditional medicine, followed by a field visit to the Trans-Himalayan Herbal Garden at Phey.

The Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), along with their network of institutes, are undertaking cleanliness, sanitation, and environmental awareness initiatives under the Swachhata Hi Seva Campaign. Focusing particularly on school children and local communities, the initiatives promote public participation and environmentally responsible practices. Activities include exposure visits organized by ICAR-ATARI Guwahati to Krishi Vigyan Kendra in North Sikkim to teach students about cleanliness and vermicomposting, as well as cleanliness drives organized by KVK Ri Bhoi in Meghalaya involving employees and local residents.

Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) is observing the Swachhata Hi Seva 2026 campaign from September 17 to October 2, 2026, across its headquarters and operational areas. The initiative features cleanliness drives, awareness programs, student engagement, and community initiatives aimed at promoting responsible waste management, environmental awareness, and sustainable practices. Key activities include administering the Swachhata Pledge, flagging off the Swachhta Rath, organizing an exposure visit for students to a material recovery facility, and holding elocution and debate competitions at educational institutions to encourage youth participation in sustainable development.

The Ministry of Coal is organizing Special Campaign 6 from October 2 to October 31, 2026, focusing on e-waste disposal, scrap management, workplace modernization, and record optimization across administrative offices and Public Sector Undertakings. Ahead of the campaign, preparatory reviews, awareness activities such as Nukkad Natak by WCL, and target identification have commenced. As of September 24, 2026, the Ministry has identified targets including 1,462 sites for cleaning, 1.21 crore square feet of area to be cleared, 10,713 metric tons of scrap for disposal, 10,189 physical files to review, and 75,382 e-files to review.

The PIB backgrounder highlights the adoption of a 'whole-of-industry' approach to drive India's electronics and semiconductor sector ambitions. Discussed during SEMICON India 2026 and moderated by the CEO of the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM), industry leaders emphasized that future growth requires deep cross-sectoral collaboration across semiconductors, manufacturing, components, materials, design, packaging, and end-use applications under a 'Silicon to Systems' vision. SEMICON India 2026 featured over 600 exhibitors and 56 MoUs/announcements. Furthermore, government support via Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes and the Semicon India programme has resulted in 12 approved semiconductor projects, with five commercial semiconductor units operational as of September 2026.

The Ministry of Labour and Employment has raised the statutory wage ceiling for mandatory coverage under the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) from ₹15,000 to ₹25,000 per month, effective September 17, 2026. Published in the Gazette of India under the Code on Social Security, 2020, this revision expands coverage to include workers earning between ₹15,000 and ₹25,000 per month. Employers must make matching contributions against the revised ceiling. To assist businesses with the additional financial burden, incentives up to ₹3,000 per month are available under the PMVBRY scheme for up to two years for non-manufacturing and four years for manufacturing units. Following this, the EPFO Regional Office in Goa issued guidelines for local establishments to update compliance systems, enroll newly covered workers, file ECRs, and seed KYC details.

The Government of India is transporting onions from the Price Stabilization Fund (PSF) buffer stock via the Kanda Express to Kolkata to arrive on 24 September 2026, aiming to improve availability and moderate retail prices during the festive season. Around 1,400 MT of onions have already been distributed in West Bengal via NAFED and NCCF mobile vans at ₹35 per kg. Retail sales are planned across over 25 locations in Kolkata and adjoining districts, with potential retail expansion through Sufal Bangla. This deployment is part of a hybrid rail-and-road transportation strategy involving targeted buffer stock disposal that has reached over 100 cities, contributing to stable or declining retail prices in 17 States and UTs over the past week.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has clarified that all its decisions, including SIR and electoral reforms, are the outcome of unanimous decisions of the full Commission. Operating as a multi-member constitutional body under Article 324 and the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Act, 2023, the ECI stated that internal observations, differing views, and written notes during draft stages are standard administrative practices aimed at transparency and improving voter rights. The Commission also highlighted its recent conduct of major state elections, electoral roll revisions, introduction of new initiatives, and the implementation of strict IT security controls on its digital platforms like ECINet.

The Technology Development Board (TDB) under the Department of Science & Technology (DST) has approved ₹285 crore in financial support through Optionally Convertible Debentures (OCD) to Ubifly Technologies Private Limited, Chennai. Part of the ₹1 lakh crore Research Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund, the total project cost is ₹570 crore. It aims to advance the indigenous ePlane Advanced Air Mobility Solution (the e200X aircraft) from Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6 to TRL 9. The e200X is a three-seater, zero-emission aircraft featuring indigenous vertical rotors, forward propellers, flight-control algorithms, power-distribution controllers, and battery-pack modules designed for advanced air mobility applications.

The Centre for Trade and Investment Law (CTIL) organized a webinar on the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies (AFS), following India's ratification of the agreement on July 20, 2026. The discussions focused on the legal framework, policy prospects, implementation challenges, transparency requirements, and ongoing negotiations regarding overcapacity and overfishing. Experts addressed the importance of reliable fisheries data, institutional coordination, special and differential treatment (S&DT), and the protection of livelihoods and food security for small-scale and artisanal fisheries. The event highlighted domestic institutional preparedness and the use of tools like the IISD self-assessment toolkit.

The National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare organized a National Level Technical Committee meeting for watershed development and management under the REWARD programme in New Delhi. Chaired by NRAA CEO Dr. Chandra Shekhar Kumar, the meeting focused on validating statements in the draft National Technical Guidelines (NTG) using REWARD data, sharing watershed data and Decision Support Systems, and integrating Land Resource Inventory with hydrology. Discussions included compressing Detailed Project Report preparation time and exploring sectoral convergence. The developed NTG will guide future watershed development under the Watershed Development Component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana 3.0.

The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports announced that the Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat) national youth engagement platform has crossed the milestone of three crore registered youth. Launched by the Prime Minister on October 31, 2023, MY Bharat functions as a technology-enabled digital gateway to facilitate youth participation in leadership, experiential learning, volunteering, civic engagement, and nation-building initiatives toward the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047. The platform features an AI-enabled CV Builder, digital services, and grassroots access. It is currently driving major initiatives such as the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue 2027, the Viksit Bharat Challenge, and the Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat campaign, alongside other youth programs.

Prasar Bharati’s WAVES OTT platform, launched on November 20, 2024, marks a transition from conventional public broadcasting to an integrated digital public-service ecosystem. It combines live television, radio, archives, education, and digital publications onto a multilingual digital platform reaching over 130 countries with 1.2 crore registered users. Furthermore, MyWAVES, launched on March 23, 2026, within WAVES OTT, functions as a structured national platform enabling citizens and regional creators to upload and share original content. Initiatives like the Gems of India Challenge and the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) ecosystem further support digital creators, foster the creative economy, and strengthen India's global presence in media and entertainment.

Indian Railways has successfully commissioned KAVACH Version 4.0 for the first time on the South Central Railway across a 108 Route Kilometre section between Malkajgiri and Kamareddi in the Hyderabad Division. Upgraded from Version 3.2, KAVACH 4.0 is an indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system holding a Safety Integrity Level-4 (SIL-4) certification. The updated version incorporates enhanced location accuracy, improved signal aspect information in bigger yards, a station-to-station Optical Fibre Cable interface, and direct electronic interlocking integration. Designed to prevent Signal Passing at Danger (SPAD), control speeds, and assist loco pilots during inclement weather, this deployment lays the technological foundation for planned large-scale implementation across the Indian Railways network.

India's growing digital ecosystem and active wireless mobile subscriber base, reaching 1,204.01 million in July 2026, highlight the critical need for secure telecom networks and devices. To address challenges such as the misuse and tampering of International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers, the government outlines accountability frameworks for manufacturers, importers, resellers, and citizens via portals like Device Setu–ICDR and Sanchar Saathi. Furthermore, under the Telecommunications Act, 2023, tampering with telecom identifiers or obtaining SIM cards through fraud is a cognizable and non-bailable offence carrying penalties of up to three years imprisonment, a fine of up to ₹50 lakh, or both.

On the eighth anniversary of the rollout of Ayushman Bharat, the Prime Minister highlighted the achievements of the scheme. He noted that over 60 crore beneficiaries now have access to an annual health cover of Rs. 5 lakh, establishing it as the largest healthcare scheme globally. The initiative has reportedly enabled record savings on medical expenses for the poor and middle class. Additionally, Ayushman Arogya Mandirs have recorded over 500 crore visits, strengthening grassroots primary healthcare.

The 11th Ayurveda Day was celebrated across India and globally, with the grand national event held in Nagpur, Maharashtra. The theme for the year was 'Ayurveda for a Healthier Tomorrow'. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi noted that Ayurveda’s evolution from tradition to evidence and innovation will secure future generations' health, highlighting the AYUSH Visa facility and the goal of a Viksit Bharat. The celebration witnessed the launch of several initiatives including Safety Dossiers, Standard Treatment Guidelines for Skin Disorders, the first report on the Ayush Services Sector, 'Ayush Vision 2030', and the CCRAS–AGNI Web Portal. Scientific sessions focused on integrating therapies to reduce non-communicable diseases and Ayurveda's roadmap towards 2047.