Official releases, distilled into exam-ready intelligence.

The Department of Fisheries, Government of India approved projects under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) for Tamil Nadu covering the 2020‑21 to 2025‑26 period with a total outlay of Rs 1,240.5778 crore (Central share Rs 480.0906 crore, State share Rs 455.6139 crore, beneficiary contribution Rs 272.8488 crore). Central assistance is released in phases on the basis of implementation progress and utilisation certificates. Between 2023‑24 and 2025‑26, the GoI released Rs 83.1522 crore of its share. The scheme also provides 40 % (General) and 60 % (SC/ST/Women) subsidies for deep‑sea fishing vessels, with Rs 1,314.81 crore sanctioned for 1,205 vessels nationwide, including Tamil Nadu. Infrastructure projects worth Rs 155.57 crore (fishing harbours and landing centres) and Rs 187.9 crore (Blue Revolution) have been sanctioned in the state. Tamil Nadu also supplies sales‑tax‑exempt diesel and subsidised kerosene to fishermen as per the state’s welfare policy.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) released results of an Independent Drive Test (IDT) carried out from 16‑20 June 2026 across the Godda Lok Sabha Constituency (parts of Deoghar, Godda and Dumka districts, Jharkhand) under the Bihar LSA. The test measured QoS parameters – coverage gap, call drop rate, call‑silence instances, and data download/upload throughput – for four telecom service providers (Airtel, BSNL, RJIL and VIL) on 2G‑5G networks. Coverage gaps ranged from 1,643 samples (RJIL) to 22,508 samples (BSNL); dropped calls were 0 for Airtel, 23 for BSNL, 1 for RJIL and 25 for VIL. Average download speeds were 90.75 Mbps (Airtel) and 182.22 Mbps (RJIL), while upload speeds averaged 8.00 Mbps (Airtel) and 7.00 Mbps (RJIL). The findings are published to inform consumers and encourage service improvement.

The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying reports that the Department of Fisheries, GoI is implementing schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund, Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah Yojana and the extension of Kisan Credit Card (KCC) to support traditional fishermen and fish farmers in Tamil Nadu. In Ramanathapuram district, a Rs 127.71 crore multipurpose seaweed park has been sanctioned under PMMSY. Between 2023‑2026, 88 training programmes benefitted 5,599 trainees, and 13,949 fishermen received institutional credit of Rs 236.26 crore via KCC. Additionally, 19,575 seaweed rafts and 499 cage‑culture units have been established across the state.

The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying reports that under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), projects worth Rs 1,413.91 crore have been approved for Kerala. Of this, Rs 8.85 crore is allocated to the Ernakulam Parliamentary Constituency, with Rs 8.62 crore already released. The approved activities include Biofloc culture, Recirculatory Aquaculture System (RAS), brackish‑water farming, cage culture, ornamental fisheries, fish‑marketing kiosks and Matsya Seva Kendras. Annexed data show year‑wise allocations and releases (e.g., 2020‑21 Biofloc Rs 88.50 lakh allocated, Rs 83.58 lakh released). The Kerala government confirms no pending proposals for Ernakulam under PMMSY.

The Ministry of Finance reported that Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) achieved a record consolidated net profit of Rs 10,177 crore in FY 2025‑26, alongside steady improvements in deposits, advances, credit‑deposit ratio, GNPA, NNPA and CRAR. The government, under the Finance Minister’s chairmanship, has conducted ten review meetings between 2022 and 2025 at national and regional levels, and the Department of Financial Services holds periodic meetings with RRBs and sponsor banks. Agenda items include performance review, technology upgradation, MSME portfolio expansion, loan diversification to agri‑allied and retail sectors, and deepening financial inclusion. Targets for schemes such as PMJDY, PMMY, PMSBY, PMJJBY and APY are set and monitored by DFS.

The Union Budget 2026‑27 announced an integrated development programme for 500 reservoirs and Amrit Sarovars across India, aiming to tap untapped fisheries potential and boost fishermen’s livelihoods. The programme includes establishing hatcheries, promoting cage and pen culture, providing boats and nets, and setting up infrastructure such as fish feed mills, cold storage, ice plants, fish kiosks, retail markets, transport vehicles and value‑addition units. Selection of 12 reservoirs and 5 Amrit Sarovars in Bihar and 27 reservoirs and 5 Amrit Sarovars in Chhattisgarh (including Kosardeda reservoir in Bastar) was done by the Department of Fisheries in consultation with states, based on perennial water availability and fisheries potential. Funding follows the guidelines of the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana, with support for Fish Farmer Producer Organisations, women‑led groups and cooperatives.

The Ministry of Cooperation reports that between 2022 and 2026, 76 applications for branch‑opening permission were received from Multi‑State Cooperative Societies (MSCSs). Of these, 24 were approved and 16 rejected, while deficiencies were identified in 36 applications, which were sent back to the societies. The Multi‑State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002 does not prescribe a statutory timeline for disposing of such applications. To enhance transparency, an online ‘CRCS office portal’ for granting branch‑opening permissions has been launched. This information was provided by Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah, in a written reply in Lok Sabha.

The PIB release states that, per information from the Government of Madhya Pradesh, there are no cooperative sugar mills in the Tendukheda Assembly constituency of Narsinghpur district, while eight private sugar mills operate in the district, two of which are in Tendukheda. The Central Government does not establish cooperative sugar mills anywhere in India, and the sugar industry was removed from the compulsory licensing list by a press note dated 31‑08‑1998. The Ministry of Cooperation, through the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC), is taking steps to revive cooperative sugar mills by providing financial assistance directly or via state governments, subject to project viability as per NCDC guidelines. This information was supplied by Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah in a written Lok Sabha reply.

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation’s PAIMANA portal monitors 1,847 central sector infrastructure projects costing ₹150 crore and above, with a revised total cost of ₹40.54 lakh crore as of June 2026. Cumulative expenditure on these projects is ₹21.97 lakh crore (≈54 % of revised cost). About 39 % of projects have >80 % physical progress and 19 % have >80 % financial completion. The Transport & Logistics sector dominates with 1,341 projects (₹22.32 lakh crore), followed by Energy (207 projects, ₹10.38 lakh crore). The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways accounts for the largest share of projects (1,022 projects, ₹9.89 lakh crore).

The Ministry of Home Affairs announced the ‘Justice Centric System’ comprising new Sanhitas that shift focus from punishment to victim‑centred justice. Key provisions include online incident reporting, Zero FIR filing at any police station, free FIR copies, right to inform a chosen person upon arrest, mandatory display of arrest information, and guaranteed updates to victims within 90 days. Timelines mandate completion of preliminary enquiry (14 days), investigation (90 days), document supply (14 days), case commitment (90 days), and judgment (45 days), with limited adjournments. Additional reforms introduce community service for minor offences, expanded summary trials, witness protection schemes, curbing arbitrary arrests, and trial in absentia for proclaimed offenders. The Minister of State, Shri Bandi Sanjay Kumar, conveyed these details in a Lok Sabha reply.

The Ministry of Cooperation, through the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC), has disbursed ₹422.95 crore as financial assistance to hilly states/UTs between 2021‑22 and 2025‑26, with Uttarakhand receiving the largest share (₹287.95 crore). New NCDC offices are being set up in several hilly and remote states to improve service delivery. The ministry has created Bhartiya Beej Sahkari Samiti Limited (BBSSL) to supply quality, certified seeds, providing 2,488 quintals to Uttarakhand farmers and signing MoUs with ten states. National Cooperative Exports Limited (NCEL) and National Cooperative Organics Limited (NCOL) have also signed MoUs with the same states to facilitate market access, with NCOL procuring 417 MT of organic wheat and other organic products from Uttarakhand. Membership data for BBSSL, NCEL and NCOL across the states are detailed in Annexure‑II.

On 24 July 2026, the Central Bank of India organised a PM Vishwakarma Loan Utsav in Amravati to improve credit access for traditional artisans under the PM Vishwakarma Scheme. The event, inaugurated by Shri E. Ratan Kumar (Executive Director, Central Bank of India) and attended by senior bank officials and Dr V.R. Sirsath (Director, MSME Development & Facilitation Office, Nagpur), highlighted scheme benefits such as skill‑development training with a ₹500 per‑day stipend, doorstep delivery of modern toolkits, subsidised loans, marketing assistance, e‑commerce platform access, and issuance of a PM Vishwakarma Identity Card and Certificate. Around 400 beneficiaries participated, receiving loan sanction letters and cheques to finance enterprise expansion, reflecting the government’s push for inclusive economic growth and self‑reliance among artisans.

The Ministry of Cooperation states that the e‑samyukti portal of NCCF and the e‑samridhi portal of NAFED are open digital platforms without state‑wise restrictions, allowing all eligible PACS, cooperative societies, FPOs and farmers to register anytime. From West Bengal, 10 PACS have registered on e‑samridhi, and 40, 12 and 4 cooperative societies are members of BBSSL, NCEL and NCOL respectively. NCCF procured 257 MT of maize from 148 West Bengal farmers (Rabi 2025‑26) and NAFED procured 1,800 MT from 237 farmers across multiple seasons. BBSSL’s 12 dealers in the state supplied 126 MT of certified seeds. BBSSL, NCEL and NCOL have signed MoUs with the West Bengal State Cooperative Marketing Federation (BENFED) to enhance coordination. The information was provided by Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah in a Lok Sabha reply.

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has announced the promotion of convergence between the PM KUSUM scheme and the PM Surya Ghar (Muft Bijli Yojana) scheme, linking them with a range of central programmes such as the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund, Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme, micro‑irrigation initiatives, Gram Urja Swaraj Campaign, and others. Convergence is also being pursued with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs for the Solar Didi Programme, which trains women Self‑Help Group members under DAY‑NULM, and with District Mineral Foundation funds for BPL households, PMAY beneficiaries and vulnerable groups. The Union Minister of State for New & Renewable Energy, Shri Shripad Yesso Naik, submitted this information in a Rajya Sabha reply, and communications have been sent to states for coordination with ministries of Cooperation, Panchayati Raj, Agriculture, and Rural Development.

On 28 July 2026, the National Zoological Park, New Delhi, marked World Nature Conservation Day with activities aimed at fostering environmental responsibility and sustainable living. The event’s theme emphasized conservation of natural resources and biodiversity. Approximately 35 sanitation workers conducted a plastic removal drive, collecting about 230 kg of plastic waste, including bottles and straws. An interactive session introduced visitors to the LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) initiative, focusing on waste segregation and converting waste into useful products. A doodle activity encouraged creative expression on nature conservation, and prizes were awarded to staff for their role in the drive, underscoring the zoo’s commitment to environmental awareness.

The Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) reviewed the Special Campaign for Removal of Legacy Dust across all 12 Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) zones. The review, chaired by CAQM Member Secretary Shri Tarun Kumar Pithode, urged that the campaign continue as a sustained, phased exercise with periodic repetition, continuous monitoring and regular maintenance. It highlighted actions taken such as mechanised road sweeping, manual cleaning, water sprinkling and removal of dust, and noted challenges including limited use of Mechanical Road Sweeping Machines on narrow roads, water‑overflow re‑deposition, lack of end‑to‑end paving and persistent littering. The Commission called for intensified IEC activities, capacity‑building for sanitation workers, and prioritisation of road paving and greening to curb dust generation.

The Ministry of Home Affairs announced that the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) has been registered with Kendriya Police Kalyan Bhandar (KPKB) since 13 March 2020 to promote procurement and daily use of Swadeshi and Khadi items by Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs). Four specific items – mustard oil, cotton bed durries, woolen blankets, and bed‑sheet & pillow‑cover – have been earmarked for CAPF procurement, with ITBP, CRPF and the ADG (Medical) designated as nodal forces for each category. Khadi products are also sold through KPKB’s master and subsidiary bhandars for serving and retired CAPF personnel. Additionally, under the Vibrant Village Programme‑II, CAPFs procure edible items from SHGs and State Cooperative Societies, and the National Bee Board supports beekeeping for honey production as a health supplement. The release also details extensive Civic Action Programme activities in border districts, including infrastructure repairs, health camps, vocational training, and welfare distributions, with specific allocations for Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, shared a Sanskrit Subhashitam on 28 July 2026, stating that humanity’s welfare depends on protecting and respecting nature. The verse invokes guardians of the directions, the six seasons, months, years, days and auspicious moments, wishing them to bring blessings and prosperity, and calls for the Vedas, sacred traditions and righteousness to protect everyone. The PM posted the Subhashitam in Hindi on X, linking India’s timeless traditions with the need for environmental stewardship.

Bharat Taxi is a cooperative‑led digital mobility app operated by Sahakar Taxi Cooperative Limited (STCL), a multistate cooperative society registered under the MSCS Act 2002. It currently serves Delhi‑NCR, Gujarat and Maharashtra, but has not been officially launched in Uttar Pradesh, specifically the Purvanchal region. The Union Government has incurred no expenditure; STCL finances development, promotion, maintenance and operation. STCL periodically reviews the app’s performance on parameters such as customer experience, grievances, fare competitiveness and technology, and undertakes corrective actions based on these reviews. This information was provided by Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah in a written Lok Sabha reply.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, congratulated Sharmila for winning the Gold medal in the Women’s Shot Put F57 event at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2026. He highlighted that her season‑best throw is a remarkable achievement and noted that it ends a two‑decade‑long wait for a Para Athletics Gold medal at the Commonwealth Games. The Prime Minister also extended his best wishes for her future endeavours, posting the message on X with the hashtag #CWG2026.