Official releases, distilled into exam-ready intelligence.

Union Minister Shri G. Kishan Reddy inaugurated the National Seminar on “India’s Critical Minerals Recycling Ecosystem and Circular Economy” in New Delhi, organised by the Ministry of Mines in collaboration with the Materials Recycling Association of India. The event focused on strengthening critical minerals recycling for clean energy transition, defence, digital economy, and advanced manufacturing. Key officials emphasized the strategic importance of recovering critical minerals from End-of-Life products, industrial waste, and e-waste to reduce dependence on primary sources. During the seminar, a Concept Paper on Critical Mineral Recycling Ecosystem was launched, outlining a framework for resource efficiency and a self-reliant circular economy through stakeholder collaboration, innovative technologies, and Jan Bhagidari.

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) conducted multiple intelligence-led operations across India, seizing over 845 kg of contraband drugs including ganja, charas, cocaine, and amphetamine under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. A total of 15 persons were arrested. The operations highlighted various smuggling routes and concealment methods, such as hiding charas in knee caps, concealing cannabis in rice husk, and smuggling high-grade hydroponic weed from Thailand and Vietnam, as well as cocaine and amphetamine through international airports and domestic transit.

The Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS), Ministry of Jal Shakti, organized the first National Virtual Conference with States and UTs to discuss strengthening the skilled rural water workforce under Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) 2.0. The conference focused on rolling out the Nal Jal Mitra (NJM) program for multi-skilled technicians and the Sujalam Shakti initiative for training women in water quality surveillance and disinfection. States were urged to conduct district-wise human resource assessments, utilize pathways under PMKVY 4.0, and engage with technical education institutions like AICTE and IIT Kanpur to integrate emerging technologies into water management training.

The Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN), operating under the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Prajapita Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya at Mount Abu, Rajasthan, on September 18, 2026. The collaboration aims to strengthen preventive drug awareness, youth empowerment, and community outreach in support of the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan. The framework focuses on operational areas including Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi. It encompasses educational activities, life-skills training, and outreach through CBN's Yuva Raksha initiative, involving schools, universities, rural communities, and traditional cultivation zones without delegating any policing or enforcement functions to Brahma Kumaris.

The Ministry of Finance has issued an appeal to employees of Public Sector Banks (PSBs) and Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) to ensure uninterrupted banking services and refrain from upcoming strikes. Unions had called for strikes based on two primary demands: implementation of five-day banking and withdrawal of the Performance Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme. The Government kept the PLI scheme in abeyance following discussions. Despite this, a one-day strike occurred on 11.09.2026, with further strikes scheduled between 28.09.2026 and 30.09.2026, and an indefinite strike proposed from 26.10.2026 over the five-day workweek demand. The release highlights various government measures implemented for employee welfare, increased recruitment, pension revisions, and streamlined wage settlements, while emphasizing that strikes disrupt public services and half-yearly financial closings.

The release details the journey of Karnati Srinivasa Rao, an outsourced sanitation worker with the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation, who improved his family's financial security through assistance provided under the Swachhta Udyami Yojana of the NAMASTE Scheme. Facing financial hardship and limited educational qualifications, Shri Rao, along with four other members, received support for a group project involving the procurement of a Gulfer 8 KL desludging vehicle on August 21, 2025. The Rs 50 lakh project was funded through a loan of Rs 31.25 lakh and an upfront capital subsidy of Rs 18.75 lakh, enabling mechanised sanitation services and increasing his monthly income by approximately Rs 10,000.

The first meeting of the Sowa-Rigpa Working Group was held under the Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine & Homoeopathy (PCIM&H) in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh. Chaired by Dr. Kousthubha Upadhyaya and attended by Sowa-Rigpa experts including Dr. Padma Gurmet, the meeting marked the formal initiation of work on developing Sowa-Rigpa Pharmacopoeias and Formularies. The Working Group will follow a step-wise action plan to create statutory and non-statutory documents for drug quality assurance and regulatory implementation under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. This initiative aims to standardise and integrate traditional medicines within the government's regulatory framework.

The Vice-President of India inaugurated the Centenary Conference of the UPASI Tea Research Foundation in Coonoor, The Nilgiris. He emphasized modernising the tea industry, strengthening research, improving cost-effectiveness, quality, and productivity, and developing strong Indian tea brands for global markets. Highlighting that India is among the world's largest tea-producing and tea-consuming countries, he urged stakeholders to move beyond bulk tea, focus on value addition, modernise factories, and work closely with Central and State Governments. He also stressed that industry welfare and plantation workers' welfare must go hand in hand.

The Ministry of Culture has launched the 8th edition of the PM Mementos e-Auction 2026, featuring 1,498 items from across India, with a notable collection highlighting Gujarat's cultural heritage, traditional arts, architecture, and contemporary achievements. Items in the Gujarat collection include replicas of temples, traditional textiles, paintings, sporting memorabilia, and modern innovations such as solar tiles and semiconductor plaques. The auction, organised via the National Gallery of Modern Art, began on September 17, 2026. Proceeds from the auction support the Namami Gange Programme for the conservation of the River Ganga, connecting cultural heritage preservation with environmental conservation.

The 18th edition of the India-Mongolia Joint Military Exercise NOMADIC ELEPHANT has commenced at Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand, scheduled from 21 September to 03 October 2026. This annual platoon-level exercise alternates between India and Mongolia, with both the Indian Army and the Mongolian Armed Forces represented by 45 personnel each. The exercise aims to enhance joint military capability for Counter-Insurgency Operations in semi-urban and mountainous terrain under the United Nations Mandate. The training curriculum includes tactical-level operations, Cordon and Search Operations, Room Intervention Drills, Special Heliborne Operations, Cyber Security Training, and the use of drones and counter-drone systems.

The CSIR-Central Road Research Institute (CSIR-CRRI) has agreed to provide scientific support and technical expertise to the Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region Development Authority (VMRDA) and the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) to improve road infrastructure and safety in Visakhapatnam. A high-level meeting brought together local officials and CSIR-CRRI delegates to discuss technologies for flexible pavements, subgrade improvement, urban road safety, and the upgrade of gravel and WBM roads to BT/CC standards across multiple constituencies. The collaboration will be formalized through Memoranda of Agreement/Understanding (MoAs/MoUs) to address challenges including coastal erosion, urban flooding, pedestrian facilities, and road asset management.

The Office of the Controller of Communication Accounts (CCA), Maharashtra & Goa, organized an online Telecom Outreach Programme to enhance compliance awareness among telecom licensees regarding key Licence Agreement provisions. Led by Dr. Satish Chandra Jha, the session highlighted that the Maharashtra & Goa telecom circle is the country's second-largest circle for Licence Fee and Spectrum Usage Charges collection, contributing approximately ₹2,380 crore in Non-Tax Revenue during 2025-26. The programme covered Bank Guarantee management, SAMPARK portal onboarding, quarterly and annual document submissions, and targeted Virtual Network Operator (VNO) licensees to promote regulatory transparency and timely compliance.

The Ministry of Railways is undertaking preparations for Special Campaign 6 for Institutionalizing Swachhata and Disposal of Pending Matters (SCDPM 6), launched by the Government of India. Structured into a preparatory phase from September 15 to 30, 2026, and an implementation phase from October 2 to 31, 2026, the campaign focuses on e-waste disposal, scrap disposal, space management, and clearing pending references. The Ministry has designated over 150 nodal officers to monitor and coordinate activities across field units, Zonal Railways, PSUs, and training institutes. Building on previous achievements, such as releasing 6.06 lakh square feet of space and generating ₹570 crore during Campaign 5.0, the Ministry plans to organize 'Rail Jan Samvaad' to foster public engagement during SCDPM 6.

The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), under the Ministry of Science and Technology, has launched the 'CSIR SciQuiz' on the MY Bharat portal in collaboration with the Department of Youth Affairs. Held as part of CSIR's 85th Foundation Day celebrations from 20–26 September 2026, the quiz is open to all Indian citizens. It features multiple-choice questions covering CSIR's achievements, technologies, and contributions across fields such as healthcare, agriculture, environment, energy, aerospace, and biotechnology. The initiative aims to promote scientific awareness and public engagement among youth, offering winners a day visit to a CSIR laboratory, with further quiz sessions planned for coming months.

The Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) is preparing for Special Campaign 6.0, scheduled from 2nd to 31st October, 2026, under the aegis of the Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances (DARPG). The campaign focuses on cleanliness, citizen experience, e-waste management in line with E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022, digitisation, record weeding, space management, and clearing pending references and public grievances. A preparatory phase is running from 15th to 30th September, 2026. The release also outlines achievements under Special Campaign 5.0 and the subsequent period up to September 2026, including the disposal of public grievances, weeding of files, and freeing up of office space across the Ministry and its constituent organisations.

The 72nd National Film Awards are set to be held on 22 September 2026 at Ekta Nagar, Kevadia, Gujarat, marking a shift of the ceremony outside the national capital as part of a new Ministry of Information and Broadcasting initiative to celebrate cinematic diversity across different parts of India. The President of India will present the honours recognizing achievements for the year 2024. Veteran actor Anant Nag will receive the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for his contribution to cinema. Major awardees include 'Article 370' for Best Feature Film, Mammootty and Kartik Aaryan for Best Actor, Yami Gautam for Best Actress, and Randeep Hooda for Best Debut Director.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Nagpur, conducted a Field-Level Super Outreach Financial Literacy Programme for 650 women police cadets and 50 faculty members at the Police Training Centre, Nagpur. Presided over by RBI Executive Director Smt. Sonali Sen Gupta and Regional Director Shri Sachin Y. Shende, the programme aimed to promote awareness of financial concepts among trainees. Speakers emphasized financial literacy as an essential professional competency for police personnel and highlighted the risks of digital fraud and cybercrimes in the evolving digital financial ecosystem. The sessions introduced cadets to topics such as RBI Retail Direct, RBIOS, DICGC cover, cyber security in banking, and currency note security features, supplemented by a Marathi street play.

Dr. Anik Saha, a 33-year-old scholar from the Scheduled Caste community (Sunri including Saha), overcame severe financial hardship following his father's demise to complete his higher education and doctoral research. From 2018 to 2022, he received financial assistance through the National Fellowship for Scheduled Caste Students (NFSC) at rates equivalent to NET-JRF fellows. The fellowship covered admission fees, fieldwork, thesis printing, and submission costs, allowing him to focus on his M.Phil. and Ph.D. studies instead of relying entirely on evening private tuitions. Currently, Dr. Saha works as a Research Assistant on an Indian Council of Social Science Research project at Kazi Nazrul University, West Bengal.

The release highlights the entrepreneurial journey of Smt. Shalaka Darshan Nagotkar from Thane, Maharashtra, who established a home-based beauty parlour using financial assistance under the NSFDC Term Loan Scheme. After learning about National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC) schemes through the internet and approaching the Leather Industries Development Corporation of Maharashtra Limited (LIDCOM), she received a loan of Rs. 3,75,000 disbursed on 30 October 2024. This timely credit support enabled her to purchase necessary equipment and materials, helping her overcome financial barriers to commercial real estate costs and attain economic independence with a stable monthly income.

The Mumbai Port Authority (MbPA) has undertaken measures to upgrade its road infrastructure to improve traffic movement, road safety, and handling capacity. Due to traffic volumes exceeding original design capacity and increased movement following the commissioning of Atal Setu—handling approximately 9,200 commercial vehicles per day—IIT Bombay has been appointed as the Design and Project Management Consultant. The phased upgradation includes Phase-I tenders for a 2.6 km road from Sewri Junction to Mahul (expected to be awarded by November 1, 2026) and Phase-II for the stretch from NTOB to Sewri (expected by February 1, 2027). Additionally, a steel bridge at Kharoo Creek is being constructed on priority to address traffic disruptions.