Official releases, distilled into exam-ready intelligence.

The Centre, through the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for Development of Infrastructure Facilities for Judiciary (operational since 1993‑94), continues to fund judicial infrastructure in Andhra Pradesh. For FY 2026‑27 a Mother Sanction of Rs 8.79 crore was issued, extending the scheme’s deadline to 30 Sept 2026. Cumulative funds released to the state from FY 2021‑22 to FY 2025‑26 total Rs 104.29 crore, supporting court halls, residential units, lawyers’ halls, toilet complexes and digital rooms. As of 31 May 2026, Andhra Pradesh’s district courts have 875 sanctioned posts with 137 vacancies. Two pre‑2021 projects remain under construction, and progress is monitored via the Nyaya Vikas Portal.

The Supreme Court, in its judgment dated 19 Nov 2025 in Madras Bar Association vs UOI (W.P.(C) No. 1018 of 2021), struck down certain provisions of the Tribunal Reforms Act, 2021. The Court held that its judgments apply to the appointments, tenure and service conditions of tribunal members and Chairpersons. The Union Minister of Law and Justice, Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal, stated that any future statutory provisions will be drafted to align with Supreme Court judgments and will consider the judicial independence of tribunals, as conveyed in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

The High Court of Madhya Pradesh reports that 67 Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs), including 56 exclusive POCSO Courts, are operational under the centrally‑sponsored FTSC scheme. In Ratlam district, two FTSCs (one exclusive POCSO Court) are functional; in Jhabua district, one FTSC is functional; no FTSCs operate in Alirajpur district. The tables show that in Ratlam, 472 cases were instituted in 2024 with 260 disposed and 691 pending, while in 2025, 343 were instituted, 338 disposed and 696 pending. In Jhabua, 266 cases were instituted in 2024 with 135 disposed and 418 pending, and in 2025, 231 instituted, 154 disposed and 495 pending. The establishment of such courts is a state‑government function in consultation with the High Court, and no proposal for additional FTSCs is currently under consideration.

The Union Budget 2026 earmarks ₹2,010 crore for judicial infrastructure under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) – ₹810 crore for development of district and subordinate courts and ₹1,200 crore for the eCourts Project Phase‑III, which aims to digitise courts, provide training and capacity‑building programmes, and introduce e‑Filing, e‑Pay, virtual courts, video‑conferencing and the National Judicial Data Grid. The release also presents vacancy data for Rajasthan High Court (11 judge vacancies, 205 judicial officer vacancies, 7,606 court‑staff vacancies) and for the Tonk‑Sawai Madhopur judgeships, highlighting staffing shortfalls. The Minister of Law and Justice, Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal, affirmed these allocations in a written reply to the Lok Sabha, emphasizing the role of CSS funding, Tele‑Law services, free legal aid and ADR mechanisms in improving access to justice.

The Indian Army’s Headquarters Uttar Maharashtra and Gujarat Sub‑Area dispatched a Flood Relief Column from the School of Artillery, Devlali, to Silvassa on 24 July 2026 after heavy rains and a Red Alert in Dadra and Nagar Haveli. Responding to a distress call, the column evacuated 23 civilians (including 7 women and 4 children) from Sanduri Village (Madhuban Dam area) to a shelter at Khanvel, distributed food, and set up an on‑site medical camp. No casualties were reported, but water‑logging, disrupted communications and restricted access routes persisted, prompting continued coordination with local administration for further relief efforts.

The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways has approved the 6‑lane, 8.1‑km Dwarka Road Tunnel on NH‑148AE, costing ₹6,969.67 crore and to be built on Hybrid Annuity Mode under the NH(O) Scheme. Approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, the project will be executed by NHAI and will link the Shiv Murti Interchange on the Dwarka Expressway (NH‑248BB) with Nelson Mandela Marg in Vasant Kunj. A 3.14‑km twin‑tube tunnel, including a 1.98‑km stretch beneath the Southern Ridge, will provide an access‑controlled, high‑speed corridor connecting West and South Delhi, easing traffic from Gurugram, Dwarka, IGI Airport and West Delhi, and integrating with the proposed AIIMS‑Mahipalpur Elevated Corridor.

The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, through the National Film Development Corporation, announced that the 57th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) will be held in Goa from 20‑28 November 2026. Academy‑award‑nominated filmmaker Ashutosh Gowariker has been appointed Festival Director. Entries are invited for Indian Panorama (25 feature and 20 non‑feature films), Best Debut Director award (cash prize ₹5 lakh), Best Web Series (OTT) award (cash prize ₹10 lakh), and three International Cinema competitions with a combined prize pool of ₹1.36 crore. The last date for online Indian Panorama and OTT entries is 10 August 2026; hard copies by 17 August, and International Cinema entries by 31 August 2026.

On 25 July 2026, the Central Bureau of Communication (CBC) Field Office, Nagpur, under the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, held an awareness programme on Kargil Vijay Diwas‑2026 and the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan at Nagval Madhyamik Vidyalaya, Katol Road, Nagpur. Retired Captain Deepak Limse, as Chief Guest, paid tribute to Kargil war martyrs and urged students to consider a career in the Armed Forces. Shri Kishor Dada Jichkar, President of the School Management Committee, appealed for patriotic values and a drug‑free lifestyle. The event featured a lamp‑lighting ceremony, cultural performances, a street play on drug‑free India, pledge taking, and a selfie booth, with winners of prior drawing and essay competitions felicitated.

The Indian Coast Guard, in coordination with civil administration, rescued 170 persons from flood‑affected areas of Daman, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and South Gujarat through 11 operations conducted from the night of 22 July 2026. Key missions included evacuating five persons from Khanvel, three fishermen from Kadaiya, 60 persons from Welspun Industrial Area, and air‑lifting 33 persons from Mendar Village. Operations were carried out despite incessant rainfall, swift currents and hazardous conditions, underscoring the Coast Guard’s readiness to support disaster relief efforts.

The Union Minister of State Dr. Jitendra Singh affirmed that the Government is committed to engaging employee organisations through regular dialogue and constructive consultations. He highlighted that legacy service‑related grievances pending for about 25‑30 years have been resolved owing to a focus on transparency, accountability and employee welfare. The remarks were made during an interaction with a 12‑member delegation of the Bhartiya Postal Employees Federation (BPEF), affiliated to the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, where issues such as service matters, welfare, and pending administrative and legal cases were discussed. The Minister underscored that every genuine representation is examined on merit and that the Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) plays a key role in promoting transparent and citizen‑centric governance.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation has issued a public advisory warning that fraudulent websites are impersonating the Air Suvidha 2.0 portal and directing passengers to unauthorized payment gateways. The advisory states that Air Suvidha 2.0 services, including the Self‑Declaration Form, are provided free of cost and no payment is required. Passengers are instructed to use only the official portal (https://airsuvidha.civilaviation.gov.in/) and to verify URLs before sharing personal or travel information or making any payments.

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for AYUSH, Shri Prataprao Jadhav, wrote to the Finance, Communications and Culture Ministers requesting the issuance of a ₹150 commemorative coin and a postage stamp to mark the 150th Prakat Din of Sant Gajanan Maharaj. The minister highlighted the saint's appearance in Shegaon, Maharashtra, in February 1878 and the town's evolution into a major pilgrimage centre. He cited the saint's teachings, the religious text Shri Gajanan Vijay, and the contributions of Shri Gajanan Maharaj Sansthan in education, health, rural development and social welfare. The proposal is linked to the President’s visit to Shegaon on 25 February 2026 for the National Arogya Fair.

The South Central Zone Cultural Centre (SCZCC), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Culture, will host the 33rd Dr. Vasantrao Deshpande Memorial Music Festival in Nagpur from 29 to 31 July 2026 at the Dr. Vasantrao Deshpande Memorial Hall. The three‑day programme includes a Hindustani vocal recital by Padma Shri Shubha Mudgal, a sitar performance by Niladri Kumar, the Marathi musical play Devbabhali by Bhadrakali Productions, a flute recital by Padma Shri Pt. Ronu Majumdar, and a concluding vocal performance by Dr. Bharat Balvalli. Season passes are available at SCZCC between 11.00 am and 5.00 pm and at the venue.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed greetings on the sacred occasion of Ashadhi Ekadashi, emphasizing the day’s message of devotion and compassion. He prayed for Bhagwan Vitthal’s blessings of joy, harmony and prosperity, and urged continued service for the welfare and dignity of every person. The greetings were shared via a series of posts on X in both English and Marathi.

The Department of Health Research (DHR) budget has risen more than five‑fold, from ₹932 crore in 2014‑15 (RE) to ₹4,821.21 crore in 2026‑27 (BE), representing 0.012 % of GDP. The 2026‑27 allocation is about 24 % higher than the revised estimate for 2025‑26 (₹3,900.69 crore). The Union Government has broadened the health‑research funding ecosystem: ICMR has restructured its intramural and extramural grants into Small/ANVESHAN (up to ₹2 crore), Intermediate/NISCHAYAK ANVESHAN (₹2‑₹8 crore), First‑in‑the‑World Challenge (up to ₹8 crore) and Centres for Advanced Research (up to ₹15 crore). These instruments aim to support investigator‑initiated, proof‑of‑concept, high‑risk, multidisciplinary and advanced research programmes.

The PIB Backgrounder "Saving Soil, Securing Farms" (24 July 2026) highlights soil as a strategic national resource underpinning agricultural productivity, food security and rural livelihoods. It reports that the Soil Health Card Scheme has issued 25.89 crore cards, the National Mission on Natural Farming has expanded to 18,786 clusters covering 8.80 lakh ha, and the Khet Bachao Abhiyan has engaged over 1.07 crore farmers. The document details diverse Indian soil types, the role of soil in carbon sequestration, and links to climate‑resilient missions such as NMSA, GIM and the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme. It also outlines digital initiatives—geospatial mapping, AI‑driven advisory platforms and the Digital Agriculture Mission—aimed at precision soil management and improved nutrient efficiency.

The National Health Authority (NHA) convened a BRICS side‑event titled “From Digital Health Records to AI‑Enabled Healthcare: Strengthening the Continuum of Care Through Interoperable Data Infrastructure and Responsible Artificial Intelligence” during the 16th BRICS Health Ministers’ Meeting. Union Health Secretary Smt. Punya Salila Srivastava underscored that continuity of care is the true measure of digital health and AI’s impact, stressing the need for interoperable digital health records and responsible AI. She highlighted India’s Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission achievements – over 940 million ABHA IDs and more than one billion linked digital health records – and referenced the SAHI framework for responsible AI. The event released the BRICS TWG‑4 Compendium on Digital Health Architecture, promoting shared standards, governance, and collaborative research among BRICS nations.

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has activated Intra‑Circle Roaming (ICR) in disaster‑hit districts of Nagaland (Longleng), Gujarat (Valsad), and the Union Territory of Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu. Heavy rainfall, landslides and flash floods have damaged optical fibre cables and caused network outages. Under SOP‑2020 for Telecom Services in Response to Disasters and the Unified Licence provisions, ICR is in force until 23:59 hrs on 27 July 2026 or until further notice. ICR allows subscribers of any operator, including visiting in‑roamers, to use any available network where their home network is down, ensuring continuity of communication for residents, emergency responders and disaster management agencies. DoT is monitoring the situation through field units and coordinating with service providers for full network restoration.

The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare explained that the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) and the Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS) operate mainly on an ‘area‑approach’ basis, with claims calculated from state‑submitted Crop Cutting Experiments (CCE) and, where applicable, YES‑TECH yield estimates. For localized hazards such as hailstorms, landslides, inundation, cloud‑burst, natural fire and post‑harvest cyclone‑related losses, claims are settled on an individual‑farm basis by a joint committee of the state government and the insurer. The government has launched the National Crop Insurance Portal (NCIP) and a ‘Digiclaim’ module integrated with PFMS to enable electronic enrolment, data sharing, and timely claim transfers. From Kharif 2024, a 12 % penalty is auto‑imposed on insurers for delayed payments, and from Kharif 2025 similar penalties apply to states for delayed subsidy releases. Additional measures include mandatory escrow accounts for state premium shares, the Crop Loss Assessment App (CLAP) for localized calamities, and integration of land‑records and remote‑sensing data to improve claim settlement speed.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare released an update on the National Family Health Survey (NFHS‑6, 2023‑24). Compared with NFHS‑5 (2019‑21), institutional deliveries rose to 90.6%, ANC coverage to 95.9% and skilled birth attendance to 91.3%. Contraceptive prevalence increased to 69.1% and unmet need fell to 8.5%. Full immunisation reached 87.1% and rotavirus vaccine coverage jumped to 85.4%. Stunting fell to 29.3% and severe wasting to 5.2%. Over‑weight/obesity rose to 30.7% in women and 27.3% in men, while blood‑sugar levels increased, though hypertension showed a modest decline.