Official releases, distilled into exam-ready intelligence.

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Mumbai Zonal Unit, in coordination with the Air Intelligence Unit of Mumbai Airport Customs, intercepted three Indian passengers arriving from Dubai at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport on September 23, 2026. Authorities recovered approximately 9.40 kg of foreign-origin gold valued at around Rs. 14.81 crore. The gold was concealed through a sophisticated method of being converted into fine powder and blended into packaged food products such as milk powder, oats, flours, Nutella, and coconut milk powder. All three passengers admitted to acting for an organized gold-smuggling syndicate and were arrested under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962.

Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan presented awards to the winners of the 3rd Shri Arun Jaitley Memorial Debate at Shri Ram College of Commerce, University of Delhi. During the event, the Vice-President highlighted the importance of critical questioning in a democracy, paying tribute to late Arun Jaitley's legal, political, and economic contributions. He also touched upon contemporary topics such as Artificial Intelligence, mentioning that the Rajya Sabha is working toward AI-enabled translation in all Eighth Schedule languages.

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi paid tributes to Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Ji on his Jayanti, recalling his vision of 'Antyodaya' and the upliftment of the marginalized as foundational for nation-building. The Prime Minister encouraged people to embrace his ideals and fulfill their national and social duties. He also shared a Sanskrit Subhashitam to emphasize that dedicated action, perseverance, and continuous effort drive success and innovation rather than luck.

The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu, accepted credentials from the envoys of six nations and entities—Finland, Vietnam, Mexico, Estonia, the European Union, and Belgium—during a ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan on September 25, 2026.

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi congratulated Gulveer Singh for winning the Silver medal in the Men’s 10,000m event at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya. The Prime Minister noted that Singh had also won a Bronze earlier in the competition and praised his fine performance, perseverance, and progress as an inspiration for young distance runners across India.

The Ministry of Railways has approved the introduction of a new tri-weekly Amrit Bharat Express between Bhuj in Gujarat and Barauni in Bihar. Covering a distance of 2,532 km, the service connects Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar. Train No. 19427 will operate from Bhuj on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday, while Train No. 19428 will run from Barauni on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. The route includes commercial stoppages at major stations such as Ahmedabad, Ratlam, Kota, Mathura, Bareilly, Gorakhpur, and Chhapra, providing an additional rail travel option between the western and eastern regions of the country.

The Vice-President of India, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan, paid floral tributes to Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya at Uprashtrapati Bhawan on his birth anniversary. Remembering him as a prominent thinker, social reformer, and proponent of Integral Humanism, the Vice-President recalled his philosophy that places the individual, society, and nation within a harmonious framework rooted in Indian thought and traditions, highlighting his life of simplicity, dedication, and selfless public service.

A delegation of journalists from Chhattisgarh and Bihar, organized by the Press Information Bureau (PIB) and led by Director General (Western Region) Smita Vats Sharma, visited Maharashtra Governor Jishnu Dev Varma at Lok Bhavan, Mumbai. During the meeting, the Governor described journalism as a strong pillar of democracy. He urged the visiting media personnel to play an active role in creating public awareness regarding national initiatives, specifically mentioning the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan and TB Mukt Bharat, among others.

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated athlete Manpreet Kaur for securing a bronze medal in the shot put event at the Asian Games. The Prime Minister recognized her performance as a 'fine effort' and extended his best wishes for her future athletic career.

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated athlete Baranica Elangovan for winning a bronze medal in the women’s pole vault event at the Asian Games. This achievement marks her debut at the Asian Games. The Prime Minister acknowledged the performance as a proud achievement for India and noted that it is expected to inspire young athletes to participate in the sport.

The Ministry of Railways has approved the extension of the Virangana Lakshmibai Jhansi-Agra Cantt Express (Train No. 11901/11902) to Mathura station. This extension increases the train's total journey distance from 217 km to 270 km. Under the new schedule, Train No. 11901 departs Jhansi at 16:00 hours and arrives in Mathura at 23:00 hours, while Train No. 11902 departs Mathura at 05:05 hours and arrives in Jhansi at 12:50 hours. The extended service includes new commercial stoppages at Raja ki Mandi, Runkuta, Deen Dayal Dham, and Baad stations, aimed at enhancing passenger connectivity between Jhansi, Agra, and Mathura.

The Office of the Controller of Communication Accounts (CCA), Maharashtra & Goa, concluded the 'Hindi Pakhwada 2026.' This event was organized to promote the use and development of the Hindi language within official government communication. The fortnight-long program featured various cultural, educational, and literary activities, alongside Hindi competitions for office staff. During the concluding ceremony, winners of these competitions were felicitated. Dr. Satish Chandra Jha, Controller of Communication Accounts, emphasized the necessity of prioritizing Hindi in official work to ensure the implementation of the Official Language Policy. The event served as a platform for discussing the role of the language in public administration.

The Prime Minister of India congratulated athletes Manu TS, Poovamma MR, Vishal TK, and Vithya Ramraj for winning the Silver medal in the Mixed 4x400m Relay event at the Asian Games. The Prime Minister commended the team's speed, coordination, and determination, describing the performance as a proud moment for Indian athletics.

Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh has formally launched the commercial use of bio-based biodegradable plastic derived from Polylactic Acid (PLA) under the Government’s BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment & Employment) framework. Implemented by Balrampur Chini Mills Limited, the initiative is supported by a ₹75 crore grant from the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) under the Department of Biotechnology for a 100 TPA pilot-scale R&D facility in Kumbhi, Uttar Pradesh. The project aims to convert renewable agricultural feedstock such as sugarcane into bioplastics, advance sustainable manufacturing, promote the 'waste to wealth' approach, and boost India's growing bioeconomy.

Union Health Minister Shri J.P. Nadda is set to inaugurate Arogya Manthan 2026, marking eight years of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) and five years of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM). Organised by the National Health Authority (NHA), the event features deliberations on health assurance, digital health, and standardization. New initiatives to be launched include the National Healthcare Providers Registry (NHPR) Mobile App, NHCX Implementation Guide, Model Digital Health Facility Guidebook, Secure Data Environment (SDE) application, and an auto-adjudication claims framework. AB PM-JAY covers over 60 crore beneficiaries with more than 13 crore hospital admissions, while ABDM has recorded 97.8 crore ABHAs and 121 crore linked health records.

At the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA81) side events, India highlighted its progress in achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC), viral hepatitis elimination, and sickle cell care. The Union Health Secretary detailed key domestic health initiatives, including the network of over 1.8 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, AB-PMJAY for financial protection, and the e-Sanjeevani teleconsultation platform crossing 497 million consultations. India reaffirmed its commitment to eliminate Hepatitis B and C by 2030 through the National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme. Furthermore, India co-hosted the launch of 'OneSCD: A Global Partnership to Advance Equity and Transform Sickle Cell Care', showcasing the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission's target of eliminating the disease by 2047.

The Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) 2.0 scheme, launched under the National Rural Livelihoods Mission, targets rural youth aged 15-35 from poor households for placement-linked skill training. The upgraded DDU-GKY 2.0 guidelines, notified in May 2025, introduce a structured training framework, extend minimum placement duration to six months, mandate post-placement tracking, increase Migration Support Centre funding, and deploy end-to-end digital solutions. Special initiatives under the framework include Roshni, Himayat, and focus areas for North-Eastern and hard-to-reach regions. The backgrounder also details complementary rural entrepreneurship through Rural Self-Employment Training Institutes (RSETIs).

Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh addressed a defence conclave in New Delhi, emphasizing that national security encompasses a holistic approach beyond physical borders to counter fluid threats such as drones, cyber-attacks, and disinformation. He stated that India's counter-terrorism policy has evolved toward 'deterrence by punishment' and that any terror attack originating from Pakistani soil will be treated as an 'Act of War.' Highlighting self-reliance under 'Aatmanirbharta,' he noted a significant increase in the defence budget, rising domestic defence production, expansion of positive indigenisation lists, and integration of MSMEs and start-ups. He also detailed India's diplomatic engagements through QUAD, I2U2, and multilateral bodies, alongside welfare initiatives for veterans and soldiers.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has signed its first high-value deep tech project agreement under the Technology Development Fund (TDF) scheme with the start-up Zero mK India Private Limited. The agreement involves the indigenous development of a 20 mK Dilution Refrigerator for Quantum Applications. Funded from a Rs 500 crore corpus approved for deep-tech and cutting-edge projects, the specialized cryogenic system is essential for ultra-low-temperature environments required in quantum computing platforms. The initiative aligns with the National Quantum Mission, aiming to reduce dependence on imported cryogenic infrastructure, strengthen domestic capabilities in quantum and strategic technologies, and build a self-reliant ecosystem.

INS Trishul arrived at Toulon, France, on September 22, 2026, to participate in the 24th edition of the bilateral maritime exercise 'VARUNA' between the Indian Navy and the French Navy. The exercise features professional engagements in harbour and at sea, such as cross-deck visits, operational interactions, and sporting engagements, designed to facilitate the sharing of experiences and best practices, enhance interoperability, and foster mutual understanding. This visit highlights the enduring maritime partnership and expanding maritime cooperation between India and France.