Govt Initiatives Current Affairs 2026 for Government Exams

Chhattisgarh secured the first position nationally in the third phase of Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari (JSJB 3.0), the community-driven water conservation programme run under the Ministry of Jal Shakti's Catch the Rain campaign. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai presented the state model at a national summit in New Delhi in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The state completed 77,719 of 79,775 registered structures, improving on second-place finishes in JSJB 1.0 and 2.0. Five districts — Surajpur, Mahasamund, Balod, Balodabazar-Bhatapara and Kabirdham — entered India's top ten, while Koriya district's '5 Per Cent Model' earmarks five per cent of farmland for recharge works. India targets 2 crore new structures by 31 May 2027.

Government e-Marketplace (GeM), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and the Textiles Committee, under the Ministry of Textiles, signed an MoU to push recycled and upcycled textile products through government procurement. It was signed by GeM Additional CEO Ajit B. Chavan and Textiles Committee Secretary Kartikay Dhanda during the Committee's 62nd Foundation Day in Mumbai. The aim is a 'Waste-to-Value-to-Market' ecosystem: the Committee will certify producers and provide standardisation and capacity building, while GeM handles category creation, onboarding and market linkages through a hub-and-spoke model supporting women, MSMEs, artisans and recyclers.

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh launched BIO-NIVESH in New Delhi in September 2026, a strategic platform connecting biotechnology startups with investors to raise private capital for innovations ready for scale-up and commercialisation. Unlike a conventional pitching event, it is designed as a two-way engagement mechanism — helping startups understand investor expectations while giving investors insight into biotechnology's scientific, regulatory and development pathways. The inaugural edition brought together 20 high-potential biotechnology and deep-tech startups and around 50 investors, selected on innovation, development stage, market potential, scalability and regulatory readiness, linking science, capital, industry and markets.

On 1 September 2026, the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment (DoSJE) under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment signed an MoU in New Delhi with the Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission to roll out the nationwide 'Creating Intergenerational Bonding' initiative connecting children, parents and grandparents. The Ramakrishna Mission is the implementing partner, and the scalable model will be piloted in 200 schools through co-learning games, a bilingual resource platform and teacher certification. Signed in the presence of Union Minister Virendra Kumar, the programme complements existing senior-citizen schemes such as Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY) and the Elderline national helpline.

MoSPI signed an MoU with the Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology (TIET), Patiala on 31 August 2026 to develop a predictive and analytical framework for monthly consumption expenditure. It will use Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) data to estimate Monthly Per Capita Consumption Expenditure (MPCE) at national and state levels, feeding poverty estimation and economic planning. It was signed by TIET Vice-Chancellor Prof. Padmakumar Nair and MoSPI Additional DG R. Rajesh, an early application of AI in India's official statistics. It follows the same ministry's Q1 FY27 GDP release and its shift to the revised 2022-23 national accounts series.

India introduced its first national minimum standards for mortuary and post-mortem infrastructure on 30 August 2026, finalised by the National Council for Clinical Establishments (NCCE) under the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) in line with the Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Act, 2010. The standards replace fragmented state-level medico-legal practices with a single national framework applying to hospitals in states and UTs that have adopted the Act. They mandate ground-floor placement, ending basement morgues, cold storage at 4-8 degrees Celsius with unique body identification, separation of medico-legal cases, and an autopsy block of about 4,000 sq ft including a 2,000 sq ft operating area.

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) introduced automated issuance of Free Sale and Commerce Certificates (FSC) through Trade Notice No. 24/2026-2027. The facility applies to exporters seeking certificates under Paragraph 2.34 of the Handbook of Procedures for products outside the scope of the Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940. Eligible online applications meeting all system parameters now receive certificates generated automatically, replacing routine manual examination and approval by Regional Authorities. Applications failing the automated checks, or needing extra verification, still go to the concerned Regional Authority. A post-approval review mechanism under risk-management parameters covers selected auto-approved cases, extending DGFT's paperless trade-facilitation push.

Union Minister for Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy launched the Critical Minerals Innovation Hackathon 2026 (CMiH 2026), organised by the Jawaharlal Nehru Aluminium Research Development and Design Centre (JNARDDC), Nagpur, an autonomous body under the Ministry of Mines. It carries two problem statements: mineral prospectivity mapping from open-source data to locate lithium and rare earth element pegmatite zones, and a web-based smart technology and patent tracker. Ideas may be submitted until 20 September 2026, with winners announced at India Mining Week 2026 (15-17 November). Each problem statement carries a first prize of Rs 1.50 lakh and a second prize of Rs 1 lakh.

Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched Mission Samriddh Gaon at Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi in August 2026, a Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) programme to build a replicable model for poverty-free, employment-rich villages with assured access to basic amenities. It targets elimination of rural poverty, livelihoods for every family and reduced distress migration, in line with the Viksit Bharat vision. It will be piloted in Budni block (Sehore district) and Khategaon block (Dewas district) of Madhya Pradesh before nationwide replication. An integrated development framework will be prepared at family, gram panchayat and block levels, converging agriculture, employment, health, education and rural infrastructure schemes.

The National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, launched a nationwide Cloud and AI Skilling Initiative with Amazon Web Services (AWS) and delivery partner Cultus Education on 23 August 2026. It targets foundational AI and cloud literacy for 1.5 lakh learners and job-ready cloud training for 10,000 participants through the AWS re/Start programme. Delivery is 100% online, prioritising Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities and underserved communities across all States and UTs, covering cloud infrastructure, networking, security, programming, databases and AI fundamentals. Participants receive AWS certification, interview opportunities and industry connections, with the programme concluding in a National Hackathon.

The Ministry of Rural Development launched the National Campaign on Entrepreneurship-II on 21 August 2026 under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission, timed with World Entrepreneurs Day. The three-month drive runs to 21 November 2026 and supports the goal of 6 crore Lakhpati Didis. Targets include training 5 lakh SHG women, formalising 50,000 rural enterprises, orienting 50,000 community cadres, adding 2 lakh producer-group members, promoting agro-ecological practices among 20 lakh women, and onboarding 25,000 SHG members onto ONDC and GeM. Secretary Rohit Kansal launched it and released the first issue of the bulletin *Sankalp Shakti*; enterprise cadres will be recognised as Udyam Sakhis.

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) notified the Mobile Phone Manufacturing Scheme (MPMS) with an outlay of Rs 62,500 crore, running five years from FY 2026-27 to FY 2030-31. It has two target segments: TS1 offers a differentiated incentive of 2.25% to 5% to mobile phone manufacturers, while TS2 gives Indian brands 5% plus 3% extra for Indian design and R&D. Both segments get up to 1.5% more for domestic sourcing of key components. MPMS succeeds the PLI-LSEM scheme, whose tenure ended on 31 March 2026, and is expected to yield about Rs 39 lakh crore in output and 60,000 direct jobs.

PhonePe signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) on 20 August 2026 to integrate its enterprise data intelligence platform, PulsePro, into the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan framework. PulsePro converts PhonePe's aggregated and anonymised digital-payments transaction data into hyperlocal, near real-time market and economic-activity insights. Under the MoU, these insights will support national infrastructure planning and holistic urban and rural development by giving planners granular visibility into local economic-activity patterns alongside GatiShakti's existing geospatial infrastructure data layers.

The National Medical Commission (NMC) notified the draft Registration of Medical Practitioners and Licence to Practice Medicine (Amendment) Regulations, 2026 on 11 August 2026, proposing a centrally generated Unique Identification (UID) number for every registered medical practitioner. Under the proposal, once a doctor or foreign medical graduate is registered in a State Medical Register, the Ethics and Medical Registration Board (EMRB) of the NMC would centrally issue a UID that grants registration in the National Medical Register (NMR) and eligibility to practise medicine anywhere in India without seeking a fresh state-wise licence. The centralised National Medical Register would also track a doctor's credentials, licence status and history of suspensions, cancellations or other disciplinary proceedings, replacing the current fragmented state-wise system while State Medical Councils retain jurisdiction over local registration and disciplinary cases. This draft withdraws and replaces an earlier version published on 7 April 2026.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved four railway multi-tracking projects worth ₹9,450 crore on 19 August 2026, to be completed by 2030-31. The projects cover about 410 route km: the Kharagpur-Bhadrak (Ranital) 4th line (173 km, West Bengal-Odisha); the Bhadrak-Haridaspur 4th line (75 km, Odisha); the Gummidipundi-Gudur 3rd and 4th lines (90 km, Andhra Pradesh-Tamil Nadu); and the Cuttack-Paradeep (Badabandha) 3rd and 4th lines (72 km, Odisha). The multi-tracking works are aimed at decongesting saturated rail corridors, raising line capacity, and improving punctuality and freight movement across West Bengal, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) issued a circular on 17 August 2026 capping mobile connections at nine per person across most of India, and six in Jammu & Kashmir, Assam and the North Eastern states, applied across all operators combined. From 23-24 August 2026, DoT will share subscriber photographs of those at the limit via the Digital Intelligence Platform (DIP) for daily, next-day verification, suspending any excess SIM immediately; by 30 November 2026 operators must shift to real-time photographic verification at enrolment. The measure targets telecom-enabled cybercrime, including 'digital arrest' scams.

Digital Bharat Nidhi, under the Department of Telecommunications, signed an agreement with Chhattisgarh on 18 August 2026 for the Amended BharatNet Programme under a State-led model, with the Centre approving ₹3,942 crore covering 11,682 Gram Panchayats — upgrading 4,048 Phase-I GPs to ring topology, 5,964 Phase-II GPs, and 1,670 new GPs, plus broadband for 8,328 villages. Partners include Chhattisgarh State BharatNet Infrastructure Ltd, BSNL and CHiPS. It lands the same week as DoT's 17 August circular enforcing a nine-SIM-per-person limit — together marking an active telecom-policy push on both connectivity and fraud control.

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has extended its digital FASTag Local Pass facility to 121 toll plazas across the country. The facility is available to residents living within a 20-km radius of an eligible toll plaza and is accessed through the Rajmargyatra mobile app for monthly subscription. The system uses consent-based integration with DigiLocker and VAHAN for address and vehicle verification, with GIS-based checks confirming that an applicant's registered address falls within the 20-km boundary. Eligible commuters can obtain an unlimited-trips monthly pass entirely online, without visiting the toll plaza or submitting physical documents. The digital local pass was first piloted in July 2026 at the Mundka–Bakkarwala Toll Plaza on Urban Extension Road-II (UER-II) in Delhi, and NHAI says it will expand the facility to more plazas in phases.

The National Testing Agency (NTA), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Education, announced a four-tier question paper checking system in New Delhi on 18 August 2026, which will screen papers for factual, grammatical, translation and formatting errors before finalisation. The agency simultaneously removed 600 experts from its panels and began onboarding new specialists. As part of a wider operational overhaul, NTA is shifting to new premises with CISF security, secluded workrooms, air-gapped systems and strict device-deposit protocols for confidential exam operations. It plans to induct 20–25 new officials within weeks and has advertised leadership posts including Chief Technology Officer and Chief Information Security Officer. The reforms follow NTA's notification for a re-examination of the June 2026 UGC-NET papers in English, Commerce and Sociology, scheduled for 9–10 September 2026, after a review committee found serious factual errors and repeated questions in the original papers.

The Railway Board approved seven new Amrit Bharat Express trains to boost affordable long-distance connectivity across north, central, west and south India. Routes: Dhanbad-Coimbatore, Prayagraj-LTT (Mumbai), Prayagraj-Udhna, Subedarganj-LTT, Gorakhpur-Delhi, Gorakhpur-Bandra and Charlapalli-Gorakhpur. Amrit Bharat is a fully non-AC push-pull LHB train (locomotives at both ends) built for faster acceleration and passenger comfort; the first ran in early 2024.

In July 2026, Union Minister Piyush Goyal, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, announced the formation of a Task Force to support India's toy sector, targeting a 5% share of the global toy market by 2032. The announcement came at the stakeholder meet 'Team Up for Toys' organised by the DPIIT. The Task Force will focus on six areas - integrating the toy industry with global value chains, strengthening domestic manufacturing, addressing value-chain bottlenecks, skilling and employment, promoting design and innovation, and improving ease of doing business. A Toy Sector Playbook was also launched. India's toy ecosystem now includes 21,000+ MSMEs, 770+ DPIIT-recognised startups, 50 toy clusters and 1,800+ BIS licensees.

Union Housing & Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal Khattar announced on Sunday, 12 July 2026 that the Central Vista redevelopment area in New Delhi will now be referred to as the 'Kartavya Bhawan Complex' or 'Kartavya Bhawan Area', and that the name 'Central Vista' should no longer be used in official documents. Speaking at the CPWD (Central Public Works Department) Foundation Day, he said the precinct - comprising the Kartavya Bhawans, Kartavya Marg and future government buildings - reflects India's own identity over its colonial past. The area houses the Common Central Secretariat (CCS) of 10 buildings meant to consolidate central ministries, of which three are operational. Rajpath was renamed Kartavya Path in 2022, and the new PMO complex is named Seva Teerth. Just as the Viceroy's House became Rashtrapati Bhawan, the administrative district now carries an Indian identity.

The Ministry of MSME and the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) signed an MoU at Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi, to accelerate the commercialisation, quality standardisation and market access of India's Geographical Indication (GI) products, and launched the 'Bharat GI' banner. Under the pact, both bodies will integrate One District One Product (ODOP) into their programmes and facilitate GI collectives and authorised users on ONDC and GeM under the 'Bharat GI' banner.

The Government e-Marketplace (GeM) celebrated its 10th foundation day at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, where Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal honoured top buyers from central and state departments and leading sellers for strengthening the public procurement ecosystem. He called for a more user-friendly, AI-enabled GeM. Key launches included a nationwide five-digit helpdesk short code, 14550, and a commemorative 'My Stamp', along with a film on GeM's 10-year journey.

Indian Railways approved reforms to the Model Concession Agreement allowing Container Train Operators (CTOs) to run trains on all routes under a single, uniform All-India Licence (announced 5 August 2026), scrapping the earlier route-wise permission-and-fee system. Applicants now pay a single non-refundable registration fee of Rs 25 crore for network-wide operations, replacing the four-category structure. A CTO''s permission can be extended by a further 20 years after expiry, subject to satisfactory performance. The reform aims to cut compliance costs, boost private participation, shift container freight from road to rail (lowering logistics costs, especially for MSMEs) and reduce emissions.

Parliament passed the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Amendment) Bill, 2026 — cleared by the Rajya Sabha on 3 August and the Lok Sabha on 7 August 2026. It is the first major overhaul of the MSMED Act, 2006 in its 20-year history, targeting delayed payments to MSMEs and aiming to simplify dispute resolution. MSMEs registered on the Udyam portal have surged from 1.65 crore (April 2023) to about 9.16 crore; the sector employs over 40 crore people and is called the backbone of the Indian economy.

India''s Government e-Marketplace (GeM) completed 10 years of operations on 9 August 2026. The Ministry of Commerce & Industry announced that GeM had facilitated a cumulative Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) of over Rs 20 lakh crore through more than 3.78 crore orders. GeM took over eight years to reach its first Rs 10 lakh crore in cumulative GMV; the next Rs 10 lakh crore came in under two years. Annual GMV rose from Rs 422 crore in FY2016-17 to over Rs 5 lakh crore in FY2024-25. Registered MSEs have fulfilled orders worth over Rs 9.07 lakh crore — 45.6% of cumulative GMV. GeM was launched in 2016 to bring transparency to public procurement.

The Ministry of Railways approved reforms to the Model Concession Agreement for Container Train Operators (CTOs) on 6 August 2026, replacing route-specific permissions with a single All India Licence framework. Aimed at easing private operations and boosting rail freight under the National Rail Plan, it reduces compliance overheads; container operations were opened to private players in 2006.

In July 2026, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) launched a citizen-participation initiative named DAANVEER to strengthen digital infrastructure across gram panchayats through voluntary public participation. It was launched by MoPR Secretary Vivek Bharadwaj in New Delhi. The programme addresses the immediate shortage of computers in village councils and builds a long-term framework for citizen participation. Through the Meri Panchayat mobile application, citizens and organisations can donate computer systems directly to eligible village councils.

In July 2026, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communications, and the Government of Madhya Pradesh signed an MoU at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, to establish India's first Telecom Manufacturing Zone (TMZ), Phase-I, at Gwalior, MP, in the presence of Union Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia and MP CM Dr. Mohan Yadav. Spread over about 350 acres, the TMZ will manufacture mobile phones, telecom equipment, optical fibre, semiconductors and 5G/6G products on a plug-and-play model. A Special Purpose Company (SPC) will implement the project.

Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh (Lalan Singh), Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR), launched the Atmanirbhar Panchayat Programme, the SAMARTH Panchayat Portal, and released Model Own Source of Revenue (OSR) Rules in New Delhi. The initiatives aim to strengthen the financial autonomy, digital governance and revenue-generation capacity of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), in line with Viksit Bharat @2047. The Atmanirbhar Panchayat Programme helps Gram and Block Panchayats convert local assets into revenue-generating projects; the SAMARTH Portal is India's first unified digital platform for end-to-end management of Panchayat OSR; and the Model OSR Rules give states an advisory framework to collect property tax, user charges and fees.

The Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA) approved projects worth Rs 2,719.80 crore under the Urban Challenge Fund (UCF) for six initiatives in Ahmedabad, Gujarat — sewerage network rehabilitation (West and East Ahmedabad), an Intelligent Water Management System, a 125 TPD Integrated Sludge Management Facility, and an Intelligent Traffic Management plus Automatic Fare Collection System. Funding: 25% each from the Centre and Gujarat (Rs 679.95 crore each), and 50% via municipal bonds, loans or PPP.

The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), under the Ministry of Labour & Employment, launched VISHWAS 2026, a one-time dispute-resolution scheme for amicable settlement of damages and penalty-related disputes under Section 14B of the EPF & MP Act, 1952 and Section 128 of the Code on Social Security, 2020. Notified via G.S.R. 525(E) on 29 June 2026, it stays operational for six months. EPFO has set up dedicated VISHWAS Cells for implementation.

The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), under the Ministry of Labour & Employment, launched 'VISHWAS 2026' in July 2026 — a one-time dispute resolution scheme for the amicable settlement of damages and penalty-related disputes. Legal basis: The scheme covers disputes under Section 14B of the Employees' Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952 and Section 128 of the Code on Social Security, 2020. Notification: VISHWAS 2026 was notified through G.S.R. 525(E) on 29 June 2026 under the EPF Scheme, 2026, and will remain operational for six months from the date of notification. Coverage: cases where penalty or damages orders are under judicial challenge; final orders with pending or partial recovery, including Revenue Recovery Certificate (RRC) cases; cases where notices have been issued but final orders are pending; and cases where penalty/damages notices are yet to be issued. Implementation: EPFO has set up dedicated VISHWAS Cells for smooth implementation of the scheme.

NITI Aayog launched the 'Roadmap for Building India as a Leading Bioeconomy Powerhouse by 2035' in July 2026 at the National Media Centre, New Delhi. It was formally released by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, in the presence of Prof. Gobardhan Das (Member, NITI Aayog) and Nidhi Chhibber (CEO, NITI Aayog). Developed by: the NITI Frontier Tech Hub (NITI-FTH) in consultation with the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), the Association of Biotechnology Led Enterprises (ABLE), industry and academia. Key targets: Scale India's bioeconomy to USD 691 billion by 2035 and USD 2.6 trillion by 2047; generate over 30 million high-value jobs; and place India among the world's top 3 biotechnology powers. India's bioeconomy was valued at about USD 195.3 billion in 2025. Six National BioMissions are recommended: GeneIndia, AgriBio 2.0, BioX Foundry, One Health Grid, Marine Biotechnology and BioPharmaNext — covering advanced therapeutics, climate-resilient agriculture, synthetic biology, pandemic preparedness, marine biotech and next-generation biopharmaceuticals. Key proposal: a Rs 50,000 crore BioEconomy Growth Fund for 2026-2035, carved out of the existing Rs 1 lakh crore Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) framework, to bridge the 'valley of death' between proof-of-concept research and commercial-scale manufacturing. New institutions proposed: an Empowered Committee on National BioMissions, a National BioData Council, a BioEconomy Investment and Policy Forum, and a BioIP and Innovation Evaluation Agency.

The Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) amended the PM E-DRIVE Scheme (Prime Minister's Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement), reducing the incentive for electric two-wheelers (e-2W) to Rs 2,500 per kWh, capped at Rs 5,000 per vehicle, for April 2025-March 2028. The scheme was notified on 29 September 2024 with a total outlay of Rs 11,900 crore and has been extended to 31 March 2028. It promotes faster EV adoption, charging infrastructure and growth of the EV manufacturing ecosystem.

The Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rojgar Yojana (PM-VBRY) completed one year on 1 August 2026, with more than 72 lakh first-time employees joining the formal workforce since its launch in August 2025. It is implemented by the Ministry of Labour & Employment through the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) from 1 August 2025 to 31 July 2027, with a total outlay of Rs 99,446 crore. The scheme has two parts — incentives for first-time employees and incentives for employers who create additional jobs.

Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh, at the 56th Foundation Day of the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra, launched the Kapas Darshan bulletin and announced the implementation roadmap of the Rs 5,659-crore Cotton Productivity Mission (Kapas Kanti). Four MoUs were signed to enhance cotton quality, traceability, sustainability, market access and climate-smart cultivation, and modern farm equipment was distributed.

The Government launched the Nasha Mukta Yuva for Viksit Bharat (Drug-Free Youth for Developed India) campaign — a 100-week national de-addiction and awareness drive targeting youth aged 15-35 across all districts. It builds on the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan (NMBA) under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, with enforcement support from the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB).

The Union Cabinet, chaired by PM Narendra Modi, approved a revamped Khelo India Scheme along with enhanced Assistance to National Sports Federations (ANSFs), with a combined outlay of Rs 36,441 crore for 2026-27 to 2030-31 — the largest sports push since Independence. Of this, Rs 29,054 crore goes to Khelo India (grassroots talent) and Rs 7,387 crore to NSFs, nearly eight times the earlier outlay. Two new initiatives — Khelo India Feeder Schools (KIFS) and Khelo India Utkrishta Vidyalayas (KIUV) — integrate sport with school education, and a National Coach Accreditation Board will standardise coaching.

The Union Cabinet approved the continuation of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme from 2026-27 to 2030-31 with a total financial outlay of Rs 3.15 lakh crore. Under PM-KISAN, eligible land-holding farmer families receive Rs 6,000 per year in three equal instalments of Rs 2,000 directly into their bank accounts via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). The scheme was launched on 24 February 2019 at Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh; its 23rd instalment (Rs 18,880 crore) was released on 20 June 2026, and it has cumulatively benefited over 9 crore farmer families. It is administered by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare and is India's largest direct income-support programme for farmers by beneficiary count.

The Union Cabinet approved the Samudra Manthan National Offshore Exploration Scheme on 31 July 2026 with a total outlay of Rs 84,084 crore. The five-year programme will promote seismic surveys, exploratory drilling and shared offshore infrastructure in deepwater and ultra-deepwater regions, aiming to increase domestic oil and gas production and reduce India's import dependence. India imports about 85-87% of its crude oil requirement. The scheme aligns with India's Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy (HELP), 2016 and the Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP). India's main offshore field is Mumbai High (ONGC), and the Krishna-Godavari (KG) basin holds significant deepwater potential. Nodal ministry: Petroleum & Natural Gas (Minister Hardeep Singh Puri).

The Union Cabinet, chaired by PM Narendra Modi, on 24 July 2026 approved the Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojana Rasayan (BHAVYA - Rasayan) scheme to establish three dedicated Chemical Parks with an outlay of Rs 3,030 crore. Of this, Rs 3,000 crore funds common infrastructure and basic utilities while Rs 30 crore is for administration. The scheme runs five years, FY 2026-27 to FY 2030-31. The Centre gives a grant of up to Rs 1,000 crore per park, subject to a minimum Rs 500 crore contribution by the concerned State Government. Each park needs a minimum contiguous 8 sq km (about 2,000 acres) of encumbrance-free land and offers plug-and-play infrastructure. Each park could attract Rs 20,000-50,000 crore of downstream investment.

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw (Ministry of Railways) implemented 8 more structural reforms under the 'Reform Express' initiative at Rail Bhawan, New Delhi, taking the total to 17. The reforms are part of the Ministry's target of 52 reforms in 52 weeks to boost efficiency, innovation and the railway ecosystem. The new reforms (Reform 10 to Reform 17) cover fly-ash transportation, the container sector, fertilizer and petroleum-products transportation, foodgrains/flour/pulses movement, construction reforms, wagon-design approval policy, and skilling of artisans in railway projects.

The Union Cabinet approved the Mobile Phone Manufacturing Scheme (MPMS) under MeitY with a budgetary outlay of Rs 62,500 crore. Approved under the Make in India initiative, it aims to strengthen domestic mobile-phone manufacturing, raise value addition, boost exports and improve India's global competitiveness in electronics. MPMS will run for 5 years (FY2026-27 to FY2030-31) and succeeds the PLI Scheme for Large Scale Electronics Manufacturing (PLI-LSEM), which concluded on 31 March 2026. Eligible manufacturers get sales-linked incentives of 2.25% to 5%, with an extra up to 1.5% for higher domestic sourcing and an additional 3% for Indian brands investing in design/R&D. Targets: Rs 39 lakh crore cumulative mobile production, Rs 15 lakh crore exports, and around 60,000 direct jobs.

The Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), under the Ministry of AYUSH, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in New Delhi to strengthen quality standards, conformity assessment, scientific research and capacity building in the AYUSH sector. This marks the 100th MoU signed by BIS and its first with an AYUSH organisation. The MoU was signed by Prof. Rabinarayan Acharya (Director General, CCRAS) and Sanjay Pant (Deputy Director General, BIS), in the presence of Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha (Secretary, Ministry of AYUSH). The aim is to establish global Ayurveda standards for safer, scientifically validated products and practices.

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, signed five strategic Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with industry leaders: Cashfree Payments, Darwin Dynamics, Vultr India, Cars24 and the Council for Startup India (CSI). The partnerships aim to improve startups' access to digital infrastructure, technology, mentorship, investment opportunities and global markets. DPIIT partnered with Cashfree (digital payments), Vultr India (cloud infrastructure) and Cars24 (AI-led mobility innovation, skilling), while MoUs with Darwin Dynamics and the Computer Society of India target entrepreneurship in Tier II, Tier III and rural regions.

Maharashtra became the first state in India to qualify for release of the second installment under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) after meeting the fund-utilisation benchmark set by the Centre. The decision came in a review chaired by Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. RKVY is a centrally sponsored scheme (launched 2007) that gives states flexibility and autonomy to plan and execute agriculture and allied-sector development based on local needs.

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) granted in-principle approval for a Greenfield Shipbuilding Cluster in Porbandar and a Ship Repair Facility at Vadinar, both in Gujarat, under the Shipbuilding Development Scheme (SbDS). The cluster will come up on nearly 2,000 acres at Kuchhadi (Porbandar) with an annual capacity of 1.2–1.5 million gross tonnage. The ₹1,570-crore Vadinar repair facility — jointly developed by Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL) and Deendayal Port Authority (DPA) — will handle vessels up to 300 metres long. Both align with the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.

On 15 July 2026, the Union Cabinet approved the Mobile Phone Manufacturing Scheme (MPMS) under MeitY, with a Rs 62,500 crore outlay, under the Make in India initiative. It runs for 5 years (FY27-FY31) and succeeds the PLI-LSEM scheme (Production Linked Incentive for Large Scale Electronics Manufacturing), which concluded on 31 March 2026. Manufacturers get sales-linked incentives of 2.25%-5%, plus up to 1.5% extra for higher domestic sourcing and an additional 3% for Indian brands investing in design/R&D. Targets: Rs 39 lakh crore cumulative production, Rs 15 lakh crore exports and about 60,000 direct jobs.

Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) under DoT, the Government of Gujarat, Gujarat Fibre Grid Network Limited (GFGNL) and BSNL signed an addendum for the Amended BharatNet Programme (ABP) in Gujarat under the State-led model, with a total outlay of ₹5,629 crore. GFGNL will implement across 14,287 Gram Panchayats, providing over 5 lakh rural home fibre connections and extending connectivity to 3,895 villages on demand.

Lakhanpur in Kathua district, Jammu & Kashmir was selected among the first towns in India for a Street Food Hub under the PM Street Vendor's AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) initiative of MoHUA, announced by Union MoS (IC) Dr. Jitendra Singh. Each approved hub gets ₹4 crore in three instalments (30%–50%–20%) plus a ₹25 lakh incentive for ULBs with a notified Street Vending Plan. The initiative targets up to 50 hubs nationwide with support from MoHUA, the Ministry of Tourism and FSSAI.

The 3rd edition of Bharat Tex, India's largest global textile trade fair, is held from 14–17 July 2026 at Bharat Mandapam (Pragati Maidan), New Delhi, incorporating the 75th India International Garment Fair. The expo features 1,600+ exhibitors across 1.6 million sq ft, buyers from 160 countries, over 7,000 buyers and about 1.3 lakh trade visitors, plus 100+ knowledge sessions with 350+ speakers. It covers the complete textile value chain and is expected to facilitate nearly 4,000 B2B meetings and 30+ MoUs.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually launched the 'Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyan' (Drug-Free Youth for a Developed India), a 100-week nationwide campaign against substance abuse. Through a video conference, he addressed over 1 crore youth connected from more than 28,000 locations, and the campaign will run every Sunday for the next 100 weeks. It builds on the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan (NMBA), a flagship of the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment launched in August 2020 under the NAPDDR.

PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram, Vizianagaram district, Andhra Pradesh, on 1 August 2026. Built at about Rs 2,800 crore as a joint venture between the Andhra Pradesh government and GMR Group, the greenfield airport handles about 6 million passengers a year in Phase 1 (expandable to 24 million) and replaces the ageing Visakhapatnam airport as the region main gateway.

In July 2026, the Ministry of Tourism (MoT) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Air India in New Delhi to promote India as a preferred global tourism destination under the Incredible India brand. The MoU was signed in the presence of Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. Valid for two years, it provides for co-branded global marketing campaigns across digital, social media and inflight platforms, and expands 'Incredible India' branding across Air India's customer touchpoints. The partnership also includes joint promotions with tour operators and travel-trade partners to boost inbound tourism and position India as a global travel and transit hub.

In July 2026, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW) permitted the manufacture and agricultural use of Anhydrous Ammonia fertilizer under Clause 20A of the Fertiliser (Control) Order, 1985, for a three-year period. The fertilizer, with a minimum nitrogen content of 82%, is intended to improve fertilizer-use efficiency and reduce India's dependence on imported urea. India produces nearly 300 lakh tonnes of urea annually but still imports around 100 lakh tonnes. Separately, a 150 TPD Green Urea pilot plant is being developed at Pudimadaka, Andhra Pradesh by NETRA (the R&D arm of NTPC), integrating carbon capture with water electrolysis.

The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW) permitted the manufacture and agricultural use of Anhydrous Ammonia fertilizer under Clause 20A of the Fertiliser (Inorganic, Organic or Mixed) (Control) Order, 1985, for a three-year period. The fertilizer must have a minimum nitrogen content of 82%, making it a highly concentrated nitrogen source that can reduce India's dependence on imported urea. India produces nearly 300 lakh tonnes (LT) of urea annually but imports about 100 LT to meet demand. Separately, a 150 TPD Green Urea pilot plant will be set up at Pudimadaka, Andhra Pradesh by NETRA (NTPC's research arm), integrating Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCUS) with water electrolysis.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by PM Modi, on 24 July 2026 approved the 3rd and 4th lines of the Ballari-Guntakal section spanning Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh at a cost of Rs 1,264 crore. The project adds about 46 km to the rail network, covers 3 districts, and improves connectivity to about 99 villages (population ~7 lakh). It is expected to boost freight capacity by 16.22 MTPA (iron ore, coal), cut oil imports by ~1.32 crore litres, and lower CO2 emissions by ~6.67 crore kg. It is planned under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan.

The Union Cabinet approved the Modified UDAN regional connectivity scheme for ten years (FY 2026-27 to FY 2035-36) with a total outlay of Rs 28,840 crore, proposing to develop 100 airports from existing unserved airstrips.

The Union Cabinet approved continuation of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-III until March 2028 with a revised outlay of Rs 83,977 crore, extending timelines for rural roads and bridges.

The Cabinet approved continuation of the Jal Jeevan Mission until December 2028 with an enhanced outlay of Rs 8.7 lakh crore; each village will get a unique service-area ID and digitally mapped drinking-water systems certified by Gram Panchayats.

The Union Cabinet approved the modified UDAN regional connectivity scheme with a Rs 28,840 crore outlay over ten years (FY2026-27 to FY2035-36), including Rs 10,043 crore of Viability Gap Funding and development of 100 airports from unserved airstrips.

The Cabinet approved the Urban Challenge Fund to provide central assistance to urban local bodies for transit planning, urban mobility, climate resilience and water/sanitation infrastructure.

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways notified guidelines for the Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Scheme and Shipbuilding Development Scheme, targeting a top-five global shipbuilding position by 2047.

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw implemented 8 more structural reforms under the Reform Express initiative at Rail Bhawan, New Delhi, taking the total to 17. The programme targets 52 reforms in 52 weeks. The new reforms (Reforms 10-17) cover fly-ash transportation, the container sector, fertilizer transport, artisan skilling, construction methods, wagon-design approval, petroleum products, and foodgrains/flour/pulses transport, modernising freight, logistics and ease of doing business.

Uttarakhand has become India's sixth fully literate State, after Governor Lt Gen (Retd) Gurmit Singh approved the declaration on 8 July 2026 under the ULLAS - New India Literacy Programme (Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram) and NEP 2020. The state's literacy rate now stands at over 98%, above the 95% threshold required for 'fully literate' status. Uttarakhand joins Mizoram, Goa, Tripura, Himachal Pradesh and Sikkim. ULLAS targets adults aged 15 and above who missed formal schooling, with proficiency measured through the Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Assessment Test (FLNAT). Chief Minister: Pushkar Singh Dhami. A State or UT achieving 95% literacy is declared 'fully literate' under ULLAS.

On 7 July 2026, the government approved the pan-India roll-out of the ₹60,000-crore PM-SETU (Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs) scheme across 200 ITI clusters, while clearing strategic investment plans worth ₹1,237.58 crore for ITI upgradation in Odisha (₹240.21 crore), Gujarat (₹240.18 crore) and Telangana (₹757.19 crore). The decision came at the 4th National Steering Committee meeting chaired by Debashree Mukherjee, Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. Anchor industry partners: Jindal Naveen Avasar Ltd (Odisha), ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India (Gujarat) and Apollo Medskills (Telangana). PM-SETU modernises the ITI ecosystem through hub-and-spoke industry clusters, upgraded infrastructure and future-ready curricula, run through industry-government SPVs.

Delhi CM Rekha Gupta announced an ₹8,300-crore programme with World Bank support to accelerate National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) goals in the capital.

Gyan Post aims to lower postal costs for delivering educational books and materials via India Post, with revised charges of Rs 20 for up to 300g and Rs 100 for up to 5kg, improving affordable access to learning material.

This tribal development scheme is delivering infrastructure and services to over 60,000 tribal villages nationwide, including 40 residential schools across 11 districts of Odisha, as highlighted by PM Modi in June 2026.

With West Bengal joining, Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY achieved nationwide coverage across all 36 States/UTs. About 1.43 crore families (nearly 6 crore people) in West Bengal will get free cashless secondary and tertiary hospitalisation cover of up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year.

The government launched the JEEVAN mobile app and the SHATAYU dashboard to strengthen elder-care delivery and real-time monitoring of services for senior citizens, advancing India's ageing-population welfare framework.

A five-year Biopharma SHAKTI scheme with an outlay of Rs 10,000 crore was announced to make India a global biopharma and biologics manufacturing hub.

Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan presided over MSME Day 2026, launching digital platforms including PMEGP 2.0, SAMADHAAN 2.0, MSME Global Mart 2.0, an MSME Testing Portal and MSME Idea Hackathon 6.0, with multilingual access in all 22 scheduled Indian languages.

DPIIT issued guidelines for the Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojna (BHAVYA) to build 100 industrial parks (50 in phase one) between 2026-27 and 2031-32, with central funding up to Rs 1 crore per acre through NICDIT.

The government extended the 2008 Scheme for Investment Promotion up to 2030-31 with an estimated outlay of Rs 996 crore, to support investor facilitation and Make in India.

The Cabinet approved the Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme 5.0 for MSMEs, non-MSMEs and scheduled passenger airlines. Cover is up to 20% of peak Q4 FY26 working capital (max Rs 100 crore) for firms and up to 100% (max Rs 1,500 crore) for airlines, for loans sanctioned until 31 March 2027.

The RELIEF Scheme - which insures war-related export risks under the Export Promotion Mission - was expanded to add Egypt and Jordan, alongside existing cover for the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Israel and Kuwait, amid West Asia tensions.

The Textiles Ministry extended the Rebate of State and Central Taxes and Levies (RoSCTL) Scheme for garment and made-up exports up to 30 September 2026, to boost export competitiveness, especially for MSMEs.

The Union Cabinet approved Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0 with a corpus of Rs 10,000 crore to mobilise venture capital for early-growth-stage startups, including beyond major metros.

The government spotlighted the Export Promotion Mission (FY26-FY31) with an outlay of Rs 25,060 crore, aimed at boosting exports amid global trade disruptions.

PM Modi disbursed employment incentives worth about Rs 2,400 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana, an employment-linked incentive scheme aimed at boosting formal, first-time job creation across sectors.

The Rural Development Ministry released draft rules under the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025 - which replaces MGNREGA from 1 July 2026 - mandating all wages via DBT and using 16th Finance Commission parameters.

The Cabinet approved the National Scheme for Upgradation of ITIs and five National Centres of Excellence for Skilling, with a total outlay of Rs 60,000 crore over five years.

The Union Cabinet approved a Scheme for Promotion of Surface Coal/Lignite Gasification Projects with a financial outlay of Rs 37,500 crore, to promote cleaner utilisation of India's coal resources.

The Cabinet approved a scheme with a total outlay of Rs 37,500 crore, offering incentives up to 20% of plant and machinery cost (capped at Rs 5,000 crore per project) through competitive bidding.

The Coal Ministry released guidelines requiring an approved Mining Plan before gasification, a mandatory Safety Management Plan, a 500-metre barrier in mixed mines and escrow accounts for mine closure.

The Cabinet approved a Small Hydro Power (SHP) development scheme for FY 2026-27 to FY 2030-31 to promote clean, decentralised hydropower generation.

Kisan Sarathi, India's largest integrated digital agro-advisory platform, crossed 2.95 crore registered farmers as of June 2026, operating across 37 States/UTs, 768 districts and 6.63 lakh villages to deliver location-specific advice.

The Cabinet extended the ration transport, handling and PDS-automation umbrella scheme until March 2031, with an estimated central outlay of Rs 25,530 crore under the National Food Security Act, 2013.

The Cabinet raised Minimum Support Prices, with paddy (common) up 3% to Rs 2,441/quintal and larger hikes for jowar (+9%), sunflower (+8%), soybean (+7%) and cotton (+7%).

The Cabinet fixed the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) for sugarcane for sugar season 2026-27 at Rs 365 per quintal at a 10.25% recovery rate.

The Cabinet approved the Mission for 2026-27 to 2030-31 with an outlay of Rs 5,659 crore, covering 140 districts across 14 cotton-producing states and focusing on high-yielding seeds and quality-testing infrastructure.

The Next-Gen GST 2.0 two-slab structure (5% and 18%) was credited with expanding the taxpayer base to over 1.5 crore and simplifying compliance for businesses.