Daily Bulletin

In preparation for the Simhastha Kumbh Mela in 2027, heritage conservation works have been intensified in Nashik district. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is undertaking projects at 11 protected monuments, while the Maharashtra State Archaeology Department is implementing 16 heritage and pilgrim amenity projects with a total tender value of ₹39.51 crore in Nashik and Trimbakeshwar.

The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, was introduced in the Lok Sabha to impose stricter penalties against examination malpractices. The bill proposes increasing the minimum imprisonment for individuals to five years and for organised crimes to seven years with a maximum fine of ₹10 crore. It also empowers the government to refer investigations to a Special Task Force and mandates Special Fast Track Courts to complete trials within three months.

The government announced new initiatives from the Union Budget 2026-27, including support for states to create five University Townships near major industrial corridors. A High-Powered ‘Education to Employment and Enterprise’ Standing Committee, chaired by the CEO of NITI Aayog, has also been established to recommend measures for enhancing the services sector.

The Government of Meghalaya has introduced a new policy to promote the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs). The policy includes a financial incentive of ₹25,000 for individuals purchasing an EV, along with the provision of free vehicle registration to reduce the initial cost of ownership and encourage sustainable transportation.

The Supreme Court of India has directed the Uttar Pradesh government to include a forensic auditor in the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged embezzlement of funds related to the Ram Temple. This directive aims to ensure a specialised financial examination of the accounts and strengthen the evidence-gathering process in the high-profile case.

The Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER) is facilitating the 'Unique Selling Proposition' (USP) initiative, a state-driven programme to build globally competitive value chains for one flagship product from each of the eight North Eastern states. Key projects under this initiative include the Kiwi Mission in Arunachal Pradesh, the Muga Silk Mission in Assam, and the Lakadong Turmeric Mission in Meghalaya.

The Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) has increased rural tap water coverage from 16.71% in August 2019 to 82.09% as of July 2026, connecting 15.89 crore households. The Union Cabinet has approved the mission's extension until December 2028 under JJM 2.0, increasing the total financial outlay from ₹3.60 lakh crore to ₹8.69 lakh crore to further reforms in the rural drinking water sector.

The Government of Bihar has decided to withdraw all punitive legal cases filed against individuals involved in youth protests that occurred prior to July 26. The decision came after the CJP (Chatra-Yuva-Porishod) and opposition parties threatened a new agitation if the cases were not dropped and arrested individuals were not released.

Independent Rajya Sabha MP Shri Kapil Sibal has announced a legal aid fund of ₹1 crore to support students and protesters facing legal action. Concurrently, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) will launch a website to track cases against protesters and connect them with lawyers, creating a support framework for individuals involved in recent demonstrations.

Amid the ongoing controversy over examination irregularities, the government introduced The Public Examinations Amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha, proposing stricter penalties of up to 10 years imprisonment and a fine of ₹50 lakh. Concurrently, the first hearing in the NEET paper leak case before a newly established fast-track court was adjourned to August 3. This special court was designated by the Delhi High Court on July 23 to exclusively hear cases under the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024.

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a student outfit, has issued an ultimatum to the Central government, threatening to resume its nationwide protests. This follows the CJP's decision to call off its agitation on July 25 after the Union Education Minister's resignation. The group alleges a breach of agreement, citing recent arrests of student protesters in Bihar and West Bengal, and has demanded the immediate withdrawal of all First Information Reports (FIRs).

The Supreme Court of India has reserved its judgment on a plea by extradited gangster Abu Salem seeking his release from prison. Salem's petition contends that his continued incarceration violates a sovereign assurance given by the Government of India to Portugal during his extradition, which stipulated that his sentence would not exceed 25 years. The case examines the enforceability of diplomatic assurances within India's domestic judicial framework.

The Delhi High Court has granted senior Congress party leaders three weeks to file their response to a petition by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the National Herald case. The extension was granted after senior counsel for the respondents requested additional time to address the submissions made by the central agency in the ongoing investigation into alleged financial irregularities.

The Madras High Court has invalidated the Tamil Nadu government's decision to provide government jobs to the families of victims of the Karur stampede. The incident, which resulted in the deaths of 41 people during a Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) party rally last year, prompted the state to offer compassionate appointments. The judgment sets a significant precedent on the legal scope of such appointments as a form of compensation in mass casualty events.

Former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has demanded the resignation of the state's Education Minister over significant errors discovered in school textbooks. Citing the recent resignation of the Union Education Minister as a precedent, Mr. Patnaik asserted that the incumbent minister should accept moral responsibility for the administrative lapses, thereby highlighting the principle of ministerial accountability.

Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal has announced a 'National Town Hall' to mobilise public opinion against the E20 ethanol-blended petrol policy. The event is scheduled for Saturday, with Mr. Kejriwal stating an intention to submit two lakh petitions gathered from the public against the policy to the Prime Minister.

Cabinet Secretary T.V. Somanathan has issued a series of directives to senior government officials aimed at enhancing administrative performance and improving work culture. He urged bureaucrats to move beyond routine practices, stating that "routine is routinely ignored," and emphasised that focusing on small behavioural changes can significantly improve governance and public service delivery.

The Punjab government has inaugurated an Aam Aadmi Clinic at the Hoshiarpur Central Jail to provide free primary healthcare to over 1,400 inmates. This is the 77th such clinic in Hoshiarpur district and brings the state's total to 1,090. The initiative is part of a plan to establish these clinics in eight jails across Punjab, offering free diagnostic tests and medicines to improve healthcare access for prisoners.

According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, the total area sown under Kharif crops stood at 787.37 lakh hectares as of July 24, 2026, a notable decrease from the 826.19 lakh hectares recorded during the same period in 2025. The decline was observed across key crops, with rice acreage at 234.43 lakh hectares (down from 240.62 lakh) and pulses at 84.57 lakh hectares (down from 91.46 lakh).

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has excluded 'Coöperatieve Rabobank U.A.' from the Second Schedule to the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, formally removing its status as a scheduled commercial bank. The RBI also notified the cessation of the entity as a banking company, finalising the conclusion of the Netherlands-based bank's operations in India.

The Indian Rupee strengthened significantly against the US Dollar, appreciating by 67 paise in the foreign exchange market on July 27, 2026. This upward movement in the domestic currency reflects prevailing positive macroeconomic conditions and investor sentiment.

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has formed a dedicated task force and launched a 'Toy Sector Playbook' to strengthen India's domestic toy industry. The initiative aims to increase India's share in the global toy market to 5 per cent by 2032 by supporting over 21,000 MSMEs and enhancing manufacturing, design, and innovation.

The government has approved field trials for polymer-based banknotes following a proposal from the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) Central Board. The trial will involve printing one billion notes each of ₹10 and ₹20 denominations to assess their durability, though officials clarified there is no immediate plan to replace existing paper currency.

The number of individuals declaring an income exceeding ₹100 crore has risen to 576 in Assessment Year (AY) 2025-26, a significant increase from 142 in AY 2021-22, according to government data. This represents a more than four-fold increase in the number of high-income taxpayers over a four-year period, indicating a notable trend in wealth concentration.

The government is promoting high-level research through the Prime Minister Research Chair (PMRC) Scheme, designed to attract experienced researchers and professionals of Indian origin from abroad. The scheme offers positions in three tiers across 13 thematic areas in science and technology to bolster the national R&D ecosystem.

As part of a 2025 budget announcement, the government is providing broadband connectivity to all Government Secondary schools in rural areas through the 'BharatNet' project. The initiative, executed by BSNL, aims to enhance digital infrastructure and support online learning in remote regions across the country.

The Digital India BHASHINI platform, which supports 36 Indian text languages and 23 voice languages, is being scaled up to enhance multilingual digital inclusion. As a demonstration of its capabilities, the BHASHINI Division conducted a workshop for the Haryana Vidhan Sabha to showcase AI-powered tools for real-time transcription and translation of legislative proceedings.

An alleged data leak involving customers of Bank of Baroda has reportedly exposed sensitive information, including Aadhaar and bank account details. Cybersecurity researcher Shri Srikanth Lakshmanan attributed the potential breach to a cybercrime group known as TripleX, though the public sector bank has not yet issued an official confirmation.

Central Universities are implementing several environment-friendly initiatives, including the installation of rooftop solar power, solar water-heating, and rainwater harvesting systems. According to the Ministry of Education, these measures are part of a broader push for sustainable campus development, with specific financial assistance provided for projects like a green energy building at the Central University of Odisha.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for several states across North India for July 28, 2026, warning of the likelihood of heavy to very heavy rainfall. State authorities and disaster management agencies have been advised to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions to mitigate the impact of potential flooding.

The National Research Centre on Camel (NRCC) has launched a conservation programme for the rare Malvi camel breed, now categorised as 'endangered' with only 102 animals remaining as per the 2019 livestock census. The NRCC has procured 12 Malvi camels to initiate a scientific breeding process aimed at increasing the population of one of India's nine recognised camel breeds.

Senior Indian diplomat Shri Vikram Misri is in Beijing for high-level discussions with Chinese leaders to improve bilateral ties, focusing on border peace and trade. This visit is a direct follow-up to the July 22 meeting between External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart, Mr. Wang Yi, aimed at addressing ongoing friction points.

Member states of the World Health Organization (WHO) failed to reach a consensus on the proposed Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS) system, a critical component of the ongoing negotiations for a global pandemic treaty. Countries acknowledged the need for further discussions to establish a framework that ensures equitable access to pathogens and the fair sharing of benefits, such as vaccines, for future pandemic responses.

The Ministry of External Affairs summoned the Ukrainian Ambassador to India, Oleksandr Polishchuk, to lodge a strong protest over attacks on commercial vessels with Indian crew members. The diplomatic action followed the death of an Indian seafarer on July 18, when a Marshall Islands-flagged vessel was attacked by drones in Russian territorial waters. India conveyed its serious concern, condemning such attacks for their adverse impact on maritime safety and freedom of navigation.

The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports announced that over 1.22 lakh youth have enrolled in nearly 25,000 Experiential Learning Programmes through the Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat) platform. These programmes, offered in collaboration with various government departments, aim to provide practical workplace exposure and issue a jointly validated digital certificate upon completion.

The Ministry of Education released findings from the PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan 2024, a nationwide assessment of over 21.15 lakh students in Grades 3, 6, and 9. The survey, conducted by the National Assessment Centre, PARAKH, indicated significant improvement in foundational literacy and numeracy compared to 2021, attributing the progress to the NIPUN Bharat Mission.

The Ministry of Education has launched the MERITE (Multidisciplinary Education and Research Improvement in Technical Education) scheme with a total financial outlay of ₹4,200 crore. The initiative aims to enhance the quality, equity, and governance standards in 275 selected technical institutions across all states and Union Territories.

The government is implementing the Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA) with an outlay of ₹12,926.10 crore for the 2023-26 period to improve access and quality in state higher education institutions. As part of the scheme, Andhra Pradesh has been allocated ₹378.74 crore, which includes a ₹100 crore grant to Sri Padmavathi Mahila Visva Vidyalayam, Tirupathi.

According to the Ministry of Education, there are currently 57 operational Central Universities in India. In the last five years, two new institutions were established: the Sindhu Central University in Ladakh (2021) and the Sammakka Sarakka Central Tribal University in Telangana (2023).

As part of the Union Budget 2026-27, the government will establish AVGC (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, and Comics) Content Creator Labs in 15,000 secondary schools and 500 colleges. This initiative, to be implemented with the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT), Mumbai, aims to develop industry-relevant skills in line with the National Education Policy 2020.

The PM eVidya initiative, launched in May 2020, is being expanded to provide multi-mode access to education for students from classes 1 to 12. Implemented under the Samagra Shiksha scheme, the programme utilises 200 DTH TV channels and 400 radio channels to bridge the digital divide in education.

Under the Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) scheme, the central government is developing existing schools to serve as exemplars of the National Education Policy 2020. The objective is to enhance educational quality by upgrading infrastructure and promoting holistic, experiential learning to foster 21st-century skills.

Under the PM-Vidyalaxmi central sector scheme, 1,12,817 collateral-free education loans amounting to ₹15,634.78 crore have been sanctioned since its launch in November 2024. The scheme offers a 3% interest subvention on loans up to ₹10 lakh for students from families with an annual income below ₹8 lakh, supported by a total outlay of ₹3,600 crore until 2030-31.

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is expanding welfare initiatives in the North Eastern states for senior citizens and Persons with Disabilities (PwDs). Under the Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana, 73,572 senior citizens have received assistive devices, while the ADIP scheme has benefited 81,551 PwDs in the region over the last five years.

The government is strengthening the implementation of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, releasing central assistance of ₹495.29 crore in 2024-25. According to 2024 National Crime Records Bureau data, 55,685 cases were registered for crimes against Scheduled Castes and 9,961 against Scheduled Tribes, with conviction rates of 33.9% and 33.2% respectively.

Under the National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) Scheme, 89,915 Sewer and Septic Tank Workers have been validated and 87,037 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits distributed since its launch in 2023. The scheme, aimed at eliminating hazardous cleaning, has seen a financial release of ₹97.68 crore in 2025-26 to support mechanisation.

The Government of Madhya Pradesh disbursed over ₹3,300 crore to more than 82 lakh farmers across the state under a direct benefit transfer initiative. This financial assistance, credited directly to the farmers' bank accounts, is a component of the state's ongoing agricultural support and welfare programmes.

The Ministry of Education has established the National Assessment Centre, PARAKH, to set norms for student assessment under the National Education Policy 2020. The findings of its first large-scale survey, PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan 2024, which assessed over 21.15 lakh students, indicated a significant improvement in foundational literacy and numeracy skills.

The 'One Nation One Subscription' (ONOS) scheme, launched in January 2025, now provides 7,499 institutions across India with access to over 13,000 academic journals. According to the Ministry of Education, the scheme covers 7,073 higher education institutions and 426 R&D bodies, enhancing nationwide access to scholarly resources.

The Ministry of Education reiterated the nutritional standards under the PM POSHAN Scheme, which mandates 450 calories and 12 grams of protein for primary classes and 700 calories and 20 grams of protein for upper primary classes per child per day. A 2025-26 evaluation by NITI AAYOG concluded that the scheme has a positive impact on child nutrition and learning outcomes.

A 19-year-old medical aspirant in Jalalpur village, Maharashtra, reportedly died by suicide, allegedly due to distress over her score in the NEET re-examination. According to police, the student, who had been suffering from depression, secured 166 marks, falling short of the qualifying cutoff of 177. The Karjat Police have registered a case of accidental death and are investigating the matter.

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has questioned Meta over its alleged failure to report child sexual abuse content to the police, extending the deadline for the company's response to August 6. The action by the statutory body underscores the increasing regulatory scrutiny on the accountability of social media platforms for ensuring online child safety.

Contractual employees of Punjab Roadways, Punbus, and PRTC conducted statewide gate rallies at all 27 depots on July 27, demanding the regularisation of their services. The Punjab Roadways, Punbus and PRTC Contract Workers Union has announced a three-day strike from August 3 to 5 and a subsequent hunger strike if its demands are not met by the state government.

The government of Saudi Arabia has officially claimed to have intercepted and neutralised several drones launched towards its territory by Iran-backed militias. This incident highlights the persistent security challenges and ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

Indian weightlifter Gyaneshwari Yadav secured a Silver Medal in the women’s 53kg category at the Commonwealth Games 2026. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi congratulated her on the achievement, noting that her performance also marked a new personal best, adding to India's medal tally at the international sporting event.

The 22nd Commonwealth Table Tennis Championship commenced in New Delhi, with the host nation making a strong start to its campaign. Both the Indian men's and women's teams secured victories in their respective opening matches on the first day of the tournament.

The Ladakh Scouts Regimental Centre team has won the 6th LG Cup Horse Polo Tournament, a significant fixture in the region's sporting calendar. The final match of the prestigious tournament was held in the high-altitude town of Drass, Ladakh, reaffirming the regiment's prowess in the traditional sport.