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.