Recent 6 months news in National

Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has launched the operational guidelines for the third phase of the Digital India Land Records Modernisation Programme (DILRMP 3.0). The initiative has an allocated outlay of ₹565.5 crore for the 2026-2031 period.

The programme aims to integrate land records, maps, and registration data through a Geographic Information System (GIS)-based digital framework. Under the initiative, every land parcel will be assigned a 14-digit Unique Land Parcel Identification Number (ULPIN), also known as “Bhu-Aadhaar”, alongside the georeferencing of cadastral maps.

75 high-footfall sub-registrar offices will be modernized and rebranded as “registration seva kendras”. The government will also focus on scanning legacy land records, establishing a centralized registration repository, and computerizing revenue courts. Additionally, the NAKSHA initiative will be used for urban land mapping to prepare and issue urban property cards.

Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Francisco P Tiu Laurel of Philippines have co-chaired the 9th ASEAN-India Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture and Forestry (9th AIMMAF) in New Delhi. The agenda of the 9th AIMMAF focused on climate-resilient farming, with a specific emphasis on implementing low-emission rice cultivation techniques.

The participants endorsed the “ASEAN 2045: Our Shared Future” roadmap and the “ASEAN Food, Agriculture and Forestry Sectoral Plan 2026-2030” to ensure environmental safeguards and food safety in the region. A symbolic “Friendship Spike for Agriculture and Forestry” was also unveiled to commemorate the cooperation between the nations.

The NITI Aayog has launched the “Platform for Aggregating Clean Transport” (PACT) and a “Zero-Emission Truck” (ZET) marketplace during the 5th “Electric-Freight Accelerator for Sustainable Transport” (e-FAST) India Summit in New Delhi.

The PACT initiative aims to aggregate freight demand, while the ZET marketplace serves as an interactive business-engagement platform to facilitate stakeholder connections.

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Jitendra Singh has launched “BIO-NIVESH”, a strategic platform to connect biotechnology startups with investors.

The initiative aims to facilitate the flow of private capital for innovations ready for scale-up and commercialization. The platform was inaugurated during a joint roundtable session of biotechnology startups and investors in New Delhi.

Bodhan AI, a Centre of Excellence (CoE) in AI for Education at the IIT Madras, has launched four foundational multilingual AI models as Digital Public Goods.

The initiative was developed in partnership with AI4Bharat to strengthen the national education ecosystem through the establishment of sovereign digital infrastructure. The suite of models includes specialized capabilities for speech recognition, Text-To-Speech (TTS), Machine Translation (MT), and Optical Character Recognition (OCR).

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved 8 major railway multi-tracking projects under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan (NMP), with a total outlay of ₹20,804 crore.

It is to be noted that the initiative will expand the Indian Railways network by 1,196 km across 31 districts in 9 states to enhance regional rail connectivity and operational efficiency. The projects are scheduled for completion by FY30.

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has officially designated the Gollala Gudi Temple, located in Palampet, Telangana, as a Monument of National Importance. The temple is situated in southwest of the Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

With this addition, the total number of centrally protected monuments in Telangana has increased to 10. It is to be noted that there are currently 3,693 centrally protected monuments and archaeological sites of national importance across India.

The Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA), functioning under the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD), has launched the “Adoption Awareness 2026” theme titled “Legal Adoption. Safe Childhood. Secure Future. Say No to Illegal Adoption!”.

The nationwide initiative is designed to promote legal, safe, transparent, and child-centric adoption processes while preventing illegal adoption practices to ensure a secure future for children.

The National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT), under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), has collaborated with Intel India to launch the “Agentic AI Skilling Programmes”.

The initiative was officially introduced during the “National Leadership Dialogue” held at the India Habitat Centre in New Delhi. The objective of the program is to develop a future-ready workforce by enhancing expertise in AI technologies.

Vice President CP Radhakrishnan has released the ‘Mission Rangeen Machhli 2031’, which serves as the Strategic Action Plan for Ornamental Fisheries Development.

The launch took place during the Fisheries Outreach Programme, organised by the Department of Fisheries,in Agatti, Lakshadweep. The initiative aims to establish a uniform framework for the organised growth of the ornamental fisheries sector.

PM Narendra Modi has inaugurated and laid foundation stones for development projects worth over ₹35,000 crore in Vadodara, Gujarat, under the ‘NaMo for Viksit Bharat’ initiative.

He dedicated three sections of the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC), covering 326 route km, built at a cost of over ₹20,700 crore. This expansion of WDFC provides direct port connectivity to the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) in Mumbai. A new passenger train service between Tanda Road and Vadodara (Pratapnagar) was also launched.

Furthermore, foundation stones were laid for three National Highway projects in Gujarat with a total value of ₹1,780 crore. Urban development projects like the Vadodara City Command Control Centre for smart administration and the Waghodiya Regional Water Supply Scheme were also dedicated to the public.

PM Narendra Modi has visited Kyrgyzstan to participate in the 26th meeting of the Council of Heads of State (CHS) of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, at the invitation of President Sadyr Japarov.

During the visit, he also attended the opening ceremony of the 6th World Nomad Games, a biennial traditional sports event held in Bishkek. PM Modi presented the President of Kyrgyzstan with a 10-volume English translation of the Mahabharata by Bibek Debroy and a Ladakhi Tsugdul Blanket (a traditional woolen textile from Ladakh).

He gifted a Dokra artwork to Abdylbek Kasymaliev, the PM of Kyrgyzstan, and a sandalwood Shata Tantri Veena (Santoor from Jammu & Kashmir) to Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the President of Uzbekistan.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has constituted a 31-member Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to conduct a comprehensive examination of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment (FCRA) Bill, 2026.

The committee, consisting of 21 members from the Lok Sabha and 10 from the Rajya Sabha, will be chaired by Sanjay Jaiswal (BJP MP).

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi has inaugurated the state-of-the-art building of the National Test House (NTH) in Bengaluru to mark its 115th Foundation Day. NTH functions under the Department of Consumer Affairs of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution (MoCAF&PD).

During the event, he also virtually commissioned various facilities and initiatives across the national NTH network. The “NTH Suvidha” mobile app was launched to streamline testing access for industry stakeholders and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Dr Jitendra Singh has launched the 5th edition of the ‘Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar 2026’ (SSSS v5.0) in New Delhi. The week-long ocean conservation campaign is scheduled from 12 to 19 September 2026, and will culminate on International Coastal Cleanup Day on 17 September 2026.

As part of the 5th edition, the first-ever National Ocean Olympiad has been inaugurated. Digital platforms for the campaign include the official SSSS v5.0 website, an ocean conservation pledge platform, and the ‘SAGAR PRAHARI’ mobile application.

The campaign aims to increase awareness about marine pollution and sustainable use of ocean resources. It is to be noted that the SSSS initiative was originally established in 2022.

Union Minister of State Dr Jitin Prasada has co-chaired the 7th India-Morocco Joint Commission meeting during a visit to Morocco. He also participated in the Morocco-India Joint Business Forum to enhance commercial engagement between the two nations.

It was highlighted that the bilateral trade between the countries exceeded $4 billion in 2025, with a target to double it in the next 5 years. A Joint Working Group (JWG) will be established to explore the feasibility of a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA).

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) signed an MoU with the National Office of Food Safety (ONSSA) of Morocco to bolster cooperation in food safety. Both countries also signed a Cultural Exchange Programme for 2026-2030. It is to be noted that the 8th session of the JCM will be held in New Delhi in 2027.

The Department of Consumer Affairs (DoCA), under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution (MoCAF&PD), has notified the “Legal Metrology (Indian Standard Time) Rules, 2026”.

The rules mandate Indian Standard Time (IST) as the sole and compulsory time reference for all legal, administrative, commercial, and official purposes in India. The regulations will come into effect 180 days after their publication in the Official Gazette.

The Department of Legal Affairs (DoLA) under the Ministry of Law & Justice (MoLJ) has notified the establishment of the ‘Mediation Council of India (MCI)’, headquartered in New Delhi. The council is formed to promote domestic and international mediation and to strengthen the dispute-resolution framework of India.

The MCI comprises a Chairperson, 2 Members, 3 ex-officio Members, and 1 part-time Member representing a commerce and industry body. The non-ex-officio Members are appointed for a 4-year tenure and are eligible for reappointment. The age limit for the Chairperson is 70 years, while for other Members, it is 67 years.

Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has launched ‘Mission Samriddh Gaon’ at Krishi Bhawan in New Delhi to establish a framework for rural transformation.

The initiative, under the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), aims to create poverty-free and employment-rich villages while ensuring universal access to basic amenities. A pilot implementation of the mission will be conducted in Madhya Pradesh. The successful models from the pilot phase will be replicated across the country.

Union Minister of State Durgadas Uikey has inaugurated the National Conclave on Tribal Languages & Museums in Mysuru, organised by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA). The conclave focused on the documentation, preservation, and revitalization of tribal languages.

During the event, participants signed the “Mysuru Declaration” to formalize commitments toward tribal heritage and linguistic diversity. MoTA also entered into an MoU with the Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL) for the systematic documentation and promotion of tribal languages.

The ministry introduced the upgraded “Adi Vaani” platform and the “Jago” AI Conversational Assistant to enhance digital access to tribal resources. Additionally, the “Jenukuruba Primer” and various tribal-language learning materials were released to support educational initiatives within tribal communities.