Daily digests (5-8 items/day).
The National Biodiversity Authority released close to ₹3.79 crore as Access and Benefit Sharing to 33 State Biodiversity Boards and UT Biodiversity Councils, ICAR-NBPGR and a Hisar bovine semen station, MoEFCC said on 9 August 2026. The money came from firms that used vegetable and oilseed genetic resources, and from Sri Lanka for Sahiwal semen.
9 Aug 2026
Over 1.25 crore houses have been sanctioned under PMAY-Urban and PMAY-U 2.0, and more than 1 crore have been completed and handed over, MoHUA said on 9 August 2026. One crore houses are in the name of women. The 8th CSMC meeting on 6 August sanctioned over 2.09 lakh more houses for EWS families.
9 Aug 2026
A PIB backgrounder of 8 August 2026 explains how the Government e-Marketplace (GeM), launched on 9 August 2016, moved public buying online. It links more than 1.37 lakh government buyer organisations with nearly 25 lakh sellers, and cumulative procurement has crossed ₹20 lakh crore. In 2025-26, over 11 lakh MSEs got orders worth over ₹2.36 lakh crore.
8 Aug 2026
On 8 August 2026 the Ports, Shipping and Waterways Ministry launched E-Samudra, one digital platform for services to seafarers, shipping companies and ports. It offers end-to-end workflows, online payment, real-time tracking and digital certificates. India's active seafarer workforce grew from about 1.03 lakh in 2013 to more than 3.23 lakh in 2025.
8 Aug 2026
On 8 August 2026 the Finance Ministry said UPI users will not pay any transaction charge and person-to-person transfers stay free. A Bill to amend Section 10A of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007 only enables a merchant charge (MDR). If one comes, it will be nominal, threshold-based and on a limited set of merchant payments.
8 Aug 2026
On 8 August 2026 the Petroleum Ministry said oil marketing companies ran extra nationwide tests on E20 petrol after media reports of moisture and up to 500 ppm chloride. Refinery petrol showed 1 ppm or less, distillery ethanol under 3 ppm, and retail samples 0 to 3 ppm. Only four outlets showed high chloride; their supply was suspended.
8 Aug 2026
Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a phone call from US Vice President J.D. Vance on 8 August 2026. They reviewed progress in the India-U.S. Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership and recommitted to closer cooperation in trade, defence, critical and emerging technologies, energy security and critical minerals. They also discussed regional and global developments.
8 Aug 2026
The Government e-Marketplace (GeM) completes ten years on 9 August 2026, the Commerce Ministry said on 7 August. Cumulative GMV has crossed ₹20 lakh crore through more than 3.78 crore orders. An IIT Delhi study of FY 2023-24 to 2025-26 estimates a net social saving of ₹1,76,411.46 crore. MSEs account for 45.6 per cent of cumulative GMV.
7 Aug 2026
On 7 August 2026 Bhutan's Minister of Energy and Natural Resources held two meetings in New Delhi, with India's Power Minister and with the Jal Shakti Minister. They reviewed hydropower projects such as Punatsangchhu-I, Punatsangchhu-II, Sankosh and Chukha, cross-border power trade, flood forecasting and the sharing of hydrological data on trans-border rivers.
7 Aug 2026
The National Mission on Edible Oils-Oil Palm brought 2.73 lakh hectares under oil palm between 2021-22 and 2025-26, against a target of 6.5 lakh hectares, the Agriculture Ministry told Rajya Sabha on 7 August 2026. The Centre released ₹1,447.21 crore to 15 States. Annual Action Plans of ₹1,143.9 crore have been approved for 2026-27.
7 Aug 2026