Daily digests (5-8 items/day).
India has near-universal banking coverage: 99.92 per cent of inhabited villages, or 6,00,868 of 6,01,328, have a banking outlet within 5 km, the Finance Ministry told Lok Sabha on 3 August 2026. The network has 1.81 lakh branches, 17.36 lakh Business Correspondents and 1.65 lakh IPPB centres. Jan Dhan accounts number 58.77 crore.
3 Aug 2026
Glaw Lake in Arunachal Pradesh became India's 101st Ramsar site on 3 August 2026, the State's first. The freshwater lake lies inside the Kamlang Tiger Reserve and Wildlife Sanctuary in the Eastern Himalayas. India's Ramsar network has grown from 26 sites in 2014 to 101, after crossing a century with Surha Tal in June.
3 Aug 2026
The Green Credit Programme rewards voluntary environment-positive actions such as restoring degraded forest land, the Environment Ministry told Lok Sabha on 3 August 2026. Green Credit Rules, 2023 were notified under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. Credits can be claimed only after five years of restoration and 40 per cent canopy density. ICFRE is the Administrator.
3 Aug 2026
The Gyan Bharatam Mission of the Ministry of Culture, announced in the Union Budget 2025-26, aims to survey, catalogue, conserve and digitise India's manuscripts, the Culture Minister told Lok Sabha on 3 August 2026. ₹491.66 crore is sanctioned for 2025 to 2031. A National Manuscript Survey launched in March 2026 has reported over 1.19 crore manuscripts.
3 Aug 2026
Indian Railways loaded 141.3 million tonnes of freight in July 2026, 9 per cent more than the 129.7 million tonnes of July 2025, the Railways Ministry said on 3 August 2026. Iron ore rose 22.2 per cent and coal supply to power plants 20 per cent. Freight revenue grew by ₹1,137 crore, or 8 per cent.
3 Aug 2026
A PIB backgrounder of 2 August 2026 reviews India's solar growth after the Cabinet approved the PM Surya Sarovar Yojana on 31 July. The scheme backs 5,000 MW of floating solar with storage, at ₹5,070 crore. Solar capacity has grown from about 3 GW in 2014 to 162.15 GW by 30 June 2026, the largest share of renewables.
2 Aug 2026
India's coal production rose 7.51 per cent to 69.75 million tonnes in July 2026, against 64.88 MT a year earlier, the Coal Ministry said on 2 August 2026. Dispatch grew faster, by 17.34 per cent to 86.33 MT. Coal India produced 50.35 MT. Cumulative output in FY 2026-27 up to July stood at 302.24 MT.
2 Aug 2026
A fresh survey in all districts under the Manual Scavengers Act, 2013 found no manual scavengers, the Social Justice Ministry told Rajya Sabha on 2 August 2026. Under the NAMASTE scheme, launched in 2023-24, 89,915 sewer and septic tank workers have been validated. The scheme pushes mechanised cleaning, safety gear and health insurance.
2 Aug 2026
The National Biodiversity Authority released ₹8.22 crore on 2 August 2026, one of the largest single benefit-sharing payouts for rice. The money came from Pioneer Overseas Corporation, a seed company that used Indian rice varieties to develop hybrids. ₹2.47 crore went to research institutions and ₹5.75 crore to 33 State and UT biodiversity bodies.
2 Aug 2026
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyan on 2 August 2026, a 100-week campaign against substance abuse. Over one crore young people joined by video from more than 28,000 locations. The idea began as a Kashi pilot last year, backed by over 125 spiritual organisations under the Kashi Declaration.
2 Aug 2026