Update on AB PM-JAY

Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) provides health coverage of Rs. 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization to 12 crore economically vulnerable families, constituting the bottom 40% of India's population. In March 2024, the scheme was expanded to include approximately 37 lakh families of Accredited Social Health Activists, Anganwadi Workers, and Anganwadi Helpers. The scheme was further expanded in October 2024 to cover 6 crore senior citizens of age 70 years and above belonging to 4.5 crore families irrespective of their socio-economic status. The State/UT-wise details of Ayushman cards created can be accessed at https://dashboard.nha.gov.in/public/card

AB-PMJAY has significantly contributed in reducing out-of-pocket expenditure. As on 30.06.2026, a total of 12.69 crore hospital admissions amounting to Rs.1.92 lakh crore have been authorized under the scheme through a network of 37,413 public and private hospitals.

According to the National Health Accounts Estimates 2022-23, out of pocket expenditure as a proportion of total health expenditure declined from 62.6% in 2014-15 to 43.4% in 2022-23. This substantial reduction indicates that households are incurring a considerably lower share of healthcare costs directly from their own pockets, owing to increased public investment in health and the expansion of publicly financed health insurance schemes such as AB-PMJAY.

The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Shri. Prataprao Jadhav stated this in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.

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PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana Achieves Milestone of Over 50 Lakh Rooftop Solar Installations

The PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana has crossed a landmark milestone with over 50.06 lakh households now benefiting from rooftop solar installations across the country.

Achieved in just over two years since its launch, this milestone marks a significant acceleration compared to the 7.94 lakh rooftop solar installations recorded over the previous ten years. It reflects the rapid implementation of the world's largest rooftop solar programme, with an outlay of Rs. 75,021 crore. The PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana is Government of India's flagship rooftop solar scheme under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.

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Meeting of Heads of National Statistical Offices of BRICS Countries

The two-day meeting of Heads of National Statistical Offices (NSO) of BRICS Member Countries was inaugurated under the Chairship of India on 03 August 2026, at Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. The event brought together more than 350 participants including representatives from National Statistical Offices of BRICS, policy makers, academia, think-tanks, civil society organisation and technical experts.

Guided under the overarching theme "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability (BRICS), the BRICS Statistics track, India has adopted the theme "Quality Statistics as Driver of Change”, reflecting an unwavering commitment to data quality, innovation, effective dissemination, and people-centric statistical systems that are responsive to rapid technological advancements, the growing demand for high-frequency and granular data, and the increasing reliance on official statistics to support evidence-based, sustainable, and inclusive development.

The inaugural session of the Meeting of Heads of National Statistical Offices was initiated with an introduction by DG (Data Governance), MoSPI followed by an address by Shri Alok Kumar, Principal Secretary, Planning and Programme Implementation, Uttar Pradesh.

Dr. Saurabh Garg, Secretary, MoSPI and Chair of BRICS 2026 Statistics Track welcomed the delegates to the two-day event and highlighted key priorities of the BRICS Statistics Track 2026 centered on "Quality Statistics as a Driver of Change” including modernizing national statistical systems, utilizing administrative data and digital public infrastructure, and enhancing data governance and privacy standards.

During the inaugural session, Heads of NSOs and representatives of BRICS member countries of Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) also shared brief introductions and their expectations from the meeting.

A draft BRICS Joint Statistical Publication (JSP), 2026 and Snapshot BRICS JSP 2026 were released on August 3, 2026 during the meeting. Any additional inputs or comments from BRICS member countries shall be incorporated subject to consensus of BRICS member countries.

The BRICS Main Technical Session-I, titled "From Digital Platforms to Execution-Level Experience: National Practices and Strategic Approaches for Data Dissemination," featured presentations by different member countries, namely India, Brazil, China, Egypt, Indonesia, Russia, South Africa and UAE. The presentations showcased national experiences, innovative approaches, and strategic initiatives aimed at strengthening data dissemination systems, enhancing accessibility, and promoting the effective use of official statistics in the digital era.

The Technical Session-II on "Transformational Reforms in Statistical System" featured presentations by India, Ethiopia, Russia, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), highlighting national reforms, institutional innovations, and strategies to modernise statistical systems in response to the rapidly evolving data ecosystem.

Besides the Technical sessions, a side-event on the theme, ‘Unlocking the potential of Administrative Data’ was also held on August 03, 2026 in collaboration with knowledge partner CivicDataLab, which was attended by representatives from BRICS member countries, civil society organizations, academia and officers from Central and State Governments.

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IIT-Hyderabad, Crimson Energy launch nuclear technology orientation programme

The Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IIT-H), in collaboration with Pune-based technology firm Crimson Energy Experts Pvt. Ltd. (CEEPL) launched a three-month, fully residential programme aimed at preparing engineers and industry professionals for the country’s expanding civil nuclear energy sector.

Anugyan-Nuclear Technology Orientation Programme (NTOP), touted as India’s first industry-academia initiative dedicated to equipping engineers for the nuclear sector, seeks to bridge the gap between academic learning and industrial practice.

The intensive programme will combine IIT-H’s academic expertise with the experience of nuclear professionals from CEEPL. Participants who successfully complete the course will receive a joint certification from IIT-H and CEEPL.

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ICAR develops India’s first fully annotated T2T genome of pigeonpea variety Asha

Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) announced that it has developed India’s first fully annotated telomere-to-telomere (T2T) reference genome of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L. Millsp.) variety ‘Asha’.

The newly developed T2T genome sequence comprises 752.65 million base pairs, assembled into 92 contigs, providing a complete representation of all 11 chromosomes of pigeonpea. The genome assembly, designated NIPB_CcT2T_4, has been deposited in the global database (NCBI), ICAR said in a statement.

The genome assembly comprises all 11 chromosomes, including their centromeres and telomeres, demonstrating chromosome-level completeness. A comprehensive genome annotation identified 36,557 genes, producing 48,008 mRNAs (coding sequences). Transcriptome (RNA sequence) mapping recorded more than 99.9 per cent read alignment, confirming the high accuracy and completeness of the genome.

Popularly known as ‘Arhar’ or ‘Tur’, pigeonpea is one of India’s most important pulse crops and a major source of dietary protein. It plays a vital role in ensuring the country’s food and nutritional security.

In 2011, ICAR–National Institute for Plant Biotechnology, New Delhi, had published the world’s first draft genome of pigeonpea variety ‘Asha’, the first crop genome to be sequenced entirely in India. An improved draft genome was published in 2017.

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SEBI appoints Prasanta Mahapatra as Executive Director

Markets regulator, SEBI, has appointed Prasanta Mahapatra as Executive Director. Based in Mumbai, he will oversee the Corporation Finance Investigation Department and the Recovery and Refund Department.

Mahapatra was earlier the Chief General Manager and has been with SEBI since April 1999. During his tenure, he has served across key departments including Market Regulation, Investigation, Enquiries and Adjudication, Market Intermediaries Regulation and Supervision, Corporation Finance, and Investment Management. He has also worked at SEBI’s Eastern Regional Office in Kolkata and has been a member of several domestic policy and advisory committees. Mahapatra holds an MBA from Utkal University, Odisha.

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New seahorse species identified by Kerala researchers

Marine researchers claimed to have solved a 150-year-old taxonomic confusion regarding the identity of the thorny seahorse, Hippocampus histrix.

Scientific studies have identified a new species, Hippocampus amandavincentae, which was previously misidentified as Hippocampus histrix, they said.

Earlier, researchers had described Hippocampus jayakari, a lesser-known one, which was also previously wrongly identified as Hippocampus histrix, they said.

The new species, which was named after noted marine biologist Amanda Vincent, was collected from the fish bycatch at the Tuticorin fisheries harbour by Shalu Kannan, the lead author of the paper.

The species was described in a recently released research paper, according to the team of researchers from Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (Kufos).

This is also the fifth known seahorse species from the Kerala coast, they said.

The study published in the taxonomy journal Zootaxa demonstrated that the thorny seahorse (Hippocampus histrix), historically believed to be widespread from the Red Sea and East Africa across the Indian Ocean to the western Pacific, was three distinct species, they claimed.

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D.Y. Patil, educationist and former Governor of Tripura, Bihar, and Bengal, passes away at 90

Educationist D.Y. Patil, a Padma Shri awardee and former Governor of Tripura, Bihar, and West Bengal, passed away on August 4, 2026 in Kolhapur, Maharashtra, at the age of 90 due to age-related health complications.

An active member of Maharashtra politics, Mr. Patil served as the Mayor of Kolhapur from 1957 to 1962, and was a Congress MLA from 1967 to 1978. His primary focus, however, has been on education reform and social work. He founded the D.Y. Patil Group, establishing an expansive network of over 182 institutes, seven universities, and premier healthcare systems across India.

Born on October 22, 1935, as Dnyandeo Yashwantrao Patil, he went on to serve as the Governor of Tripura from November 27, 2009, till March 21, 2013. He was then appointed as the Governor of Bihar on March 22, 2013, till November 26, 2014. He was also given an additional charge as the Governor of West Bengal during his tenure as Governor of Bihar.

He received the Padma Shri in 1991 for social work.

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Cabinet Secretary, Home Secretary get one-year extension in service

Cabinet Secretary T.V. Somanathan and Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan’s tenures have been extended for another year, according to a government order issued on August 5, 2026.

Mr. Mohan, a 1989 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer from the Sikkim cadre, was appointed Home Secretary in 2024 and assumed office on August 23, 2024. He was serving as Culture Secretary before his present assignment. A Home Secretary’s tenure is typically for two years.

“The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved extension in the service of Govind Mohan, IAS (SK:89) as Home Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs for a period of one year beyond 22.08.2026, that is up to 22.8.2027, in relaxation of the provisions of Fundamental Rule (FR) 56 (d) and Rule 16 (1A) of the All India Services (Death-cum-Retirement Benefits) Rules, 1958,” the order said.

The ACC, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the extension in service of Mr. Somanathan as Cabinet Secretary for a further period of one year beyond August 30, 2026, an order issued by the Personnel Ministry said.

Mr. Somanathan, a 1987-batch Indian Administrative Service officer of the Tamil Nadu cadre, was appointed to the post for two years in August 2024.

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Massachusetts declares August 15 as 'India Day'

Washington, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has declared August 15 as India Day, recognising the contributions made by the Indian diaspora to the state, and urged residents to participate fittingly in observance.

In a proclamation issued on August 1, the governor also recognised the vital role played by community organisations and advocates in fostering civic engagement, cultural exchange and mutual understanding through its annual Independence-Day celebrations and community-service efforts.

A similar proclamation was also issued by Michelle Wu, the Mayor of Boston, declaring August 15 as India Day. She also welcomed the opening of the new Indian Consulate in Boston and celebrated the visit of INS Sudarshini at the SAILBOSTON-250 event.

The proclamation issued by the Massachusetts governor said August 15, 2026, will mark the 79th anniversary of India's independence from British colonial rule in 1947, a historic moment that laid the foundation for the world's largest democracy.

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RBI says bulk deposit norms aim to improve transparency, standardisation

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said its recent circular on bulk deposits and uniform deposit rates is aimed at improving transparency and standardisation in the way banks offer deposit rates, rather than introducing any significant change to the existing framework.

Speaking at the post-monetary policy press conference, RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra said the central bank's July circular primarily seeks to standardise the manner in which banks communicate deposit rates to customers.

He said banks have been asked to disclose deposit rates in advance on their websites. "Similarly, for bulk deposits, there was no standardisation of the timing. We have given them a leeway up to 10 a.m. for publishing bulk deposit rates," he added.

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International Day of Awareness of the Special Development Needs and Challenges of Landlocked Developing Countries | 6 August

The UN General Assembly has adopted a resolution proclaiming August 6 as the International Day of Awareness of the Special Development Needs and Challenges of Landlocked Developing Countries. The first celebration of this Day took place during the Third Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries in 2025.

Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) lack territorial access to the sea, leaving them dependent on transit neighbors for a route to world markets. This geographic disadvantage drives up transport costs, introduces avoidable delays, and exposes LLDCs to any political or economic instability along those corridors. The results are stark: Average transport costs are more than twice those of neighboring coastal states.

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