Announcements & other updates
The Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises announced on 21 October 2026 the achievements of the National Institute for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (ni-msme). The autonomous institute supports micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) through capacity building, research, and digital transformation training.
- Who it affects
- Not stated in the document
- When · Where
- On 1 March 2026: national conference on Digital Marketing, AI Automation and e-Commerce · Across Telangana
Source details
- Issued by
- Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises
- Published on
- Press Information Bureau, pib.gov.in (Press releases)
- File hosted on
- www.pib.gov.in, the government's file server for pib.gov.in
- Dated
- 21 October 2026
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Announcements & other updates
The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare announced on 21 October 2026 that the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and its 114 institutes are participating in the Swachhata Special Campaign 6. The month-long initiative, running from 2 to 31 October 2026, involves nearly 4,000 cleanliness drives and the clearance of approximately 1.3 lakh square feet of space.
- Who it affects
- ICAR institutes, Regional Centres, ATARIs and KVKs
- When · Where
- From 2 October 2026: Swachhata Special Campaign 6 (+2 more) · nationwide
Source details
- Issued by
- Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
- Published on
- Press Information Bureau, pib.gov.in (Press releases)
- File hosted on
- www.pib.gov.in, the government's file server for pib.gov.in
- Dated
- 21 October 2026
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Announcements & other updates
The Ministry of Rural Development announced on 21 October 2026 that the National SARAS Mela is being held in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, from 13 October to 31 October 2026. This event is the first of its kind outside the Delhi-NCR region and features around 1,500 women entrepreneurs from 34 states and UTs showcasing products in over 650 stalls.
- Who it affects
- women SHG entrepreneurs
- When · Where
- On 13 October 2026: Start of National SARAS Mela in Vijayawada (+2 more) · Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh
Source details
- Issued by
- PIB Delhi
- Published on
- Press Information Bureau, pib.gov.in (Press releases)
- File hosted on
- www.pib.gov.in, the government's file server for pib.gov.in
- Dated
- 21 October 2026
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Announcements & other updates
The Press Information Bureau announced on 19 October 2026 that India is scaling up Pumped Storage Projects (PSPs), which act as "water batteries" to store renewable energy. The Central Electricity Authority has mapped a pathway to commission 100.81 GW of new projects by 2035-36, bringing total capacity to 105.56 GW.
- Who it affects
- Pumped Storage Projects; off-stream closed-loop pumped storage schemes
- When · Where
- By 30 June 2028: deadline for PSPs to be awarded for construction to receive ISTS charge waiver (+3 more) · Several states
Source details
- Issued by
- PIB Delhi
- Published on
- Press Information Bureau, pib.gov.in (Press releases)
- File hosted on
- www.pib.gov.in, the government's file server for pib.gov.in
- Dated
- 19 October 2026
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Announcements & other updates
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change announced on 17 October 2026 that the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has disbursed Rs 1.19 crore to 29 State Biodiversity Boards and one Union Territory Biodiversity Council. These funds, collected from companies using agricultural biological resources like maize, rice, pearl millet, and cotton, are intended for biodiversity conservation and community welfare.
- Who it affects
- State Biodiversity Boards and the Union Territory Biodiversity Council
- When · Where
- On 19 October 2026: seventeenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 17) · Several states
Source details
- Issued by
- Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
- Published on
- Press Information Bureau, pib.gov.in (Press releases)
- File hosted on
- www.pib.gov.in, the government's file server for pib.gov.in
- Dated
- 17 October 2026
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Announcements & other updates
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment announced on 17 October 2026 that it is organizing the Shilp Samagam Mela 2026 at the Mysuru Dasara Exhibition Grounds. The event, which runs from 11 October to 19 October 2026, provides a marketing platform for artisans from Scheduled Castes, Other Backward Classes, and Safai Karamcharis to sell traditional handicrafts and handloom products.
- Who it affects
- participating artisans
- When · Where
- From 11 October 2026: Shilp Samagam Mela 2026 in Mysuru (+5 more) · Mysuru, Karnataka
Source details
- Issued by
- Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
- Published on
- Press Information Bureau, pib.gov.in (Press releases)
- File hosted on
- www.pib.gov.in, the government's file server for pib.gov.in
- Dated
- 17 October 2026
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Announcements & other updates
The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution announced on 16 October 2026 that it is expanding the distribution of buffer onions from the Price Stabilization Fund to the North-East. A shipment of approximately 440 MT of onions is expected to reach Agartala, Tripura, by 18 October 2026 to ensure affordable prices before the festive season.
- Who it affects
- consumers
- When · Where
- On 18 October 2026: expected arrival of 440 MT onion consignment in Agartala · Agartala, Tripura
Source details
- Issued by
- Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution
- Published on
- Press Information Bureau, pib.gov.in (Press releases)
- File hosted on
- www.pib.gov.in, the government's file server for pib.gov.in
- Dated
- 16 October 2026
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Announcements & other updates
The Press Information Bureau reported on 15 October 2026 that India's female Labour Force Participation Rate rose from 23.3% in 2017-18 to 40% in 2025. The government is supporting this growth through credit schemes like PMMY, the Swavalambini pilot for young women, and the Yashasvini Campaign to achieve gender parity in business registrations by 2029.
- Who it affects
- women workers
- When · Where
- By 1 January 2029: achieving gender parity on Udyam Registration Portal and Udyam Assist Platform (+1 more) · Several states
Source details
- Issued by
- Press Information Bureau (PIB)
- Published on
- Press Information Bureau, pib.gov.in (Press releases)
- File hosted on
- www.pib.gov.in, the government's file server for pib.gov.in
- Dated
- 15 October 2026
- The link opens
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Announcements & other updates
The Ministry of Rural Development announced on 12 October 2026 that the National SARAS Mela 2026 will be held in Vijayawada from 13 to 31 October 2026. This event, held in collaboration with the Andhra Pradesh government, brings over 1,500 women from Self-Help Groups across more than 30 States and Union Territories to showcase and sell traditional crafts and regional cuisines.
- Who it affects
- women from Self-Help Groups
- When · Where
- From 13 October 2026: National SARAS Mela 2026 (+2 more) · Vijayawada
Source details
- Issued by
- Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India
- Published on
- Press Information Bureau, pib.gov.in (Press releases)
- File hosted on
- www.pib.gov.in, the government's file server for pib.gov.in
- Dated
- 12 October 2026
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Announcements & other updates
The Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation announced on 12 October 2026 that provisional retail inflation for September 2026 was 5.54% year-on-year. Food inflation was higher at 7.74%, with rural inflation at 8.06% and urban at 7.18%.
- Who it affects
- general public
- When · Where
- On 12 November 2026: release of CPI for October 2026 · Several states
Source details
- Issued by
- Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation
- Published on
- Press Information Bureau, pib.gov.in (Press releases)
- File hosted on
- www.pib.gov.in, the government's file server for pib.gov.in
- Dated
- 12 October 2026
- The link opens
- The original press release on the government website, in a new tab, unchanged.
- Our check
- Drafted from the release text and checked by software. Not yet reviewed by a person.