Announcements & other updates
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy reported on 22 October 2026 the highlights of the second day of the AgriVoltaics World Conference 2026. The event focused on combining solar power generation with agriculture to optimize land use and increase farmer income.
- Who it affects
- agrivoltaic project sites
- When · Where
- Until 1 January 2030: Odisha's agrivoltaic target of 1 GW (+1 more) · Odisha
Source details
- Issued by
- Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
- 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
- 22 October 2026
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Announcements & other updates
The Ministry of Home Affairs announced on 22 October 2026 the launch of projects worth ₹8,941 crore to rejuvenate the Yamuna river in Delhi. Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated 10 projects and initiated 33 others, including the installation of new sewage treatment plants (STPs) and household sewer connections.
- Who it affects
- residents of Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh
- When · Where
- By 1 May 2029: purification of the Yamuna (+1 more) · Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh
Source details
- Issued by
- Ministry of Home Affairs
- 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
- 22 October 2026
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Announcements & other updates
The Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers announced on 22 October 2026 the inauguration of the 14th India Chem 2026 in Mumbai. This three-day international exhibition and conference aims to attract investments and promote sustainable growth in the chemicals and petrochemicals sector.
- Who it affects
- industry leaders, policymakers, investors, researchers and international participants
- When · Where
- From 22 October 2026: India Chem 2026 event (+2 more) · Mumbai
Source details
- Issued by
- Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers
- 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
- 22 October 2026
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Announcements & other updates
The Ministry of Education announced on 22 October 2026 the launch of the registration portal for the fifth edition of Kashi Tamil Sangamam (KTS 5.0). The programme, themed Thirukkural Payilvom Thirukkural Abhyas Karen , aims to promote the ethical wisdom of the classical Tamil text Thirukkural among youth and learners.
- Who it affects
- Students, Teachers, Writers and Media Professionals, Agriculture and Allied Sectors, Professionals and Artisans, Women and Spiritual leaders
- When · Where
- By 13 November 2026: last date for registration (+2 more) · Tamil Nadu
Source details
- Issued by
- Ministry of Education
- 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
- 22 October 2026
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Announcements & other updates
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change announced on 21 October 2026 that the CAQM Sub-Committee has invoked Stage-I of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) for the entire NCR with immediate effect. This decision follows a rise in the daily average Air Quality Index (AQI) to 245, placing it in the 'Poor' category.
- Who it affects
- agencies, industries, and vehicle owners
- When · Where
- From 21 October 2026: invocation of Stage-I of GRAP · entire NCR
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
- 21 October 2026
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Announcements & other updates
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare announced on 21 October 2026 the inauguration of the three-day AgriVoltaics World Conference 2026. The government will launch an ambitious agrivoltaic programme under the next phase of the PM-KUSUM scheme to help farmers generate solar power on the same land used for crops.
- Who it affects
- farmers
- When · Where
- On 21 October 2026: inauguration of AgriVoltaics World Conference 2026 (+1 more) · Several states
Source details
- Issued by
- Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
- 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 stated on 21 October 2026 that the Namami Gange Programme (NGP), launched in 2014, is using a technology-neutral approach to treat wastewater across 10 Ganga basin states. The programme has undertaken 219 projects worth an estimated ₹35,664 crore, creating 4,341 MLD of sewage treatment plant (STP) capacity out of a target of 6,603 MLD.
- Who it affects
- 10 Ganga basin states
- When · Where
- From 1 January 2014: Namami Gange Programme · 10 Ganga basin 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
- 21 October 2026
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Announcements & other updates
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry announced on 19 October 2026 that the India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) will enter into force on 20 October 2026. The agreement provides 100% duty-free access to the New Zealand market for Indian goods, benefiting MSMEs, farmers, and women entrepreneurs, though sensitive items like dairy and sugar remain excluded.
- Who it affects
- Indian exporters, including MSMEs, artisans, farmers, and women entrepreneurs; Indian youth and professionals
- When · Where
- From 20 October 2026: India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement entry into force (+1 more) · New Zealand
Source details
- Issued by
- Ministry of Commerce & Industry
- 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 Home Affairs announced on 19 October 2026 that Union Home Minister Amit Shah will pay homage to martyrs at the National Police Memorial in New Delhi on 21 October 2026. The event marks Police Commemoration Day, which honors police personnel who died in the line of duty, including those killed in a 1959 ambush in Ladakh.
- Who it affects
- Police Forces
- When · Where
- From 22 October 2026: Commemorative Events at NPM and across the country (+3 more) · across the country
Source details
- Issued by
- Ministry of Home Affairs
- 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 National Human Rights Commission announced on 19 October 2026 the 10 winners of the 'Human Rights Quiz-2026: Celebrating Life, Liberty, Equality and Dignity'. The quiz, held from 1 September to 10 October 2026 in collaboration with MyGov, aimed to raise awareness about human rights and the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993.
- Who it affects
- quiz winners
- When · Where
- From 1 September 2026: Human Rights Quiz-2026 (+1 more) · Several states
Source details
- Issued by
- National Human Rights Commission
- 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 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 Indian Council of Agricultural Research- Central Potato Research Institute (ICAR-CPRI) announced on 18 October 2026 the development of biofortified coloured potato varieties, specifically highlighting Kufri jamunia. Released in 2024, this purple-fleshed potato is designed to combat "hidden hunger" by providing higher levels of Vitamin C, iron, and zinc compared to common potatoes.
- Who it affects
- farmers and consumers
- When · Where
- On 1 January 2018: release of Kufri Neelkanth (+2 more) · North Indian plains
Source details
- Issued by
- PIB Backgrounder
- 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
- 18 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
- The link opens
- The original press release on the government website, in a new tab, unchanged.
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