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 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 Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, announced on 21 October 2026 that it will organize the 14th India Chem 2026 from October 22 to 24, 2026, in Mumbai. This biennial event, held in partnership with FICCI, aims to showcase India's industrial capabilities and investment opportunities in the chemicals and petrochemicals sector under the theme “Advantage Bharat: An Emerging Global Chemicals Hub”.
- Who it affects
- chemical and petrochemical industry stakeholders
- When · Where
- On 22 October 2026: 14th India Chem 2026 · 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
- 21 October 2026
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Announcements & other updates
The Press Information Bureau announced on 20 October 2026 that the next phase of the UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) regional connectivity scheme was launched on 4 July 2026. This phase, running from FY 2026-27 to FY 2035-36, allocates Rs 28,840 crore to develop 100 airports and 200 helipads, and provide Viability Gap Funding for airlines.
- Who it affects
- helipads; unserved airstrips
- When · Where
- From 1 April 2026: implementation period of the next phase of UDAN (+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
- 20 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 National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India announced on 16 October 2026 that it has taken notice of an incident where three students, aged 7 to 8 years, were injured by a collapsing ceiling in a government primary school in Udaipur, Rajasthan. The Commission has ordered the Udaipur District Magistrate to provide a detailed report, including the health status of the children, within two weeks.
- Who it affects
- District Magistrate
- When · Where
- Within two weeks: submission of detailed report by Udaipur District Magistrate (+1 more) · Udaipur district, Rajasthan
Source details
- Issued by
- National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), 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
- 16 October 2026
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Announcements & other updates
The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways announced on 16 October 2026 that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) won an arbitration case against Uchit Expressway Private Limited regarding the six-laning of the Chittorgarh-Udaipur section of NH-76 in Rajasthan. An arbitral tribunal rejected the company's claims of Rs 366.53 crore, including COVID-19 related costs, and instead awarded NHAI Rs 33.54 crore in counter-claims.
- Who it affects
- concessionaire and NHAI
- When · Where
- On 1 March 2021: completion date of the project (+4 more) · Rajasthan
Source details
- Issued by
- Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
- 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 Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises announced on 16 October 2026 that the KVIC Chairman inaugurated 'Khadi Mahotsav-2026' in Mumbai on 15 October 2026. The exhibition, running from 2 October to 31 October 2026, features 77 units from 12 states and offers discounts of 20% on Khadi products and 10% on Village Industries products.
- Who it affects
- consumers
- When · Where
- From 2 October 2026: Khadi Mahotsav exhibition (+2 more) · Mumbai
Source details
- Issued by
- Ministry of Micro, Small and 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
- 16 October 2026
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Announcements & other updates
The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment announced on 15 October 2026 that a sanitation worker from Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan, transitioned to self-employment using the Swachhta Udyami Yojana (SUY) under the NAMASTE Scheme. On 12 August 2025, the individual received a capital subsidy of Rs 4,08,500 and a loan of Rs 7,25,500 to purchase a Tractor cum Suction Machine for a total project cost of Rs 11,34,000.
- Who it affects
- one sanitation worker
- When · Where
- On 12 August 2025: receipt of financial assistance under Swachhta Udyami Yojana · Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan
Source details
- Issued by
- Ministry of Social Justice & 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
- 15 October 2026
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Announcements & other updates
The Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS), Ministry of Jal Shakti, held a virtual conference on 14 October 2026 to coordinate the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) 2.0 with the VB-G RAM G programme. The initiative aims to ensure the long-term sustainability of rural water sources through scientific planning and Gram Panchayat-led governance.
- Who it affects
- Gram Panchayats
- When · Where
- On 1 September 2026: Departmental Summit on Water 2026 (+1 more) · Several states
Source details
- Issued by
- Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS), Ministry of Jal Shakti
- 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
- 14 October 2026
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Announcements & other updates
The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment stated on 12 October 2026 that the National Fellowship for Scheduled Caste Students (NFSC) Scheme provides financial aid to eligible scholars for doctoral studies. The support includes fellowship funds, House Rent Allowance (HRA), and contingency assistance to remove financial barriers to higher education.
- Who it affects
- eligible scholars
- When · Where
- On 1 November 2020: start of fellowship assistance for a scholar · Across Rajasthan
Source details
- Issued by
- Ministry of Social Justice & 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
- 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
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Announcements & other updates
The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare reported on 10 October 2026 the progress of the Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY). Launched on 11 October 2025, this six-year initiative aims to improve productivity, irrigation, and credit access in 100 Aspirational Agricultural Districts by combining 36 Central schemes and various State and private initiatives.
- Who it affects
- Aspirational Agricultural Districts
- When · Where
- From 1 April 2025: start of the six-year initiative (+4 more) · Several states
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
- 10 October 2026
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