Union Minister of Commerce & Industry Shri Piyush Goyal Announces Task Force to Support Toy Sector

Union Minister of Commerce & Industry Shri Piyush Goyal today announced the setting up of a task force to support the toy sector and identify interventions towards achieving the goal of reaching a 5 per cent share in the global toy market by 2032. The announcement was made at the stakeholder meet, “Team Up for Toys: Driving SCALE, Innovation and Exports”, organised by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) at Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi.

The task force will work towards achieving six objectives, namely, integration with global value chains, strengthening manufacturing capabilities, resolving value chain bottlenecks, creating skilled workforce and employment, enabling design and innovation, and enhancing ease of doing business.

Shri Piyush Goyal subsequently launched the Toy Sector Playbook. Developed as a comprehensive roadmap for manufacturers, startups, MSMEs, investors and entrepreneurs, the Playbook provides actionable guidance on manufacturing ecosystems, value chains, standards and compliance requirements, skills development, product innovation, intellectual property, exports and emerging market opportunities. It aims to serve as a practical resource for stakeholders seeking to strengthen competitiveness and expand their presence in both domestic and international markets.

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PM-Vidyalaxmi Portal for Higher Education Loans

The Government of India launched the PM-Vidyalaxmi, as a new central sector scheme in November 2024. The main objective of the scheme is to ensure that no student is denied the opportunity to pursue higher education due to financial constraints. Under the scheme, collateral free and guarantor-free education loan is provided to all students who get merit-based admission in top Quality Higher Education Institutions (QHEIs) and who desire to avail the education loan. Further, for students with annual family income up to Rs 8 lakh, the scheme provides 3% interest subvention on loans up to Rs 10 lakh. Each year up to one lakh fresh students not availing any other scholarship or interest subvention on education loan are eligible for this interest subvention benefit. An outlay of Rs 3,600 crore has been made from 2024-25 to 2030-31, for providing 3% interest subvention benefit for up to 7 lakh fresh students during this period.

Since the launch of this scheme on 6th November, 2024 till 21st July, 2026, 1,12,817 collateral-free and guarantor-free PM Vidyalaxmi education loans have been sanctioned. The amount sanctioned is Rs 15,634.78 crore.

Further, the Department of Higher Education is implementing the PM Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan Credit Guarantee Fund Scheme for Education Loans (PM-USP CGFSEL). Under the CGFSEL, Central Government gives guarantee for the education loans availed by students without any collateral security and third-party guarantee for a maximum loan limit of Rs 7.5 lakh. The Scheme, as a default, provides guarantee cover to the extent of 75% of the loan amount. Since the launch of the scheme in 2015 till 21st July, 2026, 14,65,880 credit guarantees for an amount of Rs 59,843.74 crore have been issued.

The Scheme is applicable for all Scheduled Banks/Regional Rural Banks (RRBs)/Cooperative Banks. At present, on the PM Vidyalaxmi Portal, 12 Public Sector Banks, 20 Private Banks, 25 Regional Rural Banks and 7 Cooperative banks have been onboarded to help eligible students, including those from rural, tribal and underprivileged areas to avail the benefits of PM Vidyalaxmi.

Scholarships and education loans together help the meritorious and deserving students to pursue higher education, thereby reducing the dropout rates. As a result, the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in higher education has increased from 23.0 in 2013-14 to 30.0 in 2023-24.

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Nutritional Standards under the PM POSHAN Scheme

Education is part of the Concurrent List of the Constitution and most of the Government Schools and School Boards are under the administration of the State Government and Union Territory (UTs) Administrations. PM POSHAN Scheme is implemented in partnership with the State Governments and UT Administrations. The overall responsibility for providing hot and nutritious meals to all children studying in Bal Vatika (just before class 1) and classes I to VIII of Government and Government aided schools lies with the State Governments and UT Administrations.

The States and UTs are encouraged to decide menus suitable to the local conditions within the prescribed nutrition and food norms and to procure locally grown food items like millets, vegetables, condiments etc.

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Atal Beemit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana

The Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) has approved extension of the Atal Beemit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana (ABVKY) from 01.07.2026 to 30.06.2027.

The eligibility criteria to avail benefit under the Atal Beemit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana (ABVKY) is as under:

The insured person must be in insurable employment for a minimum period of 12 months immediately before his/her unemployment and should have contributed for not less than 78 days in one completed contribution period in 12 months immediately preceding to unemployment.

The unemployment must not arise from misconduct, during lock out, superannuation, or convicted for false statement under the provision of ESI Act, 1948.

Several steps to expedite the settlement of claim under the scheme have been taken. These include online submission and processing of the claims, direct benefit transfer (DBT) to the bank accounts of beneficiaries and regular monitoring of claim settlement to ensure timely disbursal of benefits.

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Maharashtra becomes the first State to qualify for the Second RKVY Installment.

Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan chaired a virtual review meeting to assess the utilisation of funds released under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) and to consider the issuance of the Second Installment (Second Mother Sanction) to the Government of Maharashtra.

During the review, the Union Minister noted that the Government of India had earlier released Rs. 335 crore as the first installment under RKVY to Maharashtra. The State has utilised approximately Rs. 260 crore, exceeding the prescribed 75 percent utilisation benchmark, thereby becoming eligible for the second installment. He informed that the process for release of the second installment of ₹335 crore is being taken up. Reviewing various components under RKVY, Shri Chouhan acknowledged satisfactory progress under Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture(MIDH) and appreciated the State's implementation efforts. At the same time, he advised Maharashtra to accelerate expenditure under Digital Agriculture, Agriculture Extension, National Horticulture Mission (NHM), Seeds, Oilseeds and Agroforestry components. He also suggested that pending liabilities under the Seeds component be booked expeditiously to improve fund utilisation.

During the meeting, a separate discussion was also held on the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY). The Minister stressed the need for accurate disclosure of information by farmers while applying for crop insurance. He clarified that both Kisan Credit Card (KCC) and non-KCC farmers are eligible to avail crop insurance benefits, but concealment of KCC status by applying through another account should be avoided. The proposed declaration on the portal is intended solely to ensure transparency and correctness of information, and not to restrict benefits to any eligible farmer.

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Government Strengthens Implementation of SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act Through Financial Assistance to States and UTs

The Government continues to strengthen the implementation of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, through sustained financial and institutional support to States and Union Territories for ensuring timely relief to victims, effective enforcement of the law and protection of the rights and dignity of Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs).

This information was given by Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Shri Ramdas Athawale in a written reply to Shri Chandrakant Damodar Handore in the Rajya Sabha.

The Minister informed that statistical data on crimes registered under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act is compiled by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), Ministry of Home Affairs, and published annually in its Crime in India report. The latest published data is available up to the year 2024.

According to the NCRB data, 57,569 cases registered under SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act under Crime against Scheduled Castes and 10,064 cases registered under the same Act under crime against Scheduled Tribes, during 2022. Similarly, during 2023, 57,766 SC cases and 12,959 ST cases were registered, while 55,685 SC cases and 9,961 ST cases were reported during 2024.

The reply further informed that, as per the NCRB data, 17,123 cases relating to Scheduled Castes and 7,219 cases relating to Scheduled Tribes were pending investigation during 2024.

The reply further consist that, as per the NCRB data, the All India conviction rate under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act stood at 34.1 per cent for cases relating to Scheduled Castes and 28.1 per cent for cases relating to Scheduled Tribes in 2022, 32.4 per cent and 24.6 per cent in respect of SC and ST categories in 2023, and 33.9 per cent and 33.2 per cent in respect of SC and ST categories respectively in 2024.

The Minister further informed that 'Police' and 'Public Order' are State subjects under the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution. Accordingly, the responsibility for maintaining law and order, investigating offences, preventing crimes and protecting the lives and property of citizens, including members of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, rests with the respective State Governments and Union Territory Administrations. The Central Government issues advisories from time to time to States and UTs for strengthening the criminal justice system with special emphasis on preventing crimes against SCs and STs.

To support States and Union Territories in implementing the provisions of the Act, the Central Govt is implementing a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for strengthening the machinery for enforcement of the Protection of Civil Rights (PCR) Act, 1955 and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. Under the Scheme, Central Assistance is provided for effective implementation of these Acts, including relief and rehabilitation of victims of atrocities.

During 2024-25, assistance amounting to ₹495.29 crore was released, benefiting 99,965 victims across the country.

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Government Expands Welfare Initiatives for Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities Across North Eastern States

The Government of India is implementing a comprehensive range of welfare schemes for Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) across Assam and other North Eastern States through the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. The details were shared by the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Shri Ramdas Athawale, in a written reply to Shri Terash Gowalla in Rajya Sabha.

Under the Atal Vayo Abhyudaya Yojana (AVYAY), the Ministry continues to provide financial assistance for shelter, nutrition, healthcare and recreational facilities for indigent senior citizens through the Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens (IPSrC). During the last five financial years, Assam alone recorded over 1.03 lakh beneficiaries under IPSrC, while significant support was also extended to Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Nagaland, Tripura and other North Eastern States through grant-in-aid assistance.

The State Action Plan for Senior Citizens (SAPSrC) has further strengthened State-led initiatives by supporting awareness generation, cataract surgeries and other welfare activities. During the last five years, cumulative assistance of over Rs. 48 crore has been released under SAPSrC across the country, benefiting North Eastern States through various State-specific interventions.

The Ministry is also implementing the Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY) to provide free assistive living devices to senior citizens belonging to BPL families or those with monthly income up to Rs. 15,000 and suffering from age-related disabilities. During the last five years, 73,572 senior citizens across the North Eastern Region received 3,57,242 assistive devices worth Rs. 63.67 crores under the scheme.

For the empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) is implementing several flagship schemes, including the Assistance to Persons with Disabilities for Purchase/Fitting of Aids and Appliances (ADIP), Scholarship Scheme for Students with Disabilities, Scheme for Implementation of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (SIPDA), National Action Plan for Skill Development of Divyangjan (NAP-SDP), Unique Disability ID (UDID) and Deendayal Divyangjan Rehabilitation Scheme (DDRS).

Under the ADIP Scheme, Assam recorded 71,131 beneficiaries with utilisation of Rs. 6199.86 lakh, while the North Eastern Region as a whole benefitted 81,551 persons through the distribution of assistive aids and appliances.

The Ministry has also strengthened awareness and early intervention services for persons with disabilities. Under the Awareness Generation and Publicity (AGP) component of SIPDA, 26 awareness programmes were organised in the North Eastern Region between 2022-23 and 10 July 2026, supported by grant-in-aid exceeding Rs. 1.01 crore.

To promote inclusive education, scholarships have been provided to students with disabilities across all North Eastern States. During 2025–26, 545 students in Assam received scholarships amounting to Rs. 2.01 crore under various components of the Scholarship Scheme for Students with Disabilities.

Two Cross Disability Early Intervention Centres (CDEICs) are operational in the North Eastern Region—at CRC Guwahati (Assam) and CRC Imphal (Manipur). During the last five years, CRC Guwahati received Rs. 72,07,540, while CRC Imphal received Rs. 36,73,132 for providing early screening, therapeutic and rehabilitation services to children with disabilities.

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Government Expands Welfare Initiatives for Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities Across North Eastern States

In addition, the National Trust continues to implement Disha, Samarth and Niramaya Health Insurance Scheme across the North Eastern States. The region currently has six Disha Centres and one Samarth Centre in Assam. Under the Niramaya Scheme during 2025-26, beneficiaries included 331 in Assam, 493 in Manipur, 329 in Meghalaya, 301 in Tripura, 88 in Mizoram, 76 in Sikkim, 18 in Nagaland and 4 in Arunachal Pradesh.

Replying to the question on rehabilitation infrastructure, Shri Ramdas Athawale informed that Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO) has established 11 Pradhan Mantri Divyasha-Vayoshri Kendras (PMDVKs) across the North Eastern Region. ALIMCO periodically assesses the requirement for opening additional centres and takes action based on emerging needs.

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Ministry of Tourism Signs MoU with Air India to Promote India as a Preferred Global Tourism Destination

The Ministry of Tourism in New Delhi signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Air India Limited to establish a strategic framework to promote India as a preferred global tourism destination under the Incredible India brand.

The collaboration aims to leverage the Ministry of Tourism’s destination-promotion initiatives and Air India’s extensive domestic and international network to enhance India’s tourism visibility, strengthen inbound tourism and position the country as a global transit and travel hub. The partnership is non-commercial, non-binding and non-exclusive, with no financial commitment on either party.

The MoU will remain valid for an initial period of two years from the effective date and may be extended by one additional year with the mutual consent of both parties.

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Sarnath recognised as UNESCO World Heritage Site

Sarnath in Uttar Pradesh has become a UNESCO World Heritage site, as announced by the UN grouping in Busan, South Korea, as part of the the 48th Session of the World Heritage Committee held in Busan, South Korea on July 25, 2026.

The country now has 45 World Heritage Sites according to the UNESCO website. The last addition or ‘inscription’ was in 2024, with the Maratha Military Landscapes located Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.

UNESCO World Heritage List: Criteria for inclusion

To be included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, a property must demonstrate ‘outstanding universal value’ and meet at least one of these ten criterias:

1. Represent a masterpiece of human creative genius

2. Exhibit an important interchange of human values over a span of time or within a cultural area, on developments in architecture or technology, monumental arts, town-planning, or landscape design.

3. Bear a unique or exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or a civilization that is living or has disappeared

4. Be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble, or landscape that illustrates a significant stage (or stages) in human history.

5. Be an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement, land-use, or sea-use representative of a culture (or cultures), or human interaction with the environment (especially when vulnerable under irreversible change).

6. Be directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, ideas, beliefs, or artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance.

7. Contain superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance.

8. Be outstanding examples representing major stages of Earth’s history, including the record of life, ongoing geological processes in landform development, or significant geomorphic/physiographic features.

9. Be outstanding examples representing ongoing ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, freshwater, coastal, and marine ecosystems and communities of plants and animals.

10. Contain the most significant natural habitats for in-situ conservation of biological diversity, including those containing threatened species of Outstanding Universal Value.

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Viyona receives BBPS approval to expand digital bill payment services

Viyona, a fintech infrastructure start-up, has received approval from the Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS) to operate as a customer operating unit (COU).

The certification enables Hyderabad-based Viyona to offer BBPS-powered bill payment services across multiple categories, including electricity, water, gas, broadband, mobile recharges, DTH subscriptions, insurance premiums, loan EMIs, educational fees, and other approved bill payments.

Ravindranath Yarlagadda- Founder and CEO of Viyona Fintech.

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NSE to launch India's first domestic benchmark-based natural gas futures on July 27

The National Stock Exchange (NSE) will launch trading in India's first exchange-traded energy derivative linked to a domestic benchmark on July 27, with the introduction of Indian Natural Gas Futures.

The cash-settled contract is aimed at enabling transparent, India-centric price discovery for the domestic natural gas market.

According to an earlier NSE circular, the exchange has received approval from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to launch the contracts in its commodity derivatives segment. Trading will begin on July 27, with monthly contracts available as per the launch calendar.

The contracts will trade under the symbol NATGASIND and will be cash settled. The underlying benchmark will be the Indian Gas Exchange's (IGX) Gujarat (Dahej) hub price, quoted in rupees per mmBtu, excluding transportation charges, taxes and other fees.

The trading unit has been fixed at 250 mmBtu. Contracts will be available for trading from Monday to Friday.

NSE said the final settlement price will be based on the monthly weighted average price of actual deliveries on the Indian Gas Exchange during the contract month, excluding gas traded at ceiling prices, ssLNG transactions and long-duration contracts.

NSE Clearing will provide clearing, settlement and risk management services for the contracts. The exchange said mark-to-market settlements will be based on daily closing prices, while initial, extreme loss and pre-expiry margins will apply under the prescribed risk management framework.

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Vizhinjam seaport gets Customs nod to begin Exim operations from Aug 18

Vizhinjam International Seaport has secured Customs approval to commence Exim operations, its operator, VISL, said.

Vizhinjam International Seaport Ltd said the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs has granted final approval for the port to officially commence Exim cargo operations from August 18, 2026.

"Customs regulation of Exim cargo will be carried out in coordination with various government and facilitating agencies, such as VISL, AVPPL, the Mercantile Marine Department, the Port Health Organisation, the Bureau of Immigration, the Coastal Police, authorised banks and port security agencies," the CBIC order dated July 24 said.

As there is currently no designated Container Freight Station attached to the port, the CBIC has imposed several conditions governing Exim cargo handling.

It said import operations would be restricted to Full Container Load containers eligible for Direct Port Delivery, and such containers must be moved directly from the port terminal to the importer's premises within 48 hours of landing.

The CBIC has directed that no Less-than-Container Load cargo, loose cargo or containers requiring de-stuffing or CFS examination be allowed at the port until a designated CFS becomes operational.

Regarding exports, the CBIC said operations would be restricted to Direct Port Entry of factory-stuffed, self-sealed or Customs-sealed FCL containers. However, cargo requiring loose stuffing, examination or carting within the port yard will not be permitted, it said.

Besides direct DPD and DPE container movement, road transshipment between the seaport and other notified Customs stations, such as Inland Container Depots, Container Freight Stations, Special Economic Zones and Land Customs Stations, will also commence, the CBIC said.

It directed that all operations at the port must fully comply with the Sea Cargo Manifest and Transhipment Regulations, 2018.

Developed under a public-private partnership model by the Kerala government and Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone, the seaport has emerged as one of the world's fastest-growing container ports.

The port handled two million TEUs within 18 months of commencing commercial operations and has received some of the world's largest container ships.

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Reserve Bank of India gets govt's nod to issue Rs. 10, Rs. 20 polymer banknotes

The government has allowed the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to issue 1 billion pieces each of Rs. 10 and Rs. 20 polymer banknotes for field trials, Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary informed Parliament.

Following the successful completion of field trials, the RBI will regularly issue polymer banknotes in these two denominations.

"The RBI, with the recommendation of its Central Board, had sent a proposal to the government in terms of Section 25 of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, for the introduction of 1 billion pieces each of Rs. 10 and Rs. 20 polymer banknotes for field trials and for the regular issuance of polymer banknotes in these two denominations after the successful completion of field trials," Chaudhary said in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha. "The proposal has been approved by the government."

The polymer banknotes will be issued along with paper-substrate banknotes, the minister said, adding that there was no proposal to replace paper currency with polymer-substrate banknotes.

The expenditure incurred on securely printing paper currency notes during 2024-25 (FY25) was Rs. 6,372.8 crore, compared to Rs. 5,101.4 crore in the previous financial year, mainly due to an increase in the indent for printing banknotes, the RBI said in its annual report for FY25.

India first tried introducing polymer banknotes in 2012 to increase their shelf life. However, the project was shelved due to technological challenges at the time.

About 60 countries around the world have introduced polymer banknotes into circulation. Australia was the first to introduce polymer banknotes in 1988, starting with a 10-dollar note, followed by Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia. Among European countries, Romania was the first to introduce a polymer banknote in 1999. Canada also introduced similar notes in 2011.

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International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem | 26 July

International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem, celebrated on July 26, was adopted by UNESCO. This day aims to promote the conservation and sustainable growth of mangrove forests and also to raise awareness about the crucial mangrove ecosystem.

Mangroves are unique ecosystems between land and sea. They support biodiversity, protect coastal communities, enhance food security, and act as natural defenses against storms and erosion. Their soils are also powerful carbon sinks.

Yet mangroves are disappearing three to five times faster than overall global forest losses, with serious ecological and socio-economic impacts. Current estimates indicate that mangrove coverage has been divided by two in the past 40 years.

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