The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Friday approved the ‘Samudra Manthan’ National Offshore Exploration Scheme, a central sector initiative of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, with an outlay of Rs 84,084 crore to be implemented through FY2030-31.

In a post on X, PM Modi said, “The Cabinet’s approval of ‘Samudra Manthan’ marks a transformative leap towards strengthening India’s energy security and unlocking our vast offshore potential. By combining investment, cutting-edge technology, skilled human capital and modern infrastructure, Samudra Manthan will give fresh momentum to ‘Make in India’ and Aatmanirbhar Bharat.”

The scheme aims to accelerate offshore oil and gas exploration, strengthen India’s energy security, enhance domestic production and promote technological innovation in the upstream energy sector.
According to the government, the initiative reflects the Prime Minister’s vision of a modern-day “Samudra Manthan”, articulated during his Independence Day address in 2025, to unlock India’s offshore energy potential and advance the goal of Viksit Bharat.

The Union Cabinet has given its approval to the continuation of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) Scheme from 2026-27 to 2030-31. Addressing media, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishanw said, a total financial outlay of 3.15 lakh crore rupees has been approved for this Scheme during the period of five years. Mr Vaishnaw said, the approval reiterates the Government’s commitment that the prosperity of farmers forms the foundation of the nation’s prosperity. He said, through the PM-KISAN Scheme, timely and transparent income support is being provided to eligible farmer families through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system.

Mr Vaishnaw informed that more than 4.47 lakh crore rupees have been transferred directly into farmers’ bank accounts through 23 installments so far. He said, the assistance provided under PM-KISAN has enabled farmers to make timely investments in seeds, fertilizers, irrigation, agricultural machinery and other agricultural requirements.

The Union Cabinet has approved the Pradhan Mantri Surya Sarovar Yojana (PM-SSY) for the development of floating solar photovoltaic projects with Energy Storage Systems. Addressing media in New Delhi after the Union Cabinet meeting today, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that the scheme has been approved with a total outlay of 5,070 crore rupees. He said, the scheme envisages the development of 5000 for productive  Mega Watt of Floating Solar Photovoltaic projects with co-located Energy Storage Systems having a minimum storage capacity of two hours  totalling ten thousand MWh. Mr Vaishnaw said that for this no additional land acquisition is required and it will create an opportunity for productive use of existing reservoirs, canals and industrial ponds. The duration of the scheme will of five years. 

The Government of India has appointed Air Marshal Sandeep Thareja, presently serving as the Director General Medical Services (Air), as the Director General Armed Forces Medical Services (DGAFMS) with effect from the afternoon of August 31.

According to a press release issued by the Ministry of Defence, he will assume the appointment upon the retirement of the incumbent DGAFMS Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin.

An alumnus of the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Pune, Air Marshal Sandeep Thareja was commissioned in December 1986. He obtained his MD in Medicine in 1997 and his DM in Gastroenterology from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, in 2005, where he was awarded the Best DM Student Award. An outstanding military professional, he secured an 'A' grading in all military courses and is an alumnus of the National Defence College.

Indian Judoka Asmita Dey and Harsh Singh created history by winning the historic Commonwealth Gold Medal at Glasgow today. Asmita Dey clinched country’s first-ever Commonwealth Games Judo gold, defeating Canada’s Heidi Quach 2-1 in the women’s 48kg final. After the match was tied 1-1 at the end of regulation, Asmita secured a decisive Yuko with a leg tangle into the golden score period, sealing a memorable victory in extra time.

In Mens 60kg event, Harsh Singh secured gold medal after beating Joshua Katz of Australia in the final. A brilliant half-arm throw in the final minute earns him a Waza-ari sealing India’s second consecutive judo gold in Glasgow.

India’s medal tally at the Commonwealth Games has risen to 19, including five gold, nine silver and five bronze medals.

The Union Cabinet has approved an expanded Khelo India Scheme and enhanced Assistance to National Sports Federations (ANSFs) with a combined outlay of 36,441 crore rupees for the period 2026-27 to 2030-31. Addressing media in New Delhi yesterday, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said, the decision reaffirms the Government’s commitment to harnessing the power of sports for youth development and nation-building. He said it will ensure every talented youth to get a clear pathway to excellence. Mr Vasihanw said that the scheme will help build pan-India training facilities from grassroots to the Target Podium Olympic Scheme level.

Smt. Varsha Ashok Aglawe has assumed charge as the 54th Director General of the Geological Survey of India (GSI), becoming the first woman to head India's premier geoscientific organisation in its 176-year history. She succeeds Shri Asit Saha, who served as Director General from 27th July 2024 to 31st July 2026.

A distinguished geoscientist with more than three decades of professional experience, Smt. Aglawe joined GSI in 1992 after serving with the Indian Bureau of Mines. During her career, she has held several important scientific and administrative positions in GSI's Central, Northern and Eastern Regions, besides serving at Central Headquarters. Prior to assuming the present office, she was Additional Director General & Head of Department, Eastern Region, Kolkata.

An expert in palaeontology and palynology, Smt. Aglawe has made significant contributions to the study of the Late Cretaceous–Palaeocene sediments, K-T boundary, and Satpura-Gondwana basins. She reported the Salbardi–Ghorpend area as a new dinosaur nesting site in Central India, contributed to international research and participated in collaborative palaeontological studies with the University of Michigan Museum of Paleontology, USA. She also represented GSI as a member of the Indian delegation to PDAC 2023 in Toronto, Canada.

The Department of Financial Services (DFS) has launched India’s first sovereign-backed Protection and Indemnity insurance product under Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool (BMIP). Addressing the launch event in New Delhi today, DFS Secretary Sanjay Lohiya congratulated all stakeholders involved in the process of formulation of the insurance product for achieving this milestone for India’s maritime sector. He also handed over the first Protection and Indemnity policy document to Shipping Corporation of India Limited.

The Ministry of Finance said with the introduction of BMIP, the war risk premium rates have decreased approximately by 35-40 percent, from the levels observed at the height of West Asia conflict. It added that as of yesterday a total of 1 thousand 608 policies covering Cargo War risks and Hull War risks have been issued under the Pool. The Ministry noted that the BMIP mechanism ensures the continuity of maritime war risk insurance coverage, fosters the development of domestic underwriting capacity, and enhances confidence among India’s shipping and trade stakeholders. It added that extending the pool to include Protection and Indemnity coverage would further strengthen India’s maritime risk management framework and improve the resilience of its maritime insurance ecosystem.

State-owned Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) on Thursday delivered Nipun, the second Diving Support Vessel (DSV), to the Indian Navy, marking another milestone in the country’s indigenous naval shipbuilding programme. The delivery comes nearly a year after HSL handed over INS Nistar, the first Diving Support Vessel, to the Navy.

The acceptance document (D448) was signed by Rear Admiral Arvind Rawal, Chief Staff Officer (Technical), Western Naval Command and Chairman, D448 Committee, and Rear Admiral Chandrasekharan Raghuram, VSM (Retd.), Chairman and Managing Director of HSL.

Built at HSL’s shipyard in Vizag, Nipun is an 118-metre-long vessel with a displacement of more than 8,560 tonnes. The ship has over 80% indigenous content and is designed to support a range of underwater operations.

India and Bhutan reviewed the progress of New Delhi-supported development projects in the Himalayan nation during a high-level talk, as the two sides signed a concessional line of credit agreement worth Rs 4,000 crore and expanded cooperation in the health sector.

The fifth India-Bhutan Development Cooperation Talks, co-chaired by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and his Bhutanese counterpart Dasho Pema Lektup Dorji on Thursday, focused on the implementation of projects under Bhutan's 13th Five-Year Plan, the Indian Embassy in Bhutan said in a social media post.

The two sides reviewed the progress and implementation of India-supported projects across diverse sectors, it said.