A monsoon bird survey at Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala, recorded 124 bird species. The survey was conducted by the Thiruvananthapuram Wildlife Division and Warblers and Waders. Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala, in the Western Ghats. It was established in 1983 and covers an area of about 53 sq km. The sanctuary lies around the catchment area of the Karamana River and Peppara Dam. It forms part of the Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve and supports diverse forest ecosystems.

The Meghalaya Government launched the CM-IMPACT Read & Rise Meghalaya programme. It aims to improve foundational reading skills and address learning gaps among schoolchildren. The programme targets ensuring that every child can read and write by the age of seven. It is part of the Meghalaya Universal Reading Readiness Mission. The initiative particularly focuses on rural and remote areas and strengthening reading readiness across the state. A Teacher Training Guide for Universal Reading Readiness was also released at the launch.

The Delhi Government has launched the Delhi Lakshmi Yojana to promote women’s financial security and self-reliance. More than 9.22 lakh women have registered under the scheme. 250 beneficiaries recently received approval certificates. Eligible women will receive ₹2,500 per month, subject to completion of the required formalities. The financial assistance can support children’s education and care, household needs, livelihoods and business activities.

The Indian Coast Guard and the Vietnam Coast Guard commenced the 2nd edition of the joint exercise Sahyog-HOP TAC on August 27, 2026, off the coast of Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Sahyog-HOP TAC is a bilateral maritime exercise between the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and Vietnam Coast Guard (VCG). It focuses on enhancing maritime safety, search and rescue (SAR), and marine pollution response capabilities. The exercise strengthens operational interoperability and maritime cooperation between India and Vietnam. It also supports India’s SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) vision and the Act East Policy.

The 2nd edition of the Suru Festival was inaugurated at Damsna picnic spot in Kargil, Ladakh. The two-day festival is set against the backdrop of the Nun-Kun peaks. It showcases the cultural heritage, natural beauty, tourism potential and adventure activities of Suru Valley. Major attractions include paragliding, river rafting, cycling, angling and cultural programmes. The festival aims to promote tourism, local entrepreneurship and adventure activities in the Suru Valley.