The V-Dem Institute’s 2026 Electoral Democracy Index ranked India 106th among 179 countries, with a score of 0.38 for 2025. V-Dem classified India as an “electoral autocracy”, alongside countries such as Kazakhstan and Pakistan. India’s score was reported as its lowest level since 1975. India ranked 105th on the Liberal Democracy Index, with a score of 0.26. V-Dem is based at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, and assesses democracy using indicators including elections, freedom of expression, media independence and civil society.

Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), in collaboration with ICAR-CMFRI and international experts, discovered a new deep-sea skate species, Dipturus dhritiae, in the southeastern Arabian Sea. The species, named Arabian Skate, was collected at depths of 400–600 metres off Kerala and the Wadge Bank during the Deep Ocean Mission. It had remained unidentified for over 40 years and was earlier misidentified as Dipturus springeri. The species can grow up to 131.5 cm and has five distinct rows of thorns along its tail. Genetic analysis showed 3.8–4.7% divergence from its closest known relative, the Travancore Skate. It is named after Dhriti Banerjee, ZSI’s first woman Director.

The 7th Status of Coral Reefs of the World Report was released by the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (GCRMN), highlighting the increasing frequency of coral bleaching and shrinking recovery periods. Global hard coral cover has declined by about 9.5% compared with the 1980–2009 reference period. 87% of reefs experienced unprecedented heat stress in 2024, while 42.6% faced heat stress severe enough to risk widespread bleaching and mortality. Marine heatwaves, driven by climate change, have become the strongest global driver of coral-cover decline. Major global bleaching events occurred in 1998–99, 2010–11, 2016–17 and 2023–24.

The fifth edition of the nationwide ‘Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar’ campaign was launched in September 2026 to promote cleaner oceans and address marine litter. International Coastal Cleanup Day is observed globally on the third Saturday of September every year. The campaign focuses on ocean health restoration, coastal security and public awareness about marine pollution. It particularly highlights pollution from land-based plastic waste and discarded fishing gear.

The Gollalagudi (Gollala Gudi) Temple at Palampet has been declared a Monument of National Importance under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (AMASR) Act, 1958. The temple is located in Mulugu district, Telangana, near the famous Ramappa Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It represents the architectural and cultural heritage of the Kakatiya dynasty. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) under the Ministry of Culture will oversee its conservation and preservation.