CSIR-CRRI Organises Workshop on Road Asset Management and Predictive Analysis
CSIR-Central Road Research Institute (CSIR-CRRI), in collaboration with the Ministry of Education under the SPARC scheme, organised a one-day national workshop on Road Asset Management Systems (RAMS) and predictive analysis in New Delhi on 24 August 2026. Discussions focused on data-driven pavement maintenance, predictive analytics, life-cycle cost optimisation and wider adoption of RAMS in road agencies.
Key facts
Organiser: CSIR-Central Road Research Institute (CSIR-CRRI), New Delhi.
Collaborating institution: Ministry of Education under the Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration (SPARC).
Date and venue: 24 August 2026 at the CSIR-CRRI Auditorium.
Chief Guest: Shri Rajesh Verma, IAS, Chairperson of the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas.
The workshop discussed pavement performance, maintenance prioritisation, data acquisition and whole-life costing.
A Life-Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) Tool for Indian Roads was demonstrated.
The event concluded with a panel discussion on integrating RAMS into routine road-agency decision-making.
Exam relevance: Relevant for questions on CSIR institutions, Ministry of Education initiatives, SPARC, road infrastructure management, predictive analytics and life-cycle cost analysis.
9th National Security Strategies Conference-2026 Inaugurated in New Delhi
Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the ninth two-day National Security Strategies Conference-2026 in New Delhi. The hybrid conference brought together more than 850 participants to discuss terrorism, intelligence coordination, narcotics control, illegal migration, cybercrime, proxy warfare and other national security challenges.
Key facts
The conference was inaugurated by Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah.
It was held in New Delhi in hybrid format.
More than 850 participants attended the conference.
Participants included Ministers of State for Home Affairs, the Union Home Secretary, Deputy National Security Advisers, and heads of CAPFs and CPOs.
The first day covered counter-terrorism, intelligence fusion through the Multi Agency Centre, narcotics control, illegal migrant detection and deportation, cybercrime, and proxy warfare by Pakistan.
Amit Shah emphasised training for implementing the MHA's PRAHAAR scheme, bringing back fugitives, using trial-in-absentia provisions, and adopting an integrated approach to UAPA investigations.
The Home Minister directed agencies to use artificial intelligence to analyse information on MAC platforms and develop standard operating procedures for national security challenges.
The second day was scheduled to focus on sub-aerial systems, the blue economy, information warfare, and bio-security.
The conference has been held annually in hybrid format since 2021, following directions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Exam relevance: Useful for questions on India's internal security architecture, the Multi Agency Centre, counter-terrorism, cybercrime, UAPA-related investigations, illegal migration, intelligence coordination, and national security institutions.
CBN and PHARMEXCIL Sign MoU to Facilitate Pharmaceutical Exports
The Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN) and the Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India (PHARMEXCIL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to promote legitimate pharmaceutical exports while strengthening regulatory cooperation and preventing the diversion of pharmaceutical products and controlled substances.
Key facts
The MoU was signed at the CBN Headquarters in Gwalior.
CBN functions under the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, and administers facilitation, regulation and enforcement provisions under the NDPS Act, 1985.
CBN supervises the licit cultivation of opium poppy, authorizes the import and export of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, and works to prevent diversion of essential chemical inputs.
PHARMEXCIL was set up by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
The MoU provides for a voluntary and non-binding Code of Conduct for the pharmaceutical industry.
The partnership will address operational bottlenecks, support exporter capacity building through workshops and seminars, and enable information sharing subject to applicable laws and confidentiality obligations.
The parties discussed a six-month action plan involving pan-India outreach, stakeholder sensitization and institutional and regulatory cooperation.
Dr. Dinesh Bisen represented CBN, while Shri Raja Bhanu represented PHARMEXCIL at the signing ceremony.
Exam relevance: Important for questions on the NDPS Act, 1985; the role of the Central Bureau of Narcotics; pharmaceutical exports; regulatory cooperation; ease of doing business; and the functions of PHARMEXCIL.
National Conclave on Tribal Languages and Museums Begins in Mysuru
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs began a three-day National Conclave on Tribal Languages and Museums in Mysuru, Karnataka, on 24 August 2026. The conclave focuses on documenting and revitalising tribal languages, multilingual education, technology use, and strengthening Tribal and Tribal Freedom Fighter Museums.
Key facts
The conclave is organised by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs in collaboration with the Karnataka State Tribal Research Institute and the Central Institute of Indian Languages.
More than 150 participants, including policymakers, linguists, researchers, technologists and tribal representatives, took part.
Karnataka released a Class 1 Jenukuruba primer covering Kannada, Mathematics and Environmental Studies, along with Sannivesha, Pragiti Nota and Thattegalu flashcards.
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs and the Central Institute of Indian Languages signed an MoU for tribal-language documentation and corpus development.
The Ministry launched Jago, an AI conversational assistant intended to provide information on tribal welfare schemes, programmes and repositories.
The upgraded Adi Vaani platform was launched with a new iOS application, five additional languages and a new logo.
Technical sessions covered community-led language revitalisation, speech and translation technologies, data protection, and multilingual education for tribal students.
The conclave is scheduled to continue on 25 August 2026 with the Mysuru Declaration and sessions on Tribal Freedom Fighter Museums.
Exam relevance: Important for questions on the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, tribal language preservation, Central Institute of Indian Languages, AI-enabled public-service platforms, Tribal Research Institutes, multilingual education and Tribal Freedom Fighter Museums.
