Current Affairs - National

The 64th National Exhibition of Art was inaugurated in New Delhi by the Lalit Kala Akademi. This prestigious annual event showcases the finest works in the visual arts from across India. For the first time in its history, the exhibition allows the sale of award-winning artworks, creating opportunities for artists to directly benefit financially from their creations. A total of 20 artists were honoured with the Lalit Kala Akademi Award for their excellence in visual arts. The event not only celebrates artistic talent but also contributes to strengthening the creative economy and promoting cultural heritage.

The Delhi Legislative Assembly, located in New Delhi, has become India’s first legislature to operate entirely on solar power. This milestone was achieved through the installation of a 500-kilowatt rooftop solar plant, expected to save ₹15 lakh per month in electricity costs. Alongside this green energy initiative, the Assembly adopted the National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) to enable paperless legislative functioning under the “One Nation, One Application” program. By integrating renewable energy with digital governance, the Delhi Assembly sets a benchmark for other state legislatures, demonstrating how sustainability and technological modernisation can work together in public administration.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Kartavya Bhavan as the first building under the Common Central Secretariat (CCS) project, a significant part of the Central Vista redevelopment plan. This modern complex will house multiple ministries, including Home Affairs, External Affairs, Rural Development, and others, replacing older and outdated government buildings like Shastri Bhavan and Krishi Bhavan. The aim is to centralise government operations, enhance coordination, and reduce inefficiencies. Kartavya Bhavan represents a key step toward creating a more streamlined, efficient, and future-ready administrative system that reflects India’s ambitions for modern governance in the 21st century.

Five newly appointed judges — Pramod Kumar Srivastava-II, Santosh Rai, Zafeer Ahmad, Abdul Shahid, and Tej Pratap Tiwari — will take oath in the Allahabad High Court, bringing its current strength to 83 judges. The oath ceremony will be held in the Chief Justice's courtroom. Although the sanctioned strength of the Allahabad High Court is 160 judges, the present appointment marks an important step toward filling vacancies and improving judicial capacity. Strengthening the bench is crucial for reducing case backlogs, ensuring timely justice, and enhancing the overall efficiency of the judicial system in Uttar Pradesh.

India’s first indigenous 1MW green hydrogen plant was commissioned at Kandla in Gujarat by the Deendayal Port Authority. This pioneering facility is not only a milestone in India’s clean energy and maritime decarbonization efforts but also a showcase of the Make in India initiative, with the electrolyser being domestically manufactured. Initially used to power buses and street lighting within the port, the plant is set to expand to 10MW capacity and will eventually fuel port operations, including vehicles and vessels. The project, supported by the government and inaugurated by the Union Shipping Minister, is a benchmark for sustainable port development in India.