Current Affairs - National

Lucknow has taken the lead in Uttar Pradesh in terms of rooftop solar installations under the PM Surya Ghar Free Electricity Scheme. With over 62,000 rooftop solar setups, the city has played a key role in pushing the state beyond the milestone of three lakh installations. The scheme, launched in 2024, aims to provide affordable and clean energy by offering subsidies that enable households to generate their own electricity and receive up to 300 free units per month. Lucknow’s performance highlights effective implementation, public participation, and growing awareness of renewable energy benefits.

NABARD has provided significant financial support to Odisha’s power sector by extending a long-term loan of ₹1,685.27 crore to OPTCL. This initiative represents NABARD’s first-ever project financing to a State PSU within the state, marking an important milestone in its efforts to strengthen infrastructure development. The loan, offered at a concessional interest rate of 7.75%, is aimed at enabling large-scale transmission upgrades and improving the reliability of Odisha’s electricity network. By facilitating affordable funding, NABARD plays a crucial role in accelerating the state’s long-term power sector modernization and overall economic progress.

The Sujalam Bharat App has been launched to strengthen and modernize rural water management across India. Developed under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, it enables real-time monitoring, geo-referencing of water infrastructure, and transparent tracking of village water supply systems. The platform helps communities understand their water sources, supply reliability, and infrastructure health while promoting active participation in the management of drinking water schemes. With features like the Sujal Gaon ID and integration with advanced GIS tools, the app supports better planning, maintenance, and long-term sustainability. Its goal is to make rural water services more efficient, accountable, and citizen-centric under the Jal Jeevan Mission.

Microsoft has committed US$17.5 billion for 2026–2029 to strengthen India’s AI ecosystem, marking its largest-ever investment in Asia. The investment focuses on three pillars: building hyperscale AI infrastructure with the new India South Central cloud region, integrating AI into public platforms like e-Shram and National Career Service to benefit over 310 million informal workers, and skilling 20 million Indians by 2030 through initiatives like ADVANTA(I)GE India. Additionally, Microsoft is enhancing digital sovereignty with Sovereign Public and Private Cloud offerings, ensuring localized compliance, security, and AI-driven productivity solutions, positioning India as a global AI hub.

Ghaziabad emerged as the most polluted city in India in November 2025, recording a PM2.5 concentration of 224 µg/m³, which placed it above all other cities during that period. Delhi followed closely with a PM2.5 level of 215 µg/m³ after a significant rise from October. Uttar Pradesh dominated the list overall, with six of the top ten polluted cities, while Haryana contributed three and Delhi one. According to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, the region experienced almost no ‘safe AQI day’. Although the impact of stubble burning was relatively lower than the previous year, pollution levels remained alarmingly high across several regions.