Current Affairs - National

Mysuru made a significant comeback in the Swachh Survekshan 2024–25 by entering the prestigious Super Swachh League, becoming the only city from Karnataka to achieve this distinction. Recognised for consistent sanitation excellence, the city showcased effective civic engagement, strong sanitation systems, and impactful cleanliness campaigns led by both the administration and local communities. This accomplishment is particularly meaningful given Mysuru’s earlier status as India’s cleanest city in 2016 and affirms its long-term commitment to sustainable urban hygiene. The Super Swachh League designation highlights not just cleanliness at a point in time but sustained performance, making Mysuru a model for other cities aiming for holistic urban cleanliness.

The PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana, recently approved by the Union Cabinet, is focused on enhancing agricultural productivity and promoting crop diversification. This ambitious scheme targets 100 districts that have been specifically identified due to their low agricultural productivity, limited cropping intensity, and insufficient credit flow. The initiative also emphasises sustainable farming practices, better post-harvest storage solutions, improved irrigation systems, and increased access to credit for farmers. By focusing on these 100 districts, the government aims to uplift underperforming agricultural regions and ensure a more balanced and productive agricultural landscape across the country.

The revival of the historic Machilipatnam port in Andhra Pradesh is a major infrastructure project with its completion expected by the end of 2026. Construction is already nearly halfway done, with workers operating in two shifts and major engineering tasks like dredging and breakwater building underway. The project faced several delays since 2007, but gained momentum after the formation of the Machilipatnam Port Development Corporation in 2020. With an investment of ₹5,155 crore, the first phase includes four berths and uses advanced techniques like tetrapod placement to manage sea waves. The operational target year is set for 2026, promising significant regional economic growth.

Himachal Pradesh launched the ‘My Deed’ NGDRS (National Generic Document Registration System) pilot project on July 11, 2025, aiming to digitise and simplify land registration. Spearheaded by Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, this project allows citizens to register property online, requiring just one visit to the tehsil office. The initiative is currently active in ten tehsils across ten districts, including Bilaspur, Chamba, Kangra, and Shimla. The project is part of a broader push toward paperless and transparent governance, accompanied by other digital reforms like e-Roznamcha and Kaarguzari to enhance efficiency and accountability in the revenue sector.

India plans to test Japan’s E5 Shinkansen bullet train on the Mumbai–Ahmedabad corridor, which is part of its high-speed rail initiative. This 508-km route is the designated stretch for the trial and eventual commercial use of both E5 and the upcoming E10 (Alfa-X) Shinkansen, which is expected to run by 2030. The corridor is a key part of India’s transportation modernisation efforts, with trains designed to operate at very high speeds using advanced technology like Automatic Train Control (ATC), eliminating the need for traditional trackside signals.