Current Affairs - National

One-third of the total seats in the Hill Development Councils have been reserved for women in the region of Ladakh. This move comes after President Droupadi Murmu promulgated the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (Amendment) Regulation Rules, 2025. The amendment aims to promote greater gender representation and empowerment in local governance. The reservation will be implemented through rotation, with seats being allotted to different territorial constituencies in sequence, as notified officially through a gazetted order. This regulation strengthens the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council Act, 1997, reinforcing inclusive political participation at the grassroots level.

The DHRUVA policy, introduced by the Department of Posts, aims to create a standardized Digital Address Infrastructure using geo-coded data to enhance service delivery across India. DHRUVA, which stands for Digital Hub for Reference and Unique Virtual Address, is designed to overcome inconsistencies in traditional address formats and improve the efficiency of public and private sector services. By adopting an Address-as-a-Service (AaaS) model, it ensures user privacy, interoperability, and inclusive access. The initiative positions address data as a core component of India’s Digital Public Infrastructure, aligning it with key systems like Aadhaar and UPI to support governance, logistics, and financial inclusion.

The Minister of State for Defence, Sanjay Seth, announced at a conference in Bhopal that the National Cadet Corps (NCC) would undergo a major expansion by adding 3 lakh cadets. This move is part of a broader initiative to increase the total strength of NCC cadets across India to between 17 and 20 lakh, in line with the Prime Minister’s vision. The NCC, headquartered in New Delhi, plays a crucial role in fostering discipline, patriotism, and leadership among youth. The announcement made in Bhopal underlines the city’s importance in national defence-related developments and strategic youth engagement.

Union Minister Amit Shah inaugurated a new Central Forensic Science Laboratory in Rajarhat, Kolkata. The advanced facility, built at a cost of ₹88 crore, is designed to serve not only the state of West Bengal but also several neighbouring regions such as Jharkhand, Bihar, Odisha, Sikkim, Assam, and other northeastern states. This laboratory is expected to significantly strengthen forensic infrastructure in eastern India, aiding in quicker and more accurate criminal investigations across a broad geographic area. The choice of Kolkata highlights its strategic location for regional accessibility and operational efficiency.

TCG CREST (The Chatterjee Group Centres for Research and Education in Science and Technology) is located in Kolkata and has been granted 'Deemed to be University' status by the Ministry of Education. This development marks a significant milestone in India’s higher education sector, as TCG CREST becomes one of the first research-driven private universities in the country. Its focus on advanced research and innovation is expected to equip students with skills relevant to the ever-changing demands of the modern job market, especially in science and technology domains. The establishment in Kolkata positions the city as an emerging hub for academic excellence.