Current Affairs - National

The 2-day National Workshop on Multi-Disciplinary Education and Research Universities (MERU) under the PM-USHA initiative was inaugurated by Dr. Sukanta Majumdar in New Delhi. This centrally sponsored scheme, launched by the Ministry of Education, focuses on enhancing the quality of higher education, particularly in state-run institutions. New Delhi, being the capital and a central hub for major policy-level events, frequently hosts national-level academic and administrative workshops like this one. The workshop aimed at fostering dialogue and sharing strategies to elevate the standards of multidisciplinary research and education in India.

The 'Depot Darpan' portal is being introduced by the government as a real-time monitoring system for food storage depots. Its core purpose is to ensure that these depots maintain top-tier standards in quality and safety. This initiative supports the broader goal of enhancing food security for more than 80 crore beneficiaries across India. By integrating scientific warehousing methods and smart storage technologies, the government aims to reduce spoilage, increase efficiency, and better manage the public distribution system. The launch of this portal reflects a strategic move towards a more resilient and technologically empowered food supply chain.

The Ministry of Labour & Employment has partnered with Rapido by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance employment opportunities in the logistics and transport sector through the National Career Service (NCS) portal. This collaboration aims to create over 50 lakh livelihood opportunities within the next one to two years. A key focus of the initiative is inclusive hiring, particularly encouraging youth and women to take up flexible work roles. Rapido will list job opportunities for roles such as bike taxi drivers, auto-rickshaw operators, and cab drivers on the NCS platform, making the process of job discovery more accessible.

Ghaziabad has made a significant step in urban sustainability by issuing India's first Certified Green Municipal Bond. The bond raised ₹150 crore to fund the construction of a Tertiary Sewage Treatment Plant (TSTP) under the Swachh Bharat Mission–Urban. This advanced facility, designed with state-of-the-art water recycling technologies, aims to treat water and improve recycling capabilities. Ghaziabad's pioneering move sets a benchmark for other cities in terms of environmental responsibility and financial innovation, utilizing the Public-Private Partnership – Hybrid Annuity Model (PPP-HAM) to fund this essential project for urban development.

The Cabinet Committee, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved a greenfield highway project worth ₹22,864 crore that will connect Mawlyngkhung in Meghalaya with Panchgram in Assam. The proposed four-lane access-controlled highway will stretch over 166.8 km, of which 144.80 km lies in Meghalaya and 22.00 km in Assam. The project is to be developed under the Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM), which blends government support with private-sector investment. This initiative is part of broader infrastructure development efforts in the Northeast region, aiming to enhance connectivity and support economic growth through improved transportation links.