Current Affairs - National

Maruti Suzuki India Ltd has launched the country’s largest in-plant automobile railway siding at its Manesar facility in Haryana. This strategic investment of ₹452 crore is part of the company’s green logistics initiative to transition 35% of its vehicle dispatches to rail by FY2030-31. Spread over 46 acres and featuring 8.2 km of rail tracks, the Manesar siding can dispatch up to 4.5 lakh vehicles annually. The facility is expected to cut 1.75 lakh tonnes of CO₂ emissions and save 60 million litres of fuel each year, supporting India's broader goals under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan and the Net Zero Emissions target for 2070.

Visakhapatnam, a coastal city in Andhra Pradesh, has been selected as the national host for the 11th International Day of Yoga (IDY) to be held on June 21, 2025. The event marks the 10-year milestone of IDY, and senior officials from the Ministry of Ayush and the Andhra Pradesh Government have conducted detailed reviews of the city’s preparedness. Key venues like RK Beach, Rishikonda Beach, Andhra University, and GITAM University will host various yoga demonstrations. Visakhapatnam's selection highlights its infrastructure readiness, scenic coastline, and strategic significance in promoting yoga as a widespread wellness practice across the nation.

The Government of India has officially scheduled the 16th national census, and the 8th since Independence, to be conducted in 2027. This census will mark the reintroduction of caste-based enumeration, the first such effort since 2011. It will employ digital tools, enable self-enumeration by citizens, and involve around 34 lakh field personnel. The census is expected to conclude by March 2027, with the reference date for most parts of India being March 1, 2027. This exercise holds significant policy implications, especially in areas such as reservations, welfare distribution, and development planning, making 2027 a pivotal year in India’s demographic documentation.

The Union Ministry of Power is planning to mandate that all new air conditioners in India operate within a restricted temperature range of 20°C to 28°C. This measure is intended to reduce overall energy consumption and promote more sustainable use of cooling systems, especially during peak summer months. By setting 20°C as the minimum limit, the government aims to balance comfort and energy efficiency. The initiative forms part of a broader strategy to improve energy conservation nationwide, which includes support for battery storage infrastructure and a substantial viability gap funding mechanism to boost clean energy investments.

INS Guldar, a 1,120-ton Landing Ship Tank that served the Indian Navy until January 2024, is being converted into India’s first submerged naval museum off the coast of Sindhudurg, Maharashtra. The ₹46.91 crore project is backed by the Union Ministry of Tourism and aims to foster marine conservation, eco-tourism, and preserve naval heritage. By intentionally scuttling the vessel near Nivati Rocks, the initiative will also help create an artificial coral reef, promoting marine biodiversity and sustainable tourism. This project is a part of India’s larger efforts under the Blue Economy framework and supports environmentally conscious development.