Current Affairs - Places

Wings India 2026, the flagship biennial event for India’s civil aviation sector, is scheduled to take place in Hyderabad from January 28 to 31. Hosted at Begumpet Airport, the event is organized by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the Airport Authority of India, and FICCI. It aims to bring together a wide spectrum of stakeholders from across the aviation ecosystem—ranging from airlines and manufacturers to investors and policy-makers. Hyderabad, known for its strategic aviation relevance and history, serves as an ideal venue. The event focuses on innovation, investment promotion, skill development, and global collaboration within the aviation sector.

The national-level celebration of the International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) 2025 was held in Udaipur, Rajasthan. This event was organized by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) in collaboration with the National Biodiversity Authority, the Rajasthan Forest Department, and the Rajasthan State Biodiversity Board. The event marked the formal launch of India’s updated National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) for 2024–2030, reaffirming the country’s commitment to biodiversity conservation. Udaipur was chosen as the venue due to its rich ecological and cultural heritage, making it an apt location for such an environmental initiative.

The Polar Bhavan and Sagar Bhavan were inaugurated at the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research located in Goa. These newly established centres are significant scientific infrastructure investments, amounting to 55 crore rupees. They feature cutting-edge facilities, including world-class ice core laboratories, placing them among the first of their kind globally. These centres aim to enhance India’s research capabilities in polar and ocean sciences, facilitating advanced studies related to climate change, marine biodiversity, and glaciology. Goa was chosen for its strategic coastal location and existing research infrastructure, making it an ideal site for such an important scientific milestone.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for development projects worth ₹708 crore in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. These projects aim to enhance the region’s infrastructure and reflect the government's focus on urban development and modernization. During the event, Shah also lauded India's defence capabilities and highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership in strengthening national security. He referenced the success of India’s air defence systems and mentioned Operation Sindoor, a counter-terrorism strike in Pakistan, underscoring the government’s firm stance on national security. The inauguration in Gandhinagar represents both strategic and developmental priorities.

The PMAY-U Coffee Table Book was officially released in Kohima, the capital city of Nagaland, on May 16, 2025. The event, held at Hotel Vivor, was led by Zhaleo Rio, Advisor for Municipal Affairs and Urban Development. The book, titled “Transforming Lives: A Glance of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) Mission in Nagaland,” documents the progress and success stories of the PMAY-U scheme in the state. It emphasises the initiative’s role in providing affordable and dignified housing to the urban poor, fostering inclusive urban growth, and highlighting the socio-economic improvements brought about by the scheme in various communities across Nagaland.