Current Affairs - Places

Dehradun served as the venue for the 27th Annual General Meeting of the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) Society, chaired by Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav. The meeting reviewed significant achievements in wildlife conservation, including progress in the cheetah reintroduction program and breeding efforts for the Great Indian Bustard. It also discussed infrastructure mitigation measures such as wildlife crossings on highways, and highlighted new research initiatives like the National River Research Centre. The AGM emphasised future planning and collaboration to strengthen conservation strategies and research capabilities in India.

Kusunpur, located in the Kendrapada district of Odisha, has been chosen as the state’s first "smart village" under the CSIR initiative aligned with the "Viksit Bharat@2047" vision. The project focuses on improving infrastructure by providing clean drinking water, renewable energy, and sanitation facilities. It also includes climate-resilient structures due to the region’s cyclone vulnerability. Additionally, scientific agricultural methods and skill development programs will be introduced to enhance livelihoods. This initiative aims to make Kusunpur a model for rural development across India by integrating modern technology with community participation.

Srinagar is the city where Asia’s largest tulip garden, the Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden, is located. Situated at the foothills of the Zabarwan Range and overlooking the scenic Dal Lake, the garden is a major attraction during the spring season. Spread across 74 acres, it features around 1.8 million tulips in a wide variety of colours and patterns. The garden also includes other flowers like daffodils and hyacinths, enhancing its beauty. Its annual opening marks the beginning of Kashmir’s tourism season, drawing thousands of visitors from across India and abroad.

The Union Home Minister inaugurated several major healthcare projects in Guwahati, marking a significant milestone in Assam’s medical infrastructure development. The city became notable for hosting India’s first government hospital offering Proton Cancer Therapy, an advanced treatment for cancer. Alongside this, multiple cancer centres and medical colleges were also launched or expanded, contributing to improved healthcare accessibility in the Northeast region. The initiatives are supported by increased budget allocation and aim to reduce dependency on metro cities for advanced treatments, making Guwahati a key healthcare hub in eastern India.

India’s first microalgae-based PureAir Tower has been installed in New Delhi along the Aerocity highway corridor to address rising vehicular pollution. The innovative biotechnology system uses photosynthetic microalgae to capture pollutants such as carbon dioxide, particulate matter and nitrogen oxides from the surrounding air. These pollutants are then converted into oxygen and algal biomass through natural biological processes. The project was developed through collaboration between C P Arora Private Limited and Carbelim Pvt Ltd, a climate-tech startup incubated at IIT Madras. The tower is designed to provide an air purification effect comparable to more than 15 mature trees, helping improve urban air quality sustainably.