Current Affairs - State

The decision to resume sand mining came after the High Court lifted its earlier stay once the government implemented the PESA Rules, 2025. In Jharkhand, sand mining had been halted due to concerns over the protection of tribal rights in Scheduled Areas. The approval of the PESA rules by the state cabinet assured the court that local self-governance and tribal consent mechanisms were being respected. This move helped resolve a prolonged legal impasse in Jharkhand, balancing economic activity like sand mining with constitutional safeguards for tribal communities.

The multimodal infrastructure projects worth over ₹830 crore were launched at Singur in the Hooghly district of West Bengal. These initiatives include the Balagarh Extended Port Gate System with an Inland Water Transport terminal and a road over bridge, designed to handle 2.7 million tonnes of cargo annually across a vast area. The projects aim to decongest Kolkata, reduce pollution, and improve logistics efficiency. By strengthening connectivity and transport infrastructure in West Bengal, the initiatives are expected to support MSMEs, agriculture, and generate large-scale local employment.

Madhya Pradesh partnered with the Digital India BHASHINI Division to implement multilingual and voice-based AI solutions across state digital platforms. The collaboration, formalized at the Regional AI Impact Conference 2026 in Bhopal, aims to improve accessibility and last-mile delivery of public services in multiple Indian languages. BHASHINI’s AI-powered language technologies, including translation APIs and voice-first tools, will enable citizens—including rural and digitally less literate populations—to access government services more easily. This initiative aligns with the state’s vision for citizen-centric AI governance and strengthens India’s broader goal of inclusive, technology-driven public service delivery.

Andhra Pradesh will host the world’s largest green ammonia project at Kakinada, developed by AM Green with a $10 billion investment. The project aims for a production capacity of 1.5 million tonnes per annum by 2030 and will enable India’s first green ammonia exports to countries like Germany, Japan, and Singapore. The facility will use integrated renewable energy, including 7.5 GW of solar and wind power and around 1,950 MW of electrolyser capacity, ensuring zero-carbon production. This initiative will generate thousands of jobs, strengthen the coastal economy, and contribute to India’s climate goals and energy transition.

Kerala emerged as the leader in personal electric vehicle (EV) adoption in 2025, surpassing larger industrial states. Strong participation from middle-class households, early EV policy initiatives from 2019, and rapid expansion of home and public charging infrastructure contributed to this success. Unlike other states where fleet EVs dominate, Kerala’s growth is largely consumer-driven, reflecting high individual ownership of electric four-wheelers. The state also ranks joint highest in overall EV adoption, including two-wheelers, and second only to Delhi in EV-to-internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle penetration, highlighting a significant shift toward sustainable and environmentally conscious personal mobility.