Current Affairs - State

Odisha announced a cash reward of ₹11 lakh each for the players of the Indian women’s hockey team following their gold-medal victory at the Asian Games 2026. The Odisha Chief Minister, Mohan Charan Majhi, announced the incentive on October 3, 2026. Each member of the support staff will receive ₹5.5 lakh. India defeated defending champions China 1–0 in the final on October 2, ending a 44-year wait for the women’s hockey gold. Lalremsiami scored the winning goal, while goalkeeper Savita made a crucial penalty-stroke save. The victory also secured India’s direct qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

Andhra Pradesh launched the ₹1 lakh crore Global Horticulture Hub at Madanapalle in Annamayya district on October 2, 2026. The project, named Rayalaseema Rising, aims to transform the drought-prone Rayalaseema region into a global centre for the production, processing, marketing, and export of fruits and vegetables. It will cover 10 districts through 201 clusters across 303 mandals and 5,869 villages. The Andhra Pradesh government has allocated ₹40,352 crore, while around ₹60,000 crore is expected from private sector participation. The project also seeks to expand horticulture cultivation by 6 lakh hectares and benefit approximately 9.6 lakh farmers.

Chhattisgarh is the state where NMDC Ltd commissioned its ₹5,427 crore integrated iron ore processing, slurry pipeline, and pellet-making project in the Bastar region. The project includes an iron ore processing plant at Bacheli, a 135-km slurry pipeline, and a 2 MTPA pellet plant at Nagarnar. The pipeline can transport 15 MTPA of iron ore and directly connects the Bacheli mines with the Nagarnar steel plant. Bastar is an important mining region known for high-grade hematite iron ore deposits and the Bailadila mines. NMDC is India’s largest iron ore producer and a Navratna public sector enterprise under the Ministry of Steel.

Rajasthan is the state where NTPC Green Energy Limited (NGEL) commissioned the 81.34 MW Kalasar Solar Energy Project in Bikaner district on September 26, 2026. The project is part of the 650 MW solar component of the 500 MW REMCL Round-The-Clock Project and is being developed by NTPC Renewable Energy Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of NGEL. Following the commissioning, the commercial capacity of the NTPC Green Energy group reached 10,977.23 MW. Rajasthan is a major solar power hub in India and is also home to Bhadla Solar Park, recognised as the world’s largest solar park.

Gujarat has restructured the Porbandar forest division to strengthen forest management and facilitate the development of Barda as a second habitat for Asiatic lions. The move follows the natural return of Asiatic lions to Barda after 143 years and comes amid a significant increase in the state’s lion population. According to the May 2026 census, Gujarat recorded 891 Asiatic lions, compared with 674 in 2020. Barda is located in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat and is being developed as an alternative habitat to reduce dependence on the Gir landscape. The restructuring includes new forest ranges and beats, additional personnel, and improved wildlife management responsibilities.