Current Affairs - State

Goa achieved a significant biodiversity milestone with the publication of the Goa Bird Checklist 8.0, which recorded a total of 502 bird species in the state. Despite covering only 3,702 square kilometres, Goa hosts nearly 40% of India's approximately 1,300 bird species. The latest checklist added five new species, including the Wedge-tailed Shearwater and the Black-bellied Storm-petrel. Maintained by the Goa Bird Conservation Network and the Arannya Environment Research Organisation, the checklist serves as an important scientific resource for monitoring bird populations, ecological changes, and conservation efforts across the state.

Maharashtra is implementing the National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA), a Mission Mode Project of the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs under the Digital India Programme. The initiative follows the vision of “One Nation One Application” and aims to digitise the functioning of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council. With an estimated implementation cost of around ₹48 crore in the state, NeVA is expected to make legislative proceedings paperless, improve efficiency, enhance transparency, encourage public participation, and modernise legislative processes through the use of digital technology.

The ICMR i-DRONE study was conducted in Telangana's Yadadri-Bhuvanagiri district in collaboration with AIIMS Bibinagar and the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP). The initiative evaluated drone-assisted transport of sputum samples for tuberculosis diagnosis among 840 participants. It reduced the median diagnosis time from 15 days to just 5 days while significantly lowering patients' out-of-pocket expenditure from ₹9,451 to ₹91. The project also established a hub-and-spoke healthcare network connecting Primary Health Centres, sub-centres, and TB units, demonstrating how drone technology can improve healthcare delivery and strengthen medical supply chains.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved two railway multitracking projects covering the states of Odisha and Jharkhand to strengthen logistics, rail connectivity, and freight movement. The projects include the Paradeep–Haridaspur doubling and the Rajkharsawan–Dangoaposi fourth line, with a total investment of ₹3,907 crore and a completion target of 2030–31. Together, they will add about 145 km to the Indian Railways network, improve connectivity for around 1,526 villages and 14 lakh people, boost the transportation of key minerals, and support the PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan through integrated infrastructure development.

Uttar Pradesh launched the 'Kaushal Setu' and 'Kaushal Sarathi' digital portals during the celebration of World Youth Skills Day 2026 to strengthen vocational education and improve employment opportunities for youth. Kaushal Setu serves as the official online platform for training centres, enabling digital registration, document submission, and transparent empanelment. Kaushal Sarathi is designed for students and job seekers, helping them explore training institutes, courses, and employment opportunities. The initiative also promotes industry collaboration through partnerships with private companies in sectors such as AI, robotics, and textiles, ensuring that skill development aligns with industry requirements and enhances job readiness.