Current Affairs - State

Kerala hosted the launch of Vanitham She-Mart Shops and NCCF Janah products on September 26, 2026. The initiative was inaugurated in Kollam by the Union Minister of Cooperation and aims to connect women Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and rural entrepreneurs directly with retail markets. More than 300 She-Mart stores are planned across Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka through collaboration between NCCF and CFCICI. The event also featured the launch of NCCF Janah-branded products and Bharat Brand Atta and Rice, along with mobile vans supplying subsidised onions. Kerala’s strong cooperative network, with more than 23,000 active cooperative societies, further supports the initiative.

Jharkhand is associated with the traditional Mandar percussion instrument, which has received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag from the Geographical Indications Registry, Chennai. Mandar is a double-headed percussion instrument deeply connected with the tribal and folk traditions of the state. Its cylindrical body is traditionally made from red soil and has two leather-covered openings. The instrument is commonly played during festivals, religious ceremonies, agricultural celebrations, social gatherings and folk performances. Its distinctive sound results from the combination of soil, leather and traditional craftsmanship. The GI recognition provides legal protection to its geographical identity while also promoting the heritage and traditional skills of local artisans.

Assam increased the monthly payout under the Orunodoi Scheme to ₹1,500 for October 2026 as a festival gift for women beneficiaries. The regular grant under Orunodoi is ₹1,250. Launched in 2020, the scheme focuses on poverty alleviation and women’s empowerment and is described as Assam’s largest Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme. It currently covers around 4 million beneficiaries. The Assam Cabinet also approved the SWIFT project with an outlay of ₹796.88 crore for restoring 102 community wetlands and sanctioned a ₹11,000 crore industrial investment by JK Lakshmi Cement Limited for cement manufacturing and grinding units.

Kerala has developed the AI-based Dengue Early Warning System (DEWS) through scientists at the Institute of Advanced Virology (IAV). The machine-learning system uses six years of dengue surveillance and weather data to forecast weekly dengue trends separately for each district. It considers four major parameters: reported dengue cases, rainfall, temperature, and average humidity. The system classifies dengue infection risk into four levels: very high, high, moderate, and low. By providing district-level forecasts, DEWS can help public-health authorities strengthen surveillance, testing, laboratory preparedness, and healthcare planning in areas expected to face higher dengue risks.

Mizoram inaugurated its first-ever ‘Pluck & Pay’ Festival in Khawzawl District from September 23 to 25, 2026. The agro-tourism initiative was jointly conducted by the Tourism Department, Government of Mizoram, and the Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Khawzawl. Visitors can enter local farms, harvest fresh agricultural produce themselves, and pay the producers directly. The festival was organised in Tualte and Chawngtlai villages. Mizoram has also witnessed a significant rise in tourist arrivals, from 4,27,302 in 2024 to 8,41,322 in 2025. The state became India’s 23rd state on February 20, 1987, through the 53rd Constitutional Amendment Act.