Current Affairs - State

Rajasthan is home to India's first greenfield integrated refinery-cum-petrochemical complex, the Pachpadra Refinery, developed as a joint venture between Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) and the Rajasthan government in Balotra. Built at a cost of over ₹79,450 crore, the refinery has a capacity of 9 MMTPA for refining and 2.4 MMTPA for petrochemicals. The project is a major milestone in India's energy and petrochemical sector and is expected to strengthen industrial development, employment generation, and economic growth in the region.

Haryana became the first state to have Sirsa Kinnow recognised as its first fruit with a Geographical Indication (GI) tag. The GI registration was granted by the Geographical Indications Registry in Chennai, recognising the unique quality and characteristics of kinnow grown in the Sirsa district. The region's favourable climatic and geographical conditions produce kinnow with a sweet taste, high juice content, large size, and attractive colour. The GI tag provides legal protection against imitation, enhances market value, promotes exports, and improves income opportunities for farmers while strengthening Haryana's horticultural brand identity.

West Bengal approved the implementation strategy for the Pradhan Mantri Cha Shramik Protsahan Yojana (PMCSPY) with a special assistance package of ₹313.3 crore to improve the lives of tea garden workers and their families. The scheme focuses on enhancing education, healthcare, and worker welfare infrastructure in the tea-growing regions of North Bengal. It is expected to benefit more than three lakh tea plantation workers. The funds have been allocated for educational improvements, strengthening healthcare facilities, and constructing worker rest sheds, ensuring comprehensive social and economic development in the tea garden communities.

Punjab opened the online application process for the Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme for Scheduled Caste (SC) students for the 2026–27 academic session. The scheme is managed by the Punjab Department of Social Justice, Empowerment and Minorities and aims to provide financial assistance for higher education to students from economically weaker SC families. Applications are processed through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) to ensure transparency and direct benefit transfer. The initiative also includes awareness camps and inter-departmental coordination to improve access to educational opportunities and encourage local career development.

Bihar is home to the world's oldest accurately dated banyan tree, located in Munger and estimated to be around 700 years old. Scientists from the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences (BSIP), Lucknow, determined its age using radiocarbon dating of wood samples analysed through Accelerator Mass Spectrometry. The research confirmed that the tree predates nearby historical structures and is a surviving remnant of an ancient natural forest. The findings, published in the international journal Quaternary Research, represent a significant achievement in botanical and environmental research, as banyan trees lack annual growth rings, making age determination particularly challenging.