Current Affairs - State

Tamil Nadu announced an extension of maternity leave to 365 days for women government employees having a third child, replacing the earlier entitlement of 12 weeks for employees with two or more surviving children. The decision is aimed at promoting women’s empowerment and social welfare. Tamil Nadu has progressively increased maternity leave benefits over the years, from 90 days in 2011 to six months, then nine months in 2016, and 365 days in 2021 for employees with fewer than two surviving children. A government order will provide detailed implementation guidelines and eligibility conditions for the new third-child provision.

Gujarat is set to host Asia’s first desert-themed night safari at Juna Deesa in Banaskantha district. The project received approval from the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) on August 12, 2026, and will be implemented by the Gujarat Forest Department. Spread across approximately 103 hectares, the Desert Zoological Park and Night Safari is estimated to cost ₹542.14 crore. It will feature five night safari enclosures along with a day zoo and is expected to house around 2,700 animals and birds belonging to nearly 83 species, highlighting desert and arid ecosystems.

Andhra Pradesh signed two strategic Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) on August 13, 2026, with CSIR-NGRI and IIT (ISM) Dhanbad to strengthen mineral exploration and mining research. CSIR-NGRI will undertake extensive exploration in the Vempalle area of the Kadapa Basin, where preliminary studies at Thummalapalle have indicated significant concentrations of lithium and gallium. Lithium levels are estimated at up to 1,000 ppm, while gallium levels may reach 250 ppm. The ₹140 crore exploration project will be funded by the National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET), while another MoU aims to establish a Centre of Excellence for Mining in the state.

Uttar Pradesh is the state where the historic Parichha Dam is located in Jhansi. Built across the Betwa River, the dam was constructed between 1881 and 1886 and became an important component of the Betwa Canal System. On August 14, 2026, it was recognised as a World Heritage Irrigation Structure (WHIS) by the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID). The dam is 1,174 metres long and 16.8 metres high, featuring 318 steel falling shutters. Its irrigation network extends across Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, covering thousands of kilometres and irrigating large areas of farmland.

Goa hosted the 8th meeting of the BRICS Working Group on Oceanic and Polar Science and Technology on August 12, 2026, under India’s BRICS Presidency. The meeting was organised by the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research in South Goa, under the Ministry of Earth Sciences. Delegations from eight BRICS member countries participated, including India, Brazil, Russia, China, South Africa, Egypt, Indonesia, and the UAE. The BRICS OPST Working Group was established in 2018 to promote scientific cooperation among member states. India had previously hosted its 3rd meeting in 2020.