Current Affairs - State

Jharkhand signed an agreement with Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) and the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) for the rollout of the Amended BharatNet Program in the state. The Government of India approved ₹1,684 crore in financial support for the project. Implementation will be carried out through Jharkhand Digital Infrastructure Corporation Limited (JDICL), a newly established Special Purpose Vehicle. The project covers 4,395 Gram Panchayats and 26,777 villages. It also aims to upgrade 4,387 Gram Panchayats to ring topology and provide more than four lakh rural home fibre connections, strengthening broadband connectivity across rural areas.

Tripura achieved a zero per cent dropout rate at the primary level during the 2025-26 academic session, as announced by Chief Minister Manik Saha. The achievement was highlighted during the International Literacy Day and ULLAS Mela in New Delhi. Tripura has been implementing the ULLAS – Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram since May 2022 to strengthen foundational literacy, numeracy, and life skills. The state has also introduced innovative initiatives such as experiential market learning, financial literacy training, and practical health and hygiene education. It plans to establish residential schools in remote areas, aligning its efforts with the vision of a Viksit Bharat by 2047.

Punjab rescued 39 children during a state-wide anti-begging drive conducted under Project Jeevanjyot. The Department of Social Security, Women and Child Development carried out 82 special rescue operations across the state, covering 195 identified hotspots. Of the rescued children, 27 were reunited with their parents after document verification, while 12 were placed in Child Care Institutions for protection and rehabilitation. The rescued children were presented before Child Welfare Committees for further rehabilitation measures. The drive was overseen by Social Security Minister Dr Baljit Kaur. In the first phase of Project Jeevanjyot, 367 children had been rescued.

Uttar Pradesh increased the monthly honorarium of Anganwadi workers and helpers to improve their financial security. The honorarium for Anganwadi workers was raised from ₹8,000 to ₹12,000, while helpers will receive ₹6,000 instead of ₹4,000. The state also introduced a cashless health insurance scheme providing coverage of up to ₹5 lakh annually for workers, helpers, and their families. In addition, 1.28 lakh smartphones are being distributed to digitise Anganwadi centres and support real-time monitoring. The government also increased the saree allowance and is developing structured buildings for more than 70,000 Anganwadi centres.

Assam signed Memorandums of Understanding with six organisations to integrate Artificial Intelligence and technology into its school education system. The partnerships were signed between Samagra Shiksha Assam and various organisations to develop a learner-centric education ecosystem. IIT Madras and Bodhan AI are jointly implementing a programme to build AI proficiency among 1 lakh teachers of Grades 6 to 12, with completion targeted for May 2027. Google is also collaborating to provide AI-powered educational tools and digital skills training. Other initiatives focus on AI-enabled assessment and personalised learning in foundational literacy and numeracy.