Current Affairs - State

Madhya Pradesh is set to become the first state in India to introduce medical colleges under the public-private partnership model. The initiative involves establishing new medical colleges in the districts of Dhar and Betul, where private partners will be responsible for building the required infrastructure. At the same time, the state government will retain administrative control over the associated district hospitals. These hospitals will be upgraded in strict compliance with National Medical Commission norms, ensuring quality medical education and healthcare delivery. This model aims to strengthen medical infrastructure while maintaining public oversight.

The initiatives highlighted involve major dairy and cooperative infrastructure developments inaugurated by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. These include the Vita Milk Chilling Centre at Salempur village in Bhiwani district, constructed by the Haryana Dairy Cooperative Development Federation at a cost of ₹3.30 crore, and the HAFED Flour Mill at Jatusana in Rewari district. Additionally, a portal dedicated to the International Year of Cooperatives was launched. All the locations mentioned—Bhiwani and Rewari districts—are administrative regions within the state of Haryana, clearly identifying Haryana as the state where these projects were inaugurated.

The discovery of India’s largest circular stone labyrinth was made in the Boramani grasslands of Solapur district, located in Maharashtra. Dating back nearly 2,000 years to the Satavahana period, the structure highlights the historical importance of Maharashtra as a major hub in ancient inland and coastal trade networks. With 15 concentric stone circuits—the highest recorded in India—the labyrinth provides valuable evidence of Indo-Roman trade connections and ancient navigation systems. Its location and design suggest it served as a visible trade-route marker, reinforcing Maharashtra’s role in long-distance commerce during the Early Common Era.

Odisha hosts the Dhanu Yatra every year in the town of Bargarh, where the entire area transforms into a massive open-air stage. The festival is celebrated over 11 days and is renowned as the world’s largest open-air theatre. It vividly portrays episodes from the life of Lord Krishna, beginning with his birth and culminating in the death of King Kansa. With its scale, cultural richness, and community participation, the festival holds immense cultural significance. Its importance has been further recognised by the Central Government through the grant of National Festival status.

Chhattisgarh has been selected to host the inaugural edition of the Khelo India Tribal Games, scheduled to begin on February 14, 2026. The event aims to promote sports among tribal communities and showcase indigenous talent from across the country. The mascot for the games will be Morveer, symbolizing tribal bravery and cultural heritage. Seven competitive sports including archery, athletics, football, hockey, wrestling, swimming, and weightlifting will be part of the event, along with two demonstration sports highlighting traditional games. Outstanding athletes will be supported through annual scholarships of ₹5 lakh for eight years, encouraging long-term development.