Current Affairs - State

Kerala is poised to make history by becoming India’s first state to be officially declared free of extreme poverty on November 1, 2025. This achievement is the result of the state’s comprehensive Extreme Poverty Eradication Programme, launched in 2021, which identified and assisted families living in severe economic distress. Through targeted welfare initiatives, social inclusion measures, and effective governance, Kerala has significantly improved the living standards of its most vulnerable citizens. The declaration, to be made by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in Thiruvananthapuram, highlights Kerala’s continued leadership in social welfare and equitable development.

Gangotri Dham is one of the four sacred Char Dham pilgrimage sites located in the state of Uttarakhand. Situated in the Uttarkashi district, it is dedicated to Goddess Ganga and marks the origin of the holy River Ganga. Each year, the temple closes for the winter season during the Annakut festival, and the idol of Goddess Ganga is ceremonially moved to Mukhba village, her winter abode. The temple reopens in summer, attracting thousands of devotees who seek spiritual blessings in the serene Himalayan region of Uttarakhand.

The Ministry of Law and Justice has expanded the number of notaries in four states—Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, and Nagaland—through the Notaries (Amendment) Rules, 2025, notified under G.S.R. 763(E). This amendment, made under the Notaries Act, 1952, modifies the Notaries Rules, 1956, to cater to the growing demand for authentication and legal documentation services. The increase in notaries aims to improve access to legal validation services, streamline administrative processes, and ensure better legal infrastructure across these expanding regions.

The Bathou religion, an indigenous faith central to the Bodo community, is primarily practiced in Assam. It emphasises nature worship and promotes harmony between humans and the natural environment. Recognizing its cultural significance, the Bathou religion has been granted a separate code in the upcoming national census, allowing better representation of the Bodo community and their traditions. This acknowledgment supports the preservation of indigenous identities and highlights Assam’s rich cultural diversity, reinforcing the importance of documenting minority faiths in national demographic surveys.

Telangana has emerged as the top-performing state in India for recovering lost and stolen mobile phones via the CEIR (Central Equipment Identity Register) portal. Since its extension to Telangana in April 2023, the state has successfully recovered over 1 lakh devices, with Hyderabad alone accounting for nearly 15,000 recoveries. This achievement highlights Telangana’s effective integration of technology with law enforcement, active citizen participation, and strong public awareness campaigns. The CEIR portal allows authorities to block, trace, and return stolen devices, enhancing both personal data security and overall crime reduction.