Current Affairs - State

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.

The GI tags were awarded to three traditional products from West Bengal—Chandannagar’s Jalbhara Sandesh, Janai’s Manohara, and Balagarh’s traditional wooden boats. These products are deeply connected with the cultural heritage, craftsmanship, and culinary traditions of the Hooghly district. A GI tag provides legal protection to products that have unique qualities or a reputation linked to a specific geographical region. This recognition helps preserve traditional knowledge, prevents counterfeiting, enhances market value, creates export opportunities, and supports the livelihoods of local artisans and producers while promoting the state's rich cultural identity.

Odisha approved the Deep Sea Fishing Mission with an estimated outlay of ₹2,295.45 crore for implementation over the period 2026–2036. The mission aims to increase annual marine fish production by 2 lakh metric tonnes, raise marine exports to ₹5,000 crore per year by 2036, and generate more than 50,000 employment opportunities. A dedicated Blue Economy Hub (B-Hub) will serve as the central knowledge, innovation, and coordination centre for the mission. The Odisha Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, also approved the Mukhyamantri Poshan Yojana to strengthen nutrition support for secondary school students.

Uttar Pradesh launched the Digi Rover Special Land Survey Campaign on 1st July 2026 from Saharanpur to modernise land demarcation across the state. The campaign uses Digi Rover based on Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) technology, replacing traditional land measurement methods with more accurate and transparent digital techniques. It aims to resolve over 79,000 pending land survey and demarcation cases by 15th August 2026. The Board of Revenue is supervising the initiative, while district-level officials, including District Magistrates, Tehsildars, Revenue Inspectors, and Lekhpals, are responsible for its implementation to reduce land disputes and improve public services.

The Borjuli site in the Sonitpur district of Assam was notified as a Biodiversity Heritage Site on 2nd July 2026 to conserve Oryza rufipogon, a wild rice species that is vital for developing climate-resilient and high-yielding rice varieties. The project, titled "In-situ Conservation and Management of Wild Rice," is funded by the National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA) and implemented in collaboration with the Assam State Biodiversity Board and ICAR–National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (ICAR-NBPGR). The initiative supports biodiversity conservation, sustainable agriculture, and the preservation of valuable plant genetic resources for future food security.