Current Affairs - State

Kerala is set to construct its first underwater tunnel between Vypin and Fort Kochi as part of the state’s coastal highway project. The ₹2,672 crore project will reduce the travel distance from 16 km to just 3 km under the Arabian Sea. Developed by the Kerala Rail Development Corporation Limited (KRDCL), the tunnel features a twin-tube design, emergency stops, escape passages, and advanced safety systems. This initiative will significantly cut travel time, reduce commuting costs, and minimize disruption to port operations, marking a major milestone in Kerala’s infrastructure and transport development.

Chennai has achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first Indian city to fully implement a Real-Time Flood Forecasting and Spatial Decision Support System (RTFF & SDSS) in October 2025. This initiative enhances the city’s ability to predict and manage floods with greater accuracy, thereby improving disaster preparedness and resilience against climate-induced challenges. Funded through the World Bank’s Project Development Grant Fund (PDGF), the system integrates weather data, river flow patterns, and urban drainage models. It positions Chennai as a pioneering example of how technology can strengthen urban flood management and protect vulnerable communities.

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.