Current Affairs - State

The Chhattisgarh Cabinet approved the draft of the Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Bill, 2026, under the leadership of Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai. The bill aims to prevent religious conversions carried out through force, fraud, misrepresentation, allurement, or undue influence. It is designed to be stronger and more comprehensive than the existing Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Act of 1968. The law also focuses on addressing activities such as “Changai Sabha,” which are alleged to mislead people. The decision comes amid tensions in tribal areas like Bastar related to religious conversions. Along with this bill, the cabinet also approved measures related to recruitment reforms and abolishing the certain property registration cess.

Madhya Pradesh will benefit from the Memorandum of Understanding signed between Oil India Limited and the National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation to improve healthcare infrastructure in tribal and underserved regions. Under this initiative, ₹86.27 lakh has been allocated to upgrade facilities at Community Health Centres and Primary Health Centres in the Rajgarh district, which is recognised as an Aspirational District. The project focuses on enhancing healthcare access for tribal communities by providing essential medical equipment such as ventilators, CPAP machines, BiPAP machines, USG machines, ambulances, and other diagnostic tools to strengthen the public healthcare system in Madhya Pradesh.

The tribal millet-based food menu called ‘Araku Kouni’ was launched by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu in the state secretariat at Guntur. The initiative aims to promote traditional millet-based diets and highlight the rich culinary heritage of tribal communities. The menu features dishes such as Korra Payasam, Ragi Chapati, Samala Pulihora, and Corn Vada, which are sourced from indigenous communities in the Alluri Sitarama Raju district. These ingredients are cultivated naturally without chemical fertilisers or pesticides. The project was developed by the district administration with support from the Indian Culinary Institute in Tirupati and tribal anganwadi workers, and it will be introduced in Haritha restaurants.

Gujarat launched the ‘Lake and Air Watch’ initiative through the Gujarat Urban Development Mission to monitor environmental conditions in urban areas. The program uses satellite technology and advanced sensors to track air quality and the condition of city lakes, including pollution levels, siltation, and algae growth. Real-time Air Quality Index (AQI) data will be gathered from monitoring stations across 17 municipal corporations and 152 municipalities. A centralized digital dashboard will continuously update environmental data and generate alerts if pollution levels or lake conditions change significantly, helping authorities respond quickly and improving environmental transparency for citizens.

The Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan approved the procurement of 1,25,855 metric tonnes of Rabi crops at Minimum Support Price (MSP) under the Price Support Scheme (PSS) in Telangana. The total procurement value is over ₹894 crore and aims to benefit thousands of farmers in the state. This initiative ensures farmers receive fair prices for their produce and are protected from market price fluctuations. By preventing distress sales and encouraging the production of pulses and oilseeds, the program supports agricultural growth, improves nutritional security, and contributes to strengthening the rural economy under the leadership of Narendra Modi.