Current Affairs - State

The second nationwide survey for riverine and estuarine dolphins under Project Dolphin commenced in Uttar Pradesh, starting from Bijnor. Led by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the survey aims to assess the population and habitat health of Indus and Irrawaddy dolphins. Phase 1 focuses on the Ganga (Bijnor–Sagar) and Indus rivers, while Phase 2 will cover the Brahmaputra, Ganga tributaries, Sundarbans, and Odisha. This initiative strengthens India’s efforts in biodiversity conservation, river ecosystem management, and the protection of endangered aquatic species, aligning with national and global wildlife preservation goals.

Himachal Pradesh has received approval from the MSME Ministry for the establishment of two new MSME Technology Centres as part of a national expansion initiative. These centres will be set up at Pandoga in Una district and Parwanoo in Solan district, each with an estimated cost of ₹10 crore. The initiative aims to strengthen industrial infrastructure, enhance skill development, and generate employment opportunities in the state. By providing modern technical support, training facilities, and entrepreneurship assistance, the centres are expected to boost manufacturing activity and attract new investments in Himachal Pradesh.

Odisha introduced the ‘Aame Padhiba Aama Bhasare’ scheme as a five-year initiative aimed at strengthening early childhood education by using mother tongues as the medium of learning for children aged three to six years. The programme initially focuses on tribal languages across six districts and relies on trained anganwadi workers supported by audio-visual teaching tools. Alongside this education-focused effort, Odisha also implemented complementary social initiatives, including a 100-day campaign against child marriage and a pilot programme to prevent teenage pregnancy and support young mothers.

The decision to resume sand mining came after the High Court lifted its earlier stay once the government implemented the PESA Rules, 2025. In Jharkhand, sand mining had been halted due to concerns over the protection of tribal rights in Scheduled Areas. The approval of the PESA rules by the state cabinet assured the court that local self-governance and tribal consent mechanisms were being respected. This move helped resolve a prolonged legal impasse in Jharkhand, balancing economic activity like sand mining with constitutional safeguards for tribal communities.

The multimodal infrastructure projects worth over ₹830 crore were launched at Singur in the Hooghly district of West Bengal. These initiatives include the Balagarh Extended Port Gate System with an Inland Water Transport terminal and a road over bridge, designed to handle 2.7 million tonnes of cargo annually across a vast area. The projects aim to decongest Kolkata, reduce pollution, and improve logistics efficiency. By strengthening connectivity and transport infrastructure in West Bengal, the initiatives are expected to support MSMEs, agriculture, and generate large-scale local employment.