Current Affairs - State

The Indian Coast Guard held the coastal security exercise ‘Sagar Kavach’ on October 16-17, 2024, across Gujarat and the Union Territory of Daman & Diu. The exercise was coordinated by the Coast Guard Regional Headquarters in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. This was the second edition of the exercise for the year, and its purpose was to enhance maritime and coastal security preparedness in the region. Through such drills, the Indian Coast Guard ensures effective response to any threats along the country’s vast coastline.

On Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti, Karnataka's Chief Minister Siddaramaiah declared that all residential schools in the state would be renamed 'Maharshi Valmiki Residential Schools' in honour of the revered sage and author of the Ramayana. Additionally, Raichur University will be renamed Maharishi Valmiki University. These actions highlight Karnataka's efforts to honour Valmiki's cultural and historical significance. The move is intended to promote the values and contributions of the sage in education.

The Uttarakhand Madrasa Education Board (UMEB) has proposed making Sanskrit a compulsory subject in 416 madrasas across the state, impacting over 70,000 students. This initiative aims to enhance the educational curriculum and support academic growth. The board plans to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the state's Sanskrit department to facilitate collaboration and resources. Additionally, the introduction of the NCERT syllabus has shown impressive results, with over 95% student success this year. This move is expected to further enrich students' learning experiences and promote educational growth.

The Andhra Pradesh cabinet, under the leadership of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, has taken a major step toward economic development by approving six key industrial and investment policies. These policies aim to attract investments worth ₹30 lakh crore to the state. The policies focus on sectors such as industrial development, MSMEs, food processing, electronics, private parks, and clean energy, with each policy tailored to foster growth and development in its respective areas. This initiative is part of the state's broader strategy to boost its economy and attract significant investments.

Gujarat has taken a significant step in promoting entrepreneurship and mineral exploration by auctioning 25 major and 2,280 minor mineral blocks, and granting Letters of Intent to leaseholders. This initiative, part of the "Vikas Saptah" program and Entrepreneurship Day, aims to encourage competitive leasing through transparent auctions. Additionally, Gujarat has introduced an application-based system for minor mineral leases on private land under the Ease of Doing Business (EODB) initiative. This move is expected to boost the state's mineral sector and economy.