Current Affairs - State

Karnataka has introduced the Karnataka Platform-based Gig Workers (Social Security and Welfare) Bill to regulate social security and welfare for platform-based gig workers, making it the second state after Rajasthan to do so. This bill aims to establish a Welfare Board, grievance redressal mechanisms, and mandates for aggregators to ensure timely payments and safe working conditions for gig workers. It seeks to provide a structured framework for the gig economy, addressing issues such as contractual rights, social security schemes, and penalties for non-compliance.

Uttar Pradesh (UP) passed the draft for the Uttar Pradesh Nodal Investment Region for Manufacturing (Construction) Area Bill (NIRMAN)-2024. This legislation aims to establish Special Investment Regions (SIRs) throughout the state, fostering industrial growth and economic development. The initiative includes collaborations such as the MoU between ITPO and MSME to improve the business environment, alongside the construction of new convention centres in Lucknow and Varanasi. These efforts are geared towards enhancing visibility for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and promoting UP as a favourable destination for industrial investments and business activities.

Researchers from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) discovered a new species of forest-dwelling horned frog in Arunachal Pradesh. Named Xenophrys apatani, after the Apatani community in the Lower Subansiri district, this discovery highlights the biodiversity richness of Arunachal Pradesh's Talle Wildlife Sanctuary. The findings contribute to understanding amphibian evolution in the Eastern Himalayas and Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspots, potentially guiding future conservation efforts in the region.

Maharashtra launched the 'Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin' scheme, aimed at empowering women aged 21 to 60 with a monthly financial support of ₹1,500 starting from July 2024. Inspired by Madhya Pradesh's 'Ladli Behna' scheme, this initiative reflects the state government's commitment to enhancing women's welfare and development.

Didymocarpus janakiae, a newly discovered plant species, was found in the sub-tropical forests of West Kameng district, Arunachal Pradesh, at an altitude of 2,300 meters above sea level. Named in honour of Dr. E. K. Janaki Ammal, an eminent Indian botanist, this species belongs to the genus Didymocarpus within the Gesneriaceae family. The discovery underscores Arunachal Pradesh's biodiversity richness and highlights the conservation challenges faced by rare plant species due to habitat degradation in the region.