Current Affairs - State

The Banni Grasslands, located in Gujarat near the Great Rann of Kutch, are Asia’s largest grassland ecosystem and have been selected as a potential site for cheetah reintroduction under Project Cheetah. These grasslands offer an ideal habitat due to their resemblance to African savannahs, including vast open spaces and a mix of grasslands and scrublands. The Gujarat Forest Department has prepared a 600-hectare enclosure, bolstered the herbivore population, and developed key infrastructure to support the reintroduction effort. This initiative aims to restore cheetahs—declared extinct in India in 1952—and revive ecological balance while also supporting regional biodiversity conservation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched infrastructure projects worth ₹7,200 crore in Bihar, specifically in the city of Motihari, as part of the broader Viksit Bharat Mission. This major investment targets urban renewal, housing development, and improved public utilities across cities such as Patna, Gaya, and Motihari. The project aims to bridge regional development gaps and support Bihar’s transformation into an economic hub. With over three lakh pucca houses already delivered in Motihari, the initiative highlights the NDA government’s commitment to inclusive growth and positions Bihar as a vital component of India’s future development trajectory, leading to 2047.

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs and Coal India Ltd have signed an MoU to improve tribal education, specifically in Chhattisgarh. This initiative will impact over 28,000 tribal students across 68 Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS). As part of its CSR efforts, Coal India has allocated ₹10 crore to support areas such as digital education, healthcare, and entrepreneurship.

Maharashtra launched Vidarbha’s first integrated steel plant in Gadchiroli, marking a significant milestone in the region’s industrial development. This project, spearheaded by Lloyds Metals & Energy Limited (LMEL), includes a 4.5 million tonne per annum steel plant at Konsari and a 5 million tonne iron ore grinding unit at Hedri. A key highlight is the state’s first iron ore slurry pipeline, spanning 85 km and reducing transport emissions by 55%. The initiative not only addresses longstanding underinvestment in the mineral-rich but economically backwards district but also promotes sustainable, resource-based industrial growth, paving the way for Vidarbha to become a key industrial hub in Maharashtra.

The Uttar Pradesh government has informed the Allahabad High Court that it will be preparing guidelines to regulate police conduct in civil disputes, specifically restraining officers from visiting properties under litigation without prior court approval. These proposed rules also aim to prevent direct contact between police personnel and advocates representing parties involved in such disputes. This move came in response to a public interest litigation (PIL), reflecting the state’s intent to ensure due legal process and avoid potential misuse of authority in property-related legal matters.