Current Affairs - State

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.

The Kerala Assembly passed a resolution urging the central government to withdraw the 2024 Waqf Amendment Bill, citing concerns over violations of federal principles and democratic values. The bill has been criticized for replacing elected Waqf board members with nominated officials, thereby undermining state rights. This resolution was supported unanimously by the assembly, led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, with Governor Arif Mohammed Khan overseeing the state. Kerala's opposition to the bill highlights concerns about the centralization of power and the erosion of local governance in Waqf matters.

Karnataka has set its sights on becoming the gaming and animation hub of Asia, as emphasized by IT Minister Priyank Kharge during the Indian Gaming Convention 2024. The state is taking significant steps towards this goal by establishing centres of excellence and organizing a government-sponsored eSports Olympics. With the theme "India—The Next Superpower in Gaming," the event reflects the rapid growth of India's gaming market, which has expanded by 28% between 2020 and 2023, driven by 42.5 crore gamers across the country.