Recent 6 months news in State

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has inaugurated the Bhimmandali Eco Heritage Site in the Naktideul Block of Sambalpur district, Odisha. The centre has sanctioned over ₹8.3 crore for the project.

He also inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for 304 projects, including a new Nursing College at the Bhima Bhoi Medical College and Hospital with an investment of ₹580 crore. The Panchayati Raj Samikshya portal was also launched to enhance transparency and accountability in rural governance systems.

Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has signed an agreement with the Andhra Pradesh government to implement the Amended BharatNet Programme (ABP) through a state-led model.

The Government of India has allocated ₹2,432 crore for the implementation of the programme in the state, which will be managed by the AP State Fibernet Ltd (APBIL). The objective of the ABP is to upgrade and expand the BharatNet infrastructure to provide reliable, future-ready broadband connectivity to all Gram Panchayats (GPs) and villages on a demand basis.

The Karnataka government has implemented an “Alcohol-in-Beverage” (AIB)-based excise duty structure and revised the liquor rates. It is the first instance of such a taxation model being implemented in India, following the 2026-27 Budget announcement. The State Excise Department aims to rationalize liquor pricing to make beverages more affordable for consumers.

The Punjab government has launched the ‘Meri Rasoi Yojna’ (My Kitchen Scheme) in Sangrur district to provide free food kits to 40 lakh economically weaker families. The initiative is implemented as per the provisions of the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013.

Each food kit contains 2 kg of moong-chana dal, 2 kg of sugar, 1 kg of iodised salt, 200 g of turmeric, and 1 litre of mustard oil. The beneficiary families will receive these kits on a quarterly basis (once every three months).

Rajasthan has inaugurated its first semiconductor plant and a new Electronics Manufacturing Cluster (EMC) in Bhiwadi.

Established by Sahasra Semiconductors Pvt. Ltd with an investment of over ₹150 crore, it is the first Small and Medium Enterprise (SME)-led semiconductor plant in India to start commercial production.

Nagaland government has launched the ‘100 Days Ayushman Student Coverage Mission’ to expand health insurance and healthcare access for students in the state. The mission is an extension of the Ayushman Bharat PM Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) and the Chief Minister’s Health Insurance Scheme (CMHIS).

The Bihar government has approved a $500 million (around ₹4,750 crore) loan from the World Bank (WB) for the ‘Bihar Urban Transformation Programme’. The state cabinet has also sanctioned the transfer of 1.85 acres of land and authorized enhanced subsidy support under the PM Electric (e)-Bus Sewa for the operation of 400 electric AC buses.

Furthermore, ₹15,967.03 crore was sanctioned for the monitoring and maintenance of roads using AI based technologies.

C Joseph Vijay, the president of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), has sworn in as the 13th Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. The oath of office was administered by Governor Rajendra Arlekar at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Chennai.

It is to be noted that TVK emerged as the single largest party by winning 108 seats. To surpass the majority mark of 118 seats, a coalition was formed with the Indian National Congress, bringing the total support to 120 MLAs.

The Karnataka government has inaugurated the Centre of Excellence for Space Technology (CoE SpaceTech Foundation) in Bengaluru, marking the first state-led center in India dedicated to the space sector.

The foundation was established by the Karnataka Innovation and Technology Society (KITS) in collaboration with the SatCom Industry Association of India (SIA-India). It aims to bridge the gap between academic research and the commercialisation of space technologies to enhance industrial development.

Suvendu Adhikari, belonging to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has sworn in as the first Chief Minister (CM) of West Bengal at the Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata. He won from the Bhabanipur constituency, defeating the former CM Mamata Banerjee. It is to be noted that the BJP won 207 out of 294 seats in the 2026 Assembly elections. Governor RN Ravi administered the oath in Bengali on the occasion of Pochishe Boishakh (the 165th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore).

The Karnataka government has launched India’s first digital grievance redressal framework for gig workers on May 1 (International Workers' Day).

The system utilizes the Integrated Public Grievance Redressal System (IPGRS) portal to allow workers to lodge complaints regarding remuneration, working conditions, and disputes.

Mizoram government has launched a mobile app named ‘Khuarel’ which serves as a disaster incident and reporting management system. The app is designed for real-time disaster response and coordination across the state.

The Telangana government, through the Hyderabad Metro Rail Ltd (HMRL), has signed a Share Purchase Agreement (SPA) with Larsen & Toubro Ltd (L&T) and L&T Metro Rail (Hyderabad) Ltd (LTMRHL). The agreement enables the state government to acquire 100% equity of the Hyderabad Metro Phase I for ₹1,461.47 crore.

Sikkim has become the first fully paperless state judiciary in India, marking a milestone that coincides with the 50th anniversary of the statehood of Sikkim. The declaration was made by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant during a two-day national conclave on technology and judicial education held in Gangtok. The transition to a digital system incorporates AI tools to assist judicial officers. These include the Supreme Court Portal for Assistance in Court’s Efficiency (SUPACE) for legal research and the Supreme Court Vidhik Anuvaad Software (SUVAS) for language translation.

The Maharashtra Cabinet has approved the ‘AI Policy 2026’ to foster technological growth and infrastructure development in the state.

The policy aims to attract an investment of ₹10,000 crore and generate 1.5 lakh employment opportunities by 2031. The initiative focuses on the establishment of innovation centres and the implementation of skill training programs to support AI driven economic expansion.

The Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh has officially notified the creation of 5 new districts in the Union Territory: Nubra, Sham, Changthang, Zanskar, and Drass.

This follows the preliminary approval granted by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in 2024. With this, the total number of districts in the UT has increased from 2 to 7. It is to be noted that the region previously consisted of only the Leh and Kargil districts.

The Uttar Pradesh government has introduced a 10-year warranty model for rural water schemes under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), becoming the first state in India to mandate long-term accountability under the JJM framework. Under the ‘Jal Arpan’ initiative, the ownership of village water infrastructure is transferred to Gram Panchayats (GPs). The policy mandates that construction agencies must handle the operation and maintenance (O&M) of the water systems for a period of 10 years.

The Meghalaya government has launched the ‘Chief Minister’s Incentive for Success in Prelims and Innovative Rewards for Excellence’ (CM-INSPIRE) scheme for Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) aspirants.

The initiative aims to reduce the preparation costs of candidates and enhance the representation of the state in civil services.

The Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Vinai Kumar Saxena, has laid the foundation stone for the first Petroglyph Conservation Park of India on the banks of the Indus River at Sindhu Ghat (Leh, Ladakh). The ceremony was held on April 18, coinciding with World Heritage Day.

An MoU has been signed between the Department of Archives, Archaeology and Museums and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to facilitate scientific conservation, education, and research at the site.

The Meghalaya government has approved the ‘Meghalaya Official Languages Ordinance, 2026’, formally recognizing Khasi and Garo as official languages in addition to English. This ordinance, which repeals the ‘Meghalaya State Language Act, 2005’, authorizes the use of Khasi and Garo in official government orders, notifications, and correspondence.