• 10 Dec 2025

MP Approves Industrial Package for Bundelkhand

Why in News? 

The Madhya Pradesh cabinet has sanctioned a special industrial incentive package aimed at transforming the economic landscape of the Bundelkhand region. 

• Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, presiding over the cabinet meeting in Khajuraho, emphasised industrial growth, employment expansion and improved infrastructure. 

Key Points 

• Investment: The package aims to attract Rs 24,240 crore in investments and generate nearly 29,000 direct jobs in the underdeveloped area. 
• Focus: The initiative centres on the Maswasi Grant industrial area in the Sagar division to accelerate regional industrialisation. 
• Incentives: Land allotment and lease rates have been fixed at Re 1 per sq metre, with development charges payable in 20 annual instalments and minimal maintenance fees. 
• Exemptions: The package offers 100% reimbursement of stamp duty and registration fees, along with a five-year electricity-duty exemption for new industrial units. 
• Policies: Large industries will operate under the Industrial Promotion Policy 2025, while MSMEs will follow the MSME Development Policy and Incentive Scheme 2025. 
• Exclusions: Cement manufacturing units have been specifically ruled out from availing benefits under this special incentive package. 
• Infrastructure: Additional decisions included improvements in irrigation systems and approval of funds for enhancing road connectivity across Bundelkhand.

Bundelkhand

• Bundelkhand is a geographical and cultural region spanning parts of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.  
• The semi-arid UP portion includes seven districts, Jhansi, Jalaun, Lalitpur, Mahoba, Hamirpur, Banda and Chitrakoot, while the MP portion includes districts such as Sagar, Chhatarpur, Tikamgarh, Damoh, Panna, Datia and Niwari.  
• It is a plateau region with scattered hills.  
• Jhansi is the largest city of Bundelkhand.  
• Historically known as Jejabhukti or Jejakabhukti during the Chandela period, the region came to be called Bundelkhand after the rise of the Bundela dynasty in the 13th–14th centuries. 

National Honour for Bharewa Craft

Why in News? 

Madhya Pradesh’s Bharewa tribal metal craft gained national recognition as President Droupadi Murmu honoured Betul artisan Baldev Waghmare with the National Handicraft Award. 

Key Points 

• Origin: The craft belongs to a Gond tribal sub-community, where metal-casting skills are transmitted across generations. 
• Tradition: Bharewa artistry is closely tied to Gond rituals, blending tradition with craftsmanship. 
• Creations: Artisans produce symbolic deity idols, traditional jewellery, and ritual accessories used in Gond ceremonies. 
• Craftwork: Decorative items such as peacock lamps, bullock carts, bells, anklets and mirror frames have gained international appeal. 
• Community: Bharewa families are mainly located in the Betul district, around 180 km from Bhopal. 
• GI-Status: Bharewa metal craft recently received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag, further strengthening its cultural significance. 
• Legacy: Awardee Baldev Waghmare revitalised the dwindling artisan community by transforming Tigriya into a craft hub, preserving the Bharewa art form passed down from his father and sustaining his family’s livelihood.

Gond Tribe 

• Large Tribal Group: The Gonds are one of the world’s largest tribal communities and the largest Scheduled Tribe in India. 
• Geographical Spread: They primarily live in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, with smaller populations in several other states. 
• Subgroups: Major Gond subdivisions include Raj Gonds, Madia Gonds, Dhurve Gonds and Khatulwar Gonds. 
• Culture & Beliefs: Their food staples are kodo and kutki millets; rice is reserved for festivals, and their belief system centres on nature deities governing earth, water and air. 
• Language: They mainly speak Gondi, a Dravidian language traditionally unwritten, though it is now recognised with emerging scripts. 

CDS Bipin Rawat Auditorium Inaugurated

Why in News? 

CM Yogi Adityanath unveiled a statue of India’s first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat on his fourth death anniversary. 

Key Points 

• Venue: The statue was inaugurated at Sainik School, Gorakhpur, where India’s first auditorium, named after General Rawat, was also inaugurated. 
• Organising Body: The statue installation was undertaken by the GBR Memorial Foundation of India. 
• Booklet Release: CM released a commemorative booklet detailing the life, service and contributions of General Rawat. 
• Purpose: The event aimed to honour Rawat’s military leadership, national service and role in strengthening India’s defence preparedness. 
• Public Message: CM highlighted Rawat as a symbol of discipline, duty and national commitment, urging students to draw inspiration from his life. 
• National Vision: The CM linked Rawat’s legacy with PM Modi’s “Panch Pran” vision, portraying him as a warrior devoted to national goals.

Chief of Defence Staff 

• The CDS is the highest-ranking military officer in India, serving as the principal military advisor to the Defence Minister on all tri-service matters and heading the Department of Military Affairs (DMA).  
  • The position was created to enhance jointness and coordination among the three services – Army, Navy, and Air Force. 
• CDS is the Permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee and a member of the Defence Acquisition Council. 

Rajasthan Clears Drinking Water Projects

Why in News? 

The Rajasthan government issued work orders for the Nonera and Parwan-Akawad drinking water projects under the Jal Jeevan Mission, with a combined cost of ₹5,184 crore. 

Key Points 

• Beneficiary Districts: Once completed, the projects will provide a regular drinking water supply to households in Kota, Bundi, Jhalawar and Baran districts. 
• Nonera Project Coverage: The Nonera project will supply water to 749 villages and 6 towns in Kota and Bundi, covering 1,13,287 families. 
• Nonera Infrastructure: With an approved cost of ₹1,661.14 crore, it includes 1 intake station, 3 water treatment plants, 14 reservoirs, 137 elevated tanks, and over 4,560 km of pipeline networks. 
• Parwan-Akawad Coverage: This project will benefit 1,402 villages, including 907 in Baran, 184 in Kota (Sangod), 311 in Jhalawar, plus 276 hamlets, serving 1,52,437 families. 
• Parwan-Akawad Infrastructure: With ₹3,523.16 crore approved, it includes 2 intake stations, 2 treatment plants, 41 reservoirs, 276 elevated tanks, and over 10,000 km of pipelines. 
• Completion Timeline – Both projects are targeted for completion by August 2027, supporting the state’s goal of ensuring tap water access to every household under the Jal Jeevan Mission.

Jal Jeevan Mission 

• About:  Launched on 15th August 2019, the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) aims to provide tap water to every rural household by 2024 (extended till 2028), targeting 55 litres per person per day. It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, implemented by the Ministry of Jal Shakti.  
• Objectives:  (Mnemonic: TAP) 
  • T – Target Every Rural Household: Provide Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTC) to all rural households.  
  • A – Areas of Priority: Focus on quality-affected, drought-prone, desert regions, and Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY) villages.  
  • P – Public Places: Ensure taps in schools, Anganwadi centers, gram panchayats, and community buildings.

Rajasthan to Deploy AI for Advanced Mineral Exploration

Why in News? 

Rajasthan is set to introduce artificial intelligence and machine learning in mineral exploration, marking a major technological shift in the mining sector. 

Key Points 

• Agreements: Two agreements will be signed during Pravasi Rajasthani Divas, one with IIT Hyderabad and another with IIT ISM Dhanbad. 
• National Alignment: The initiative supports national programmes like Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Digital India by improving exploration of critical and strategic minerals. 
• Data Collaboration: A letter of intent between RSMET and IIT Hyderabad will enable data exchange and collaborative research. 
• Mine Dump Study: The partnership with IIT ISM Dhanbad aims to scientifically assess mine dumps and tailings across Rajasthan. 
• Dataset Integration: Geological, geochemical, geophysical, remote sensing, and satellite datasets from 39 districts will be combined to identify mineral-rich zones. 
• Target Minerals: Exploration will focus on copper, graphite, zinc, lithium, cobalt, nickel, and rare earth elements. 
• Project Timeline: The IIT Hyderabad collaboration will be carried out in four phases over 18 months, creating a mineral development roadmap for the state. 
• Dumps Identified: The department has selected 80 mine dumps for evaluation under the one-year IIT ISM Dhanbad project, covering mapping, sampling, extraction studies and mineralogical analysis. 
• National Importance: Rajasthan plays a key role in India’s Critical Mineral Mission, driven by rising domestic and global demand for strategic minerals.

BMC Issues Tender for Gargai Dam Project

Why in News? 

After more than a decade of delay, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation issued a ₹3,000 crore tender to construct the 69-metre Gargai dam in Palghar district. 

Key Points 

• Tunnel Construction: The project includes a 1.6-kilometre tunnel with a diameter of 2.2 metres to carry water from Gargai to the Modak Sagar reservoir. 
• Dam Type: Gargai will be built as a roller-compacted concrete dam, similar to the Middle Vaitarna dam. 
• Water Supply Addition: Once operational, the dam will add 440 million litres per day to Mumbai’s drinking water supply, becoming the first new reservoir since Middle Vaitarna became operational in 2014. 
• Project History: The Maharashtra state government first approved Gargai as a water source for Mumbai in a Government Resolution in November 2013. 
• Construction Timeline: Although the execution period is four years, the corporation aims to complete the main dam structure in nine months, faster than the Middle Vaitarna dam, which took fifteen months. 
• Hydropower Component: A 1,200-kilowatt hydropower unit is included in the project to offset the dam’s electricity consumption. 
• Environmental Impact: Approximately three lakh trees will need to be transplanted to nearby villages, and compensatory afforestation is planned across 658 hectares in Washim, Chandrapur and Hingoli districts. 
• Pending Clearances: The project is awaiting major approvals, including state and central forest clearances and National Board for Wildlife permission from the Prime Minister’s Office.