State PCS - Maharashtra (MPSC)

• 01 May 2025

CareEdge State Ranking Report 2025

Why in News? 

Maharashtra has emerged as the top-performing state in the CareEdge State Ranking Report 2025 released by CARE Ratings Ltd (CareEdge Ratings), India's second-largest rating agency. 

 Key Points 

• The CareEdge State Rankings: 
  • About: 
    • It is the second edition of the CareEdge State Rankings, which offers a holistic evaluation of state performance across seven key pillars: 
      • Economic performance 
      • Fiscal management 
      • Infrastructure development 
      • Financial sector growth 
      • Social development 
      • Governance quality 
      • Environmental sustainability 
    • Together, these pillars are assessed using 50 measurable indicators. 
  • Aim:  
    • The primary aim is to provide a quantitative, data-driven evaluation of how Indian states are performing across critical development dimensions. 
    • The rankings serve as a benchmarking tool to identify strengths, gaps, and opportunities for policy improvement. 
  • Approach and Methodology: 
    • The report adopts an objective and evidence-based approach, focusing on both sustained growth and the inclusiveness of development models. 
    • It also evaluates investment potential, making the findings relevant for businesses, investors, and policymakers. 
  • Scope of the Assessment: 
    • The rankings encompass a broad spectrum of governance and development indicators, offering a comprehensive picture of state-level competitiveness. 
    • The assessment reflects both current performance and long-term capacity for growth. 
    • The rankings exclude Union Territories and aim to present a data-driven assessment of state competitiveness and investment appeal. 
• State’s Ranking 2025: 
  • Top Performers Among Large States: 
    • Maharashtra secured the top rank in CareEdge Ratings’ 2025 Composite State Ranking. 
    • Gujarat and Karnataka followed, occupying the second and third positions respectively. 
    • Western (Maharashtra, Gujarat) and Southern states (Karnataka, Telangana, Tamil Nadu) dominate the top five ranks. 
  • Bottom Performers Among Large States: 
    • Bihar (17th), Jharkhand (16th), and Madhya Pradesh (15th) were the lowest ranked large states. 
  • Performance Highlights by Region: 
    • Western States: Excelled in economic, fiscal, and financial development indicators. 
    • Southern States: Strong performers in governance, environment, financial development, and economic pillars. 
    • Group B (Northeast, Hilly & Small States) Rankings: 
      • Goa topped the list, with high scores in financial development, infrastructure, fiscal, social, and economic indicators. 
      • Other top performers: Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, and Assam. 
      • Nagaland (11th), Manipur (10th), and Arunachal Pradesh (9th) were at the bottom of Group B. 
• Notable Subject-wise Highlights: 
  • Economic Rankings: 
    • Gujarat led the economic pillar, driven by strong per capita GSDP, FDI inflow, and Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GFCF). 
    • Karnataka and Maharashtra followed due to robust industrial and service sector contributions. 
    • In Group B, Sikkim performed best, led by strong GSDP and sectoral output. 
• Fiscal Rankings: 
  • Odisha ranked highest due to effective debt management, low revenue deficit, and prudent expenditure. 
    • Gujarat and Maharashtra followed. 
  • In Group B, Uttarakhand stood out for maintaining low deficits and better public spending. 
• Financial Development Rankings: 
  • Maharashtra topped this category with high credit disbursements and deep penetration of mutual funds and insurance. 
  • Telangana and Haryana followed; the latter excelled in NBFC credit and PMJDY balances. 
  • Goa led Group B with a wide margin. 
• Infrastructure Rankings: 
  • Punjab and Haryana led among large states due to high power availability, rail density, and irrigated land. 
  • In Group B, Goa performed best, backed by strong scores in road and rail density, air traffic, and doctor availability. 
• Social Rankings: 
  • Kerala topped the social pillar with impressive indicators, though it lagged in unemployment. 
  • Tamil Nadu also showed consistent performance. 
  • In Group B, Goa and Mizoram led with strong outcomes in literacy, infant mortality, and poverty reduction. 
• Governance Rankings: 
  • Andhra Pradesh topped with high scores in court efficiency, business environment, and public e-services. 
  • Madhya Pradesh followed, noted for judicial delivery and digital governance. 
  • In Group B, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh excelled in governance metrics. 
• Environment Rankings: 
  • Karnataka led in air quality and renewable energy. 
  • Telangana performed well in forest cover growth and drinking water access. 
  • In Group B, Himachal Pradesh stood out with strong performance in green energy, water access, and forest conservation. 

WAVES 2025 Summit begins in Mumbai

Why in News? 

The Government of India begins the World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2025 at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai.  

 Key Points 

• WAVES 2025: 
  • It is a global summit for the media and entertainment (M&E) industry, organized by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.  
  • It aims to promote dialogue, innovation, and collaboration across the media and entertainment (M&E) sector, boosting India's role as a global hub for digital content and innovation. 
• Four Core Pillars of the Summit: 
  • WAVES 2025 is built around four key thematic tracks: 
    • Broadcasting & Infotainment 
    • AVGC-XR (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics & Extended Reality) 
    • Digital Media & Innovation 
    • Films 
  • These tracks cover a wide spectrum from traditional broadcasting to cutting-edge technologies such as generative AI, virtual reality, and the metaverse. 
• Create in India Challenge & The Creatosphere: 
  • A key attraction is the “Create in India Challenge”, which received over 85,000 entries, including 1,100 from abroad. 
  • After a rigorous selection process, 750 finalists will showcase their talent at the Creatosphere, a dedicated exhibition space. 
  • The Creatosphere includes: 
    • Masterclasses and workshops 
    • A gaming arena 
    • The Grand Finale of the challenge 
    • The WAVES CIC Awards 
• Global Media Dialogue and Thought Leadership: 
  • On 2 May, the Global Media Dialogue will bring together policymakers, media professionals, and industry leaders to discuss international collaboration, media ethics, and innovation. 
  • The Thought Leaders Track will host global CEOs and experts for plenary and breakout sessions, focusing on strategic partnerships and emerging trends. 
• WaveXcelerator:  
  • The WaveXcelerator platform will connect startups with investors and mentors through live pitch sessions. 
  • It aims to nurture innovation and accelerate the growth of India’s media and entertainment startup ecosystem. 
• WAVES Bazaar and Viewing Room Library: 
  • The WAVES Bazaar will serve as a marketplace for content creators and media professionals to explore collaboration and content trade. 
  • The Viewing Room Library will screen 100 curated films from eight countries, including India, the USA, Germany, Sri Lanka, and the UAE. 
• Bharat Pavilion:  
  • The Bharat Pavilion will feature four immersive storytelling zones — Shruti, Kriti, Drishti, and Creator’s Leap — under the theme “Kala to Code”. 
  • These zones celebrate India's transition from traditional arts to digital creativity and global cultural engagement. 
• Technology, Innovation & Community Media: 
  • The Exhibition Pavilion will showcase the latest technological innovations in the media and entertainment sector. 
  • A National Sammelan on Community Radio will highlight the role of local radio in empowering communities and amplifying grassroots voices. 
• Cultural Showcase: 
  • WAVES 2025 also features a cultural programme with Indian and international performances, celebrating the power of media to foster cross-cultural dialogue and understanding.

Multi Modal Logistic Park in Nagpur

Why in News? 

Under the PM Gati Shakti initiative, the Multi Modal Logistics Park (MMLP) at Nagpur, Maharashtra began commercial operations to boost seamless connectivity and reduce travel time across transport modes. 

 Key Points 

• About MMLP Nagpur: 
  • The Multi Modal Logistics Park (MMLP) Nagpur is developed by National Highway Logistics Management Limited (NHLML). 
    • NHLML, a wholly owned subsidiary of National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), has partnered with a private developer to build the MMLP over 150 acres in three phases under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. 
  • The total concession period is 45 years, with a project cost of Rs 673 crore. 
    • Phase-I is being developed with an investment of Rs 137 crore. 
  • The project is expected to generate employment, support regional economic development, and position Nagpur as a logistics hub within central India. 
• Strategic Importance: 
  • MMLP Nagpur aims to enhance multi-modal freight movement, reducing both logistics cost and transit time. 
  • It will provide modern warehousing and real-time tracking capabilities to improve the efficiency of India's freight ecosystem. 

 Multi Modal Logistics Park (MMLP) 

• About: 
  • Developed under a ‘Hub & Spoke’ model, the MMLP will integrate multiple modes of freight transport through highways, railways & inland waterways. 
  • The Multi Modal Logistic Park project is poised to develop state-of-the-art large scale warehousing facilities for different types of commodities, to become a one stop solution for all services related to cargo movement like warehousing, custom clearance, parking, maintenance of trucks etc. 
    • It will have all the facilities like warehouses, railway siding, cold storage, custom clearance house, yard facility, workshops, petrol pumps, truck parking, administrative building, boarding lodging, eating joints, water treatment plant, etc. 
• Focus: 
  • The MMLPs will focus on a technology driven implementation for a state-of-the-art freight management system. 
    • Many value-added services like packaging, repackaging and labelling will be available in these projects. 
  • MMLP will be a freight handling facility for mechanised material handling and value-added services along with other associated facilities. 

 National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) 

• NHAI was established under the NHAI Act of 1988 under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. 
• It oversees the National Highways Development Project (NHDP) and other projects. 
• India's national highway network covers about 146,000 kilometers. 

 PM GatiShakti  

• The PM Gati Shakti, launched in October 2021 is a transformative Rs. 100 lakh crore initiative aimed at revolutionising India’s infrastructure over the next five years.   
• It has been developed as a Digital Master Planning tool by BISAG-N (Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geoinformatics).  
  • It has been prepared in a dynamic Geographic Information System (GIS) platform wherein data on specific action plans of all the Ministries/Departments have been incorporated within a comprehensive database.  
• The plan seeks to accelerate project completion, reduce timelines, and enhance India’s global competitiveness by breaking down inter-ministerial obstacles.  
• The vision of PM GatiShakti is to create a world-class infrastructure that improves the ease of living, boosts economic growth and makes Indian businesses more competitive.