State PCS - West Bengal (WBCS)

• 21 Apr 2026

Poila Boishakh Celebrated Across West Bengal

Why in News?  

Poila Boishakh, the Bengali New Year, was celebrated across West Bengal with great enthusiasm, devotion and traditional cultural activities marking the beginning of the Bengali calendar year.  

Key Points  

• Bengali New Year: Poila Boishakh marks the first day of the Bengali calendar month ‘Boishakh’ and celebrates the beginning of the Bengali New Year.  
  • It is celebrated on April 15 and marks the beginning of the year 1433 in the Bengali calendar.  
  • The festival holds great cultural significance for Bengalis in West Bengal, Bangladesh and other parts of India with Bengali communities.   
• Greetings: People greet each other with the phrase “Shubho Noboborsho”.  
• Traditional Attire: People celebrated the occasion by wearing traditional Bengali clothing, including sarees for women and kurta–pyjama or dhoti–kurta for men.  
• Prabhat Pheris: Social organisations, clubs and schools organised ‘Prabhat Pheri’ (morning processions) to mark the festival.  
• Haal Khata Ceremony: Traders and shopkeepers performed the Haal Khata ritual, opening new account books for the new financial year. 

Kankaria Becomes India’s First Water-Neutral Railway Depot

Why in News?  

The Kankaria Coaching Depot in Ahmedabad has been declared India’s first “water-neutral railway depot”, achieving a major milestone in sustainable water management. 

Key Points  

• First in India: Kankaria Coaching Depot (Ahmedabad, Gujarat) becomes the first railway depot in India to achieve water neutrality.  
  • The depot saves nearly 1.6 lakh litres of water daily, which is equivalent to more than 300 household water tanks.  
  • This leads to an estimated saving of about 5.84 crore litres of water annually.  
• Recycling: The depot treats and reuses wastewater generated from coach washing and maintenance operations, ensuring zero wastage.  
  • Water undergoes a scientific multi-stage process, including wetland-based treatment, sand filtration, carbon filtration, and UV disinfection.  
  • A key feature of the system is phytoremediation, where plants are used to naturally absorb and remove pollutants from wastewater.  
• Model for Indian Railways: The depot is being seen as a replicable model for other railway depots and stations across the country.  

Read More: Wastewater Treatment 

Meghalaya Recognises Khasi and Garo as Official Languages

Why in News? 

In a landmark reform aimed at linguistic preservation and administrative inclusivity, the Meghalaya Cabinet approved the Meghalaya Official Languages Ordinance, 2026. This decision grants Khasi and Garo full official status alongside English, marking a historic shift in the state's language policy.  

Key Points 

• Repeal of 2005 Act: The new ordinance repeals the Meghalaya State Language Act, 2005, which previously designated English as the sole official language, with Khasi and Garo functioning only as "associate" languages. 
• Phased Implementation: While the status is granted immediately, the full rollout will be gradual.  
  • The state must first establish translation systems, recruit personnel, and create the necessary administrative infrastructure. 
• Administrative Use: Official government notifications, orders, and communications will eventually be issued in all three languages—English, Khasi, and Garo. 
• Legislative Changes: The state plans to amend the Meghalaya State Legislature (Continuance of the English Language) Act, 1980.  
  • This will allow legislators to speak and debate in their native Khasi and Garo during assembly sessions. 
• Constitutional Significance: By exercising powers under Article 345 of the Indian Constitution, the state government has officially formalised the use of indigenous languages for administrative purposes. 
• Eighth Schedule Demand: Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma stated that according state-level official status is a strategic move to strengthen the long-standing demand for the inclusion of Khasi and Garo in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.  
• Link Language: Despite the new status for indigenous tongues, English will continue to serve as the "common thread" or link language for inter-district communication and formal file notings to ensure administrative continuity.

Read More:Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. 

Dr. Ch. Srinivasa Rao Honoured with 9th Prof. M.S. Swaminathan Award

Why in News?

Dr. Ch. Srinivasa Rao, Director of the ICAR-National Academy of Agricultural Research Management (NAARM), has been conferred with the prestigious 9th Prof. M.S. Swaminathan Award for the 2024-2025 period. The award recognises his pioneering contribution to Climate-Resilient Agriculture (CRA) and sustainable dryland farming in India.  

Key Points: 

• Climate Adaptation: Dr. Rao has played a critical role in developing and scaling climate-resilient technologies across rainfed regions in India, focusing on soil health and carbon sequestration. 
• Policy Planning: He was instrumental in designing the National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) project, which helps farmers adapt to extreme weather events like droughts and heatwaves. 
• Contingency Mapping: His work includes the development of district-level agricultural contingency plans for over 650 districts in India, providing a roadmap for state governments to handle monsoon variability. 
• Soil Management: His research on soil carbon sequestration and "Climate-Smart" villages has helped smallholder farmers improve crop yields while reducing the environmental footprint of farming. 
• Significance: In the era of global boiling and unpredictable monsoons, Dr. Rao’s recognition underscores the shift in Indian agriculture from "production-centric" to "resilience-centric."  
• Climate Goals Alignment: His efforts align with India’s National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) and the goal of making Indian agriculture self-reliant (Atmanirbhar) in the face of climate challenges. 

Read More: M.S. Swaminathan Award