State PCS - Uttarakhand (UKPSC)

• 03 Feb 2026

Uttarakhand Conferred ‘Best State for Promotion of Aviation Ecosystem

Why in News? 

Uttarakhand has been conferred the “Best State for Promotion of Aviation Ecosystem” award at Wings India 2026. 

Key Points 

• Event: Wings India 2026, a premier aviation conference and exhibition held at Begumpet Airport, Hyderabad. 
• Award: Uttarakhand received the “Best State for Promotion of Aviation Ecosystem” award, recognising its proactive policies and initiatives to develop aviation infrastructure and connectivity. 
  • The award reflects Uttarakhand’s transition from a difficult‑to‑access Himalayan region to one increasingly connected by air services, enhancing tourism, disaster management and public services. 
• Policy Initiatives: Uttarakhand has expanded air connectivity under the UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) scheme and developed heliports and airstrips. 
  • Improved civil aviation has boosted tourism, heli‑tourism and Char Dham Yatra accessibility, while aiding emergency medical services and disaster response in mountainous terrain. 
• National Recognition: The award was presented by the Union Minister for Civil Aviation, underscoring Uttarakhand’s national role in aviation development. 

Read More:  Wings India 2026, UDAN ,  Char Dham Yatra 

New Flowering Plant Hoya nagaensis Discovered in Nagaland

Why in News? 

Researchers from Nagaland University have discovered a new species of flowering plant in the high‑altitude of Nagaland. 

Key Points 

• Scientific name: Hoya nagaensis  
  • Documented during systematic botanical surveys in under‑explored forests. 
• Discovery: Kavünhou Community Reserved Forest, Phek district, Nagaland. 
  • The discovery underscores the importance of community‑protected forests in preserving rare and endemic species, as these forests remain largely untouched and biologically rich. 
• IUCN Status: Critically Endangered. 
• Biodiversity Hotspot: Nagaland’s high‑altitude forests are part of the Eastern Himalayan biodiversity hotspot. 
• Research Significance: The discovery contributes valuable data to India’s botanical records and global plant science, encouraging further ecological and conservation studies in the region. 

Read More: IUCN ,  Shifting cultivation, Biodiversity Hotspot 

SBI unveils CHAKRA Centre for financing sunrise sectors

Why in News? 

The State Bank of India (SBI) has launched a dedicated Centre of Excellence (CoE) named ‘CHAKRA’ to support financing of sunrise sectors and marks a strategic push by the country’s largest lender to channel capital into next-generation industries.  

Key Points: 

• Aim: This initiative aims to catalyse capital expenditure of over ₹100 lakh crore by 2030 in critical future-ready industries. 
• Vision:It will support project appraisal, evidence-based policy engagement, white papers and industry roundtables to inform investors and policymakers. 
• Eight Focused "Sunrise" Sectors: The CoE specifically targets sectors essential for the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision:  
  • Green Energy: Renewable Energy, Green Hydrogen & Ammonia, and Decarbonisation. 
  • Technology & Infrastructure: Semiconductors, Data Centre Infrastructure, and Smart Infrastructure. 
  • Future Mobility: Electric Mobility (E-mobility) and Advanced Cell Chemistry (ACC)/Battery Storage. 
• Risk Management: Unlike a typical think tank, CHAKRA is a "hands-on execution platform" designed to build specific risk models for emerging technologies to avoid misaligned or premature investments. 
• Global Partnerships: SBI has signed MoUs with 21 domestic and global financial institutions, including Japanese banks MUFG and SMBC, to enable joint project appraisal and co-financing. 

Read More: Sunrise sectors, Advanced Cell Chemistry (ACC), State Bank of India (SBI), Viksit Bharat 2047 

India’s First Mega Shipbuilding Cluster in Tamil Nadu

Why in News?

In a landmark move to position India as a global maritime hub, the National Shipbuilding & Heavy Industries Park, Tamil Nadu (NSHIP, TN) has been established as the country's first Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) dedicated to developing a mega shipbuilding cluster. 

Key Points: 

• Joint Venture: The SPV is a 50:50 partnership between the V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority (VOCPA)—a major port under the Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways—and the State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu (SIPCOT). 
• Strategic Location: The cluster will be developed at Thoothukudi (Tuticorin), leveraging its strategic proximity to international shipping lanes.  
• Project Specifications:The greenfield cluster will span approximately 2,000 acres, featuring a 2 km waterfront. 
  • 1,000 acres are earmarked specifically for shipyards. 
  • 1,000 acres will host ancillary industries, marine equipment manufacturing, and common social infrastructure. 
• Capacity Goal: The cluster is designed to house shipyards with a total capacity of roughly 1.2 million Gross Tonnage (GT) per annum. 
• Economic multiplier: The project is expected to generate employment for over 55,000 people and attract massive global investments. 
• Global Competitiveness: Helps India aim for higher share in global shipbuilding by developing a plug-and-play industrial hub.