State PCS - Haryana (HCS)

• 03 Feb 2026

39th Surajkund International Crafts Mela 2026 in Haryana

Why in News? 

The 39th Surajkund International Crafts Mela 2026 has commenced at Surajkund in Faridabad, Haryana. 

Key Points 

• Edition: This is the 39th edition of the Surajkund International Crafts Mela, organised annually since 1987. 
• Inauguration: The event was inaugurated by the Vice President of India, C. P. Radhakrishnan, in the presence of Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini. 
  • Theme: The theme for the 2026 edition is “Local to Global – Atmanirbhar Bharat”, focusing on promoting indigenous crafts on global platforms. 
• Theme States: Uttar Pradesh and Meghalaya are designated as the theme states, showcasing their unique crafts, traditions and cuisines.  
• Partner Country: The Partner Country for the 2026 mela is Egypt. 
• Cultural Events: Includes folk dances, music performances and cultural programmes representing India’s diverse traditions. 
  • Showcases handicrafts, handlooms, folk art, traditional paintings, metalwork, pottery, woodcraft and regional cuisines. 
• Significance: The mela provides a major platform for economic empowerment of artisans, preservation of traditional crafts, and promotion of cultural tourism.

Read More: 38th Surajkund International Crafts Mela 2025, Atmanirbhar Bharat 

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.