State PCS - Odisha (OPSC)

• 13 Mar 2026

Government Expands Mobile Connectivity in Odisha

Why in News? 

The Government of India, through the Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) programme, is providing substantial support to telecom operators to expand mobile connectivity in rural and remote areas of Odisha 

Key Points: 

• Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN): The programme aimed to enhance universal telecom access by promoting connectivity and telecommunication service delivery in rural, remote, and urban areas across the country.  
• Planned Towers: A total of 5,182 mobile towers are planned in Odisha to cover 7,157 villages, including 4,470 towers in 13 Fifth Schedule districts. 
• Subsidy: Funds amounting to ₹2,229.35 crore have been disbursed from the DBN to telecom operators to strengthen mobile connectivity in rural and remote parts of Odisha.  
  • This includes ₹1,859.95 crore allocated for districts under the Fifth Schedule. 
  • The project will provide mobile connectivity to villages previously without network access, bridging the digital divide. 
• Socio-Economic Benefits: Improved connectivity will facilitate education, e-governance, healthcare, and economic activities in remote regions. 
• Implementation: Towers are being constructed under 12 DBN-funded projects, monitored to ensure timely completion and quality. 
• Strategic Importance: Enhancing digital infrastructure in Odisha supports inclusive growth and rural development, strengthening the state’s integration with national digital networks. 

Read More:  Inclusive growth, Telecom Sector 

Bharat Tex 2026 — World’s Largest Integrated Textile Fair

Why in News? 

The Union Minister of Textiles, Giriraj Singh, launched Bharat Tex 2026, set to be India’s flagship global textile event and the world’s largest integrated textile fair, signalling India’s growing leadership in the global textile economy. 

Key Points: 

• Event: Bharat Tex 2026 was unveiled by the Union Minister of Textiles, with industry and export promotion councils joining hands to host the landmark event.  
  • It is envisaged as the largest and most comprehensive global textile platform covering the entire textile value chain. 
  • The event will showcase the full textile ecosystem, including fibres and yarns, fabrics, apparel and fashion, home textiles, technical textiles, handlooms, handicrafts, and intelligent manufacturing technologies. 
• Venue: The event is scheduled to be held in July 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. 
• Focus: Special focus will be on sustainable and circular textiles, technical textiles, MSME integration, innovation, and global market access. 
  • Bharat Tex 2026 will provide Indian MSMEs, start‑ups, designers, and academia a platform to showcase innovations, connect with global manufacturers and buyers, engage in high‑level discussions, and form strategic partnerships. 
• Industry‑Led Initiative: The event will be organised by the Bharat Tex Trade Federation (BTTF) — an umbrella group of textile Export Promotion Councils and industry bodies — highlighting strong collaboration between government and industry stakeholders.  

Read More: MSME, Export Promotion Councils 

Jal Mahotsav 2026

Why in News? 

The President of India, Droupadi Murmu, called for making water conservation an integral part of daily life while addressing the Jal Mahotsav 2026 in New Delhi, emphasising the critical role of sustainable water management for the nation’s future. 

Key Points 

• Event: Jal Mahotsav 2026, a nationwide campaign organised by the Ministry of Jal Shakti, is being observed in March 2026, to strengthen community participation in rural drinking water service delivery under the Jal Jeevan Mission. 
  • President Murmu urged citizens to view water not merely as a commodity but as a priceless national asset, and stressed that water conservation must become part of people’s daily life to secure future generations’ needs. 
  • She highlighted that water in India is deeply connected to culture, traditions, livelihoods, and community life, and recalled the historical struggle of villagers, especially women and children, who had to travel long distances to fetch drinking water. 
• Role: The Jal Jeevan Mission was launched to provide safe and adequate drinking water through functional tap connections in rural households, significantly improving water access and community health. 
• Community Ownership: The President emphasised the importance of community participation and ownership in water management, noting that involving local gram panchayats and Self‑Help Groups enhances sustainable conservation efforts. 
  • She also highlighted coordinated measures such as groundwater recharge, greywater management, and campaigns like Catch the Rain and Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari as crucial in strengthening water security nationwide. 
• Focus: Awareness among the younger generation and the active role of women, particularly through Self‑Help Groups in water testing and management, were underlined as key to long‑term water conservation success. 

Read More: Jal Jeevan Mission, Self‑Help Groups,  Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari 

India’s Low-Cost Strike Drones: Sheshnag-150 and Project KAL

Why in News? 

Low-cost drones are reshaping warfare, as seen in Ukraine for the last four years, and now in the Iran war. Iran's low-cost Shahed drones have inspired the US's LUCAS. In India, low-cost, deep-strike drone projects like Sheshnag-150 and Project KAL are picking pace. 

Key Points: 

• Equivalents to Iran's Shahed: India has fast-tracked several projects specifically designed to match the "low-cost, long-range" profile of the Shahed-136:  
• Sheshnaag-150: Developed by Bengaluru-based NewSpace Research and Technologies (NRT), this is India’s closest equivalent to the Shahed. 
  • Range: Over 1,000 km. 
  • Payload: Carries a 25–40 kg warhead. 
  • Key Feature: Unlike the simpler Shahed, it uses AI-powered swarm technology, allowing multiple units to coordinate autonomously to saturate and overwhelm enemy air defences. 
• Project KAL: A classified long-range kamikaze drone project by Noida-based IG Drones. 
  • It is designed for deep-penetration strikes with a range of up to 1,000 km and an endurance of 3 to 5 hours.  
• Inducted Low-Cost Tactical Drones: For frontline and infantry use, the Indian Army has already inducted smaller, man-portable suicide drones:  
• Nagastra-1: India's first indigenous man-portable suicide drone, developed by Solar Industries (EEL). 
  • Capability: Precision strikes with 2-metre accuracy and a range of up to 30 km. 
  • Cost Efficiency: Designed as a cheap solution to target lower-end threats like terrorist launch pads without risking soldiers. 
• SkyStriker: A loitering munition developed by Alpha Design (ADTL) in collaboration with Israel’s Elbit Systems.  
  • It has a range of 100 km and was recently deployed in forward areas of Jammu and Kashmir.  
• ALFA-S (Air Launched Flexible Asset - Swarm): A unique system being developed by HAL and NewSpace Research.  
  • These are swarm drones launched from fighter jets (like the Su-30MKI or Jaguar) that can autonomously identify and strike targets such as surface-to-air missiles and radars.

Chandigarh Becomes Second Fully Literate Union Territory with 99.93% Literacy

Why in News? 

Chandigarh has achieved a significant educational milestone by recording a 99.93% literacy rate, leading to its recognition as a fully literate Union Territory (UT) — the second UT in India after Ladakh to do so.  

Key Points: 

• The Announcement: It follows a comprehensive verification process under the New India Literacy Programme (NILP), marking the highest literacy level ever recorded for any state or UT in the country. 
• The Literacy Gap: Out of the total target population identified during the initial survey, the UT successfully educated and certified the remaining non-literate individuals, bringing the figure to near-absolute saturation. 
• Methodology: The status was achieved through the rigorous implementation of the Nav Bharat Saksharta Karyakram (New India Literacy Programme), which targets non-literates aged 15 years and above. 
• Verification: The 99.93% figure was validated through the Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Assessment Test (FLNAT) conducted across all government schools and community centres in the UT.  
• Factors Driving the Success:The UT administration mobilised "Vidyalaya Kalyan Samitis" and student volunteers from colleges to act as "Preraks" (instructors) for non-literate adults. 
  • Digital Integration: Extensive use of the ULLAS (Understanding Lifelong Learning for All in Society) mobile app helped track learners’ progress in real-time. 
  • Urban-Rural Convergence: Intensive drives were conducted in "Colonies" and peri-urban pockets of Chandigarh to ensure that migrant populations were included in the literacy net. 
  • Targeted Focus: Specific attention was given to functional literacy—teaching individuals not just to sign their names, but to perform basic banking tasks, read signboards, and use digital payment interfaces.  
• Significance:This achievement is a direct contribution to Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education), which aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.