• 24 Feb 2026

NHAI to Develop Bee Corridors Along National Highways

Why in News?

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has announced a pioneering initiative to create pollinator-friendly “Bee Corridors” along stretches of India’s National Highways as part of its sustainable infrastructure development strategy.

Key Points:

• First-of-Its-Kind: NHAI’s Bee Corridor programme will transform roadside plantations from decorative to ecologically functional green corridors that support pollinators such as honeybees and wild bees.
• Objective: The project aims to address declining pollinator populations, enhance biodiversity, and strengthen ecosystem services such as crop pollination that are vital for agriculture and food security.
  • The Bee Corridors will consist of continuous linear stretches of vegetation including flowering trees, shrubs, herbs, and grasses that provide nectar and pollen throughout the year.
• Native Species: Plant species such as Neem, Karanj, Mahua, Palash, Bottle Brush, Jamun, and Siris — known for their nectar and pollen richness — will be planted with staggered flowering patterns to ensure year-round support for pollinators. 
• Implementation Strategy: NHAI field offices will identify suitable stretches of National Highways and vacant land parcels for corridor development based on agro-climatic conditions and local ecological suitability.
  • In the 2026–27 fiscal year, NHAI plans to plant about 40 lakh trees along National Highways, with close to 60 % of these allocated under the Bee Corridor initiative. 
  • At least three dedicated pollinator corridors are expected to be developed during this period.
• Significance: The Bee Corridor initiative by NHAI represents a novel model of infrastructure-led ecological restoration, where India’s highway network is leveraged to support pollinator habitats and biodiversity.

Read More:  National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Bee Corridors, Green corridors, Agro-climatic, Biodiversity

Indian Manipuri Film ‘Boong’ Wins at BAFTA Awards 2026

Why in News?

The Manipuri-language Indian film ‘Boong’ made history by winning the Best Children’s and Family Film award at the 79th British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Awards 2026.

Key Points:

• Historic Win: Boong became the first Indian film to win the Best Children’s and Family Film category at the prestigious BAFTA Awards.
• Competition: The Manipuri film triumphed over renowned international titles such as Zootopia 2 and Lilo & Stitch.
• Film Background: Directed by Lakshmipriya Devi and backed by producers including Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani.
  • Boong is a coming-of-age drama that follows a young boy from Manipur on a heartfelt journey to reunite his family.
  • It premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2024 and has showcased at several international festivals.
• Theme: The film revolves around childhood, family bonds, identity, and emotional resilience, making it suitable for children and family audiences globally.
  • At the London ceremony, the director delivered an emotional acceptance speech, using the platform to highlight cultural narratives and call for peace, resonating with audiences globally.
• Significance: The film is a historic achievement for Indian cinema, marking the first time an Indian production has won in this category. 
  • The win brings global attention to the socio-cultural narratives of Northeast India, a region historically underrepresented in mainstream Indian cinema.

Read More: Northeast India

Vasai Cathedral Wins UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Award

Why in News?

The Our Lady of Grace Cathedral in Papdy, Vasai (Maharashtra), has been conferred with the Award of Merit at the 2025 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation.

Key Points:

• Period: Built in the mid-16th century (Portuguese colonial era)
• Historical Context: Vasai (earlier Baçaim) was a major Portuguese stronghold on India’s western coast.
  • The cathedral reflects the spread of Christianity, Indo-Portuguese architecture, and maritime trade networks in the early modern period.
• Conservation Project: The restoration strictly adhered to traditional techniques, using lime mortar and indigenous stone instead of modern cement to preserve the building's "breathability" and historical integrity.
• Community Participation: The project is a landmark example of crowdfunded conservation. 
  • The local parish community raised approximately ₹4.75 crore for the restoration without government grants.
• Technical Excellence: Led by conservation architect Ainsley Lewis, the work involved structural stabilization of the bell tower, repairing the Mangalore-tiled roof, and restoring intricate wood carvings.
• Legacy: The UNESCO jury noted that the project successfully preserved the cathedral as a "living heritage" site that remains central to the socio-cultural life of Vasai.
• UNESCO Award: The cathedral received the UNESCO Asia‑Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation.
  • These awards recognise:
    • Conservation of historic structures in the Asia-Pacific region
    • Projects that demonstrate authenticity, technical excellence, and community engagement

Read More: UNESCO

Regional Science Centres Project in Jammu and Kashmir

Why in News?

The Jammu and Kashmir government announced the establishment of a Regional Science Centre in Jammu and a Sub-Regional Science Centre in Srinagar to foster scientific temperament and innovation. 

Key Points:

• Sub-Regional Science Centre, Srinagar: Will function as a feeder institution linked to the Regional Science Centre.
  • Total Cost & Funding: Approved at ₹18.20 crore, with the Government of India fully funding the ₹14.00 crore capital cost and sharing the ₹4.20 crore corpus fund.
  • Progress: The R&B Department, Kashmir, utilized ₹1.24 crore in 2024–25, with 2025–26 plans focusing on land development and construction.
  • Features: The center will include a planetarium, an innovation hub, and a Science Innovation Dissemination Centre, which is being built at an additional cost of ₹2.79 crore. 
• Regional Science Centre, Jammu: Will serve as a hub-level science centre for the Jammu region and expected to cater to:
  • School and college students
  • Teachers and researchers
  • General public
• Vision: A comprehensive facility featuring a science museum, planetarium, and innovation hub, supported by initial budget allocations for development.
  • Science Centres in India: Science centres are key instruments for:
  • Scientific temper (Article 51A(h) of the Constitution)
  • Informal science education
  • Innovation and curiosity among youth
  • They function under the guidance of the National Council of Science Museums (NCSM), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Culture.
• S&T Promotion: Aligns with the National Council of Science Museums (NCSM) goals to promote scientific culture.
• Governance & Education: Demonstrates collaborative efforts between the Centre and UT for enhancing experiential learning and scientific infrastructure.

HC: Interfaith Marriages Not Barred by UP Conversion Law

Why in News?

The Allahabad High Court clarified that the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act does not prohibit interfaith marriages or prevent couples from living together in a live-in relationship.

Key Points:

• Court Ruling: The High Court held that interfaith marriage and live-in relationships between consenting adults are not barred by the anti-conversion law. 
  • It emphasised that the law only applies when there is actual conversion conducted through force, fraud, coercion, allurement or similar means.
• Fundamental Rights Upheld: The Bench relied on Articles 14 (right to equality), 15 (prohibition of discrimination) and 21 (right to life and personal liberty) of the Constitution of India to affirm that adults have the right to choose their partner regardless of religion.
• Conversion Requirement: The Court clarified that for the anti-conversion law to apply, there must be evidence of conversion of religion — simply marrying or living with someone of a different faith does not amount to conversion.
• Background: The judgment arose from a batch of 12 petitions filed by interfaith couples seeking protection amid social and familial opposition. 
  • The court noted that no complainant in the cases alleged any forced or fraudulent religious conversion.
  • The High Court has earlier granted protection to interfaith couples, consistently holding that adult choice in marriage cannot be interfered with by family members or the state without legal basis.
• Impact: The clarification prevents the misuse of anti-conversion provisions to harass interfaith couples and ensures that the law is applied strictly in cases involving coercive or fraudulent conversion.
• Significance: The ruling clarifies that interfaith marriages and live-in relationships between consenting adults do not fall foul of the Uttar Pradesh anti-conversion law, upholding constitutional protections and narrowing the legal interpretation of the statute.

Read More: High Court, Fundamental Rights, UP anti-conversion law

MP Extends Bhavantar Payment Scheme to Mustard Farmers

Why in News?

The Madhya Pradesh government has extended the Bhavantar scheme to mustard and announced support measures for key crops to boost farmers’ income.

Key Points:

• Agricultural Focus: The state has declared the year 2026 as “Krishak Kalyan Varsh” (Farmers’ Welfare Year) to prioritise policies that enhance farmers’ earnings and promote crop diversification.
• Five Target Crops: The major crops covered under the new support announcements include urd (black gram), mustard, chana (gram), masoor (lentil), and tuar (pigeon pea).
  • Farmers growing urd will receive a bonus of ₹600 per quintal in addition to the minimum support price (MSP), encouraging cultivation of this pulse crop.
• Bhavantar for Mustard: The Government has extended the Bhavantar Payment Scheme to mustard, meaning that mustard growers will be compensated for any shortfall between the MSP and the actual market price under this price difference mechanism. 
  • A proposal has been forwarded to the Centre for purchase of tuar (pigeon pea) under price support arrangements through central procurement agencies like NAFED and NCCF.
• Objective: These measures are intended to ensure that farmers receive beneficial prices for their produce, reduce risks of price volatility, promote crop diversification, and ultimately bolster rural incomes.
• Significance: Madhya Pradesh’s latest agricultural policy announcements reflect a multi-pronged strategy to empower farmers through financial incentives, strengthened procurement systems, and price risk mitigation for major crops.
  • These decisions reaffirm the state government’s focus on rural development and long-term agricultural resilience.

Read More:  Bhavantar scheme, MP Budget 2026-27, NAFED , MSP

National Science Day 2026

Why in News?

India observed National Science Day 2026 on 28 February 2026 with the theme “Women in Science: Catalysing Viksit Bharat”.

Key Points:

• Background: National Science Day was celebrated across India on 28 February to honour the discovery of the Raman Effect by physicist C.V. Raman in 1928, which earned him the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930.
• 2026 Theme: The theme “Women in Science: Catalysing Viksit Bharat” emphasised the contribution of women scientists and innovators in building a developed India, recognising their efforts in research, technology, and STEM fields.
  • The theme aligned with international efforts such as the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, promoting gender equality and enhanced participation of women in scientific research.
• National Celebrations: Schools, colleges, research institutions, and science centres organised science exhibitions, workshops, debates, competitions, and public awareness programmes to celebrate women’s contributions and inspire future generations of scientists.
• Significance: The day promoted scientific temper among citizens and acknowledged the role of science in national development, while the 2026 theme focused on reducing gender gaps in STEM and advancing women-led scientific progress.

Read More: Viksit Bharat, C.V. Raman, National Science Day 2025

Chhattisgarh Develops ‘Hornbill Restaurants’

Why in News?

The Chhattisgarh Forest Department initiated a unique wildlife conservation project by creating six “hornbill restaurants” in the Udanti Sitanadi Tiger Reserve, aimed at providing a food‑rich habitat for the rare Malabar Pied Hornbill and enhancing forest regeneration. 

Key Points:

• Conservation Initiative: The forest department started establishing six hornbill restaurants — not actual eateries but clusters of fruit‑bearing trees. 
• Objective: These plantations are designed to offer year‑round fruit resources for the hornbills, ensuring stable food availability and encouraging the birds to settle and breed in the region.
• Species Focus: The Malabar Pied Hornbill (Anthracoceros coronatus) is a forest bird with striking black and white plumage and a large casque.
  • IUCN Status: It is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List, and its presence in central India’s forests is considered ecologically significant.
  • WPA Status: It is protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act
• Ecological Importance: Hornbills are keystone seed dispersers — by eating fruit and spreading seeds across wide areas, they help regenerate forests, maintain plant biodiversity and support ecosystem health. 
  • In addition to improving habitat quality inside the tiger reserve, trees are also being planted near villages to enable residents and tourists to view hornbills safely, potentially boosting eco‑tourism.
• Significance: Chhattisgarh’s hornbill restaurant initiative reflects an innovative and ecosystem‑centric approach to wildlife conservation, focusing on restoring natural habitats, supporting threatened species, and promoting ecological harmony and eco‑tourism in and around tiger reserves. 

Read More: Udanti Sitanadi Tiger Reserve, Biodiversity, Ecosystem