Bihar

♦ Bihar has become the first state in the country to ensure that all polling stations have fewer than 1,200 electors, a move aimed at reducing overcrowding and enhancing voter convenience.

♦ The Election Commission has added 12,817 new polling stations across the state, raising the total number of polling stations from 77,895 to 90,712.

♦ The model is expected to serve as a template for other states and Union Territories ahead of future electoral exercises.

Indias first systematic programme

♦ The Uttarakhand forest department has launched India’s first systematic programme to reintroduce rare, endangered, and threatened (RET) plant species to their natural habitats.

♦ It aims to restore 14 critically endangered or threatened plant species to their original ecosystems in the Western Himalayas.  

♦ As part of the project, forest department researchers spent four years conducting rigorous groundwork in sub-zero temperatures across Himalayan altitudes ranging from 10,000 to 5,000 ft, collecting seeds, bulbs, and rhizomes of threatened species, many listed on the IUCN Red List, which were later successfully propagated at research labs in Auli, Munsyari, Mandal, and Gaja.

♦ pecies slated for rewilding under the programme include critically endangered plants like Gentiana kurroo (Traymana), Lilium polyphyllum (White Himalayan lily), Meizotropis pellita (Patwa), and Nardostachys jatamansi (Jatamansi/Indian Spikenard).

♦ Endangered species include Aconitum heterophyllum (Atis), Podophyllum hexandrum (Van Kakri), and Pittosporum eriocarpum (Tumdi/Doon Cheesewood). Paris polyphylla (Van Satuwa), listed as ‘vulnerable', is valued in Ayurveda, Chinese, and Tibetan medicine for treating snake bites, burns, and spasms.

♦ The remaining species are also classified as threatened by the Uttarakhand biodiversity board.

Indias second longest cable-stayed bridge

♦ Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari inaugurated India’s second longest cable-stayed Sigandur bridge across the Sharavathi backwaters in Sagar taluk of Shivamogga district in Karnataka. 

♦ The bridge between Sagara and Marakutika covers 2.44 kms and is 16 meters wide.

♦ Constructed at a cost of over Rs. 470 crore, this bridge will reduce the distance from Sagara town to Sigandur where the famous Chowdeshwari temple is situated.

♦ The minister named the bridge after goddess Chowdeshwari devi. 

Sikkim

♦ Yakten, a village in Sikkim’s Pakyong district, was officially declared India’s first digital nomad village.

♦ Pamin Lepcha, MLA and Advisor for Women, Child, Senior Citizen, and Divyangjan Welfare Department, inaugurated it.

♦ This marks a step towards creating a sustainable, community-driven destination for digital nomads from across the country and the world.

♦ It is designed for professionals seeking a balance between remote work and a peaceful lifestyle.

♦ The village is equipped with high-speed Wi-Fi networks to ensure reliable connectivity, while also promoting eco-friendly practices and fostering a sustainable remote work environment.

♦ This model not only provides a refreshing work environment but also supports local livelihoods in Sikkim.

Maratha Military Landscapes of India

♦ The “Maratha Military Landscapes of India” were officially inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List on 11 July 2025.

♦ This decision was taken at the 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Paris, France.  

♦ This significant recognition marks India’s 44th World Heritage site and highlights the country’s remarkable historical and architectural heritage, reflecting its enduring cultural legacy on the global stage.

♦ The nomination, submitted for the 2024–25 cycle, highlights a group of twelve strategically located forts that exemplify the Maratha Empire’s military acumen and architectural brilliance between the 17th and 19th centuries CE.

♦ The inscription followed a rigorous eighteen-month process that included multiple technical evaluations and an on-site mission by ICOMOS, the International Council on Monuments and Sites.

♦ The Maratha Military Landscapes comprise forts located across Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.

♦ The twelve forts include Salher, Shivneri, Lohgad, Khanderi, Raigad, Rajgad, Pratapgad, Suvarnadurg, Panhala, Vijaydurg, and Sindhudurg in Maharashtra, along with Gingee Fort in Tamil Nadu.