General Awareness

NATIONAL AFFAIRS - March 2019

Mar 2019

Oct 15, 2026

Spiti Valley inaugurates first battery-backed solar plant; Rongtong 2 MW plant with 1 MWh storage

On 14 October 2026, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu inaugurated the state's first battery-backed solar power plant at Rongtong, in the Kaza area of Spiti Valley. The 2 MW solar plant includes a 1 MWh Battery Energy Storage System and cost Rs 4.42 crore. Located about 3,600 metres above sea level, the facility is expected to generate around 36 lakh units of electricity annually. Construction began on 30 May 2023, and the plant was commissioned in December 2024. Sukhu announced Rs 6 crore to complete the Rongtong Hydel Power Project. Foundation stones were laid for 66/22 kV substations at Sumdo and Kaza, costing Rs 47.95 crore, to strengthen border-area power supply.

Date of inauguration: 14 October 2026.
Plant specs: 2 MW capacity with 1 MWh BESS; cost Rs 4.42 crore; altitude ~3,600 m.
Annual generation expected: ~36 lakh units.
Construction timeline: started 30 May 2023; commissioned December 2024; total generation 22,58,752 units up to 30 Sept 2026.
Funding for expansion: Rs 6 crore to complete Rongtong Hydel Project; Rs 47.95 crore for Sumdo and Kaza 66/22 kV substations.
Must-know (last 48 hours): National energy storage push advancing with grid-scale storage plans.

Oct 14, 2026

Om Prakash Mathur Appointed New Governor of Kerala

President Droupadi Murmu appointed Om Prakash Mathur as the new Governor of Kerala on 12 October 2026. Mathur previously served as Governor of Sikkim and will replace Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, who has been appointed Governor of Tamil Nadu. The appointments are part of gubernatorial changes announced for six Indian states and will take effect when appointees assume office. Analysts expect symmetry with other states, with Kerala gaining experienced leadership as the state navigates development and governance challenges. The move is part of broader central-government staffing changes intended to strengthen administrative coordination across constituencies. Local politicians welcomed the change as a step toward stability.

Appointment date: 12 October 2026; new governor: Om Prakash Mathur.
Previous post: Governor of Sikkim; successor of Rajendra Arlekar.
Context: part of six-state gubernatorial changes.
Implication: experienced leadership for Kerala.
Reception: cautious optimism from local politicians.

Oct 12, 2026

NHRC Observes 33rd Foundation Day in New Delhi

India's National Human Rights Commission observed its 33rd Foundation Day in October 2026 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. The event brought together policymakers, civil society leaders, and rights advocates to discuss the relevance of dignity and access to water as a human right. Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant attended as the Chief Guest, underscoring constitutional commitments to water justice. A national conference titled Water as the Elixir of Life: Advancing Human Dignity through the Right to Water explored clean drinking water, safe sanitation, conservation of water bodies, and equitable access for marginalized communities. NHRC officials emphasised monitoring and reporting mechanisms to safeguard fundamental rights related to water resources.

Venue: Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
Guest: Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant.
Theme: Water as the Elixir of Life and the Right to Water.
Topics: clean drinking water, water conservation, equitable access.
Focus: monitoring and reporting to safeguard water-related rights.

Oct 08, 2026

India and Ghana discuss MoUs to boost science and agriculture

India and Ghana signed two memoranda of understanding in October 2026 to deepen cooperation in science, education and agriculture. The MoUs foresee collaboration between Indian and Ghanaian institutions, including the Zoological Survey of India with the University of Ghana and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research with Ghana’s CSIR-Crops Research Institute. Officials also discussed closer engagement with ECOWAS and the African Union. While described as significant, formal signing and domestic approvals are pending in both capitals. The agreements reflect ongoing efforts to expand research links and development partnerships between the two countries.

Two MoUs signed in October 2026
Sectors: science, education, agriculture
Institutions: ZSI with University of Ghana; ICAR with CSIR-Ghana
Regional context: discussions on ECOWAS and AU
Status: formal signing/approvals pending

Oct 05, 2026

Punjab CM Mann releases Punjab Da Itihaas

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann released a three-volume historical work titled Punjab Da Itihaas at Punjab Kala Bhawan. The work runs to about 1,980 pages and documents Punjab’s historical development, cultural and social heritage, sacrifices and contribution to India. Mann said Punjab has long been an important centre of art, literature and culture, and the publication preserves this legacy for future generations. The volumes cover different eras and emphasize Punjab’s role in national history. The event drew scholars and writers and highlighted a push to preserve regional history for a broader audience.

Punjab Da Itihaas released by CM Mann at Punjab Kala Bhawan.
Three-volume work, about 1,980 pages.
Documents Punjab’s history, culture and heritage.
Emphasises Punjab’s contribution to India’s history.
Event gathered scholars and writers to celebrate regional history.

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