Key Points:

• Nomination: Nagaland has proposed Dzükou Valley as its entry under the national programme to develop 50 world-class tourist destinations. The proposal was presented by Temjen Imna Along, State Minister for Tourism and Higher Education, at the National Conference of State Tourism Ministers in Udaipur.

1. Summary of Achievement

The state of Chhattisgarh has achieved a significant conservation milestone with the successful reintroduction and revival of the blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra) population. Once declared locally extinct for nearly five decades, the species is now thriving in the Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary, marking a triumph for focused wildlife management and habitat restoration efforts.

• Recent reports highlight growing concerns that Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) are being used by wealthy nations to enforce strict intellectual property (IP) rules on seeds, threatening traditional farming practices, especially in developing countries.

• The Ministry of Mines has released the State Mining Readiness Index (SMRI) 2025, a new framework to evaluate how well Indian states are adopting mining reforms and sustainable practices. Announced in the Union Budget 2025–26, this index aims to enhance transparency, boost competitiveness, and modernise the mining sector across the country.

• Significant decisions to support farmers, enhance MSMEs and help vulnerable communities have been passed by the Cabinet of Madhya Pradesh. One of the breakthroughs is the fact that the state made a historic purchase of Kodo and Kutki millets, which guaranteed fair prices and promoted the millet farming.