The government of Meghalaya has strengthened its legal framework to protect its ancient sacred groves—forests traditionally preserved by tribal communities. Under the revised Sacred Grove Protection Act, groves are classified as cultural-ecological heritage zones. Any form of logging, development, or ritual that harms biodiversity is strictly pr…
India’s First Hydrogen-Powered Inland Waterway Vessel Debuts in Varanasi
The Ministry of Shipping and Inland Waterways has launched India’s first hydrogen-powered inland vessel on the Ganga River near Varanasi. This state-of-the-art ferry can carry 100 passengers and emits only water vapor. Developed in collaboration with IIT Madras and Cochin Shipyard, the vessel uses hydrogen fuel cells to run silently and efficien…
Andhra Pradesh Launches Zero-Fare Coastal Boat Transit
To connect island communities and reduce reliance on diesel boats, Andhra Pradesh has introduced zero-fare electric boats along the Krishna and Godavari deltas. Operated by solar-charging pontoons, these ferries connect 45 hamlets and transport over 30,000 passengers monthly. The boats are equipped with life jackets, GPS, and onboard medical kits.…
Indian Tech Startup Builds AI Avatars for Rural Telemedicine
A Bengaluru-based startup, Ayuvaa Health, has introduced AI-powered avatars that can converse with patients in 11 Indian languages, gather medical history, and provide basic health screening via smartphone. These avatars are currently being used in remote health centers in Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Rajasthan. The avatars can detect early sign…
Manipur Opens First Organic Tea Auction Center
Manipur has launched its first tea auction center dedicated exclusively to organic teas grown in the Senapati and Ukhrul hills. The center uses e-auction portals to ensure fair prices and direct access to buyers in Assam, Gujarat, and even Japan. Tea varieties like purple tea, white tea, and fermented herbal blends are receiving international atte…
Jharkhand Approves Tribal-Led Energy Cooperatives
The Jharkhand Renewable Energy Development Agency (JREDA) has approved the formation of the state’s first tribal-run solar energy cooperatives. These cooperatives own and manage decentralized solar microgrids serving 50 villages in West Singhbhum. Women-led management committees oversee billing, maintenance, and revenue-sharing. Households recei…
Telangana Tests Smart Glasses for Hearing-Impaired Students
Telangana’s Education Department has begun testing smart wearable glasses that convert spoken language into real-time text subtitles for hearing-impaired students. Built-in microphones capture nearby speech, transcribe it, and overlay text on the lens via a heads-up display. The devices also translate between Telugu and English. Pilots at three …
West Bengal Launches Floating Wetland Cafes in Kolkata Lakes
To raise awareness about wastewater treatment, West Bengal’s Lake Development Authority and food startups have launched floating cafe platforms in lakes like Rabindra Sarobar and Mumbai Maidan. These cafes host integrated floating wetland gardens below the decks that filter lake water through aquatic plants. Diners can see and learn how plants a…
Odisha Pilots Automatic Tidal Gates for Urban Flood Protection
In Bhubaneswar, Odisha’s Smart City Mission has constructed automatic tidal gates at canal junctions to prevent stormwater backflow during high tides. The gates, integrated with water-level sensors and IoT algorithms, automatically close during high tide and reopen afterwards. They reduce urban flooding without requiring manual activation. In re…
Himachal Pradesh Launches Himalayan Lichen Restoration Project
Confronted with degrading medicinal lichen habitats in high-altitude zones, Himachal’s Forest and Climate Change Department initiated a pilot project in Kullu and Lahaul to restore lichen-rich ledges. Restoration includes seeding sterile rock plates with lichen fragments, monitoring micro-moisture conditions, and collecting baseline data on inve…