Urban Sanitation
Bengaluru’s Swachh Survekshan Leap
In Swachh Survekshan 2024-25, Bengaluru jumped from 125th to 36th place among million-plus cities, showing dramatic improvement under Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban. However, challenges remain in toilet cleanliness and landfill remediation, indicating areas needing continued focus.
Cleanliness Excellence
Mysuru’s Super Swachh League Status
Mysuru joined the Super Swachh League due to consistent cleanliness efforts over time and strong community engagement in sanitation. This recognition highlights the importance of sustained public participation and long-term commitment to urban sanitation excellence.
Industrial Development
Vidarbha’s First Integrated Steel Plant
Maharashtra unveiled Vidarbha’s first integrated steel plant in Gadchiroli with 4.5 MnTPA steel capacity, 5 MnTPA iron ore grinding, and the state’s first 10 MnTPA slurry pipeline. The project aims to boost industrial growth, green logistics, and employment in the region.
Climate Finance
HSBC’s Net Zero Alliance Exit
HSBC became the first UK-based bank to exit the Net Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA), following similar moves by US and Canadian lenders. Despite reaffirming its net-zero 2050 goal, this decision raised concerns about climate risk management and global banking coordination on climate action.
Electric Mobility
Tesla’s India Entry
Tesla launched its first showroom in India at Mumbai’s Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), introducing the Model Y starting at βΉ59.89 lakh with fast-charging solutions. This strengthens Mumbai as an automotive innovation hub and supports India’s electric mobility transition.
Defence Manufacturing
Vimananu-CYGR UAV Partnership
The Vimananu-CYGR collaboration strengthens India’s UAV manufacturing for defence and export markets, focusing on ISR drones, nano drones, and fixed-wing UAVs. This partnership aims to enhance indigenous drone capabilities for military applications and global competitiveness.
Urban Resilience
Vijayawada’s Flood Recovery Excellence
Vijayawada earned a seven-star garbage-free rating and top-four national ranking despite 2024 flood challenges. This success demonstrates effective waste management, public engagement, and rapid post-disaster recovery, showcasing urban resilience in sanitation.
STEM Education
IChO 2025 Success
At the 57th International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO) in Dubai 2025, India secured two gold and two silver medals. This achievement reflects the strength of India’s STEM education ecosystem, supported by HBCSE-TIFR, DAE, DST, and MoE.
Geospatial Technology
INCOIS Geospatial Award
INCOIS (Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services) received the National Geospatial Practitioner Award 2025 at IIT Bombay for pioneering open-source GIS technology in ocean information and disaster alert systems, supporting marine governance and public safety.
Maritime Diplomacy
SIMBEX 2025 Naval Exercise
SIMBEX 2025, India-Singapore naval exercise, aligns with Act East Policy, SAGAR vision (Security and Growth for All in the Region), and Indo-Pacific cooperation goals. This strengthens regional maritime security and bilateral defence ties in the Indo-Pacific region.