Chhattisgarh Plans ₹100 Cr Bastar Tourism Corridor with 75% Subsidy, 228 New Roads to Counter LWE Legacy

Triangular Security Grid Approved for Siliguri Corridor: Garrisons at Dhubri, Kishanganj, Chopra

Home Minister Amit Shah reviewed security of the Siliguri Corridor (Chicken's Neck) and announced a 'Triangular Security Grid' with three new military garrisons at Dhubri (Assam), Kishanganj (Bihar), and Chopra (West Bengal). This is critical for national security as the corridor is the only land link connecting 8 northeastern states to the rest of India.

AFSPA Extended for 6 Months in Manipur, Nagaland, Arunachal; 13 Police Stations Excluded

The Centre has extended AFSPA in specified 'disturbed areas' of Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh for another six months from October 1, 2026. In Manipur, the whole State is covered except areas under 13 police stations in five districts; Nagaland covers 9 districts plus 21 police stations in 5 districts; Arunachal Pradesh covers Tirap, Changlang, Longding and three police stations in Namsai. Exam relevance: Section 3 power, MHA notification, and state-wise exclusions are high-yield prelims facts.

DDA Approves Master Plan Delhi 2047: Land Pooling, GDA Policy, 3,500 Hectares Unauthorised

DDA has approved the Master Plan for Delhi-2047, ending a five-year delay and setting Delhi's 20-year framework for housing, transport and green spaces. The plan focuses on land pooling, GDA policy, TOD and regularisation of unauthorised colonies amid a severe affordable housing crunch. For exams, remember the approval body, the 1957 Act, and the housing data: affordable supply fell from 62% to 11%, luxury share hit 70%.

DDA Mandates Land Pooling via TPS Under Delhi Master Plan-2047; 105 Villages, 12 Lakh Homes Targeted

The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) is introducing mandatory Town Planning Schemes (TPS) under the Master Plan for Delhi-2047 to enforce land pooling in areas where voluntary consortium formation has failed. This move targets 105 villages across six zones, potentially unlocking land for 12 lakh homes, and shifts DDA's role from developer to facilitator.

AP Pedestrian Safety Policy 2026: SC Recognises Right to Walk, 36,526 Pedestrian Deaths in 2024, Section 198A Fine

The Supreme Court recognized the right to walk on footpaths as a fundamental right. Andhra Pradesh became the first state to notify a pedestrian safety policy, mandating audits, removal of encroachments, and a Rs 1 lakh fine under Section 198A MV Act for infrastructure failure causing death. With 1 in 5 road deaths being pedestrians (36,526 in 2024), this policy is a landmark for urban governance and social justice.

Centre Constitutes Pankaj Kumar Singh-led Committee for Gorkha Permanent Political Solution

After decades of demand for Gorkhaland statehood, the Union Home Ministry has set up a committee chaired by former Deputy NSA Pankaj Kumar Singh to finalise a 'permanent political solution' for the Darjeeling hills. The decision, announced at a meeting on August 22, 2026, comes when both Centre and West Bengal are under BJP rule, making it a politically opportune moment. The solution may involve creation of a separate state or Union Territory, with significant implications for West Bengal's integrity and India's strategic interests in the Siliguri Corridor.

CAG Audit of Smart City Mission Flags ₹279 Cr Dropped Projects, Unplanned ₹190 Cr Spend in Chennai

CAG performance audit of Smart City Mission in Tamil Nadu reveals systematic deviations: 8 projects worth ₹279 crore dropped without justification, 20 unplanned projects worth ₹190 crore taken up without citizen consultation, and ₹76 crore spent outside designated Smart City area. Highlights severe governance and accountability gaps in India's flagship urban development scheme, directly relevant to UPSC Mains on urban governance, audit mechanisms, and public finance.

Odisha Draft Pedestrian Safety Rules 2026 Mandate Footpaths, Section 198A Action

Odisha has proposed draft Pedestrian Safety Rules, 2026, making pedestrian paths mandatory for new and upgraded roads. The rules hold road-owning agencies, contractors, and consultants accountable under Section 198A of the Motor Vehicles Act for faulty designs causing pedestrian death or injury. This marks a significant step toward pedestrian rights and safer urban infrastructure, relevant for governance and road safety exams.