Chief Minister Released ₹300 Crore R&R Package for Veligonda Project-Displaced Families

The Andhra Pradesh Government released ₹300 crore under the Relief and Rehabilitation (R&R) package to 2,351 families displaced by the Veligonda Project. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu stated that the project would provide irrigation to 4.47 lakh acres and drinking water to 23 lakh people, transforming agriculture and drinking water availability in the drought-prone regions of Andhra Pradesh.

Highlights

• ₹300 crore released under the Relief and Rehabilitation (R&R) package.
• 2,351 displaced families received financial assistance.
• The project will provide Irrigation to 4.47 lakh acres and drinking water to 23 lakh people
• The Veligonda Project was first conceived by N.T. Rama Rao in 1985, and the foundation stone was laid in 1996.
• Estimated project cost: ₹10,580 crore.

About Veligonda Project

• Location: Prakasam District, Andhra Pradesh.
• River: A major irrigation project drawing floodwaters from the Krishna River.
• Type: Tunnel-based irrigation project.
• Main Objective:
  • Irrigation for drought-prone areas.
  • Drinking water supply.
  • Mitigation of the fluoride problem in the region.
• Major Beneficiary Districts:
  • Prakasam
  • Nellore
  • YSR Kadapa
  • SPSR Nellore
• Water is diverted through the Veligonda Tunnel System from the Srisailam Reservoir (Krishna Basin) to the drought-prone upland regions of Prakasam district.

Andhra Pradesh Launches Godavari Rejuvenation Drive

-This is important for APPSC Group 1 Mains

The Andhra Pradesh government intensified efforts to restore the Godavari River ahead of the 2027 Godavari Pushkarams after the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) reported that the river water in Rajamahendravaram is unsuitable for drinking and bathing due to industrial effluents and untreated sewage.

Highlights

• APPCB declared the Godavari water at Rajamahendravaram unsafe for drinking and holy bathing.
• Major sources of pollution identified were:
  • Andhra Paper Limited (APL) industrial effluents.
  • Untreated sewage is discharged through the Nalla Channel.
• The APPCB constituted a special task force to monitor and control river pollution in preparation for the 2027 Godavari Pushkarams.
• The Andhra Pradesh government prepared a Detailed Project Report (DPR) seeking ₹1,510.92 crore under the National River Conservation Plan (NRCP).
• The DPR includes:
  • Construction of a 982 km Underground Drainage (UGD) network.
  • Establishment of six Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs).
• The APPCB also announced an additional ₹100 crore grant for pollution control measures.
• The State government expects nearly 8 crore devotees to participate in the 2027 Godavari Pushkarams.

Places in the News – TU-142M Aircraft Museum

In February 2024, an Aircraft Museum was inaugurated at Kakinada Beach, Andhra Pradesh, showcasing the decommissioned Indian Navy TU-142M maritime reconnaissance aircraft. Developed by the Kakinada Urban Development Authority (KUDA) at a cost of ₹5.89 crore, it became the second aircraft museum (the first one in Vishakhapatnam) in Andhra Pradesh. The TU-142M had served the Indian Navy for nearly three decades before being withdrawn from service.

Places in the News – Garimella Satyanarayana Institute of Advanced Study in Education

The historic building of the Government Institute of Advanced Study in Education (GIASE) at Rajamahendravaram, named after freedom fighter Sri Garimella Satyanarayana (1893–1952), continues to be recognised as an important heritage structure. The building was constructed in 1900, while the institution’s journey began in 1883 with the laying of the foundation stone for teacher education, making it one of the oldest teacher-training institutions in Andhra Pradesh.

Proof of Indian Citizenship

The issue of proof of Indian citizenship came into focus after discussions surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The Ministry of External Affairs clarified that an Indian passport is a travel document and strong evidence of nationality, but it is not conclusive proof of citizenship. India does not prescribe a single universal document to prove citizenship, which is determined under the Citizenship Act, 1955.

Highlights

• India does not have a single universal citizenship document.
• Citizenship is governed by the Citizenship Act, 1955.
• An Indian passport is:
  • A travel document.
  • Strong evidence of nationality.
  • Not conclusive proof of citizenship in legal disputes.
• Aadhaar Card serves only as:
  • Proof of identity.
  • Proof of address.
  • Not proof of Indian citizenship.
• Voter ID (EPIC) or inclusion in the electoral roll creates only a presumption of citizenship and does not conclusively establish citizenship.
• Citizenship Certificates are issued to persons who acquire citizenship through registration or naturalisation and serve as conclusive proof.
• Citizenship in India can be acquired by:
  • Birth
  • Descent
  • Registration
  • Naturalisation
  • Incorporation of Territory

India Inaugurates World’s First Nuclear Heat-Based Hydrogen Production Facility

The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) inaugurated the world’s first hydrogen production facility based on the Copper–Chlorine (Cu–Cl) Thermochemical Cycle using nuclear process heat from the Fast Breeder Test Reactor (FBTR) at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR), Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu.

Highlights

• The facility is the world’s first to produce hydrogen using the Copper–Chlorine (Cu–Cl) Thermochemical Cycle powered by nuclear heat.
• It has been established at IGCAR, Kalpakkam, using heat from the Fast Breeder Test Reactor (FBTR).
• The Cu–Cl hydrogen production technology was developed indigenously by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai.
• The project demonstrates the use of advanced nuclear reactors for carbon-free hydrogen production, reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
• The facility supports India’s three-stage nuclear power programme by expanding the role of nuclear energy beyond electricity generation into clean hydrogen production.

India Handed Over ‘Made in India’ Fast Patrol Vessel to Seychelles

During his visit to Seychelles, Prime Minister Narendra Modi handed over the Made in India Fast Patrol Vessel (FPV) ‘PS LESPWAR’ to the Seychelles Coast Guard, reaffirming India’s commitment to strengthening maritime security and defence cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region.

Highlights

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi handed over the Fast Patrol Vessel (FPV) ‘PS LESPWAR’ to the Seychelles Coast Guard.
• The vessel has been built under the ‘Made in India’ initiative.
• PS LESPWAR will strengthen maritime surveillance, Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) patrolling, and Maritime security of Seychelles.
• The initiative reflects India’s commitment to strengthening maritime cooperation and its SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) vision in the Indian Ocean Region.

PM Narendra Modi Conferred Seychelles ‘Guardian of the Blue Horizon’

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred the ‘Guardian of the Blue Horizon’ Presidential Distinction by the President of Seychelles, Dr Patrick Herminie, during his visit to the island nation. The award recognised his leadership in promoting the Blue Economy, climate action, environmental conservation, and sustainable development, particularly for Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

International MSME Day – 27 June

International MSME Day was observed on 27 June 2026 to recognise the significant contribution of Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) to economic growth, employment generation, innovation, and sustainable development. The International MSME Day theme for 2026 was “Empowering MSMEs through Innovation and Sustainable Industrial Development.”

First Commercial Export of GI-Tagged Rewa Sundarja Mangoes to the UAE

The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) facilitated the first commercial export of GI-tagged Rewa Sundarja Mangoes from Madhya Pradesh to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The initiative aims to promote India’s Geographical Indication (GI)-tagged agricultural products in international markets and enhance farmers’ income through agricultural exports.

Q1. The Andhra Pradesh Government has sought financial assistance of ₹1,510.92 crore under which Central scheme for the rejuvenation of the Godavari River ahead of the 2027 Pushkarams?
A. Namami Gange Programme
B. Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT)
C. National River Conservation Plan (NRCP)
D. Jal Jeevan Mission

Q2. India’s world’s first hydrogen production facility based on the Copper–Chlorine (Cu–Cl) Thermochemical Cycle using nuclear heat has been established at:
A. Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai
B. Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR), Kalpakkam
C. Nuclear Power Corporation of India, Rawatbhata
D. Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre, Kolkata

Q3. The TU-142M Aircraft Museum, is located at which place in Andhra Pradesh?
A. Visakhapatnam Beach
B. Kakinada Beach
C. Machilipatnam Beach
D. Suryalanka Beach

Q4. The Garimella Satyanarayana Institute of Advanced Study in Education is located in which city of Andhra Pradesh?
A. Vijayawada
B. Rajamahendravaram
C. Tirupati
D. Visakhapatnam

Q5. The Veligonda Irrigation Project, recently in news, is designed to utilise floodwaters of which river?
A. Godavari
B. Penna
C. Krishna
D. Tungabhadra

Q6. Which of the following ‘Made in India’ assets was recently handed over by India to Seychelles to strengthen its maritime security?
A. Dornier Maritime Patrol Aircraft
B. Fast Patrol Vessel (PS LESPWAR)
C. Offshore Patrol Vessel INS Sumedha
D. Missile Corvette INS Kiltan

Q7. Which of the following documents is considered conclusive proof of Indian citizenship for persons who acquire citizenship by registration or naturalisation?
A. Indian Passport
B. Aadhaar Card
C. Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC)
D. Citizenship Certificate

Q8. The theme of International MSME Day 2026 was:
A. Building Green Enterprises for the Future
B. Empowering MSMEs through Innovation and Sustainable Industrial Development
C. MSMEs: Driving Digital Economy Worldwide
D. Inclusive Growth through Industrial Transformation

Q9. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was recently conferred the ‘Guardian of the Blue Horizon’ Presidential Distinction by which country?
A. Mauritius
B. Maldives
C. Seychelles
D. Sri Lanka

Q10. The GI-tagged Rewa Sundarja Mango, which was recently exported commercially to the UAE for the first time, belongs to which Indian state?
A. Uttar Pradesh
B. Madhya Pradesh
C. Maharashtra
D. Gujarat