Bihar First State With All Polling Stations Under 1,200 Electors

22 Jul 2025 CW Team

Bihar has become the first state in India to ensure all polling stations (PS) have fewer than 1,200 electors, following the addition of 12,817 new polling stations to reduce queue times on polling day.

According to the Bihar SIR order dated 24 June 2025, the previous ceiling of 1,500 electors per polling station was lowered to 1,200 electors. With these additions, the total number of polling stations in Bihar will rise to 90,712 from the earlier 77,895. This landmark achievement is expected to be emulated by other states and union territories.

Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs), District Electoral Officers (DEOs), Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), and Booth Level Officers (BLOs) have met representatives of all political parties and shared detailed lists of approximately 2.96 million electors whose forms are yet to be received, as well as nearly 4.39 million electors not found at their registered addresses. Twelve major political parties have been urged to engage with these electors through their district presidents and about 150,000 Booth Level Agents (BLAs). The aim is to ensure coordinated efforts across the election machinery and political parties to include every eligible voter in the draft Electoral Roll to be published on 1 August 2025.

From 1 August 2025, members of the public can file objections concerning additions, deletions, or corrections in the Draft Electoral Rolls, as outlined in the SIR order dated 24 June 2025.

Infrastructure Transport

06 Feb 2026

Second Mountain Tunnel Breakthrough in Palghar Advances High Speed Rail

The Mumbai-Ahmedabad high speed rail (MAHSR) project reached a milestone with the breakthrough of a mountain tunnel in Palghar, Maharashtra. Mountain tunnel MT-six measures 454 metres long and 14.4 metres wide and will accommodate up and down tracks. The breakthrough follows MT-five near Saphale on second January 2026 and the MT-six excavation was completed from both ends using the New Austrian Tunnelling Method. The ministry reported that the tunnelling was completed within 12 months. The New Austrian Tunnelling Method is favoured for its flexibility in complex geology and irregular tunnel s..

Modi Government Pushes Atmanirbhar Container Drive With BCSL MoU

The Union Government advanced a plan to create an integrated, domestically anchored container ecosystem with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to establish the Bharat Container Shipping Line (BCSL). The MoU was signed by key agencies including the Shipping Corporation of India and Container Corporation of India alongside major port authorities and Sagarmala Finance Corporation Limited under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, in the presence of senior ministers. The initiative aligns with the Container Manufacturing Assistance Scheme announced in the Union Budget 2026–2..

Ministry Reports Gains In Mobility For Marginalised Communities

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is implementing skill development, education and rehabilitation schemes to promote socio-economic mobility and sustainable livelihoods for marginalised and disadvantaged communities across the country. Programmes target Scheduled Castes, Other Backward Classes, Economically Weaker Sections, De-notified Tribes and Safai Karamcharis through specialised implementing corporations and empanelled training institutes. Pradhan Mantri Dakshata Aur Kushalta Sampann Hitgrahi Yojana, or PM-DAKSH, provided skill training and placement support through the Nati..