Tamil Nadu Introduces Smart Classroom VR for Engineering Students

Anna University has launched VR-enabled smart classrooms for mechanical and civil engineering courses. Students use VR headsets to inspect virtual models of complex systems like turbines, bridges, and CAD-rendered structures. Faculty integrate Unreal Engine simulations into labs. Surveys show a 45% increase in conceptual clarity compared to traditional instruction. The university aims to implement this across 30 affiliated engineering colleges by 2026.

Delhi Airports Authority Deploys Biometric Boarding Gates

Delhi Airport (T3) has introduced biometric facial recognition boarding for international departures. Passengers pass through seamless gates that verify boarding pass and biometric data in under 3 seconds. The system uses live facial verification without physical documents. First-month data shows an 80% reduction in boarding delays and improved staff deployment. Authorities plan to roll out the system across all domestic and international terminals by 2025.

Odisha Launches Mangrove Carbon Credit Project

Odisha’s Forestry Department in partnership with international partners has initiated a mangrove restoration project aimed at issuing carbon credits. Planting over 2,000 hectares of mangrove forests along the Kendrapara coastline, the project will generate verified carbon offset credits by 2030. Local communities receive income through planting, monitoring, and sustainable fishing. The initiative will support global climate commitments and coastal resilience.

Indian Railways Trials Hydrogen Fuel Cell Locomotive

Indian Railways has tested a prototype hydrogen fuel-cell locomotive on a 5‑km goods yard near Secunderabad. The engine, built locally with DRDO support, runs on a hydrogen-electric hybrid system with zero emissions. Load tests with a 1,200‑ton freight train showed stable performance. The railway ministry plans to retrofit similar engines across industrial sidings and freight corridors by 2028 to reduce diesel dependency.

Himachal Pradesh to Build Climate-Adaptive Greenhouses

Himachal Pradesh has unveiled a plan to construct climate‑adaptive greenhouses across apple and vegetable farms in Shimla, Solan, and Kinnaur. These greenhouses use smart cooling and heating systems driven by sensors measuring soil moisture and temperature. They reduce frost damage and extend growing seasons for high-value crops. A public-private partnership model will support 1,000 farmers in the pilot phase. State officials expect a 25–30% increase in yield and robust export potential.

Punjab Establishes Autonomous Farming Robot Test Center

Punjab’s Agricultural University in Ludhiana has opened India’s first autonomous farming robot test field. The site hosts prototypes for weed extraction, soil analysis, and selective harvesting using AI and robotics. Four startups are currently piloting their machines, and the university plans to certify at least 20 models for statewide deployment by 2026. The facility aims to reduce labor dependency and improve precision farming in Indian agriculture.

Andhra Pradesh Launches AI-Powered Crop Insurance System

Andhra Pradesh’s Agriculture Department has introduced an AI-enabled crop insurance platform. Farmers’ fields are geo-tagged and monitored via satellite and drone imagery. AI algorithms detect crop damage due to pests, waterlogging, or drought and trigger automatic claim processing. Over 150,000 farmers have registered before planting, and field trials showed claim settlements completed within 7 days of loss. The state aims to digitize farmer safety mechanisms and reduce financial vulnerability caused by climate risks.

Gujarat Opens High-Speed Drone Corridor for Cargo Delivery

Gujarat has established India’s first 500 km Beyond‑Visual‑Line‑of‑Sight drone corridor between Ahmedabad and Vadodara airports. The corridor enables e-commerce and medical cargo drones to operate autonomously. Initial operators include logistics firms delivering medical samples and e-commerce parcels within 25 minutes. The government is constructing ten drone landing pads along the route. The corridor is part of a national plan to integrate drone logistics into mainstream supply chains.

Kerala Pilots Floating Solar Raft in Backwaters

Kerala’s Energy Department has pilot‑tested a floating solar raft system on Lake Vembanad. The 200 kW installation uses modular, fish‑friendly pontoons to minimize ecological disruption. The generated energy powers lakeside communities and fisheries. A fish hatchery operated in parallel has seen improved oxygen levels due to reduced algal bloom. The state plans to scale up to a 10 MW system across multiple backwater zones by 2026, targeting off‑grid, ecologically sensitive areas.

Mumbai Introduces Smart Traffic Signals to Cut Congestion

Mumbai Traffic Police and BMC have deployed AI-driven smart traffic signals at over 200 congested junctions. The system analyzes real-time CCTV feeds to adjust signal timings dynamically, prioritizing heavy traffic flows and emergency vehicles. Initial tests in Andheri and Dadar have reduced average wait times by 35%. The data integration platform feeds into a central dashboard with traffic heatmaps for planning. Authorities intend to expand to all 600+ critical intersections by the end of 2026.