Meghalaya Passes Official Languages Ordinance, 2026

1 April 2026National

The Meghalaya Cabinet approved the Official Languages Ordinance, 2026, granting Khasi and Garo full official status alongside English using powers under Article 345, repealing the earlier 2005 Act.

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Telangana Concludes Nine-Day Bathukamma with Saddula Bathukamma at Hyderabad's Tank Bund

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GK ByteBathukamma is a state festival of Telangana; it begins on Mahalaya Amavasya and runs nine days to Durgashtami | Perini Thandavam is a traditional Telangana dance form revived from Kakatiya-era temple traditions, and Dappu is a percussion instrument of Telangana folk performance | Hussain Sagar, the lake Tank Bund adjoins, was built in 1563 during the reign of Ibrahim Quli Qutb Shah and links Hyderabad with Secunderabad

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Maharashtra Extends Drought Declaration to 305 Talukas, Covering Over 85% of the State

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced on 14 October, after a State Cabinet meeting, that 40 more talukas had been added by supplementary resolution, taking Maharashtra's drought-affected tally from the 265 declared in September 2026 to 305 of the State's 358 talukas - more than 85% of its area. Each affected farmer will get Rs 5,000 credited before Diwali, and all twelve standard drought concessions were extended, including free power for agricultural pumps up to 7.5 HP. Debt relief widens to 3.5 lakh more farmers, about 16,000 illegal water connections were disconnected, and Marathwada remains worst hit, with groundwater below three metres.

GK ByteMaharashtra has 358 talukas across 36 districts and six revenue divisions - Konkan, Pune, Nashik, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Marathwada), Amravati and Nagpur | Drought declaration in India follows the Manual for Drought Management of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, which grades drought as moderate or severe | Marathwada comprises eight districts and is among India's most drought-prone regions

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