Here are some of the major events depicted pictorially state wise by Puneet Gaur. 

Jammu & Kashmir

The state was under curfew after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant commander Burhan Muzaffar Wani on July 8. The local leader’s killing caused massive unrest in the region and claimed over 80 lives and injured many civilians and security personnel in the state. The state also became a topic of national discussion due to regular ceasefire violations between India and Pakistan.

Apart from that, the Indian Army’s claim of conducting surgical strikes on terror launch pads across the LoC made national headlines. 

Assam 

Like every other year, Assam was deeply affected by floods creating a havoc for its citizens. The floods disrupted lives of nearly 18 lakh people across 22 districts in the state. At least 13 rhinoceroses died of drowning in Assam’s Kaziranga national park. 

Apart from that, the maiden electoral victory of BJP also made political ripples.

Telangana

26-year-old Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula’s suicide following his expulsion from his hostel at the University of Hyderabad, caused outrage among the student communities in the country and jolted the nation.

Also, Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao’s newly constructed house worth Rs. 50 crore became the talk of the town because of its bulletproof windows and bathrooms.  

Delhi

Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union President Kanhaiya Kumar became the face of student politics in India overnight after his arrest for his alleged involvement in the 9th February sedition controversy. 

For many, he became the poster boy for “free speech” in India. 

In 2016, Delhi witnessed its worst air quality with the capital witnessing a thick blanket of smog hovering over it for days. 

Bihar

One of the major events in Bihar was the complete ban of alcohol by Nitish Kumar government which was highly criticised and debated. 

Bihar’s rampant cheating problem once again struck the country after a scam surrounding its board examinations was busted. Ruby Rai, the dubious Political Science topper became the poster girl for Bihar’s poor educational system after one of her interviews was released wherein she couldn’t even pronounce the subject correctly. 

Karnataka

The state made news over the infamous Cauvery dam water dispute with neighbouring state Tamil Nadu. The state’s refusal in granting water to Tamil Nadu despite Supreme Court’s orders sparked a huge controversy. 

There were anti- Tamil Nadu protests all across the state which took a violent turn. Many buses and shops were burnt down by agitated protesters. 

Punjab 

The year began on a bitter note with a terrorist attack on an Air Force base in Pathankot which further worsened the bilateral ties between India and Pakistan. 

Apart from that, Punjab’s prevalent drug problem came into focus post the release of the much debated ‘Udta Punjab’. 

Tamil Nadu 

Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithaa passed away of cardiac arrest at Chennai’s Apollo hospital after prolonged illness . The state went into a collective shock over the death of its beloved “Amma”. Lakhs of grieving followers turned up at her funeral to bid adieu. 

The state’s prolonged dispute with Karnataka over the sharing of Cauvery water also made headlines. 

Odisha

Odisha made news for all the wrong reasons this year with the state’s brutal poverty conditions coming to light. Odisha tribal Dana Majhi’s photograph carrying wife’s dead body on his shoulders after being denied an ambulance shocked one and all. 

The unexpected outbreak of Japanese encephalitis claimed over hundred lives in the state.   

 Maharashtra

The Uri attack sparked outrage among various political groups in the country. The souring relations between India and Pakistan also had an impact on the film industry. MNS workers in Maharashtra called for a complete ban on Pakistani actors, urging filmmaker Karan Johar to replace Pakistani actor Fawad Khan’s character from his film Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. 

The BJP-led Maharshtra government also grabbed headlines with its announcement to build the grand memorial of Maratha warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj worth Rs. 3600 crore.

Manipur

In one of the most memorable moments, the iron lady from Manipur, Irom Sharmila broke her 16-year-old fast against Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) by consuming solid food. 

Apart from that, the Manipur government announced the creation of 7 new districts in the state that gave rise to ethnic tensions between the Nagas (hill tribes) and Meiteis ( Valley occupants). The 60 day economic blockade led to fuel crisis in Manipur and its neighbouring states. 

Kerala

There were massive protests across the country against the age old ban on the entry of women in Kerala’s Sabarimala temple. 

This became the topic of national debate with people coming up with different campaigns revolting it. Finally, Supreme Court issued an order against the tradition, allowing women to enter the temple. 

Bengal

This year too, the Chief Minister of Bengal, Mamata Banerjee was in news for her dubious remarks and constant criticism of the central government. Earlier in the year, the incumbent Mamata Banerjee government won the assembly elections with an overwhelming majority. The state also underwent a name change from ‘West Bengal’ to ‘Bengal’. 

This year also saw incidents of communal violence between Hindu and Muslims. One of them was Malda riots. The recent Dhulagarh riots, where Hindu villagers were allegedly attacked by miscreants, were dismissed as “media-created” events by the CM. 

Haryana

The year started with curfew being imposed and shoot on sight orders issued in two districts of Haryana after the agitation for reservations for the Jat community. 

Art illustrations by Puneet Gaur.