Uttar Pradesh Current Affairs for UPPSC Prelims 2025

Uttar Pradesh Specific Current Affairs (January 2025)

Governance & Administration

• Uttar Pradesh government issued new guidelines for demolishing unauthorized constructions.
  • Mandatory 15-day notice period and opportunity for a personal hearing must be provided.
  • A digital portal must be set up for transparency.
  • Non-compliance may lead to contempt proceedings and prosecution of officials.
• The Maha Kumbh Mela area in Prayagraj has been declared a new district for 4 months (1st Dec 2024 – 31st Mar 2025).
• The state celebrated UP Foundation Day on 24th January.
  • Theme for 2025: “Development and Heritage: Uttar Pradesh on the Path to Progress”.
  • The One District One Product (ODOP) scheme was launched on this day in 2018.
  • Formerly known as the United Provinces, it was renamed in 1950.
• Uttar Pradesh contributes 80 MPs to the Lok Sabha and has produced nine Prime Ministers.
• The state aims to become a trillion-dollar economy and shed its BIMARU tag.
• Implementation of new criminal laws is targeted for seven police commissionerates (Varanasi, Lucknow, Meerut, Ghaziabad, Gautam Buddh Nagar, Agra, Kanpur) by 31st March 2025.
• Zero FIR is an FIR that can be registered by any police station, irrespective of jurisdiction. It is then transferred to the relevant police station.

Economy & Infrastructure

• ONGC started drilling for potential petroleum reserves in Ballia.
  • Estimated cost: ₹100 crore.
  • If successful, it could transform the economy of eastern Uttar Pradesh.
• The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) upgraded its sub-office in Varanasi to a regional office.
  • It will manage National Waterway-1 (NW-1) on the Ganga and other NWs in UP.
  • It will implement the Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP) (World Bank-supported).
  • Uttar Pradesh has around 30 rivers, with 10 declared as National Waterways.
• The state cabinet approved municipal bonds for infrastructure development in Prayagraj, Varanasi, and Agra.
  • A municipal bond is a debt security issued by a municipality to finance capital expenditures.
• The state explores privatisation/PPP for two loss-making DISCOMs (Distribution Companies):
  • Dakshinanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Ltd (DVVNL)
  • Purvanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Ltd (PVVNL)
• Uttar Pradesh’s first double-decker bus restaurant, “Pumpkin”, was inaugurated at the Maha Kumbh Mela, Prayagraj.
• Announcement of Prayagraj’s first super speciality hospital with an investment of ₹100 crore.
• Three new medical colleges to be established in Hathras, Kasganj, and Baghpat.
• Plan to establish 62 ITIs and five centres of innovation, invention, and training.

Environment & Ecology

• National Green Tribunal (NGT) instructed the UP government to notify the Dhanauri water body near Jewar airport as a wetland.
  • It is an Important Bird Area (IBA) and a habitat for the vulnerable Sarus Crane.
• Miyawaki technique (Japanese afforestation method) used in Prayagraj to create dense forests.
  • Plants grow 10 times faster and help improve biodiversity and reduce pollution.
• A Task Force for Gomti River Rejuvenation was established, named Ganga Task Force (GTF).
  • Comprises ex-servicemen and operates under the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG).
• The 59th Executive Committee meeting of NMCG approved projects for Ganga conservation, including STPs in Chandauil and Manikpur (UP) and Buxar (Bihar).
• Green Mahakumbh event was held in Prayagraj to discuss environmental conservation.

Culture & Tourism

• Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 is being held in Prayagraj from 13th January to 26th February 2025.
  • It is recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
  • It is the world’s largest peaceful congregation.
  • Key bathing dates: Makar Sankranti (14 Jan), Mauni Amavasya (29 Jan), Basant Panchami (3 Feb).
  • The 2025 event is a Maha Kumbh, which occurs once every 144 years.
• UP’s Republic Day tableau theme was ‘Swarnim Bharat: Virasat aur Vikas’, showcasing the Maha Kumbh.
• Makar Sankranti marks the Sun’s transition into Makar Rashi (Capricorn) and the beginning of Uttarayan.
  • Known by different names across India: Lohri, Pongal, Magh Bihu, Sukarat.
• Mauni Amavasya: A day of silence and introspection; derived from the Sanskrit word “Mauna” (silence).

Science & Technology

• Digital transformation of Mahakumbh includes:
  • QR code-based passes for people and vehicles.
  • A dedicated website and app.
  • RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) wristbands for tracking.
  • Drone-based surveillance and disaster management.
• Indian Railways introduced jackets which have QR scanners for digital ticket booking via the UTS app for Kumbh.
  • Launched the Mahakumbh Rail Seva 2025 app for information.

Social Issues & Health

• Issue of custodial deaths and custodial torture highlighted in Sambhal.
  • India has signed but not ratified the UN Convention against Torture (UNCAT).
• The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) took action on a caste atrocity complaint against a member of the UP Transgender Welfare Board.
  • Debate on Horizontal vs. Vertical reservations for the transgender community.
• National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-6 data shows an alarming rise of hypertension in UP, with 1 in 4 individuals at risk.
  • Hypertension is a major risk factor for strokes and heart attacks.

Miscellaneous Facts

• Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) is a flammable mixture of primarily propane and butane.
• Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) received an ultimatum from Aligarh Municipal Corporation (AMC) over house tax dues.
• The Sambhal Mosque case: The Allahabad High Court sought responses on a plea challenging a survey order of the Mughal-era Shahi Jama Masjid. The Supreme Court had stayed the proceedings.
• The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) was founded in 1861 by Alexander Cunningham.
• National Disaster Response Force (NDRF): A specialized force formed in 2006 under the Disaster Management Act, 2005.
• UP Enforces ‘No Helmet, No Fuel’ Rule to reduce road accidents.
• University Grants Commission (UGC): A statutory body established in 1956 to maintain standards in higher education.

Uttar Pradesh Specific Current Affairs (February 2025)

1. Environment & Pollution

• Fecal Coliform in Ganga & Yamuna (Prayagraj Sangam)
  • Levels far exceed the safe limit of 2,500 MPN/100 ml (CPCB Report).
  • Water deemed unfit for drinking and bathing.
  • NGT is hearing the issue.
  • Fecal Coliform: Bacteria found in warm-blooded animal feces; an indicator of water pollution.
  • Health Effects: Can cause gastrointestinal infections, typhoid, hepatitis A, and skin/eye infections.
• Ganga Water Purity (Maha Kumbh 2025)
  • UP govt defended purity, citing CPCB data showing fluctuating BOD levels (from 1 mg/L to 4.08 mg/L).
  • Dr. Ajay Kumar Sonkar claimed no bacterial growth due to 1,100 types of natural viruses (bacteriophages) in Ganga water that eliminate harmful bacteria.
• Hindon River Pollution
  • Declared a “dead river” by CPCB (2015).
  • Dissolved Oxygen (DO) is as low as 1.43 mg/L (<4 mg/L safe limit for aquatic life).
  • Total Coliform levels range from 260,000 to 380,000 MPN/100ml (against a standard of 1,000).
  • UPPCB classifies its water quality as Category ‘E’ (fit only for irrigation, industrial cooling).
  • Tributaries: Kali (West) River and Krishna River.
  • Significance: Evidence of Harappan civilization found on its banks.
• Pollutants in Varuna River (Varanasi)
  • BHU research confirmed ~1000 types of pollutants, including toxic chemicals.
  • BOD level was 12.40 mg/L (very high) before meeting the Ganga.
  • India-Denmark Green Strategic Partnership led to the establishment of a Smart Laboratory on Clean Rivers (SLCR) in Varanasi to revive the Varuna.
• Surajpur Wetland (Greater Noida)
  • An urban wetland in the Yamuna basin, facing threats from polluted wastewater.
  • Classified as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International.
  • A habitat for migratory birds like Red-crested Pochard, Bar-headed Goose and mammals like Nilgai, Golden Jackal.
• World Wetland Day 2025
  • Celebrated at Parvati Arga Ramsar Site, Gonda, UP.
  • Theme 2025: “Protecting Wetlands for our Common Future”.
  • Amrit Dharohar Initiative: Launched in 2023 for conservation of Ramsar Sites.
  • Parvati Arga: A permanent freshwater oxbow lake system. A refuge for critically endangered white-rumped vulture and Indian vulture.

2. Infrastructure & Development

• Uttar Pradesh Budget 2025-26
  • Total outlay: ₹8,08,736 crore (9.8% higher than FY 2024-25).
  • Fiscal Deficit: 2.97% of GSDP (within the 3.5% FRBM limit).
  • Key Allocations:
    • MSME/Youth: ₹1000 Cr for CM Yuva Udyami Vikas Abhiyan.
    • Textiles: ₹300 Cr for PM Mitra Textile Park, ₹400 Cr for Atal Bihari Vajpayee Powerloom Scheme.
    • Defence: ₹461 Cr for Defence Industrial Corridor.
    • Infra: ₹3953 Cr for hydropower, ₹900 Cr for expressway connectivity (Agra to Ganga Expwy).
    • Water: ₹4500 Cr for Jal Jeevan Mission.
    • Social Welfare: ₹8105 Cr for Old Age/Farmer Pension, ₹550 Cr for CM Mass Marriage Scheme.
    • Tourism: ₹100 Cr for Mathura-Vrindavan Corridor, ₹150 Cr for Ayodhya tourism.
    • Tech: Announcement for ‘Artificial Intelligence City’ and ‘Technology Research Translation Park’.
• New Expressways Approved
  • 7 new expressways approved with an investment of ₹50,000 Cr (Total length: 866 km).
  • List: Chitrakoot Link, Jhansi Link, Jewar Link, Vindhya Expressway (320 km), Vindhya Purvanchal Link, Lucknow Link, Agra-Lucknow Ganga Expwy Link.
  • Aim: To connect 56 districts and help achieve a $1 Trillion economy for UP.
• Ganga Expressway & Jewar Airport
  • A 76 km link expressway via Bulandshahr to connect Ganga Expressway to Jewar Airport (Noida International Airport – NIA).
  • Jewar Airport will be the 4th largest international airport in the world and UP’s 5th.
• Uttar Pradesh Inland Waterways Authority
  • Approved to promote water transport and tourism.
  • UP has 11 National Waterways (out of 111 in India), including Ganga and Yamuna.

3. Economy & Industry

• Nation’s First Biopolymer Plant
  • Foundation stone laid in Kumbhi, Lakhimpur Kheri by Balrampur Sugar Mills (Cost: ₹2850 Cr).
  • Aim: To produce biodegradable polymers (replace plastic); products decompose in 3 months.
  • Aligns with Make in India and self-reliance.
• Defence Corridor & Manufacturing
  • BrahMos Missile manufacturing to begin in Lucknow (May-June 2025) as part of the UP Defence Industrial Corridor.
  • Radar Factory to be set up by Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) near Agra-Lucknow Expressway (Cost: ₹400 Cr).
• Bundelkhand: Solar Energy Hub
  • Bundelkhand emerging as a major solar energy center.
  • 17 plants (1100 MW) became operational in 2024 in UP.
  • 4,000 MW solar units installed in Bundelkhand.
  • Jhansi Solar Power Project: A 600 MW project by TUSCO Ltd.

4. Schemes & Initiatives

• Solar Dehydration Technology
  • Developed by IIT Kanpur with support from NABARD.
  • Aim: To reduce crop wastage and increase farmers’ income by drying fruits/vegetables using solar energy.
• Exhibition on Dyes, Chemicals & Handicrafts
  • Held under Bharat Tex 2025 at India Expo Centre, Greater Noida.
  • Promoted Garment Technology, nature-friendly dyes, and handmade textiles.
• NSDC International Academy
  • Inaugurated in Greater Noida.
  • Aim: To provide global skill training (foreign languages, healthcare, aviation) and bridge the gap for global employment.
• Schemes Exhibition at Maha Kumbh
  • Showcased implementation of central & state schemes like MGNREGA, NRLM, PMAY-G, PMGSY.
  • Saras Haat: An initiative by DAY-NRLM (Ministry of Rural Development) to provide a platform for rural women SHGs.

5. Culture & Tourism

• Uttar Pradesh as a Tourism Hub
  • Received over 65 crore tourists in 2024.
  • Sites like Ayodhya, Varanasi, Mathura-Vrindavan have made it a world-class spiritual center.
  • Swadesh Darshan 2.0: Developing Naimisharanya, Prayagraj, and Mahoba.
• Kashi Tamil Sangamam (3rd Edition)
  • Inaugurated in Varanasi; inspired by ‘Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat’.
  • Theme: ‘4S’ – Saint tradition, Scientists, Social reformers, and Students.
  • Govt Initiatives announced:
    • National Digital Repository of Indian Knowledge System.
    • Bharatiya Bhasha Pustaka Yojana to translate textbooks into 22 Indian languages.
• Guru Ravidas Jayanti
  • Celebrated on Magh Purnima.
  • Guru Ravidas: 14th-century Bhakti saint, preached against caste system.
  • 41 of his poems are included in the Guru Granth Sahib. Disciple of Ramanand; Mirabai was his disciple.

6. Governance & Polity

• Places of Worship Act, 1991
  • Freezes the religious character of all places of worship as it was on August 15, 1947.
  • Prohibits conversion of any place of worship.
  • Exemption: The Ayodhya dispute (Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid) was exempted.
  • SC Stance (2019): Called it a manifestation of the secular values of the Constitution.
• Removal of a High Court Judge
  • An impeachment motion was introduced in the Rajya Sabha against an Allahabad HC judge for alleged misconduct.
  • Procedure: Judges (SC & HC) can be removed by the President only on grounds of “proven misbehaviour or incapacity”.
  • A resolution must be passed by both Houses of Parliament by a special majority.

7. Science & Technology

• Asteroid Discovery by a Noida Student
  • Daksh Malik (Class 9) provisionally discovered an asteroid ‘2023 OG40’.
  • Discovery made through the International Astronomical Search Collaboration (IASC), a NASA-affiliated citizen science program.
• Trash Skimmer Machine (Prayagraj)
  • Used to clean Triveni Sangam; removes 10-15 tonnes of garbage daily from Ganga and Yamuna.
  • Also helps remove water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), an invasive aquatic weed.

8. Biodiversity & Conservation

• Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary (Bahraich)
  • Part of the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve (along with Kishanpur WLS and Dudhwa NP).
  • Key Species: Tiger, Elephant, Leopard, Gharial, Swamp deer, Hispid hare, Gangetic dolphin, Bengal Florican, Vultures.
  • Ecology: Mixed deciduous forests (Sal, Teak), grasslands, swamps. The Girwa River flows through it.

Key Institutions & Terms (For Prelims)

• CPCB (Central Pollution Control Board): Statutory body under Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.
• NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development): Established in 1982 based on the Sivaraman Committee.
• BOD (Biological Oxygen Demand): The amount of oxygen required to decompose organic matter in water. High BOD = High Pollution.
• NSSTA (National Statistical System Training Academy): Located in Greater Noida; under Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation.
• IWAI (Inland Waterways Authority of India): Statutory body under Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways. Headquarters: Noida, UP.
• Ramsar Convention: An international treaty for wetlands.
• Make in India: Launched in 2014 to make India a global manufacturing hub. Led by DPIIT.

 

Uttar Pradesh Specific Current Affairs (March 2025)

Economy & Industry

• According to the Startup Ecosystem Report-2025, Uttar Pradesh ranked 3rd in the country’s startup ecosystem.
  • The state has over 14,000 startups and 26 unicorns.
  • Noida leads with 3418 startups, followed by Lucknow (1789) and Ghaziabad (1582).
  • UP contributes 9.6% of India’s total recognized startups.
• The country’s first Textile Machine Park will be set up on 875 acres near Kanpur on a PPP model.
  • It aims to reduce import dependence and boost Make in India.
  • Expected to provide employment to 1.5 lakh people and generate exports worth ₹30,000 crore.
• An MoU was signed to develop a Multi-Modal Logistics Park (MMLP) in Varanasi.
  • It will have connectivity to NH7, Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC), and National Waterway-1 (NW-1).
• Avaada Group laid the foundation for a 5 GW integrated solar manufacturing unit in Gautam Buddha Nagar (Noida).
  • Supports UP’s goal of reaching 22,000 MW of solar power generation by 2026-27.
• Lohum Company launched India’s first lithium grade refinery in Greater Noida, UP.
  • It will produce battery-grade lithium from recycled e-waste.
• The MYUVA Scheme (Mukhyamantri Yuva Udyami Vikas Abhiyan) aims to create one lakh young entrepreneurs annually by providing interest-free loans up to ₹5 lakh.
• The ODOP (One District One Product) scheme was launched on 24 January 2018 (UP Foundation Day) to promote economic development at the district level.

Infrastructure & Development

• The UP government decided to develop all 17 municipal corporations of the state as Solar Cities.
• The Prime Minister’s Gati Shakti scheme aims for integrated infrastructure planning. It includes building 11 industrial corridors and two new defence corridors (one in TN, one in UP).
• The RISE app (Rapid Immunization Skill Enhancement) is a digital platform implemented for effective monitoring of vaccination programs, strengthening Mission Indradhanush.

Environment & Ecology

• A dolphin safari will be set up in Varanasi (between Kaithi and Dhakhwa villages) to promote eco-tourism and conservation of the Ganges River Dolphin.
  • Ganges River Dolphin is the National Aquatic Animal (declared in 2009), endangered (IUCN), and listed in Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
• Pilibhit Tiger Reserve (PTR) is set to become a new sanctuary for rhinos under ‘Project Rhino’.
  • PTR was notified as a Tiger Reserve in 2014 and won the TX2 award in 2020 for doubling tiger numbers.
  • The Gomti River originates from this reserve.
• The National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) aims to reduce PM10 and PM2.5 concentration by at least 20% by 2024 (base year 2017).
  • The “PRANA” portal monitors its implementation.
  • A national conference on NCAP was held in Gorakhpur.
• The Supreme Court directed the Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ) Authority to appoint the Forest Research Institute (FRI), Dehradun, to conduct a tree census in the zone.
  • TTZ is a 10,400 sq km area around the Taj Mahal to protect it from pollution. It includes districts of UP (Agra, Firozabad, Mathura, Hathras, Etah) and Rajasthan (Bharatpur).

Culture & Tourism

• The Bithoor Festival was organized in Kanpur, highlighting the role of Bithoor in the 1857 Revolt (HQ of Nana Saheb).
• The UP government banned the Neja fair in Sambhal, held in memory of Syed Salar Masood Ghazi (commander of Mahmud Ghaznavi), due to its historical links to a foreign invader.
• The state will apply for UNESCO recognition for five cultural elements as intangible heritage:
  • Perfume of Kannauj
  • Holi of Braj (especially Lathmar Holi)
  • Ganga Aarti in Varanasi
  • Glass Art of Firozabad
  • Black Pottery of Azamgarh (Nizamabad)
• The 33rd Taj Mahotsav was held in Agra with the theme ‘Dharohar’.
• Maharishi Dadhichi Kund in Mishrikh, Sitapur (near Naimisharanya), will be developed as a state tourist centre.
• A memorial will be built in Ballia for freedom fighter Chittu Pandey, known as the “Lion of Ballia”, who established an independent government in 1942.

Governance & Schemes

• UP won 5 awards at the ET Government Digitech Awards 2025, including for AI-based crowd management in Maha Kumbh and Vehicle Location Tracking Devices (VLTD) in buses.
• Nine Zaid crops (e.g., watermelon, melon, groundnut, maize, litchi, amla) were included under the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) and Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY).
  • Zaid crops are grown between Rabi and Kharif seasons (Mar-Apr).
• The Model Village Campaign was launched to develop 1147 villages in Ayodhya district as model villages.
• 10 new schemes named after eminent personalities were announced:
  • Mata Shabri Canteens in Krishi Mandis
  • Sardar Patel District Economic Zone (on PPP model)
  • Mata Ahilyabai Holkar Working Women’s Hostels
  • Maharani Laxmibai Meritorious Girl Student Scooty Scheme
  • Sant Kabirdas CM Mitra Park Scheme (10 textile parks)
  • Sant Ravidas Leather Industry Park (in Agra)
  • Bharat Ratna Chaudhary Charan Singh Seed Park (Lucknow)
  • Atal Bihari Vajpayee Urban Libraries
  • Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Hostel Scheme
  • Birsa Munda Tribal Museums (in Mirzapur and Sonbhadra)

Health & Social Issues

• Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis (SSPE), a fatal brain disorder linked to measles infection, remains a concern due to low vaccination coverage in UP.
• Fluoride poisoning is a major issue in Sonbhadra district, affecting over 2 lakh people in 276 villages. Fluoride levels are 5-6 times higher than the WHO standard (1.5 mg/liter), causing bone deformities and fluorosis.
• The Swayalambini women entrepreneurship program was launched in Meerut by the Ministry of Skill Development and NITI Aayog.
• Women-owned MSMEs constitute 20% (12.39 million) of all MSMEs in India.

Science & Technology

• A contract was signed with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) for the Low-Level Transportable Radar (LLTR) ‘Ashwini’ for the Indian Air Force.
  • It is an indigenous phased array radar developed by LRDE and DRDO.
• The 8th International COAIEMA conference was held in Lucknow, focusing on AI, startups, and green energy.

Miscellaneous Facts

• The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has its head office in Noida, UP.
• Ayodhya is significant in Jainism as the birthplace of five Tirthankaras: Rishabhanatha, Ajitnath, Abhinandan Nath, Sumatinath, and Anantnath.
• The Khelo India Women’s Taekwondo Championship was held in Lucknow.
• The Allahabad High Court clarified that using loudspeakers for prayers is not a legal right.

 

Uttar Pradesh Specific Current Affairs (April 2025)

Economy & Development

• Annual Survey of Industries (ASI 2024–25) – UP registered 3,318 factories, highest in India. Share in ASI frame – 7.6% (2022-23)

• USD 1 trillion economy goal – CM’s target, UP’s industrial GVA ₹1.3 lakh crore in 2022–23.

• Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation – First in India to issue a Green Municipal Bond (₹150 crore, sewage treatment plant)

• MoU with NSE – To help 96 lakh MSMEs raise funds via IPO on NSE Emerge platform

• Leather & Footwear Policy 2025 – UP contributes 46% of India’s leather exports, Kanpur hub for safety footwear

Agriculture & Energy

• PM Surya Ghar Yojana – Target: 8 lakh solar rooftop plants by 2027; installation to double

• PM Surya Ghar–Muft Bijli Yojana (2024) – 300 units free electricity/month for 1 crore households

• Solar Energy Growth – Capacity rose from 288 MW (2017) → 2653 MW (2025); 3rd in rooftop installations

• PM Kusum Yojana – UP leading in implementation

• Rohin Barrage (Maharajganj) – Irrigation project on Rohin River; benefits 16,000 farmers & 7,000 ha land

Social Schemes & Governance

• Poverty Eradication Plan – CM announced eradication in 3 years with focus on housing, water, jobs

• UP Police Portal – “Investigation, Prosecution & Conviction Portal” got Scotch Award 2025; 85,000 convictions

• One District One Product (ODOP 2.0) – Expanded with new CFCs in Unnao, Bijnor, Gonda

• Food Industry Upgradation Scheme (PMFME) – UP ranked 1st in India; loan approval avg. 101 days

• Encroachment Removal Campaign – Along Indo–Nepal border districts (Lakhimpur Kheri, Shravasti, Bahraich, etc.)

Environment & Wildlife

• Ahaetulla longirostris (Vine Snake) – Rare snake found in Dudhwa Tiger Reserve; earlier only in Valmiki TR

• Dudhwa TR – Includes Dudhwa NP, Kishanpur WS, Katarnia Ghat WS; last viable home of Royal Bengal Tiger in UP

Culture & Heritage

• Maha Kumbh 2025 (Prayagraj) – Attended by 66.3 crore devotees; started by Harshavardhana (Pushyabhuti dynasty)

• Varanasi – Known as Avimukta Kshetra, City of Temples, Banaras Gharana hub; notable personalities: Bismillah Khan, Ravi Shankar

• Mathura Heritage Corridor Project – To promote tourism; 6 km link expressway near Banke Bihari Temple

• India–Nepal Literature Festival 2025 – Held in Vrindavan (Mathura); >180 writers participated

• Kathak Dance – Flourished under Wajid Ali Shah; notable exponents Birju Maharaj, Sitara Devi

Defence & Security

• Dassault MRO Facility (Noida) – 1365 ha acquired; reduces foreign dependency for Rafale & Mirage-2000
• Rafale Jet – Speed: 2222 km/h, altitude: 50,000 ft, carries 9,500 kg weapons
• McGregor Memorial Medal 2023 & 2024 – Awarded by CDS Gen. Anil Chauhan to 5 personnel
• System for Preventing Theft of Vehicle – Patented in UP; wireless chips in chassis, engine, number plate
• NCRB (1986) – Maintains NDSO, Cybercrime portal, ICJS project

Sports

• 15th Hockey Senior Men’s National Championship (2025) – Held in Jhansi; Punjab won, UP 3rd place
• Major Dhyan Chand – 3-time Olympic Gold medalist; National Sports Day – 29 August
• One KGBV, One Sport Scheme – To promote sports talent among girls in KGBV schools.

Uttar Pradesh Specific Current Affairs (May 2025)

1. Semiconductor Unit in Uttar Pradesh

• Location: Jewar, Uttar Pradesh.
• Project: A ₹3,700 crore display driver chip manufacturing unit.
• JV: Between Indian firm HCL and Taiwanese giant Foxconn.
• Significance: This is the first semiconductor plant in UP and the sixth unit sanctioned under the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM).
• Goal: To meet about 40% of India’s display capacity and reduce import dependence.

2. North India’s Largest Film City

• Location: Sector-21, Greater Noida along the Yamuna Expressway.
• Size: 1,000 acres, making it the largest in North India.
• Phase 1: 230 acres with an investment of ₹1,510 crore.
• Govt. Policy: UP Film Policy 2023 provides subsidies (50% for regional, 25% for Hindi films) and incentives for using local talent and infrastructure.

3. Abolition of District-wise Quota under NFSA

• Decision: UP govt. scrapped the district-wise quota for beneficiary allocation under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013.
• Reason: To ensure more equitable coverage, especially in backward districts.
• New System: State-wide allocation based on population data.
• Impact: Coverage increased to 90% in Bundelkhand and 85% in several eastern UP districts.

4. Buffer Mein Safar Yojana

• Aim: Promote sustainable eco-tourism in the buffer zones of tiger reserves.
• Key Areas: Dudhwa, Pilibhit, Lakhimpur Kheri, Sohagibarwa, and Katarniaghat.
• Objective: Empower local communities, create employment, and strengthen wildlife conservation.

5. High-Yielding Soybean Varieties

• Region: Recommended for the Bundelkhand region for the Kharif 2025 season.
• Significance: Soybean requires less water than paddy, enrich soil nitrogen, and offer good economic viability.

6. Project Alankar

• Aim: Achieve 100% compliance with 35 infrastructure benchmarks in 2,441 government secondary schools.
• Key Features: Upgradation of classrooms, labs, libraries, smart classes, and sanitation facilities.
• Impact: As per ASER 2024, govt. secondary school enrollment increased by 23%; usage of libraries surged by 55.2%.

7. World Turtle Day & UP’s Conservation

• UP’s Status: A leading state in turtle conservation.
• Species: India has 30 freshwater turtle species (26 under WPA Schedule I). UP is home to 15 of them.
• Key Centers: Sarnath Turtle Breeding Centre, Kukrail, Chambal.
• Initiative: A turtle sanctuary was set up near Prayagraj under the Namami Gange programme.

8. Shaadi Anudan Yojana

• Objective: Provide financial assistance (₹20,000) for the marriage of daughters from poor OBC families.
• Achievement: Beneficiaries doubled to 1 lakh in FY 2024-25 due to revised income criteria (raised to ₹1 lakh).

9. Infrastructure & World Records

• Achievement: UP set two world records in road construction in 24 hours:
  • Constructed a 10-km crash barrier.
  • Laid 34.24 lane km of bituminous concrete road.
• Location: Ganga Motorway Project between Hardoi and Unnao.
• Recognized by: Golden Book of World Records, Asia Book of Records, Indian Book of Records.

10. Eradicate Child Labour by 2027

• Campaign: State-wide campaign launched to eradicate child labour by 2027.
• Key Initiative: Bal Shramik Vidya Yojana (2020) to reintegrate child labourers into the formal education system.
• Rehabilitation: 12,426 children rehabilitated between 2017-18 and 2024-25.

11. Infrastructure for Tourism (₹4,560 Cr)

• Focus: Upgrading roads connecting major religious and historical sites.
• Key Sites: Ayodhya, Varanasi, Mathura, Chitrakoot, Prayagraj, Naimisharanya, Mirzapur.

12. Shahi Jama Masjid Dispute (Sambhal)

• Issue: A petition claims the site was originally a Shri Harinar temple demolished by Babur.
• Legal Aspect: The case involves the Places of Worship Act, 1991, which mandates maintaining the religious character of a site as on 15th August 1947.
• Status: The mosque is a protected monument under the Ancient Monuments Preservation Act, 1904.

13. New ODOP Products

• 12 new products added, taking the total under the One District One Product (ODOP) scheme to 74.
• Examples:
  • Baghpat – Agricultural machinery
  • Agra – Petha & footwear
  • Firozabad – Food Processing
  • Bijnor – Brushes
  • Ballia – Sattu Products

14. India’s Largest Titanium Plant

• Location: Lucknow.
• Company: Aeroalloy Technologies Ltd. (subsidiary of PTC Industries).
• Capacity: 6,000 tonnes/year, world’s largest single-site titanium remelting facility.
• Part of: Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor (6 nodes: Aligarh, Agra, Kanpur, Chitrakoot, Jhansi, Lucknow).

15. Gomti River Pollution

• Issue: Struggling with plummeting oxygen levels, high fecal coliform counts, and untreated sewage.
• Stats: Lucknow treats 450 MLD against a need of 730 MLD; ~280 MLD of untreated sewage flows directly into the river.

16. MoU: CIL and UPRVUNL

• Parties: Coal India Limited (CIL) and Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd (UPRVUNL).
• Aim: To set up a 500 MW solar power project in UP.

17. Chip Design Centre in Noida

• Achievement: India’s first 3-nanometer (3nm) chip design centre inaugurated in Noida.
• Company: Renesas Electronics India (Japanese origin).
• Significance: Part of the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM).

18. BrahMos Missile Unit

• Location: Lucknow (under UP Defence Industrial Corridor).
• Investment: ₹300 crore.
• JV: Between DRDO (India, 50.5%) and NPOM (Russia, 49.5%).
• Capacity: 100-150 next-gen missiles per year.

19. UP-AGREES & AI Pragya

• UP-AGREES: A ₹3,900 crore project (with World Bank loan) to boost agricultural productivity in Purvanchal & Bundelkhand (28 districts). To benefit 10 lakh farmers.
• AI Pragya: Aim to train 10 lakh youth in AI, machine learning, data analytics, and cybersecurity.

20. UPSDM & IIT Roorkee MoU

• Uttar Pradesh Skill Development Mission (UPSDM) signed an MoU with IIT Roorkee to provide advanced technical training to the youth of the state.

21. Meerut Tops GST Collection

• Achievement: Meerut zone topped the state in GST collection in April 2025.

22. Veer Rath Park (Noida)

• Purpose: To honour 32 freedom fighters.
• Nalgarh village was a refuge for Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev, and Subhas Chandra Bose.

23. Mission Shakti

• Aim: Women safety, dignity, and self-reliance.
• Achievements (so far):
  • Prevented 1,707 child marriages.
  • Women Helpline 1090 resolved 7.78 lakh cases.
  • Chief Minister Kanya Sumangala Yojana benefited 23.40 lakh girls.
  • Set up 100 pink police booths and 1,100+ pink toilets.

24. Global Capability Centres (GCC) Policy

• Aim: To attract global investment in IT, banking, healthcare, etc., and help UP become a USD 1-trillion economy.
• Companies: Microsoft (10,000-seater centre in Noida), MAQ Software (3,000-seater centre).

25. Piprahwa Relics

• Issue: India launched a campaign to stop Sotheby’s (Hong Kong) from auctioning sacred Piprahwa Relics (believed to be remains of Lord Buddha). The relics, discovered by William Claxton Peppé in 1898.
• Discovery: Found in 1898 at the Piprahwa Stupa (UP), believed to be the site of ancient Kapilavastu.
• Legal Status: Classified as ‘AA’ antiquities with the highest level of protection in India; their sale/export is illegal.

26. Merger of RRBs: Uttar Pradesh Gramin Bank

• Merger: Aryavart Bank, Prathama Bank, and Baroda UP Bank merged into a single entity named ‘Uttar Pradesh Gramin Bank’.
• Sponsor Bank: Bank of Baroda.
• Headquarters: Lucknow.
• Jurisdiction: 26 districts of UP.

27. Ration Cards for Transgenders

• Initiative: Special drive to issue ration cards to transgender citizens under the NFSA.
• Goal: To ensure food security and promote social inclusion.

28. Krishi Sakhi Scheme

• Aim: To train women as ‘Krishi Sakhi’ to promote natural farming.
• Role: Create awareness, share training on organic inputs, monitor clusters.
• Honorarium: ₹5,000 per month.

29. Night Landing Airstrip on Ganga Expressway

• Location: Shahjahanpur stretch of the Ganga Expressway.
• Significance: First expressway in India where IAF fighter planes (Rafale, Mirage, Jaguar) can land at night.
• Other Expressways with landing facilities: Lucknow-Agra and Purvanchal Expressways.

30. Red-Crowned Roofed Turtle

• News: Returned to the Ganga River after three decades.
• Significance: A conservation achievement under Namami Gange and Turtle Survival Alliance India (TSAFI).
• Status:
  • IUCN: Critically Endangered
  • WPA, 1972: Schedule I
  • CITES: Appendix II
• Release Site: Haiderpur Wetland, UP.

31. Sacred Buddha Relics of Sarnath

• Event: Relics from Sarnath to be displayed at the United Nations Day of Vesak (UNDV) celebrations in Vietnam (May 2025).
• Theme 2025: “Buddhist Approach to Unity and Inclusion for Human Dignity…”.

National/International Topics with UP Connection

• Gallantry Awards 2025: President conferred 6 Kirit Chakras (4 posthumous) and 33 Shaurya Chakras (7 posthumous).
• 86th Grandmaster of India: Srihari LR of Tamil Nadu.
• Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award 2023: Awarded to badminton players Satwiksairaj Rankireddy & Chirag Shetty.
• Pulitzer Prize 2025:
  • Fiction: Percival Everett for ‘James’.
  • Public Service: Reporting on deaths of pregnant women due to abortion law exceptions.
• NAMASTE Scheme: For the safety and dignity of sanitation workers. Focuses on profiling, training, providing PPE, and health insurance under AB-PMJAY.
• India’s First Jungle Safari Vistadome Train: Connects Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary with the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve.
• New UPSC Chairman: Former Defence Secretary Dr. Ajay Kumar.

 

Uttar Pradesh Specific Current Affairs (June 2025)

1. Salkhan Fossil Park

• Why: Added to UNESCO’s Tentative List of World Heritage Sites.
• Location: Salkhan village, Sonbhadra district, UP.
• Key Feature: Preserves stromatolites formed by ancient cyanobacteria.
• Age: Fossils from the Mesoproterozoic Era (1.6–1.0 billion years), among the oldest fossil sites globally.
• Significance: Challenges the earlier belief that life began only 570 million years ago.

2. Defence Materials and Stores R&D Establishment (DMSRDE)

• Location: Kanpur.
• Organization: Key DRDO laboratory.
• Achievements: Lightest Bullet Proof Jacket (Level-6), Naphthyl Fuel for BrahMos, CBRN suits, stealth materials.
• Recognition: Appreciated during Operation Sindoor.

3. Green Data Centre

• Location: Sahibabad, Ghaziabad.
• Project: Joint initiative between CEL and ESDS.
• Capacity: 30 MW.
• Investment: ₹1,000 crore.
• Features: Energy-efficient, renewable energy, eco-friendly design.

4. CIP-South Asia Regional Centre (CSARC)

• Location: Singna, Agra, UP.
• Objective: Improve potato and sweet potato productivity, food security, farmer income.
• Cost: ₹171 crore (India ₹111 cr, CIP ₹60 cr).
• Significance: India is the 2nd largest potato producer; UP & West Bengal lead.

5. 25th Central Zonal Council Meeting

• Venue: Varanasi, UP.
• Chaired by: Union Home Minister.
• Members: UP, MP, Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand.
• Key Point: Only zonal council with no inter-state disputes.

6. Gharial Hatchlings in Chambal

• Location: National Chambal Sanctuary (UP, MP, Rajasthan).
• News: 1,186 hatchlings in Etawah, 840 in Bah range.
• Significance: India has 80% of global gharials.
• Conservation: 50 years of Crocodile Conservation Project (1975–2025).

7. Modern Rescue Centres

• Objective: Reduce human-wildlife conflict.
• Locations:
  • Hastinapur WLS (Meerut)
  • Pilibhit Tiger Reserve
  • Sohagibarwa WLS (Maharajganj)
  • Ranipur WLS (Chitrakoot)
• Funding: ₹57.2 crore.

8. Lucknow’s UNESCO Bid

• Bid: For City of Gastronomy under UCCN.
• Current Indian Gastronomy City: Hyderabad.

9. ISRO Model Rocket Test

• Event: Student model rocketry competition prep.
• Location: Kushinagar, UP.
• Organizers: ASI, IN-SPACe, ISRO.

10. ULBs Get More Power

• Decision: ULBs can execute projects up to ₹10 crore without state approval.
• Aim: Faster urban infra development.
• Limits:
  • Nagar Nigams: ₹10 cr
  • Nagar Palikas: ₹2 cr
  • Nagar Panchayats: ₹1 cr

11. Shift Towards Maize Cultivation

• Why: Economic, low water, high nutrition (“Queen of Grains”).
• Support: Quick Maize Development Programme, MSP.
• MSP 2024-25: ₹2,225/qtl.
• Target: Double production by 2027.

12. Sharda River Incident

• Incident: Drowning near Devraghat, Sitapur.
• About:
  • Also called Kali River.
  • Originates in Uttarakhand, forms India-Nepal border.
  • Joins Ghaghara River.
  • Sarda Barrage near Banbasa.

13. Ram Prasad Bismil

• Born: 11 June 1897, Shahjahanpur.
• Contributions:
  • Founder of HRA.
  • Leader of Kakori Train Action (1925).
• Note: UP govt renamed ‘Kakori Kand’ to ‘Kakori Train Action’.

14. Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 2.0

• Initiative: NHAI planted 40,000 trees on Delhi–Dehradun corridor (Baghpat, UP).
• Nationwide: 5.12 lakh+ trees under campaign.

15. Dudhwa Tiger Reserve

• News: 180 butterfly species recorded.
• Significance: Butterflies = bio-indicators.
• Composition: Dudhwa NP, Kis