• 03 Jul 2025

Lucknow Becomes Zero Net Waste City

Why in News? 

Lucknow achieved a major milestone in urban waste management by launching a 700 MT fresh waste processing unit at the Shivri Plant. With this, the city now scientifically processes all 2,000 MT of daily waste, becoming a ‘zero net waste city.’

Key Points 

• Legacy Waste Remediation at Shivri: 
  • In 2022, the Shivri site faced a major challenge with 18.5 lakh MT of accumulated legacy waste. 
  • To tackle this, the Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) launched a Rs 106.18 crore remediation project, with Rs 96.53 crore funded under the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM-I). 
  • The project was awarded to Bhumi Green Energy, which began work in March 2024. 
• Circular Economy in Action: 
  • So far, 12.86 lakh MT of legacy waste has been processed into Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF), Bio-soil and Construction-grade debris. 
    • RDF comprises non-recyclable dry waste like plastics, paper, and textiles, has a high calorific value and can be used for power generation in waste-to-energy projects. 
  • The reclaimed 25-acre site is now being repurposed for Green zones, Composting pads and New waste infrastructure. 
• Waste-to-Energy Plant in Pipeline: 
  • A Detailed Project Report (DPR) is being prepared for a Build-Own-Operate Waste-to-Energy (WTE) plant. 
  • Till then, the existing Shivri facility, supported by National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC), will serve as the city’s interim waste processing solution. 
• Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM-I): 
  • It was launched on 2nd October 2014 by the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.  
  • It was also divided into SBM-Gramin for rural areas and SBM-Urban for urban centers.  
  • Aim:  
    • It aimed to make India Open Defecation Free (ODF) by constructing individual and community toilets and implementing waste management systems in schools and anganwadi toilets.  
    • An area can be notified or declared as ODF if at any point of the day, not even a single person is found defecating in the open. 
  • SBM Urban 2.0: 
    • It aims for "Garbage Free Cities" by establishing material recovery facilities, waste-to-energy plants, and recycling units, significantly boosting solid waste processing capacity by around 1.06 lakh tonnes per day (TPD) in urban areas. 

Bihar Cabinet Approves Key Schemes

Why in News? 

In a significant move aimed at improving youth employability, cultural preservation, and religious tourism, the Bihar Cabinet approved several key initiatives.  

• Initiatives include financial support for youth internships, a pension scheme for artists, and a Rs 882 crore development plan for Punaura Dham, which will transform the region into a major religious tourism hub.

Key Points

• Mukhya Mantri Pratigya Yojana: 
  • Youth aged 18–28 years are eligible if they have completed skill training or hold qualifications from Class 12 to postgraduate level. 
  • Monthly stipend during internships: 
    • Rs 4,000 for Class 12 pass 
    • Rs 5,000 for ITI or diploma holders 
    • R 6,000 for graduates and postgraduates 
  • Interns will get an extra Rs 2,000/month for working outside their district and Rs 5,000/month if interning outside Bihar. 
    • This additional aid will be provided for a maximum of 3 months. 
  • All financial support will be credited through Direct Benefit Transfer. 
  • The scheme will support 5,000 youth in FY 2025–26. 
  • From 2026–27 onwards, it aims to benefit one lakh youth over five years. 
• Mukhya Mantri Kalakar Pension Yojana: 
  • The Cabinet approved a new pension scheme for artists involved in classical, visual, or performing arts for at least 10 years. 
  • Eligible artists aged 50+ with annual income below Rs 1.2 lakh will receive a monthly pension of Rs 3,000. 
  • The scheme seeks to preserve Bihar’s cultural heritage. 
• Punaura Dham Development: 
  • The Cabinet cleared Rs 882.87 crore for the integrated development of the Maa Janaki temple at Punaura Dham, Sitamarhi. 
  • Believed to be Goddess Sita’s birthplace, the site will be developed on the lines of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya to showcase and promote Mithila’s rich culture and heritage. 
  • Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation will implement the project. 
• Factory Employment Rules Amended: 
  • The Cabinet also approved amendments to the Bihar Factory Rules, 1950. 
  • Women, excluding pregnant and lactating women, can now work in factories classified as hazardous. 
  • The move aims to broaden industrial employment opportunities for women.

Mithila

• Geographical Boundaries:  
  • Mithila, also known as Tirhut or Tirabhukti, is a distinct geological and cultural region.  
  • It is bounded by the Mahananda River in the east, the Ganges in the south, the Gandaki River in the west, and the Himalayan foothills in the north. 
  • In India, it includes districts such as Darbhanga, Madhubani, Muzaffarpur, Samastipur, Sitamarhi, Vaishali, and parts of Champaran, Bhagalpur, and Munger. 
• Language and Identity: 
  • The native language is Maithili, spoken by the Maithil people. 
  • The name Mithila is believed to derive from the mythological King Miti, symbolizing “soil”. 
  • The ancient capital of Mithila was Janakpur, located in Dhanusa district, Nepal. 
• Connection with Jainism and Buddhism: 
  • Vaishali, in southern Mithila, is the birthplace of Lord Mahavira (599 B.C.), the 24th and last Tirthankara of Jainism. 
  • Gautam Buddha is also believed to have spent part of his life in the Mithila region, delivering sermons and engaging with scholars. 
• Rich Cultural Heritage: 
  • Mithila culture is known for its Language (Maithili), Paag (traditional headgear), Folk dance and festivals, and cuisine. 
  • Madhubani Paintings: 
    • Madhubani art, a vibrant folk painting tradition, depicts scenes from Hindu mythology (especially Ramayana) 
    • Nature, animals, and social life 
    • It uses natural dyes and geometric patterns 
    • It has received GI (Geographical Indication) status for its cultural uniqueness. 
• Agricultural Specialty – Mithila Makhana: 
  • Makhana, also known as fox nut, is a signature aquatic crop of Mithila. 
  • It is cultivated extensively in the wetlands of Bihar and Nepal, especially in the Mithila region. 
  • Mithila Makhana has also received a GI tag, highlighting its economic and cultural importance.

'Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao' Intensifies in Haryana

Why in News? 

The Haryana government has launched an intensified ‘Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao’ campaign to improve the sex ratio.  

• Due to ongoing efforts, Haryana’s sex ratio improved to 906 (from 1st January to 30th June 2025), up from 904 during the same period in 2024, as per official data.

Key Points 

• Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao Campaign (BBBP): 
  • BBBP is a centrally sponsored scheme launched to address the declining Child Sex Ratio (CSR), prevent gender-biased sex-selective elimination, and promote the survival, protection, and education of the girl child.  
  • Key Objectives:   
    • Improve the Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB) by two points annually.  
    • Achieve a sustained institutional delivery rate of 95% or above.  
    • Increase the percentage of first-trimester antenatal care registrations and secondary education enrollment by 1% annually.  
    • Reduce dropout rates among girls at the secondary and higher secondary levels.  
    • Raise awareness about safe Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM). 
• Efforts to Promote Gender Equality: 
  • Under the BBBP, strict action will be taken against sex-selective abortions, including cancelling licences of involved doctors. 
  • Birth registration camps will be held in economically weaker areas, and awareness drives will be conducted to ensure all unregistered children are brought into the system. 
  • Increased monitoring will be done on suspected In Vitro fertilization (IVF) centres engaged in sex determination practices. 

Chhattisgarh Launches One-Click Single Window System 2.0

Why in News? 

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister launched the “One-Click Single Window System 2.0” in Raipur, positioning it as a key step to make the state a hub for emerging industries like semiconductors, AI, pharma, defence, and green hydrogen.

Key Points

• One-Click Single Window System 2.0: 
  • It integrates online applications, departmental clearances, and subsidy processing. 
  • The system ensures transparent and real-time approvals for setting up industries. 
• New Industrial Policy:  
  • Chhattisgarh’s new industrial policy prioritizes employment generation and economic prosperity. 
  • Over 20,000 youth will benefit from Rs 1.23 lakh crore worth of investment proposals submitted by 11 companies. 
  • According to a government statement, Chhattisgarh received investment proposals worth Rs 5.5 lakh crore. 
    • The state contributed 3.71% of India’s total investment inflows in FY 2025, reflecting its growing industrial appeal. 
• Chhattisgarh State Logistics Policy 2025: 
  • The CM also announced the approval of the Chhattisgarh State Logistics Policy 2025, aiming to make the state a national logistics hub. 
  • The policy will attract global and domestic logistics players, improve export infrastructure, and ensure affordable warehousing for industries and farmers. 
• Significance: 
  • Enhanced Industrial Growth: The One-Click Single Window System 2.0 will continue to attract investors and expedite the industrial setup process, reinforcing Chhattisgarh’s position as a key industrial hub. 
  • Investment in Emerging Sectors: Focused efforts on attracting investments in key sectors will help the state transition to a future-oriented economy. 
  • Logistics and Infrastructure Development: The logistics policy will significantly enhance the state’s export capabilities, making Chhattisgarh a critical player in India’s logistics ecosystem. 
  • Job Creation and Economic Prosperity: With large investments and a growing industrial base, the state will create thousands of employment opportunities, driving economic prosperity for its residents.

Green Hydrogen 

• Hydrogen is a key industrial fuel that has a variety of applications including the production of ammonia (a key fertilizer), steel, refineries and electricity. 
• However, all of the hydrogen manufactured now is the so-called ‘black or brown’ hydrogen because they are produced from coal. 
• Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe. But pure, or the elemental hydrogen, is very scarce. 
  • It almost always exists in compounds such as with oxygen to form water. 
• But when electric current is passed through water, it splits it into elemental oxygen and hydrogen through electrolysis. 
  • And if the electricity used for this process comes from a renewable source like wind or solar then the hydrogen thus produced is referred to as green hydrogen. 
• Colors attached to hydrogen indicate the source of electricity used to derive the hydrogen molecule. 
  • For instance, if coal is used, it is referred to as brown hydrogen. 

Operation Conviction

Why in News? 

Uttar Pradesh has witnessed a transformation in its law and order situation through a strict zero-tolerance policy, including Operation Conviction, which focuses on securing swift convictions and tackling serious crimes.

Key Points

• Operation Conviction & Impact: 
  • Launched in July 2023, Operation Conviction has emerged as a key strategy to ensure swift justice by focusing on fast-track prosecution, leading to significant improvements in conviction rates. 
    • In crimes against children, several received the death penalty under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 and more than 600 were sentenced to life imprisonment. 
    • Significant convictions have been secured in cases involving top criminals and notorious mafias, underscoring the focus on organized crime. 
  • POCSO Act, 2012:  
    • About:  
      • The POCSO Act was enacted to address sexual exploitation and abuse of children, defining a child as anyone below 18 years.  
      • It was enacted in consequence to India’s ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (1992).   
    • Key Features:  
      • The Act is gender-neutral, protecting both boys and girls from sexual abuse. It provides for interim compensation by Special Courts and immediate relief through the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) for urgent needs.   
      • A support person is appointed to assist the child through legal proceedings. Section 23 ensures confidentiality by prohibiting disclosure of the victim’s identity in the media. 
  • Organised Crime: 
    • Organised crime is defined as illegal activities carried out by groups or networks working together, often involving violence, corruption, or related actions to gain financial or material benefits. 
    • Transnational organised crime (TOC) occurs when activities or groups operate in multiple countries. 
    • Different forms of organised crime include: 
      • Money Laundering, Drug Trafficking, Human Trafficking, Illicit Firearms Trafficking, Trafficking in Natural Resources, Fraudulent Medicines, Cybercrime and Identity Theft.