• 20 Feb 2025

World's 2nd Highest Trek in Uttarakhand

Why in News? 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Gangotri Mukhba on 27^th February 2025 to inaugurate the winter yatra to Uttarakhand.  

• Mukhba (Mukhwa) is a small village in the town of Harsil, on the banks of river Bhagirathi, on the way to the pilgrimage of Gangotri.  
  • It is situated at an altitude of 2620 meters above the sea level. 

Key Points 

• Foundation Stone for Janaktal Trek: PM Modi will lay the foundation stone for the Janaktal trek, which will be the second-highest trekking route in the world.     
• Tourism Initiatives: Several adventure activities have been planned, including, a motorbike rally to Jadung will be conducted under the aegis of the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board (UTDB).     
  • A trekking expedition organized by the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) from Neelapani to Mulling La Base.   
  • It is expected to boost tourism and enhance the economic growth of the region through sustainable tourism practices.  
• Cultural Significance: PM Modi is expected to offer prayers at the Ganga Temple in Mukhwa. 

Janaktal trek 

• It is located in Uttarakhand, the Janaktal trek reaches an impressive 17,716 feet, making it the world's second-highest trekking route.  
• Trekkers are treated to breathtaking views of the Garhwal Himalayas, unique flora, serene glacial lakes, and a glimpse into local culture through traditional villages along the way.  
• The 12 km Janaktal trek takes adventurers through rugged, high-altitude terrain to a secluded lake surrounded by snow-capped peaks.  
• Previously restricted due to military presence, the area is now open to tourists, offering untouched beauty.  
• The Uttarakhand government plans to develop this route, along with Jadung, Nelong, and Sonam Valley, to attract domestic and international adventure seekers. 

Uttarakhand Bars Outsiders from Buying Farmland

Why in News? 

The Uttarakhand Cabinet has approved a new draft law that bans Non-residents of the state from purchasing Agricultural and horticultural land in 11 out of 13 districts barring Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar. 

Key Points

• Restrictions on Land Purchase: District Magistrates will no longer have the authority to approve land purchases. 
  • Non-residents of the state must submit an affidavit before purchasing land to prevent fraud and irregularities with final approval resting with the state administration. 
• Online Monitoring System: A dedicated portal will be created to record land transactions involving non-residents and ensure transparency. 
• Stricter Land Use Regulations: Land within municipal boundaries must be used as per designated regulations. Any violation will result in government possession. 
• Comparison with Himachal Pradesh : In Himachal, non-agriculturists cannot buy agricultural land freely but can acquire it for industry, tourism, or horticulture with government approval. 
• Government’s Stand: This new draft will protect the resources of the state, cultural heritage and the rights of the citizens, as well as play an important role in maintaining the original identity of the state. 

Parivar Pehchan Patra (PPP)

Why in News? 

The Haryana Parivar Pehchan Authority has issued strict regulations regarding the sharing of family ID data.  

• These new regulations define the conditions under which family information from the Family Information Data Repository can be shared with government entities while protecting individual privacy. 

Key Points 

• Purpose of Data Sharing: The shared data can only be used for government programs, recruitment verification, and public service benefits. 
• Restricted Data Sharing: The data can only be shared with 'Eligible State Instrumentality,' which includes the Central government, the Haryana state government, statutory authorities, universities, boards, corporations, and other government-controlled agencies. 
• Family Identification: Each family will receive an eight-digit Family ID, which will be linked to essential records such as birth, death, and marriage certificates. 
  • The Family ID will be updated automatically whenever a life event such as birth, death, or marriage occurs. 
• Integration with Government Schemes: The database will be linked to various independent schemes, including scholarships, subsidies, and pensions, ensuring consistency and accuracy in beneficiary selection. 
• Automatic Beneficiary Selection: The data in the PPP database will determine eligibility, allowing automatic self-selection for government benefits. 
• Elimination of Repeated Documentation: Once authenticated and verified, beneficiaries will no longer need to submit separate documents for different schemes. 

Note: The PPP initiative is a significant step towards digital governance and aims to simplify access to government welfare schemes for the residents of Haryana. 

Bill to Legalize Property Rights on State Land in J&K

Why in News? 

A Private Member Bill titled “The Jammu and Kashmir (Regularisation and Recognition of Property Rights of Residents in Public Land) Bill, 2025” has been introduced in the J&K Legislative Assembly.  

Key Points

• Objective of the Bill: 
  • The bill aims to prevent forced evictions of long-term residents.  
  • It seeks to provide security of tenure, aligning with Article 21 (Right to Life and Shelter) of the Constitution. 
  • The bill is a one-time relief measure for long-time occupants. 
  • It ensures legal recognition of homes and allows better urban planning. 
  • The bill seeks to protect fundamental rights under Article 21 (Right to Shelter). 
• Provisions: 
  • The bill confers ownership and property rights on residents living in houses built on state-owned land, common land, Kahcharai land, or Shamilat lands for over 20 years. 
  • It proposes registration of these properties to allow access to financial services like bank loans. 
• Background & Context: 
  • This Private Member Bill  counters the 2020 eviction drive, which retrieved 15 lakh kanals (70,000-75,000 hectares) of land from alleged illegal occupants. 

What is the Private Members' Bill?  

• About:  
  • Private Members' Bills are proposed by Member of Parliaments (MPs) who are not Ministers (i.e., not part of the government), allowing them to introduce laws or amendments on issues important to their constituencies.   
• Procedure:   
  • Drafting and Notice: MPs draft and submit bills with at least one month's notice.  
  • Introduction: Bills are introduced in Parliament, followed by initial discussions.  
  • Debate: If selected, bills are debated, typically in limited Friday afternoon sessions.  
  • Decision: Bills may be withdrawn or proceed to a vote. 

 Right to Shelter (Article 21) and Important Constitutional Provisions 

• The Right to Shelter in India is recognised as a fundamental right under the broader ambit of the Right to Life guaranteed by Article 21 of the Indian Constitution.  
  • This right ensures that every citizen has access to adequate housing, which is considered essential for living a life with dignity. 
  • It implies not just a roof over one's head but also includes adequate privacy, space, security, lighting, ventilation, basic infrastructure, and proximity to workplaces and social amenities. 
• Forced evictions without proper rehabilitation and due process violate the Right to Shelter. 

Shrimant Jha Wins Silver at Para-Arm Wrestling Cup

Why in News? 

India’s top-ranked para-arm wrestler Shrimant Jha has won a silver medal at the Para-Arm Wrestling Cup 2025 held in Norway. 

Key Points

• He was competing in the +85 kg category and defeated Marcin Kaplicki of Poland to secure his place on the podium. John Frevik of Norway clinched the gold. 
• Achievements & Rankings: 
  • This latest win by Shrimant Jha brings his international medal count to an impressive 52.  
  • He won a gold medal at the Asia Para-Arm Wrestling Championship, 2024  in Uzbekistan, and a Bronze Medal at the Para-Arm Wrestling World Championship in Kazakhstan in September 2023. 

Para Arm Wrestling: 

• Para Arm Wrestling is a competitive sporting event specifically designed for athletes with physical disabilities.  
• Asia Para-Arm Wrestling Cup: It is one such prestigious tournament held in different countries, bringing together top para-arm wrestlers from across Asia to compete for titles and recognition. 
• India Hosted the Asia Armwrestling Championship 2024. 

Soil Health Card Day Soil Health Card Day

Why in News? 

The 10^th Soil Health Card Day was celebrated on 19 February, 2025 in India . 

Key Points 

• Soil Health Card Scheme: 
  • This scheme was launched by the Prime Minister on 19 February 2015 in Suratgarh, Rajasthan. 
  • The theme of this scheme is: Healthy Earth, Green Fields. 
• Objective 
  • Distributing soil health cards to farmers at an interval of every 2 years. 
  • Providing necessary guidance to farmers for improving soil health and its fertility 
  • Providing information to farmers about the nutrient status of soil along with proper quantity of nutrients  
  • Strengthening of Soil Testing Laboratories (STL)  
  • To solve the problem of soil fertility in the states   
  • To provide corrective measures 

• Portal  
  • Soil Health Card Portal provides a facility to generate Soil Health Cards for the benefit of farmers in a uniform and standardized format in all major languages and 5 dialects across the country. 
  • Soil health card contains the status of soil with respect to 12 parameters, such as  
    • Macro nutrients: Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K) 
    • Secondary Nutrients : Sulfur (S) 
    • Micronutrients: Zinc (Zn), Iron (Fe), Copper (Cu), Manganese (Mn), Boron (B) 
    • Physical Parameters: pH, Electrical Conductivity (EC), Organic Carbon (OC) 
• Based on this, the card also gives the fertilizer recommendations and soil amendments required for the farm. 
• Soil samples are generally taken twice a year, after harvesting of Rabi and Kharif crops respectively or when there is no standing crop in the field.

Stone art of Gaya district got GI tag

Why in News?  

Recently, the 300 year old stone art of Gaya district of Bihar has been granted GI tag.  

Key Points  

• About Stone Art: 
  • Patharkatti village of Neemchak Bathani block of Gaya district of Bihar is famous for stone art.  
  • In stone art, apart from the statues of Lord Buddha and Mahavira, statues of various art works are also made. 
• Global Recognition: 
  • There are more than 650 artisans associated with stone art in Patharkatti village of Gaya district.  
    • By getting the GI tag, not only these artisans but also the sculpture will get a new identity abroad. This will also increase their income. 
• History: 
  • It is believed that Queen Ahilyabai Holkar named this village Pattharkatti.  
  • It was here that the craftsmen discovered a hill of black granite stones. The Vishnupad temple was built from the black granite stones of Patharkatti. 
• Other GI tagged products from Bihar 
  • Bihar's Jardalu mango, Shahi litchi, Karatani rice, Magahi paan and Madhubani painting have also received the GI tag. 

 GI Tag 

•  The full form of GI tag is Geographical Indication , which is called geographical indicator in Hindi. This tag is given to those products whose uniqueness, quality or reputation is associated with a particular geographical area. 
• By getting the GI tag, the product gets recognition at national and international level. 
• At the international level, GIs are regulated under  the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) . 
• At the national level, this work is done under the Geographical Indications of goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 , which came into force from September 2003. 
• ' Darjeeling Tea' is the first Indian product to receive the GI tag  in the year 2004 . 
• Registration of Geographical Indication is valid for 10 years.

Bihar won the gold medal after 25 years

Why in News? 

• Bihar won the gold medal after 25 years in the 38^th National Games 2025 held in Uttarakhand. 

Key Points 

• On February 08, 2025, in the 38th National Games 2025 held in Uttarakhand, Bihar's women players Khushboo Kumari, Nikhat Khatoon and Payal Preeti won the gold medal in the triple women's lawn ball event. 
  • Bihar has won this gold medal in National Games after 25 years. 
• In the final match, Bihar team defeated West Bengal by a close margin of 15-14. 
• In the 38^th National Games 2025, Bihar stood at 29^th position with a total of 12 medals including 1 gold, 6 silver and 5 bronze medals.  

 

 38^th National Games 

•  The 38^th National Games 2025 was organized in Uttarakhand from 28 January 2025 to 14 February 2025. It was inaugurated at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Dehradun. 
• The mascot of the Games was Molly, inspired by the Monal, the state bird of Uttarakhand 32 sporting events were included in the National Games .  
• Maharashtra secured first position with 54 gold, 71 silver and 76 bronze medals. While Haryana secured second position by securing 48 gold, 47 silver and 58 bronze medals.  

 39^th National Games 

• The 39^th National Games will be held in Meghalaya in 2026 .