State PCS - Uttar Pradesh (UP PCS)

• 06 May 2025

Uttar Pradesh Gramin Bank

Why in News? 

Aryavart Bank, Prathama Bank, and Baroda UP Bank—three regional rural banks in Uttar Pradesh—have been merged into a single entity, named ‘Uttar Pradesh Gramin Bank’. 

Key Points 

• About Uttar Pradesh Gramin Bank : 
  • The objective of this bank is to ensure financial inclusion , integrated management and better customer services in rural areas . 
  • This new bank came into existence from 1st May 2025 under the notification of the Ministry of Finance, Government of India . 
  • The jurisdiction of this newly formed bank will extend to 26 districts of Uttar Pradesh, in which operations will be carried out through a total of 22 regional offices. 
  • The headquarters of this newly formed bank will be established in Lucknow and it will be operated under the sponsorship of Bank of Baroda . 
• Benefits: 
  • Ease in loan disbursal : Quick loan approval to farmers, self-employed rural entrepreneurs. 
  • Expansion of digital services : Facilities like mobile banking, Unified Payments Interface (UPI), net banking will reach remote villages. 
  • Monitoring of Facilities : A special committee has been formed by NABARD which will assess the convenience of the customers. 
    

National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) 

• NABARD is a development bank that primarily focuses on the rural areas of the country. It is the apex banking institution for providing finance for agriculture and rural development. 
• Its headquarters is located in Mumbai, the financial capital of the country. 
• Apart from agriculture, it is responsible for the development of small industries, cottage industries and rural projects. 
• It is a statutory body established in the year 1982 under the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development Act, 1981. 

Ration Card for Transgenders

Why in News? 

The Uttar Pradesh government has announced a special drive to issue ration cards to transgender citizens under the National Food Security Act (NFSA). 

Key Points 

• Status of Transgender Community: 
  • The Government was informed through the report by the Uttar Pradesh Transgender Welfare Board that a large number of transgender persons are deprived of permanent employment and government schemes. 
  • Due to social discrimination they are also deprived of basic facilities like food security, pension, health services. 
• Intervention of Chief Minister : 
  • Taking cognizance of this report, the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh has directed that: 
    • The ration card distribution process should be made simple, fast and transparent
    • This work should be completed before the launch of the state's 'Zero Poverty' programme . 
    • All districts have been instructed to identify transgender persons who do not have ration cards and issue them documents . 
    • These beneficiaries should be added to the ' eligible household ' category and brought under the National Food Security Act (NFSA). 
• Importance: 
  • This will promote social inclusion and provide equal rights and dignity to the transgender community. 
  • By ensuring food security , their economic condition will be strengthened. 
  • Administrative reforms and transparency will make the reach of welfare schemes more effective. 

 National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013 

• Notified: September 10, 2013 
• Objective: It aims to provide food and nutrition security to the people by providing them with an adequate quantity of good quality food at affordable prices to lead a dignified life. 
• Coverage: 75% of rural population and 50% of urban population eligible to receive subsidized food grains under Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS). 
• The National Food Security Act (NFSA) overall covers 67 per cent of the country's total population. 
• Eligibility: 
  • Priority households covered under Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), as per State Government guidelines. 
  • Houses covered under Antyodaya Anna Yojana. 
• Provision: 
  • 5 kg food grains per person per month, including rice at Rs 3 per kg, wheat at Rs 2 per kg and coarse grains at Rs 1 per kg. 
  • However, under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana, the existing provision of 35 kg foodgrains per family per month will continue. 
  • There is a provision to provide maternity benefit of at least Rs 6000 to pregnant women and lactating mothers in addition to food during pregnancy and six months after the birth of the child. 
  • Food for children upto 14 years of age. 
  • Food security allowance to the beneficiaries in case of non-supply of food grains or meals. 
  • Establishing grievance redressal mechanisms at district and state levels.

Pulitzer Prize 2025

Why in News? 

The Pulitzer Prizes 2025, honoring outstanding contributions to journalism and the arts, were announced by the Pulitzer Prize Board. 

Key Points 

• About Pulitzer Prize: 
  • The Pulitzer Prize is considered America's most prestigious honor in the field of journalism. 
  • This award was started in the year 1917, which is administered by Columbia University and the 'Pulitzer Prize Board'. 
    • The Pulitzer Prize Board is composed of judges appointed by Columbia University.  
  • This award is named in honor of renowned newspaper publisher Joseph Pulitzer, who bequeathed funds in his will to establish the School of Journalism at Columbia University and to institute the Pulitzer Prize. 
• Reward: 
  • Each award winner carries a certificate and prize money of USD 15,000 and the award winner in the 'Public Service Category' receives a gold medal.  
• Pulitzer Prize 2025: 
  • The Pulitzer Prizes for the year 2025 were given in a total of 23 categories, including 15 categories of journalism and 8 categories of books, drama, music etc. 
  • List of winners include: 
    • Fiction: Percival Everett won the award for his novel 'James' , which tells the story of 'Huckleberry Finn' from the point of view of a slave. 
    • Drama: Branden Jacobs-Jenkins was honored for “Purpose,” which delves into the inner complexities of a wealthy black family. 
    • Journalism: The New York Times won four Pulitzers, The New Yorker three, and The Washington Post three for their swift reporting on the Trump assassination attempt. 
    • Public Service: Kavita Suarna, Lizzie Presser, Cassandra Jaramillo and Stacy Kranitz (reporting on deaths of pregnant women due to obscure abortion law exceptions). 
    • Investigative Reporting: Reuters Staff (Supply chain expose on fentanyl crisis). 
    • Explanation: Azam Ahmed, Christina Goldbaum and Matthew Aikins (NYT). 
    • Local reporting: Alissa Zhu, Nick Thiem and Jessica Gallagher (Baltimore fentanyl crisis). 
    • National Reporting: Wall Street Journal Staff (reporting on Elon Musk). 
    • International reporting: Declan Walsh and NYT staff (reporting on the Sudan conflict). 
    • Special Writing: Mark Warren (Esquire). 
    • Commentary: Mosab Abu Toha (The New Yorker). 
    • Review: Alexandra Lang (Bloomberg CityLab). 
    • Editorial writing: Raj Mankad, Sharon Steinman, Lisa Falkenberg and Leah Binkowitz (Houston Chronicle). 
    • Featured reporting and commentary: Ann Telnes (Washington Post). 
    • Breaking News Photography: Doug Mills (NYT). 
    • Exclusive photography: Moises Saman (The New Yorker). 
    • Audio reporting: The New Yorker Staff.