State PCS - Madhya Pradesh (MP PCS)

• 13 Oct 2025

PM Inaugurates Milk Powder Plant in Indore

Why in News? 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on 11th October 2025, virtually inaugurated a milk powder plant in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. 

• The facility was launched as part of several agriculture, animal husbandry, fisheries, and food processing projects inaugurated during an event in New Delhi, reflecting the government’s commitment to strengthening India’s rural and agri-based economy. 

Key Points 

• About: Implemented by the Indore Cooperative Milk Union under the National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD), the ₹76.5-crore plant has a daily milk powder production capacity of 30 metric tonnes. 
• Objective: To enhance milk value addition, ensure remunerative prices for dairy farmers, and promote cooperative-led growth in Madhya Pradesh’s dairy sector. 
• Target: Madhya Pradesh aims to increase its current 9% share in India’s total milk production to 20% within five years. 
  • The state government is ensuring fair prices for farmers’ milk and sustained support through various welfare schemes. 
• Significance: The new milk plant enhances rural dairy value addition and employment, promoting self-reliance and empowering cooperatives and women in the dairy sector.

National Program for Dairy Development (NPDD) 

• Overview: Launched in 2014 and restructured in 2021, NPDD is a Central Sector Scheme implemented by the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying. 
• Objectives: Aims to strengthen dairy infrastructure, enhance milk production through technical inputs, provide farmer training, and revive viable milk federations and unions. 
• Components: 
  • Dairy Infrastructure: Focuses on building essential infrastructure like milk chilling plants, testing labs, and certification systems, especially in remote and backward regions through Dairy Cooperative Societies (DCS) and Milk Producer Companies (MPC). 
  • Dairying through Cooperatives (DTC): A Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)-assisted initiative to promote sustainable dairy cooperatives by improving production, processing, and marketing in nine states. 

India’s 1st National Standards for Smart Mobile Toilets

Why in News? 

IIT Indore is spearheading the development of India’s first national standards for mobile toilets, integrating modern technologies such as UV sterilisation, solar power, and on-site waste-to-energy systems.  

Key Points 

• About: The smart toilet model seeks to overcome challenges in conventional sanitation systems that depend on manual cleaning, grid electricity, and high water consumption.  
  • The proposed framework will be submitted to the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), potentially serving as a national benchmark for mobile sanitation infrastructure across local bodies, industries, and event organisers. 
• Features: 
  • Automation & Smart Design: Incorporates IoT sensors for real-time hygiene monitoring and maintenance alerts. 
  • Sustainability: Powered by solar energy with continuous UV-based sterilisation and waste-to-energy conversion. 
  • Enhanced Safety & Accessibility: Focuses on women’s safety and dignity through secure entry systems, ergonomic design, and improved lighting. 
• Application: The model will be proposed for deployment during Simhastha 2028 in Ujjain, an event expected to attract over 15 crore visitors.  
  • Its adoption could revolutionise sanitation management during mass gatherings by ensuring environment-friendly and efficient mobile facilities. 
• Global Insights: For developing the framework, the IIT Indore team studied global sanitation systems in the UK, Germany, France, and Switzerland, integrating best practices in automation and sustainability into an indigenous design suited to Indian conditions. 

Lokpath Mobile App

Why in News? 

The Madhya Pradesh government has decided to enhance the Lokpath mobile application, developed by the Madhya Pradesh State Electronics Development Corporation (MPSEDC) under the Public Works Department (PWD) to include state highway black spot data, enhancing road safety beyond reporting damaged roads.

Key Points 

• About: The Lokpath mobile app was inaugurated by Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav on 2nd July 2024. 
  • The app enables citizens to report road-related issues such as potholes or surface damage by uploading photographs directly through their mobile phones. 
  • Once a complaint is submitted, it is automatically forwarded to the concerned officer, who is mandated to resolve the issue within seven days and update the action taken through the app. 
• New Feature: The upgraded version of the Lokpath app will alert commuters about accident-prone areas (black spots) along PWD-maintained state highways. 
  • There are over 400 identified black spots across the state, which will soon be mapped in the application. 
  • While the government is addressing engineering solutions at these spots, the app-based alerts will help reduce accidents caused by speeding and a lack of awareness. 
  • In addition to black spot alerts, the app will soon include user-friendly features such as locating nearby restaurants and hotels, offering a more comprehensive travel assistance platform. 
• Significance: The integration of road safety alerts into the Lokpath app reflects the government’s effort to combine technology with public welfare, enabling citizens to participate actively in road maintenance and safety. 

70th Filmfare Awards 2025

Why in News? 

The 70^th Hyundai Filmfare Awards 2025, held on 11th October 2025 at EKA Arena, Ahmedabad, in collaboration with Gujarat Tourism, marked a distinguished celebration of excellence in Hindi cinema 

Key Points 

• About: Hosted by Shah Rukh Khan and Karan Johar, who reunited on the Filmfare stage after 18 years, the ceremony blended glitz and nostalgia to celebrate seven decades of cinematic excellence. 
  • The evening celebrated the best films of 2024, honouring excellence across multiple categories. 
• Major Wins: ‘Laapataa Ladies’ emerged as the biggest winner of the night, bagging 13 trophies, including Best Film, thus equalling the record previously set by ‘Gully Boy’ (2019) starring Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt. 
  • In the acting categories, Abhishek Bachchan and Kartik Aaryan shared the Best Actor (Male) award for their remarkable performances, while Alia Bhatt clinched the Best Actress trophy for her stellar role. 

Top Individual Winners
Name	Award(s)	Film(s)
Kiran Rao	Best Director	Laapataa Ladies
Shoojit Sircar	Critics’ Award for Best Film	I Want To Talk
Sneha Desai	Best Screenplay & Best Dialogue	Laapataa Ladies
Ram Sampath	Best Music Album & Best Background Score	Laapataa Ladies
Achint Thakkar	RD Burman Award (Upcoming Talent in Music)	Jigra, Mr & Mrs Mahi
Zeenat Aman, Shyam Benegal (Posthumously)	Lifetime Achievement Award	Honoured for unparalleled contributions to Indian cinema.

World Mental Health Day

Why in News? 

On the occasion of World Mental Health Day 2025, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Jagat Prakash Nadda launched a series of new features under the National Tele-Mental Health Programme (Tele-MANAS). 

Key Points 

• App Enhancements: The Tele-MANAS mobile app enables users to access mental health support anytime, anywhere, strengthening India’s digital healthcare framework. 
  • The app now features a multi-lingual interface, chatbot, accessibility improvements, and an emergency response module. 
  • Available in 10 regional languages (Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Odia, and Punjabi) in addition to English and Hindi. 
  • Accessibility features make the interface user-friendly for persons with disabilities, including the visually impaired. 
  • Chatbot “Asmi” allows users to engage, seek information, and access mental health support. 
  • Emergency module ensures quick guidance and support during crises. 
• Mental Health Ambassador: The Minister announced that Deepika Padukone has been designated as the Mental Health Ambassador to raise awareness about access to mental health services. 
• World Mental Health Day:  
  • About: World Mental Health Day, observed on 10th October, aims to raise global awareness about mental health issues, encourage dialogue, and mobilise efforts to make mental health care accessible for all. 
  • Theme: The 2025 theme, “Access to Services – Mental Health in Catastrophes and Emergencies,” underscores the importance of ensuring mental health care during crises such as natural disasters, armed conflicts, and pandemics.