State PCS - Uttar Pradesh (UP PCS)

• 19 Jul 2025

Pilibhit Tiger Reserve (PTR)

Why in News? 

A suspected tiger attack near Pilibhit Tiger Reserve on Thursday killed a person, marking the second such incident in three days, leading officials to consider seeking permission to shoot the tiger. 

Key Points 

About Pilibhit Tiger Reserve   

• It is located in the Pilibhit and Shahjahanpur districts of Uttar Pradesh. It was notified as a Tiger Reserve in the year 2014.  
  • In the year 2020, it won the international award TX2 for doubling the number of tigers in the last four years.  
• It is part of the Terai Arc landscape in the Upper Gangetic Plain.  
• The Gomti River originates from this reserve, which is also the catchment area of several other rivers like Sharda, Chuka, and Mala Khannot. 
•  Flora and Fauna: It is home to a habitat for over 128 animals, 326 bird species, and 2,100 flowering plants. 
  • Wild animals include tigers, swamp deer, Bengal florican, leopard, etc. 
  • It consists of dense sal forests, plantations, and grasslands with several water bodies. 

About Human-Animal Conflict 

• Definition: Human-animal conflict refers to situations where human activities, such as agriculture, infrastructure development, or resource extraction, come into conflict with wild animals, leading to negative outcomes for both humans and animals. 

 

• Government Measures to Tackle Human-Animal Conflict: 
  • The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: The act provides the legal framework for the activities, Prohibition of hunting, the Protection and management of wildlife habitats, and the establishment of protected areas, etc. 
  • The Biological Diversity Act, 2002: India is a part of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity. It ensures that the Biological Diversity Act complements rather than contradicts existing laws concerning forests and wildlife. 
  • National Wildlife Action Plan (2002-2016): It focuses on strengthening and enhancing the protected area network, on the conservation of Endangered wildlife and their habitats, on controlling trade in wildlife products, and on research, education, and training. 
  • Project Tiger: Project Tiger is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, launched in 1973.  
  • Project Elephant: It is a centrally sponsored scheme and was launched in February 1992 for the protection of elephants, their habitats, and corridors.  

Pradhan Mantri Dhan Dhanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY)

Why in News? 

The Uttar Pradesh government has submitted a detailed proposal to the Centre to secure a significant share in the newly launched Pradhan Mantri Dhan Dhanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY) for boosting agricultural productivity. 

Key Points 

About Pradhan Mantri Dhan Dhanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY) 

• About: PMDDKY is a comprehensive farm programme designed to enhance productivity, promote sustainable practices, and improve livelihoods. 
  • It was originally announced in the Union Budget 2025–26 and has an annual outlay of Rs 24,000 crore for six years, starting from 2025–26.  
  • It targets 100 underperforming districts to boost farm productivity through better irrigation, storage, and credit access while promoting sustainable practices. 
  • It merges 36 schemes from 11 Union Ministries to create a unified agricultural support system.  
  • It is inspired by NITI Aayog’s Aspirational Districts Programme. 
• District Selection Criteria: 
  • Low Agricultural Productivity: Districts with low agricultural output per hectare. 
  • Low Cropping Intensity: Regions with limited crop variety or insufficient crop cycles per year. 
  • Limited Credit Disbursement: Areas with restricted access to financial resources for farmers. 
  • State Representation: Selection will consider the share of Net Cropped Area and operational holdings in each state/union territory. A minimum of one district will be selected from each state to ensure balanced regional development. 
• Implementation and Monitoring: 
  • District Agriculture and Allied Activities Plans: Each district will have a dedicated plan developed by the District Dhan Dhaanya Samiti, including progressive farmers as members. The plans will align with national goals like crop diversification, water conservation, and agricultural self-sufficiency. 
  • Monitoring and Evaluation: Progress will be tracked using 117 Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) via a dedicated dashboard, with monthly reviews. 
    • Central Nodal Officers will be appointed for each district for smooth implementation. NITI Aayog will provide regular guidance and review district plans. 
  • Committees at Various Levels: Committees at the district, state, and national levels will oversee the planning, implementation, and monitoring of progress to ensure the scheme’s effectiveness. 
• Expected Outcomes: 
  • Farmer Beneficiaries: Approximately 1.7 crore farmers across India are expected to benefit directly. 
  • Integration of Allied Sectors: The scheme integrates sectors like livestock, dairy, and fisheries to enhance value and create local livelihoods. 
  • Focus Areas: It emphasizes post-harvest storage, improved irrigation, easier credit access, and the promotion of natural and organic farming, ultimately enhancing rural economic resilience. 

About State Government’s Preparation 

• The Uttar Pradesh (UP) government has initiated planning to secure a significant share of the scheme’s benefits. 
• UP’s agriculture department has reviewed field details and submitted an exhaustive proposal to the Centre for the successful implementation of the scheme. 
• UP, being a key agricultural state, is expected to receive a prominent share of the scheme’s allocation. 

About Other Complementary Schemes 

• UP AGREES scheme: PMDDKY complements the World Bank-aided UP AGREES scheme, aiming to improve agricultural yields in 28 districts of the Purvanchal and Bundelkhand regions. 
  • Its main objective is to increase agricultural productivity, ensure conservation of natural resources and increase the income of farmers.  
  • The project will link 10,000 women producer groups and send 500 farmers abroad for advanced training. 
• Aspirational District Programme: The Aspirational District Programme is also working to enhance agricultural productivity in the state. 
  • Launch: Initiated in 2018 by the Government of India to uplift 112 of the most underdeveloped districts. 
  • Core Philosophy: Shift from "backwardness" to "aspiration" by empowering districts to unlock their latent potential. 
  • Focus Areas: Health, nutrition, education, infrastructure, and economic opportunities.  

Performance of Uttar Pradesh in Swachhta Survekshan 2024-25

Why in News? 

Lucknow was ranked the third cleanest city in the country, following Ahmedabad and Bhopal, in the million-plus population category under the Swachhta Survekshan 2024-25, with the winners being honored by President Droupadi Murmu in New Delhi. 

Key Points 

• Top Performer: 
  • Lucknow: 
    • Ranking: 3rd cleanest city in the country (Million-plus population category). 
    • Milestone: Achieved a 7-star garbage GFC rating, becoming the first city in Uttar Pradesh to do so. 
  • Prayagraj: Earned special recognition as the Cleanest Ganga Town, securing first place in the country after defeating Varanasi. 
  • Noida: 
    • Ranking: Topped the Super Swachh League chart in the 3 lakh-10 lakh population category. 
      • A new category introduced to rank top-tier performers separately. 
• Other Notable Achievements: 
  • Seven UP Cities in Top 20 (Million-plus category) 
    • Cities: Lucknow, Agra, Gorakhpur, Kanpur, Ghaziabad, Prayagraj, Noida 
  • Awards for Maha Kumbh 2025: Special awards for cleanliness and sanitation practices during the Maha Kumbh, highlighting the state's successful sanitation efforts during large-scale events. 
  • Cities with Top Ratings: 
    • 5-Star Rating: Agra, Gorakhpur, Kanpur, Ghaziabad, Prayagraj, Noida 
    • 3rd Place in Safaimitra Surakshit Shaher Category: Gorakhpur 
    • Top 10 Cleanest Cities (3-10 lakh population): Gorakhpur (3rd), Moradabad (10th) 
    • Emerging Clean City: Agra (Ranked 32nd nationally) 
• New Water-Plus Achievements: 
  • 16 cities achieved Water-plus status for the first time, including Bijnor and Shamshabad 
    • Water-plus status awarded to local bodies excelling in sanitation, water management, and recycling practices. 
  • Among 17 municipal corporations, 13 received Water-plus status, a significant increase from the previous year (only 2 cities had Water-plus status) 
• Improvements in Waste Management: 
  • Increase in Verified Door-to-Door Garbage Collection: Up from 48% to 62% in one year  
  • Increase in Garbage Processing: Up from 48% to 85% in one year 
• Statewide Improvements: 
  • Urban Local Bodies (ULBs): 83 urban local bodies improved their rankings compared to the previous year 
  • ODF++ ULBs: 337 ULBs declared as ODF++ (Open Defecation Free++), a significant increase from the previous year (129 ULBs). 

Swachh Survekshan 

• About: Swachh Survekshan, conducted by the MoHUA since 2016, is the world’s largest urban sanitation and cleanliness survey under the Swachh Bharat Mission–Urban (SBM-U). 
  • Swachh Survekshan Awards are annual rankings and recognitions given to cities and urban local bodies (ULBs) under the Swachh Survekshan. 
  • It aims to foster citizen participation, generate awareness on sanitation, and promote competitive federalism through performance benchmarking. 
• Swachh Survekshan 2025: Under the revamped framework of Swachh Survekshan 2025( 9th edition), indicators have been simplified and restructured into 10 comprehensive sections. 
  • The annual theme for 2025 is “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (3R)”, promoting circular economy principles in line with the Jaipur Declaration adopted at the 12th Regional 3R and Circular Economy Forum (March 2025).