• 25 Oct 2025

Madhya Pradesh Cabinet Approves Key Projects

Why in News? 

The Madhya Pradesh Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, has approved several major policy decisions, including the continuation of the zero-interest crop loan scheme, expansion of district hospitals, launch of new expressways, and the implementation of a Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Assessment Plan for 2025–30. 

 Key Points 

• Zero-Interest Crop Loan Scheme:  
  • The Cabinet has approved the continuation of the short-term crop loan scheme at 0% interest through Primary Agricultural Credit Cooperative Societies (PACS) for FY 2025–26. 
    • The scheme, operational since 2012–13, aims to support farmers by reducing debt burden and enhancing agricultural productivity. 
  • Farmers availing loans up to ₹3 lakh and repaying by the due date will not be charged any interest. 
• Road Infrastructure: 
  • In a significant infrastructure push, Madhya Pradesh is set to develop 3,368 km of expressways worth ₹36,483 crore over the next four years (2024–28). 
  • The expressways aim to link urban centres with remote regions, boost trade, logistics, and industrial development, and provide seamless connectivity across the state. 
  • The projects, commissioned by the Public Works Department (PWD), are expected to be completed between December 2027 and December 2028. 
  • Proposed expressways: 
    • Narmada Pragati Path 
    • Vindhya Expressway 
    • Malwa–Nimar Vikas Path 
    • Atal Pragati Path 
    • Bundelkhand Vikas Path 
    • Madhya Bharat Vikas Path 
• SDG Assessment Plan 2025–30: 
  • The Cabinet approved the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Assessment Plan to implement, monitor, and evaluate the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the state, district, and block levels. 
  • To facilitate implementation, 543 regular, 4 contractual, and 263 additional posts have been approved with an annual expenditure of ₹39.50 crore. 
  • A dashboard-based ranking system will assess the performance of all districts on SDG indicators. 
  • Incentives: 
    • 1st Rank District: ₹1 crore annual grant 
    • 2nd Rank District: ₹75 lakh annual grant 
• Expansion of District Hospitals: 
  • The Cabinet approved the upgradation of 800 beds and creation of 810 new posts across five district hospitals — Tikamgarh, Neemuch, Singrauli, Sheopur, and Dindori. 
  • The decision aims to strengthen healthcare delivery and enhance access to quality medical services in semi-urban and rural areas. 
• Strengthening of Judiciary: 
  • The Cabinet approved the creation of seven new posts for Tehsil Malthone (Sagar district), including one civil judge and six supporting staff under the High Court Registrar. 
  • The move aims to enhance judicial efficiency and reduce case pendency at the grassroots level.  

International Snow Leopard Day and ‘#23for23’ Initiative

Why in News? 

India celebrated International Snow Leopard Day on 23rd October 2025 with a unique nationwide campaign titled ‘#23for23’, which encouraged people to dedicate 23 minutes to physical activity in order to raise awareness about the conservation of snow leopards and their fragile high-altitude habitats. 

Key Points 

• About the Initiative: The campaign ‘#23for23’ was launched to symbolize 23 minutes of active participation for the year 2023, promoting awareness and public engagement in wildlife conservation. 
  • It was organized under the aegis of the Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection Programme (GSLEP) in collaboration with the Snow Leopard Trust Worldwide. 
• India’s Conservation Achievements:  
  • The first-ever Snow Leopard Census conducted across the Indian Himalayas recorded 718 individual snow leopards, out of which 477 are in Ladakh. 
  • India has identified snow leopard as a flagship species for the high-altitude Himalayas.  
• International Snow Leopard Day: It came into being in 2013, following the adoption of the Bishkek Declaration in Kyrgyzstan where 12 countries that host snow leopard populations agreed to collaborate in their conservation efforts. 
• Countries Hosting Snow Leopards: Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. 

 

Facts About Snow Leopards (Panthera uncia) 

• About: Medium-sized cats known for their elusive nature and ability to thrive in harsh, high-altitude environments. 
• Habitat: Native to mountains of Central and South Asia, typically found at elevations between 9,800 and 17,000 feet. 
  • Population estimates range between 3,500 and 7,000 individuals in the wild. 
• Feature: Possess thick, greyish-white fur that provides camouflage against snow and rocks. 
• Ecological Importance: Serve as top predators and Indicator species, as their presence reflects the health of their high-altitude ecosystems. 
  • Their kills provide food for scavengers like vultures and wolves, supporting other species. 

 

UP Launches Subsidy Scheme to Curb Stubble Burning

Why in News? 

The Uttar Pradesh government has launched a scheme offering a 40–50% subsidy on agricultural equipment that helps prevent stubble burning, a major contributor to winter air pollution across North India. 

Key Points 

• About: The subsidy applies to equipment such as mulchers and treaders, which enable farmers to mix crop residue into the soil, converting it into organic matter instead of waste. 
• Objective: The initiative seeks to promote eco-friendly residue management practices and reduce air pollution caused by crop burning. 
• Implementation: Farmers can apply for the benefit through the Agriculture Department’s online portal or by visiting the nearest departmental office. 
• Token Payment System: The government has also initiated a token payment system for farmers to ensure a transparent and secure application process.  
  • No payment for equipment up to ₹10,000. 
  • ₹2,500 for equipment costing between ₹10,000 and ₹50,000. 
  • ₹5,000 for equipment costing lakhs of rupees. 

 

Stubble Burning 

• Stubble (parali) burning is a method of removing paddy crop residues from the field to sow wheat from the last week of September to November, coinciding with the withdrawal of the southwest monsoon. 
• Stubble burning is a process of setting on fire the straw stubble, left after the harvesting of grains, like paddy, wheat, etc. It is usually required in areas that use the combined harvesting method, which leaves crop residue behind. 
• It is a common practice in October and November across North West India, but primarily in Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. 

UP to Open Satellite Investment Promotion Offices

Why in News? 

The Uttar Pradesh government has announced the establishment of satellite investment promotion offices in five metro cities to attract capital investments directly from India’s major industrial hubs and connect investors with the state’s growing business opportunities. 

 Key Points 

• About: The initiative will be implemented under ‘Invest U.P.’, the state’s investment promotion and facilitation agency. 
  • It aims to channel domestic capital investments into Uttar Pradesh and promote the state’s industrial and policy ecosystem. 
• Satellite Offices: Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, and New Delhi. 
• Staff Structure: Each office will comprise a General Manager, Assistant General Manager, two Udyami Mitras, two Executives, and two Office Assistants. 
• Significance: 
  • Aims to bridge the gap between investors and the state government, facilitating real-time engagement and project facilitation. 
  • Expected to enhance Uttar Pradesh’s image as an investment-friendly destination and improve its ‘Ease of Doing Business’ rankings. 
• City-wise Focus Areas: Each office will specialise in sectors aligned with the city’s industrial strengths: 

City	Focus Sectors
Mumbai	Financial Services, Infrastructure, FinTech, ESG Funds
Bengaluru	Global Capability Centers (GCCs), Aerospace, Semiconductors, Electric Vehicles, DeepTech
Chennai	Automotive, Electronics, Textiles, Hardware Manufacturing
Hyderabad	Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology, IT & Emerging Technologies
New Delhi	Invest U.P. & Asia–European Union Facilitation Office

Global Forest Resources Assessment 2025

Why in News? 

India has achieved a major milestone in global environmental conservation by climbing to the ninth position worldwide in terms of total forest area, according to the Global Forest Resources Assessment (FRA) 2025 released by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in Bali, Indonesia. 

• This marks an improvement from the tenth position in the previous assessment, reflecting the country’s growing commitment to sustainable forest management. 

Key Points 

• About: The Global Forest Resources Assessment (FRA), conducted by the FAO, provides a comprehensive overview of the world’s forest resources—including their condition, management, and uses—based on country-submitted data verified through an expert review process. 
  • The report helps monitor international commitments related to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, and the United Nations Strategic Plan for Forests (2017–2030). 
• Findings About India: 
  • The report highlights that India’s total forest area now stands at approximately 72.73 million hectares, positioning the country ninth globally.  
  • India also continues to hold the third position in the world in terms of annual forest area gain, showcasing the success of its large-scale afforestation and conservation initiatives. 
  • The FAO report also highlights India’s large area under agroforestry, noting that out of 55.4 million hectares of global agroforestry land across 91 countries, India and Indonesia together account for nearly 70% of the global total. 
    • India alone has 12.87 million hectares under agroforestry, which plays a critical role in carbon sequestration, livelihood generation, and ecosystem restoration. 
• Global Trends: 
  • According to the FRA 2025, forests currently cover about 4.14 billion hectares, which is roughly one-third of the Earth’s total land area.  
  • The report notes a slowing of deforestation rates worldwide, although the current rate of 10.9 million hectares per year remains high. 
  • More than half of the world’s forests are now covered by long-term management plans, and nearly 20% fall within legally established protected areas. 
  • Globally, Russia tops the list with 832.6 million hectares of forest, followed by Brazil, Canada, the United States, and China.