State PCS - Uttar Pradesh (UP PCS)

• 29 Oct 2025

UP to Implement ‘Learning by Doing’ Model

Why in News 

The Uttar Pradesh government has developed a comprehensive action plan to promote experiential and skill-based learning by introducing the ‘Learning by Doing (LBD)’ model across 3,288 government schools and District Institutes of Education and Training (DIETs) institutions in the state. 

Key Points 

• About: The initiative aims to make education more experiential, skill-driven, and future-oriented, replacing rote memorisation with a “learning by doing” approach. 
  • It aligns with the vision of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which emphasises critical thinking, creativity, and innovation-driven learning. 
• Training Programme Details: The Basic Education Department will conduct train-the-trainer programmes to build teacher capacity. 
  • The training will be conducted in 66 residential batches, focusing on integrating classroom learning with experiments, projects, models, and real-life applications. 
• Objectives: 
  • To transform classrooms into spaces that encourage understanding, exploration, and discovery rather than memorisation. 
  • To equip teachers with practical teaching methods that foster creativity, problem-solving, and critical thinking among students. 
  • To prepare learners for a skill-based, innovation-driven, and AI-powered economy. 
• Significance: 
  • The Learning by Doing model enhances active learning by allowing children to experiment, question, and explore solutions independently. 
  • It promotes curiosity, analytical ability, scientific outlook, expression, and problem-solving skills, transforming students from passive listeners to active learners. 
  • The initiative is expected to redefine the identity of basic education in Uttar Pradesh and set a benchmark for other states.

Passenger Trains Begin Operations on DFC

Why in News? 

For the first time in Indian Railways history, passenger trains have begun operating on the Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) network. 

Key Points 

• Traditionally, the Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFCs) were designed exclusively for freight transport, aiming to enhance logistics efficiency and reduce congestion on existing railway lines. 
• However, due to the heavy rush during Chhath Puja ( 25^th–28^th October 2025), the Railways has allowed empty passenger coaching rakes and special trains to run on the DFC for the first time. 
• This step enables the operation of a larger number of passenger and express trains during the festive period. 
• DFC consists of two arms: 
  • Eastern DFC (EDFC): Ludhiana (Punjab) – Dankuni (West Bengal) via Uttar Pradesh and Bihar (Approx. 1,839 km). The World Bank is funding a majority of the EDFC. 
  • Western DFC (WDFC): Jawaharlal Nehru Port Terminal (JNPT), Mumbai – Dadri (Approx. 1,506 km). The Japan International Cooperation Agency is funding it.