State PCS - Uttarakhand (UKPSC)

• 15 Nov 2025

Kafni Glacier

The once-popular trekking route to Kafni Glacier in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand remains abandoned and unsafe since the devastating 2013 flash-floods. 

Key Points 

• Kafni Glacier is located in the Kumaon Himalayas, Uttarakhand, and is a tributary source for the Kafni River, which joins the Pindar River. 
• It is often described as a “hidden gem” of the Himalayas, lesser-crowded compared to Pindari Glacier, offering solitude, alpine meadows, and high-altitude views. 
• The trekking route to Kafni starts from the village of Khati (the last inhabited village) via Dwali, and historically extended to the glacier’s Zero-Point.  
• The trail was heavily damaged by the 2013 floods, and key infrastructure (bridges, trails) remain broken, making access nearly impossible for more than a decade. 

 

Devbhoomi Parivar Yojana

Why in News? 

The Uttarakhand government approved the “Devbhoomi Parivar Yojana”, for all the resident families of Uttarakhand. 

Key Points 

• The scheme will create a comprehensive dynamic database of all families in Uttarakhand, including rural and urban areas. 
• Each family will receive a Family Identification Number (Family-ID) which will be linked to welfare schemes, enabling citizens and government to see eligibility and benefits availed. 
  • This is modeled after the 'Parivar Pehchan Patra' scheme of Haryana. 
• The database will help identify duplicate beneficiaries, streamline applications, eliminate paperwork and move towards paper-less governance. 
• Urban households, which did not previously have a family register, will now be included under this scheme. 

Ammonium Nitrate

Why in News?   

A blast near Delhi’s Red Fort has put  “Ammonium Nitrate” in the spotlight, as investigators suspect the chemical may have been used in the explosion. 

Key Points 

• About: 
  • Pure ammonium nitrate (NH₄NO₃) is a white, crystalline, water-soluble, nitrogen-rich compound made by reacting ammonia with nitric acid, and it melts at about 170°C.  
  • The substance is classified as an oxidising agent. It is one of the base ingredients used in the manufacture of commercial explosives.  
  • It is classified as a dual-use substance, meaning it has legitimate industrial uses but can also be weaponised.  
• Uses:  
  • In agriculture, it is widely used as a nitrogen fertilizer due to its high nutrient content.  
  • It is used for controlled blasting in quarries and excavation projects, and also forms a key component of various emulsions and gels used in mining-grade explosives.  
• Weaponization of Ammonium Nitrate:  
  • Pure ammonium nitrate is not explosive by itself and is classified as an oxidiser under United Nations classification of dangerous goods.   
  • It becomes volatile when combined with fuel oil, potassium chlorate, sulphur or other accelerants.  This mixture creates ANFO (Ammonium Nitrate Fuel Oil), a commonly used explosive.  
    • However, ANFO cannot detonate on its own; it requires a trigger such as a detonator, often initiated with primary explosives like RDX or TNT.