State PCS - Uttar Pradesh (UP PCS)

• 13 Oct 2025

Gomti Rejuvenation Mission

Why in News? 

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched the ‘Gomti Rejuvenation Mission’, aimed at ensuring the uninterrupted flow and ecological restoration of the Gomti River.  

• The mission sets an ambitious target of intercepting 95% of urban sewage flowing into the river, marking a major step toward its environmental and cultural revival. 

Key Points 

• Scope and Objectives: The mission encompasses the entire river basin from Pilibhit to Ghazipur, to restore the Gomti to its clean, uninterrupted, and pristine form.  
• Proposed Steps: 
  • Additional drains will be diverted to existing Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs). 
  • New treatment plants will be established, and older ones upgraded. 
  • Track boats, floating barriers, and excavators will be deployed to ensure proper cleaning and monitoring. 
  • To address encroachment and flow reduction caused by illegal constructions, directives were issued to prepare district-specific action plans to restore the river’s natural course. 
• Objectives: 
  • Creation of new wetlands, such as Ekana Wetland and Sajan Lake in Lucknow. 
  • Campaigns for the removal of encroachments, the beautification of ghats, and the promotion of green corridors. 
  • Strict enforcement of the single-use plastic ban to prevent river pollution and sewer blockages. 
  • Public awareness programmes under the guidance of educational and social institutions to make it a mass movement. 
• Administrative Framework: The Gomti Task Force, constituted in January 2025 under the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), will spearhead implementation. 
  • It includes representatives from the State Clean Ganga Mission, Irrigation Department, Pollution Control Board, Jal Nigam, Lucknow Municipal Corporation, and Lucknow Development Authority, along with environmental experts. 
• Monitoring Mechanism: The Chief Minister directed that: 
  • Monthly review meetings of the Gomti Task Force be held. 
  • Quarterly progress reports be submitted to the Chief Minister’s Office. 
  • Adequate financial and logistical support be ensured for uninterrupted work. 
• Current Status: Thirty-nine major drains discharge into the river, of which 13 remain untreated, while six STPs are currently operational along its course.

Gomti River 

• Gomti is a 960-km long tributary of the Ganga River.  
• It originates from Madho Tanda in Pilibhit district and merges with the Ganga at Kaithi in Ghazipur. 

 

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.