Uttar Pradesh Quiz

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‘Operation Mahakal’ was launched in Kanpur district of Uttar Pradesh on 5th August. It targets land mafia and extortion gangs involved in illegal land-grabbing. The operation also includes action against influential collaborators like government employees, public representatives, and journalists. Phase 1 runs till 5th September 2025 to prepare a list of suspects. Phase 2 starts from 15th September 2025 and includes confiscating illegal assets and filing charges. It aims to dismantle the entire criminal network involved in land grabbing and extortion. Strict action will be taken against both criminals and their white-collar supporters.

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Shashi Prakash Goyal, a 1989-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, assumed charge as the new Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh (UP) on 1st August 2025. He replaced Manoj Kumar Singh, an IAS officer of the 1988 batch, who retired from service. Goyal earlier served as Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister (CM), handling Protocol, Civil Aviation, and Estate departments.

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Recently, the Noon River in Rampur Narua village, Kanpur district, Uttar Pradesh, was revived under the “One District, One River” campaign launched during the Saryu Mahotsav on June 5 by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The 48.5 km-long Noon River flows through 34 gram panchayats and originates from Kanhaiya Lake, ending at the Ganga near Bithoor. It had dried up mainly due to jal kumbhi (water hyacinth) infestation, waste dumping, and boulders from nearby construction sites. The revival work began on February 22, 2024, and was completed using old satellite images, drone mapping, and technical support from institutes like IIT Kanpur, BHU, BBAU, and the Remote Sensing Application Centre.

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On July 21, 2025, Minister of State for Environment, Kirti Vardhan Singh, shared NCAP progress data in the Lok Sabha. Under National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), only 25 out of 130 cities met the 40% PM10 reduction target by 2024-25. NCAP was launched in 2019 to cut PM2.5 and PM10 by 20%-30% by 2024 from 2017 levels. In 2022, the target was revised to a 40% reduction in PM10 by 2025-26. Cities in Uttar Pradesh showed the highest reduction in PM10 levels. Bareilly topped the list with 76% reduction, followed by Varanasi (74.3%) and Firozabad (59.5%). Dehradun (57.2%) in Uttarakhand also showed sharp improvement.

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Kaushal Mela 2025 was held in Lucknow on World Youth Skills Day at Indira Gandhi Pratishthan. The event aimed to promote vocational training, skill development, and self-reliance among the youth of Uttar Pradesh. It showcased the Uttar Pradesh Skill Development Mission (UPSDM), a state initiative launched in Financial Year (FY) 2017-18. Uttar Pradesh Skill Development Mission (UPSDM) provides free, job-oriented training to youth aged 14 to 35 years.

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The Indian Army conducted an exercise titled ‘Prachand Shakti’ in Meerut on Monday to showcase advanced military technologies. It was organized by the Charging RAM Division at the Kharga Corps Field Training Area. The demo focused on enhancing agility, lethality, and survivability of infantry in deep offensive operations by strike corps. The event was part of the Army’s ‘Year of Tech Absorption’ initiative.

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The 75th Pradhan Mantri Divyasha Kendra (PMDK) is inaugurated at Government Medical College, Badaun, Uttar Pradesh. It is launched by the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India. Pradhan Mantri Divyasha Kendra (PMDK) provides integrated services like assessment, counselling, distribution, and aftercare for Divyangjan (persons with disabilities) and senior citizens. It is implemented through Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO), under Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD).

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A new Agritech Innovation Hub and Startup Technology Showcase was recently inaugurated at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology (SVPUAT), Meerut. The hub aims to promote precision farming and sustainable agriculture in Uttar Pradesh and northern India. The university developed a modern curriculum aligned with advanced agricultural practices to benefit farmers across the country. The hub is supported by the Centre for Excellence on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Agriculture under Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Ropar.

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Recently, the Uttar Pradesh government announced the third edition of the Uttar Pradesh International Trade Show (UPITS-2025) in Greater Noida from 25th to 29th September. The event will showcase Uttar Pradesh as a rising Expressway State and a growing manufacturing hub. It will highlight key projects like the Uttar Pradesh Defense Industrial Corridor (UPDIC) and Integrated Manufacturing and Logistics Clusters (IMLC). These projects are led by the Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA).

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Recently, Lucknow became Uttar Pradesh’s first “Zero Dump City” with all three units of the Shivri waste treatment plant fully operational. The plant now processes 2100 metric tons of waste daily and has cleared two-thirds of the old waste mound. A ₹96 crore project began in 2023 under Swachh Bharat Mission by Lucknow Municipal Corporation. Pune-based Bhumi Green Energy took over in January 2024, using microbial culture and air drying methods. Each unit handles 700 metric tons per day. Waste is separated into fine soil for farming, Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) for cement and paper industries, coarse materials for land reclamation, and construction debris for infrastructure.