States PCS: Uttarakhand GK for UKPSC Exams

Notes:
Uttarakhand was formed on 9 November 2000. Nityanand Swami became the first Chief Minister on that day and served until 29 October 2001. Bhagat Singh Koshyari succeeded him as the second Chief Minister. N. D. Tiwari served later as the third Chief Minister of Uttarakhand.

Notes:
Uttarakhand was formed on 9 November 2000. Ashok Kant Sharan, a 1965-batch IPS officer, became its first DGP. He took charge on 9 November 2000 and served until 30 April 2002.

Notes:
The Katyuri dynasty ruled parts of present-day Uttarakhand and western Nepal. King Vasanta Deva, also known as Vasudev Katyuri, established this dynasty. He founded his rule from Joshimath and later Kartikeyapura (modern Baijnath). He is historically recorded as the earliest known ruler and founder of the Katyuri line.

Notes:
Kedara Khanda in the Skanda Purana covers the region from Maya Kshetra (Haridwar) to the Himalayas. It includes pilgrimage sites such as Kedarnath Tirtha and has 35 chapters dedicated to this holy northern Indian territory. Maya Kshetra is linked with Haridwar, where Devi Sati gave up her body during Daksha’s sacrifice. This Khanda describes sacred sites within this vast geographical area.

Notes:
The term “Uttara-Kuru” appears in early Vedic literature as a northern legendary region linked to the Himalayas. Specifically, it is mentioned as referring to present-day Uttarakhand in the Aitareya Brahmana. The Taittiriya and Shatapatha Brahmanas do not use “Uttara-Kuru” for that region.

Notes:
Rajbunga Fort is located in Champawat, Kumaon region. It was built by Som Chand, founder of the Chand dynasty. He established his capital at Rajbunga, later known as Champawat. The fort represented early Chand power consolidation in Kumaon. Historical records attribute the fort’s construction to Som Chand, not to later Chand rulers like Kalyan Chand.

Notes:
Kumaon was conquered by the Gorkha forces in early 1791 A.D. after crossing the Mahakali River. The Chand dynasty had weakened in the late 18th century, allowing Gorkha annexation. Kumaon remained under Gorkha rule until the Anglo-Nepalese War (1814–1816), after which British administration began in 1815.

Notes:
Maharaja Susharma Chandra of the Katoch Dynasty built Kangra Fort in the Kangra region. The fort is historically linked to the 9th-10th centuries and is associated with the kingdom of Trigarta. It also features remains of Jain and Hindu temples. The fort was first recorded during Mahmud Ghazni’s invasion in 1009 A.D.

Notes:
The Kota Khara Movement was formed to protect landless peasants and agricultural laborers from exploitation. It addressed issues like high rents and unequal land relations faced by those without land rights. The movement sought relief and fair access to land for the landless rural poor, distinguishing it from movements for women, untouchables, or landlords.

Notes:
Trivendra Singh Panwar, an MLA and activist, threw a letter bomb in Parliament on 23 April 1987 to press for separate statehood of Uttarakhand from Uttar Pradesh.