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Table of Contents
Jammu & Kashmir Current Affairs - January 2021 ................................................................................................. 3
Jammu & Kashmir Current Affairs – February 2021 ............................................................................................ 20
Jammu & Kashmir Current Affairs – March 2021 ................................................................................................. 32
Jammu & Kashmir Current Affairs – April 2021 ................................................................................................... 40
Jammu & Kashmir Current Affairs – May 2021 ..................................................................................................... 43
Jammu & Kashmir Current Affairs – June 2021 .................................................................................................... 45
A 5 day ‘National Folk Dance Festival’ in Jammu was held from December 26 2020
A 5 day long ‘National Folk Dance Festival’ was held in Jammu (Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory-JKUT)
from December 26, 2020. It was organised by the North Zone Cultural Centre, Patiala (Ministry of Culture, Govt. of
India) jointly with Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages. Of the 5 days, for the first 3 days, i.,e
from December 26 to 28, 2020 the festival will be organised at Abhinav Theatre, Jammu. Artists from Jammu and
Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Punjab participate in it. The festival was
inaugurated by Former Deputy CM, Kevinder Gupta, S D Singh Jamwal and senior Journalist Sohail Kazmi was also
present on the occasion.
CCEA Approved Central Sector Scheme for 17 Years for Industrial Development of J&K
On January 6, 2021, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra
Modi has approved the Central Sector Scheme (CSS) namely “New Industrial Development Scheme for Jammu &
Kashmir (J&K IDS, 2021)” for Industrial Development of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K). The information for the same was
provided by Lieutenant Governor of J&K during a press conference in Jammu.
• The scheme proposed by Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has been approved
with a total outlay of 28,400 crore upto the year 2037.
• The package will remain in force for 17 years i.e. 2020-21 to 2036-37.
• So far, the amount disbursed under various special package schemes is Rs. 1,123.84 crore.
Aim of the Scheme:
To take industrial development to the block level in J&K.
• Notably, this is the first time that such kind of development will take place in any Industrial Incentive Scheme
of the Government of India (GoI).
Main Purpose of Scheme:
–Employment Generation, skill development and sustainable development by attracting new investment and
enhancement of existing ones. It is projected that it will provide direct and indirect employment to about 4.5 lakh
persons.
–Socio economic development of the area.
Incentives Provided under the Scheme:
Capital Investment Incentive: It will be provided at the rate of 30% in Zone A and 50% in Zone B on investment
made in Plant & Machinery (in manufacturing) or construction of building and other durable physical assets(in
service sector).
• Eligibility– Units with an investment upto Rs. 50 crore
• Maximum Limit– Rs 5 crore in Zone A and Rs 7.5 crore in Zone B
J&K approves Adoption of ‘Jammu & Kashmir Industrial Land Allotment Policy, 2021-30’
On January 22, 2021, The Jammu & Kashmir’s (J&K) Administrative Council (AC) under the chairmanship of
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha gave its approval for the adoption of Jammu & Kashmir Industrial Land Allotment
Policy, 2021-30. The policy aims to achieve inclusive growth for sustainable industrialisation & employment
generation in Jammu & Kashmir.
• The policy will also cover the land allotment for health institutions, medi-cities, educational institutions & edu-
cities.
i.Objective:
• For Development of a well-structured Land Bank
• Promotion of Equitable Industrial Growth in the UT of J&K
• To ensure a Fair & Transparent mechanism for land allotment for industrial use.
ii.The Policy deals with the land-related issues which are holding back the Industrial development in J&K
• It lays down a framework to regulate zoning of industrial areas, project appraisal and evaluation &
succeeding process flow.
• The zoning of industrial areas at block & municipality level will be done after taking into account factors like
existing level of industrial development, location of proposed zone & level of urbanisation.
iii.Division level Project appraisal & evaluation committees will be constituted for checking application received for
allotment of industrial land within 30 days.
• In case of projects whose worth are above INR 200 Crore, INR 50-200 Crore, 3 Levels of Land allotment
committees namely Apex, High & Divisional will decide and allot the lands to applicants within 45 days.
• The initial lease period of the allotted lands will be 40 years; after which it can be extended upto 99 years.
iv.The allotted land will be cancelled
• Investor fails to take any steps within the time frame of 2 years
• If the Industrial unit does not come into production within 3 years
Bajaj Allianz General Partners with J&K government for PMJAY SEHAT
On December 28, 2020 Bajaj Allianz General Insurance in association with Jammu & Kashmir
Government launches health insurance coverage under Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-
PMJAY) Social, Endeavour for Health, and Telemedicine(SEHAT).
i.This extended scheme was launched by Prime Minister of India, Mr. Narendra Modi.
through video conferencing on December 26, 2020.
ii.The scheme will provide universal health insurance cover to all the citizens of J&K, thus ensuring financial security
during any medical emergency.
iii.This is the first time in India that any scheme is implemented to such huge masses.
iv.The scheme will operate on insurance mode in convergence with PM-JAY.
Key Info
Since 2018, Bajaj Allianz General Insurance has been implementing the AB-PMJAY in the J&K , where it has covered
over 6 lakh families.
About AB-PMJAY SEHAT:
Eligibility & Coverage
i.Under this new, AB PMJAY-SEHAT scheme, all citizens of J&K UT irrespective of their economic strata will be eligible
for this scheme.
• Till now, under PMJAY only those from economically weaker sections of the society who were part of Socio-
Economic and Caste Census (SECC) 2011 were eligible for the scheme.
ii.More than 20 lakh families of the UT will be covered.
Sum Insured & free of cost insurance
The Sum Insured of the policy is Rs. 5 lakh and the health insurance will be provided on family floater basis.
This scheme will provide free of cost insurance to the J&K citizens and the government will bear the premium.
Hospitals
Many hospitals in India are connected under this scheme, and so the treatment will not be limited to government and
private hospitals in the UT.
Health Cards
All the beneficiaries in J&K will be provided with SEHAT health cards through which they can avail treatment during
hospitalisation.
Note
There is provision for operational extension of PM-JAY to approximately 15 lakh additional families.
About Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Company:
Managing Director(MD) and Chief Executive Officer(CEO)– Tapan Singhel
Head Office– Pune, Maharashtra
Universal Sompo General Insurance Company Limited ties-up with Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh Finance
Corporation
On January 7, 2021, Universal Sompo General Insurance Company Limited has joined hands with Jammu & Kashmir
and Ladakh Finance Corporation (JKIDFC) to initiate comprehensive insurance covers for the customers of Jammu,
Kashmir and Ladakh.
Jammu & Kashmir Government signs an MoU with NECBDC to promote Bamboo Cultivation
On 13th January, 2021, Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with
the North East Cane and Bamboo Development Council (NECBDC) to promote Bamboo Cultivation and related
entrepreneurship in the region.
Components of the MoU:
i.The North East Cane and Bamboo Development Council (NECBDC) will provide technical guidance in cultivating
various species of Bamboo in the region.
ii.This will promote development of Bamboo based industries in Jammu & Kashmir leading to exports of bamboo
based products.
iii.The MoU was in line with the Prime Minister’s vision to encourage tree plantation on farm land “Har Medh Par
Ped” mission.
Note– Currently, India stands second in Bamboo production only after China. Yet the annual import of bamboo based
products worth Rs. 213 Crores.
Key People – The MoU was signed in presence of Shri Manoj Sinha, Lieutenant Governor of J&K and Dr. Jitendra
Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, MoS, PMO,
Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space here at Convention Centre.
J&K : Skill Development Department signs MoU with IIT Jammu;Higher Education Department signs MoU
with ICSI
On January 19, 2021, Jammu & Kashmir’s Department of Skill Development signed an Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Jammu whereas Department of Higher Education
signed an MoU with Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI).
Objective:
i.MoU between Department of Skill Development & IIT Jammu – To increase the skill sets of students, increase
their employability by exposing them to Latest Technologies.
ii.MoU between Department of Higher Education & ICSI – To teach new skills to students enrolled at Cluster
Universities of Srinagar and Jammu at SPMR College.
MoU between Department of Skill Development & IIT Jammu:
The agreement was signed by Sajad Hussain Ganai, Director Skill Development Department & Professor Manoj S Gaur,
Director of IIT Jammu.
i.As part of the agreement,
• The Polytechnic & ITI sector will be updated through introduction of specific training skills.
• The new skills based on upcoming projects like tunnels, railways, power projects, cold storage & refrigeration
will be introduced.
• With the main aim of the agreement being to develop skills and generate employability among J&K youth.
• The agreement promotes institutional exchange between the institutions to use their infrastructure, labs &
workshops for research works.
• In this regard as a first step, IIT Jammu will adopt Polytechnic College Jammu for development, promotion
and organizing workshops & research programs.
ii.Government Polytechnic College, Jammu has already set up a Centre for Invention Innovation Incubation and
Training (CIIIT) for providing training complying with Industry 4.0 standards.
• The Centre has been set up with the help of Tata Technology Limited, Pune.
• It will also be used to train students in various courses & industrial training.
Department of Higher Education’s MoU with ICSI:
The agreement has been signed to skill the Undergraduate students in J&K by including Skills courses in their
curriculum or offering them as Certificate, Diploma, Advanced Diploma and Degrees.
• Skills courses will be provided in the fields of Agriculture, Horticulture, Fashion Technology, Paramedical,
Pharmacy, nursing & food technology.
• The MoU is in line with the New Industrial Policy of J&K and National Education Policy introduced by the
Central Government.
• The Department of Higher Education has signed 13 MoUs with various institutions for skill enhancement of
students in J&K.
Recent Related News:
i.On September 15, 2020 The Horticulture Department of J&K launched “Backyard Horticulture” Programme under
CAPEX (Capital Expenditure) scheme at Panchayat Jaswan in Marh Block of Jammu district.
Harsh Vardhan released LASI Wave-1 Report 2020: India’s 1st Survey Providing Longitudinal Database of
Older Population
On January 6, 2021, Union Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoH&FW) virtually
released the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI) Wave-1 Report 2020 based on full–scale national. It is India’s
first and the world’s largest survey providing base for designing national and state level programmes and policies
for ageing population in India.
• This report is also a step towards Ayushman Bharat Yojana which focuses on expansion of the healthcare
facilities.
• The information obtained from LASI has covered four domains viz. Health, Health care and Health care
financing, Economic, and Social.
• It should be noted that LASI is a Government of India’s (GoI) initiative towards Better Health Care for Elderly
People.
Who conducted LASI?
It was undertaken by the National Programme for Health Care of Elderly (NPHCE) under MoH&FW through
International Institute for Population Sciences, (IIPS), Mumbai (Maharashtra) in collaboration with Harvard School of
Public Health, University of Southern California, USA, Dte.GHS, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and National
Institute on Ageing.
General Info about LASI:
–It covered a baseline sample of 72,250 individuals aged 45 and above and their spouses including 31,464 elderly
persons aged 60 and above and 6,749 oldest-old persons aged 75 and above from all States and Union Territories
(UTs) of India
–The state of Sikkim has not been covered under this survey.
–The main LASI instrument consists of two sections: a Household Survey and an Individual Survey.
–It is a biennial survey.
Requirement of LASI:
• As per 2011 census, the 60+ population accounted for 8.6% of India’s population, accounting for 103 million
elderly people. Growing at around 3% annually, the number of elderly population will be tripled to 319
million in 2050.
• 75% of the elderly people suffer from one or the other chronic disease.
• 40% of the elderly people have one or the other disability and 20% have issues related to mental health.
• On the global front, the share of older people aged 60 years and above increased from 9.2% in 1990 to 11.7%
in 2013 and is expected to reach 21.1% by 2050.
• Elderly persons are at the highest risk of contracting the COVID-19.
Taking all the above mentioned factors in consideration, the evidence from the report will be utilized towards the
further strengthening of (NPHCE) as older people, and people of all ages with pre-existing medical conditions develop
serious illness more often than others.
Key Evidences from LASI:
About 45 million have cardiovascular disease and hypertension and about 20 million suffer from diabetes, and 24%
of the elderly have difficulty in performing daily functions such as walking, eating, toilet etc.
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs)
• The prevalence of CVDs increases with age.
• More than a half of elderly age 60 and above in the states/Union Territories (UTs) of Goa (60%), Kerala (57%),
Chandigarh (55%), Andaman & Nicobar (51%), and Jammu & Kashmir (51%) have been diagnosed with CVDs.
Vision, Nutrition & Depression:
• Andhra Pradesh (AP) topped the Measured prevalence (%) of low vision (near and/or distance) among
elderly age 60 and above with 66.4%.
• Uttar Pradesh (UP) topped the Prevalence (%) of blindness among elderly age 60 and above.
Ministry of Home Affairs Announced Padma Awards 2021: Former Japan PM Shinzo Abe & Ram Vilas Paswan
Honoured
On January 25, 2021 Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India announced the Padma Awards 2021. The
Padma Awards, one of the highest civilian Awards of the country are conferred under 3 categories namely, Padma
Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri. This year(2021) total 119 Padma awards including 1 duo case (in a duo
case, the Award is counted as one) were awarded.
i.This year(2021) the President of India, Ram Nath Kovind has approved conferment of the awards.
ii.Usually, the President of India confers the awards at a ceremonial function held at Rashtrapati Bhawan usually
around March/ April every year.
iii.The awards are annually announced on the occasion of Republic Day(January 26) except for brief interruption(s)
during the years 1978 and 1979 and 1993 to 1997.
Padma Awards 2021
i.Of the total awardees, 7 receives Padma Vibhushan, 10 receives Padma Bhushan and 102 receives Padma Shri
Awards.
ii.The list includes 29 women awardees, 10 persons from the category of Foreigners/Non resident Indian-
NRI/Person of Indian Origin- PIO/Overseas Citizen Of India- OCI, 16 posthumous awardees and 1 transgender
awardees.
What are Padma Awards?
• It was instituted in 1954 and is given to people who have made achievement in various disciplines/ fields of
activities, namely, art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, etc.,
K Kesavasamy Puducherry
Ghulam Rasool Khan Jammu and Kashmir
Lakha Khan Rajasthan
Ms. Sanjida Khatun Bangladesh
Vinayak Vishnu Khedekar Goa
Ms. Lajwanti Punjab
Ramachandra Manjhi
Ms. Dulari Devi Bihar
Kanaka Raju Telangana
Satyaram Reang Tripura
Kartar Paras Ram Singh Himachal Pradesh
Kartar Singh Punjab
Ms. P. Anitha Tamil Nadu
Ms. Mouma Das West Bengal
Ms. Anshu Jamsenpa Arunachal Pradesh
Madhavan Nambiar Kerala
Ms. Sudha Hari Narayan Singh Uttar Pradesh
Virender Singh Haryana
Sports K Y Venkatesh Karnataka
Prakasarao Asavadi Andhra Pradesh
Dharma Narayan Barma
Sujit Chattopadhyay
Jagadish Chandra Halder West Bengal
Srikant Datar USA
Dadudan Gadhavi
Chandrakant Mehta Gujarat
Jai Bhagwan Goyal Haryana
Mangal Singh Hazowary Assam
Namdeo C Kamble Maharashtra
Rajat Kumar Kar
Nanda Prusty Odisha
Rangasami Lakshminarayana Kashyap Karnataka
Nicholas Kazanas Greece
Balan Putheri Kerala
Chaman Lal Sapru
(Posthumous) Jammu and Kashmir
Imran Shah Assam
Arjun Singh Shekhawat Rajasthan
Literature and
Education Ram Yatna Shukla Uttar Pradesh
ITBP wins 10th IHAI National Ice Hockey Championships held at Gulmarg, J&K
Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) won the 10th Ice Hockey Association of India (IHAI) National Ice Hockey
Championships by defeating Ladakh in the finals held at Gulmarg Ice Rink, Gulmarg Development Authority, Jammu &
J&K LG launches Mobile App ‘Satark Nagrik’ & Departmental Vigilance Officers Portal
On January 7, 2021 Lieutenant Governor (LG) of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K), Manoj Sinha launched ‘Satark Nagrik’
Mobile app & Departmental Vigilance Officers (DVO) Portal of J&K Anti Corruption Bureau at the Civil
Secretariat, Jammu.
Objective of ‘Satark Nagrik’ Mobile app:
To facilitate flow of information about corruption & enable citizens of J&K to submit grievances with ease and
mobility.
Objective of DVO Portal:
To establish an online communication channel between DVOs of various departments.
To enable quick disposal of complaints, redress grievances & monitoring the status of DVO matters and Citizens
Grievances.
People Present:
BVR Subrahmanyam, Chief Secretary of J&K, Manoj Kumar Dwivedi, Commissioner/Secretary, Industries &
Commerce Department were also present during the launch.
Key Points:
i.The portal will help in creating an efficient, transparent & accountable system and will enable better quality &
efficient delivery of services.
ii.Using the DVO portal, periodical reports on pending & disposed files of each department can be generated.
iii.It was also stated that till 31st December, 2020, around 71 cases were registered, 48 were charge-sheeted in J&K.
Recent Related News:
i.On 15th October 2020, Manoj Sinha, Lieutenant Governor (LG) of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) announced the “My
Town My Pride” programme to deliver services governance at doorsteps to the people in urban areas.
About Jammu & Kashmir:
RAMSAR sites – Hokera Wetland, Wular Lake
Ministry of Jal Shakti selects 12 sites under Phase-IV of ‘Swachh Iconic Places (SIP)’
Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS), Ministry of Jal Shakti has selected 12 iconic sites which will
be transformed into ‘Swachh Tourist Destinations’ under Phase-IV of ‘Swachh Iconic Places (SIP)’ initiative of Swachh
Bharat Mission Gramin (SBM-G).
• Already 30 Sites across India have been selected under the Phase I, II & III of the ‘SIP’ initiative.
What is SIP Initiative
• It is a brainchild of Prime Minister Narendra Modi & was launched in 2016.
• SIP aims to achieve high levels of Sanitation/Cleanliness at 100 Iconic sites across India for enhancing the
experience of domestic & foreign visitors.
• The sites will be designated as Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) or corporates for their financial & Technical
support.
• The sites are designated as ‘iconic’ due to their heritage, religious or cultural significance.
Implementing Agencies
i.The Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation (MDWS) is the nodal agency for this initiative.
ii.It is a collaborative project between 3 Central Ministries
• Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA)
J&K’s AC approved Integrated Solid Waste Management Project by NAFED at Kot Bhalwal
On February 13, 2021, the Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) Administrative Council (AC) was met under the chairmanship of
Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha. During the meeting the AC has approved the following proposals:
Approval to Integrated Solid Waste Management (ISWM) project by NAFED:
During the meeting, the AC has approved the Integrated Solid Waste Management (ISWM) project by National
Agriculture Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) with an estimated outlay of the project is Rs. 74.41
crore and project timeline is 2 years.
• In this regard, the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) will sign an agreement with NAFED to set up a 350 MT
capacity ISWM plant along with an ancillary bio-CNG generating plant and bio-landfill at Kot Bhalwal, Jammu.
• JMC will contribute Rs. 20 crore towards project execution, and will have a share in 50% profit on returns.
• The aim of the project is to mitigate the issues related to the unscientific disposal of municipal solid waste in
Jammu city.
Key Points:
–NAFED will establish a scientific system for waste segregation, processing, and disposal of effluents, emissions, and
bio-degradable waste according to the norms of the J&K Pollution Control Board.
WE Hub and JKEDI Signs MoU to Promote Entrepreneurship and Startup Culture in J&K and Telangana
On February 19, 2021 WE Hub(Women Entrepreneurship Hub), India’s first and only state-led incubator of the
government of Telangana for women entrepreneur and Jammu and Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development
Institute (JKEDI) virtually signed a Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) to boost
the entrepreneurship and startup ecosystem in Telangana and Jammu and Kashmir(J&K).
Aim: To provide a platform for budding entrepreneurs from Telangana and J&K. The partnership will promote
women entrepreneurship.
Key People:
The MoU was signed by Jayesh Ranjan, Principal Secretary (Information Technology, Electronics & Communications-
ITE&C) Government of Telangana who is also on the Board of WE Hub, and M K Dwivedi, Commissioner Secretary
(Industries and Commerce Department) Government of J&K.
Provisions of MoU:
Pre-incubation programme
Under the MoU, the organisations will start a pre-incubation programme for 60 aspiring entrepreneurs, 30 each from
the two States.
This initiative will help create a startup exchange module between JKEDI and WE-Hub with five startups each from
the two states.
Startup Ideas
WE HUB will take their startup ideas forward, track their progress and link them with suitable mentors, help them
take beyond Proof of Concept (PoC).
It will also enroll the best ideas as virtual/physical incubates at JKEDI.
Co-incubation programme
Post the pre-incubation programme, the 60 startups will undergo a co-incubation programme.
This programme enables startups to upgrade to potential companies and receive rapid growth mentorship from the
leaders at JKEDI and WE Hub.
Benefits
Apart from enhancing the entrepreneurship and startup ecosystem in 2 states, it also helps to establish
entrepreneurship development cells, innovation and incubation centers in colleges. In colleges, a module of
entrepreneurship course will also be offered along with other degree programmes.
Recent Related News:
Mastercard and Razorpay have joined hands to empower Indian micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and
startups especially in tier 2 and 3 cities in digitising their operations, maintaining business continuity in the
challenging environment, and preparing them for a cashless future.
Indo-US 16th Joint Military Exercise ‘Yudh Abhyas 20’ begins in Rajasthan
The 16th edition of an annual joint military exercise between India and the United States (US), “Yudh Abhyas 20” was
initiated as a part of defence cooperation at the Mahajan Field Firing Range (MFFR), near the India-Pakistan border in
Rajasthan on February 8, 2021. This 12 days long exercise will culminate on February 21, 2021.
• The Indian side is represented by the 11th Battalion of Jammu and Kashmir Rifles, part of the South
Western Command while U.S. Army delegation will be represented by the troops of 2nd battalion, 3rd Infantry
Regiment of 1-2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team along with respective brigade headquarters.
• The US contingent was welcomed by Brigadier Mukesh Bhanwala, Commander of the 170 Infantry Brigade
of the Indian Army.
Aim of Exercise:
To enhance cooperation and interoperability in Counter-Terrorism operations
Key Points:
–The exercise involves approximately 250 US Army and 250 Indian Army soldiers.
–This edition of the joint exercise combines field training and cultural exchanges.
–The command post exercise (CPX) will focus on the UN peacekeeping operation staff tasks.
–The field training exercise (FTX) will involve company-strength elements and fundamental war-fighting skills,
techniques and experience to enhance combined operational capacity.
–The exercise includes a number of aerial platforms viz. Advanced Light Helicopter WSI ‘RUDRA’, MI-17, Chinooks,
Stryker Vehicles of the US Army and BMP-II Mechanised Infantry Combat Vehicles of the Indian Army.
–The exercise is one of the largest military training and defense cooperation efforts between India and the US.
Recent Related News:
i.The Second Edition of the Biennial Pan-India, Largest Coastal Defence Exercise ‘Sea Vigil-21’ coordinated by Indian
Navy took place from January 12-13, 2021. It was conducted along the entire 7516 Km coastline & Exclusive
Economic Zone of India.
ii.Indian Air Force (IAF) and French Air and Space Force (FASF) participated in the 1st Edition of Bilateral Air
Exercise ‘Exercise Desert Knight-21 (Ex DK-21)’ held at Air Force Station, Jodhpur for 5 days from January 20-24,
2021. The Bilateral 1st of its kind exercise involved the participation of Rafale fighter jets from both sides.
About United States (US):
President– Joseph Robinette Biden Jr.
Capital– Washington, D.C.
Currency– United States Dollar
Padma Shri Bansi Kaul, Founder of Rang Vidushak & Theatre Director Passed Away at 71
On 6th February 2021, Padma Shri Bansi Kaul, theatre director and the founder of Rang Vidushak passed away at the
age of 71 at his residence in Delhi. He was born in 1949 in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir.
New Book Titled ‘Tipane Kashmirchi (Notes on Kashmir), Untold Stories’ Authored by Arun Karmarkar
On 14th February 2021, Manoj Sinha, Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir released the book titled ‘Tipane
Kashmirchi (Notes on Kashmir), untold stories’ authored by Arun Karmarkar. The book features the researched facts
about Jammu and Kashmir.
• Manoj Sinha, stated that the new industrial development scheme of Rs.28,400 has been introduced which will
attract investment to J&K and it will also create various opportunities to the youngsters.
• He also noted that more than 70% of the population of J&K are below 35 which ensures the abundant
manpower and resources of J&K.
Various measures through initiatives like Mission Youth are planned to harness the demographic dividend and
ensure constructive engagement of youth, contributing to the development of J&K.
Indian Railways connects 2 ends of arch of ‘Chenab Bridge’ – World’s Highest Railway Bridge
Indian Railway has successfully connected the 2 ends of the main arch of ‘Chenab Bridge’ – World’s Highest Railway
Bridge. It is being built by Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd (KRCL) at a cost of INR 12, 000 Crores.
• The bridge is 1.315 Kms long and is to be completed by the end of 2021.
• It is being constructed over the River Chenab which is 35 Metres higher than the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France.
J&K Lt Governor Manoj Sinha Launched Super-75 Scholarship Scheme for Girls Education
On 8th March 2021, International Women’s Day, the Lieutenant(Lt) Governor of Jammu and Kashmir(J&K) launched
the Super-75 scholarship scheme to support the education of the meritorious girls from poor families. The
scheme will support the girls to take up streams like engineering, medicine, Industrial Training Institute(ITI) and
humanity and contribute to the development of the nation.
Keeping in view of this year’s campaign theme of International Women’s Day Choose to Challenge and to
celebrate Azaadi Ka Amrut Mahotsav- India@75, the Lt Governor announced the launch of Super-75 scholarship
scheme.
Other Schemes:
i.Lt Governor also launched a new scheme “Tejaswini” under the Mission Youth to provide financial support of Rs.5
Lakhs to girls of age group 18 to 35 to start a business.
ii.10% of the project cost will be provided by the Mission youth and it will also pay the interest every year.
Additional info:
i.The Lt Governor stated that no fees will be charged upto 12th standard from around 589000 girls from various
government schools.
ii.He also stated that to reduce the gender gap and girl child dropout rates, around 88 Kasturba Gandhi Balika
Vidyalaya and 88 Girls Hostel has been made functional in various distant locations.
iii.The government is also providing 13 scholarship schemes to support the higher education of girls.
Recent Related News:
The Government of India announced an increase in Scholarship amount for the students of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K)
under the ‘Pragati’ and ‘Saksham’ Scholarship Schemes. The amount has been raised from Rs. 5, 000 Per Annum to Rs.
50, 000 Per Annum from the Current Academic Year (2020-21).
About Jammu and Kashmir:
Tribes– Brokpa, Drokpa, Dard, Shin, Changpa, Purigpa, Gujjar, Bakarwal, Gaddi, Sippi
National Park– Dachigam National Park, Kishtwar National Park
J&K approves Rs. 2 lakhs worth Interest-free Housing loans under PMAY-U
On 14th March, 2021 Jammu & Kashmir’s (J&K) Administrative Council under the chairmanship of Lieutenant
Governor Manoj Sinha, approved to provide additional interest-free loan up to Rs. 2 lakhs for construction of
houses. The loan will be provided to the economically weaker section to the beneficiaries under Beneficiary Led
Construction (BLC) component of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban (PMAY-U).
Note- India is targeting to provide “Housing for all” through PMAY-U by 2022.
i.All beneficiaries of BLC can avail the additional interest free loan.
ii.At present, a financial assistance of Rs. 1.66 lakh is provided as a housing loan under PMAY-U.
iii.With this extension, the interest-free loan can be availed up to Rs. 3.66 lakhs.
iv.Loans under BLC have a tenure of 10 years with 6-months moratorium period.
About Jammu & Kashmir (J&K):
World’s highest Railway Bridge, an arch bridge is constructed in J&K across Chenab river.
Srinagar, Anantnag and Baramulla cities are located on the banks of Jhelum river.
Kishtwar city is located on the banks of Chenab river.
Gandhi Sagar Dam is constructed on Chambal River.
Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports extends Khelo India Scheme till 2025-26
Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports has decided to extend the Khelo India scheme from 2021-22 to 2025-26. The
Ministry has furnished an Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC) memorandum to the Ministry of Finance for the
extension of the scheme.
• INR 8750 Crore has been estimated as financial implication of the new Khelo India Scheme in the EFC
Memorandum.
• During the Union Budget of 2021-22, an amount of INR 657.71 Crore was allocated in the Budget Estimate
(B.E.) for the year 2021-22 under the Khelo India Scheme.
Khelo India:
‘Khelo India-National Programme for Development of Sports’ was launched in October, 2017.
Objective – To strengthen the entire sports ecosystem for promoting the twin objectives of mass participation &
promotion of excellence in sports across India.
Events
Under the Khelo India Scheme various competitions are held across India. They are
Khelo India Youth Games
• Editions – 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 (set to take place in Panchkula, Haryana).
Khelo India University Games
• Editions – 2020,2021 to be held in Karnataka.
Khelo India Winter Games
• Editions – 2020, 2021 (Held in Gulmarg, J&K).
Centre of Excellence
Under the scheme, around 24 Khelo India State Centres of Excellence (KISCE) have been set up in 23 States/UTs of
India.
• The main aim of KISCE is to provide basic facilities for sportspersons with potential.
Recent Related News:
i.On January 21, 2021, Kiren Rijiju, Minister of State (Independent Charge) of Youth Affairs and Sports inaugurated
the 1st ever Khelo India Zanskar Winter Sports & Youth Festival 2021 at Padum in Zanskar of Kargil, Ladakh UT.
About Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports:
Minister of State (IC) – Kiren Rijiju (Lok Sabha MP, Constituency – Arunachal West, Arunachal Pradesh)
Indus Waters Treaty: India, Pakistan hold 116th Meeting of Permanent Indus Commission
India & Pakistan held the 116th Meeting of Permanent Indus Commission (PIC) under the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT)
at New Delhi from March 23-24, 2021.
• The Indian side was led by Pradeep Kumar Saxena, India’s commissioner for IWT & advisors from Central
Water Commission, the Central Electricity Authority and the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation.
• The Pakistan side was led by Syed Muhammad Meher Ali Shah, Pakistan’s commissioner for IWT.
• The last meeting between the two sides under IWT took place in Lahore in August, 2018.
• The meeting coincided with the Pakistan Day (Pakistan Resolution Day or Republic Day) being celebrated on
March 23, 2021.
Pakistan’s Objections
During the meeting, Pakistan raised objections over the designs of 2 Hydroelectric projects in J&K – Pakal Dul Hydro
Electric Project & Lower Kalnai Project.
• Pakal Dul Hydro Electric Project (1, 000 MW) is proposed on the Marusudar river, a tributary of the Chenab
river, in Kishtwar district in J&K.
• Lower Kalnai project (48 MW) is proposed in Kishtwar & Doda districts over Chenab River.
• It also raised objections on the hydroelectric projects in Ladakh.
• Pakistan has also been raising objections to the construction of Hydroelectric plants such as Kishanganga (330
MW) on Kishanganga river & Ratle (850 MW) on Chenab River.
Indus Waters Treaty (IWT)
• A water-distribution treaty brokered by the World Bank between India & Pakistan. It was signed in Karachi,
Pakistan in 1960 by Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru & Pakistani President Ayub Khan.
• Purpose – To use the water available in Indus River and its tributaries.
• IWT warrants two commissioners (each from two countries) to meet at least once a year, alternately in India
& Pakistan.
Rights over Waters & Hydroelectricity
According to the treaty,
• All the waters of the Eastern rivers – Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi amounting to around 33 Million Acre Feet (MAF)
annually will be allocated to India for unrestricted use.
• All the waters of the Western rivers – Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab amounting to around 135 MAF is allocated to
Pakistan.
• The treaty also gives India the right to generate hydroelectricity through run of the river projects on the
western rivers subject to specific criteria for design and operation.
• It also gives the right to Pakistan to raise objections on design of Indian Hydroelectric Projects on Western
Rivers.
India’s Hydroelectric projects in Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir
India has cleared several hydropower projects in the region of Ladakh and J&K post 2019.
• Durbuk-Shyok (19MW), Shankoo (18.5 MW), Nimu Chilling (24MW), Rongdo (12 MW), Ratan Nag (10.5 MW)
Hydropower Projects in Leh.
• Mangdum Sangra (19 MW), Kargil Hunderman (25MW) & Tamasha (12 MW) Hydropower projects in Kargil.
Lakshadweep, Budgam District declared TB Free;Himachal Pradesh tops State TBI Index 2021
On the occasion of World Tuberculosis Day on March 24, Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare inaugurated the
celebrations at Dr Ambedkar International Centre at Delhi. During the event,
• Lakshadweep (UT) & District of Budgam (Jammu & Kashmir) were declared Tuberculosis (TB) free.
• Himachal Pradesh achieved 1st Rank in India amongst the states with a population of more than 50 Lakhs, to
end Tuberculosis under the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP).
• India also resolved to end Tuberculosis by 2025. Ending the TB epidemic by 2030 is among the health targets
of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• India has 30% of World’s TB cases.
i.Union Minister Harsh Vardhan also released several reports
• State TBI Index 2021 ; Guidelines for programmatic management of Drug-Resistant TB in India, 2021; Gender-
responsive approach; TB Aarogya Sathi Application for citizens/TB patients.
• Guidance document on Strategy to End Stigma and Discrimination Associated with Tuberculosis, Collaborative
framework for management of TB in pregnant women.
• He also launched iDEFEAT TB Project & Corporate TB pledge.
Key Points
• In 2020, India’s TB programme saw over 18.04 Lakh TB notifications, which is a fall of 24% from 2019.
• National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP) has led to an increase in TB notifications & significant
improvements in diagnosis, adherence, and treatment outcomes.
• Approved Budget for the National TB programme in 2020-21 was INR 3, 110 Crore
• During the pandemic, India used Indigenously developed cost-effective, point-of-care molecular diagnostic
machines (called TrueNAT) to test for both TB and COVID-19.
• TB has been made part of Comprehensive Primary Health Care & has been integrated with Ayushman Bharat
Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs).
Himachal Pradesh adjudged best State in Country on World TB Day
HP has achieved first rank in the country amongst the States with a population of more than 50 lakhs, to end
Tuberculosis based on State TBI Index 2021.
Subnational Certificate:
Lahaul and Spiti of HP earned Silver medal. Kinnaur, Hamirpur, Una and Kangra of HP got bronze medal.
Measures Taken by Himachal Pradesh:
Mukhya Mantri Kshay Rog Nivaran Yojana was launched in HP in 2018 with an aim to eradicate TB.
Dr. Nipun Jindal, Mission Director, NHM, Himachal Pradesh and Dr. Gopal Beri received the award on behalf of HP
Government.
Recent Related News:
October 15, 2020, According to the Global Tuberculosis Report 2020 released by WHO, there has been a 25 to 30
% drop in Tuberculosis (TB) case notification across three high-burden countries – India, Indonesia and
Philippines between January-June 2020.
ii.On July 24, 2020, on the request of WHO, the Government of India (GoI) has extended medical assistance in the
form of anti-tuberculosis medicines worth about US$ 1 million to Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).
J&K tops medal tally at Khelo India Winter Games held at Gulmarg, J&K
On 2nd March, 2021, Jammu & Kashmir retained the top spot in the 2nd Edition of Khelo India Winter Games,
which was held at Gulmarg, J&K. With 11 Gold, 18 Silver and 5 Bronze Medals J&K led the medal tally during the
closing ceremony of the Khelo India Winter Games in Ski Resort of Gulmarg.
Top 3 position:
1.Jammu & Kashmir won 11 Gold, 18 Silver and 5 Bronze Medals.
2.Karnataka won 5 Gold, 4 Bronze Medals.
3.Maharashtra won 3 Gold, 3 Silver & 2 Bronze Medals.
Highlights of the Event:
i.Jammu & Kashmir retained the top spot for the second consecutive time.
ii.The event saw the participation of over 1200 athletes from 27 states & Union Territories of India.
iii.Following the success of the event, Principal Secretary Youth Services and Sports, Alok Kumar retained the venue
for 3rd edition of Khelo India Winter Games at Gulmarg, J&K.
iv.Both the 1st & 2nd edition is held at Gulmarg, J&K.
v.The event was organized by J&K Sports Council & Winter Games Association of J&K.
Recent Related News:
i.On January 21, 2021, Kiren Rijiju, Minister of State (Independent Charge) of Youth Affairs and Sports inaugurated
the 1st ever Khelo India Zanskar Winter Sports & Youth Festival 2021 at Padum in Zanskar of Kargil, Ladakh UT.
ii.Kiren Rijiju and Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar announced that Haryana will host the 4th edition of
Khelo India Youth Games(KIYG) in 2021. The Games will be held in Panchkula in Haryana.
Other Sporting Events:
• The Olympic Winter Games 2022 will be held in Beijing, China.
• Asian Youth Games 2021 will be held in Guangdong, China.
J&K Lt G Manoj Sinha Launched 2 Mobile Applications: Hamari Sadak & Tameer Taraqqi
On 6th April 2021, Manoj Sinha, the Lieutenant Governor (Lt G) of Jammu & Kashmir(J&K) launched 2 mobile
applications, “Hamari Sadak”, “Tameer Taraqqi” and JK Public Works- Online Management, Monitoring and
Accounting System (JKPW-OMMAS) to strengthening the e-Governance structure and to bring transparency in
the system.
• The online initiatives were developed through the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC),
J&K e-Governance agency and the IT department.
• The apps and portal were developed by the Public Works Department – Roads & Buildings (R&B).
Features of the Mobile Apps:
i.Hamari Sadak allows the residents to register and track their grievances regarding the Public Works
department.
ii.Tameer Taraqqi ensures the effective supervision of development projects through data updated by field staff.
About JKPW-OMMAS:
i.The portal will enable complete online management and monitoring of infrastructure with various
functionalities like geo-tracking and dynamic update.
ii.This will enable the complete automation of human resource activities through online employee details besides
updating employee information.
Udhampur bags top Position at National Level for implementation of PMGSY during 2020-21
Udhampur district of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) UT bagged the top position at National level for successful
implementation of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) during FY 2020-21. It has constructed roads of
length 560.49 km during the FY 2020-21.
• Chhattisgarh bagged the first place among all states/UT for developing the highest road length under
PMGSY. It was followed by Uttarakhand and J&K.
• Apart from Udhampur, four other districts of J&K namely Rajouri, Doda, Kathua and Reasi districts figured in
the list of PMGSY top performing 30 districts in India.
Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY)
• It was launched on 25th December, 2000 by the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
• Objective – To provide all-weather road connectivity to unconnected villages of India.
• Implementation – Ministry of Rural Development & State Governments.
• It will provide rural connectivity to eligible unconnected habitations of designated population size (500+ in
plain areas & 250+ in NE States, Himalayan States, Deserts and Tribal Areas)
• Phase-I was Launched in 2000 & Phase-II was launched in 2013 & Phase III was launched in 2019.
Phase-III
Duration of Phase-III is 2019-20 to 2024-25
• It is proposed to consolidate 1, 25, 000 Km road length in the states.
• Funds would be shared in the ratio of 60:40 between Centre and State for all States except for 8 North
Eastern and 3 Himalayan States (Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh & Uttarakhand) for which it is 90:10.
Recent Related News:
i.October 23, 2020, The Union Ministry of Rural Development declared the list of top performing 30 districts in
the country for implementing the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) programme.Mandi district of
Himachal Pradesh won the top position among 30 districts of India.
About Ministry of Rural Development:
Union Minister – Narendra Singh Tomar (Lok Sabha MP from Morena, Madhya Pradesh)
Minister of State – Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti (Lok Sabha MP from Fatehpur, Uttar Pradesh)
Soliha Shabir Named in India’s World Records-Youngest & 1st Author in J&K to Recreate Life of Habba
Khatoons poetry
22 year old Soliha Shabir from Dalgate, Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir(J&K) has added her name in India’s World
Records, as the youngest and first author from J&K who has recreated the Life of Habba Khatoons poetry.
• She has authored 3 books ‘In the lawn of dark’, ‘Obsolete- The poem Market’ and ‘Zoon – The heart of Habba
Khatoon’.
• Her 3rd book titled – Zoon is the first book which recreated the theme of Habba Khatoon’s poetry and
essence.
Justice Gita Mittal became 1st Indian to Receive Arline Pacht Global Vision Award for 2021 by IAWJ
Justice Gita Mittal, Former Chief Justice of Jammu and Kashmir(J&K) High Court received the Arline Pacht
Global Vision Award for 2021 by the International Association of Women Judges (IAWJ). She became the first
India Judge to receive the honour.
She was declared as one of the recipients of the award. She shared the award with Justice Margarita Luna
Ramos of Mexico.
• The award was presented at IAWJ’s Biennial Conference during the virtual opening ceremony.
Ministry of Power Approved NHPC to acquire 2% equity stake of PTC India in Chenab Valley Power
Projects
On May 12, 2021, the Ministry of Power has approved the State-run hydro power NHPC Ltd to acquire the 2 per
cent equity stake of Chenab Valley Power Projects Private Ltd. from PTC India.
• Chenab Valley Power Projects Private Ltd is a Joint Venture Company between NHPC (49 percent), Jammu
and Kashmir Power Development Corporation (JKSPDC) (49 percent) and PTC (2 percent)
• Now, after the acquisition, NHPC’s share in Chenab Valley Power Projects Private Ltd increased to 51
percent and became the majority stakeholder of it.
Key points about Chenab Valley Power Projects Private Ltd:
i.It was formed through the initiative of the Government of Jammu & Kashmir and the Government of India to
harness the vast hydro potential of river Chenab.
ii.It was entrusted with the construction of hydro projects with an aggregate installed capacity of 3094 MW based
on Build, Own, Operate and Maintain (BOOM).
iii.Projects under it include – Kiru Hydroelectric Project (624 MW), Pakal Dul hydroelectric Project (1000 MW),
Kwar Hydroelectric Project (540 MW) and Kirthai-II hydroelectric Project (930 MW).
About NHPC Ltd:
Headquarters – Faridabad, Haryana
Chairman & Managing Director – Shri Abhay Kumar Singh
About Chenab Valley Power Projects Private Ltd:
Establishment – 2011
Headquarters – Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir
Chairman – Suresh Kumar
Managing Director – A.K. Choudhary
Veteran BJP Leader & Former Union Minister Chaman Lal Gupta Passed Away
Chaman Lal Gupta, a veteran Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP) leader and former Union Minister passed away at his
residence in Gandhi Nagar, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir(J&K).
He was born on 13th April 1934 in Kaleeth, Jammu, J&K
About Chaman Lal Gupta:
i.Chaman Lal Gupta served as a member of the J&K legislative Assembly in 1972 and between 2008 and 2014.
ii.He was elected to the Lok Sabha from the Udhampur constituency(Jammu) in 1996, 1998 and 1999.
iii.He has authored 3 Hindi books titled “Sansad mein Jammu Kashmir”, “Sansad mein dedh varsh” and “Mere
Prayaas”.
Stint as Union Minister:
• He has served as the Union Minister of State(MoS) for Civil Aviation – 13th October 1999 to 1st September
2001
• He has served as the MoS for Food Processing Industries – 1st September 2001 to 30th June 2002
“Life in the Clock Tower Valley” Debut Novel of Journalist Shakoor Rather
Delhi-based Kashmiri journalist Shakoor Rather has authored his debut novel titled “Life in the Clock Tower
Valley”. The novel travels between the past, present and future of Kashmir. The book was published by Speaking
Tiger Books.
About the book:
i.The Book provides an insider’s view of everyday life and emotions in Kashmir valley through various love
stories.
ii.The book focuses on the emotions and hardships of the common people of Kashmir and the conflicts and
military presence in the region.
iii.The book also features historical and political information about Kashmir along with its environmental issues.
NHPC forms JV with JKSPDC to set up 850-MW Ratle Hydroelectric Project in J&K
National HydroElectric Power Corporation (NHPC), India’s premier hydropower company under Ministry of
Power along with Jammu & Kashmir State Power Development Corporation Ltd (JKSPDC) has formed a joint
venture company(JVC), “Ratle Hydroelectric Power Corporation Limited” for the implementation of 850 MW
Ratle Hydroelectric Project in Jammu and Kashmir(J&K).
• In the JVC, NHPC and JKSPDC have equity shares of 51% and 49% respectively.It has been incorporated on
01.06.2021.
• This project is located on River Chenab, Kishtwar district, Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and it
is a Run of River Scheme.
• The investment sanction for construction of Ratle Hydroelectric Project at an estimated cost of Rs. 5281.94
crore has been conveyed by the Ministry of Power.
Background:
i.On 03.02.2019,a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed amongst JKSPDC, NHPC and
Government of Jammu & Kashmir in presence of Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi.
ii.NHPC is the largest investor in Jammu and Kashmir and plans to develop projects totaling 3,814 MW on its own
and through joint ventures in J&K. Apart from Ratle, these projects include 800 MW Bursar project, Pakal Dul
(1000 MW), Kiru (624 MW) and Kwar (540 MW) hydropower projects in the J&K in a joint venture.
• Shri R.K. Singh, Minister of State (IC) (Power and New & Renewable Energy) & Minister of State (Skill
Development and Entrepreneurship)
• Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (IC), Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region
• Sh. Manoj Sinha Lieutenant Governor, UT of Jammu and Kashmir.
About NHPC:
Founded:1975
Headquarters: Faridabad, Haryana
Chairman & Managing Director: Abhay Kumar Singh
J&K Govt Signs MoU With Go Air For Transportation Of Agri Produce
The Jammu and Kashmir(J&K) Horticulture Department has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
with the airline carrier Go-Airlines for transportation of perishable horticulture and agricultural
produce to various destinations across the country.
Key Points:
i.The MoU was signed in presence of Principal Secretary Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Horticulture
departments, Navin Kumar Choudhary.
ii.Under this MoU, for transportation of perishable fruit produce from Jammu and Srinagar, the airline will charge,
• Rs. 24 to Delhi
• Rs. 34 to Mumbai/Pune
NITI Aayog’s SDGs India Index 2020-21; Kerala Tops Among State, Chandigarh Tops Among UTs
On June 03,2021, NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India) released the 3rd edition
of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) India Index and dashboard for 2020–21 in New Delhi.
• Report Title: ‘SDG India Index and Dashboard 2020–21: Partnerships in the Decade of Action’.
• The index was launched by NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman Rajiv Kumar along with other members.
• State-Wise Top Rank: Kerala has retained its rank as the top state with a score of 75 and Bihar has been
adjudged as the worst performer.
• Union Territories (UTs) Top Rank: Chandigarh topped among the UTs, followed by Delhi, Puducherry.
Dadra and Nagar Haveli & Daman and Diu has been adjudged as the worst performer.
The top-5 and bottom-5 States in SDG India Index 2020–21:
Rank Best Performers Worst Performers
1 Kerala Bihar
2 Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh Jharkhand
3 Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Karnataka, Uttarakhand Assam
4 Sikkim Arunachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Meghalaya, Uttar Pradesh
5 Maharashtra Chhattisgarh, Nagaland, Odisha
Goal wise top states:
SDG 1-No poverty – Tamil Nadu topped among States, Delhi topped among UTs;
SDG2-Zero Hunger – Kerala topped among States, Chandigarh topped among UTs;
SDG3-Good health & Well Being – Gujarat topped among States, Delhi topped among UTs;
SDG4-Quality Education – Kerala topped among States, Chandigarh topped among UTs;
SDG5-Gender Equality – Chhattisgarh topped among States, Andaman & Nicobar Islands topped among UTs;
SDG6-Clean Water & Sanitation – Goa topped among States, Lakshadweep topped among UTs;
SDG7-Affordable & Clean Energy – Andhra Pradesh topped among States, Andaman & Nicobar Islands topped
among UTs;
SDG8-Decent work & Economic Growth – Himachal Pradesh topped among States, Chandigarh topped among UTs;
SDG9-Industry,Innovation & Infrastructure – Gujarat topped among States, Delhi topped among UTs;
SDG10-Reduced Inequalities – Meghalaya topped among States, Chandigarh topped among UTs;
SDG11-Sustainable Cities & Communities – Punjab topped among States, Chandigarh topped among UTs;
SDG12-Responsible Consumption & Production – Tripura topped among States, Jammu & Kashmir topped among
UTs;
SDG13-Climate Action – Odisha topped among States, Andaman & Nicobar Islands topped among UTs;
Top Fast-Moving States:
i.Front-Runner (65–99): 12 more States/UTs joined in the Front-Runner category in 2020–21. (2018- only 10
states were under Front-Runner) Uttarakhand, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Mizoram, Punjab, Haryana, Tripura, Delhi,
Lakshadweep, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
ii.In terms of improvement in score from 2019, Mizoram, Haryana, and Uttarakhand became the top gainers in
2020–21, with an increase of 12, 10 and 8 points.
3rd Edition of SDG India Index 2020-21:
Other Members Present: Vinod Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog, Amitabh Kant, CEO, NITI Aayog, and
Sanyukta Samaddar, Adviser (SDGs), NITI Aayog.