HP Current Affairs - UPSC Preparation Made Easy

25th, December, 2021

Shining Himachal Conclave-2021 organized by the private TV channel Khabarein Abhi Tak here today.

The state government ensured equitable and balanced development of every region and section of society during its four-year term. During that time, the government launched several new projects, which ushered in a new era of development.
Active cooperation of the Government of the Centre and the goodwill of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, development has progressed massively in the State. With the effective implementation of social protection programs, positive socioeconomic changes have been observed in the lives of state citizens.

The State Government has started many ambitious schemes, including Mukhya Mantri Seva Sankalp Helpline-1100, Mukhya Mantri Grihini Suvidha Yojna, Chief Minister Himachal Healthcare Scheme- Himcare, Mukhyamantri Sahara Yojna, Prakritik Kheti Khushal Kisan, Mukhya Mantri Khet Sanrakshan Yojna, etc.

The Himachal Pradesh index is higher than many major states in several sectors.
Himachal is the first state in the country to meet the 100% target to deliver the first and second doses of COVID-19 vaccination to the target population. The State was ranked second on the Sustainable Development Goals Index and Dashboard 2020-21 published by NITI Aayog.

(Source: HP Government)

Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on the occasion of birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee launched Gram Panchayat Gyan Kendra, an initiative of District Administration at Prini, the village of Atal Behari Vajpayee, along with ten other Gram Panchayat Gyan Kendras of Nagar, Kullu and Banjar Developmental Blocks of Kullu district.

The initiative of the district administration was indeed a praiseworthy step as the youth of these Panchayats would have the opportunity to prepare for the competitions. He said that the students would not only get a 24-hour library closer to their homes, but they would also have Internet and wifi-facilities.
This initiative has been taken on the birth anniversary of Atal Behari Vajpayee, these Gyan Kendra would be named as ‘Atal Gyan Kendra’ as a mark of respect to the former Prime Minister as he had chosen Manali as his home.

(Source: HP Government)

Rural Development Minister Virender Kanwar today opened the 37th State Youth Festival at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in the city of Una.
As many as 512 youths, including 209 women, from all districts of the state barring Sirmaur and Lahaul and Spiti are participating.
Festivals provide a good platform to project talent among young people and motivate them to become even better.

(Source: HP Tribune)

There has been a considerable decline in the area under glaciers in the major river basins of Satluj, Beas, Ravi and Chandrabhaga in Himachal though there has been an increase in the number of lakes, enhancing the potential threat of flooding in downstream areas.

The latest data compiled by the State Centre on Climate Change of the HP Council for Science, Technology and Environment has revealed that the total area under glaciers is shrinking.
It is the Beas basin, which has experienced the maximum decline of 14.33 per cent in the total area under glaciers between 2001 and 2018 followed by 8.87 per cent in the Chandra basin.

The hydroelectric sector remains one of the main income-generating sectors of the Himachal, as the State has a potential of 27,000 MW in the five major river basins. The phenomena of decline in the total area under glaciers could adversely impact power generation as the highest generation takes place in the summers when there is accelerated melting due to high temperatures.
Based on a 2019 study, the Satluj basin has the highest 562 lakes, Chenab basin 242 lakes, Beas basin 93 lakes and Ravi basin 37 lakes. The previous year studies had already indicated the phenomena of increase in the number of glacial lakes which could pose a potential threat to the downstream areas, inhabited by population all along the rivers.
The area of greatest concern remains the Karcham and Nathpa region in the Satluj River basin in the Kinnaur district. This has raised significant concerns, particularly in the context of the Chamoli disaster in Uttarakhand.
Some of the largest hydro-power projects, including the 1500 MW Nathpa Jhakri, 1000 MW Karcham Wangtoo and 300 MW Baspa projects are located in the Baspa-Satluj basin, which is considered to be most vulnerable.

(Source: HP Tribune)

The foundation stone of the state’s first tourist culture center in Dhimkataru, Saraj, Distt Mandi.
The ambitious project, which will cost 20 rupees crore, will connect tourists from all over the country and overseas with village tourism.