HP January 2025 Current Affairs

I. Government Initiatives, Governance, and Schemes

1. HP notified “The Himachal Pradesh Sadhbhawana Legacy Cases Resolution Scheme, 2025” on Jan 18, approved Jan 29, to resolve ~3,500 legacy tax cases, aiming for Rs 10 crore revenue.
2. “Him Parivar Portal” launched in Jan 2025, offering citizens access to over 300 online services.
3. The e-KYC process for land records was initiated in HP in Jan 2025 to modernize revenue records and enhance transparency.
4. Himachal Pradesh Institute of Public Administration (HIPA) was renamed in Jan 2025 in honor of former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh.
5. CM Sukhu flagged off the first group of 22 “Children of the State” on a 13-day tour under Mukhyamantri Sukh-Ashray Yojana in Jan 2025.
6. The “Him Ira” scheme was announced in Jan 2025 to facilitate women in decorating and operating shops in vehicles.
7. CM Sukhu launched the e-commerce website himira.co.in in Jan 2025, developed by the Rural Development Department for women entrepreneurs.
8. Girls turning 21 between Jan 1, 2025, and Mar 31, 2026, will receive Rs 1,500 per month under the “Indira Gandhi Pyari Behna Sukh Samman Nidhi Yojana.”
9. Several promotions, appointments, and retirements of IAS, HPAS, and HPSS officers took place in Jan 2025.

II. Economic Developments and Infrastructure Projects

1. The 32 MW solar power project at Pekhubela, Una, generated Rs 14 crore revenue by Jan 31, 2025, since its April 2024 commissioning.
2. A tender notice was issued in Jan 2025 for the World Bank-aided “Integrated Project for Source Sustainability and Climate Resilient Rain-fed Agriculture.”
3. CM Sukhu laid the foundation for the “Navjeevan” project (₹4 crore) at Hadeta, Nadaun, for local economic development.
4. Developmental schemes worth ₹206.08 crore were announced/inaugurated by the CM for Manali, Kullu, in Jan 2025.
5. HP’s first unmanned drinking water scheme was announced to be established in Shilai in Jan 2025.
6. Foundation stones for four major projects in the Kangra assembly constituency, costing ₹88.68 crore, were laid by the CM in Jan 2025.
7. An international convention center costing ₹150 crore was announced for Dharamshala in Jan 2025 to boost MICE tourism.
8. Construction of sports grounds across HP under the CM Sports Promotion Scheme was announced in Jan 2025.
9. A 2 MW solar power plant was established in Kaza (tribal area) to improve the electricity system.

III. Awards and Recognitions

1. Progressive gardener Shri Hariman Sharma (Bilaspur) was announced to receive the Padma Shri for developing the HRMN-99 apple variety.
2. The Governor of Himachal Pradesh presented the ‘Young Achievers Award-2025’ in Jan 2025 to youth with outstanding performance.
3. Shri Abid Hussain Sadiq, DC of Bilaspur, was selected for the Best Electoral Practice Award-2025 for his role in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
4. Kangra police station was recognized as the best in the state in the National Ranking 2024 (reported Jan 2025).
5. Himachal Pradesh was recognized as the ‘best performer’ in the Startup Ranking 2022 for states with less than 1 crore population (highlighted Jan 2025).
6. Senior Secondary School Sainwala, Sirmaur, was selected for the national-level Wipro Earthian Award-2024-25 (announced Jan 2025).
7. Dr. Divya Sharma, a woman farmer from Jagothi village, received the Innovative Women Entrepreneur Award in Jan 2025.
8. Wing Commander Ankit Sood from Shimla district was awarded the Air Force Medal (Valour) (reported Jan 2025).

IV. Significant Events, Culture, and Social News

1. Himachal Pradesh celebrated its 55th Statehood Day on January 25, 2025.
2. Lohri (Jan 13) and Makar Sankranti/Magha Saaji (Jan 14) were celebrated with traditional fervor across the state.
3. The Halda Mahotsav (Lahaul-Spiti) and Haluenda festival (Kinnaur) were celebrated in January, marking the new year.
4. The historic Bhunda Maha Yagya commenced in Jan 2025 at Dalgaon, Rohru, after a gap of 40 years.
5. 39 HP students participated in the “Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue, 2025” in New Delhi (Jan 10-12).
6. Five ancient Mandi Kalam paintings were reportedly sold for five crore rupees in Mumbai (reported Jan 2025).
7. Two Guler miniature paintings (Kangra style) fetched a record 31 crore rupees in a Mumbai auction (reported Jan 2025).
8. Professor Nand Lal Garg, a prominent cultural and music figure, passed away in Shimla at 92.
9. Shri D.P. Joshi, former Director of HP Information and Public Relations Department (Sirmaur), passed away.
10. A special campaign by the Election Department registered 34,234 new voters in HP in Jan 2025.
11. Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla was the chief guest at the 15th National Voter’s Day state-level program in Shimla on Jan 25.

V. Sports Highlights

1. Celebrated Kabaddi player Ajay Thakur from HP announced his retirement from international Kabaddi in Jan 2025.
2. Asia’s first paragliding school was reported as established in Bir (Bir-Billing Valley) at a cost of ₹10 crore.
3. CM Sukhu inaugurated the Bir Paragliding Center-cum-Hotel Complex in Kangra district.
4. Himachal Pradesh’s disabled women’s cricket team won the National T-20 competition in Jan 2025.
5. Avinash Jamwal from HP was named Best Boxer in the National Boxing Competition held in Jan 2025.
6. Yashovardhan Atri (Hamirpur) won a bronze medal at the 10th Asian Yoga Sports Championship in Singapore.
7. Santoshi Sharma (Mandi) was appointed coach of the Indian team for the Asian French Boxing Championship (announced Jan 2025).
8. Neeta from Bilaspur district was part of the Indian women’s team that won the Kho-Kho World Cup (reported Jan 2025).

VI. Environment, Health, and Education

1. The first photographic evidence of a Pallas cat (rare wild cat) in HP was reported in Jan 2025.
2. The DC office in Bilaspur was reported to be on track to become HP’s first green office by March (reported Jan 2025).
3. It was announced in Jan 2025 that 48 new automatic weather stations will be installed across HP.
4. HP secured the top position nationally in reading level and availability of drinking water in schools (reported Jan 2025).
5. Minister Rajesh Dharmani launched HP’s second space lab at Boys School Bilaspur in Jan 2025.
6. 348 educational institutions in HP were designated as ‘Centres of Excellence’ in Jan 2025.
7. A Global Burden of Disease report indicated 14.29% of deaths in HP are attributable to heart disease (referenced Jan 2025).

VII. Miscellaneous State-Specific Updates

1. Shri Sameer Rastogi (IFS) took over as the new Forest Force Chief (HoFF) in HP in early Jan 2025.
2. Shri Sanjay Murthy (IAS, HP cadre) was appointed the new Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India (reported Jan 2025).
3. HP Police secured the first position in the country for road safety (announced Jan 2025).
4. The first island tourism hub of HP is set to be developed in Bilaspur district (announced Jan 2025).