Himachal Pradesh Current Affairs January 2025 

. Government and Administrative Highlights

• The HP Cabinet recommended convening the Vidhan Sabha budget session from March 10 to March 28, 2025
• Cabinet approved 60-day special maternity leave for female government employees following stillbirth or infant death soon after birth
• Cabinet approved creation of 20 posts for upgrading Police Chowki Sanjauli to a Police Station
• Cabinet approved a new Sub Tehsil at Loharghat, Solan, with requisite posts
• Cabinet extended the 2023 special relief package (₹7 lakh for damaged houses, rental aid till June 30, 2025) to Tandi village fire victims
• Cabinet decided to implement FASTag facility at major entry toll barriers in phases
• CM Sukhu announced the state budget presentation for March 17, 2025

II. Economic, Infrastructure, and Development Updates

• Cabinet approved procurement of robotic surgery equipment (₹56 crore) for AIMSS Chamiyana and Dr. RPGMC Tanda
• Cabinet approved establishing a ropeway between Kullu Bus Stand and Peej Paragliding Point
• Cabinet sanctioned procurement of 24 AC super luxury buses for HRTC
• Cabinet approved 100 motorbikes for State Taxes and Excise field offices for better enforcement
• The National Highway connecting Nagarota Bagwan-Malan-Badoh-Ranital (Kangra) will be double-laned for ₹435 crore
• State government will develop a 10 km ropeway in Kullu costing ₹80 crore
• CM inaugurated/laid foundation for 9 projects worth ₹462 crore in Drang & Sadar constituencies
• CM was scheduled to inaugurate/lay foundation for projects worth ₹73 crore in Drang constituency on Feb 14
• A Contract Research Organization and Center of Excellence is being established in Baddi to support the pharmaceutical industry
• A report highlighted construction of 1,376 km roads, 116 bridges, and providing road access to 61 villages over the past two years (as of Feb 10).⁷
• Construction of the 890m double-lane Shimla tunnel (Navbahar-Circular Road) is progressing, with ₹100 crore allocated.⁷
• The state government sent a ₹617 crore proposal to the Centre under the Integrated Horticulture Development Mission (MIDH) for FY 2025-26
• Budget speech context (Feb): MSP hike for natural maize (₹40/kg) & wheat (₹60/kg); Agriculture Loan Interest Subvention Scheme launched (₹50 cr); Spice Park in Hamirpur announced
• Budget speech context (Feb): Potato processing plant in Una (₹20 cr); ₹154 cr for Crop Diversification; ₹100 cr for HPSHIVA announced
• Budget speech context (Feb): Gaggal airport expansion (₹3000 cr); New tourism destinations (₹2400 cr); CM Tourism Start-Up Scheme (₹50 cr) announced
• Budget speech context (Feb): Religious tourism projects (Jwalamukhi, Naina Devi, Dharamshala Convention Centre, Shivdham Mandi) allocated funds
• Budget speech context (Feb): MGNREGA wage hiked to ₹320; Mukhya Mantri Laghu Dukandar Kalyan Yojana expanded (₹100 cr)

III. Environmental Incidents, Green Initiatives, and Disaster Management

• Torrential rain (Feb 27-28) caused flash floods in Kullu (Bhootnath Nala), washing away vehicles
• Landslides buried vehicles in Gandhi Nagar (Feb 27-28)
• 444 roads, including NH-305 and NH-5, were closed due to landslides/floods (late Feb)
• IMD issued Orange Alert (Feb 27) for heavy precipitation in Mandi, Kangra, Kullu, Chamba; heavy snow predicted for Lahaul-Spiti
• Significant rainfall deficit (61% below normal from Jan 1-Feb 27) raised concerns over potential summer drought
• Schools in districts affected by heavy rain/snow were closed as a precaution (late Feb)
• CM announced (Feb 13) seven solar projects (72 MW total) to be harnessed by Dec 2025
• Construction started on 12 MW (Gondpur Bulla) & 11 MW (Lamlahri Uparli) solar projects in Una
• Solar projects underway in Solan: 13 MW (Saned), 8 MW (Bara Barot), 13 MW (Dabhota Majra)
• Tenders for 9 MW (Dabhota One) & 6 MW (Tihra Khas, Una) solar projects expected to be awarded/initiated in Feb
• Construction of 10 MW Aghlaur solar project expected completion in Feb 2025
• Construction commenced on a 1 MW green hydrogen plant in Nalagarh (Solan) with Oil India Ltd
• State government initiated a bio-engineering initiative using vetiver grass to tackle landslides
• Budget speech context (Feb): 200 MW solar project in Kangra; Green Panchayat Scheme (100 panchayats); Plastic Neutral Himachal Campaign announced
• Budget speech context (Feb): Rajiv Gandhi Van Samvardhan Yojana (₹100 cr) for community forestry announced
• State aims to install 60 new EV charging stations in the Green Corridor this year

IV. Sports Achievements and Announcements

• HP athletes Tanuja Thakur, Sandhya Thakur, Aanchal Thakur (Slalom Skiing), and Manjeet (Cross-Country Skiing) represented India at the Asian Winter Games (Harbin, Feb 7-14)¹
• Asian Winter Games Results (Feb): Aanchal Thakur 25th, Sandhya Thakur 21st, Tanuja Thakur 28th (Women’s Slalom); Manjeet 23rd (Men’s 10km Freestyle)²
• HP finished 22nd at National Games 2025 (concluded Feb 13) with 15 medals (4 Gold, 3 Silver, 8 Bronze)⁴
• HP Women’s Kabaddi team won Gold at National Games 2025, their third consecutive title
• Sawan Barwal (Mandi) won Gold and set a new National Record (13:45) in the 5,000m race at National Games 2025
• HP secured 2nd rank at Khelo India Winter Games 2025 with 18 medals (6 Gold, 5 Silver, 7 Bronze)⁶
• Aanchal Thakur won double gold (slalom, giant slalom) at Khelo India Winter Games 2025⁷
• HP announced as host for the 17th National River Rafting Championship (to be held in March)

V. Awards, Recognitions, and Honors

• Himachal Pradesh Road and Infrastructure Development Corporation (HPRIDCL) recognized as “Shining Star” in iRAP Gary Liddle Memorial Trophy (Feb 17) for road safety efforts⁹
• HP Police’s CY Station Data Center-1930 received/selected for the Skoch Award for cybercrime prevention efforts (reported Feb)
• Naik and Para Commando Shashi Thakur (Kangra) awarded Army Medal for Gallantry (reported Feb)
• Two teachers from Chamba district reported to be awarded the Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam National Teacher Award⁵
• Meena Chandel (Bilaspur) honored with Innovative Farmer Award-2025 in New Delhi (reported late Feb)
• HRTC announced winner of 4 National Public Bus Transport Excellence Awards (hilly region) for 2023-24, including top prize for Tyre Performance (reported Feb)

VI. Cultural Events and Festivals

• Fagli Festival (Sangla Holi / Festival of Masks) celebrated from Feb 12-17 in Kinnaur, Kullu, Shimla districts³
• Ceremonies for the weeklong Mandi Shivratri festival (Feb 27 – Mar 5) began; main deity Bada Deo Kamrunag arrived Feb 25; formal inauguration by CM set for Feb 27⁵
• State-level Haroli festival announced for April 27-29, 2025
• State-level Shivratri festival reported as celebrated in Baijnath

VII. Health and Social Welfare Developments

• Cabinet approved allowing allopathic doctors to draw full salary during study leave
• Mother Teresa Yojana replaced by Indira Gandhi Chief Minister Sukh Shiksha Yojana⁵
• Budget speech context (Feb): Rogi Mitra Yojana (1000 appointees); Free insulin pumps for Type-1 diabetics up to 27 yrs; Mukhyamantri Vriddhjan Dekhbhal Yojana announced
• Budget speech context (Feb): 37,000 new social pension beneficiaries; Indira Gandhi Pyari Behna Sukh Samman Nidhi (₹1500/month) implementation details announced
• Budget speech context (Feb): Inter-caste marriage incentive increased to ₹2 lakh

VIII. Science, Technology, and Education

• ‘One State One Portal’ launched by the state government⁵
• Cabinet approved new B.Tech courses in AI/Data Science/Computer Science and a diploma in AI/ML at state engineering/polytechnic colleges
• Cabinet approved establishing a Department of Nuclear Medicine at SLBS Medical College, Nerchowk
• Scientists at Dr. YS Parmar University discovered a rare, high-altitude adaptable kiwi species in Sikkim
• Budget speech context (Feb): Rajiv Gandhi Day Boarding Schools plan; Digital attendance in all govt schools from 2025-26; New hostels announced

IX. Law & Order and Public Safety

• Cabinet decided to categorize all 135 Police Stations into six categories for revised staffing

X. Miscellaneous Key Happenings

• Cabinet approved a pilot study for controlled cannabis cultivation by state universities
• Former MP and senior BJP leader Kishan Kapoor passed away⁵
• Lt Col Uttam Singh Guleria (retd), 1965 war hero from Kangra, passed away
• Annual waterfowl census at Pong Sanctuary recorded 97 bird species⁵
• Four railway stations in HP to be upgraded as Amrit stations⁵
• A State Natural Farming Cell was established
• CM Sukhu launched the Himachal-2045 seminar series
• Cow dung is being purchased at ₹3/kg under the Gobar Samriddhi Yojana
• The HP Shiva Project covers seven districts of the state