Jharkhand  
   



Jharkhand Government and SBI Ink MoU to Offer Insurance Benefits to State Employees.

In April 2025, the Government of Jharkhand and Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based State Bank of India (SBI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to provide insurance and financial benefits to Jharkhand government employees with salary accounts in SBI.


      - The MoU was signed by Rajeshwari B, Special Secretary of the Finance Department, and Devesh Mittal, Deputy General Manager of SBI, in the presence of Hemant Soren, Chief Minister of Jharkhand, and Radha Krishana Kishore, Finance Minister of Jharkhand.


     

     

Main Point :-   (i) Employees will receive accidental insurance coverage of up to ₹1 crore in case of death or disability due to accidents.

      (ii) Additional health and life insurance benefits will be provided at no extra cost.

(iii) Earlier, about 70,000 police personnel were covered under similar benefits (as of September 2024). With this new MoU, an additional 1.05 lakh employees will be included, taking the total coverage to approximately 1.75 lakh state government employees.

About SBI
Chairman : Challa Sreenivasulu Setty
Headquarter : Mumbai
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QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025: ISM Dhanbad Ranked as India's Top University for Engineering-Mineral and Mining.

On March 11, 2025, Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) released the 15th edition of the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025. Among Indian institutions, the Indian Institute of Technology, IIT (Indian School of Mines, ISM) Dhanbad, Jharkhand, achieved its highest global ranking, securing the 20th position worldwide in the Engineering Mineral and Mining subject area for the first time.


      - Globally, universities from the United States dominated in 32 academic disciplines, with Harvard University leading in 15 subjects and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) excelling in 11.


      - The UK secured the top position in 18 subjects, with the University of Cambridge excelling in four subjects.

     

Main Point :-   (i) ISM University Dhanbad emerged as India's top performer in Engineering - Mineral and Mining, ranking 20th globally, a significant improvement from its previous position of 41st. The university scored 74.7/100, marking a notable achievement in the QS World University Rankings.ISM University Dhanbad emerged as India's top performer in Engineering - Mineral and Mining, ranking 20th globally, a significant improvement from its previous position of 41st. The university scored 74.7/100, marking a notable achievement in the QS World University Rankings.

      (ii) IIT Delhi and IIT Bombay were the only Indian institutes in the global top 50 for Engineering & Technology, securing 26th and 28th positions, respectively, showcasing India's strength in the field of engineering.

(iii) IIM Ahmedabad and IIM Bangalore saw a decline in their rankings for Business and Management Studies, with IIM Ahmedabad dropping from 22nd to 27th and IIM Bangalore from 32nd to 40th, despite retaining their positions in the global top 50.

About Quacquarelli Symonds (QS)
CEO : Jessica Turner
Headquarters : London, the United Kingdom (UK)
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Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren Launches Maiyyaan Sampan Yojana.

In January 2025, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren launched the improved 'Maiyan Samman Yojana' in Namkum, Jharkhand. He transferred a total of Rs 5,000 (for two months) to the accounts of over 56.61 lakh women beneficiaries.


      - The scheme was first introduced in August 2024, providing Rs 1,000 per month to women aged 18 to 50.


     

     

Main Point :-   (i) Starting from December 2024, the Jharkhand government increased the financial assistance to Rs 2,500 per month, providing stronger support to women beneficiaries.

      (ii) To be eligible for the scheme, the applicant must be a woman and a resident of Jharkhand.

(iii) The applicant must not have a spouse or be employed herself in any Central or State Government job, Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), local bodies, government-aided institutions, or be receiving a pension.

About Jharkhand
Chief minister: Hemant Soren
Governor: Santosh Gangwar
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Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy inaugurated the "5G Use Case Test Lab" at CMPDI in Jharkhand.

On January 9, 2025, Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy, from the Ministry of Coal (MoC) and Ministry of Mines (MoM), inaugurated the "5G Use Case Test Lab" and launched a new corporate logo for the Central Mine Planning and Design Institute Limited (CMPDI) in Ranchi, Jharkhand. CMPDI is a subsidiary of Coal India Limited (CIL).


      - The aim is to promote digital transformation in India’s coal sector using 5G technology and tackle the industry's evolving challenges.


      - The event was attended by several key figures, including Vikram Dev Dutt (Secretary, Ministry of Commerce - MoC), Vismita Tej (Additional Secretary, MoC), P.M. Prasad (Chairman, Coal India Limited - CIL), Manoj Kumar (Chairman and Managing Director - CMD, CMPDI), Nilendu Kumar Singh (CMD, Central Coalfields Limited - CCL), and Satish Jha (CMD, Eastern Coalfields Limited - ECL), along with other senior officials.

     

Main Point :-   (i) During the event, the Union Minister of State (MoS) also unveiled a sculpture titled 'Replica of CMPDI services', made from scrap materials used at CMPDI, such as delivery hose pipes, NQ drilling rods, core boxes, and more.

      (ii) The Ministry of Coal (MoC) has designated CMPDI as the Centre of Excellence (CoE) to set up the 5G Use Case Test Lab, which will help the coal industry make effective use of 5G technology.

About the Ministry of Coal (MoC)
Minister : Shri G. Kishan Reddy
Headquarters : New Delhi
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IIT Guwahati, IIT Mandi, and CSTEP Bengaluru Release District-Level Climate Risk Assessment Report

Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati, IIT Mandi, and the Centre for Study of Science, Technology, and Policy (CSTEP) Bengaluru released a comprehensive report titled "District-Level Climate Risk Assessment for India: Mapping Flood and Drought Risks Using IPCC Framework" on December 13, 2024. The report, supported by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), provides a detailed analysis of district-level climate risks in India. The report identifies 51 districts with very high flood risk and 118 districts with high flood risk, with vulnerable regions including Assam, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Gujarat, Odisha, and Jammu and Kashmir. Additionally, 91 districts face very high drought risk, with Bihar, Assam, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Maharashtra being the most affected. Alarmingly, 11 districts, including Patna (Bihar), Alappuzha (Kerala), and Kendrapara (Odisha), are highly vulnerable to both floods and droughts. The report emphasizes the urgent need for tailored, region-specific adaptation strategies to enhance resilience and mitigate the impacts of climate change. It also highlights the importance of collective efforts and innovative frameworks to address climate challenges.


      - 51 districts face very high flood risk. 118 districts face high flood risk. 91 districts face very high drought risk.


      - 11 districts are highly vulnerable to both floods and droughts.

      - The report calls for tailored, region-specific adaptation strategies.

Main Point :-   (i) Emphasis on collective efforts and innovative frameworks to address climate challenges.

     

About IIT Guwahati :
- Chairman : Prof. Devendra Jalihal
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BMW and UNICEF Partner to Empower Rural Indian Children with STEM Skills

BMW Group and UNICEF have partnered to transform education for 100,000 children in rural India by providing quality STEM education with a focus on gender equality and inclusive learning. This initiative will be implemented in four states: Assam, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal, aiming to support the most marginalized communities


      - The initiative focuses on gender equality and inclusive education.


      - The program aims to build foundational literacy and numeracy skills.

     

Main Point :-   (i) Implementation will occur in Assam, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal.

      (ii) Low-cost maker spaces will nurture curiosity, creativity, and innovation.

Headquarters: New York City, USA
Founded: 1946
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Hemant Soren took oath as the Chief Minister of Jharkhand for his fourth term.

On 28th November 2024, Hemant Soren was sworn in as the 14th Chief Minister (CM) of Jharkhand at Morabadi Ground in Ranchi, marking his 4th term in office.


      - The oath of office and secrecy was administered by the Governor of Jharkhand, Santosh Kumar Gangwar.


      - Soren's Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), in alliance with Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), and Communist Party of India-Marxist-Leninist Liberation (CPI-ML-L), secured 56 out of 81 Assembly seats in the Jharkhand Assembly election held in November 2024.

     

Main Point :-   (i) In January 2024, Hemant Soren resigned from the CM post after being arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

      (ii) On 4th July 2024, he was sworn in as CM of Jharkhand for the 3rd term.

(iii) Hemant Soren is an Indian politician and member of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), who has served as the Chief Minister of Jharkhand multiple times, first taking office in 2013 and re-elected in 2019.

About Jharkhand
Chief minister: Hemant Soren
Governor: Santosh Gangwar
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Alka Tiwari Appointed as the New Chief Secretary of Jharkhand.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has approved Jharkhand's proposal to appoint Alka Tiwari as the new Chief Secretary of the state. She replaces Lalbiaktluanga Khiangte, who retired on October 31, 2024. Her tenure will end on September 30, 2025.


      - Alka Tiwari, a 1988-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, is currently the senior-most IAS officer in the cadre.


      - She previously served as the Secretary of the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST).

     

Main Points:-   (i) She has held various positions, including Deputy Commissioner of Gumla and Lohardaga districts in Jharkhand.

      (ii) She was an advisor in Niti Aayog and served as Additional Secretary in the Department of Fertilizers, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers (MoC&F).

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MS Dhoni Named Brand Ambassador for Jharkhand Assembly Elections.

Former Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has been appointed as Jharkhand's brand ambassador for the upcoming elections.


      - Dhoni has given the Election Commission consent to use his photo for the assembly elections, Chief Electoral Officer K Ravi Kumar said.


      - "Mahendra Singh Dhoni has given his consent to the Election Commission to use his photo. We are in touch with him for other details. Mahendra Singh Dhoni will work for the mobilization of voters..." said Kumar addressing a press conference held in Jharkhand's Ranchi on Friday.

     

Main Points:-   (i) Dhoni will work to increase awareness among voters under the SVEEP (Systematic Voters Education and Electoral Participation) program. The poll body is hoping to capitalize on Dhoni's appeal and popularity to increase enthusiasm, especially among voters to vote in greater numbers.

      (ii) A total of forty-three constituencies will go to polls in the first phase on November 13.

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