Chief Minister Leads Cleanliness Drive at Temple in Khatima
Source:uttarakhandtribune ↗
Why It Matters
This article highlights key regional facts relevant to UKPSC PCS Prelims, including the geography and location of the famous Purnagiri Temple (Champawat), district-specific details of Udham Singh Nagar (plains and agriculture), and environmental indicators like NITI Aayog's SDG Index rankings.
Summary
On June 16, 2026, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami led a cleanliness and tree-plantation drive at the Purnagiri Temple in the Nagla Tarai area of Khatima (Udham Singh Nagar district). The public outreach program aimed to promote civic hygiene and waste management at religious sites, alongside boosting green cover via tree plantation to protect the ecological and cultural heritage of Devbhoomi.
Key Points
- Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami led a joint cleanliness and tree-plantation drive at the local Purnagiri Temple in Nagla Tarai, Khatima (his home constituency).
- During the initiative, the Chief Minister swept the temple premises with a broom and planted saplings to enhance localized green cover and foster environmental preservation.
- While this drive occurred at a local temple in Khatima, the actual famous Purnagiri Temple—a highly revered shrine and one of the 108 Siddha Peeths—is located atop Annapurna Peak in Champawat district near Tanakpur.
- Khatima is located in Udham Singh Nagar district, which represents the plains of Uttarakhand (constituting ~14% of the state's area) and has the highest net sown agricultural land area in the state.
- The clean-and-green campaign reflects the state's drive to coordinate cultural preservation with sustainable development, helping Uttarakhand achieve joint-first rank in NITI Aayog's SDG India Index 2023-24 with a score of 79.
Important Terms
Swachh Bharat Mission
A country-wide sanitation campaign launched in 2014 to eliminate open defecation, improve solid and liquid waste management, and foster behavioral change toward hygiene.
UPSC context
GS Paper II: Governance/Social Justice; GS Paper III: Environmental Sanitation. Tests awareness of major public health schemes.
SDG India Index
An annual index launched by NITI Aayog to track and rank the progress of Indian states and Union Territories toward achieving the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.
UPSC context
GS Paper III: Economic Development & Sustainable Goals. Tests understanding of competitive federalism and localization of SDGs.
NITI Aayog
The premier public policy think tank of the Indian Government, established in 2015 to foster cooperative federalism and design strategic, long-term policy frameworks.
UPSC context
GS Paper II: Governance & Executive Bodies. Tests understanding of federal institutions and policy-making mechanisms in India.
Purnagiri Temple
A highly revered Hindu temple and Shakti Peeth situated near Tanakpur in the Champawat district of Uttarakhand, dedicated to Goddess Purnagiri Mata.
UPSC context
GS Paper I: Art & Culture and Indian Geography. Tests awareness of prominent pilgrimage sites and cultural heritage.
Prelims Trap
The ancient Purnagiri Shakti Peeth temple is located in the fertile plains of Udham Singh Nagar district.
Aspirants might confuse the local drive's venue (Khatima, Udham Singh Nagar) with the actual ancient Purnagiri Shakti Peeth temple, which is located on Annapurna Peak in the hilly Champawat district.
Static Concepts Connected
How is the NITI Aayog SDG India Index structured?
- Institutional Framework: Developed by NITI Aayog in collaboration with the United Nations to monitor state-level progress on the 17 Global Goals.
- Classification Tiers: Classifies states/UTs into four categories based on scores: Aspirant (0-49), Performer (50-64), Front Runner (65-99), and Achiever (100).
- Federal Utility: Drives competitive federalism by ranking states on localized, quantifiable targets rather than qualitative estimates.
What are the Terai and Bhabar tracts of the Indo-Gangetic/Himalayan transition?
- Bhabar Belt: A narrow, porous belt of pebbles and gravel at the foot of the Shivaliks where streams submerge underground. Unsuitable for crop cultivation.
- Terai Belt: A marshy, clay-rich zone south of the Bhabar where underground streams re-emerge, creating highly fertile agricultural land with high water tables.
- Agricultural Contrast: Districts in the Terai belt (like Udham Singh Nagar) boast the highest net sown areas due to flat topography and alluvial soil.
Cross-Topic Patterns
Himalayan Topography vs. Plains Agriculture
The stark ecological and agricultural contrast between Uttarakhand's steep hills and the fertile Terai plains (Udham Singh Nagar) shapes state policies on organic farming and climate resilience.
Cultural Tourism + Sanitation Governance
Integrating Swachh Bharat principles at high-footfall pilgrimage sites directly impacts India's progress on SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG 12 (Sustainable Consumption).
State-level SDG index metrics combined with regional geography profiles of the Western Himalayas are primed for multi-statement MCQ framing.
Linked PYQs · 4
Linked PYQs · 4
- 2024UKPSC_PRELIMSGS1
Hindu religious pilgrimage place named 'Purnagiri' is situated in which of the following districts of Uttarakhand ?
- 2025UKPSC_PRELIMSGS1
Which of the following districts of Uttarakhand has the highest agricultural land ?
- 2024UKPSC_PRELIMSGS1
What percentage (approximately) of Uttarakhand is plain area ?
- 2025UKPSC_PRELIMSGS1
What is the score of Uttarakhand in NITI Aayog's SDG India Index, 2023-24?
