In a significant step towards improving access to education, the Uttar Pradesh government has introduced a new scheme to provide an annual travel allowance of rs 6000 to students who live at least five kilometres away from their schools.

This initiative aims to help students from six districts of Bundelkhand and remote Sonbhadra reach their government secondary schools without facing travel hardship.

Under the scheme, students from Jhansi, Chitrakoot, Jalaun, Hamirpur, Mahoba, Banda and Sonbhadra will be eligible for a 6000 annual travel allowance.

The benefit will be given to students of classes 9 to 12 who live five kilometres or more from the nearest government secondary school.

The scheme is being rolled out in the current academic session and is expected to give immediate relief to thousands of students struggling with long commutes.

FUNDS TO BE SENT THROUGH DIRECT TRANSFER

The annual assistance will be credited directly into the students’ bank accounts via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). According to the plan, the first instalment of the allowance could be released as early as 5 September.

Girl students from 146 government schools chosen under the Pradhan Mantri School Vikas Yojana (PM Shri) will also benefit from this new travel allowance scheme.

This inclusion ensures broader support for female students, especially those in rural and underserved areas.

SIMPLE APPLICATION AND VERIFICATION PROCESS

To receive the benefit, students must fill out a declaration form (pro forma) stating that there is no government secondary school within a five-kilometre radius of their home.

This form will then be verified by the Gram Pradhan (village head) at the village level and by the school principal.

In urban areas, local councillors will be responsible for verifying the declarations. Once approved, the eligible students will start receiving the allowance.

A key condition of the scheme is regular school attendance. Students must also show at least a 10 percent increase in their attendance to continue receiving the allowance. This measure is designed to improve not only access but also student engagement and discipline.

THOUSANDS TO BENEFIT

The scheme is expected to benefit around 24,000 students across Bundelkhand and Sonbhadra. In addition, approximately 4,000 girl students from PM Shri schools will also receive travel support.

This scheme highlights the government’s focus on removing barriers to education and improving enrolment and attendance, especially in remote and underserved areas.

(With inputs from Ankit Mishra)

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Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday took a fresh swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, mocking his frequent foreign visits and specifically highlighting his surprise stopover in Pakistan’s Lahore in 2015 to meet the then Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif.

“It seems that when the PM is flying in his plane, he looks down and asks, ‘Which country is that?’ When told it’s so-and-so, he says, ‘No worries, we will reach an hour late where we are going; let’s land here now.’ He decides to land just anywhere. That’s how he landed in Pakistan too,” Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann said in Punjabi in the state assembly on Friday, as quoted by Hindustan Times.

“The PM decided, just like that, to visit Pakistan. He had biryani and came back. We cannot go to Pakistan, but he can land there!” Mann added.

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MEA Slams Punjab CM Over ‘Irresponsible’ Remarks

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday criticised CM Bhagwant Mann for his remarks on the foreign trips of PM Modi. While disassociating itself from the remarks, the MEA stated that the statement from the Punjab chief minister was “irresponsible” and “regrettable”.

Bhagwant Mann, while taking a jibe at PM Modi’s foreign visits, stated that the prime minister is visiting countries with populations less than even 10,000. PM Modi on Thursday returned to India after his five-nation visit to Ghana, Trinidad & Tobago, Argentina, Brazil, and Namibia.

“We have seen some comments made by a high state authority about India’s relations with friendly countries from the Global South. These remarks are irresponsible and regrettable and do not behove the state authority,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated.

“The Government of India disassociates itself from such unwarranted comments that undermine India’s ties with friendly countries,” he added.

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“Don’t I have the right to ask about the country’s foreign policy and what did he do there? Why does Adani’s business start wherever he (PM) goes? I will continue to ask in the future as well. With 140 crore people in the country, he should engage with them and address their concerns. He says he will stop the Ukraine war (Ukraine-Russia), but he can’t even resolve water issues between Punjab and Haryana,” Mann told reporters on MEA condemning his statements on PM Modi’s five-nation visit.

If you think adventure in India ends with trekking in Himachal or rafting in Rishikesh, buckle up. From diving with sharks to biking on snow deserts, India is a land of opportunities where you can actually put your stamina to test. Whether you’re into heights, depths, speed, or any other adventure, here are 12 adrenaline-pumping, thrill-chasing, Instagram-bragging hotspots across India.

Rishikesh, Uttarakhand

White-water rafting? Check. Bungee jumping off India’s highest fixed platform? Double check. Ziplining over the Ganges?All available here. In short, Rishikesh is where adventure junkies come to test their limits and leave with spiritual awakenings, and introspection about their strength.

Bir Billing, Himachal Pradesh

Ever wanted to fly although you never went to that pilot school? Bir Billing is your place. Known as India’s paragliding mecca, it’s where you run off a hill with a stranger strapped to your back and land 30 minutes later with your soul still soaring. The view? 10/10. The wind-in-your-face feeling? Addictive.

Andaman Islands

Scuba diving in Andamans is like falling into a screensaver, except the fish are real and the colours haven’t been photoshopped. Havelock Island, or Swaraj Dweep, offers vibrant coral reefs, shipwrecks, and if you’re lucky, a chance to high-five a sea turtle.

Manali–Leh Highway

This isn’t just a road trip, it’s a pilgrimage for motorcyclists. You get it all here, hairpin bends, snow-clad passes, cheeky yaks, and the ever-present possibility of getting lost. If your idea of fun includes altitude, dust, and jaw-dropping views at every turn, saddle up.

Dandeli, Karnataka

Hidden in the Western Ghats, Dandeli offers white-water rafting in the Kali River with Grade III rapids, kayaking, canyoning, and even jungle treks that come with a real chance of bumping into a wildlife. It’s wild, wet, and wonderfully off-the-radar.Read more: Untouched Kerala: 7 secret towns waiting to be explored

Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh

This place has moon-like landscapes, fossil-studded cliffs, and roads that seem to have trust issues with gravity. Mountain biking here is no joke, the air’s thin, the drop is real, and the selfies are unmatched. Add a monastery hop if your knees give out.

Meghalaya’s caving circuit

Fancy crawling through dark limestone caves with underground waterfalls and prehistoric vibes? Meghalaya’s got you. Caves like Siju, Liat Prah, and Mawsmai aren’t for the faint-hearted, they’re slippery, spooky, and spellbinding. You’ll love every bit of it.

Rann of Kutch, Gujarat

Forget beaches, try driving over a boundless white salt flat with nothing but mirages for company. During the Rann Utsav, this barren land turns into a cultural carnival, but for the rest of the year, it’s the perfect spot for ATV rides, or paramotoring.

Zanskar River, Ladakh

This is not a trek. This is a frozen-river mission where you walk on precarious ice sheets with temperatures dipping below –20°C, and your breath becoming a visible companion. It’s brutal. It’s beautiful.

Goa

Goa’s not all about beach bumming. Think jet-skiing, wakeboarding, kite surfing, and scuba diving with the occasional shipwreck. North Goa’s all about that fast life, while South Goa has quieter beaches. Pick what suits you the best.Read more: 6 uncontacted tribes in the world: These people will never allow entry in their homes

Auli, Uttarakhand

Want to ski but can’t fly to Switzerland on a whim? Auli’s your snowy saviour. With powdery slopes, ski lifts, and instructors who won’t laugh at your first fall, it’s India’s answer to alpine fun, minus the overpriced hot chocolate.

Bikaner, Rajasthan

Adventure in the desert? Oh yes. Welcome to Bikaner, where you can go dune bashing in 4x4s, zip around on quad bikes, or race camels like royalty on a sugar rush. It’s hot, hectic, but a lot of fun.