VARANASI, June 21 -- Union minister for petroleum and natural gas Hardeep Singh Puri on Saturday said that Sonbhadra has secured the top spot in the Government of India's Delta Ranking. Addressing a press conference here, he said that, given the district's current pace of development, it is poised to overcome its backward image and emerge as a model district in the near future. He said the "double-engine" governance model of the Centre and the state government has provided fresh direction and momentum to development, accelerating progress across various sectors. Puri was visiting Sonbhadra as part of the "12 Years of Virasat (Heritage), Development and Public Welfare" campaign, organised to commemorate 12 years of the Central Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He noted that under PM Modi's leadership, India has achieved unprecedented success over the last 12 years in sectors such as development, infrastructure, energy, social security, welfare of the poor, and self-reliance. He said India is steadily moving towards becoming the world's third-largest economy and that the vision of building a 'Viksit Bharat' (Developed India) is driving the country to new heights of progress. He stressed that the government's aim is to ensure inclusive development by delivering the benefits of its welfare schemes to the last person in society. He further said that Uttar Pradesh's cultural heritage is gaining global recognition; Ayodhya, Kashi, and Prayagraj are emerging as world-class spiritual and tourism hubs. He remarked that infrastructure projects associated with the Ram Mandir, Kashi Vishwanath Corridor, and Mahakumbh have elevated tourism, local employment, and economic activities to new heights. He emphasised that this synergy between cultural heritage and modern development forms a strong foundation for a 'Viksit Bharat' (Developed India). Puri stated that UP has emerged as a new hub for economic and industrial development. He highlighted that the state's Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) has risen from approximately Rs.13 lakh crore in 2016-17 to nearly Rs.36 lakh crore. Puri stated that initiatives such as the establishment of over 23,000 startups, the creation of more than 9 lakh government jobs through transparent recruitment processes, and the linking of farmers to national and global markets via the ODOP (One District One Product) scheme and agricultural value chains have transformed Uttar Pradesh into a new engine of growth and employment. He also highlighted that 2.65 crore people in Uttar Pradesh have benefited from the Jal Jeevan Mission, while 1.90 crore have benefited from the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana. Furthermore, continuous efforts are being made to extend the benefits of development to the last person in society through schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Ayushman Bharat, and other welfare programs. Meanwhile, Puri flagged off ambulances and a blood donation bus handed over to the health department, calling the initiative an important step towards public service. He also visited a development exhibition at the Panchayat Resource Centre, planted a sapling to promote environmental conservation, and inspected stalls set up by various departments, including the sericulture department. He lauded the innovations in 3D printing, robotics, the Internet of Things (IoT), and artificial intelligence (AI) showcased by students of the secondary education department, and praised their awareness and understanding of emerging technologies and technical education. On the occasion, he distributed certificates to beneficiaries of various government welfare schemes. He also chaired a review meeting with officials to assess the progress of development projects and directed them to ensure the timely and quality execution of infrastructure works related to roads, healthcare, education, drinking water and energy....