India Current Affairs [Nation & States] MCQs

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The Ministry of Women and Child Development is celebrating the 7th edition of Poshan Pakhwada from April 8th to 22nd, 2025. It aims to raise awareness about nutrition and promote healthy eating habits through public participation and involvement. The themes include focusing on the first 1000 days of life, promoting the Beneficiary/Citizen Module of Poshan Tracker, managing malnutrition through Community-Based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM), and addressing obesity in children.

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The Telangana government launched the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Rising Grand Challenge to solve public sector problems using AI technologies. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy inaugurated the initiative, which will act as a unified data exchange platform with high-quality datasets from government and partner agencies. The platform enables real-world development, testing, and scaling of AI solutions with secure access to structured data. It encourages collaboration between the government, startups, industries, and academic institutions. The initiative is led by the IT Electronics and Communication Department with support from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). It focuses on sectors like education, healthcare, and transport to enhance governance and services. Each winning team for a use case will receive ₹15 lakh to run pilot projects in Telangana.

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The Government of India has granted Geographical Indication (GI) tags to Ryndia Silk and Khasi Handloom from Meghalaya, boosting their cultural identity, legal protection, and market reach. Ryndia Silk is hand-spun, naturally dyed, and organically made, linked to Umden-Diwon, Meghalaya’s first Eri Silk Village. Khasi Handloom showcases the Khasi community’s rich weaving tradition using natural dyes. The GI tag was officially granted with support from the Meghalaya Textiles Department, National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), Dr. Rajnikanth, and the Meghalaya Ryndia Producers Association.

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Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) has selected 18 Hub institutions and 106 Spoke institutions under the PAIR (Partnerships for Accelerated Innovation and Research) programme. The PAIR programme connects top research institutions with universities and colleges through structured mentorship and collaboration. It aims to boost India’s higher education and research by promoting innovation, capacity building, and regional excellence. A total of 30 proposals were received for Hub selection and 166 for Spokes. This initiative aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. It aims to turn institutions into centres of innovation, leadership, and global relevance.

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The Dhubri-Phulbari Brahmaputra Bridge, a 19.28 km project, has 59% of its work completed, according to reports. It is a 4-lane bridge being built over the Brahmaputra River, connecting Dhubri in Assam and Phulbari in Meghalaya on National Highway 127 B. The bridge will be 19.3 km long, making it the longest river bridge in India. It will have a navigation bridge of 12.625 kilometers, with approach viaducts of 3.5 km on the Dhubri side and 2.2 km on the Phulbari side. The structure will be supported by 199 pillars. Larsen & Toubro (L&T) is handling the civil construction for the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd. (NHIDCL), with funding from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The project is estimated to cost ₹3,165.99 crore.

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Jal Shakti Minister C R Paatil held a review meeting on 30 April with the Wildlife Institute of India to assess the progress of the ‘Jalaj’ project. The ‘Jalaj’ project is a key initiative developed by the Ministry of Jal Shakti to support the rejuvenation of the Ganga River and biodiversity conservation. It involves setting up floating platforms on the Ganga River to promote livelihood activities for local communities. These platforms also raise awareness about conserving the river and its ecosystem. The project blends ecological restoration with sustainable development for Ganga-dependent populations.

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Eight Gram Sabhas in Baipariguda block, Koraput district, Odisha, have harvested over 4 lakh bundles of kendu leaves in the 2025 season and are waiting for government notification to deregulate the trade. These communities are pushing to manage and sell kendu leaves under the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006. Kendu leaf, also known as Tendu leaf, is a vital non-wood forest product and is referred to as the “Green Gold of Odisha.” It is a major forest product in states like Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and others. Under the FRA, forest-dwelling communities have rights to collect, use, and sell minor forest products like kendu leaves.

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Rangacherra village in Tripura has become the first green village of the state due to the state government’s efforts. The Tripura Renewable Energy Development Agency (TREDA) implemented the green village project with a cost of Rs. 1.25 crore. A solar power plant and solar water purifier systems were installed in the village under Mohanpur subdivision. TREDA also provided solar home lighting systems to village households. The solar plant is connected to the grid of Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited and supplies excess power to the state grid. Villagers, many of whom migrated from Jharkhand and Bihar, now get clean drinking water from a solar water purification system.

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The Dongria Kondh tribe of Odisha was recently highlighted for showcasing their vibrant identity and cultural resilience during a festival near the Niyamgiri Hills. They are an indigenous community classified as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG). The Dongria Kondh are known for their environmental stewardship and strong resistance against bauxite mining in the Niyamgiri hills. They live in scattered hamlets within the Niyamgiri hill range, located across Rayagada and Kalahandi districts in southwestern Odisha. These hills are ecologically rich and hold spiritual significance, being the home of their revered deity, Niyam Raja.

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Minister of Power and Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal Khattar inaugurated the Bharat Bodh Kendra at India Habitat Centre (IHC), New Delhi. Bharat Bodh Kendra is a new section under the Habitat Library and Resource Centre. It is dedicated to deepening understanding of India’s cultural and civilizational heritage. The centre offers curated books and resources on Indian art, music, spirituality, history, and philosophy. It provides a quiet space for reflection, learning, and cultural exploration.