India Current Affairs [Nation & States] MCQs

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Recently, the Union Health Ministry confirmed that while 18 State drug control authorities use the Online National Drugs Licensing System (ONDLS), none have fully met the Corrective and Preventive Action (CAPA) guidelines. ONDLS is a digital single-window platform for processing all drug-related licences in India. It was developed by Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC) with the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) and State/UT Drug Regulatory Authorities. It aims to make drug licensing uniform, transparent, and accountable across India.

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The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has recognised Deendayal Port Authority (Gujarat), V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority (Tamil Nadu), and Paradip Port Authority (Odisha) as Green Hydrogen Hubs under the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM). National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM) aims to make India a global hub for production, utilisation, and export of green hydrogen and its derivatives. The Mission promotes large-scale hydrogen hubs to develop a sustainable and competitive hydrogen economy. Ports will act as catalysts for clean energy innovation and support India’s net-zero by 2070 vision. A cluster-based development model addresses challenges of long-distance hydrogen transport and ensures economies of scale.

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The Union Minister for Commerce and Industry recently launched the Logistics Excellence, Advancement, and Performance Shield (LEAPS) 2025 in New Delhi. LEAPS 2025 is a flagship initiative of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. It aims to benchmark logistics excellence and strengthen India’s competitiveness. It aligns with the vision of the National Logistics Policy (NLP) and PM GatiShakti. The initiative recognizes best practices, innovation, and leadership in India’s logistics sector. It covers air, road, sea, and rail freight operators, warehousing, MSMEs, startups, and academia. LEAPS 2025 promotes sustainability, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices, and Green Logistics.

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The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) busted a secret drug factory in Valsad, Gujarat under “Operation White Cauldron.” The factory was producing Alprazolam, a psychotropic substance under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. The raid on 4th November 2025 led to the seizure of Alprazolam worth ₹22 crore. This is DRI’s fourth such bust in 2025 under Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan.

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The Ministry of Road Transport recently made it mandatory to use the National Database for Emergency Management (NDEM) analysis in all highway Detailed Project Reports. National Database for Emergency Management (NDEM) is a unique geo-portal that provides space-based inputs and forecasts for all natural disasters in India. It serves as a national repository of multi-scale geospatial data with decision support tools. It was developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) under the guidance of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). The portal is maintained by the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC).

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Recently, under Operation Fire Trail, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) busted a major smuggling attempt of Chinese firecrackers. A 40-foot container at Mundra port was intercepted, falsely declared as “water glass set” and “flower receptacle.” Detailed checks uncovered 30,000 concealed firecrackers hidden behind genuine cargo. Similar smuggling attempts were earlier foiled at Mumbai and Tuticorin in October 2025. Import of firecrackers is Restricted and requires licences from Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) and Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organization (PESO). The importer lacked documents and admitted the smuggling; goods worth ₹5 crore were seized under the Customs Act, 1962.

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In November 2025, Union Minister J P Nadda, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), inaugurated AMRIT Pharmacy’s 10th Anniversary at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. The AMRIT (Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment) program was launched in 2015 by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare to provide affordable medicines and implants for cancer and cardiac patients. The first AMRIT outlet opened on 15 November 2015 at AIIMS, New Delhi. MoHFW inaugurated 10 new AMRIT outlets across India to enhance access to essential medicines. The program is implemented by HLL Lifecare Limited through retail pharmacies in government hospitals.

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Zari poshak from Mathura recently received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag in November 2025. The zari poshak is a traditional, handmade textile attire used to adorn Lord Krishna. It is known for its exquisite zari (gold and silver thread) embroidery. The craft has been sustained for centuries and involves a large number of artisans, including many women.

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The Ministry of Panchayati Raj informed that 92,376 Gram Panchayats have used the SabhaSaar tool for automated meeting summarisation across States and Union Territories. A standard operating procedure (SOP) was shared with States and Union Territories, which was further disseminated to Gram Panchayats for proper adoption. It was launched on 14 August 2025. SabhaSaar is an AI-enabled voice-to-text tool that automatically summarises meetings, improving efficiency and record-keeping in local governance.

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In December 2025, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami launched the “Meri Yojana” Portal in Dehradun to make welfare scheme information easily accessible to citizens. The portal is an online platform aimed at providing citizens with comprehensive information on welfare schemes offered by both the Central and State Governments. It is part of the state government’s effort to ensure transparent, accessible, and time-bound delivery of benefits to eligible citizens. The portal and related initiatives reflect Uttarakhand’s focus on digital governance, DBT-based benefits, citizen awareness, and local economic empowerment.