India Current Affairs [Nation & States] MCQs

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The University Grants Commission (UGC) has released draft guidelines to integrate Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) into undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) courses. The Ministry of Education (MoE) introduced Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 to blend traditional Indian knowledge with modern education. The initiative promotes interdisciplinary research, preservation, and dissemination of IKS for research and societal use. It covers diverse fields like Arts, Literature, Agriculture, Basic Sciences, Engineering, Architecture, Management, and Economics.

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Assam launched the ‘Lakhpati Baideo’ scheme to empower women entrepreneurs with financial help and training. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that the scheme will benefit 40 lakh women from Self-Help Groups (SHGs). It gives ₹10,000 as seed money in the first year, ₹25,000 in the second year, and ₹50,000 in the third year depending on business success. The scheme aims to promote rural entrepreneurship and boost women’s financial independence.

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In April 2025, strong protests erupted against the Sillahalla Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Project (SPSHEP) in Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu, led by farmers, tribal groups, and environmentalists. The project is proposed by Tamil Nadu Green Energy Corporation Limited (TNGECL) to generate 1,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity for meeting peak power demand and integrating renewable energy. It is located in the Tamil Nadu, specifically within the Nilgiris district. It includes two dams, tunnels of 2.8 km (head race) and 1.56 km (tail race), an underground powerhouse, and surface storage. Around 1,000 acres of farmland and 500 acres of forest may be submerged, affecting nearly 3,000 farmers. Landowners with joint pattas may not receive fair compensation, and earlier compensations for road projects remain pending. People are protesting due to fears of losing land, forests, and livelihoods

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The Supreme Court of India recently directed the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) to assess the impact of nearby glass industries on the Taj Mahal in Agra, Uttar Pradesh. The CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI) is a premier research body under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). Initially, it focused on water supply, sewage disposal, communicable and occupational diseases, and industrial pollution. Its core aim is to support pollution control, environmental management, and sustainable development. NEERI operates under the Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India. Its headquarters is located in Nagpur, Maharashtra.

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The Centre for Earth Sciences and Himalayan Studies (CESHS) has recently drilled Northeast India’s first geothermal production well at Dirang in West Kameng district, Arunachal Pradesh. This marks a major step towards using clean and renewable energy sources in the Himalayan region. Geothermal energy is the heat from within the Earth, used to produce electricity or direct heating. CESHS achieved this breakthrough after two years of detailed geochemical and structural surveys in hot spring sites of western Arunachal Pradesh. CESHS geosciences division head Rupankar Rajkhowa confirmed the success of the drilling project. This initiative can reduce dependency on fossil fuels and support green development in remote regions.

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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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Recently, the Karnataka government launched Bengaluru Smart Infrastructure Limited (B-SMILE) initiative with an initial funding of ₹7,000 crore to accelerate major infrastructure projects in Bengaluru. B-SMILE is a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), a government-owned company created to plan, fund, and implement large-scale urban projects. It is part of the upcoming Greater Bengaluru Governance Act, 2024, aimed at unified and efficient urban development. Unlike existing civic bodies like BBMP (Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike), BDA (Bangalore Development Authority), and BWSSB (Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board), B-SMILE will work centrally across zones. It will be governed by an 11-member Board and led by a full-time Chief Executive Officer (CEO), an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer. This move addresses issues like traffic congestion, overlapping authorities, and slow project execution by enabling professional, long-term planning.

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The Supreme Court recently directed Tamil Nadu and Kerala to resolve disputes over the Mullaperiyar Dam with expert help. The Mullaperiyar Dam is a masonry gravity dam on the Periyar River in Thekkady, Idukki district, Kerala. It is located 881 meters above sea level in the Western Ghats mountains. The dam stands at the meeting point of the Mullayar and Periyar rivers. It is one of India’s oldest dams, built between 1887 and 1895.

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Government e Marketplace (GeM) celebrated its 8th Incorporation Day, showing its strong role in digital governance and inclusive growth. It was launched on August 9, 2016, by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. GeM is India’s national online public procurement platform. It aims to ensure transparency, efficiency, and fairness in government buying and selling. GeM now has over 1.64 lakh primary buyers and 4.2 lakh active sellers. It offers more than 10,000 product categories and over 330 services.

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Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) and Airbus are setting up India’s first private helicopter Final Assembly Line (FAL) in Karnataka. The Airbus H125 helicopter will be assembled at a new facility in the Vemagal Industrial Area in Kolar district, near Bengaluru. The plant will start operating in 2026 and initially produce 10 H125 helicopters per year. This will make India the fourth country with an H125 FAL, after France, the United States, and Brazil. The facility will integrate key parts like avionics, electrical systems, hydraulics, flight controls, and engines. It will also carry out full testing and certification, following Airbus’s safety standards. Karnataka was chosen over Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Gujarat due to its strong aerospace ecosystem and skilled workforce.