India Current Affairs [Nation & States] MCQs

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The University Grants Commission (UGC) has released new rules called Recognition and Grant of Equivalence to Qualifications Obtained from Foreign Educational Institutions Regulations, 2025. These rules aim to create a clear and standard method to recognize foreign degrees in India, making the process more transparent. The move supports the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which promotes globalisation of Indian higher education and smooth integration of international and returning Indian students. An Equivalence Certificate confirms that a foreign degree or diploma matches an Indian qualification. Now, UGC will issue these certificates instead of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU).

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Union Minister Jitendra Singh launched the first-ever Himalayan High-Altitude Atmospheric and Climate Centre in Nathatop, Chenani, Udhampur district, Jammu and Kashmir. This new centre will provide accurate climate and weather forecasts for the Himalayan region. It will also focus on research and study of the region’s unique high-altitude weather conditions. The project is supported by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Government of India. It aims to improve climate monitoring and disaster preparedness in the Himalayan belt.

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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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Arunachal Pradesh government has allocated Rs 269.97 crore for the Etalin Hydroelectric Project in Dibang Valley. Etalin Hydroelectric Project is a 3,097 Megawatt (MW) hydropower project planned in Arunachal Pradesh. It is among the largest proposed hydropower projects in India in terms of installed capacity. The project includes two run-of-the-river schemes on the Dri and Tangon rivers, which are tributaries of the Dibang River. Two concrete gravity dams of 101.5 metres and 80 metres height are planned under this project. The project lies in a highly rich biodiversity zone of the Himalayan region and is a global mega biodiversity hotspot. The area is home to the Idu-Mishmi tribal community.

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Uttar Pradesh has ranked first in India for implementing the Pradhan Mantri Micro Food Processing Enterprises Upgradation Scheme (PMFME). The average loan approval time in Uttar Pradesh is 101 days, compared to 110 days in Bihar and 190 days in Telangana. Uttar Pradesh has achieved a 14% growth in loan disbursement under the scheme. The state spent Rs 250 crore more than in 2024. For the year 2025–26, the budget for Uttar Pradesh increased by 56%, with an additional Rs 300 crore allocated. The PMFME scheme was launched in 2020 under the Atmanirbhar Abhiyaan to support micro food enterprises.

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Recently, Karnataka became the first Indian state to complete a detailed antiquities survey at the village level. The Department of Archaeology is surveying 119 taluks to document antiquities like inscriptions, sculptures, and monuments. Geo-tagging is used to digitally mark and track the exact locations of these heritage items. A proposal is being prepared to add 110 new monuments to the protected list, aiming to safeguard 1,000 more in future. Karnataka faces challenges like lack of resources and coordination in preserving over 25,000 monuments. The ‘Adopt a Monument’ scheme uses Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds to support heritage upkeep.

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Recently, 31 Maoists were killed in one of India’s biggest anti-Naxal operations called Operation Black Forest. It was a 21-day counterinsurgency mission in the Kurraguttalu Hills, spread across 1,200 square kilometres on the Chhattisgarh–Telangana border. The aim was to destroy Naxal bases, remove top Maoist leaders, and regain control of the area. This supports India’s goal to end Left Wing Extremism by March 31, 2026. The forces involved included the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), elite Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA), Special Task Force (STF), and District Reserve Guard (DRG). The Karregutta Hills, key to this operation, lie between Telangana and Chhattisgarh.

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The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) launched the e-Zero initiative to auto-register high-value cybercrimes. Cyber financial crimes above ₹10 lakh reported via the 1930 helpline or National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP) will now be automatically converted into First Information Reports (FIRs). This system is currently launched as a pilot project in Delhi and will soon be expanded nationwide. The Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C) under MHA designed this system to speed up the crackdown on cybercriminals.

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Recently, the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) inaugurated Polar Bhavan and Sagar Bhavan at the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) in Vasco da Gama, Goa. NCPOR was established in 1998 as an autonomous Research and Development (R&D) institute and was earlier known as the National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research (NCAOR). NCPOR functions under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES). Polar Bhavan is the largest building on the NCPOR campus, covering 11,378 square meters and built at a cost of ₹55 crore. It includes advanced laboratories, 55 rooms for scientists, conference halls, a library, and the Science on Sphere (SOS) 3D Earth systems visualisation platform. It will also house India’s first Polar and Ocean Museum to help the public learn about scientific research. Sagar Bhavan covers 1,772 square meters and was built at a cost of ₹13 crore.

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The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has issued a high wave alert for the coasts of Goa, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Kerala. INCOIS was established in 1999 as an autonomous body under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES). It is part of the Earth System Science Organization (ESSO) and is located in Hyderabad. INCOIS provides ocean information and advisory services to society, industries, government agencies, and scientists. Its services include Potential Fishing Zone (PFZ) advisories, Tsunami Early Warning System, Ocean State Forecast (OSF), and Coral Bleaching Alerts. The recent alert highlights INCOIS’s critical role in protecting coastal communities and marine activities.