India Current Affairs [Nation & States] MCQs

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Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched the BHARATPOL portal, developed by the CBI, on January 7, 2025, in New Delhi. The portal enhances real-time information sharing for Indian law enforcement agencies (LEAs) to access international police assistance. CBI, as India’s National Central Bureau for INTERPOL, manages international cooperation in criminal matters. BHARATPOL addresses growing transnational crimes like cybercrime, financial fraud, and human trafficking. It streamlines requests for INTERPOL notices and boosts field officers’ efficiency in handling crimes.

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The union Minister of Labour & Employment launched multilingual functionality on the e-Shram portal. The e-Shram portal supports and empowers the unorganized workforce by creating a National Database of Unorganised Workers (NDUW). The portal now supports 22 languages, upgraded using MEITY’s Bhashini project. Previously, the portal was available only in English, Hindi, Kannada, and Marathi.

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The United States opened its fifth consulate in India in Bengaluru, joining Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Mumbai. The consulate aims to strengthen US-India ties, especially with Karnataka’s thriving IT and business ecosystem. The consulate will reduce dependency on Chennai for visa services, benefiting Karnataka residents and businesses.

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Raman Rajamannan, the tribal king of the Mannan community in Kerala, will participate in the Republic Day parade in Delhi. The Mannan community is a Scheduled Tribe (ST) in Kerala and the only tribal dynasty with a kingship in South India. Their language is a Tamil dialect without a script, reflecting strong Tamil cultural ties. They follow a matrilineal descent system, elect their king, and practice Hinduism. Main occupations include agriculture, and festivals include Kalavoot, Meenoot, and Mutthiamman. Mannankoothu is their unique ritual art form performed during worship, harvest, and weddings.

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The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) recently set up a new Regional Office in Varanasi. IWAI, established under the Inland Waterways Authority of India Act (1985), focuses on developing and maintaining Inland Water Transport infrastructure on national waterways. It receives grants from the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways. The headquarters is in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, with regional offices in Guwahati, Patna, Kochi, Bhubaneswar, and Kolkata. The Varanasi office will oversee development works on the Ganga and its tributaries in Uttar Pradesh, including rivers like Betwa, Chambal, and Gomti.

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The Rural Technology Action Group (RuTAGe) Smart Village Center (RSVC) was launched in Mandaura village, Sonipat, Haryana, aiming to integrate advanced technologies with rural needs. It was developed under the Office of Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA), which conceptualized RuTAGe in 2003-04. RSVC provides long-term tech support at the Panchayat level, covering 15-20 villages and 12 technology tracks, including agriculture and waste management. It connects rural producers to larger markets via platforms like ONDC, Amazon, and Market Mirchi.

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Punjab has fully utilized ₹4,713 crore under the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) scheme. It ranks number one in India for AIF implementation. The state has received an additional ₹2,337 crore allocation. AIF was launched in July 2020 to finance agriculture infrastructure projects. The scheme supports post-harvest infrastructure, including storage, processing, and supply chain improvements. It provides medium to long-term financing to farmers, FPOs, and agri-entrepreneurs. Punjab’s effective use of AIF aims to reduce post-harvest losses and enhance value addition in agriculture.

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The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by PM Narendra Modi, approved a 12.4 km ropeway from Govindghat to Hemkund Sahib Ji in Uttarakhand. The project costs ₹2,730.13 crore and will follow the DBFOT (Design, Build, Finance, Operate, and Transfer) model. The ropeway will ease the current 21-km trek, benefiting pilgrims and tourists visiting Hemkund Sahib Ji and the Valley of Flowers (UNESCO site). It will have a capacity of 11,000 passengers per day and use advanced ropeway technology. The project will boost tourism, create jobs, and enhance regional economic growth.

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Uttar Pradesh launched the ‘Rapid Immunisation Skill Enhancement’ (RISE) app to improve vaccination programs. The app is designed for nurses, ANMs, and health workers to enhance vaccination tracking, training, and safety management. It provides real-time updates on vaccination schedules, cold chain management, and adverse effect monitoring. Digital training replaces traditional methods, improving efficiency and outreach. Initially piloted in 181 districts, it is now implemented statewide, covering all 75 districts. 52,175 vaccinators will benefit, improving immunisation coverage and real-time learning. The app ensures faster updates on guidelines and technology, preventing training delays.

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The Pratibimb Module has led to 6,046 arrests, 17,185 linkages, and 36,296 cyber investigation requests. It is a Geographic Information System (GIS)-based software launched by the Union Home Ministry’s Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C). It helps law enforcement map cybercriminals in real time and dismantle their networks. The software tracks mobile numbers used in cybercrimes and projects them on a GIS map. It enables law enforcement agencies and service providers to locate criminal activities through mobile data.