India Current Affairs [Nation & States] MCQs

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The central government has abolished the no-detention policy for classes 5 and 8, allowing schools to retain students who fail annual exams. This change affects over 3,000 central government schools, including Kendriya Vidyalayas and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas. The policy was part of the 2009 Right to Education (RTE) Act. The new policy, notified on December 16, mandates remedial instruction and re-examinations for failed students. Schools must offer additional teaching and re-examination within two months. At least 18 states and Union Territories had already removed the no-detention policy after the 2019 RTE amendment.

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The Indian Army installed a statue of Maratha warrior Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj near Pangong Tso lake in eastern Ladakh. The statue stands at an altitude of 14,300 feet, near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) bordering China. It was unveiled on December 26, 2024, celebrating Shivaji’s unwavering spirit and inspirational legacy. The statue symbolizes the enduring values and courage of the Indian ruler.

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The Election Commission of India released 42 statistical reports for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and 14 reports for assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha, and Sikkim. This initiative aims to boost public trust and enhance transparency in the electoral system. In 2024, 47.63 crore women electors were registered, accounting for 48.62% of the total electors. Puducherry and Kerala had the highest female electors at 53.03% and 51.56%.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the Central Ayurveda Research Institute (CARI) building in Rohini, Delhi. The state-of-the-art facility spans 2.92 acres, costs ₹187 crore, and will be completed in 30 months. The institute will include a 100-bed research hospital with advanced clinical research, education, and treatment facilities. The project supports the “Heal in India” initiative and aims to make India a global health and wellness hub. CARI, established in 1979, focuses on Ayurvedic research, particularly in preventive cardiology.

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Entity Locker, developed by National eGovernance Division (NeGD), under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), is a secure cloud-based platform for managing and verifying business documents. It caters to organizations, MSMEs, startups, trusts, and societies. The platform integrates with government systems for real-time access and verification. It offers legally valid digital signatures and ensures secure document management. Entity Locker aligns with India’s Digital Public Infrastructure and vision for enhanced digital governance.

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Fort William in Kolkata, headquarters of the Eastern Army Command, has been renamed Vijay Durg. It was built by the British in 1773. It was named after King William III of England. The fort is located on the Hooghly River’s eastern bank and is now owned by the Indian Army. Originally built in 1696 by the English East India Company, it was known as the “black hole of Calcutta” after prisoners were held there. After being attacked in 1756, it was rebuilt by Robert Clive following the Battle of Plassey. The octagonal fort spans 70.9 acres and features arched windows and meticulous stonework.

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Haryana government launched the ‘Har Khet-Swasth Khet’ campaign to collect soil samples from every acre and provide soil health cards to farmers. Around 70 lakh soil samples have been collected, and 55 lakh have been analyzed, with soil cards distributed. More than 86 lakh soil health cards have been issued so far. Haryana received a gold medal from the Skoch Group for the Soil Health Card Project in 2022.

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The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for Bageshwar Dham Medical and Science Research Institute in Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh, on February 23. The institute will provide free treatment to underprivileged cancer patients. It will be built on 10 acres, with a 100-bed hospital in the first phase. The hospital will have state-of-the-art machines and specialist doctors for cancer treatment.

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The Kota district administration, Rajasthan, announced reforms to address student stress and rising suicides among competitive exam aspirants. Kota Cares is a joint initiative launched in December 2024 by the administration, coaching institutes, hostel associations, and local communities. It aims to improve the educational ecosystem and student welfare in the city. The initiative is seen as a model for other educational hubs across India.

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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.