India Current Affairs [Nation & States] MCQs

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Recently, the Union Environment Ministry extended the validity of infrastructure projects approved under the 2011 Islands Protection Zone (IPZ) notification. IPZ was notified in 2011 under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 to protect island ecosystems. It aims to safeguard the ecological integrity of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep Islands. IPZ is similar to the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ), which applies to mainland coastal areas. It includes Island Coastal Regulation Zone (ICRZ) for major islands like North, Middle, South, and Little Andaman.

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Recently, the Election Commission of India (ECI) launched a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar, highlighting concerns around electoral inclusion for migrant populations. The focus is on balancing electoral roll integrity and inclusive democratic participation. Under Section 19 of the Representation of the People Act (RPA), 1950, only an ‘ordinarily resident’ can be enrolled in a constituency’s electoral roll. Section 20 of the RPA clarifies that just owning a house does not make one an ordinarily resident. A person temporarily away for work or travel is still considered ordinarily resident at their regular home.

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The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas launched the ‘Apna Ghar’ initiative to support truck drivers during long journeys. A total of 368 ‘Apna Ghar’ units with 4,611 beds have been set up by Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) at highway fuel stations. These units provide dormitory beds, restaurants or dhabas, clean toilets, bathing facilities, cooking spaces, and purified drinking water. The initiative aims to ensure safe, hygienic, and comfortable resting spaces for truckers across national and state highways.

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National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), under Ministry of AYUSH, signed 2 important Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) in New Delhi. First MoU was between National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB) and IshVed-Bioplants Venture, Pune, Maharashtra. It aims to conserve rare, endangered, and threatened (RET) medicinal plants through tissue culture methods. Second MoU was a tripartite agreement among NMPB, All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), and All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi. It aims to set up a National Medicinal Plants Garden in AIIMS to promote public awareness and knowledge sharing. NMPB was established in 2000 and functions under the Ministry of AYUSH.

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Recently, the Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs informed the Rajya Sabha about the success of the Madak-Padarth Nished Asoochna Kendra (MANAS) Helpline-1933. It was launched on 18 July 2024 by Ministry of Home Affairs. It aims to fight drug menace and enable anonymous reporting of drug trafficking, illicit cultivation, and related crimes. It is a secure, bilingual digital platform offering a confidential multi-channel interface. Citizens can report drug crimes, seek counselling via Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (MoSJE) Helpline 14446, and access awareness resources. It also engages citizens in Drug-Free Bharat activities via quizzes, posters, and contests on MyGov.

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Recently, the Delhi government launched the “Delhi Mitra” app to register public grievances. The decision was taken in a cabinet meeting chaired by Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta. It will work as a single-window system integrating Delhi Government, Delhi Police, Delhi Development Authority (DDA), Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), and Delhi Cantonment. Citizens will receive stage-wise updates of their complaints through messages and can also file complaints via WhatsApp.

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India has rejected Nepal’s objection to the resumption of India-China border trade through Lipulekh Pass. In 2020, Nepal passed a constitutional amendment and issued a new map claiming Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh, and Kalapani. Lipulekh Pass is a Himalayan pass located in Uttarakhand, India. It serves as a vital link between India and Tibet (China). The pass is an important part of the trade route and the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra pilgrimage. Lipulekh Pass is included in the Bharat Rannbhoomi Darshan initiative promoting battlefield tourism.

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Kerala High Court became the first in India to issue guidelines on Artificial Intelligence (AI) use in district judiciary to enhance efficiency and speed in managing five crore pending cases. AI tools include document translation, transcription, defect identification, and legal research, but errors like mistranslations, hallucinations, and bias pose risks. Large Language Models (LLM) can fabricate case laws; human judgment remains essential in context-sensitive decisions. Courts need AI literacy for judges, staff, and lawyers, and clear guidelines for research, judgment writing, and litigant rights.

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National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), in collaboration with Vertis Infrastructure Trust, launched ‘Project Aarohan’ to support the education of children of toll plaza employees. It aims to remove financial barriers, bridge socio-economic gaps, and provide quality education to students from Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBC), minority communities, and first-generation learners. The project will support 500 students from Class 11 to graduation with annual scholarships of Rs. 12,000 each. Fifty bright students aspiring for postgraduate studies will receive scholarships of Rs. 50,000 each. Project Aarohan combines financial aid with mentorship, skill-building workshops, career guidance, and long-term progress tracking.

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The Ministry of Tribal Affairs launched the world’s first Digital Tribal University – Adi Sanskriti at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, during the National Conference on Adi Karmayogi Abhiyan. It is a digital academy and e-learning platform for tribal art, culture, crafts, and knowledge systems. The platform also has an online marketplace to showcase tribal products to national and global audiences. It aims to preserve tribal heritage while creating new livelihood opportunities. The initiative ensures dignity, empowerment, and opportunities for tribal communities at the grassroots level.