India Current Affairs [Nation & States] MCQs

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Recently, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR), under Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, launched a Training of Trainers (ToT) programme. It aims to boost the financial independence of Panchayats by improving their ability to generate Own Source Revenue (OSR). The programme is being run under the Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) with support from the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad.

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Recently, a new inter-state water dispute has emerged between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh over the Banakacherla Reservoir Project, with Telangana claiming it violates the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014. The Banakacherla Reservoir Project is a proposed irrigation project by the Andhra Pradesh government to divert surplus water from the Godavari River to the drought-prone Rayalaseema region. It is located in Banakacherla in the Nandyal district of Andhra Pradesh.

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On 24 July 2025, Rajasthan Assembly established a Kargil Shaurya Vatika to honour soldiers who died in the 1999 Kargil War. The initiative marks the 26th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas and was launched on Hariyali Amavasya with the planting of 1,100 saplings. 21 Veeranganas (war widows) from districts like Sikar, Jhunjhunu, Churu, Jaipur, and Kotputli-Behror participated in the plantation drive. Saplings planted include Sindoor, Areca Palm, Song of India, Krishna Ficus, and Croton, symbolising India’s heritage, natural beauty, and healing traditions.

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In July 2025, the Gorbea Solar Power Project was inaugurated in Bikaner, Rajasthan by Union Minister Pralhad Joshi. It is a 435 Megawatt (MW) plant built in just eight months, supplying clean power to 1.28 lakh households. It will cut 7.05 lakh tonnes of carbon emissions annually, supporting India’s climate goals and energy security. Rajasthan now generates 70% of its power from renewables, with a total installed renewable capacity of 35.4 Gigawatts (GW).

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Recently, India achieved 20% ethanol blending in petrol in 2025, five years ahead of the 2030 target. This success is part of the Ethanol Blended Petrol Programme (EBP Programme). The EBP Programme was launched in January 2003 by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoP&NG). It aims to promote environment-friendly alternative fuels and reduce crude oil import dependency.

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Recently, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis inaugurated India’s first Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered Anganwadi in Waddhamna village, Nagpur district, Maharashtra. The center is a pilot project under Mission Bal Bharari and uses AI dashboards, Virtual Reality (VR) headsets, and interactive content. It offers immersive learning in poems, songs, and early education, making learning joyful and engaging for rural children. This AI Anganwadi brings tech-rich education to rural areas, bridging the digital divide between rural and urban children.

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India has revived the 1,856-MW Sawalkote Hydroelectric Power Project on the Chenab River after keeping the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in abeyance since April. The project, first conceived in the 1960s, was delayed due to Indus Water Treaty restrictions and Pakistan’s objections. It is a 2,185 megawatt (MW) run-of-the-river hydroelectric project in Ramban District of Jammu and Kashmir. It will be the largest hydropower project in the Union Territory and one of the biggest in North India. It is being developed by National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) and Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation Limited (JKSPDC).

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Recently, Rajasthan launched India’s first drone-based artificial rain trial at Ramgarh Dam, shifting from aeroplane-assisted to unmanned aerial vehicles for cloud seeding. The project uses around 60 drones and is a joint effort between the state agriculture department and GenX AI (US and Bengaluru-based). It aims to revive the 129-year-old dam, which has been dry for 20 years. The project involves multi-department coordination with approval from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for drone use. Cloud seeding uses particles like silver iodide to boost rainfall, with potential up to 20%, though results vary.

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Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan declared Kerala as the first fully digitally literate State in India. The achievement marks the completion of the first phase of the Digi Kerala project to bridge the digital divide. The project was implemented at the grassroots level across all local bodies. Surveys covered 1.5 crore people from 83.46 lakh families in the State. 21.88 lakh people were found digitally illiterate. Out of them, 21.87 lakh, or 99.98%, successfully completed training and evaluation. Kerala has presented a model worth emulating for the country.

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Chennai is the first city in Tamil Nadu to adopt the City Biodiversity Index (Singapore Index). The initiative is a joint effort by ICLEI South Asia, Greater Chennai Corporation, and state agencies. The index measures native biodiversity, ecosystem services, and governance through 23 indicators. For baseline year 2024, Chennai scored 38 out of 72 across 18 indicators, showing resilience and areas for improvement.