India Current Affairs [Nation & States] MCQs

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Recently, the Karnataka government notified the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), Karnataka Amendment Act, 2024, to reduce tobacco use across the state. The amendment received presidential assent on May 23 and was published in the state gazette on May 30. The legal age to buy tobacco products has been raised from 18 to 21 years. Sale of tobacco within 100 metres of educational institutions and sale of loose cigarettes is now banned. The amendment strengthens public health protections, especially for youth, under Article 47 of the Constitution of India.

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The Election Commission of India (ECI) recently introduced a technology-driven system to generate Index Cards and statistical reports after elections. Index Cards are a non-statutory, post-election Statistical Reporting Format developed by the ECI as a suo moto initiative. They make election data at the constituency level accessible to researchers, policymakers, journalists, and the public. The Index Cards cover candidates, electors, votes polled and counted, party and candidate vote shares, gender voting patterns, regional variations, and party performance. They form the basis for about 35 reports for Lok Sabha and 14 for State Assembly elections.

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On World Environment Day, Kerala Forest Department launched an afforestation project named ‘Vithoot’ (Seed Shower). ‘Vithoot’ is India’s first aerial seed ball distribution programme. It is a community-driven campaign to restore greenery and improve forest health. The project aims to reduce human-animal conflicts and revive damaged ecosystems. It boosts biodiversity, increases forest cover, and ensures food for wildlife and people.

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Bihar has become the top state in India for using the ‘Scan and Share’ feature under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), with a 92% online Out-Patient Department (OPD) registration rate. As per the National Health Authority (NHA), Bihar alone accounts for 2.94 crore of the 11.38 crore total OPD registrations under ABDM since 2021. ABDM is a national initiative to build a digital health ecosystem that connects patients, doctors, and hospitals using interoperable systems.

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Recently, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh laid the foundation stone for India’s first Green Data Centre in Sahibabad, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh. The project is worth around ₹1,000 crore and will have a 30 megawatt capacity with advanced energy-efficient and eco-friendly systems. The Green Data Centre will have a 30 megawatt capacity, energy-efficient design, renewable energy use, and eco-friendly systems like rainwater harvesting and smart cooling.

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After restoring Vaan island, the Tamil Nadu government has started restoring Kariyachalli island, which is located in Tamil Nadu within the Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park, under the Tamil Nadu Sustainably Harnessing Ocean Resource (TNSHORE) initiative. Kariyachalli island near Thoothukudi has shrunk from 20.85 hectares in 1969 to about 3 hectares in 2025 due to erosion and loss of sediment. The ₹50 crore project is funded by the state government and the World Bank.

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Recently, Arthunkal Police Station in Alappuzha district, Kerala, became the first in India to receive International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) 9001:2015 Quality Management System (QMS) certification from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). The certification acknowledges top performance in crime prevention, investigation, law and order, traffic control, emergency response, judicial coordination, and public grievance redressal. All services are delivered under Indian law and government policies, with a focus on efficiency, transparency, and public satisfaction.

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Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) released a technical brief titled “Mapping the Application of Artificial Intelligence in Traditional Medicine”. The brief recognised India’s leadership in using Artificial Intelligence (AI) in traditional medicine, especially Ayush systems. India became the first country to launch the Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL). TKDL is a digital database of traditional medicinal knowledge, including Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy. It prevents bio-piracy by documenting traditional practices in patent-compatible formats.

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The Punjab Government recently introduced the ‘Prevention of Offences Against Holy Scriptures Bill, 2025’ in the legislative assembly. The Bill aims to preserve religious harmony and fraternity among people of different faiths in Punjab. It proposes strict punishment for offences like sacrilege, defacing, damaging, or burning any Holy Scripture. Holy Scriptures include Sri Guru Granth Sahib, Srimad Bhagavad Gita, Quran Sharif, and Holy Bible, including their extracts like Pothis and Gutka Sahib. The punishment includes imprisonment of minimum 10 years, which may extend to life, and a fine between Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh.

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Recently, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) launched Skill India Assistant (SIA), an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered chatbot. It is developed by META and National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) under MSDE. It provides personalized skilling and job support through WhatsApp, promoting digital inclusion. It is accessible through Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH) and WhatsApp. It uses Meta’s open-source LLaMA (Large Language Model) as its AI base.