India Current Affairs [Nation & States] MCQs

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The Ministry of Ayush launched the “Shatavari – For Better Health” campaign to promote awareness of medicinal plants. It was inaugurated by Shri Prataprao Jadhav, Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Ayush. The campaign is led by the National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), which has previously promoted Amla, Moringa, Giloe, and Ashwagandha. Financial assistance of ₹18.9 lakh will support eligible organizations in promoting Shatavari. The initiative strengthens India’s focus on traditional medicine and holistic well-being.

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Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel launched G-SAFAL (Gujarat Scheme for Antyodaya Families for Augmenting Livelihoods) initiative to support underprivileged Antyodaya families by promoting livelihoods and women’s empowerment. The scheme targets 50,000 Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) cardholder families across 25 talukas in 10 districts over five years. Implemented by Gujarat Livelihood Promotion Company Ltd., it provides financial aid, skill training, and social development support.

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The Make the World Wear Khadi campaign was launched by the Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. It aims to blend India’s textile heritage with global fashion trends and make Khadi a global brand. The campaign targets advertising professionals and freelancers from both domestic and international markets. It is part of the World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES). WAVES serves as a key platform for discussions, collaboration, and innovation in the media and entertainment (M&E) industry.

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A year-long “Cleanliness Drive” named Hnatlangpui was launched in Aizawl, Mizoram. It is a joint effort by the Urban Development & Poverty Alleviation Department, Aizawl Municipal Corporation (AMC), and the Central Young Mizo Association (CYMA). The initiative aims to keep Mizoram clean, with a focus on waste management in Aizawl through a “Comprehensive Plan for Municipal Waste Management.” A Monitoring Committee will oversee the campaign, chaired by the UD & PA Secretary. A ‘Common Biomedical Waste Treatment Facility’ will be set up for hospitals and healthcare centers. The campaign will run until March next year.

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The University Grants Commission (UGC) has released draft guidelines to integrate Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) into undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) courses. The Ministry of Education (MoE) introduced Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 to blend traditional Indian knowledge with modern education. The initiative promotes interdisciplinary research, preservation, and dissemination of IKS for research and societal use. It covers diverse fields like Arts, Literature, Agriculture, Basic Sciences, Engineering, Architecture, Management, and Economics.

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Prayagraj will become the site of Uttar Pradesh’s first Waste-to-Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) plant, the second such plant in India after Indore. The plant will generate Bio-CNG using straw, poultry litter, cow dung, and wet waste as raw materials. It will produce 21.5 tonnes of Bio-CNG, 200 tonnes of organic manure, and 30 metric tonnes of briquettes daily. The project follows a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model and will be supported by Adani Gas Limited, which will lay a pipeline to supply the fuel. The plant will use one-third of the city’s waste, saving about Rs 5 crore annually on waste disposal. The aim is to improve waste management, promote renewable energy, reduce pollution from stubble burning, and make city gas supply more affordable.

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In April 2025, strong protests erupted against the Sillahalla Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Project (SPSHEP) in Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu, led by farmers, tribal groups, and environmentalists. The project is proposed by Tamil Nadu Green Energy Corporation Limited (TNGECL) to generate 1,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity for meeting peak power demand and integrating renewable energy. It is located in the Tamil Nadu, specifically within the Nilgiris district. It includes two dams, tunnels of 2.8 km (head race) and 1.56 km (tail race), an underground powerhouse, and surface storage. Around 1,000 acres of farmland and 500 acres of forest may be submerged, affecting nearly 3,000 farmers. Landowners with joint pattas may not receive fair compensation, and earlier compensations for road projects remain pending. People are protesting due to fears of losing land, forests, and livelihoods

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Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurated the world’s 17th Athlete Passport Management Unit at the National Dope Testing Laboratory in New Delhi. The Athlete Passport Management Unit (APMU) is a dedicated unit to track athletes’ biological data over time. It works under the Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) system to detect doping trends and ensure fair sports practices. APMU helps protect clean sport by spotting unethical performance enhancement methods early.

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The National Hydro Power Corporation (NHPC) plans to generate power from the 2000 megawatt Lower Subansiri Hydroelectric Project (LSHP), raising concerns about its impact downstream in Assam. The LSHP is a run-of-the-river project built on the Subansiri River, a tributary of the Brahmaputra, at the border of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. It features a 116-meter-high concrete gravity dam from the riverbed and 130 meters from the foundation, with a length of 284 meters. The reservoir has a total storage capacity of 1.37 cubic kilometers. The powerhouse has eight surface-mounted 250 megawatt Francis turbines on the river’s left bank.

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As of March 2025, over 2.18 lakh Gram Panchayats (GPs) in India have become service-ready under the BharatNet project. BharatNet was launched by the Government of India in October 2011 under the Ministry of Communications. The project aims to provide affordable, high-speed internet access to every Gram Panchayat across the country. BharatNet is the world’s largest rural broadband connectivity initiative. The initiative is crucial for bridging the digital divide and enhancing access to online services in rural areas.