India Current Affairs [Nation & States] MCQs

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Uttar Pradesh (UP) Government has doubled the maintenance allowance for disabled students under the Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme from ₹2,000 to ₹4,000 per month. This hike will benefit 2,650 disabled students in 28 residential schools across the state. More than 50 lakh students benefit from UP’s scholarship and fee reimbursement programs yearly, including 14–15 lakh from the Scheduled Castes (SC). Students above 40 years are now ineligible for scholarships. Those passing high school from state boards outside UP are excluded, but CBSE and ICSE board students remain eligible. Students of UP campuses run by universities domiciled outside the state are also excluded.

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The Ministry of Education is offering free Artificial Intelligence (AI) courses on the SWAYAM Portal to meet rising AI skill demand. SWAYAM stands for Study Webs of Active–Learning for Young Aspiring Minds. It is India’s own MOOCs (Massive Open Online Course) platform launched in 2017 by the Ministry of Education (MoE). The portal aims to bridge the digital divide for students left out of the digital revolution and knowledge economy. It is an indigenously developed IT platform hosting courses from Class 9 to post-graduation. Courses are interactive, taught by top teachers, and available free of cost to residents in India.

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Recently, Indian Railways commissioned India’s longest railway viaduct – Katni Grade Separator in Katni, Madhya Pradesh at a cost of ₹1,800 crore. The project has a total length of 33.40 km, with a 15.85 km up grade separator commissioned and a 17.52 km down grade separator under construction. It was built using high-quality materials, modern technology, and advanced machinery. The inspection covered technical components like bridge girders, sleepers, bearings, joints, OHE line, and level crossings as per railway standards.

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Personnel of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Chhattisgarh Police, District Reserve Guard (DRG), and Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) were felicitated in New Delhi for ‘Operation Black Forest’. ‘Operation Black Forest’ is the biggest anti-Naxal operation ever on Karreguttalu hill along the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border. The operation destroyed a major Naxal base camp, including material dumps and supply chains, despite extreme heat, high altitude, and threats from improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The government aims to make India Naxal-free by March 31, 2026.

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Five persons were injured in a recent landslide at the Rattle Hydroelectric Project in Kishtwar, Jammu and Kashmir. It is an 850 MW run-of-river hydroelectric power plant on the Chenab River. The project is developed by Ratle Hydroelectric Power Corporation (RHPCL), a joint venture of Jammu & Kashmir State Power Development Corporation (JKSPDC) and National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC). National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) holds 51% and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation (JKSPDC) holds 49% equity.

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Engineers India Limited (EIL) announced the successful mechanical completion of India’s first bamboo-based biorefinery at Numaligarh, Assam. The project is being executed for Assam Bio Ethanol Private Limited (ABEPL). EIL executed the project in Engineering, Procurement, Construction Management (EPCM) mode directly from the demo stage. The milestone marks a major achievement in EIL’s six-decade journey of supporting India’s energy infrastructure. The biorefinery will boost ethanol supply for transport and enable production of value-added chemicals from by-products.

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Sawalkote Dam in Jammu and Kashmir is back in focus for India’s hydropower strategy. The Chenab is part of the Indus River system, with west-flowing rivers under Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) restrictions; the treaty is now in abeyance after the April 2025 Pahalgam attack. The Environment Ministry’s Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) will appraise National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) 1,865 MW project for environmental clearance (EC). The Sawalkote Project is a run-of-the-river hydroelectric power project on the Chenab River in Ramban and Udhampur districts of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Union Territory. Sawalkote aims to enhance power availability in the region, particularly during winter, reducing frequent electricity shortages.

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Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) report 2023 shows 807 river locations unfit for bathing, down from 815 in 2022. Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) monitors river health using Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD). A BOD above 3 mg/L indicates pollution and unfit for bathing. Polluted River Stretch (PRS) is defined as two consecutive locations exceeding the BOD criterion in a river. In 2023, 296 Polluted River Stretch (PRS) were recorded in 271 rivers. In 2022, there were 311 PRS in 279 rivers. Maharashtra had 54 PRS, followed by Kerala 31, Madhya Pradesh and Manipur 18 each, and Karnataka 14.

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The DRAVYA portal (Digitized Retrieval Application for Versatile Yardstick of AYUSH Substances) was launched on National Ayurveda Day, September 23, 2025. It is an initiative of the Ministry of Ayush. The portal is the largest publicly accessible collection of data on Ayurvedic ingredients and products. It combines information from classical Ayurveda textbooks, contemporary scientific literature, and field studies. DRAVYA is an ever-growing and evolving database, providing researchers, practitioners, and the public with reliable, comprehensive, and easily accessible knowledge. The portal strengthens Ayurveda research, standardization, and global outreach.

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Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav launched the Native Food Matters initiative at Govardhan Eco Village in Palghar, Maharashtra. He highlighted e-waste as a major challenge and praised the Eco Village for saving energy, conserving water, and promoting sustainable living. The initiative focuses on reviving traditional grains like millets for better health and environmental benefits. Awareness drives include Meri Maati Meri Thaali and Poshan Sakha-Sakhi to spread the message. As a pilot, local food varieties are being documented, seasonal vegetables mapped, and a special Palghar Thali introduced at the community café.