India Current Affairs [Nation & States] MCQs

Notes:
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) announced a 100% conviction rate for 2024, convicting 68 individuals in 25 high-profile cases. The NIA arrested 210 individuals across 80 cases, with 28 involving Left Wing Extremism and 18 related to North East insurgency. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) was established in 2008 after the Mumbai terror attacks to combat terrorism. The agency operates under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, with its headquarters in New Delhi, led by the Director-General.

Notes:
Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) and the Drugs Control Directorate, West Bengal, seized spurious drugs worth ₹6.6 crore in a Kolkata raid. The owner of the wholesale firm was arrested in connection with the case. CDSCO is India’s National Regulatory Authority (NRA) for the medical devices industry. It operates under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and enforces the Drugs & Cosmetics Rules. The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) heads the CDSCO. CDSCO’s headquarters are in New Delhi.

Notes:
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) launched a cashless treatment scheme for road accident victims. The scheme will cover all road accidents caused by motor vehicles, implemented through an IT platform combining eDAR and NHA systems. A pilot program, started in Chandigarh in 2024 and expanded to six states, focused on providing timely medical care during the golden hour. Initiatives include Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) for trucks, E-Rickshaw safety guidelines, vehicle tracking devices, and driver training institutes. Faceless services for vehicle registration and monitoring will be standardized nationwide by March 2025.

Notes:
The Himachal Pradesh government approved renaming the Himachal Pradesh Institute of Public Administration (HIPA) to Dr. Manmohan Singh Himachal Pradesh Institute of Public Administration. This honors Dr. Singh’s contributions to national and state development. The Cabinet acknowledged his transformative role during his tenure as Prime Minister and Union Finance Minister.

Notes:
The Koraga tribe, a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG), is facing a declining population. They primarily reside in Dakshin Kannada and Udupi districts of Karnataka and Kasargod district of Kerala. Koragas speak Tulu, but have their own distinct language. The tribe is divided into 17 exogamous clans or “bali.” Traditionally, they are agriculturists and depend on forest produce for basketry. Their culture involves folk dances, rituals, and songs to appease deities and ensure good harvests. The Koraga practice a matrilineal system with equal inheritance between sons and daughters. They worship Bhuta deities through rituals like Bhuta Kola.

Notes:
The Government of Tripura signed an MoU with Digital India Bhashini Division (DIBD) under MeitY to promote regional languages in governance. Bhashini, part of the Digital India initiative, enables real-time translation, speech-to-text, and voice-to-voice communication in 22 Indian languages. Bhashini will integrate with CM Helpline, eVidhan, Kisan Sahayata App, e-Districts, Amar Sarkar, and CCTNS for multilingual governance. Tripura becomes the first northeastern and eastern Indian state, and the eighth overall, to sign an MoU with Bhashini.

Notes:
The Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs informed the Rajya Sabha about the National Youth Parliament Scheme (NYPS) 2.0. The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs launched the National Youth Parliament Scheme (NYPS) 2.O. The scheme aims to strengthen democracy, promote discipline, tolerance, and awareness of parliamentary practices. The NYPS 2.0 web portal allows citizens to participate through three categories. Under Institution Participation, schools (Kishore Sabha) and colleges (Tarun Sabha) can organize Youth Parliament sessions. Group Participation allows groups to conduct sessions following portal guidelines, while Individual Participation enables citizens to take a quiz on ‘Bhartiya Democracy in Action.’

Notes:
Gujarat appointed a panel to draft the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), led by retired Supreme Court judge Ranjana Desai. The five-member panel includes experts from different fields. The panel is expected to submit its report within 45 days. This move aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of implementing UCC for equal rights. Gujarat becomes one of the active states working on UCC legal reforms.

Notes:
India’s first vertical bi-facial solar plant was inaugurated at Okhla Vihar Metro station, New Delhi by Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs & Power. A 1MW rooftop solar plant was installed at Khyber Pass depot. The bi-facial solar panels capture sunlight from both sides and use metro viaducts for power generation without occupying extra land.

Notes:
Forest rights activists and lawyers raised concerns over Madhya Pradesh’s order for surveillance of nomadic tribes, including the Pardhi community. Pardhis are a nomadic tribe historically involved in hunting since the Mughal era. They were hired for hunting by the British and Indian landlords. They primarily live in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, with small groups in Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh. The name “Pardhi” comes from “paradh,” meaning hunter in Marathi.