India Current Affairs [Nation & States] MCQs

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Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) launched the Digital India Common Service Centre (DICSC) project to reduce the digital divide in rural India. The project begins in Pilibhit and Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, providing access to e-governance, financial, and commercial services. A total of 4,740 model DICSC centers will be set up in gram panchayats across 10 districts nationwide. Pilibhit will have 720 centers, Gorakhpur 1,273, and other districts include Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (870), Chamba (309), Khammam (589), Gandhinagar (288), Mamit (100), Jodhpur (415), Leh (95), and Puducherry (81).

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The Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister urged the Central government to consider running green hydrogen trains on the Kalka-Shimla Railway (KSR). KSR is a narrow-gauge railway from Kalka (Haryana) to Shimla (Himachal Pradesh). It was built in 1898 to connect Shimla, then the British summer capital, to the Indian rail network. The 96 km line, opened in 1903, is known as the “toy train” and includes 18 stations, 102 tunnels, and over 850 bridges. The line climbs from 655 m to 2,076 m altitude, showcasing remarkable engineering with the Kanoh multi-arch bridge and Barog tunnel. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008, it holds a Guinness World Record for its steep ascent.

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Power generation at the controversial Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project is set to begin next year. The project is a gravity dam under construction on the Subansiri River, located on the borders of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. It is a run-of-river hydroelectric project and will be the largest in India once completed. The dam will be 116 meters high from the river bed and 130 meters from the foundation, with a length of 284 meters. Developed by National Hydro Power Corporation (NHPC), the project will generate 2,000 MW from eight 250 MW units upon completion.

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Delhi and surrounding areas are experiencing severe smog, with the AQI exceeding 400, classifying the air quality as “Severe.” The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) called this a “episodic event” and expects conditions to improve soon. To tackle the pollution, Stage III of the Graded Action Response Plan (GRAP) has been enforced. GRAP has four stages, with Stage III applied when AQI reaches 401-450 (Severe air quality). CAQM, along with the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC), oversees GRAP implementation.

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Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, will have India’s first night safari at Kukrail Night Safari Park and Wildlife Centre. The 900-acre park will offer both night and day safaris, promoting eco-tourism and wildlife conservation. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath targets project completion by June 2026 with a focus on sustainability and solar energy. The initiative aims to boost tourism and provide a unique wildlife experience for visitors. Kukrail will be the fifth night safari destination globally.

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Oxford University’s Saïd Business School, in collaboration with the Gates Foundation, highlighted PRAGATI’s role in transforming India’s infrastructure project delivery. PRAGATI (Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation) is a multi-purpose platform addressing public grievances and monitoring key projects. Launched on March 25, 2015, it was designed in-house by the PMO with support from the National Informatics Center (NIC). It integrates digital data management, video conferencing, and geospatial technology for real-time interactions. PRAGATI promotes cooperative federalism by bringing Central and State officials together for efficient decision-making and monitoring ground-level issues.

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The government launched the SHe-Box portal, a centralized system to address and monitor workplace sexual harassment complaints. Developed by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, it serves as a complaint registration and monitoring platform. It includes a public repository of Internal Committees (ICs) and Local Committees (LCs) in workplaces across government and private sectors. Workplaces must designate nodal officers to update data for real-time monitoring of complaints. The portal aligns with the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013, ensuring inquiries are completed within 90 days. It ensures safer workplaces and supports women with a reliable grievance mechanism.

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The Rajya Sabha passed the Bharatiya Vayuyan Vidheyak 2024, replacing the Aircraft Act, 1934, with the Lok Sabha’s prior approval. The Bill regulates aircraft design, manufacture, operation, sale, and related matters while retaining the core structure of the Aircraft Act. Certification for the Radiotelephone Operator’s Restricted certificate shifts from the Department of Telecom to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), streamlining aviation processes. DGCA gains expanded powers to regulate aircraft design and related facilities. A second level of appeal for penalty adjudications ensures better grievance redressal.

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The central government has abolished the no-detention policy for classes 5 and 8, allowing schools to retain students who fail annual exams. This change affects over 3,000 central government schools, including Kendriya Vidyalayas and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas. The policy was part of the 2009 Right to Education (RTE) Act. The new policy, notified on December 16, mandates remedial instruction and re-examinations for failed students. Schools must offer additional teaching and re-examination within two months. At least 18 states and Union Territories had already removed the no-detention policy after the 2019 RTE amendment.

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In 2024, the Ministry of Tourism focused on infrastructure, sustainable tourism, global promotion, and skill development through initiatives like Swadesh Darshan 2.0, PRASHAD, and SASCI. Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD2.0) sanctioned 76 projects worth ₹5287.90 Crore, with 75 completed. The PRASHAD (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive) scheme sanctioned 48 projects worth ₹1646.99 crore, with 23 completed. Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) supported 40 projects with ₹3295.76 crore to develop iconic tourist centers across 23 states. Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD2.0) aims for responsible tourism development with a tourist-centric approach.