India Current Affairs [Nation & States] MCQs

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Uttarakhand Chief Minister recently inaugurated the ‘Ahilya Smriti Marathon – Ek Virasat, Ek Sankalp’ and the ‘Pratham Gaja Ghantakarna Mahotsav-2025’ to highlight the state’s cultural richness. The Ahilya Smriti Marathon took place in Dehradun as part of a heritage-themed event. The theme of the marathon, “Ek Virasat – Ek Sankalp” (One Heritage, One Resolution), promotes unity and pride in Uttarakhand’s traditions. The event aimed to raise awareness about health, social harmony, and cultural identity. These initiatives connect the state’s cultural heritage with ongoing development efforts and public participation.

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Odisha government launched ANKUR – Atal Network for Knowledge, Urbanisation and Reforms – to drive smart and citizen-friendly urban growth. The Housing and Urban Development (H&UD) Department signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with six key organisations to support this initiative. ANKUR aims to build resilient, livable, and future-ready cities as Odisha’s urban population is expected to triple by 2036. It supports four pillars – capacity building, knowledge and research, implementation support, and innovation – and aligns with the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.

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The Department of Posts has launched DHRUVA, which stands for Digital Hub for Reference and Unique Virtual Address. It marks a major step toward building a nationwide Digital Address Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI). DHRUVA provides a geo-coded, standard, and interoperable digital address system. It aims to make address-related services simple, secure, and consent-based across government and private sectors. The core idea is Address-as-a-Service (AaaS), which allows users to manage their address data efficiently and with control.

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Raja Khas village in Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh, has been declared the state’s first solar model village under the Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana. All public institutions like schools, panchayat office, health centres, anganwadis, and community halls have been solarized. It promotes clean energy, rural self-reliance, and serves as a model for green transition in hilly areas.

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Recently, the Indian Army launched Operation Shiva in Jammu and Kashmir to ensure full security for the 38-day-long Amarnath Yatra beginning on July 3, 2025. This sacred pilgrimage to the Amarnath Cave shrine at 3,888 meters attracts thousands of devotees every year. The Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) introduced Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) cards for tracking pilgrims.

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Indian Railways has started building the first dedicated maintenance depot for Vande Bharat Express trains at Bhagat Ki Kothi in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. This is the first of five such depots planned across India to support the country’s fastest trains. The depot will maintain Vande Bharat trains from different regions of India. It will be 600 meters long and include three pit lines to service three trains at the same time. The project is led by Jodhpur Railway Division and is expected to be operational by the end of 2025.

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Recently, Uttarakhand launched the country’s first yoga policy on International Yoga Day at Bhararisain in Gairsain, the summer capital of the state. The policy aims to establish Uttarakhand as a global capital for yoga and wellness. A grant of up to ₹10 lakh is also provided to promote research in yoga, meditation, and naturopathy. The state plans to set up five new yoga hubs by the year 2030. By March 2026, yoga services will be available at all AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy) Health and Wellness Centres in Uttarakhand.

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Recently, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR), under Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, launched a Training of Trainers (ToT) programme. It aims to boost the financial independence of Panchayats by improving their ability to generate Own Source Revenue (OSR). The programme is being run under the Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) with support from the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad.

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Recently, the Passport Seva Portal faced major server issues, causing disruptions at Passport Seva Kendras (PSKs) across India. The Passport Seva Portal was set up by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in partnership with Tata Consultancy Services as a Public-Private Partnership. It helps citizens easily apply for or renew their passports from home. The portal is user-friendly and offers several passport-related services online.

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The Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) recently recommended flushing 17 harmful drugs down the sink to avoid risks to people and pets. These drugs include narcotics like Fentanyl, Tramadol (a painkiller), and Diazepam (an anti-anxiety medicine). CDSCO is the Central Drug Authority under the Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.