India Current Affairs [Nation & States] MCQs

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The Union Health Ministry has introduced Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for transporting organs across India using air, road, rail, and waterways. These guidelines ensure efficient transport when donors and recipients are in different locations. Airlines can request priority for takeoff and landing, assist medical personnel with check-ins, and notify airports for smooth arrivals. Flight crews may announce organ transport, and staff will help move the organ box from the aircraft to ambulances.

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KVIC and the Department of Posts are collaborating to enhance the implementation of PMEGP across India. PMEGP is a central scheme under the Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises. It aims to create employment in rural and urban areas by supporting new self-employment ventures. The scheme helps traditional artisans and unemployed youth to find work locally, reducing rural-to-urban migration. It also aims to increase the wage-earning capacity of workers and boost employment growth in rural and urban areas.

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The Tribal Health Resource Centre in BR Hills, Karnataka, launched Kaanu, a South Indian Adivasi Knowledge Centre, on August 25. “Kaanu” means “evergreen forest” in Kannada and Soliga. Kaanu aims to be the first knowledge center dedicated to the past, present, and culture of South Indian Adivasi communities. It will have three branches: a library, an annotated bibliography, and a co-written book. The Kaanu Library will be inaugurated, and the bibliography will be available online in September. This initiative was started by Adivasi leaders, scholars, and researchers with long-term connections to these communities.

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The Ministry of Education defined ‘literacy’ and ‘full literacy’ under the New India Literacy Programme (NILP). NILP aims to promote literacy among people aged 15 and above across India. It is a centrally sponsored scheme with a budget of Rs. 1037.90 crore for 2022-2027. The goal is to onboard one crore learners annually. NILP has five components: foundational literacy, critical life skills, basic education, vocational skills, and continuing education. Beneficiaries are identified through door-to-door surveys and mobile app registration. The scheme relies on volunteers for teaching and uses online resources on the DIKSHA platform.

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Assam has identified around 1.2 lakh people as ‘D’ (Dubious or Doubtful) voters, with 41,583 declared as foreigners. The D-Voter concept is specific to Assam, where migration and citizenship are major political issues. It was introduced in Assam in 1997. D-Voters are those who cannot prove their Indian nationality. People with questionable or disputed citizenship were marked as D-Voters during the National Register of Citizens (NRC) preparation. The term ‘Doubtful voter’ is not defined in the Citizenship Act of 1955 or the Citizenship Rules of 2003. The Citizenship Rules of 2003 outline the process for creating the National Population Register and National Register of Indian Citizens.

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The Ministry of Panchayati Raj and IIM Amritsar conducted a five-day Management Development Programme. The program ran from 2nd to 6th September 2024. It included Elected Representatives and Functionaries of Panchayati Raj Institutions from ten states. Participants came from Arunachal Pradesh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. The aim was to strengthen leadership, management, and governance skills. The initiative focused on improving local governance and enhancing Panchayat services. The program supported the vision of a developed India.

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The Ministry of Labor and Employment has approved the Centralized Pension Payment System (CPPS) for the Employees’ Pension Scheme. CPPS will create a national system allowing pensioners to receive their pensions from any bank branch across India. Currently, the pension system is decentralized, with each regional EPFO office working with only a few banks. CPPS will be launched as part of EPFO’s Centralized IT Enabled System (CITES 2.01) on January 1, 2025. In the future, CPPS will support a transition to an Aadhaar-based payment system (ABPS).

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Since its launch in 2021, over 1,400 accessibility complaints have been lodged through the Sugamya Bharat mobile app, with 75% resolved. The app is an initiative by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment’s Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD). It helps people with disabilities and the elderly report accessibility issues in public infrastructure, transportation, and buildings. Complaints are filed using geotagged photos, sent to relevant authorities. The app will soon be upgraded with AI features, including a chatbot and multilingual interface. Partnerships with Mission Accessibility and I-STEM support the app’s development.

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Nagaland has approved the implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) in Chumoukedima, Niuland, and Dimapur districts.
ILP is an official travel document issued by the government, allowing Indian citizens to enter protected areas for a limited time. It regulates movement near India’s international borders and protects tribal cultures in northeastern states. ILP originates from the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulations of 1873. There are ILP types for tourists and longer stays, like employment. States under ILP include Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Manipur.

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India’s first Vande Metro train was renamed as ‘Namo Bharat Rapid Rail.’ The train was launched during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Gujarat. It was equipped with modern facilities and advanced safety systems like KAVACH to prevent collisions. The train also had an automatic smoke/fire detection mechanism and a seating capacity of 1,150 passengers. Additional features included cushioned sofas, Divyangjan-friendly toilets, and meal services. The Namo Bharat Rapid Rail distinguished itself from the Vande Bharat Express with its advanced amenities and comfort provisions for passengers.