India Current Affairs [Nation & States] MCQs

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Recently, the PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan Dissemination Portal was launched to share open data on student performance at National and State levels. It will help States and Union Territories design plans to improve learning outcomes and close skill gaps. PARAKH stands for Performance Assessment, Review and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development. It was set up under National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT). It aims to set norms, standards, and guidelines for student assessments as per National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. It brings all State and Union Territory school boards onto a common platform.

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Recently, the new Carnac Bridge was inaugurated in Mumbai and renamed as Sindoor Bridge on July 10, 2025. The renaming honors the success of Operation Sindoor and aims to erase the oppressive legacy of British Governor Carnac. The name change was inspired by historical writings highlighting Carnac’s conspiracies against Indian rulers like Pratap Singh Raje Chhatrapati. The old Carnac Bridge, built in 1868, was declared unsafe and demolished in 2022 after a structural audit.

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Recently, the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) announced the rollout of the “Saheli Smart Card” to replace the current “pink ticket” system for free bus travel. The card will provide free travel to women and transgender persons, but only for verified residents of Delhi. The move aims to increase accountability and stop revenue leakages in the subsidy system. Unlike the earlier system where pink tickets were given without verification, the Saheli Smart Card uses a targeted digital subsidy model. The initiative is part of Delhi’s broader plan to modernise its Automated Fare Collection (AFC) infrastructure.

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Recently, the Election Commission of India (ECI) launched a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar, highlighting concerns around electoral inclusion for migrant populations. The focus is on balancing electoral roll integrity and inclusive democratic participation. Under Section 19 of the Representation of the People Act (RPA), 1950, only an ‘ordinarily resident’ can be enrolled in a constituency’s electoral roll. Section 20 of the RPA clarifies that just owning a house does not make one an ordinarily resident. A person temporarily away for work or travel is still considered ordinarily resident at their regular home.

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Recently, Gujarat launched India’s first Tribal Genome Sequencing Project to study genetic diseases among tribal communities. Genome sequencing of 2,000 individuals from various tribal groups across 17 districts will be conducted. The main goal is to detect the burden of hereditary diseases like sickle cell anemia and thalassemia. The project will bridge traditional knowledge and modern science for tribal health welfare. It will be implemented by the Gujarat Biotechnology Research Center (GBRC).

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Madhya Pradesh (MP) is leading in implementing the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA). The Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA) is effectively implemented in 88 tribal blocks across 20 districts. This initiative empowers tribal communities to resolve disputes locally through traditional Chaupals, reducing reliance on police stations. In 2025, MP received national recognition from the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, featured in a special success stories booklet. More than 8,000 local disputes, including family and land issues, have been resolved through community-led justice.

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Recently, the Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) informed the Rajya Sabha about the India Skills Accelerator initiative. It is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and the World Economic Forum (WEF). It aims to bridge skill gaps through inclusive upskilling and reskilling. It promotes lifelong learning investment and government-industry collaboration. It serves as a national public-private platform to solve complex challenges through multi-stakeholder efforts.

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Recently, India achieved 20% ethanol blending in petrol in 2025, five years ahead of the 2030 target. This success is part of the Ethanol Blended Petrol Programme (EBP Programme). The EBP Programme was launched in January 2003 by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoP&NG). It aims to promote environment-friendly alternative fuels and reduce crude oil import dependency.

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Recently, Telangana Police rescued over 7,600 children under the nationwide Operation Muskaan-XI initiative. The month-long drive ended on 31st July and was led by the Women Safety Wing. It was conducted in coordination with the Women Development and Child Welfare Department, Labour Department, health officials, NGOs, and child protection units. Out of the rescued children, 529 were girls.

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The West Bengal government launched the Amader Para Amader Samadhan (Our Neighbourhood, Our Solution) programme on 2nd August 2025. It aims to deliver governance directly to people’s doorsteps. It is a flagship initiative to promote participatory governance and fast-track local problem-solving. The main goal is on-the-spot grievance resolution by connecting citizens with officials. The programme will run till 3rd November 2025.