India Current Affairs [Nation & States] MCQs

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Union Home Minister launched the Fast Track Immigration – Trusted Traveller Program (FTI-TTP) at seven major Indian airports: Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kochi, and Ahmedabad. The program, part of the Viksit Bharat@2047 vision, was first introduced in Delhi in June 2024. FTI-TTP aims to provide seamless, secure, and world-class immigration facilities for travellers.

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Around 100 tribal people from Pulicat will receive training in pearl spot culture, crab fattening, and clownfish aquaculture, organized by the National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources (NBFGR). NBFGR was established in 1983 under Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), focuses on fish germplasm conservation. Its infrastructure was set up in Lucknow in 1999. NBFGR’s vision includes the sustainable utilization and conservation of fish genetic resources. The bureau works on documenting fish diversity, developing databases, genotyping, and genebanking to support fish population health and sustainability.

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CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu inaugurated India’s first paragliding school at Bir-Billing, Himachal Pradesh, on January 25. The Himachal Pradesh Tourism Department built the Rs 8 crore facility three years ago, but operations were delayed due to missing regulations. Paragliding regulations are now finalized, allowing training to begin. Funded by the Ministry of Tourism in 2015 under CM Virbhadra Singh, the school will train over 100 youths annually. Instructors are being appointed to ensure high-quality training. The initiative aims to boost tourism and safety, as 30 pilots and tourists lost their lives in accidents over the past decade.

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Andhra Pradesh launched ‘Mana Mitra’, India’s first WhatsApp-based governance platform. It provides 161 civil services, making government services easily accessible. Citizens can avail public services directly via WhatsApp, enhancing digital governance. Developed in collaboration with Meta, the platform marks a major innovation in service delivery. More services will be added in the future to further improve accessibility.

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Tribhuvan Sahkari University Bill, 2025 was introduced in Lok Sabha to establish India’s first national cooperative university at Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA) in Gujarat. The university is declared an institution of national importance and focuses on education, training, and research in the cooperative sector. It aims to develop skilled professionals for managerial, technical, and administrative roles in cooperatives. It will have sector-specific schools for dairy, fishery, banking, rural credit, and more. Affiliated colleges will be set up nationwide. Digital learning will be integrated with the SWAYAM e-learning platform.

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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.

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Fort William in Kolkata, headquarters of the Eastern Army Command, has been renamed Vijay Durg. It was built by the British in 1773. It was named after King William III of England. The fort is located on the Hooghly River’s eastern bank and is now owned by the Indian Army. Originally built in 1696 by the English East India Company, it was known as the “black hole of Calcutta” after prisoners were held there. After being attacked in 1756, it was rebuilt by Robert Clive following the Battle of Plassey. The octagonal fort spans 70.9 acres and features arched windows and meticulous stonework.

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Bhopal has banned begging in all public places, following Indore’s similar move. The district collector issued orders prohibiting both begging and giving alms. Violators may face FIRs and legal action under section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023. Disobeying the order can lead to imprisonment of up to six months or a fine of up to ₹2,500. If disobedience causes danger, imprisonment may extend to one year with a fine of ₹5,000. The Bombay Prevention of Beggary Act, 1959, was the first anti-begging law in India. In 2018, the Delhi High Court decriminalized begging.

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Tehri Hydro Development Corporation India Ltd (THDCIL) started commercial operations of a 660-MW unit at Khurja Super Thermal Power Plant in Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh. This marks THDCIL’s entry into the domestic thermal energy sector. The plant has a total capacity of 1,320 MW (2×660 MW) with an investment of ₹13,000 crore. The second unit is expected to start operations soon. The plant is equipped with modern technologies like Flue Gas Desulfurization (FGD) to enhance power generation while ensuring environmental sustainability.

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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launched the first edition of the “Sashakt Bharat” magazine in New Delhi. The magazine features poems on the bravery and sacrifices of Armed Forces personnel. It includes articles on government policies written by Ministry of Defence employees. The initiative promotes inclusivity by allowing contributions from all ranks.