India Current Affairs [Nation & States] MCQs

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Recently, Lucknow became Uttar Pradesh’s first “Zero Dump City” with all three units of the Shivri waste treatment plant fully operational. The plant now processes 2100 metric tons of waste daily and has cleared two-thirds of the old waste mound. A ₹96 crore project began in 2023 under Swachh Bharat Mission by Lucknow Municipal Corporation. Pune-based Bhumi Green Energy took over in January 2024, using microbial culture and air drying methods. Each unit handles 700 metric tons per day. Waste is separated into fine soil for farming, Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) for cement and paper industries, coarse materials for land reclamation, and construction debris for infrastructure.

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Recently, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) launched the Sanchar Mitra Scheme nationwide to empower youth as digital ambassadors. The scheme targets student volunteers, called Sanchar Mitras, to spread awareness on telecom-related issues. Sanchar Mitras will educate people about digital safety, cyber fraud prevention, and Electromagnetic Field (EMF) radiation concerns. They will also promote responsible mobile usage and digital literacy. The scheme provides students exposure to advanced telecom technologies like 5G, 6G, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Cyber Security.

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Kaushal Mela 2025 was held in Lucknow on World Youth Skills Day at Indira Gandhi Pratishthan. The event aimed to promote vocational training, skill development, and self-reliance among the youth of Uttar Pradesh. It showcased the Uttar Pradesh Skill Development Mission (UPSDM), a state initiative launched in Financial Year (FY) 2017-18. Uttar Pradesh Skill Development Mission (UPSDM) provides free, job-oriented training to youth aged 14 to 35 years.

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Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi launched the Shaktishree Programme in Bhubaneswar to ensure safety of girl students. The programme will cover 16 universities and 730 government and aided colleges under the Higher Education Department of Odisha. It includes 8 components such as self-defence training, legal awareness, and mental health support for undergraduate and postgraduate girls. Every institution will have a Shaktishree Empowerment Cell run by girl students (Shaktishree Saathi), guided by a woman faculty (Sanyojika), and mentored by 5 working women (Shakti Appa).

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Recently, the Uttar Pradesh Government launched the Human Resource Management System (HRMS) portal for ‘Udyami Mitras’ to improve investor support and internal efficiency. It is a cloud-based digital platform integrated with the state’s Nivesh Sarathi portal. The HRMS portal automates human resource (HR) functions such as attendance, leave management, payroll processing, and Form-16 generation. It offers real-time access to employee records for better transparency and administrative control. Udyami Mitras act as key facilitators between investors and the government to boost industrial growth. They help investors in identifying suitable land for setting up projects.

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Recently, the Central government documented cultural heritage of over 4.7 lakh villages under ‘Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar’ (MGMD) initiative. Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar is a pan-India initiative of Ministry of Culture under National Mission on Cultural Mapping (NMCM). It was launched on 27th July 2023 as part of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’. The aim is to digitally map 6.5 lakh villages across all States and Union Territories. The project promotes rural culture, economic growth, social harmony, and artistic development. It is implemented by Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA).

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The All India Football Federation (AIFF) and Government of Telangana signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to set up India’s first FIFA Talent Academy for girls. The academy will be located at the Gachibowli Stadium Complex in Hyderabad, Telangana. The MoU was signed during the Telangana Sports Conclave. AIFF will manage operations, technical framework, talent scouting, and training curriculum in coordination with Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). The Sports Authority of Telangana (SATG) will handle infrastructure, logistics, education, finances, and welfare.

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Central government recently urged all states to actively use the India Cine Hub Portal to promote global film production locally. India Cine Hub Portal was launched on June 28, 2024 by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. It is a single-window system for film permissions, incentives, and resource mapping across India. It was developed under the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC). Its aim is to help foreign filmmakers shoot films in India by easing procedures and promoting India as a filming destination.

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Recently, the Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs informed the Rajya Sabha about the success of the Madak-Padarth Nished Asoochna Kendra (MANAS) Helpline-1933. It was launched on 18 July 2024 by Ministry of Home Affairs. It aims to fight drug menace and enable anonymous reporting of drug trafficking, illicit cultivation, and related crimes. It is a secure, bilingual digital platform offering a confidential multi-channel interface. Citizens can report drug crimes, seek counselling via Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (MoSJE) Helpline 14446, and access awareness resources. It also engages citizens in Drug-Free Bharat activities via quizzes, posters, and contests on MyGov.

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National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), in collaboration with Vertis Infrastructure Trust, launched ‘Project Aarohan’ to support the education of children of toll plaza employees. It aims to remove financial barriers, bridge socio-economic gaps, and provide quality education to students from Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBC), minority communities, and first-generation learners. The project will support 500 students from Class 11 to graduation with annual scholarships of Rs. 12,000 each. Fifty bright students aspiring for postgraduate studies will receive scholarships of Rs. 50,000 each. Project Aarohan combines financial aid with mentorship, skill-building workshops, career guidance, and long-term progress tracking.