India Current Affairs [Nation & States] MCQs

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Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced one per cent reservation for orphans in education and government jobs. He called the decision a “historic milestone” and a step towards social justice and equal opportunity. The policy was first introduced during his earlier term in 2018. The initiative is guided by Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar’s vision of equal access for all sections of society.

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Controller General of Communication Accounts (CGCA) Smt. Vandana Gupta inaugurated onboarding of MTNL employees retiring in November 2025 onto the SAMPANN pension portal at the Principal CCA Office, Delhi. The initiative covers 45,939 MTNL pensioners from Delhi and Mumbai, including current and past retirees, and will enable fully digital pension processing from December 2025. SAMPANN (System for Accounting and Management of Pension) is a Comprehensive Pension Management System (CPMS). It is an online pension processing and payment system for Department of Telecommunications pensioners under the Ministry of Communications.

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The Union Cabinet has approved the Atomic Energy Bill, 2025, branded as SHANTI (Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India), marking the biggest reform in India’s nuclear sector in over six decades. The Bill ends the long-standing monopoly of the Department of Atomic Energy and allows private sector participation in atomic minerals, fuel fabrication, equipment manufacturing, and parts of nuclear plant operations. It will consolidate existing laws, replace outdated provisions of the Atomic Energy Act, 1962, and create a modern, unified legal framework for faster nuclear expansion. An independent nuclear safety authority is proposed to strengthen regulation, transparency, and alignment with global safety standards.

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Union Minister for Rural Development and Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Shri Shivraj Singh Chauhan, introduced the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) or VB–G RAM G Bill, 2025, in the Lok Sabha. The Bill provides a statutory guarantee of 125 days of wage employment every year for rural households. It aims to ensure welfare of the poor and promote comprehensive village development in line with Mahatma Gandhi’s vision of self-reliant and developed villages. The central government has committed over ₹95,000 crore for this initiative. Panchayats will be graded, with additional work assigned to underdeveloped or underperforming panchayats to ensure balanced development.

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The National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID) has been linked to the National Population Register (NPR) to strengthen intelligence gathering and speed up criminal investigations. NATGRID is a real-time intelligence and data-access platform developed after the 26/11 Mumbai attacks (2008) to enable seamless information-sharing among security and enforcement agencies. It functions under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and consolidates over 20 categories of civil and commercial data, including bank transactions, telecom usage, passport and immigration records, tax IDs, police FIRs (CCTNS), and other e-governance sources.

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Telangana government launched a “Metropolitan Exposure” initiative for isolated Adivasi communities. The program targets residents of remote tribal hamlets, such as Kummarikunta in Utnoor Mandal, Adilabad. The tour to Hyderabad will introduce residents to historical heritage, modern infrastructure, Metro Rail, and professional sports facilities. The initiative aims to bridge the socio-economic gap and inspire youth to engage with the wider world. Adults are encouraged to learn basic literacy to protect against exploitation. The initiative aligns with the “Cultural Exchange” policy to preserve tribal heritage while ensuring equal access to progress.

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Gujarat Government led by Chief Minister (CM) Bhupendra Patel approved the Indian Artificial Intelligence Research Organization (IAIRO) at Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City), Gandhinagar. Gujarat became the first state in India to establish a national Artificial Intelligence (AI) research institution under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. IAIRO will start operations on 1 January 2026 as a non-profit under Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013. It will follow a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model via State Government, Central Government and Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA).

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Recently, the Chief of Defence Staff inaugurated a major runway upgrade at the Indian Air Force base on Car Nicobar Island. Car Nicobar Island is part of the Nicobar district in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Union Territory. It is the northernmost island of the Nicobar group, lying south of Little Andaman and north of Nancowry Island. The Ten Degree Channel separates the Andaman Islands and Nicobar Islands near the island. Despite its small size of under 127 square kilometres, it holds nearly half of Nicobar’s population and serves as the district headquarters.

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The Ministry of Women and Child Development launched the PANKHUDI Portal on 8 January 2026. It is an integrated Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and partnership facilitation digital platform. PANKHUDI brings together government, citizens, Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), and corporates. It supports sectors like nutrition, health, Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE), child protection, and women empowerment. It strengthens Mission Saksham Anganwadi & Poshan 2.0, Mission Vatsalya, and Mission Shakti.

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Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel inaugurated a cancer screening mobile unit called ‘Asha Van’ in Gandhinagar. The van is equipped with EVA-Pro diagnostics, a mammography unit, and expert teleconsultation facilities for early detection and diagnosis of cancer. It can screen for 10 types of cancer, including lung, oral, blood, cervical, pancreatic, liver, breast, and prostate cancers, using ultra-modern equipment at any location. The initiative supports Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Health and Wellness for All’, particularly benefiting rural areas.