India Current Affairs [Nation & States] MCQs

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Maharashtra has launched a hedging desk in Pune to help farmers lock in prices, reduce risks, and boost incomes under the SMART Project, which stands for Balasaheb Thackeray Agribusiness and Rural Transformation Project. The desk will first cover cotton, turmeric, and maize crops to protect farmers from market price fluctuations. The initiative will expand to include more crops in the future. It is supported by the National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange and its research wing National Institute of Commodity Research (NICR).

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The Central Adoption Resource Authority recently clarified that adoptive parents do not need hard copies of adoption orders as digitally certified copies sent by e-mail are legally valid. The Central Adoption Resource Authority is a statutory body under the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India. It was set up in 1990 as an autonomous body. Under Section 68 of the Juvenile Justice Care and Protection of Children Act 2015, it became a statutory body. It is the nodal agency to monitor and regulate adoption of Indian children within the country and abroad.

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Recently, the Maharashtra government declared ‘Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav’ as the official state festival. The announcement was made by Cultural Affairs Minister Ashish Shelar in the Legislative Assembly. Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav was started by Lokmanya Tilak in 1893 to promote social unity and nationalism. The festival symbolizes freedom, self-respect, pride in language, and cultural identity. It continues to be a powerful expression of Maharashtra’s cultural heritage. The government aims to preserve, promote, and celebrate Ganeshotsav across the state and the nation.

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Recently, the Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode (IIMK) launched the ‘Gyanodaya’ Centre for Pedagogical Innovation and Publishing. This initiative is part of IIMK’s Vision 2047 and supports the goals of the National Education Policy (NEP). The main aim is to reform management education through innovative teaching methods. The centre will create and publish academic materials like case studies and books. It plans to blend Indian traditional knowledge with global educational practices. Gyanodaya will run its own manuscript platform named ‘Pandulipi’. It will promote collaboration among learners, authors, and educational institutions.

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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 Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) recently approved the recruitment of 58,000 more personnel for the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). This move prepares CISF for securing future industrial hubs in Left Wing Extremism (LWE)-affected areas. CISF is a Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) under the Ministry of Home Affairs, headquartered in New Delhi. CISF was established in 1969 through the CISF Act, 1968, with an initial strength of just three battalions. It was declared an Armed Force of the Union in 1983 after amending the Act.

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NITI Aayog recently launched the India Electric Mobility Index (IEMI). India Electric Mobility Index (IEMI) is a first-of-its-kind tool to track and rank States and Union Territories (UTs) on electric mobility progress. It evaluates all States and UTs out of 100 across 16 indicators under 3 core themes. Transport Electrification Progress measures electric vehicle (EV) adoption on the demand side. Charging Infrastructure Readiness tracks EV charging network development. EV Research and Innovation Status evaluates supply-side research and development.

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The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) launched the ICMR-SHINE Initiative (Science & Health Innovation for the Nextgen Explorers) on 8th August 2025. It is a nationwide student outreach program for Classes 9 to 12. The aim is to ignite scientific curiosity, foster innovation, and inspire future health researchers. For the first time, all ICMR institutes will host simultaneous interactive educational activities across India. The program aligns with the Prime Minister’s call for “One Day as a Scientist” announced in February 2025 Mann Ki Baat. It commemorates the birth anniversary of Prof. V. Ramalingaswami, a pioneer in Indian medical research.

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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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The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare recently launched the State Health Regulatory Excellence Index (SHRESTH) virtually. It is India’s first national initiative to benchmark and strengthen state drug regulatory systems using a transparent, data-driven framework. It is proposed by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO). It ensures consistent drug safety and quality standards. It has 27 indices for manufacturing states and 23 for primarily distribution states, covering themes like human resources, infrastructure, licensing, surveillance, and responsiveness.