India Current Affairs [Nation & States] MCQs

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The Union government has invited proposals to set up District De-Addiction Centres (DDACs) in 291 gap districts across 30 States and Union Territories under the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR). NAPDDR is a centrally sponsored scheme aimed at reducing drug abuse through education, de-addiction, and rehabilitation. It focuses on awareness creation, reducing stigma, and reintegrating affected individuals into society. It also aims to build human resource capacity and support research, training, and innovation.

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Recently, IIT (Indian Institute of Technology) Kharagpur developed a web app called Dynamic Route Planning for Urban Green Mobility (DRUM). DRUM is like Google Maps but also helps users choose routes based on air quality and energy efficiency. It offers five route options: shortest, fastest, Least Exposure to Air Pollution (LEAP), Least Energy Consumption Route (LECR), and a combined suggested route. It uses live pollution and traffic data fetched instantly when a user enters a route. The app uses GraphHopper and Mapbox for real-time routing and traffic updates.

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The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare will soon launch the CROPIC initiative. CROPIC stands for Collection of Real Time Observations & Photo of Crops. It is launched under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY). The initiative uses artificial intelligence (AI) and computer vision to monitor crop health and stress. It aims to automate crop loss assessment and ensure faster payment of insurance claims to farmers.

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The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) has waived additional filing fees for 13 major e-forms due to a planned three-week shutdown of the MCA21 portal. The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) launched the MCA21 portal to offer secure and simple online access to corporate services. It automates compliance and enforcement under the Companies Act, 1956, Companies Act, 2013, and the Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008. The portal is also designed for smooth interoperability with the National e-Governance Services Delivery Gateway (NSDG).

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Recently, Gujarat became the first state to implement the Amended BharatNet Program (ABP) under a state-led model. The program ensures seamless digital connectivity across all 14,654 Gram Panchayats and non-Gram Panchayat villages in Gujarat on demand. It aims to deliver over 98% service uptime through modern infrastructure, offering high-speed internet and reliable digital services. The Union Cabinet approved Amended BharatNet Program (ABP) on 4th August 2023, funded through the Digital Bharat Nidhi.

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Recently, India rejected a “supplemental award” issued by a Court of Arbitration on the Kishenganga and Ratle hydroelectric projects, calling it illegal and against the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) 1960. The Court of Arbitration is an ad-hoc international dispute resolution body under Annexure G of the Indus Waters Treaty, 1960, used when bilateral talks fail. The Ratle Hydroelectric Project is run-of-the-river project located on the Chenab River in Kishtwar district, Jammu and Kashmir. India maintains its stand that the award violates treaty principles and cannot be accepted under the current agreement.

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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, India campus of University of Southampton was inaugurated in Gurugram, Haryana by the Union Education Minister and Haryana Chief Minister. University of Southampton is a QS Top 100 global university and a founding member of the United Kingdom’s Russell Group. It is the first foreign university to start a campus in India under the University Grants Commission (UGC)’s 2023 Regulations for foreign higher educational institutions. This marks a historic milestone in India’s higher education reforms. It aligns with the vision of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 to globalize Indian education. It also strengthens India–United Kingdom education ties under the India-UK Roadmap 2030.

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On July 21, 2025, Minister of State for Environment, Kirti Vardhan Singh, shared NCAP progress data in the Lok Sabha. Under National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), only 25 out of 130 cities met the 40% PM10 reduction target by 2024-25. NCAP was launched in 2019 to cut PM2.5 and PM10 by 20%-30% by 2024 from 2017 levels. In 2022, the target was revised to a 40% reduction in PM10 by 2025-26. Cities in Uttar Pradesh showed the highest reduction in PM10 levels. Bareilly topped the list with 76% reduction, followed by Varanasi (74.3%) and Firozabad (59.5%). Dehradun (57.2%) in Uttarakhand also showed sharp improvement.

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Recently, Sikkim became the first Indian state to launch a formal Sabbatical Leave scheme for its government employees. The scheme was introduced in August 2023 for regular employees with at least five years of continuous service. Eligible employees can take leave from 365 days up to 1,080 days with 50% of their basic pay during leave. Their seniority and continuity of service are protected during the leave period. The government can recall an employee anytime with a one-month notice.