India Current Affairs [Nation & States] MCQs

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Recently, Lieutenant General Dinesh Singh Rana took charge as the 18th Commander-in-Chief of the Andaman and Nicobar Command (CINCAN). The Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) is India’s first integrated theatre command, established in 2001. It is headquartered in Port Blair and integrates the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard. The command plays a crucial role in securing India’s strategic interests in the Indian Ocean Region. The post of Commander-in-Chief Andaman and Nicobar Command (CINCAN) rotates among the three armed services.

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The Union Home Minister launched the Bharatiya Bhasha Anubhag (BBA), or Indian Languages Section, on June 6, 2025, to promote Indian languages in administration. Bharatiya Bhasha Anubhag aims to reduce the dependence on foreign languages and support decision-making in mother tongues. It will strengthen all local languages and support linguistic diversity for national development. It will support translation across Indian languages, with the help of the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC).

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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 National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS), an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs launched the TALASH initiative for tribal students in Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs). TALASH stands for Tribal Aptitude, Life Skills and Self-Esteem Hub. It is the first national-level programme in India focused on tribal students’ education and personal growth. It was launched in collaboration with United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) India.

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In July 2025, polyandry came into focus when two Hatti tribe brothers from Shillai, Sirmaur district, Himachal Pradesh, married the same woman. Polyandry is an age-old tribal tradition in Himachal Pradesh, mainly in Kinnaur and Sirmaur districts, used to keep landholdings undivided and families intact. It is locally called “Jodidara” and is recognised under Himachal Pradesh revenue laws and sections 494 and 495 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The Hatti tribe primarily resides in Himachal-Uttarakhand border in the Giri and Tons river basins.

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Recently, the Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) informed the Rajya Sabha about the India Skills Accelerator initiative. It is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and the World Economic Forum (WEF). It aims to bridge skill gaps through inclusive upskilling and reskilling. It promotes lifelong learning investment and government-industry collaboration. It serves as a national public-private platform to solve complex challenges through multi-stakeholder efforts.

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Recently, Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh was approved to host India’s first Hindi-medium MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery) college. The academic session will begin from 2027–28 with 50 MBBS seats initially. The decision was approved by the Executive Council of Madhya Pradesh Medical University. Hindi-translated textbooks already prepared will be used for teaching. Clinical training will be conducted at the existing government hospital. The college plans to expand further to offer MD (Doctor of Medicine) and MS (Master of Surgery) courses in Hindi. This initiative aims to remove language barriers in medical education.

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The Punjab government has lifted the ban on traditional heritage sports in August 2025. These include bullock cart races, dog races, horse races, and pigeon racing. The ban was in place since 1997 due to concerns over animal cruelty. Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann announced the decision during a public event in Ludhiana. New legislation ensures these events will be conducted without cruelty to animals. The move aims to reconnect people with Punjab’s cultural identity and rural heritage.

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Uttar Pradesh (UP) Government has doubled the maintenance allowance for disabled students under the Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme from ₹2,000 to ₹4,000 per month. This hike will benefit 2,650 disabled students in 28 residential schools across the state. More than 50 lakh students benefit from UP’s scholarship and fee reimbursement programs yearly, including 14–15 lakh from the Scheduled Castes (SC). Students above 40 years are now ineligible for scholarships. Those passing high school from state boards outside UP are excluded, but CBSE and ICSE board students remain eligible. Students of UP campuses run by universities domiciled outside the state are also excluded.

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Prime Minister dedicated Kartavya Bhawan to the nation. It is designed to meet Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA)-4 green building standards. The building includes solar panels, rainwater harvesting, and other sustainable features. Kartavya Bhawan is part of the Common Central Secretariat buildings to house bureaucracy under the Central Vista Project. GRIHA is a tool to assess building performance against nationally acceptable green benchmarks. It was developed by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI).