India Current Affairs [Nation & States] MCQs

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Recently, the PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan Dissemination Portal was launched to share open data on student performance at National and State levels. It will help States and Union Territories design plans to improve learning outcomes and close skill gaps. PARAKH stands for Performance Assessment, Review and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development. It was set up under National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT). It aims to set norms, standards, and guidelines for student assessments as per National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. It brings all State and Union Territory school boards onto a common platform.

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Recently, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands administration set up a Van Dhan Vikas Kendra for the Onge tribe at Dugong Creek under the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyay Maha Abhiyan. This aims to make the Onges self-sustainable through coconut-based products. The Onges are among the most primitive tribes in India from the Negrito racial stock. They live on Little Andaman Island, the southernmost island of the Andaman archipelago. Onges are semi-nomadic and fully depend on natural food sources.

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Recently, India’s first transgender-led health clinic reopened in Hyderabad as Sabrang Clinic with fresh funding from Tata Trusts. It was earlier known as Mitr Clinic and had shut down after the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) froze its funding. Sabrang Clinic is fully managed and staffed by transgender individuals. It offers gender-affirming care, HIV/AIDS treatment, mental health services, and general healthcare. The clinic ensures a stigma-free and inclusive environment for transgender patients.

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Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) released a technical brief titled “Mapping the Application of Artificial Intelligence in Traditional Medicine”. The brief recognised India’s leadership in using Artificial Intelligence (AI) in traditional medicine, especially Ayush systems. India became the first country to launch the Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL). TKDL is a digital database of traditional medicinal knowledge, including Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy. It prevents bio-piracy by documenting traditional practices in patent-compatible formats.

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The Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance, launched a three-month nationwide saturation campaign from 1st July to 30th September 2025. The campaign aims to expand the reach of flagship schemes like Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY), and Atal Pension Yojana (APY). It targets complete coverage across 2.70 lakh Gram Panchayats (GPs) and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).

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Recently, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) launched Skill India Assistant (SIA), an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered chatbot. It is developed by META and National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) under MSDE. It provides personalized skilling and job support through WhatsApp, promoting digital inclusion. It is accessible through Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH) and WhatsApp. It uses Meta’s open-source LLaMA (Large Language Model) as its AI base.

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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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Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi inaugurated Agnishodh, the Indian Army Research Cell (IARC), at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras. The centre will integrate academic research with real-time military applications to support Army modernization under the Five Pillars of Transformation. It aligns with the Army’s vision of “Swadeshikaran Se Sashaktikaran” (Empowerment through Indigenization). Focus areas include additive manufacturing, cybersecurity, quantum computing, wireless communication, and drones.

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Maharashtra has implemented ‘Disha Abhiyan’ to provide uniform and quality education for students with intellectual disabilities. The curriculum was developed by Jai Vakil Foundation, established in 1944, using 80 years of experience and universal teaching methods. It is approved by the National Institute for the Empowerment of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities (NIEPID). The program is running in 453 special schools across the state. Maharashtra is the first state to prioritize the needs of the disabled.

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On 19th August 2025, Press Registrar General of India (PRGI) launched the Press Sewa portal as a single-window digital platform. The portal will simplify and speed up registration for newspapers and periodicals across India. It is designed to enhance transparency, reduce approval delays, and improve ease of doing business for publishers. The initiative will remove bureaucratic hurdles and provide clarity in the registration process. The announcement was made during Vartalap, an interaction programme organized by Press Information Bureau (PIB) Hyderabad under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.