India Current Affairs [Nation & States] MCQs

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Recently, Delhi Police launched a community outreach initiative called ‘Nayi Disha – A Path Back to Learning’ to bring out-of-school children back into education. Police officers are visiting homes of school dropouts to understand why they left school and to motivate them to return. The initiative reflects Delhi Police’s focus on mentorship and building trust, beyond traditional law enforcement. Officers are working with schools, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), and social workers to provide help such as admissions, counselling, and academic support. Many students have already returned to school, and the initiative will now expand to other districts based on its success.

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Recently, Indian Army Engineers under the Spear Corps joined hands with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to conduct a major disaster relief exercise named Exercise Raahat at Rangapahar Military Station in Nagaland from May 13 to 15. The aim was to improve readiness and coordination ahead of the monsoon season. The first two days focused on planning, war-gaming, and case study discussions for better disaster response strategies. On the final day, both Army and NDRF teams demonstrated rescue and medical operations using advanced equipment.

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The Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi) hosted the fourth edition of its Manasvi: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Mentorship Program for High School Girls from May 13 to 17, 2025. The five-day event welcomed 100 girls from Classes 9 to 12, mainly from government schools in Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR), to promote STEM learning. Organized by the Office of Academic Outreach and New Initiatives at IIT Delhi, Manasvi aims to boost confidence and interest among girls in STEM careers. The program included technical workshops, motivational talks, and hands-on sessions like solar lamp assembly at the MakerSpace Lab.

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The Prime Minister will soon meet the Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh to review the Polavaram project. The Polavaram Project is a multi-purpose irrigation initiative built on the Godavari River in Andhra Pradesh. It is located near Polavaram village in West Godavari district, close to the borders of Odisha and Chhattisgarh. The project was proposed in 1980 based on the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal (GWDT) recommendations. It has been given national project status by the central government. The dam will help control floodwaters and improve agricultural productivity in the region. This high-level meeting highlights the importance of inter-state cooperation for completing the project efficiently.

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Recently, the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) inaugurated Polar Bhavan and Sagar Bhavan at the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) in Vasco da Gama, Goa. NCPOR was established in 1998 as an autonomous Research and Development (R&D) institute and was earlier known as the National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research (NCAOR). NCPOR functions under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES). Polar Bhavan is the largest building on the NCPOR campus, covering 11,378 square meters and built at a cost of ₹55 crore. It includes advanced laboratories, 55 rooms for scientists, conference halls, a library, and the Science on Sphere (SOS) 3D Earth systems visualisation platform. It will also house India’s first Polar and Ocean Museum to help the public learn about scientific research. Sagar Bhavan covers 1,772 square meters and was built at a cost of ₹13 crore.

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Recently, the Maharashtra government notified its long-awaited Aggregator Policy for app-based cab services like Ola and Uber. The policy aims to ensure fair practices and better experiences for both riders and drivers. It includes rules for fare regulation, driver training, electric vehicle (EV) adoption, and penalties for unjustified cancellations. If a driver cancels a ride without a valid reason, a penalty of 10% of the fare or ₹100—whichever is less—will be charged. If a passenger cancels without reason, 5% of the fare or ₹50 will be awarded to the driver. These penalties will be deducted automatically through the app. The policy also limits peak-hour fares to a maximum of 1.5 times the base fare, as fixed by the Regional Transport Authority (RTA).

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India’s largest Titanium and Superalloy Materials Plant was recently inaugurated in Lucknow by the Union Defence Minister and the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. It is operated by Aeroalloy Technologies Limited, a subsidiary of PTC Industries Limited. The plant covers 50 acres and has an annual capacity of 6,000 tonnes, making it the world’s largest single-site titanium remelting facility. It uses advanced technologies like Vacuum Arc Remelting (VAR), Electron Beam (EB), Plasma Arc Melting (PAM), and Vacuum Induction Melting (VIM) to produce aerospace-grade materials. The project is part of the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor, which supports self-reliant defence manufacturing in India.

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The Uttar Pradesh government plans to export Kalanamak rice, also called ‘Buddha rice,’ to countries with majority Buddhist populations. Kalanamak rice is a traditional non-basmati aromatic variety known for its high nutritional value. It is mainly grown in eastern Uttar Pradesh, especially Siddharthnagar, as part of the One District One Product (ODOP) initiative. The Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) of the United Nations has recognized Kalanamak rice as a specialty rice of the world. This rice has been cultivated since the Buddhist period around 600 BC, with grains found in archaeological excavations at Aligarhwa.

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Meerut has become the first city in India to include Transit Oriented Development (TOD) zones in its 2031 Master Plan. Transit Oriented Development (TOD) means building compact, walkable communities around public transport stations. This move will boost urban growth and reduce traffic by promoting public transport use. The Meerut Development Authority (MEDA) has set aside 3,273 hectares for TOD planning. These zones are focused around the Namo Bharat and Meerut Metro corridors to unlock real estate and economic opportunities.

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Recently, the Government of India launched the Ayush Nivesh Saarthi portal during the Ayush Stakeholder and Industry Interaction Meet at Vanijya Bhawan in New Delhi. It is a dedicated digital platform for investors developed by the Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) in collaboration with Invest India. It aims to boost India’s traditional wellness systems as a strong economic sector. The portal combines policy details, incentive schemes, ready-to-invest projects, and real-time assistance in one interface.