India Current Affairs [Nation & States] MCQs

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Gujarat has been officially reinstated as a tiger-bearing state for the All-India Tiger Estimation (AITE) 2026 after over 30 years. This follows confirmed photographic evidence of a nearly four-year-old tiger in Ratanmahal Sanctuary, Dahod district. The tiger has stayed in the area for about 10 months, showing stable habitation, not temporary movement. The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has ordered conservation measures in Ratanmahal. A camera-trap census will be conducted along the Gujarat–Madhya Pradesh border. The tiger will be tagged and monitored using stripe-pattern software during the census. Gujarat was last surveyed in 1989 and removed from the tiger map in 1992 due to no sightings.

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Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah inaugurated the Jyoti–Vishnu International Art Centre in Guwahati, Assam. The Art Centre, costing around ₹291 crore, has a seating capacity of 5,000 and honors cultural icons Jyoti Prasad Agarwala and Bishnu Prasad Rabha. Jyoti Prasad Agarwala made Assam’s first film, Joymoti, laying the foundation of Assamese cinema. He linked music, theatre, and literature with patriotism, inspiring self-respect and freedom consciousness among the people of Assam. Bishnu Prasad Rabha strengthened the freedom movement through art, connecting workers, farmers, and tribal communities.

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India has become the world’s largest rice producer, surpassing China with a total output of 150.18 million tonnes. The announcement was made by Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The achievement reflects improved farming practices and effective agricultural policies. Use of high-yielding and climate-resilient seed varieties has boosted production. Alongside this milestone, 184 new varieties of 25 different crops were released. These new varieties aim to increase crop productivity and farmer incomes. The initiative strengthens India’s competitiveness in global agricultural markets.

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The Ministry of Women and Child Development launched the PANKHUDI Portal on 8 January 2026. It is an integrated Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and partnership facilitation digital platform. PANKHUDI brings together government, citizens, Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), and corporates. It supports sectors like nutrition, health, Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE), child protection, and women empowerment. It strengthens Mission Saksham Anganwadi & Poshan 2.0, Mission Vatsalya, and Mission Shakti.

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Gujarat Chief Minister reviewed rescue operations under Karuna Abhiyan-2026 during the Uttarayan festival after a surge in bird injuries caused by kite strings. Karuna Abhiyan is a state-wide wildlife rescue and rehabilitation campaign launched in 2017 to protect birds and animals injured during festivals, especially kite-flying. 700+ veterinarians, 8,600+ volunteers, 1,000+ centres across Gujarat during high-risk periods. More than 1.12 lakh animals and birds rescued since 2017; India’s first state-driven festival-linked wildlife protection campaign; serves as a national benchmark.

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The Department of Financial Services launched the Paripoorna Mediclaim Ayush Bima for Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) beneficiaries. The insurance policy provides cashless facilities, modern treatments, and access to a wide network of hospitals. It is exclusively for CGHS beneficiaries, covering a maximum of six members per policy. The policy offers indemnity-based in-patient hospitalisation coverage within India, with sum insured options of ₹10 Lakh or ₹20 Lakh. A co-payment option allows beneficiaries to choose 70:30 or 50:50 cost-sharing between insurance companies and subscribers.

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The Ministry of Rural Development launched a National Campaign on Entrepreneurship under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana–National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) to strengthen non-farm livelihoods and boost income growth among rural women. The campaign plans to train 50,000 community resource persons in enterprise development and provide Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP) training to 50 lakh Self Help Group (SHG) members nationwide. The initiative aims to strengthen rural economies, build a robust ecosystem for rural enterprises, and improve access to formal financial institutions and enterprise loans for grassroots women entrepreneurs.

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Indian Railways introduced a humanoid robot named ASC ARJUN at Visakhapatnam Railway Station to enhance passenger safety, security, and service. This is the first deployment of its kind on the Indian Railways network, reflecting a focus on innovation and indigenous development. It assists RPF personnel with intrusion detection via Face Recognition System, AI-based crowd monitoring, and real-time alerts. The robot can make automated announcements in English, Hindi, and Telugu, guide passengers, and improve safety awareness.

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India’s first flat rolled products (FRP) aluminium unit was inaugurated at Hindalco’s Aditya Aluminium plant in Lapanga, Sambalpur, Odisha. A Rs 834-crore specialised battery foil unit was also inaugurated, and foundation laid for a Rs 21,162-crore smelter plant expansion. The projects are expected to create over 5,000 jobs, boost downstream manufacturing, and generate new livelihood opportunities.

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Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi launched the Samikshya portal for real-time monitoring of development projects. It tracks works funded under the State Finance Commission (SFC) and Central Finance Commission (CFC) grants. Citizens, officials, and elected representatives can monitor projects like roads, drinking water, sanitation, street lights, parks, and public utilities. It emphasizes equity, regional balance, and the needs of rural and urban bodies. The portal aims to improve transparency, accountability, and timely execution of grassroots projects.