India Current Affairs [Nation & States] MCQs

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The Jammu and Kashmir government announced new rules for Bangus Valley to promote it as an ecotourism destination. Bangus Valley lies in the Trans-Himalayan region and has a unique mountain and grassland biome with Coniferous forests. It is located in Kupwara district, Jammu and Kashmir, at an altitude of 10,000 ft above sea level. The valley covers 300 sq. km and consists of Bodh Bangus (Big Bangus) and Lokut Bangus (Small Bangus). It is surrounded by Rajwar, Mawar, Shamasbury, Dajlungun, Chowkibal, and Karnah Guli with meadows and a flowing stream.

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Star Health Insurance launched the SheTARA campaign in Tamil Nadu to promote preventive healthcare for women and encourage them to become insurance agents. More than 40 health camps will provide subsidized screenings for thyroid, haemoglobin, blood sugar, blood pressure, and bone mineral density. A webinar on work-life balance and women’s health in the AI era will be conducted by a leading gynaecologist. The flagship event in Anna Nagar, Chennai, will honor women employees’ contributions, highlighting Tamil Nadu’s leadership in women’s workforce participation.

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The Union Minister of Science and Technology laid the foundation stone for the North East Center for Technology Application and Reach (NECTAR) permanent campus in Mawdiangdiang, Shillong. NECTAR is an autonomous society under the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India, headquartered in Shillong, Meghalaya. It focuses on using advanced technologies for biodiversity, watershed management, telemedicine, horticulture, infrastructure, planning, tele-schooling via MESHNET, and employment generation through local resources and skill development.

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Punjab became the first Indian state to broadcast Legislative Assembly proceedings in sign language. Dr Baljit Kaur, Minister for Social Security, Women, and Child Development, announced the initiative. It aims to make legislative discussions accessible to people with deafness disability. The Governor’s speech at the Budget Session was broadcast in sign language. The initiative was led by the Ministry of Social Security, Women, and Child Development. It follows Section 40 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan approved it for the 16th Punjab Legislative Assembly.

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The Assam Cabinet approved Permanent Residence Certificates (PRCs) for the Moran community living in Arunachal Pradesh. The Moran community has long demanded PRCs and recognition as residents of Arunachal Pradesh. They are an indigenous group from Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, belonging to the Tibeto-Burman-origin Kachari family. Historically, they spoke the Moran language, which is closely related to Dimasa. Now, they predominantly speak Assamese. Their traditional customs have merged with Vaishnavism after conversion.

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National Hydroelectric Power Corporation Private Limited successfully completed the trial run of Unit 2 (200 MW) of the Parbati-II Hydroelectric Project in Himachal Pradesh. The Parbati-II Hydroelectric Project is a run-of-the-river project in Sainj, Kullu, Himachal Pradesh, harnessing the lower Parbati River, a tributary of the Beas River. A concrete gravity dam at Pulga village diverts water through a 31.52 km head race tunnel to a powerhouse in Suind village, Sainj Valley. The project has a total capacity of 800 MW (four units of 200 MW each). Once fully operational, it will generate 3,074 million units of electricity annually. National Hydroelectric Power Corporation Private Limited owns 100% of the project.

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Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav launched the four-day School Chale Hum campaign in Bhopal on April 1, 2025. All CM RISE Schools in the state will be renamed Maharishi Sandipani Vidyalaya. The Education Portal 3.0 was launched to digitize school education processes. The campaign runs from April 1-4, 2025, aiming to improve enrollment, retention, and timely textbook distribution. 5.6 crore textbooks (Classes 1-12), 1.02 crore Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) workbooks, and 26 lakh Bridge Course books will be provided for free.

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The Ministry of Women and Child Development is celebrating the 7th edition of Poshan Pakhwada from April 8th to 22nd, 2025. It aims to raise awareness about nutrition and promote healthy eating habits through public participation and involvement. The themes include focusing on the first 1000 days of life, promoting the Beneficiary/Citizen Module of Poshan Tracker, managing malnutrition through Community-Based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM), and addressing obesity in children.

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A recent study shows that the Mahadev Koli tribe holds rich medicinal and ecological knowledge useful for global climate resilience. The Mahadev Koli tribe is primarily found in the state of Maharashtra. They are named after their god Mahadev and live mainly in the Mahadev hills of Maharashtra. They are mostly found in Pune, Ahmednagar, and Nasik districts and are classified as a Scheduled Tribe. They speak Marathi using the Devanagari script and have twenty-four exogamous clans, using clan names as surnames. They know over 50 native tree species used for traditional medicine. Tanaji Malusare, a heroic general in Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s army, belonged to this tribe and is known for his bravery in the Battle of Sinhagad.

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The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare recently released guidelines for establishing Bio-Input Resource Centres (BRCs) to promote natural farming under the National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF). Bio-Input Resource Centres (BRCs) are cluster-level enterprises that provide farmers with locally prepared natural farming inputs like bio-fertilizers, bio-pesticides, and organic formulations. BRCs also serve as knowledge hubs to train and support farmers who are transitioning to natural farming practices. The initiative was launched under the National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF). The objectives of BRCs include ensuring easy access to quality bio-inputs, offering technical support on natural farming methods, and promoting the adoption of natural farming across rural areas.