India Current Affairs [Nation & States] MCQs

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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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The Maharashtra government has launched a new digital system to monitor infrastructure projects using a geo-tagged 13-digit unique identification number. This system is being implemented through the Infra ID portal to improve transparency, real-time tracking, and coordination among departments. It will help prevent duplication of projects and ensure centralized digital records for better decision-making. The system will be piloted in Wardha district first and expanded across the state by October 2025.

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Recently, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh laid the foundation stone for India’s first Green Data Centre in Sahibabad, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh. The project is worth around ₹1,000 crore and will have a 30 megawatt capacity with advanced energy-efficient and eco-friendly systems. The Green Data Centre will have a 30 megawatt capacity, energy-efficient design, renewable energy use, and eco-friendly systems like rainwater harvesting and smart cooling.

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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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In July 2025, Gujarat became the first Indian state to officially join the Cruise Bharat Mission. Cruise Bharat Mission is a central government initiative to build a globally competitive cruise tourism ecosystem. Gujarat’s move is a major step towards leading India’s maritime tourism sector. The state has a long 2,340 km coastline and navigable rivers like the Sabarmati and Narmada. Gujarat aims to become a global cruise tourism hub through this strategic alignment.

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Recently, Uttarakhand launched Operation Kalanemi to act against fake saints cheating the public and harming the image of Sanatana Dharma. The directive was issued by the Chief Minister to the State police for strict enforcement. The operation is named after Kalanemi, a demon from Hindu mythology who misled people by posing as a saint. It targets individuals impersonating religious figures and exploiting the faith of devotees, especially women.

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Recently, experts clarified that reaching the Jarawa Tribe for enumeration is not difficult due to ongoing contact and welfare initiatives. The Jarawas are among the world’s oldest surviving indigenous communities. They are listed as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) by the Government of India. The Jarawa tribe is primarily found in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Specifically, they live in nomadic bands of about 40–50 people in Middle and South Andaman Islands.

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The Punjab Government recently introduced the ‘Prevention of Offences Against Holy Scriptures Bill, 2025’ in the legislative assembly. The Bill aims to preserve religious harmony and fraternity among people of different faiths in Punjab. It proposes strict punishment for offences like sacrilege, defacing, damaging, or burning any Holy Scripture. Holy Scriptures include Sri Guru Granth Sahib, Srimad Bhagavad Gita, Quran Sharif, and Holy Bible, including their extracts like Pothis and Gutka Sahib. The punishment includes imprisonment of minimum 10 years, which may extend to life, and a fine between Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh.

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From this year, the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) will give negative scores to institutions for research papers retracted in the last three years and their citations. This step aims to enhance accountability and research integrity. National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) is an initiative of the Ministry of Education, Government of India. It was launched in 2015 to assess and rank higher education institutions.

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The Punjab government has launched Operation Jeevan jyot 2 to rescue street children and enroll them in schools. This new phase was launched in July 2025 with a stronger and more stringent strategy. In the last 9 months, 367 children were rescued from streets, religious places, and intersections across Punjab. The campaign began in September 2024 and has conducted 753 rescue operations so far.