India Current Affairs [Nation & States] MCQs

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Union Minister for New & Renewable Energy inaugurated a 240 TPD (tonnes per day) Biomass Pellet Plant in Rewari, Haryana, marking a major clean energy milestone. Government of India now mandates 5% biomass or Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) charcoal co-firing in all coal plants and 7% in Delhi–NCR units. NCR plants must source 50% biomass from local paddy residue to curb stubble burning. New plant will use paddy straw, mustard straw, and cotton stalks to make biomass pellets, reducing pollution and giving farmers extra income. Haryana has over 2.8 GW renewable energy, including 2.4 GW solar power.

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Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur launched Impact RISE (Research, Innovation, Skilling and Entrepreneurship) initiative in November 2025. The initiative focuses on sustainable technology and management for large scale social transformation. It was announced as IIT Kharagpur’s national pledge during its Platinum Jubilee year. The vision is to build in labs, test on campus, and expand solutions across India and the world. Impact RISE rests on four pillars which are research, innovation, skilling and entrepreneurship.

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Uttar Pradesh (UP) government directed that Aadhaar cards cannot be used as proof of date of birth (DOB). On November 24, 2025, the Planning Department issued the notification to all department heads. The directive is based on a letter from Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) dated October 31, 2025, stating Aadhaar is not a birth proof. Planning Department is the nodal agency for implementing Aadhaar-related directions. Valid proofs include birth certificates, high-school mark sheets, and other prescribed documents. Directive is crucial for age-sensitive processes like recruitment and educational admissions.

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The Prime Minister (PM) spoke about Ramban Sulai Honey in the 128th episode of Mann Ki Baat radio programme. This honey is made in Ramban district of Jammu and Kashmir from nectar of wild Sulai (basil) flowers. It is known for its rich taste, floral smell, high nutrition, and medicinal value. Bees collect nectar from Sulai flowers during August to October. The honey is crystal-clear, white to amber in colour, and rich in minerals, enzymes, and vitamins. It received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2021. It is selected under the One District, One Product (ODOP) scheme of Government of India.

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Five products from Tamil Nadu received the Geographical Indications (GI – legal tag for regional products) status, raising the State’s total to 74 GI products. The products are Woraiyur cotton sari, Kavindapadi naatu sakkarai (jaggery powder), Thooyamalli rice, Namakkal makkal pathirangal (soapstone cookware), and Ambasamudram choppu saman (wooden toys). Woraiyur saris are woven in Tiruchi using cotton from Coimbatore and natural dyes. Kavindapadi jaggery is made from local sugarcane using slow juice evaporation. Thooyamalli is a 135–140 day sambha rice variety, applied by the Tamil Nadu State Agricultural Marketing Board with National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) support. Namakkal soapstone cookware gained approval through Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) support.

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Gujarat has launched Smart Blue Harbours to strengthen fisheries, coastal economy, and national food security. The initiative is supported by a partnership between the Department of Fisheries (DoF), Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying (MoFAHD), and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. Under a Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP), world-class Blue Harbours will be piloted at Jakhau (Gujarat), Vanakbara (Diu), and Karaikal (Puducherry). Under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), ₹452.32 crore is invested in smart fishing infrastructure.

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Maharashtra has become the first Indian state to empower its police with an Artificial Intelligence (AI) powered platform for faster cybercrime investigations. MahaCrimeOS AI was unveiled on December 12, 2025, at the Microsoft Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tour in Mumbai. The platform is developed by CyberEye in partnership with the Maharashtra Government’s Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) MARVEL and Microsoft India Development Center (IDC). MahaCrimeOS AI is currently live in 23 police stations in Nagpur and may expand to all 1,100 police stations. The system uses AI and Microsoft Azure to help police resolve cybercrime cases faster amid rising cybercrime incidents.

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The National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID) has been linked to the National Population Register (NPR) to strengthen intelligence gathering and speed up criminal investigations. NATGRID is a real-time intelligence and data-access platform developed after the 26/11 Mumbai attacks (2008) to enable seamless information-sharing among security and enforcement agencies. It functions under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and consolidates over 20 categories of civil and commercial data, including bank transactions, telecom usage, passport and immigration records, tax IDs, police FIRs (CCTNS), and other e-governance sources.

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Rajasthan Cabinet approved the Rajasthan Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI-ML) Policy-2026 to position the state as a hub for technology-driven investment and innovation. The policy aims to make public services faster, transparent, citizen-centric, and enhance administrative efficiency through responsible, ethical, and secure AI and ML use. The policy focuses on transparent, accountable, fair, and privacy-protected AI systems, reducing bias, ensuring data security, making AI decisions explainable and auditable, and addressing AI-related cybercrimes. An Artificial Intelligence Centre of Excellence will be created to support research, innovation, and capacity building.

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Assam became the first Indian state to constitute its 8th State Pay Commission before the 7th Pay Commission ends on 1 January 2026. The decision was announced by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Former Chief Secretary Subhas Das has been appointed as the head of the new Pay Commission. The move comes even before the Union Government’s 8th Central Pay Commission has started work. The 8th Pay Commission will revise salaries, allowances, and pensions of state government employees. Early constitution shows Assam’s intent to speed up the pay revision process. State employees and pensioners may get quicker clarity on future pay and pension benefits.