India Current Affairs [Nation & States] MCQs

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The President of India graced a special programme under Skilling for AI Readiness (SOAR) Programme. It is an initiative of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE). The programme aims to integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) learning into school education and training systems. It prepares students and teachers for a fast-changing digital world and AI-based careers. The government has allocated ₹500 crore to set up a Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence for Education.

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Recently, India’s first government hospital-based Artificial Intelligence (AI) clinic was inaugurated at the Government Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS), Greater Noida. The AI clinic is part of the GIMS Centre for Medical Innovation to provide AI-driven healthcare directly to doctors and patients. It aims to allow healthcare startups to develop, test, and validate AI solutions in real-world clinical settings. The initiative was attended by over 100 experts, including international specialists and policymakers. The clinic will focus on medical imaging, clinical decision support systems, and data-driven healthcare services.

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SAMPANN (System for Accounting and Management of Pension) is an online pension management system for Department of Telecommunications (DoT) pensioners. It provides a single platform for processing, sanctioning, and disbursing pensions directly to bank accounts. Important pension documents like Gratuity Payment Orders, Pension Certificates/ePPOs, Pension Commutation Payment Orders, and Form 16 are now available via DigiLocker. DigiLocker integration allows pensioners to securely access, store, and retrieve official documents anytime, supporting paperless governance and long-term digital preservation.

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Recently, 50,373 public health facilities across all States and Union Territories were certified under National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS). National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS) is a national quality framework created by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW). It aims to improve the safety, quality, and patient-focused nature of public healthcare services. It first focused on District Hospitals to ensure reliable and quality care. Now it covers District Hospitals, Sub-District Hospitals, Community Health Centres, and Ayushman Arogya Mandir Primary Health Centres, Urban Primary Health Centres, and Sub Health Centres.

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On January 5, 2026, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) commissioned the world’s first and largest Liquid Conversion–Maximum (LC-Max) Residue Upgradation Facility (RUF) at Visakhapatnam Refinery in Andhra Pradesh. It was developed under the Visakh Refinery Modernization Project (VRMP) with an investment of ₹31,407 crore. Refinery capacity increased from 8.33 to 15 Million Metric Tonnes Per Annum (MMTPA). The residue hydrocracking unit of 3.55 Million Tonnes Per Annum (MTPA) converts about 93% low-value residue into high-value fuels.

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Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant inaugurated India’s first fully paperless district judiciary in Kalpetta, Wayanad, Kerala, on 6 January. All courts in Kalpetta district now operate entirely digitally, with electronic filings, digital scrutiny, and instant access through the District Court Case Management System (DCMS) developed in-house by Kerala High Court. The system improves access to justice, reduces litigation costs, removes geographical barriers, and enhances transparency and trust. AI-based tools help judges generate summaries, retrieve case details, annotate documents, and mark statutory provisions.

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A fire, reportedly due to a short circuit, destroyed at least 38 thatched houses of the Konda Reddi tribe in Sarlanka village, Prathipadu Mandal, Kakinada district, Andhra Pradesh. Konda Reddis are a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) living along both banks of the Godavari River in hilly and forest areas of East Godavari, West Godavari, and Khammam districts of Andhra Pradesh. Their language is Telugu spoken in a pure, unique accent. They follow Folk Hinduism with local deity worship.

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SAMPANN pension management system has been integrated with the UMANG (Unified Mobile Application for New-age Governance) platform. The initiative helps pensioners access Pension Payment Order (PPO) number and Life Certificate (LC) validity anytime. It is developed by the Office of the Controller General of Communication Accounts. The integration improves ease of access, transparency, and digital service delivery for pensioners. UMANG provides a single platform for Central, State, and Local Government services under Digital India. SAMPANN (System for Accounting and Management of Pension) was dedicated to the nation in 2018. It digitises the entire pension lifecycle, ensuring pensioner-centric governance and direct bank payments.

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Recently, the Union Minister of Jal Shakti inaugurated 25 JALAJ Livelihood Centres. JALAJ is a joint initiative of the Namami Gange Mission and the Wildlife Institute of India (WII). It aims to link Ganga river conservation with sustainable livelihoods in the Ganga river basin. The initiative follows a circular economy model by training local people in eco-friendly livelihood practices. It promotes community ownership of conservation with special focus on women’s participation. JALAJ creates a symbiotic relationship between rivers and local communities.

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A rare snow leopard sighting by Project Himank highlights successful wildlife conservation along with infrastructure growth in the High Himalayas. Project Himank is a Border Roads Organization (BRO) initiative started in 1985 in the Ladakh region of India. Its main objective is to develop and maintain road communication in Ladakh’s high-altitude and harsh terrain. It ensures strategic connectivity near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China.