India Current Affairs [Nation & States] MCQs

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As part of National Handicrafts Week, the Ministry of Textiles launched the Chaupal Program nationwide in New Delhi. The program aims to promote handicraft traditions, build entrepreneurship, and form sustainable handicraft clusters under the National Handicrafts Development Program (NHDP). Chaupals will be permanent district-level platforms in 100 handicraft aspirational districts for artisan enrolment, scheme awareness, skill development, and entrepreneurship over the plan period. Chaupal Kits with audio-visual materials and essential equipment were distributed to facilitate workshops, demonstrations, and digital onboarding of artisans.

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The Government informed Parliament that India is the largest producer of makhana globally, contributing nearly 80 percent of world production. Bihar accounts for around 85 percent of the country’s total makhana output, making it the backbone of the sector. Darbhanga district in Bihar has been identified as a key hub for makhana cultivation and processing due to its high potential. Darbhanga hosts the Indian Council of Agricultural Research–National Research Centre on Makhana and is covered under the One District One Product initiative. To promote the sector, the Government has established the National Makhana Board through a gazette notification dated 14 September 2025.

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The Quality Council of India (QCI) has announced a comprehensive set of next-generation quality reforms to strengthen India’s quality ecosystem across healthcare, laboratories, MSMEs, and manufacturing sectors. QCI is a non-profit autonomous organisation, registered under the Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860. QCI functions under the administrative control of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry. It acts as India’s national accreditation body, creating a system for independent third-party assessment of products, services, and processes.

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Salal is an NHPC hydropower station on the Chenab in Reasi district. Its six 115 MW generating units give a total installed capacity of 690 MW.

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Chhattisgarh leads among larger states in implementing the Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (APAAR) system. As of 7 January 2026, 50,60,941 APAAR IDs were generated out of 57,10,207 students in 57,045 schools, achieving 88.63% coverage. APAAR IDs provide a permanent, secure digital academic identity for students, storing achievements, certificates, and credits. Bemetara district has the highest coverage at 96.40%, followed by Rajnandgaon at 96.38%. Raigarh, Korea, Raipur, Korba, Dhamtari, Durg, and Balodabazar have over 93% coverage.

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In Punjab, ‘Dhiyan Di Lohri’ (Lohri of Daughters) was celebrated in a Jalandhar village, honouring 5,100 newborn girls. Similar celebrations are being organized in various villages across the state. The celebrations aim to strengthen the national ‘Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao’ movement. Celebrating the birth of daughters as a festival reflects progressive social change and promotes saving, educating, and empowering the girl child in society.

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A value-education initiative titled “Young Ambassadors of Change: Values for a Caring Community” was launched at a Government Adi Dravidar Primary School in Kattur, Tamil Nadu. The programme promotes values like honesty, kindness, respect, responsibility, discipline, patience, and gratitude. Teachers use value-based stories, prayers, and reflections during morning assemblies. Students practice values at school and home with parental support through WhatsApp communication. Children are rotated in batches every 15 days for equal participation. Assessment is done through observation, encouragement, badges, and quote walls instead of marks.

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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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Operation Megaburu is a large-scale anti-Maoist counter-insurgency operation conducted in the Saranda forest region of West Singhbhum, Jharkhand. It was launched in January 2026. It targeted Maoist strongholds in the Kumdi area under Kiriburu police station limits. The operation involved Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) elite Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) units and Jharkhand Police. It aimed to neutralise top Communist Party of India (Maoist) leadership, dismantle command structures, and clear remaining Maoist pockets.

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Kerala has officially declared Bacillus subtilis as its State Microbe, highlighting its scientific and ecological importance. Bacillus subtilis is a beneficial (probiotic) bacterium naturally found in the human gut and in fermented foods. It is a Gram-positive, rod-shaped, motile, spore-forming bacterium and a facultative aerobe. The bacterium is commonly found in soil and vegetation and grows best at 25–35°C.