India Current Affairs [Nation & States] MCQs

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The Telangana government launched a scheme to distribute fine rice for free to the poor through ration shops. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy formally launched the scheme in Huzurnagar, Suryapet district, on Ugadi festival. 6 kilograms of fine rice per person per month will be given free of cost through the Public Distribution System (PDS). The scheme will benefit over three crore people, covering 85% of the state’s population. The government aims to ensure food security with dignity and prevent the misuse of coarse rice, which was earlier rejected by beneficiaries.

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The Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir launched the Zero-Ticket Travel Initiative at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC). This initiative allows women to travel free of cost on Smart City electric buses and Jammu and Kashmir Road Transport Corporation (JKRTC) buses across the Union Territory. It also includes free travel for schoolgirls, ensuring safer and easier commutes for young students. The move is part of a larger set of pro-women and pro-poor policies focused on improving social and economic empowerment. The initiative promotes gender-inclusive mobility and supports access to education and opportunities.

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To promote tourism in Ladakh, the Department of Tourism, Union Territory of Ladakh is organizing events under the Apricot Blossom Festival 2025 in various apricot-growing regions of Leh and Kargil. Inspired by Meghalaya’s Cherry Blossom Festival, Ladakh started this festival two years ago to support ecotourism. The festival celebrates the month-long apricot blossom season, enhancing spring tourism in lesser-known areas.

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Maharashtra government has decided to rename Khultabad to its original name Ratnapur, restoring its historical identity. The town was originally called Ratnapur, but its name was changed to Khultabad during the Mughal era. It is located about 25 kilometers from Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar (formerly Aurangabad). The town is historically significant as it houses the tomb of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, as well as the graves of his son Azam Shah and Asaf Jah I, the founder of the Hyderabad Nizam dynasty.

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Gujarat Police launched the GP-DRASTI program, which stands for Drone Response and Aerial Surveillance Tactical Interventions. The program uses quadcopters for real-time surveillance, quick response to crimes, and evidence collection. It covers 33 police stations across Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Surat, and Vadodara. The drones are equipped with high-definition (HD) cameras, night vision, and a 1-kilometre zoom. They can track suspects, provide live video, and help in facial recognition during criminal events. Each drone operates within a 4-kilometre range, flies up to 120 meters high, and can stay airborne for 45 minutes. Sixteen police personnel have been trained to operate the drones. The initiative boosts security in areas prone to violence and improves police effectiveness.

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Kerala has become the first state in India to launch Online Permanent Lok Adalat Services. Permanent Lok Adalat is organized under Section 22-B of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987. It has the same powers as a Civil Court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908. It acts as a compulsory pre-litigation mechanism for conciliation and settlement of disputes related to Public Utility Services like transport, postal, and telegraph. The judgment given is final and binding on all the parties involved.

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Uttarakhand Cabinet has approved the Adarsh Sanskrit Village Programme to promote Sanskrit, the state’s second official language. In the first phase, one village from each of the 13 districts is selected to learn Sanskrit. The selected villages include Bhogpur, Mukhem, Kotgaon, Baiji, Dimmar, Goda, Urg, Pandeykota, Seri, Khark Karki, Nurpur, Pandeygaon, and Nagla Terai. The government plans to link Sanskrit learning with jobs by involving industries and forming local committees for smooth implementation.

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Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) has selected 18 Hub institutions and 106 Spoke institutions under the PAIR (Partnerships for Accelerated Innovation and Research) programme. The PAIR programme connects top research institutions with universities and colleges through structured mentorship and collaboration. It aims to boost India’s higher education and research by promoting innovation, capacity building, and regional excellence. A total of 30 proposals were received for Hub selection and 166 for Spokes. This initiative aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. It aims to turn institutions into centres of innovation, leadership, and global relevance.

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Recently, Karnataka became the first Indian state to complete a detailed antiquities survey at the village level. The Department of Archaeology is surveying 119 taluks to document antiquities like inscriptions, sculptures, and monuments. Geo-tagging is used to digitally mark and track the exact locations of these heritage items. A proposal is being prepared to add 110 new monuments to the protected list, aiming to safeguard 1,000 more in future. Karnataka faces challenges like lack of resources and coordination in preserving over 25,000 monuments. The ‘Adopt a Monument’ scheme uses Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds to support heritage upkeep.

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The government recently authorised the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) to share and receive information with the Enforcement Directorate under the anti-money laundering law to better detect money trails and combat cyber frauds. Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) is established under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) as the national nodal agency to fight cybercrime. It provides a framework and ecosystem for law enforcement agencies (LEAs) to handle cybercrimes in a coordinated and comprehensive way. It connects academia, industry, public, and government for prevention, detection, investigation, and prosecution of cybercrimes. The headquarters of I4C is located in New Delhi.