India Current Affairs [Nation & States] MCQs

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Indore has become India’s first beggar-free city as of May 2025, marking a major success in social welfare. The campaign was launched in February 2024 under the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment as a pilot project in 10 cities. Around 5,000 beggars, including 500 children, were identified on city streets before the campaign began. Beggars were rehabilitated by offering jobs, and children were enrolled in schools for education. Awareness campaigns were run in the first phase, followed by rehabilitation efforts. Giving money to beggars or buying from them is now banned, with three First Information Reports (FIRs) filed. Citizens are rewarded ₹1,000 for reporting instances of begging, which has boosted public participation. The initiative has been recognised by the Union Ministry and a World Bank team as a national model.

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A protest has erupted in Goa after the release of a scientific paper titled “The water budget of the Mahadayi river and its implications for the inter-State dispute.” The Mahadayi River, also called Mhadei, starts from Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnataka and flows west to the Arabian Sea at Panaji, Goa. It is vital for Goa’s water needs, especially in North Goa, and has tributaries like Rogaro, Kushavati, Nanorem, Nanuz, Valvota, and Mapusa. The Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary lies on Chorao Island in the Mandovi River. A long-standing dispute exists between Goa and Karnataka over water diversion by Karnataka from Kalasa and Bhandura tributaries.

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The Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) recently demolished 36 illegal bungalows from the River Villa project that were built within the blue flood line of the Indrayani River in Chikhali. The Indrayani River is a rain-fed river located in Maharashtra and is a tributary of the Bhima River, which further joins the Krishna River. It originates from the Western Ghats near Lonavala and flows through Pune district before merging with the Bhima River at Tulapur. The river is 103.5 kilometres long and holds religious importance as the towns of Dehu and Alandi lie on its banks. Dehu is the birthplace of poet-saint Tukaram, and Alandi is where saint Dnyaneshwar’s samadhi is located. The Indrayani River also flows through Pimpri-Chinchwad and supports local agriculture through irrigation.

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The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has issued a high wave alert for the coasts of Goa, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Kerala. INCOIS was established in 1999 as an autonomous body under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES). It is part of the Earth System Science Organization (ESSO) and is located in Hyderabad. INCOIS provides ocean information and advisory services to society, industries, government agencies, and scientists. Its services include Potential Fishing Zone (PFZ) advisories, Tsunami Early Warning System, Ocean State Forecast (OSF), and Coral Bleaching Alerts. The recent alert highlights INCOIS’s critical role in protecting coastal communities and marine activities.

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Recently, flamingos have arrived in large numbers at the Chhaya pond in Porbandar town of Gujarat, creating a stunning natural spectacle. Flamingos are tall birds known for their pink feathers, long legs, and curved necks, though they hatch with grey feathers. They are social birds and live in large colonies, often gathering in thousands. Their habitats include salty water bodies like lagoons, estuaries, lakes, and mudflats. Greater Flamingos migrate to India from Israel, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, and are the State Bird of Gujarat. Lesser Flamingos migrate from Siberia to Mumbai through the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat.

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The Centre will launch the UMEED Portal on 6 June 2025 to digitize and simplify the registration of Waqf properties in line with the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025. UMEED stands for Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency, and Development. It is a centralized digital platform created to register, monitor, and regulate Waqf properties across India. The Ministry of Minority Affairs will manage it in coordination with State Waqf Boards and judicial authorities.

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Assam and Meghalaya governments have agreed to build a 55 Megawatt (MW) hydropower project on the Kulsi River, which is home to the endangered Gangetic Dolphin. The Kulsi River flows through Meghalaya and Assam. Kulsi River originates in Meghalaya and flows around 60 km through West Khasi Hills into Kamrup district of Assam before joining the Brahmaputra River. It is a small, shallow river around 70–80 meters wide and known for its rich biodiversity.

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Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Chenab and Anji rail bridges in Jammu and Kashmir, marking a major milestone in regional connectivity. The Chenab Rail Bridge is the world’s highest railway arch bridge. It is a steel-and-concrete engineering marvel spanning 1,315 meters across the Chenab River gorge. It is designed to withstand earthquakes and strong winds, and it will reduce travel time between Katra and Srinagar to just about 3 hours. The Anji Rail Bridge is India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge, located in Reasi district.

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Residents of Milam village in Uttarakhand face severe access problems after an avalanche damaged the Bailey bridge over the Gaokha River. A Bailey bridge is a modular bridge with pre-built parts for quick assembly. It was invented by English civil engineer Donald Coleman Bailey in 1941. Bailey bridges are strong, portable, and versatile, designed for fast construction in tough conditions without heavy machinery.

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Himachal Pradesh has launched a Border Tourism initiative to promote sustainable tourism in tribal areas near the Indo-China border. The initiative will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu during his visit to Shipki-La village in Kinnaur district. It is developed with the Union Government to support inclusive growth in remote border areas. Domestic tourists and locals can now access sites in Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti like Shipki-La, Lepcha-La, Gue Monastery, and Chitkul.