India Current Affairs [Nation & States] MCQs

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Union Minister Jitendra Singh launched the first-ever Himalayan High-Altitude Atmospheric and Climate Centre in Nathatop, Chenani, Udhampur district, Jammu and Kashmir. This new centre will provide accurate climate and weather forecasts for the Himalayan region. It will also focus on research and study of the region’s unique high-altitude weather conditions. The project is supported by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Government of India. It aims to improve climate monitoring and disaster preparedness in the Himalayan belt.

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Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways called the breakthrough in the Silkyara Bend-Barkot Tunnel a historic milestone. The tunnel is a 531-kilometre long, two-lane bi-directional tunnel with an escape passage. It is located on the Dharasu-Yamunotri section in Uttarakhand, connecting Silkyara and Barkot. The tunnel is part of National Highway-134 (NH-134), earlier known as NH-94. It is being built under the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) mode.

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The National Hydro Power Corporation (NHPC) plans to generate power from the 2000 megawatt Lower Subansiri Hydroelectric Project (LSHP), raising concerns about its impact downstream in Assam. The LSHP is a run-of-the-river project built on the Subansiri River, a tributary of the Brahmaputra, at the border of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. It features a 116-meter-high concrete gravity dam from the riverbed and 130 meters from the foundation, with a length of 284 meters. The reservoir has a total storage capacity of 1.37 cubic kilometers. The powerhouse has eight surface-mounted 250 megawatt Francis turbines on the river’s left bank.

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The Union Home Minister launched the HEALD (Healthy Liver Education and Alcohol-associated Liver Disease Prevention) initiative to fight liver diseases in India. HEALD is the first nationwide program focused on liver disease and was started by the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS). It combines public education, early screening, and medical and psychological care for alcohol-related liver issues. The initiative focuses on awareness, prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and policy support. It also addresses mental health, community support, and reducing stigma around alcohol dependence. The idea is to never miss a chance to prevent liver failure through early action and education.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Vizhinjam International Seaport in Kerala on May 2, 2025. It will be India’s first semi-automated and truly deep-water international container transshipment port. The project is being developed under a Public–Private Partnership (PPP) involving the Kerala government, the Central government, and Adani Ports. Its location near major international shipping lanes will boost India’s trade and make Kerala a key maritime hub. The port will reduce shipping time, handle large vessels, increase trade with Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, and create jobs and growth for Kerala. Adani Ports already operates many ports across India and abroad, including in Israel, Tanzania, and Sri Lanka.

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The Maharashtra government has launched the Pink E Rickshaw Scheme to empower women and make them financially independent. It was officially launched by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on April 21, 2025, in Pune, where electric three-wheelers were distributed to selected women. The scheme is administered by the Women and Child Development Department of Maharashtra. Kinetic Green Energy and Power Solutions Limited is the official partner and will supply the electric three-wheelers. A total of 10,000 e-rickshaws will be given in eight districts, including Pune, Nashik, Nagpur, Ahmednagar, Solapur, Kolhapur, Amravati, and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar. Women aged between 20 and 50 years who are widows, divorcees, or from economically weaker sections will get preference under this scheme.

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Recently, the Khadi and Village Industries sector achieved its highest-ever turnover of ₹1.7 lakh crore, marking a major milestone. The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) played a key role in this achievement. KVIC is a statutory body set up under the Khadi and Village Industries Commission Act of 1956. It operates under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises. KVIC’s main aim is to promote rural development by supporting khadi, which is hand-spun and hand-woven cloth, and other village industries. It also focuses on generating employment in rural areas.

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The Jharkhand High Court recently directed the state government to strictly enforce an old ban on meat, alcohol, and intoxicants on Parasnath Hill. Parasnath Hill, the highest peak in Jharkhand at 4,478 feet, is located in the Giridih district. It holds sacred value for both the Jain and Santal Adivasi communities. For Jains, it is a holy pilgrimage site where 20 out of 24 Tirthankaras are believed to have attained moksha, or liberation. The hill has over 40 Jain temples and dhams, attracting both Shwetambar and Digambar sects. Santals call it Marang Buru or “Great Mountain,” their most sacred spiritual site. It houses Jug Jaher Than, similar in importance to Mecca for Santals. It is also where Lo Bir Baisi, the Santal tribal council, meets to resolve key disputes.

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The Punjab government banned hybrid paddy and the Pusa-44 variety to tackle groundwater depletion and environmental harm. These varieties consume more water and take longer to mature, worsening Punjab’s groundwater crisis. The ban is based on research by Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana. Out of 150 blocks, groundwater is overexploited in 114, with only 17 stable. Hybrid paddy is prone to diseases like bacterial blight and smut, which affect yields and nearby crops. Hybrid seeds are costly for small farmers, requiring more pesticides and fertilizers. Taller hybrid plants cause more stubble burning, worsening air pollution. The ban faces legal challenge in Punjab and Haryana High Court on May 19, 2025. Farmers and seed companies oppose the ban, citing uncertainty ahead of sowing season.

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Recently, the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) inaugurated Polar Bhavan and Sagar Bhavan at the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) in Vasco da Gama, Goa. NCPOR was established in 1998 as an autonomous Research and Development (R&D) institute and was earlier known as the National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research (NCAOR). NCPOR functions under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES). Polar Bhavan is the largest building on the NCPOR campus, covering 11,378 square meters and built at a cost of ₹55 crore. It includes advanced laboratories, 55 rooms for scientists, conference halls, a library, and the Science on Sphere (SOS) 3D Earth systems visualisation platform. It will also house India’s first Polar and Ocean Museum to help the public learn about scientific research. Sagar Bhavan covers 1,772 square meters and was built at a cost of ₹13 crore.