India Current Affairs [Nation & States] MCQs

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The Kota district administration, Rajasthan, announced reforms to address student stress and rising suicides among competitive exam aspirants. Kota Cares is a joint initiative launched in December 2024 by the administration, coaching institutes, hostel associations, and local communities. It aims to improve the educational ecosystem and student welfare in the city. The initiative is seen as a model for other educational hubs across India.

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Parents and activists fear the Ministry of Education’s Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (APAAR) ID may be difficult to opt out of, despite being voluntary. APAAR is a unique identification system for all students in India. It is part of the ‘One Nation, One Student ID’ program under the National Education Policy 2020. The APAAR ID acts as a lifelong academic passport, storing achievements and credentials. It assigns a permanent 12-digit ID to students, recording degrees, scholarships, and awards. This ID ensures a seamless transition across educational levels.

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Twenty-two Hakki Pikki tribe members from Channagiri, Davangere, Karnataka, were penalized and asked to leave Gabon due to policy changes. The Hakki Pikki are a semi-nomadic tribe traditionally known as bird catchers and hunters. They are one of Karnataka’s major tribal communities and also live in Western and Southern India, mostly near forests. As per the 2011 Census, 11,892 Hakki Pikkis live in Davangere, Mysuru, Kolar, Hassan, and Shivamogga districts. They are recognized as a Scheduled Tribe in India. Their mother tongue, Vaagri, is listed as endangered by UNESCO.

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India is the first country to shift from an anthropocentric to an eco-centric approach in international jurisprudence. The anthropocentric approach values nature for human use, while the eco-centric approach sees nature as valuable in itself. Supreme Court judge Justice PS Narasimha highlighted this shift during the National Conference on Environment-2025, organized by the National Green Tribunal (NGT). The shift aligns with India’s cultural view that humans are part of the environment, not superior to it. Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar was the chief guest at the event. The conference emphasized restoring the environment through shared ideas and grassroots solutions.

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Warangal Chapata chilli, also called Tomato chilli, has received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag from the GI Registry, Government of India, on March 28, 2025. It is named Tomato chilli because of its bright red color and round shape, resembling a tomato. This is the 18th product from Telangana to receive a GI tag. The chilli is less spicy but has a bright red color and strong flavor due to its capsicum oleoresin properties. It has been cultivated for over 100 years, with farmers expecting its price to nearly double from ₹300 per kg to ₹550.

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Assam government will withdraw Foreigner Tribunal cases filed against the indigenous Koch-Rajbongshi community. The Koch-Rajbongshi community is primarily found in the northeastern region of India, particularly in the states of Assam and West Bengal, with significant populations also residing in parts of Meghalaya. The Koch-Rajbongshi community is primarily found in the northeastern region of India, particularly in the states of Assam and West Bengal, with significant populations also residing in parts of Meghalaya.

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Chief Minister M. Himanta Biswa Sarma inaugurated Northeast India’s first onco-robotic surgery facility at the State Cancer Institute, Gauhati Medical College and Hospital, Guwahati, Assam. This advanced facility uses ‘Medi JARVIS’, a Made-in-India robotic system, to perform precise, low-cost, minimally invasive cancer surgeries. The launch was called a Bihu gift, marking the start of Bohag Bihu, Assam’s biggest festival. Similar robotic surgery units will be set up in Dibrugarh and Silchar for better cancer care in upper Assam and Barak Valley.

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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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The Sachet mobile application was launched by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to improve disaster preparedness in India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently highlighted it in his ‘Mann ki Baat’ address. The app sends real-time geo-tagged alerts using the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP), based on the user’s location. Citizens can subscribe to disaster alerts for specific states or districts, making awareness more local and effective. It covers disasters like floods, cyclones, landslides, tsunamis, and forest fires. It also provides weather updates from the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) and includes helpline numbers and safety tips. The app uses satellite connectivity to work even when regular networks fail.

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The National Archives of India (NAI) has added the private papers of former President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam to its rich collection, making a major contribution to India’s historical records. It works under the Ministry of Culture and stores old government records that are no longer active but important for research and administration. It is the largest archival repository in South Asia and protects records of lasting value to the Government of India. NAI was started as the Imperial Record Department on 11 March 1891 in Kolkata and moved to New Delhi in 1911. The full transfer of records to Delhi was completed in 1937. NAI also enforces the Public Records Act, 1993 and Public Record Rules, 1997. It preserves over 34 crore pages, including official files, maps, censuses, treaties, debates, rare manuscripts, and government documents.