India Current Affairs [Nation & States] MCQs

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The ‘Kumbakonam Betel Leaf’ from Thanjavur and the ‘Thovalai Flower Garland’ from Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu, have been granted a Geographical Indication (GI) Tag by the central government. With this recognition, Tamil Nadu now has a total of 62 GI-tagged products. The GI Tag prevents misuse of these names for commercial purposes and protects against forgery.

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Chhattisgarh State Power Generation Company Limited (CSPGCL) is building its first Supercritical Thermal Power Project (SCTPP) in Korba district to boost power generation. The new plant is an expansion of the existing Hasdeo Thermal Power Station (HTPS) and was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 30, 2025. The project involves an investment of ₹15,800 crore and will add 1,320 megawatts (MW) to the current 1,340 MW capacity. Supercritical thermal power plants operate above the critical pressure of 22.1 mega pascals (MPa) and temperature of 374°C for higher energy efficiency. In supercritical conditions, water and steam merge into a single phase, improving power output with less fuel.

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The Ministry of Women and Child Development is celebrating the 7th edition of Poshan Pakhwada from April 8th to 22nd, 2025. It aims to raise awareness about nutrition and promote healthy eating habits through public participation and involvement. The themes include focusing on the first 1000 days of life, promoting the Beneficiary/Citizen Module of Poshan Tracker, managing malnutrition through Community-Based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM), and addressing obesity in children.

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The Government of India has granted Geographical Indication (GI) tags to Ryndia Silk and Khasi Handloom from Meghalaya, boosting their cultural identity, legal protection, and market reach. Ryndia Silk is hand-spun, naturally dyed, and organically made, linked to Umden-Diwon, Meghalaya’s first Eri Silk Village. Khasi Handloom showcases the Khasi community’s rich weaving tradition using natural dyes. The GI tag was officially granted with support from the Meghalaya Textiles Department, National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), Dr. Rajnikanth, and the Meghalaya Ryndia Producers Association.

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Telangana has declared heatwaves, sunstrokes, and sunburns as a ‘State-Specific Disaster’ due to rising global temperatures and frequent severe heat events. Financial relief to families of heatwave victims has been increased from ₹50,000 to ₹4 lakh per deceased person under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF). Previously, relief was given under the Apathbandhu scheme; now a Government Order (G.O.) issued by Special Chief Secretary (Disaster Management) Arvind Kumar formalised the new policy. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) reported at least 15 heatwave days in Telangana in 2024, with some districts facing over 30 days. Heatwave deaths must meet IMD’s definition: temperature ≥ 40°C with 5-6°C rise from normal or ≥ 45°C.

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A tourist shikara recently overturned in Dal Lake, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir due to strong winds, throwing a tourist family and a boatman into the water. Dal Lake is a mid-altitude urban lake in Srinagar, surrounded by the Pir Panjal mountains. It plays a major role in Kashmir’s tourism and is often called the “Jewel in the crown of Kashmir” or “Srinagar’s Jewel.” The lake is also known as the Lake of Flowers. The lake is also famous for its floating market, where vendors use wooden boats called shikaras to sell goods to tourists.

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Rare fossils of the extinct Stegodon Ganesa have been discovered in the Wardha-Penganga riverbed, Maharashtra. Stegodon Ganesa was an ancient elephant species and is considered the ancestor of present-day Asiatic elephants. The fossils are estimated to be 25,000 years old and date back to the late Pleistocene period. A unique feature of Stegodon Ganesa was its long tusks that were placed so close together there was no space for a trunk between them. The Penganga River, which is 676 kilometres long, starts from the Ajantha ranges in Aurangabad district, Maharashtra. It flows along the border of Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh before merging with the Wardha River.

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South India’s first Air-Conditioned Electric Multiple Unit (AC EMU) train has started operations on the Chennai Beach-Chengalpattu corridor. This marks a major milestone for Chennai’s suburban rail network, which is a key transport system for the city and nearby areas. The service is operated by the Chennai division of Southern Railway. It is the first AC EMU service in southern India, according to officials. The train has advanced features like automatic doors and a passenger information system, offering a more comfortable and modern travel experience.

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The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) recently conducted multiple raids under Operation Hawk to crack down on cybercrime involving Online Child Sexual Exploitation (OCSE) with global links. The action followed inputs from United States (US) authorities and led to the arrest of two individuals from Mangalore and Delhi.The CBI’s International Operations Division registered cases under the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000, and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012.This comes as part of CBI’s broader efforts under earlier operations like Operation CARBON (2021) and Operation Megh Chakra (2022)

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Recently in Patna, the Union Minister urged youth to actively join the Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat) portal to support nation-building efforts. Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat) is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. It was launched on October 31, 2023, marking the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. It aims to promote youth-led change and prepare young citizens for Amrit Kaal and Viksit Bharat by 2047. The platform offers equal access to volunteering, learning, and mentorship opportunities. It helps youth build digital profiles to match their skills and interests with projects. Through experiential learning, youth work on real projects with NGOs, local bodies, and businesses.