India Current Affairs [Nation & States] MCQs

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A Mumbai-headquartered defence company, Sagar Defence Engineering, held the stone-breaking ceremony for the world’s first Autonomous Maritime Shipbuilding and Systems Centre at Juvvaladinne fishing harbour, Andhra Pradesh. The project is a major step in strengthening India’s indigenous defence manufacturing and advancing the nation’s maritime technological capabilities. The Andhra Pradesh government allocated 29.58 acres of land at the fishing harbour in Nellore district, providing direct sea access for vessel construction, launch, testing, and deployment. The initiative aligns with the state government’s vision to enhance India’s marine technology ecosystem and build advanced manufacturing capabilities along the coastline.

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Union Minister of Jal Shakti, Shri C. R. Paatil, inaugurated the new office of the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) and launched its official website. The event introduced digital tools to strengthen dam safety monitoring. NDSA is a statutory body established under the Dam Safety Act, 2021 to regulate dam safety in India. It functions under the Ministry of Jal Shakti and ensures the structural integrity and safe operation of specified dams nationwide. NDSA implements policies framed by the National Committee on Dam Safety (NCDS) and oversees national dam safety standards.

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The Rajmarg Pravesh Portal has been upgraded by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to simplify approvals for infrastructure along National Highways. The upgraded portal was launched by Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to make permission processes faster and more transparent. It enables businesses, organisations and citizens to obtain access permissions for setting up facilities such as fuel stations, restaurants and rest stops along highways. The portal also allows approvals for laying utilities like water pipelines, gas pipelines, optical fibre cables and electrical transmission lines along or across National Highways.

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Ministry of Culture launched Gyan Bharatam Mission to survey, document, conserve, digitize and provide access to manuscripts across India. The Standing Finance Committee (SFC) approved ₹491.66 crore for 2025–2031 to implement the mission. Manuscripts from academic institutions, museums, libraries and private collections will be covered across the country. The mission aims to identify about one crore manuscripts regardless of region, language or script. A nationwide network of Cluster Centres (CCs) and Independent Centres (ICs) is being created, with 40+ centres onboarded.

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RISA: Timeless Tribal is a premium national brand launched by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs to promote and preserve India’s tribal crafts, textiles, and embroidery. The scheme is implemented by TRIFED (Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India) to support Vocal for Local and the Atma Nirbhar Bharat initiative by adding value to tribal products. The brand aims to showcase India’s indigenous craftsmanship in both domestic and international premium markets, positioning tribal products as high-end and globally competitive.

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Indian Railways has approved the extension of the KAVACH system across multiple railway zones to enhance train safety and operational efficiency. KAVACH is an indigenous Train Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) designed to prevent train accidents by automatically applying brakes when two trains are on a collision course. It has been developed by the Research Designs & Standards Organization (RDSO) under Indian Railways. It provides continuous real-time updates to the locomotive, ensuring better monitoring and control.

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Telangana government passed the Platform-Based Gig Workers (Registration, Social Security and Welfare) Bill in April 2026 to regulate gig work and ensure welfare. The bill provides for a welfare board, aggregator levy, unique identification for workers, and penalties for non-compliance. It aligns with provisions of Code on Social Security, 2020 recognizing gig workers. The initiative addresses issues like income insecurity, lack of social protection, and financial exclusion. Similar legislation has been enacted in states like Karnataka, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, and Bihar.

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The Centre for Southeast Asian Studies has been inaugurated at Nalanda University to strengthen India’s engagement with Southeast Asia. The initiative was announced by Narendra Modi during the ASEAN-India Summit 2025. It focuses on interdisciplinary research areas like climate, maritime studies, trade, public health, migration, and digital cooperation. The Centre will support the ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Plan of Action (2026–2030). It aims to act as a bridge by enhancing academic collaboration, policy engagement, and cultural ties between India and Southeast Asia.

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Indian Army’s Trishakti Corps launched Operation Him Setu to evacuate stranded tourists in Lachen, North Sikkim. The operation was necessitated due to a landslide disrupting connectivity between Lachen and Chungthang. Despite harsh weather and heavy snowfall, troops restored access by opening critical passes and activating alternate routes. Border Roads Organisation is coordinating with the Army for road clearance, snow removal, and connectivity restoration. Evacuation is being carried out in phases, with 135 tourists, 32 light vehicles, and 10 motorcycles safely evacuated so far.

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Researchers found a traditional herbal formulation used by the Konyak tribe of Nagaland showing anti-cancer potential, highlighting the importance of indigenous medicinal knowledge. The Konyaks mainly inhabit Mon district of Nagaland. The term “Konyak” is derived from ‘Whao’ (head) and ‘Nyak’ (black), meaning “men with black hair.” They are of Mongoloid origin, and about 95% of the population follows Christianity. Their language belongs to the Sino-Tibetan language family (a major Asian linguistic group).