India Current Affairs [Nation & States] MCQs

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To address malnutrition, Anganwadi Services, Poshan Abhiyaan and Scheme for Adolescent Girls have been merged under Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 (Mission Poshan 2.0). It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme implemented by States and Union Territories (UTs) for children under 6, pregnant women, lactating mothers and adolescent girls in Aspirational Districts and North-Eastern region. The mission focuses on reducing malnutrition, anaemia, stunting and wasting through community engagement and behavioural change. Supplementary Nutrition is provided as per National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013 with revised balanced norms. Poshan Tracker monitors real-time data on nutrition indicators.

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Recently, the Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister approved the launch of the Urban Challenge Fund (UCF) to strengthen urban development in India. The Urban Challenge Fund is a new Centrally Sponsored Scheme under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. The Fund aims to promote resilient, productive, inclusive, and climate-responsive cities, positioning urban centres as key drivers of India’s next phase of economic growth. Under the scheme, at least 50 per cent of project financing must be mobilised from market sources such as municipal bonds, bank loans, and Public–Private Partnerships (PPPs), while the remaining share can be contributed by States, Union Territories, Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), or other sources.

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Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Jagat Prakash Nadda launched two initiatives at India Artificial Intelligence Summit at Bharat Mandapam. The first is Strategy for Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare for India, called SAHI. SAHI provides national guidance for safe, ethical, evidence based and inclusive use of Artificial Intelligence in healthcare. It focuses on governance, data management, validation, deployment and monitoring of Artificial Intelligence solutions. The second is Benchmarking Open Data Platform for Health Artificial Intelligence, called BODH. BODH is developed by Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur with National Health Authority. It enables secure evaluation of Artificial Intelligence models without sharing raw health data.

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The under-construction Dibang Multipurpose Project in Arunachal Pradesh recently achieved a major milestone with the successful daylighting of Diversion Tunnel-3 (DT-3). The project is being developed on the Dibang River, a tributary of the Brahmaputra River, and is designed as a flood control-cum-hydroelectric power project. With an installed capacity of 2,880 MW, it will become India’s largest hydropower facility. The project is being executed by National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC). It is conceived as an energy storage project with flood moderation as a key objective in addition to electricity generation.

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Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel launched the fifth edition of the herSTART programme for women entrepreneurs at Gujarat University. The university’s convention centre was named Vidyagauri Nilkanth Sabhapuram in honor of Vidyagauri Nilkanth, the first Gujarati woman graduate. The state government is committed to women-led development, following the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The herSTART programme, run by the Gujarat University Startup and Entrepreneurship Council, provides incubation, mentorship, and market access support to women-led startups.

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Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal laid the foundation stones for four riverine lighthouses along the Brahmaputra River, the first such lighthouses on an inland waterway in India. The lighthouses will be constructed at Bogibeel, Pandu, Silghat, and Biswanath Ghat along National Waterway-2, with a total investment of ₹84 crore. The project aims to strengthen inland waterways as a sustainable, cost-efficient transport mode, reducing carbon emissions compared to road transport.

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The Gujarat Urban Development Mission launched the ‘Lake and Air Watch’ initiative to monitor lake health and air quality in cities. It is a technology-driven environmental monitoring programme under the Urban Development and Urban Housing Department of Gujarat. Satellite technology will track lake area changes, algae growth, waste accumulation and water quality indicators. Real-time AQI (Air Quality Index) monitoring stations will be installed in 17 municipal corporations and 152 municipal areas. An automated alert system will warn authorities when air pollution rises or lake conditions worsen.

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Delhi Cantonment Board launched the Swachhata Monitoring & Automated Reporting Tool (SMART) to improve sanitation and civic service monitoring. SMART automates data collection, reporting and performance tracking, replacing manual systems that caused delays and fragmented monitoring. The system uses a four-tier monitoring structure: Supervisors submit updates, ASIs verify, Officers In-Charge track, and CEO reviews consolidated reports. AI-enabled analytics are being integrated to minimise human intervention, identify recurring issues, classify problems, generate intelligent alerts, and prioritise critical areas.

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Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority registered “Nagauri Paan Methi” (Trigonella corniculata L.) as a Community Farmers’ Variety, published in the Plant Variety Journal, February 2026. The registration grants statutory ownership and legal rights to the farming community of Nagaur district, Rajasthan, recognizing their collective innovation, conservation, and custodianship. Women farmer Geeta Devi, Pradhan, Panchayat Samiti Mundwa represents the community as the legal custodian under the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Act, 2001. This is the world’s first sui-generis intellectual property protection for Nagauri Paan Methi, securing farmers’ rights against biopiracy and unauthorized commercial exploitation.

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The “Ningol Van Initiative” was launched by Manipur to strengthen community participation in forest conservation, highlighting women (“Ningols”) in nurturing biodiversity and promoting sustainability. More than 74% of Manipur’s area is under forest cover, supporting livelihoods, food security, and future needs. Under Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVKs), 11 modern micro food-processing units have been set up, 95% operated by women; plans to expand VDVKs for additional livelihood support. Forests support 1.26 lakh micro and food-processing units, and 2.44 lakh artisans rely on forest-based raw materials like fibre and natural dyes.