India Current Affairs [Nation & States] MCQs

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Indore became the first city in Madhya Pradesh and one of only three cities in India to receive the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) Green City Platinum Certification. Other recipients include Rajkot Smart City Development Limited (RSCDL), Pune Municipal Corporation, and Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation. Certification was based on a six-month evaluation of data across master planning, water and energy conservation, solid waste management, e-governance, green cover expansion, and policy interventions.

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Less than 40% of India’s Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) have received a Unique Disability ID (UDID) Card. More than 11 lakh applications are pending, with 60% delayed for more than six months. The UDID sub-scheme under the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) creates a national database and enables access to schemes. UDID cards allow PwDs to get benefits like Assistance to Persons with Disabilities (ADIP) scheme, scholarships, and job reservations. Coverage is above 50% only in Tamil Nadu, Meghalaya, Odisha, and Karnataka, while West Bengal has just 6%.

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The International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), New Delhi, hosted BioE3@1 to mark the first anniversary of the BioE3 Policy. BioE3 integrates Biotechnology with Economy, Environment, and Employment, approved by Union Cabinet in 2024. The event focused on “Institute–Industry Interaction for Climate Resilient Agriculture and Clean Energy.” BioE3 aims to boost India’s bioeconomy and support Net Zero carbon targets by 2070.

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The Ministry of Education celebrated International Literacy Day (ILD) 2025 in New Delhi with the theme “Promoting Literacy in the Digital Era.” Himachal Pradesh became the fifth State/Union Territory (UT) to achieve full functional literacy, after Tripura, Mizoram, Goa, and Ladakh. India’s literacy rate rose from 74% in 2011 to 80.9% in 2023–24, driven by ULLAS Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram. The programme enrolled over three crore learners, mobilised 42 lakh volunteers, and assessed 1.83 crore learners in foundational literacy and numeracy.

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Sawalkote Dam in Jammu and Kashmir is back in focus for India’s hydropower strategy. The Chenab is part of the Indus River system, with west-flowing rivers under Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) restrictions; the treaty is now in abeyance after the April 2025 Pahalgam attack. The Environment Ministry’s Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) will appraise National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) 1,865 MW project for environmental clearance (EC). The Sawalkote Project is a run-of-the-river hydroelectric power project on the Chenab River in Ramban and Udhampur districts of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Union Territory. Sawalkote aims to enhance power availability in the region, particularly during winter, reducing frequent electricity shortages.

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System for Pension Administration – Raksha (SPARSH) resolved 5.60 lakh out of 6.43 lakh legacy defence pension cases (87%). Average grievance disposal time reduced from 56 days in April 2025 to 20 days now. 31.54 lakh defence pensioners in India and Nepal are onboarded on SPARSH. System for Pension Administration – Raksha (SPARSH) is an initiative of the Ministry of Defence (MoD), Government of India. It is administered by the Defence Accounts Department (DAD). SPARSH is world’s largest defence pension system with 202 DAD offices, 4.63 lakh Common Service Centers, 5,200+ bank branches as service centers.

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Karnataka has proposed raising Almatti Dam height from 519.60 metres to 524.256 metres. The dam’s capacity will increase from 173 Thousand Million Cubic feet (TMC) to 300 TMC. Almatti Dam is a hydroelectric and irrigation project forming the main reservoir of the Upper Krishna Irrigation Project. The dam was commissioned in 2005 with an installed power generation capacity of 290 Megawatts (MW). It is located in Bijapur (Vijayapura) district, Karnataka, with submergence in Bagalkot district. The dam is built across the Krishna River, one of South India’s major east-flowing rivers.

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Haryana has launched the Khel Yatra textbook for Class 6 teachers in government schools. The initiative is in line with the National Education Policy (NEP). The textbook aims to enhance physical education and health awareness among students. It provides teachers with structured guidance to promote fitness, sports activities, and healthy lifestyle habits. The program supports the holistic development of students, focusing on both physical and mental well-being.

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The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has recognised Deendayal Port Authority (Gujarat), V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority (Tamil Nadu), and Paradip Port Authority (Odisha) as Green Hydrogen Hubs under the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM). National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM) aims to make India a global hub for production, utilisation, and export of green hydrogen and its derivatives. The Mission promotes large-scale hydrogen hubs to develop a sustainable and competitive hydrogen economy. Ports will act as catalysts for clean energy innovation and support India’s net-zero by 2070 vision. A cluster-based development model addresses challenges of long-distance hydrogen transport and ensures economies of scale.

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The Centre recently recommended environmental clearance for the 1,856-MW Sawalkote Hydro Electric Project on the Chenab River in Jammu and Kashmir. It is a run-of-the-river hydroelectric plant in the Ramban District of Jammu and Kashmir. It will be the largest hydroelectric project in the Union Territory and one of the biggest in North India. The project was first conceptualised in the 1980s and revised multiple times due to environmental and technical concerns. It will be built by National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) Limited at an estimated cost of Rs 31,380 crore.