India Current Affairs [Nation & States] MCQs

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For the first time, a tribal girl from the Kalvarayan Hills has secured admission to the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), marking a historic achievement. The Kalvarayan Hills are located in the Eastern Ghats of Tamil Nadu and spread across 1,095 sq.km. These hills lie between the Kaveri River basin in the south and the Palar River basin in the north. They rise between 2,000 and 3,000 feet and stretch northeast from the Salem district. This success story highlights increasing access to higher education for tribal communities in remote regions.

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Residents of Milam village in Uttarakhand face severe access problems after an avalanche damaged the Bailey bridge over the Gaokha River. A Bailey bridge is a modular bridge with pre-built parts for quick assembly. It was invented by English civil engineer Donald Coleman Bailey in 1941. Bailey bridges are strong, portable, and versatile, designed for fast construction in tough conditions without heavy machinery.

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On World Environment Day, Kerala Forest Department launched an afforestation project named ‘Vithoot’ (Seed Shower). ‘Vithoot’ is India’s first aerial seed ball distribution programme. It is a community-driven campaign to restore greenery and improve forest health. The project aims to reduce human-animal conflicts and revive damaged ecosystems. It boosts biodiversity, increases forest cover, and ensures food for wildlife and people.

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The Maharashtra government has launched a new digital system to monitor infrastructure projects using a geo-tagged 13-digit unique identification number. This system is being implemented through the Infra ID portal to improve transparency, real-time tracking, and coordination among departments. It will help prevent duplication of projects and ensure centralized digital records for better decision-making. The system will be piloted in Wardha district first and expanded across the state by October 2025.

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Recently, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) launched the City Accelerator Program during the National Conference on Skill Development for Renewable Energy Workforce held at Atal Akshay Urja Bhawan, New Delhi. The program is implemented in collaboration with Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation (SSEF). It is a major part of the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana (PMSGMBY), which is the world’s largest domestic rooftop solar (RTS) scheme. The program aims to speed up the adoption of rooftop solar systems in Indian cities.

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In a historic move, NTPC Limited launched India’s first hydrogen fuel cell buses in Leh, Ladakh. The buses were delivered to Sindhu Infrastructure Development Corporation (SIDCO) as part of NTPC’s Green Hydrogen Mobility Project. The initiative is expected to cut down around 350 metric tonnes of carbon emissions and produce 230 metric tonnes of pure oxygen annually, equal to planting 13,000 trees.

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Recently, Gujarat became the first state to implement the Amended BharatNet Program (ABP) under a state-led model. The program ensures seamless digital connectivity across all 14,654 Gram Panchayats and non-Gram Panchayat villages in Gujarat on demand. It aims to deliver over 98% service uptime through modern infrastructure, offering high-speed internet and reliable digital services. The Union Cabinet approved Amended BharatNet Program (ABP) on 4th August 2023, funded through the Digital Bharat Nidhi.

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Recently, the Central Government approved the setup of the South Asia Regional Centre of the International Potato Center (CIP) in India. The CIP-South Asia Regional Centre (CSARC) will be established at Singna in Agra district, Uttar Pradesh. It will support farmers in major potato-growing states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal, and also benefit South Asian countries. The goal is to boost food and nutrition security, farmers’ income, and job creation by improving productivity, post-harvest management, and value-addition in potato and sweetpotato sectors.

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The Andhra Pradesh government has launched the ‘Vidya Shakti’ programme on a pilot basis to assist underperforming students in government schools and colleges. It uses technology and innovative methods to provide extra coaching in Mathematics, Science, and English after school hours. Currently, it is running in 4,424 Zilla Parishad, Government, and Municipal schools, and 576 KGBVs, Residential, and Model Schools. The main goals are to improve learning outcomes, reduce dropout rates, and increase the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER).

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Recently, the Passport Seva Portal faced major server issues, causing disruptions at Passport Seva Kendras (PSKs) across India. The Passport Seva Portal was set up by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in partnership with Tata Consultancy Services as a Public-Private Partnership. It helps citizens easily apply for or renew their passports from home. The portal is user-friendly and offers several passport-related services online.