India Current Affairs [Nation & States] MCQs

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The Chief Minister of Sikkim has declared Cho La and Dok La passes, located in the border areas of Sikkim, open for tourists. This has been done under the Bharat Ranbhoomi Darshan initiative of the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Tourism. The initiative aims to promote border tourism, improve infrastructure, and support livelihoods in remote border villages. It focuses on boosting connectivity, tourism, and socio-economic development in border regions. The initiative offers virtual tours, historical stories, and interactive content on key battlefields.

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Researchers from the Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF) have shown that local ecological knowledge of the Adi community can improve efforts to track the critically endangered Chinese pangolin. Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) is a small, nocturnal mammal fully covered in protective keratin scales. It inhabits subtropical, tropical, and deciduous forests and is distributed across southern China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Hainan, parts of Southeast Asia including Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam, as well as northern India, Nepal, and Bhutan. The species has been listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List.

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The first Yarn Processing Plant of Purvanchal will be set up in Mirzapur district, Uttar Pradesh. The plant will provide locally processed yarn to the carpet industry, reducing dependence on other states. The Mirzapur–Bhadohi belt is a major hub for handmade carpet production and export. The project is being developed under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model with an estimated investment of ₹8 crore. Local weavers and carpet manufacturers will benefit from lower raw material costs and timely yarn supply. The plant is expected to be completed by April 2026 and is supported by the Uttar Pradesh Textile & Garmenting Policy 2022.

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The Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) stated in its Annual Ground Water Quality Report-2025 that Andhra Pradesh faces widespread groundwater contamination as per Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) is a multidisciplinary scientific organization under the Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti. It is the national apex agency responsible for scientific management, exploration, monitoring, assessment, augmentation, and regulation of groundwater in India.

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Recently, Jharkhand implemented rules under the Panchayat (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA) after 25 years of statehood. PESA is intended to give tribal communities greater control over governance in Fifth Schedule Areas. The law empowers Gram Sabhas to manage local resources, resolve disputes, and preserve customary practices. The implementation covers 13 districts fully, with partial application in three more. Tribal leaders welcome the law but caution that administrative control may dilute true autonomy. The success of PESA will depend on effective and respectful implementation at the village level.

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A value-education initiative titled “Young Ambassadors of Change: Values for a Caring Community” was launched at a Government Adi Dravidar Primary School in Kattur, Tamil Nadu. The programme promotes values like honesty, kindness, respect, responsibility, discipline, patience, and gratitude. Teachers use value-based stories, prayers, and reflections during morning assemblies. Students practice values at school and home with parental support through WhatsApp communication. Children are rotated in batches every 15 days for equal participation. Assessment is done through observation, encouragement, badges, and quote walls instead of marks.

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India has officially submitted the nomination dossier for Meghalaya’s living root bridges for the 2026–27 UNESCO World Heritage evaluation cycle. Meghalaya is home to the Living Root Bridges. They are primarily located in the East Khasi Hills and West Jaintia Hills districts. Living Root Bridges, locally called Jingkieng Jri, are handcrafted pedestrian bridges formed by training the aerial roots of the Indian rubber tree (Ficus elastica) across streams and rivers.

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A rare snow leopard sighting by Project Himank highlights successful wildlife conservation along with infrastructure growth in the High Himalayas. Project Himank is a Border Roads Organization (BRO) initiative started in 1985 in the Ladakh region of India. Its main objective is to develop and maintain road communication in Ladakh’s high-altitude and harsh terrain. It ensures strategic connectivity near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China.

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Wool is an important fibre for winter clothing, carpets, floor coverings, and industrial products. India has the second-largest sheep population globally with 77.4 million sheep and ranks ninth in wool production. In Financial Year 2023–24, total wool production was 33.69 million kilograms. Rajasthan led with 16,013.50 thousand kg, contributing about 47.5% due to its arid climate and native sheep breeds. Jammu and Kashmir followed with 7,770 thousand kg, known for fine wool from cold-climate sheep. Other major producers were Karnataka, Telangana, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Himachal Pradesh. Punjab recorded the highest annual growth rate in wool production.

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India has achieved a total renewable energy capacity of 272 gigawatts, as stated by the Minister for New and Renewable Energy in the Rajya Sabha. Solar energy capacity has grown sharply from 2.8 gigawatts to 136 gigawatts. India has now become the world’s third-largest renewable energy producer. The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) scheme is benefiting rural areas through solar pumps and solarised agriculture. Several states are seeking expansion of the scheme due to its success. India is leading globally in green hydrogen, with 21 projects producing 8,300 tonnes per year commissioned so far.