India Current Affairs [Nation & States] MCQs

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As part of National Handicrafts Week, the Ministry of Textiles launched the Chaupal Program nationwide in New Delhi. The program aims to promote handicraft traditions, build entrepreneurship, and form sustainable handicraft clusters under the National Handicrafts Development Program (NHDP). Chaupals will be permanent district-level platforms in 100 handicraft aspirational districts for artisan enrolment, scheme awareness, skill development, and entrepreneurship over the plan period. Chaupal Kits with audio-visual materials and essential equipment were distributed to facilitate workshops, demonstrations, and digital onboarding of artisans.

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India launched its first-ever weapons database, named the ‘Lost, Looted and Recovered Firearm’ database, to strengthen the fight against organised crime, terrorism, and extremism. The database was launched by Union Home Minister Amit Shah during the inaugural session of the Anti-Terror Conference-2025 organised by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). It has been developed by the NIA, India’s central anti-terror agency under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). The database records detailed information on government-owned weapons that are lost, looted, stolen, or recovered from state police forces and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs).

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In December 2025, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) notified India’s first dedicated standard for bomb disposal systems. The standard is titled IS 19445:2025. It aims to strengthen India’s internal security preparedness and safety infrastructure. It was developed at the request of the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Terminal Ballistic Research Laboratory. The standard provides guidelines to evaluate systems against blast loads and splinter effects. It aims to ensure uniform evaluation, quality manufacturing, and confidence in bomb disposal systems.

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Gujarat Government led by Chief Minister (CM) Bhupendra Patel approved the Indian Artificial Intelligence Research Organization (IAIRO) at Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City), Gandhinagar. Gujarat became the first state in India to establish a national Artificial Intelligence (AI) research institution under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. IAIRO will start operations on 1 January 2026 as a non-profit under Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013. It will follow a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model via State Government, Central Government and Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA).

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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 Public Investment Board (PIB) approved the ₹26,070-crore, 1,720 Megawatt (MW) Kamala Hydroelectric Project in Arunachal Pradesh. The project is planned on the Kamala River, a major tributary of the Subansiri River, in Kamle district. It is a storage-based hydroelectric scheme with an important flood moderation component. A 216-metre-high concrete gravity dam and an underground powerhouse will be constructed. The project will generate 6,869.92 Million Units (MU) of green energy every year. It will also help reduce floods in the Brahmaputra valley.

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Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel inaugurated a cancer screening mobile unit called ‘Asha Van’ in Gandhinagar. The van is equipped with EVA-Pro diagnostics, a mammography unit, and expert teleconsultation facilities for early detection and diagnosis of cancer. It can screen for 10 types of cancer, including lung, oral, blood, cervical, pancreatic, liver, breast, and prostate cancers, using ultra-modern equipment at any location. The initiative supports Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Health and Wellness for All’, particularly benefiting rural areas.

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In Punjab, ‘Dhiyan Di Lohri’ (Lohri of Daughters) was celebrated in a Jalandhar village, honouring 5,100 newborn girls. Similar celebrations are being organized in various villages across the state. The celebrations aim to strengthen the national ‘Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao’ movement. Celebrating the birth of daughters as a festival reflects progressive social change and promotes saving, educating, and empowering the girl child in society.

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PRAGATI, the Prime Minister’s flagship platform for Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation, recently completed its 50th meeting. PRAGATI is an integrated and interactive system to resolve public grievances and monitor key Central and State Government projects. It promotes electronic transparency and electronic accountability through real-time interaction among stakeholders. The platform was launched on 25 March 2015. It was designed in-house by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) with support from the National Informatics Centre (NIC). It enables the Prime Minister to directly review projects with live data and visual evidence. The platform integrates digital data management, video conferencing, and geospatial technology.

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Karnataka Department of Women and Child Development has launched Gruha Lakshmi Digital Marketing to promote women entrepreneurs. It is a state-backed e-commerce portal showcasing women-made products to national and global markets. The initiative aims to boost women’s economic independence and digital inclusion. The portal highlights products from urban and rural women, including artisans and small businesses. Only verified women entrepreneurs are onboarded to ensure trust and quality. It offers a simple, customer-friendly digital interface for buyers.