India Current Affairs [Nation & States] MCQs

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Recently, the Department of Telecommunications and National Disaster Management Authority have been improving mobile disaster alerts to give timely warnings to people. The National Disaster Management Authority has operationalized the Integrated Alert System called SACHET, developed by Centre for Development of Telematics, based on the Common Alerting Protocol from the International Telecommunication Union. SACHET works in all 36 States and Union Territories and has sent over 6,899 crore Short Message Service alerts in more than 19 Indian languages during disasters. Now, Cell Broadcast technology is being tested to send alerts in near real-time during emergencies like tsunamis, earthquakes, or chemical hazards.

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Recently, Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) in Madhya Pradesh launched India’s first digital house address project. It was started on a pilot basis from ward number 82 in Sudama Nagar area. Special digital plates with unique Quick Response (QR) codes are installed outside every house. The project is linked to the Digipin (Digital Postal Index Number) system of the central government. Scanning the QR code shows the Global Positioning System (GPS)-based digital address of the house.

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Municipal corporations of Lucknow, Pune, and Indore were awarded as best-performing Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) at the first National Level Conference of ULBs in Gurugram, Haryana. Urban Local Body means local government institutions managing urban areas. Lucknow showcased e-vehicles for waste collection, big waste processing plants, and converting dumping sites into inspirational points. Lucknow also developed urban forests using the Miyawaki method and built eco-tourism parks like Mango Museum Park. Pune showed ward-level waste collection, biogas plants for power, slum redevelopment, Triple R centres for reusable items, and a “tree ambulance” service.

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The Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) recently recommended flushing 17 harmful drugs down the sink to avoid risks to people and pets. These drugs include narcotics like Fentanyl, Tramadol (a painkiller), and Diazepam (an anti-anxiety medicine). CDSCO is the Central Drug Authority under the Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.

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The Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) has issued new directions to all State Adoption Resource Agencies (SARAs) to institutionalise structured counselling across all stages of the adoption process. These directions are issued under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 (amended in 2021) and align with the Adoption Regulations, 2022. CARA is a statutory body under the Ministry of Women and Child Development and acts as the central agency for adoption in India and abroad. The goal is to strengthen psychosocial support for prospective adoptive parents, adopted children, and biological parents.

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The Winter Fog Experiment (WiFEX) has recently completed 10 successful years of research on North India’s dense winter fog. It was launched in winter 2015 at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA), New Delhi. WiFEX is led by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES). It is supported by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF). WiFEX is one of the few long-term open-field experiments in the world focused exclusively on fog. The network now covers Jewar Airport (Noida) and Hisar (Haryana) along key aviation corridors.

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Uttar Pradesh has recently become the top state in India for Amrit Sarovar construction with 16,630 ponds built or rejuvenated. This is three times the original target of 5,550 set at the start of the programme in 2022. Mission Amrit Sarovar was launched on 24 April 2022 under “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav” to celebrate 75 years of Indian independence. The mission aims to build or rejuvenate at least 75 ponds in every district to address rural water scarcity. It plays a key role in promoting local water sustainability and groundwater recharge.

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Madhya Pradesh (MP) is leading in implementing the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA). The Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA) is effectively implemented in 88 tribal blocks across 20 districts. This initiative empowers tribal communities to resolve disputes locally through traditional Chaupals, reducing reliance on police stations. In 2025, MP received national recognition from the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, featured in a special success stories booklet. More than 8,000 local disputes, including family and land issues, have been resolved through community-led justice.

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Bihar Chief Minister recently announced the formation of the Bihar Rajya Safai Karmachari Ayog (Bihar State Sanitation Workers Commission). It fulfills a long-standing demand of sanitation workers’ unions. The aim is to protect the rights and interests of sanitation workers who ensure cleanliness in the state. The commission will focus on welfare, rehabilitation, social upliftment, grievance redressal, and monitoring of welfare schemes. The commission will have a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, five members, and one woman or transgender representative.

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India lacks a comprehensive data-based flood severity index despite frequent and damaging floods in many regions. To address this, researchers from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi and IIT Gandhinagar developed a District Flood Severity Index (DFSI). DFSI is based on mean flood duration, percentage of historically flooded area, total deaths, injuries, and district population. Districts were chosen as the analysis unit since they are key for administrative planning and flood management in India.