India Current Affairs [Nation & States] MCQs

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Uttar Pradesh (UP) topped India in the INSPIRE Award – MANAK (Million Minds Augmenting National Aspiration and Knowledge) scheme with 2,80,747 nominations in 2025. This is an increase of 70,000 nominations from 2,10,000 in 2024 and the highest since the scheme began. The scheme is run by Government of India’s Department of Science and Technology (DST) to encourage innovation among students of classes 6 to 12. Among the top 50 districts nationally, 22 districts are from UP, including Pratapgarh, Prayagraj, Lucknow, Hardoi, Jaunpur, Lakhimpur Kheri, and others. UP surpassed Rajasthan (1,41,142) and Karnataka (1,01,656), leading by 1.39 lakh and 1.79 lakh nominations, respectively.

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In October 2025, the Gujarat government declared 2025 as the “Year of Urban Development”. The declaration commemorates 20 years since the launch of the Well-Planned City Development Project by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi in 2005. Gujarat has sanctioned Rs. 8,220 crores for urban development, including the Vikas Path initiative. During the celebrations, Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation (GMC) was awarded “Cleanest City”. Surat, Gujarat, received the First Nirmal Gujarat Award for outstanding urban sanitation and development achievements. The initiative aims to promote sustainable, well-planned, and citizen-friendly urban infrastructure across the state.

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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.

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Recently, researchers from Mangalore University and Yenepoya (Deemed-to-be University) discovered a distinct ancestral source in the Koraga tribe, possibly dating back to the Indus Valley Civilisation. The Koraga are an indigenous tribal community mainly found in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts of Karnataka and Kasaragod district of Kerala. They are classified as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG). As per the 2011 Census, their population is 1,582 with 778 males and 804 females.

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The Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) launched the “Sahajeevan” project to comply with the Supreme Court directives on stray dogs. The initiative focuses on relocating stray dogs from educational institutions, hospitals, and public places to designated shelters after vaccination. The project aims to promote human-animal coexistence while ensuring safe relocation and vaccination. GMC plans to create awareness in all wards before vaccination drives to prevent public resistance.

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The Directorate of Information Technology (DIT), Tripura, with Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, organized the National Cybersecurity Exercise “Cyber Bharat Setu: Bridging States, Securing Bharat.” The two-day workshop was held on 11th and 12th November 2025 at Pragna Bhavan, Agartala. It aimed to strengthen cyber awareness, readiness, and response capabilities of Tripura. The initiative focuses on building a cyber-resilient Bharat through capacity building, intelligence sharing, and proactive defence strategies. This reflects India’s recent efforts to strengthen digital infrastructure and national security through state-level cyber preparedness.

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Recently, a joint team of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and Delhi Police busted a mega trans-national methamphetamine cartel under Operation “Crystal Fortress.” A record seizure of 328 kg of high-quality methamphetamine worth ₹262 crore was made from a house in Chhatarpur, Delhi. Union Home Minister Amit Shah congratulated the team and highlighted the government’s top-to-bottom and bottom-to-top strategy against drug networks for a drug-free India. NCB urged citizens to report drug-related information through MANAS – National Narcotics Helpline Toll-Free Number 1933.

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Punjab State Scheduled Castes (SC) Commission has opened a new dedicated Court Room to ensure faster hearings, timely case disposal, and better efficiency. This initiative is the first of its kind in India under any State SC Commission. The courtroom is equipped with modern facilities to improve justice delivery. An Online Court System will be launched soon so complainants can appear virtually, reducing time, travel, and expenses.

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Uttar Pradesh (UP) government directed that Aadhaar cards cannot be used as proof of date of birth (DOB). On November 24, 2025, the Planning Department issued the notification to all department heads. The directive is based on a letter from Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) dated October 31, 2025, stating Aadhaar is not a birth proof. Planning Department is the nodal agency for implementing Aadhaar-related directions. Valid proofs include birth certificates, high-school mark sheets, and other prescribed documents. Directive is crucial for age-sensitive processes like recruitment and educational admissions.

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More than 1,500 academics protested in Kolkata against the Central government’s plan to repeal the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) Act, 1959. The Indian Statistical Institute, founded by Professor Prasanta Chandra (P.C.) Mahalanobis on 17 December 1931 in Kolkata, is India’s key centre for statistical research, education, and training. The Act applies to ISI, its governing body, staff, and students, and grants autonomy to support its national role. The Act declared ISI an institution of national importance under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).