India Current Affairs [Nation & States] MCQs

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Recently, Uttarakhand launched the country’s first yoga policy on International Yoga Day at Bhararisain in Gairsain, the summer capital of the state. The policy aims to establish Uttarakhand as a global capital for yoga and wellness. A grant of up to ₹10 lakh is also provided to promote research in yoga, meditation, and naturopathy. The state plans to set up five new yoga hubs by the year 2030. By March 2026, yoga services will be available at all AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy) Health and Wellness Centres in Uttarakhand.

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Recently, Salkhan Fossil Park, also called Sonbhadra Fossils Park, was added to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Tentative List for World Heritage Sites. It is located in Salkhan village in Sonbhadra district of Uttar Pradesh. The park contains stromatolites—layered rocks formed by ancient cyanobacteria—from the Mesoproterozoic era, around 1.4 billion years ago. These fossils are older than those in Shark Bay, Australia, and Yellowstone, USA, and have challenged previous beliefs about early life on Earth.

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Recently, India rejected a “supplemental award” issued by a Court of Arbitration on the Kishenganga and Ratle hydroelectric projects, calling it illegal and against the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) 1960. The Court of Arbitration is an ad-hoc international dispute resolution body under Annexure G of the Indus Waters Treaty, 1960, used when bilateral talks fail. The Ratle Hydroelectric Project is run-of-the-river project located on the Chenab River in Kishtwar district, Jammu and Kashmir. India maintains its stand that the award violates treaty principles and cannot be accepted under the current agreement.

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Recently, the Election Commission of India (ECI) launched a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar, highlighting concerns around electoral inclusion for migrant populations. The focus is on balancing electoral roll integrity and inclusive democratic participation. Under Section 19 of the Representation of the People Act (RPA), 1950, only an ‘ordinarily resident’ can be enrolled in a constituency’s electoral roll. Section 20 of the RPA clarifies that just owning a house does not make one an ordinarily resident. A person temporarily away for work or travel is still considered ordinarily resident at their regular home.

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Recently, Gujarat launched India’s first Tribal Genome Sequencing Project to study genetic diseases among tribal communities. Genome sequencing of 2,000 individuals from various tribal groups across 17 districts will be conducted. The main goal is to detect the burden of hereditary diseases like sickle cell anemia and thalassemia. The project will bridge traditional knowledge and modern science for tribal health welfare. It will be implemented by the Gujarat Biotechnology Research Center (GBRC).

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Recently, India campus of University of Southampton was inaugurated in Gurugram, Haryana by the Union Education Minister and Haryana Chief Minister. University of Southampton is a QS Top 100 global university and a founding member of the United Kingdom’s Russell Group. It is the first foreign university to start a campus in India under the University Grants Commission (UGC)’s 2023 Regulations for foreign higher educational institutions. This marks a historic milestone in India’s higher education reforms. It aligns with the vision of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 to globalize Indian education. It also strengthens India–United Kingdom education ties under the India-UK Roadmap 2030.

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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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Recently, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami released the book ‘Sustainable Wellness of Students: A Collective Responsibility in Higher Education’ at the Chief Minister’s residence auditorium. The event was organized by the Chief Minister Office (CMO), Uttarakhand. The Chief Minister emphasized that higher education institutions must focus on student psychology to address modern life challenges. He highlighted that Uttarakhand was the first state to implement the National Education Policy (NEP) under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. NEP focuses on quality education, student welfare, and skill development.

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Satnavri, a village of 1,800 people in rural Nagpur, Maharashtra, was chosen as India’s first ‘smart intelligent village’ under a state-backed pilot project approved by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The project was launched last month to integrate technologies like drone-assisted farming, smart irrigation, mobile banking, digitised schools, and advanced surveillance. It was conceptualised by the Voice of Indian Communication Technology Enterprises (VOICE) with domestic technology associations. Satnavri was selected for its small size, strong connectivity, and readiness for upgrades.

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Recently, Rajasthan launched India’s first drone-based artificial rain trial at Ramgarh Dam, shifting from aeroplane-assisted to unmanned aerial vehicles for cloud seeding. The project uses around 60 drones and is a joint effort between the state agriculture department and GenX AI (US and Bengaluru-based). It aims to revive the 129-year-old dam, which has been dry for 20 years. The project involves multi-department coordination with approval from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for drone use. Cloud seeding uses particles like silver iodide to boost rainfall, with potential up to 20%, though results vary.