India Current Affairs [Nation & States] MCQs

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Bharat Seva Kendra (BSK) is a national initiative launched by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of India (CCI India). It aims to deliver government services and welfare schemes directly to rural citizens across India. It acts as a one-stop center for services related to healthcare, education, employment, financial aid, digital access, and agriculture. It is supported by 2.5 lakh sarpanches and 6.5 lakh BSK Sarthis who help villagers connect with government benefits. The initiative focuses on cutting bureaucratic delays by offering a single-window platform. It also promotes digital literacy through modern infrastructure and e-governance tools.

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Ministry of Panchayati Raj held a two-day national write-shop in New Delhi to launch the Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) Version 2.0 for the financial year 2023–24. PAI is a tool developed by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj to track performance of more than 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats. It is based on nine themes that align with Localization of Sustainable Development Goals (LSDGs). The new version helps improve local governance by measuring progress in areas like health, education, infrastructure, and environment.

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The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has issued a high wave alert for the coasts of Goa, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Kerala. INCOIS was established in 1999 as an autonomous body under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES). It is part of the Earth System Science Organization (ESSO) and is located in Hyderabad. INCOIS provides ocean information and advisory services to society, industries, government agencies, and scientists. Its services include Potential Fishing Zone (PFZ) advisories, Tsunami Early Warning System, Ocean State Forecast (OSF), and Coral Bleaching Alerts. The recent alert highlights INCOIS’s critical role in protecting coastal communities and marine activities.

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The Prime Minister participated in the ‘Mahila Sashaktikaran Maha Sammelan’ in Bhopal to mark the 300th birth anniversary of Queen Ahilyabai Holkar. Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar (31 May 1725 – 13 August 1795) ruled the Malwa region as part of the Maratha Confederacy from 1767 to 1795. She first served as regent and then as the ruler of the Holkar dynasty with capitals at Maheshwar and Indore in central India. Her reign is known as the peak period of the Holkar dynasty, bringing peace, prosperity, and cultural growth.

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Meerut has become the first city in India to include Transit Oriented Development (TOD) zones in its 2031 Master Plan. Transit Oriented Development (TOD) means building compact, walkable communities around public transport stations. This move will boost urban growth and reduce traffic by promoting public transport use. The Meerut Development Authority (MEDA) has set aside 3,273 hectares for TOD planning. These zones are focused around the Namo Bharat and Meerut Metro corridors to unlock real estate and economic opportunities.

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Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma launched the ‘Vande Ganga’ water conservation campaign on June 5, 2025, coinciding with World Environment Day and Ganga Dussehra. The campaign will run till June 20 to raise public awareness and promote water-saving efforts across all 41 districts. Activities include cleanliness drives, Tulsi plant distribution, plastic-free pledges, tree plantation, and worship of rivers and water bodies.

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Recently, the Andhra Pradesh government banned the entry of Totapuri mangoes from other states into Chittoor district, leading to a dispute with Karnataka. Totapuri mangoes are mainly grown in Chittoor in Andhra Pradesh and parts of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. This mango is known for its long shape and parrot beak-like tip, which gives it the name “Totapuri.” It is also called Ginimoothi, Sandersha, or Banglora and is native to South India.

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Bihar has become the top state in India for using the ‘Scan and Share’ feature under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), with a 92% online Out-Patient Department (OPD) registration rate. As per the National Health Authority (NHA), Bihar alone accounts for 2.94 crore of the 11.38 crore total OPD registrations under ABDM since 2021. ABDM is a national initiative to build a digital health ecosystem that connects patients, doctors, and hospitals using interoperable systems.

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The Madhya Pradesh government launched the Jal Ganga Sanvardhan Abhiyan on March 30, 2025, for water conservation. Under this, the Ghoda Pachhad River, a tributary of the Narmada, has been revived in Khandwa district with citizen support. Uncontrolled groundwater use had dried up rivers, harming farming. Using the ‘Ridge to Valley’ method, water harvesting structures were built along a 33 km stretch. This method helps slow water flow and store every drop from ridge to valley. Now, rivers in the region show potential for year-round flow.

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The Maharashtra Cabinet has approved the Maharashtra Agriculture-Artificial Intelligence (MahaAgri-AI) Policy 2025-2029 to modernize agriculture using Artificial Intelligence (AI), robotics, drones, and predictive analytics. The policy aims to boost farm productivity and technology adoption in rural areas. Innovation and incubation centres will be set up at four agricultural universities with guidance from top institutes like Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and Indian Institute of Science (IISc).