India Current Affairs [Nation & States] MCQs

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The Rajmarg Pravesh Portal has been upgraded by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to simplify approvals for infrastructure along National Highways. The upgraded portal was launched by Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to make permission processes faster and more transparent. It enables businesses, organisations and citizens to obtain access permissions for setting up facilities such as fuel stations, restaurants and rest stops along highways. The portal also allows approvals for laying utilities like water pipelines, gas pipelines, optical fibre cables and electrical transmission lines along or across National Highways.

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India is the world’s largest producer of coconuts, contributing around 30.37% of global coconut production. Coconut is a perennial plantation crop and a monocotyledonous palm belonging to the Arecaceae family. It is native to the Indo-Pacific region, with its origin commonly traced to Southeast Asia. Coconut requires a warm and humid tropical climate for optimal growth. It grows best in temperatures ranging between 25°C and 30°C and needs high, evenly distributed rainfall.

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Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw launched 5 new reforms under “Reform Express Initiative”, taking total reforms in 2026 to 9. Reforms focus on cargo, infrastructure quality, and passenger convenience to improve efficiency of Indian Railways. A new container-based system for salt transport uses stainless steel containers with top-loading and hydraulic discharge to reduce losses and damage. India produces approx 35 million tonnes of salt; 9.2 million tonnes move via rail, and this reform aims to increase rail share.

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The National Housing Bank (NHB) has launched the Gruh Sugam Portal, aimed at promoting cost-effective housing finance and digital lending adoption. The portal specifically targets Defence personnel, Paramilitary members, and Government employees (State and Central) to apply for home loans digitally from their posting locations. It eliminates the need to visit banks or financial institutions for loan approvals and processing, enhancing convenience.

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The National Commission for Women (NCW) has launched “True Cyber Sakhi”, a digital safety toolkit aimed at empowering women in the online space. The initiative focuses on enhancing awareness, resilience, and protection against cyber threats and online harassment. It is designed to educate women about safe internet practices, including identifying cyber fraud, phishing, and digital abuse. The toolkit promotes digital literacy and self-protection skills, enabling women to navigate the online world confidently and securely.

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In the 132nd episode of Mann Ki Baat, Narendra Modi highlighted the Morung education system of the Naga tribes, bringing it into recent focus. The Morung is a traditional community-based indigenous education system that historically functioned as a youth dormitory and learning space where elders trained younger generations. It aims to preserve tribal heritage, oral traditions, and community values while promoting holistic development through a blend of traditional knowledge and modern education. The system follows elder-led learning, where knowledge is transmitted through storytelling, oral traditions, and lived experiences.

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The Telangana government has declared cancer a notifiable disease to strengthen surveillance of non-communicable diseases. All healthcare facilities, including government and private hospitals, diagnostic labs, and clinics, must report cancer cases within one month of diagnosis. The move aims to create a centralized cancer registry for accurate estimation of incidence and prevalence. It will support evidence-based policymaking, better planning of palliative care, and improved resource management. The Mehdi Nawaz Jung Institute of Oncology and Regional Cancer Centre has been designated as the Centre of Excellence for data validation and coordination with the national registry.

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The Lanjia Saora Tribe is witnessing cultural reinterpretation as younger members balance tradition with modern influences. They are an ancient tribe of Odisha, classified as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG). They exhibit Proto-Australoid physical characteristics. They live in scattered mud-and-thatch houses in hilly terrains. They are known for their distinct art, including wall paintings (Idital), and rich musical traditions using instruments like gongs and cymbals.

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The Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Bill, 2026 was unanimously passed by the Punjab Assembly in April 2026 to curb sacrilege (beadbi: disrespect to sacred texts) and maintain communal harmony. It prescribes strict punishment: 10 years to life imprisonment and fines between ₹5 lakh and ₹25 lakh for desecration of Guru Granth Sahib. Attempt and abetment attract 3–5 years imprisonment and fines up to ₹3 lakh; conspiracy may lead to property confiscation. Offences are cognisable (police can arrest without warrant) and non-bailable (bail not a right). It expands sacrilege to include physical, verbal, symbolic, and digital acts. The law aims to address gaps in Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita provisions.

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The Allahabad High Court (Lucknow Bench) set aside rejection of Community Forest Rights claims of the Tharu tribe in Lakhimpur Kheri. The Tharu are an indigenous tribe of the Terai plains along the Indo–Nepal border, residing in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Bihar. They are among the oldest and largest ethnic groups of the Terai and were recognized as a Scheduled Tribe in 1967. Their language, Tharu or Tharuhati, belongs to the Indo-Aryan subgroup of the Indo-European language family. Economy is based on agriculture, cattle rearing, fishing, hunting, and forest produce collection.