India Current Affairs [Nation & States] MCQs

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The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has launched a new initiative called ‘Pratibha Setu’ to connect top talent with verified employers, including central government and private organisations. Pratibha Setu was earlier known as the Public Disclosure Scheme (PDS) and helps employers access details of non-recommended but willing candidates who cleared all UPSC exam stages but didn’t make the final merit list. This gives a second chance to skilled candidates and helps employers recruit nearly equally meritorious individuals.

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Recently, Andhra Pradesh achieved global recognition for organising a unique “Floating Yoga” event on the Krishna River in Vijayawada as part of the YogAndhra 2025 campaign. The event was held on 11th June ahead of International Yoga Day and featured over a thousand yoga practitioners. Participants performed yoga asanas on 200 water crafts including kayaks, jet skis, punts, sand boats, and floating platforms. This innovative event showcased the state’s creative approach to promoting health, cultural pride, and community participation.

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Recently, Gujarat became the first state to implement the Amended BharatNet Program (ABP) under a state-led model. The program ensures seamless digital connectivity across all 14,654 Gram Panchayats and non-Gram Panchayat villages in Gujarat on demand. It aims to deliver over 98% service uptime through modern infrastructure, offering high-speed internet and reliable digital services. The Union Cabinet approved Amended BharatNet Program (ABP) on 4th August 2023, funded through the Digital Bharat Nidhi.

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Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) released a technical brief titled “Mapping the Application of Artificial Intelligence in Traditional Medicine”. The brief recognised India’s leadership in using Artificial Intelligence (AI) in traditional medicine, especially Ayush systems. India became the first country to launch the Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL). TKDL is a digital database of traditional medicinal knowledge, including Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy. It prevents bio-piracy by documenting traditional practices in patent-compatible formats.

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Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi launched the Shaktishree Programme in Bhubaneswar to ensure safety of girl students. The programme will cover 16 universities and 730 government and aided colleges under the Higher Education Department of Odisha. It includes 8 components such as self-defence training, legal awareness, and mental health support for undergraduate and postgraduate girls. Every institution will have a Shaktishree Empowerment Cell run by girl students (Shaktishree Saathi), guided by a woman faculty (Sanyojika), and mentored by 5 working women (Shakti Appa).

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Recently, Uttar Pradesh became the first Indian state to launch an Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Big Data Analytics-based Road Safety Pilot Project. The project is approved by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH). Uttar Pradesh has allocated ₹10 crore in the 2025–26 Budget to develop a data-driven model for the Transport Department. Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) will have no financial liability in the project. The AI system will analyse accident reports, weather, vehicles, drivers, and road data to identify accident causes and black spots

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India has revived the 1,856-MW Sawalkote Hydroelectric Power Project on the Chenab River after keeping the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in abeyance since April. The project, first conceived in the 1960s, was delayed due to Indus Water Treaty restrictions and Pakistan’s objections. It is a 2,185 megawatt (MW) run-of-the-river hydroelectric project in Ramban District of Jammu and Kashmir. It will be the largest hydropower project in the Union Territory and one of the biggest in North India. It is being developed by National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) and Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation Limited (JKSPDC).

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The Minister of State for Jal Shakti recently informed the Lok Sabha about the BHU-NEER Portal. It is a state-of-the-art portal launched in 2024 by the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) under the Ministry of Jal Shakti. It aims to regulate groundwater development and management by providing an easy platform for filing No Objection Certificate (NOC) applications for groundwater abstraction. It has a centralized database for groundwater compliance, policies, and sustainable practices. It is meant for industries, infrastructure, and mining projects. It helps enforce guidelines to curb over-extraction and promote sustainable groundwater use.

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Recently, the Union Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution informed about Anna-Chakra. Anna-Chakra is a supply chain optimisation tool under Public Distribution System (PDS). It is developed with World Food Programme (WFP) and Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer (FITT), IIT-Delhi. It is led by the Department of Food and Public Distribution. It uses advanced algorithms for optimal routes and smooth food grain movement.

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Chennai is the first city in Tamil Nadu to adopt the City Biodiversity Index (Singapore Index). The initiative is a joint effort by ICLEI South Asia, Greater Chennai Corporation, and state agencies. The index measures native biodiversity, ecosystem services, and governance through 23 indicators. For baseline year 2024, Chennai scored 38 out of 72 across 18 indicators, showing resilience and areas for improvement.