India Current Affairs [Nation & States] MCQs

Notes:
Himachal Pradesh has opened the Shipki La Pass to Indian tourists, aiming to boost local economy in Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti, which share a 240-km border with China. Shipki La Pass, once known as Pema La or Shared Gate, is a motorable mountain pass at 3,930 metres in tribal Kinnaur district, Himachal Pradesh. It lies on the India-China border and is among the highest motorable passes in the region. The Sutlej River, called Langqen Zangbo in Tibet, enters India through this pass, which was historically used as a trade route between India and Tibet.

Notes:
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.

Notes:
Government of India has recently launched the NAVYA initiative to skill adolescent girls under the Viksit Bharat@2047 Vision. NAVYA stands for Nurturing Aspirations through Vocational Training for Young Adolescent. It is a joint pilot initiative by the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) and the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE). The programme targets girls aged 16–18 years who have passed at least Class 10 and aims to train them in non-traditional job roles.

Notes:
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.

Notes:
The Andhra Pradesh government has launched the ‘Vidya Shakti’ programme on a pilot basis to assist underperforming students in government schools and colleges. It uses technology and innovative methods to provide extra coaching in Mathematics, Science, and English after school hours. Currently, it is running in 4,424 Zilla Parishad, Government, and Municipal schools, and 576 KGBVs, Residential, and Model Schools. The main goals are to improve learning outcomes, reduce dropout rates, and increase the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER).

Notes:
Recently, the first-ever Ladakh Astro Tourism Festival concluded in Leh, organised by the Tourism Department with the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore, to boost astro tourism and science tourism. The two-day festival aimed to promote Ladakh as a top destination for astro tourism because of its high altitude, dry weather, low light pollution, and clear skies, perfect for stargazing and observing the Milky Way.

Notes:
The Union Railway Minister recently launched the RailOne app in New Delhi. RailOne is a new super app to handle all railway-related passenger needs in one place. It was developed by the Centre for Railway Information Systems, a Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) of Indian Railways. RailOne combines services like ticket booking, real-time tracking, food ordering, Passenger Name Record (PNR) status, refunds, porter booking, and last-mile taxi.

Notes:
The first campus of the Indian Institute of Creative Technology (IICT) was recently inaugurated at the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) Complex in Mumbai. IICT will offer advanced training in VFX (Visual Effects), post-production, XR (Extended Reality), gaming, and animation. Training will be industry-aligned and done in collaboration with global tech companies like Google, Meta, Microsoft, and Apple.

Notes:
The National Cybersecurity Exercise – Bharat NCX 2025 was officially inaugurated on July 21, 2025. It was launched by Deputy National Security Advisor T. V. Ravichandran at Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU), with Vice Chancellor Bimal N. Patel present. The event is organised by the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) in collaboration with RRU. The theme is “Enhancing the Operational Preparedness of Indian Cyberspace.” It brings together cybersecurity experts, defence forces, policymakers, and industry leaders for a two-week national cyber drill. It simulates real-world threats like critical infrastructure attacks, deepfakes, API flaws, and autonomous malware.

Notes:
On 24 July 2025, Rajasthan Assembly established a Kargil Shaurya Vatika to honour soldiers who died in the 1999 Kargil War. The initiative marks the 26th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas and was launched on Hariyali Amavasya with the planting of 1,100 saplings. 21 Veeranganas (war widows) from districts like Sikar, Jhunjhunu, Churu, Jaipur, and Kotputli-Behror participated in the plantation drive. Saplings planted include Sindoor, Areca Palm, Song of India, Krishna Ficus, and Croton, symbolising India’s heritage, natural beauty, and healing traditions.