India Current Affairs [Nation & States] MCQs

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Recently, the Union Government launched the Clean Plant Programme for grapes, oranges, and pomegranates in Maharashtra. Clean Plant Programme is a government initiative to provide disease-free and high-quality planting materials for horticultural crops like fruits, vegetables, and flowers. It aims to improve crop productivity and reduce losses by giving farmers access to certified, healthy plants. The programme includes setting up nine Clean Plant Centers (CPCs) for disease diagnosis, treatment, and quarantine of planting materials.

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The Union Education Minister launched the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 2.0’ campaign by planting a sapling in New Delhi to promote environmental awareness on World Environment Day. A special module and website were also launched, along with a web portal to monitor eco club activities under Mission Lifestyle for Environment (Mission LiFE). The importance of trees in sustaining life was emphasized, linking the campaign to environmental and health benefits. The campaign called for reducing plastic use and adopting sustainable development practices to protect the environment.

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The Uttar Pradesh (UP) government has digitised the National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS) to ensure quick, transparent, and efficient financial aid to poor families. The scheme offers ₹30,000 to the dependent of a deceased earning head, if the family’s annual income is below ₹56,460 in urban areas and ₹46,080 in rural areas. Funds are transferred through the Public Financial Management System (PFMS) to Aadhaar-linked accounts.

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Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister has fixed November 2026 as the deadline for completing the delayed Shongtong-Karcham Hydroelectric Project. It is a run-of-river hydropower project located on the Satluj River in Kinnaur District, Himachal Pradesh. The project has a total capacity of 450 megawatts (MW), using three 150 MW Francis turbines. It will generate approximately 1,594 million units or gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electricity annually.

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President Droupadi Murmu recently inaugurated Rashtrapati Tapovan and Rashtrapati Niketan in Dehradun. She also opened public facilities like a visitor centre and cafeteria and laid the foundation of Rashtrapati Udyan at Rashtrapati Niketan. A book on biodiversity of these places was released, listing over 300 plant species and 170 animal species. Rashtrapati Tapovan will open to the public from June 24 and Rashtrapati Niketan from July 1.

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Recently, Arunachal Pradesh declared the years 2025–2035 as the Decade of Hydro Power to harness its hydropower potential of 58,000 megawatts (MW). The government will promote mega, large, and small hydroelectric projects and build a strong policy and regulatory framework. About 19 gigawatts (GW) of hydropower projects worth over ₹2 lakh crore are under development, with expected annual revenue of ₹4,525 crore from 2035 through free power share.

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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 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.

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Recently, the Union Minister of Jal Shakti inaugurated the C-FLOOD platform. C-FLOOD means “Unified Inundation Forecasting System”. It is developed by Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Pune and Central Water Commission (CWC), Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation (DoWR, RD & GR), Ministry of Jal Shakti. It is part of the National Supercomputing Mission (NSM) run by Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and Department of Science and Technology (DST).

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Recently, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) conducted Operation MED MAX to stop illegal pharmaceutical drug trade. Under this operation, NCB dismantled a transnational drug trafficking syndicate. The syndicate smuggled controlled medicines across four continents. They used encrypted digital platforms, drop shipping models, and cryptocurrency for smuggling. This network shows the growing link between digital platforms, cryptocurrency, and global logistics in modern illegal trade.