India Current Affairs [Nation & States] MCQs

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More than 1,500 academics protested in Kolkata against the Central government’s plan to repeal the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) Act, 1959. The Indian Statistical Institute, founded by Professor Prasanta Chandra (P.C.) Mahalanobis on 17 December 1931 in Kolkata, is India’s key centre for statistical research, education, and training. The Act applies to ISI, its governing body, staff, and students, and grants autonomy to support its national role. The Act declared ISI an institution of national importance under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).

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The Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar (MGMD) Programme has identified 6,38,365 villages for cultural mapping across India, and data of 6,23,449 villages has been uploaded on the MGMD Portal. The programme was launched by the Ministry of Culture (MoC) under the National Mission on Cultural Mapping (NMCM) to digitally document the cultural heritage of all Indian villages. It creates authentic village-level cultural profiles and strengthens rural identity. The programme promotes community participation through crowd-sourced validation. The data supports cultural cluster development, heritage tourism, traditional skills promotion, and rural economic development. This information was shared by Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in Rajya Sabha.

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Department of Posts released a draft amendment to introduce Digital Hub for Reference and Unique Virtual Address (DHRUVA) under the Post Office Act, 2023. DHRUVA creates a nationwide Digital Address Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) with a standardised, interoperable and geocoded address system. It is based on Address-as-a-Service (AaaS) for secure, consent-based and efficient address data sharing. Framework ensures interoperability, standard formats, geolocation tagging, user consent and public-private integration. Digital addresses will support e-governance, online commerce, urban planning and emergency services like Aadhaar and UPI.

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International Anti-Corruption Day is observed every year on 9 December. It spreads awareness about the harmful effects of corruption on society, governance, development and equality. The theme for 2025 is “Uniting with Youth Against Corruption: Shaping Tomorrow’s Integrity”. It focuses on the role of youth in promoting honesty and ethical behaviour. It emphasises integrity, accountability and collective action at all levels. It highlights the roles of governments, institutions and citizens in fighting corruption. It encourages students to develop moral values and civic responsibility early in life.

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The Union Minister of Jal Shakti, Shri C.R. Patil, launched the Sujalam Bharat App, a digital platform aimed at transforming rural drinking water governance under the Jal Jeevan Mission. The app was developed with support from Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geo-informatics (BISAG-N), enabling geo-referencing, monitoring, and management of rural water supply infrastructure. The initiative ensures real-time, comprehensive data access for both citizens and institutions, enhancing transparency and community ownership of water supply systems. The Sujalam Bharat Database integrates water sources, asset inventories, scheme designs, operational records, water quality, supply metrics, and community feedback into a unified platform.

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The Union Government launched a ₹476.03 crore Central Sector Scheme for holistic development of the makhana sector during the first meeting of the National Makhana Board. National Makhana Board was established as announced in the Union Budget 2025–26, aiming to modernize and strengthen India’s makhana industry. The Board is headquartered in Purnea, Bihar, a major hub for makhana cultivation. The initiative focuses on improving production, processing, marketing, and export potential of makhana, supporting farmers and the agri-based economy.

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Union Minister for Rural Development and Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Shri Shivraj Singh Chauhan, introduced the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) or VB–G RAM G Bill, 2025, in the Lok Sabha. The Bill provides a statutory guarantee of 125 days of wage employment every year for rural households. It aims to ensure welfare of the poor and promote comprehensive village development in line with Mahatma Gandhi’s vision of self-reliant and developed villages. The central government has committed over ₹95,000 crore for this initiative. Panchayats will be graded, with additional work assigned to underdeveloped or underperforming panchayats to ensure balanced development.

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India and the Netherlands signed an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to cooperate on developing the National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) at Lothal, Gujarat. National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) is a flagship project of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) to showcase India’s 4,500–5,000-year-old maritime legacy. It is located in Lothal, near Ahmedabad, Gujarat. It will be India’s first comprehensive national institution dedicated exclusively to maritime heritage.

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Bhopal becomes the 26th city in India with an operational Metro network, taking India’s total operational Metro length to 1,090 km. Bhopal Metro aims to make urban travel faster, cleaner, and more convenient, supporting smart, green, and sustainable mobility. The Metro network in Bhopal spans a total length of 30.8 km, consisting of two corridors—Orange Line (16.74 km) and Blue Line (14.16 km)—and one depot.

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Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah inaugurated the Jyoti–Vishnu International Art Centre in Guwahati, Assam. The Art Centre, costing around ₹291 crore, has a seating capacity of 5,000 and honors cultural icons Jyoti Prasad Agarwala and Bishnu Prasad Rabha. Jyoti Prasad Agarwala made Assam’s first film, Joymoti, laying the foundation of Assamese cinema. He linked music, theatre, and literature with patriotism, inspiring self-respect and freedom consciousness among the people of Assam. Bishnu Prasad Rabha strengthened the freedom movement through art, connecting workers, farmers, and tribal communities.