India Current Affairs [Nation & States] MCQs

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The Government of India recently launched the Bharat Taxi initiative, a first-of-its-kind national ride-hailing platform designed to be cooperative-driven and citizen-first. The initiative is government-supported and has been developed under the Union Ministry of Cooperation in collaboration with the National e-Governance Division (NeGD). Bharat Taxi is India’s first cooperative taxi network, providing an innovative model where drivers can become shareholders and co-owners, empowering them with a stake in the platform.

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Tuman village in Chawasi area of Mandi district, Himachal Pradesh, received its first motorable road after 78 years. The 2.7-kilometre road was constructed from Shakeld to Tuman by the Public Works Department (PWD). The village was earlier cut off from basic transport facilities for decades. A trial run of a Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) bus was successfully conducted on the new road.

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India has become the first country in the world to commercially produce bio-bitumen for road construction. Bitumen is a black, viscous mixture of hydrocarbons from crude oil, used as a binder in roads. Bio-bitumen production will help reduce pollution from crop residue burning and supports the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. The initiative aligns with Waste to Wealth mission and supports Atma Nirbhar Bharat.

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The M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF), in collaboration with the Keyi Panyor district administration, is developing India’s first “Bio-Happy District” in Arunachal Pradesh. It will focus on resident livelihoods, agro-biodiversity, and other ecological aspects within the district. Biohappiness, a concept coined by late agricultural scientist Dr. M.S. Swaminathan, refers to well-being arising from biodiversity conservation and its use to improve human health, nutrition, and livelihoods. The concept emphasizes creating harmony between people and nature.

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Punjab Police launched ‘Operation Parhar’ to dismantle the gangster network and make the state gangster-free. 2,000 teams with 12,000 police officials have started raids across Punjab. Police are mapping 60 major gangsters and 1,200 associates involved in criminal activities. The operation targets the complete ecosystem, including financing, logistics, safe houses, weapons, and communication chains. An Anti-Gangster Helpline (93946-93946) has been launched for citizens to report gangster activities. Caller identities will be kept confidential to ensure public participation and safety.

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The Government increased the Central Silk Board’s financial approval limit to ₹1 crore from ₹50 lakh by amending Rule 22 of the Central Silk Board Rules, 1955. The Central Silk Board is a statutory body established in 1948 by an Act of Parliament. It functions under the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India. The headquarters of the Central Silk Board is located in Bengaluru. It advises the Central Government on development of the silk industry, including import and export of raw silk. It prepares reports on the silk sector as required by the Government.

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The central government has announced India’s first tailings policy to guide recovery of critical minerals from both primary sources and secondary sources like mine dumps and tailings. Tailings are leftover materials produced after processing mined ore. They contain finely ground rock, unrecoverable or uneconomic metals, chemicals, organic matter, and liquid waste from extraction processes. Tailings usually exist as a liquid slurry formed during crushing, grinding, and processing of ore.

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Gujarat leads India’s renewable energy sector with 42.583 gigawatt installed capacity, contributing 16.50 percent of the national total as of December 2025. The state ranks first in total renewable and wind power capacity and second in solar power capacity. Renewable energy includes 14,820.94 megawatt wind power and 25,529.40 megawatt solar power, with hybrid and off-grid sources. Gujarat accounts for over 25 percent of India’s rooftop solar installations with 6,412.80 megawatt capacity. Major solar parks operate at Charanka, Radhanesda, and Dholera, while Khavda hosts the world’s largest renewable park under development.

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NeophyteID is an Artificial Intelligence powered mobile application launched by the Chief Minister of Kerala. It is designed to identify invasive plant species across Kerala and support biodiversity conservation. The app is developed by the Malabar Botanical Garden and Institute for Plant Sciences (MBGIPS). The application is citizen friendly and helps communities, students, and ecologists monitor invasive plants. It uses image recognition and geospatial tracking through camera or gallery images.

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The first Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) under India’s Shipbuilding Development Scheme (SbDS) has been formed: National Shipbuilding & Heavy Industries Park, Tamil Nadu (NSHIP, TN). It is a 50:50 Joint Venture between VOC Port (GoI) and SIPCOT (State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu). The Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) will create a roadmap for the Thoothukudi Greenfield Shipbuilding Cluster, access central funding, enable digital and technical infrastructure, and strengthen Centre–State–industry collaboration with global partners.