India Current Affairs [Nation & States] MCQs

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Goa will create its third district named Kushavati, after the ancient Kushavati River flowing through southern Goa. The river reflects Goa’s ancient geography, culture, livelihood, and ecological identity from historic times like the Chalukya dynasty. The district includes Sanguem, Dharbandora, Quepem, and Canacona talukas, with headquarters at Quepem. Usgalimal petroglyphs on laterite stones along the river show early human settlement thousands of years old. The district will have a new Zilla Panchayat (District Council) to improve governance and development.

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The President of India graced a special programme under Skilling for AI Readiness (SOAR) Programme. It is an initiative of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE). The programme aims to integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) learning into school education and training systems. It prepares students and teachers for a fast-changing digital world and AI-based careers. The government has allocated ₹500 crore to set up a Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence for Education.

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Recently, around 60 people were injured when a loco train carrying workers hit a goods train inside the Pipalkoti tunnel of the Vishnugad–Pipalkoti Hydroelectric Project. The Vishnugad–Pipalkoti Hydroelectric Project (VPHEP) is a run-of-river hydropower project on the Alaknanda River, a major tributary of the Ganga River, in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. The project will generate about 1,665 gigawatt-hours of electricity annually. It is developed by THDC India Limited, a joint venture of the Government of India and the Government of Uttar Pradesh, with World Bank funding.

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The Tamil Nadu government has launched India’s first dedicated Deep Tech Policy called the Tamil Nadu Deep Tech Startup Policy 2025-2026 (TNDTSP). Chief Minister M.K. Stalin unveiled the policy at UmagineTN 2026 to strengthen innovation-led growth and position Tamil Nadu as a premier deep tech hub. The policy aims to foster advanced innovation, drive industrial growth, empower Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), and accelerate Tamil Nadu’s journey towards a $1 trillion economy. The iTNT Hub will act as the nodal implementing agency, coordinating initiatives, managing funds, and serving as a single point of contact for stakeholders.

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Maharashtra has launched India’s first dedicated menopause clinics in government hospitals and urban health facilities. The clinics provide medical consultation, mental health counselling, bone, heart and hormonal screening, medicines, and guidance at a single location. Menopause is a critical phase often accompanied by physical changes, hormonal imbalance, mental stress, sleep disorders, bone problems, and depression. The initiative addresses the long-felt need for specialised support for women during menopause.

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The Ministry of Labour and Employment launched the e-Shram portal (eshram.gov.in) on 26 August 2021 to create a National Database of Unorganised Workers (NDUW) including platform and migrant workers. The portal registers unorganised workers and issues a Universal Account Number (UAN) on a self-declaration basis. NITI Aayog estimated 7.7 million workers in 2020-21, rising to 23.5 million by 2029-30. Budget 2025-26 includes identity cards and Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) healthcare coverage. This information was provided by Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Sushri Shobha Karandlaje, in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha

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The Capacity Building Commission (CBC) launched the Rashtriya Karmayogi Large Scale Jan Seva Program to bring behavioural transformation in civil servants. Phase II concluded recently under the chairmanship of Dr. R. Balasubramaniam, Member (Human Resources), CBC. Around 10.5 lakh government servants from over 500 organisations and 65 Ministries and Departments were trained nationwide. The program promotes Seva Bhav (spirit of service) and Svadharma (duty with purpose) for citizen-centric governance. It created 822 Lead Trainers and over 16,500 Master Trainers, strengthening internal training capacity. The initiative supports Mission Karmayogi’s vision of a responsive, collaborative, and future-ready administration.

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The Minister of State for Education informed that in West Bengal only 52 government schools out of over 82,000 have been onboarded under Vidyanjali initiative. Around 2,000 students from West Bengal are registered as volunteers under the scheme. Limited participation has affected students’ access to full benefits of the initiative. Vidyanjali is a Ministry of Education programme to strengthen schools through community and private sector participation. It connects schools with volunteers like professionals, retired teachers, Indian diaspora, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and companies.

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Idukki Hydroelectric Project in Kerala completed 50 years and Moolamattom power plant generated 115,852.672 Million Units (MU) in five decades. It is built across Periyar River in Idukki district of Kerala. It is the largest hydroelectric project in Kerala. Moolamattom powerhouse is the longest underground power station in India and has the largest pressure shaft.

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Recently, the Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister approved the launch of the Urban Challenge Fund (UCF) to strengthen urban development in India. The Urban Challenge Fund is a new Centrally Sponsored Scheme under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. The Fund aims to promote resilient, productive, inclusive, and climate-responsive cities, positioning urban centres as key drivers of India’s next phase of economic growth. Under the scheme, at least 50 per cent of project financing must be mobilised from market sources such as municipal bonds, bank loans, and Public–Private Partnerships (PPPs), while the remaining share can be contributed by States, Union Territories, Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), or other sources.