India Current Affairs [Nation & States] MCQs

Notes:
Himachal Pradesh became the first state in India to launch Aadhaar-based face authentication (FaceAuth) for ration distribution under the Public Distribution System (PDS). Earlier, authentication was done using One-Time Password (OTP) or biometric methods. These traditional methods faced problems like SMS failures and fingerprint mismatches at the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) end. The new FaceAuth uses a mobile camera through an app on the fair price shop (FPS) owner’s smartphone for facial verification. It was introduced by the Department of Digital Technologies and Governance (DDTG), Himachal Pradesh.

Notes:
A new Agritech Innovation Hub and Startup Technology Showcase was recently inaugurated at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology (SVPUAT), Meerut. The hub aims to promote precision farming and sustainable agriculture in Uttar Pradesh and northern India. The university developed a modern curriculum aligned with advanced agricultural practices to benefit farmers across the country. The hub is supported by the Centre for Excellence on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Agriculture under Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Ropar.

Notes:
Recently, the Union Environment Ministry extended the validity of infrastructure projects approved under the 2011 Islands Protection Zone (IPZ) notification. IPZ was notified in 2011 under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 to protect island ecosystems. It aims to safeguard the ecological integrity of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep Islands. IPZ is similar to the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ), which applies to mainland coastal areas. It includes Island Coastal Regulation Zone (ICRZ) for major islands like North, Middle, South, and Little Andaman.

Notes:
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari inaugurated the Sigandur Bridge, India’s second longest cable-stayed bridge, in Shivamogga district, Karnataka. The bridge spans 2.44 km across the Sharavathi backwaters and is 16 meters wide. It connects Sagara and Marakutika, and is named after Goddess Chowdeshwari Devi. It reduces travel time and distance for devotees and locals visiting Sigandur from Sagara. The region lost connectivity after the Linganamakki dam was built in the 1960s.

Notes:
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu recently launched the ‘My Deed’ National Generic Document Registration System (NGDRS) Pilot Project . It simplifies land registration by requiring only one visit to the tehsil office, with online application available anytime from anywhere. The pilot project covers ten tehsils including Bilaspur Sadar, Dalhousie, Galore, Jaisinghpur, Bhuntar, Padhar, Kumarsain, Rajgarh, Kandaghat, and Bangana.

Notes:
Kerala’s KITE (Kerala Infrastructure and Technology for Education) initiative was recently recognised by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) as a global best practice in responsible Educational Technology (EdTech). It has gained both national and international attention for ethically integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) in school education. KITE is the official technology arm of the General Education Department of the Government of Kerala. It was launched to promote ethical, inclusive, and open-source-based AI integration in public schools.

Notes:
Union Law and Justice Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal inaugurated Mahila Aarogyam Kaksh at Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi. The initiative aims to promote women’s well-being in government workspaces. It supports Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Hum Fit Toh India Fit’ campaign. The facility was created by repurposing an unused garage into a wellness zone. It includes gym equipment and a private lactation room for nursing mothers.

Notes:
In Khetar Kanyal village, Pithoragarh district, Uttarakhand, no woman contested for the village head (pradhan), highlighting a deeper issue within the Raji tribe community. The Raji tribe is a small indigenous group from the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand and parts of western Nepal. It is among the smallest tribes of India and is classified as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG). Also known as Banrawats, Ben-Manus, and cave dwellers. They traditionally lived in forests and caves and speak Bat-Kha, a Tibeto-Burman language.

Notes:
Recently, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) launched Skill India Assistant (SIA), an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered chatbot. It is developed by META and National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) under MSDE. It provides personalized skilling and job support through WhatsApp, promoting digital inclusion. It is accessible through Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH) and WhatsApp. It uses Meta’s open-source LLaMA (Large Language Model) as its AI base.

Notes:
Recently, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurated Akhil Bharatiya Shiksha Samagam (ABSS) 2025 in New Delhi. It was organized to commemorate 5 years of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Akhil Bharatiya Shiksha Samagam (ABSS) 2025 brought together academicians, educators, policymakers, industry leaders, and government officials. The event focused on reviewing the progress achieved under NEP 2020 in transforming the education system. It also aimed at discussing future strategies to further implement the policy across all levels of education. The Samagam highlighted innovation, inclusivity, and skill development as core themes of NEP 2020.