India Current Affairs [Nation & States] MCQs

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Karnataka introduced AI, STEM, and robotics labs in government schools through the VijAIpatha programme. The initiative is a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) project by the Cyient Foundation. It was launched by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in December 2025. The labs have been set up in schools in Hosapete Taluka, Vijayanagara district. The programme aims to provide future-ready skills, enhance digital literacy, and foster innovation among students in the public education system.

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Gujarat has been officially reinstated as a tiger-bearing state for the All-India Tiger Estimation (AITE) 2026 after over 30 years. This follows confirmed photographic evidence of a nearly four-year-old tiger in Ratanmahal Sanctuary, Dahod district. The tiger has stayed in the area for about 10 months, showing stable habitation, not temporary movement. The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has ordered conservation measures in Ratanmahal. A camera-trap census will be conducted along the Gujarat–Madhya Pradesh border. The tiger will be tagged and monitored using stripe-pattern software during the census. Gujarat was last surveyed in 1989 and removed from the tiger map in 1992 due to no sightings.

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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.

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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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Sanskaar Shaala, a value-based programme for children aged 4–14 years, was inaugurated in Guwahati by Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya. Sanskaar Shaala is a value-based programme aimed at developing ethical, social, and cultural awareness among children. The programme is implemented across Assam under the guidance of the Governor’s office with support from educational institutions. It uses interactive learning methods such as hands-on sessions, workshops, and skill-development activities. The initiative promotes holistic growth, social responsibility, and a deep understanding of Indian cultural and ethical values from an early age.

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Karnataka Department of Women and Child Development has launched Gruha Lakshmi Digital Marketing to promote women entrepreneurs. It is a state-backed e-commerce portal showcasing women-made products to national and global markets. The initiative aims to boost women’s economic independence and digital inclusion. The portal highlights products from urban and rural women, including artisans and small businesses. Only verified women entrepreneurs are onboarded to ensure trust and quality. It offers a simple, customer-friendly digital interface for buyers.

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Delhi government launched a unified emergency helpline number, 112, replacing multiple emergency numbers. Dialling 112 will alert police, fire services, ambulance, and disaster management simultaneously. Assistance can be sought via phone, mobile app, emergency button, SMS, or online platforms, even if the caller cannot speak. Emergency Response Support System (ERSS) 2.0, a modern unified system, will handle all emergency alerts at a single Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP). The system detects the caller’s location automatically and dispatches the nearest police, ambulance, or fire vehicle.

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The Supreme Court is re-examining the long-standing dispute over Scheduled Tribe (ST) status of the Lambada community in Telangana. Lambadas are also known as Sugalis or Banjaras and are recognised as a Scheduled Tribe. They are mainly spread across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The community is believed to have originated from the Marwar region of Rajasthan. Traditionally, they were semi-nomadic traders transporting goods, but this declined during British rule. They speak “Gor Boli”, also called Lambadi language.

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India celebrated its 77th Republic Day on January 26, 2026, at Kartavya Path, New Delhi. The day commemorates the adoption of the Constitution of India in 1950, replacing the Government of India Act, 1935, and establishing India as a sovereign republic. Republic Day is marked by ceremonial parades, military displays, and cultural showcases in the national capital. Chief guests for 2026 were António Costa, head of the European Council, and Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, highlighting India-EU engagement. The theme for Republic Day 2026 was “150 Years of Vande Mataram”.

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Paathara practice, also called Khoni, is an ancient method of storing grains in underground pits. It was followed by farmers along the Mahendratanaya River in the Uddanam region of Srikakulam district near the Andhra Pradesh–Odisha border. Freshly harvested paddy was stored in rectangular pits plastered with straw and clay. The pit was sealed with cow dung to protect grains from moisture, rodents, and theft. Paathara was built in front of thatched houses and supported joint family food security. The tradition is declining due to lack of space, awareness, and changing rural housing styles.