India Current Affairs [Nation & States] MCQs

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Ministry of Rural Development launched a comprehensive Internal Audit Portal to digitize audit processes and improve transparency. It has been developed by National Informatics Centre, the portal provides real-time, centralized tracking of audits across departments. The portal ensures 365-day monitoring of compliance, strengthens governance, and reduces the compliance gap.

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The National Highways Authority of India has launched the ‘Arogya Van’ initiative to promote biodiversity and ecological sustainability along National Highways. It involves thematic plantations of medicinal trees on vacant land parcels to support pollinators, birds, and microfauna, thereby enhancing ecosystem resilience. In the first phase, 17 land parcels covering 62.8 hectares have been identified, with around 67,462 medicinal trees to be planted across multiple states including Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi-NCR, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and Chhattisgarh. About 36 medicinal species such as Neem, Amla, Imli, Jamun, Lemon, Gular, and Maulsari will be planted based on agro-climatic suitability.

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The Telangana government has declared cancer a notifiable disease to strengthen surveillance of non-communicable diseases. All healthcare facilities, including government and private hospitals, diagnostic labs, and clinics, must report cancer cases within one month of diagnosis. The move aims to create a centralized cancer registry for accurate estimation of incidence and prevalence. It will support evidence-based policymaking, better planning of palliative care, and improved resource management. The Mehdi Nawaz Jung Institute of Oncology and Regional Cancer Centre has been designated as the Centre of Excellence for data validation and coordination with the national registry.

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Indian Council of Agricultural Research set up a Special Task Force (STF) to design mitigation strategies for agriculture sector challenges. Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is an autonomous body under Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. It was established on 16 July 1929 under Societies Registration Act, 1860, based on Royal Commission on Agriculture recommendations. ICAR played a key role in Green Revolution and advancing agricultural higher education; headquarters at New Delhi.

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Financial Intelligence Unit-India and Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen coordination against cyber frauds and financial crimes. Financial Intelligence Unit-India (FIU-IND) is the national agency for receiving, analysing, and disseminating information on suspicious financial transactions and combating money laundering and terror financing. Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) is established under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) as the national nodal agency to fight cybercrime. It provides a framework and ecosystem for law enforcement agencies (LEAs) to handle cybercrimes in a coordinated and comprehensive way.

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Delhi Traffic Police aunched Project SANGAM (Synergistic Action and Networked Governance for Area Mobility) initiative for coordinated traffic management) to improve traffic systems in Delhi. It focuses on community participation and coordinated governance. It brings together Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs: local resident groups), Market Welfare Associations, and civic bodies like Public Works Department (PWD: government infrastructure agency) and Municipal Corporation. It aims at real-time resolution of issues like congestion, unauthorised parking, and pedestrian safety.

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North India’s water and energy security will improve as the 300 megawatt Lakhwar Hydroelectric Project on the Yamuna River in Uttarakhand progresses after review by the Ministry of Jal Shakti. The Lakhwar project is a multipurpose hydroelectric project located near Lohari village in Dehradun district and is being developed by Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam. It includes a 204 metre high concrete gravity dam, three steel-lined penstocks, and an underground powerhouse with three vertical Francis turbines of 100 megawatts each.

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Punjab Police launched Operation Gangstran Te Vaar to curb gangster activities. The operation has led to a decline of up to 69% in gangster-related murders and firing incidents. A 100% reduction in gangster-linked murder cases has been reported since launch. Public participation has increased through anonymous reporting mechanisms. A toll-free Anti-Gangster Helpline (93946-93946) receives about 175 calls per month. Citizens report extortion calls and criminal activities via the helpline.

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The Narcotics Analysis and Retrieval Augmented Generation-based Investigation Tool (NARIT-AI) is an Artificial Intelligence-based system launched by the Gujarat Police to handle complex narcotics cases. It is designed to assist investigations under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, aiming to improve efficiency and conviction rates. The tool was developed by the Western Railway Police, Vadodara Division in collaboration with Gradiante Creative Services. It operates on a closed database including Supreme Court and High Court judgments and legal codes such as Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA).

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Recently, tribal communities in Koraput have been protesting for their legal rights over kendu leaves for the third consecutive year. Kendu leaf (Diospyros melanoxylon), also called tendu leaf, is known as the “Green Gold of Odisha” and is a major non-wood forest product. It is a nationalised forest product like bamboo and sal seed. It is widely produced in states like Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat, with Odisha being the third-largest producer. Odisha is unique in producing processed kendu leaves.