India Current Affairs [Nation & States] MCQs

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All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi launched the AI-based mental health and wellness program “Never Alone.” It was launched on World Suicide Prevention Day to address student suicides and mental health challenges. The program provides 24/7 virtual and offline consultations with mental health experts via a web-based app accessible on WhatsApp. It offers personalised and secure mental health screening at a cost of 70 paise per student per day for institutions with 5,000 students. It aims to reduce stigma around suicide and spread awareness among students. As per National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) 2022 data, over 1.7 lakh suicides occurred in India, with 35% among 18–30-year-olds.

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Recently, the Union Minister of Development of North Eastern Region interacted virtually with school students from North East visiting ISRO under NE-SPARKS programme. NE-SPARKS stands for North East Students’ Programme for Awareness, Reach, and Knowledge on Space. It is a flagship initiative of Ministry of Development of North-East Region (MDoNER) in collaboration with 8 North Eastern States. The programme aims to ignite curiosity in space science and promote Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) among students. The funding pattern is 60:40 between Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region and respective State Governments.

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Clean Plant Programme (CPP) approved by the Union Cabinet is gaining momentum in implementation. It was conceptualized by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank (ADB). It was launched to provide farmers with high-quality, virus-free planting material of key fruit crops. It is implemented by the National Horticulture Board (NHB) in association with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). Nine Clean Plant Centers (CPCs) will offer disease diagnostics, treatments, develop mother plants, and quarantine domestic and imported planting material.

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India’s first overseas defence manufacturing facility was inaugurated in Berrechid, Morocco by Defence Minister of India and Moroccan counterpart Abdelatif Loudyi. The facility is set up by Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) in partnership with Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). It covers 20,000 sq. metres and will produce the indigenously developed Wheeled Armoured Platform (WhAP) for the Royal Moroccan Army. This is the first overseas defence facility by an Indian private company in Africa. The aim is to promote India’s vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, ‘Make with Friends, Make for the World’.

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On World Mental Health Day 2025, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare launched new initiatives for the National Tele Mental Health Programme (Tele MANAS). Tele MANAS stands for Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States. It was started by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in 2022. It aims to provide universal access to equitable, affordable, and quality mental health care through 24×7 tele-mental health services. Tele MANAS is a key digital component of the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP). Services are available across all Indian States and Union Territories with assured linkages for seamless care.

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The 624-megawatt (MW) Kiru Hydroelectric Project in Jammu and Kashmir recently achieved a major milestone by completing 10 lakh cubic meters of dam concreting out of a total 12 lakh cubic meters. It is a run-of-river project built on the Chenab River near Patharnakki and Kiru villages in Kishtwar District, Jammu and Kashmir. The dam is a 135-meter-high concrete gravity structure with an underground powerhouse on the left bank. The powerhouse will have four Francis turbines of 156 MW each. It will boost power supply in northern India. The project is developed by Chenab Valley Power Projects (CVPP) — a joint venture of National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC, 49%), Jammu & Kashmir State Power Development Corporation (JKSPDC, 49%), and Power Trading Corporation (PTC, 2%).

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The South Central Railway announced the renaming of Aurangabad Railway Station in Maharashtra as Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Railway Station. The station has been renamed after Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, the son of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. This follows the 2022 renaming of Aurangabad city to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. The new station code under the Nanded Division of South Central Railway is CPSN. The official approval and gazette notification were issued by Maharashtra’s Mahayuti alliance government on October 15. The original Aurangabad Station was opened in 1900 under the seventh Nizam of Hyderabad, Mir Osman Ali Khan. The renaming comes amid recent tensions in the region over Aurangzeb’s tomb controversy.

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Recently, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) took cognisance of a complaint about illegal muck dumping into the Sutlej River during blasting for the Sunni Dam Hydroelectric Project in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh. The Sunni Dam Hydroelectric Project (HEP) is a 382 Megawatt (MW) run-of-the-river project. It is being built on the Satluj River in the Shimla and Mandi districts of Himachal Pradesh. The project is owned by Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN), a joint venture of the Government of India and the Himachal Pradesh Government. It includes a concrete gravity dam and an underground powerhouse on the right bank.

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Digi Bandar was launched during India Maritime Week 2025 as a national digital framework for Indian ports. It aims to make ports data-driven, Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enabled, and fully interconnected. The initiative focuses on improving efficiency, safety, and transparency in port operations. It mainly focuses on predictive logistics, digital twins, and automation for smarter port management. It marks a major step towards modernizing India’s maritime ecosystem through digital transformation.

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The Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) launched the “Sahajeevan” project to comply with the Supreme Court directives on stray dogs. The initiative focuses on relocating stray dogs from educational institutions, hospitals, and public places to designated shelters after vaccination. The project aims to promote human-animal coexistence while ensuring safe relocation and vaccination. GMC plans to create awareness in all wards before vaccination drives to prevent public resistance.