India Current Affairs [Nation & States] MCQs

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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, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment organised a three-day Chintan Shivir (April 24–26, 2026) in Chandigarh on the theme “Antyodaya ka Sankalp, Amrit Kaal ka Pratibimb – Viksit Bharat @2047”. The objective is to strengthen social justice schemes, improve last-mile delivery, and create a roadmap for inclusive empowerment of marginalised communities. The Shivir focuses on best practices, gap analysis, and actionable recommendations (short-, medium-, long-term). It aims to enhance coordination, digital governance, and community participation in achieving Viksit Bharat @2047.

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Recently, Eveready Industries India Ltd. commissioned India’s first alkaline battery manufacturing facility in Jammu. The plant is a greenfield project set up with an investment of around ₹200 crore. It has an annual peak production capacity of 360 million alkaline batteries. This makes Eveready the only domestic manufacturer in India’s alkaline battery segment. The facility will significantly reduce dependence on imports of finished alkaline batteries. The company aims to increase its market share from 16% to 25% in the next three years.

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The upgraded Prashast 2.0 app has been developed to screen 21 types of disabilities among children. It is launched by the Department of School Education and Literacy. The app helps in early identification, assessment, and certification of Children with Special Needs (CWSN). It connects teachers, school heads, special educators, and students for school-level screening. Identified students are linked to support services under Samagra Shiksha.

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Karnataka has launched India’s first digital grievance redressal system for gig workers on May 1, 2026. The system allows platform-based workers to report disputes related to pay and working conditions. It has been developed by the Karnataka Platform-based Gig Workers Board and the e-Governance Department. The system enables real-time tracking of grievances filed by workers. It addresses issues such as wages, incentives, and working conditions. The initiative aims to ensure faster and more efficient dispute resolution. It seeks to bring transparency and accountability into the gig economy.

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Hazaribag has been developed as India’s first and only pearl (moti) cluster to promote pearl farming and allied activities. The initiative is led by the fisheries department with support from the Government of India to create a model hub. Women self-help groups are being encouraged to participate, and an all-women Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO) is proposed to strengthen rural livelihoods. The project includes training, modern technology adoption, and direct market linkages for farmers. Integration of pearl farming with cage culture at Tilaiya reservoir aims to enhance income through diversification.

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Odisha emerged as the top-performing state in house completion under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban 2.0. Odisha maintained the number one rank in house completion performance from March 2025 to March 2026. Under PMAY-U 2.0, the state sanctioned 24,625 houses and geo-tagged 23,464 sites. The scheme was launched nationwide in September 2024 to achieve the “Housing for All” vision.

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National Jute Board has been implementing the Jute Crop Information System (JCIS) since 2023 in collaboration with Indian Space Research Organisation and Jute Corporation of India for scientific monitoring of jute cultivation. Jute Crop Information System (JCIS) integrates satellite imagery, weather analytics, vegetation indices, and geo-tagged field data for near real-time crop monitoring and production estimation. Two major tools developed under the system are BHUVAN JUMP, a mobile application for field monitoring, and PATSAN, a web-based analytics platform for jute surveillance.

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The Centre felicitated Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Nagaland, and Rajasthan for integrating DigiLocker with state government services. The recognition was given during the National Consultative Workshop on Strengthening Cybersecurity Frameworks for State Data. The initiative was led by the National e-Governance Division to improve digital governance and citizen-centric service delivery. Karnataka recorded the highest number of DigiLocker accounts with over 2.7 crore registered users, while Gujarat onboarded 65% of its services onto DigiLocker.

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The TEAM Initiative is a digital commerce support programme launched under the Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance Programme (RAMP) of the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises. Recently, the initiative gained attention for helping small businesses, artisans, farmer producer organisations, and local entrepreneurs connect with national markets through the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC). It is implemented by the National Small Industries Corporation, the scheme provides end-to-end e-commerce support including onboarding, cataloguing, packaging, logistics, and customer management.