India Current Affairs [Nation & States] MCQs

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The National Backward Classes Finance and Development Corporation, under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, works for socio-economic upliftment of Other Backward Classes (OBCs). In FY 2025–26, it achieved a record disbursement of ₹613.75 crore, benefiting 61,621 beneficiaries. Under the VISVAS Interest Subvention Scheme, ₹35.20 crore was utilised, supporting 1.92 lakh beneficiaries with loans worth ₹2,720 crore. The National Fellowship for OBCs disbursed ₹123.33 crore to 2,505 students. Under the SEED (Scheme for Economic Empowerment of Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes), ₹19.20 crore supported 28,476 beneficiaries.

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The Indian government has officially notified the establishment of the country’s first semiconductor fabrication plant, developed by Tata Semiconductor Manufacturing Private Limited (TSMPL) in the Dholera Special Investment Region (DSIR), Gujarat. It will support electronic hardware, software, and Information Technology Enabled Services (ITeS). The initiative aligns with reforms in the SEZ Rules, 2006 (amended in 2025), including reduced land requirement and flexibility in operations. It aims to boost semiconductor manufacturing, innovation, and ease of doing business in India.

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The Central Bureau of Investigation launched an Artificial Intelligence-powered chatbot named “Abhay” to help citizens verify official notices and prevent digital scams. The chatbot will be launched during the D.P. Kohli Memorial Lecture by Justice Surya Kant. It enables users to check the authenticity of notices, addressing rising “digital arrest” scams involving impersonation of officials. The tool acts as a first line of defence against cyber fraud, where criminals siphon money through deception. It reflects increasing adoption of Artificial Intelligence in policing for fraud detection and public assistance.

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Himadri Speciality Chemical Limited commissioned India’s first anode material production facility in April 2026 at Mahistikry Hooghly, West Bengal, with an initial capacity of 200 MTPA. The facility marks India’s entry into the lithium-ion battery value chain, crucial for EVs, energy storage, and electronics. Himadri produces both anode and cathode materials, which together account for ~65% of battery cost. The site is being developed into an integrated hub with total carbon black capacity of 250,000 MTPA, including speciality carbon black production.

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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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Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority facilitated the first export of 20 metric tonnes of Baksa honey from Baksa district to the United States under the One District One Product initiative. Baksa honey is a premium near-organic honey produced in the Bodoland Territorial Region of Assam. It is known for its natural purity, high nutritional value, and medicinal properties derived from the region’s rich floral biodiversity. The honey has traditional significance among local communities, including the Bodo tribes.

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Maize has emerged as India’s largest ethanol feedstock, encouraging farmers in Uttar Pradesh to diversify towards maize cultivation due to its lower water requirement. According to a report by the All India Distillers’ Association, maize-based ethanol production reached 182 crore litres between November 2025 and April 2026. This exceeded ethanol production from surplus food grain, damaged food grain, and sugarcane-based sources. Uttar Pradesh has become one of India’s top five maize-producing states, cultivating around 8 lakh hectares and producing nearly 28–30 lakh metric tonnes annually.

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India accounts for over 70% of global jaggery production, making it the world’s largest producer of jaggery. Jaggery, commonly called gur, is an unrefined natural sweetener made by concentrating sugarcane juice without chemicals. It retains important minerals and micronutrients often lost during sugar refining. Jaggery contains minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, zinc, and phosphorus along with vitamins and antioxidants. In India, Uttar Pradesh is the largest producer, followed by Maharashtra and Karnataka.

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India Semiconductor Mission under Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology launched the “Investors Support” portal on May 26, 2026. The portal aims to support investors and strengthen India’s semiconductor ecosystem under the Semicon India Programme. It provides information on government schemes, policies, approved semiconductor projects, and regulatory requirements. The portal also enables investors to register grievances and concerns for time-bound resolution through a single-window digital interface.

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Union Minister for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurated the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), Jammu, India’s 7th Regional Meteorological Centre. The new RMC will serve Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, and Himachal Pradesh with specialized weather forecasting and disaster warning services. The centre will provide district-level forecasts, mountain weather forecasts, tourist advisories, and warnings for flash floods, cloudbursts, avalanches, landslides, thunderstorms, and heavy snowfall.