India Current Affairs [Nation & States] MCQs

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Recently, National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) issued guidelines to tackle illnesses caused by water contamination. The National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) is under the Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. It was established as a national centre of excellence for controlling communicable diseases.

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On 19th August 2025, Press Registrar General of India (PRGI) launched the Press Sewa portal as a single-window digital platform. The portal will simplify and speed up registration for newspapers and periodicals across India. It is designed to enhance transparency, reduce approval delays, and improve ease of doing business for publishers. The initiative will remove bureaucratic hurdles and provide clarity in the registration process. The announcement was made during Vartalap, an interaction programme organized by Press Information Bureau (PIB) Hyderabad under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

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The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) became India’s first railway zone to shift to compostable bio-plastic on trains. As a pilot initiative, NFR introduced biodegradable linen bags on 15 August 2025, India’s 79th Independence Day. 40,000 bioplastic bags are being distributed across 25 trains from terminals in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bengal, Bihar, Tripura, and West Bengal. The initiative supports NFR’s green mission with projects like electrification, solar energy, AI-based elephant protection, rainwater harvesting, bio-toilets, solid waste composting, afforestation, and green transformation of wastelands.

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Indian researchers have recently discovered fossilised remains of a rare crocodile-like creature in Jaisalmer district, Rajasthan. The fossil belongs to a phytosaur, a semi-aquatic reptile and ancestor of modern crocodiles, measuring 1.5–2 metres and over 200 million years old. It was found in Megha village within the Lathi Formation, a geological structure from the late Triassic–early Jurassic period. The discovery was led by a senior hydrogeologist and confirmed by palaeontologists, who also identified a possible fossilised egg. The area could become a hub for fossil tourism due to its rich palaeontological potential.

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Indian Highways Management Company Limited (IHMCL), promoted by National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), signed an agreement with ICICI Bank to implement India’s first Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) tolling system. Choryasi Fee Plaza on NH-48, Gujarat will be the first barrier-free toll plaza in India. MLFF is a barrier-less tolling system using FASTag, Vehicle Registration Number (VRN), High-Performance RFID Readers, and ANPR Cameras. It enables seamless toll collection without stopping vehicles, reducing congestion and travel time. The system enhances fuel efficiency, lowers emissions, and improves toll revenue collection.

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Bhubaneswar became the first Indian city to release an Integrated Heat and Cooling Action Plan (IHCAP). Integrated Heat and Cooling Action Plan (IHCAP) aims to tackle rising heat stress and soaring air-conditioning (AC) demand. Heat stress in Bhubaneswar now spans February to October, with night-time temperatures increasing risks. Rapid urbanisation increased built-up area by 23%, reduced vegetation by 10%, and water bodies by 75%, intensifying the urban heat island (UHI) effect.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the National Makhana Board in Purnea, Bihar. A development package of about ₹475 crore has been approved for the makhana sector. Makhana, scientifically called Euryale ferox and also known as fox nut, is an aquatic crop grown in stagnant ponds and wetlands. Its edible seeds are small, round, and black to brown, earning it the name ‘Black Diamond.’ Bihar produces nearly 90% of India’s makhana, especially Mithilanchal and Seemanchal regions. It is also grown in Assam, Manipur, West Bengal, Tripura, Odisha, and countries like Nepal, Bangladesh, China, Japan, and Korea. In 2022, Mithila Makhana received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag.

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Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of India’s first Pradhan Mantri Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel (PM MITRA) Park in Dhar District, Madhya Pradesh. PM MITRA Park is a mega textile hub that integrates spinning, weaving, dyeing, printing, and garment-making in one place. Each park covers about 1,000 acres or more and provides a full ecosystem for textile manufacturing. Parks can be developed as Greenfield or Brownfield projects. The scheme follows the vision “Farm to Fibre to Factory to Fashion to Foreign.” It aims to make textiles cheaper, faster to market, and of higher quality. Seven PM MITRA Parks are planned across Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Gujarat, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra.

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The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of India launched its Online Short Term Internship Programme (OSTI) for September 2025 on 22 September. From 896 applications, 80 students from 21 States and Union Territories were selected for the two-week programme running until 3 October 2025. The programme aims to provide understanding of human rights promotion and protection in India. Focus areas include constitutional rights, civil, political, social, cultural rights, climate change, artificial intelligence, cybercrime, and gig economy exploitation. Interns are trained in international human rights law, domestic issues, and advocacy strategies to become informed human rights ambassadors.

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System for Pension Administration – Raksha (SPARSH) resolved 5.60 lakh out of 6.43 lakh legacy defence pension cases (87%). Average grievance disposal time reduced from 56 days in April 2025 to 20 days now. 31.54 lakh defence pensioners in India and Nepal are onboarded on SPARSH. System for Pension Administration – Raksha (SPARSH) is an initiative of the Ministry of Defence (MoD), Government of India. It is administered by the Defence Accounts Department (DAD). SPARSH is world’s largest defence pension system with 202 DAD offices, 4.63 lakh Common Service Centers, 5,200+ bank branches as service centers.