India Current Affairs [Nation & States] MCQs

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Rajasthan State Council of Educational Research and Training (RSCERT) launched ‘Khushi Shala’, a mental health and well-being programme for students of classes 1 to 5. Rajasthan became the first state in India to start such a programme at the primary education level. The programme trains children to accept both success and failure and focus on learning with self-awareness. It has three components – mindfulness exercises, compassion-building activities, and value-based guidance.

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Recently, the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) reviewed the progress of the Rural Technology Action Group (RuTAG) 2.0 to push rural technology solutions. RuTAG is an initiative of the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (OPSA) launched in 2004 to bring Science and Technology support to rural areas. It focuses on demand-driven interventions to fill technology gaps at the grassroots level. It upgrades local technologies and provides training and demonstrations through innovative projects. It connects stakeholders like Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Self Help Groups (SHGs), community bodies, and start-ups to identify technology needs.

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The Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, launched the nationwide campaign ‘Hamara Shauchalaya, Hamara Bhavishya’ (Our Toilet, Our Future) on World Toilet Day 2025. The campaign focuses on the importance, maintenance, repair, and aesthetic upliftment of rural toilets, including Community Sanitary Complexes (CSCs) and Individual Household Latrines (IHHLs). It aligns with the Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) objectives, promoting Open Defecation Free (ODF) sustainability and ODF Plus Model villages.

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The first Yarn Processing Plant of Purvanchal will be set up in Mirzapur district, Uttar Pradesh. The plant will provide locally processed yarn to the carpet industry, reducing dependence on other states. The Mirzapur–Bhadohi belt is a major hub for handmade carpet production and export. The project is being developed under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model with an estimated investment of ₹8 crore. Local weavers and carpet manufacturers will benefit from lower raw material costs and timely yarn supply. The plant is expected to be completed by April 2026 and is supported by the Uttar Pradesh Textile & Garmenting Policy 2022.

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Assam became the first Indian state to constitute its 8th State Pay Commission before the 7th Pay Commission ends on 1 January 2026. The decision was announced by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Former Chief Secretary Subhas Das has been appointed as the head of the new Pay Commission. The move comes even before the Union Government’s 8th Central Pay Commission has started work. The 8th Pay Commission will revise salaries, allowances, and pensions of state government employees. Early constitution shows Assam’s intent to speed up the pay revision process. State employees and pensioners may get quicker clarity on future pay and pension benefits.

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Recently, around 60 people were injured when a loco train carrying workers hit a goods train inside the Pipalkoti tunnel of the Vishnugad–Pipalkoti Hydroelectric Project. The Vishnugad–Pipalkoti Hydroelectric Project (VPHEP) is a run-of-river hydropower project on the Alaknanda River, a major tributary of the Ganga River, in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. The project will generate about 1,665 gigawatt-hours of electricity annually. It is developed by THDC India Limited, a joint venture of the Government of India and the Government of Uttar Pradesh, with World Bank funding.

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Delhi government plans to declare rabies a notifiable disease to strengthen disease surveillance and early outbreak detection. A notifiable disease is legally required to be reported to government health authorities. Timely notification helps monitor disease trends and provides early warning of outbreaks. The Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 gives the legal basis for notifying diseases in India. Diseases are notified based on incidence, severity, communicability, outbreak potential, and risk of international spread.

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India has become the first country in the world to commercially produce bio-bitumen for road construction. Bitumen is a black, viscous mixture of hydrocarbons from crude oil, used as a binder in roads. Bio-bitumen production will help reduce pollution from crop residue burning and supports the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. The initiative aligns with Waste to Wealth mission and supports Atma Nirbhar Bharat.

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Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel inaugurated a cancer screening mobile unit called ‘Asha Van’ in Gandhinagar. The van is equipped with EVA-Pro diagnostics, a mammography unit, and expert teleconsultation facilities for early detection and diagnosis of cancer. It can screen for 10 types of cancer, including lung, oral, blood, cervical, pancreatic, liver, breast, and prostate cancers, using ultra-modern equipment at any location. The initiative supports Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Health and Wellness for All’, particularly benefiting rural areas.

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The Ministry of Textiles launched the District-Led Textiles Transformation initiative at the National Textile Ministers Conference in Guwahati. It is a strategic programme to promote inclusive and sustainable growth in India’s textile sector. The aim is to develop 100 high-potential districts as Global Export Champions and transform 100 Aspirational Districts into self-reliant textile hubs. Districts are classified based on export performance, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises ecosystem, and workforce availability.