India Current Affairs [Nation & States] MCQs

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More than 1,500 academics protested in Kolkata against the Central government’s plan to repeal the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) Act, 1959. The Indian Statistical Institute, founded by Professor Prasanta Chandra (P.C.) Mahalanobis on 17 December 1931 in Kolkata, is India’s key centre for statistical research, education, and training. The Act applies to ISI, its governing body, staff, and students, and grants autonomy to support its national role. The Act declared ISI an institution of national importance under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).

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In December 2025, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami launched the “Meri Yojana” Portal in Dehradun to make welfare scheme information easily accessible to citizens. The portal is an online platform aimed at providing citizens with comprehensive information on welfare schemes offered by both the Central and State Governments. It is part of the state government’s effort to ensure transparent, accessible, and time-bound delivery of benefits to eligible citizens. The portal and related initiatives reflect Uttarakhand’s focus on digital governance, DBT-based benefits, citizen awareness, and local economic empowerment.

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The Government informed Parliament that India is the largest producer of makhana globally, contributing nearly 80 percent of world production. Bihar accounts for around 85 percent of the country’s total makhana output, making it the backbone of the sector. Darbhanga district in Bihar has been identified as a key hub for makhana cultivation and processing due to its high potential. Darbhanga hosts the Indian Council of Agricultural Research–National Research Centre on Makhana and is covered under the One District One Product initiative. To promote the sector, the Government has established the National Makhana Board through a gazette notification dated 14 September 2025.

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The Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India, launched the Passenger Assistance Control Room (PACR). Passenger Assistance Control Room (PACR) aims to improve promptness and effectiveness in resolving air travellers’ grievances. It functions as an integrated hub with officials from Ministry of Civil Aviation, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Airports Authority of India (AAI), airline operators, and other stakeholders. It is located at Udaan Bhawan, New Delhi. Passenger Assistance Control Room (PACR) monitors aviation operations, attends passenger calls, and coordinates real-time assistance and grievance resolution.

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Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah inaugurated the Jyoti–Vishnu International Art Centre in Guwahati, Assam. The Art Centre, costing around ₹291 crore, has a seating capacity of 5,000 and honors cultural icons Jyoti Prasad Agarwala and Bishnu Prasad Rabha. Jyoti Prasad Agarwala made Assam’s first film, Joymoti, laying the foundation of Assamese cinema. He linked music, theatre, and literature with patriotism, inspiring self-respect and freedom consciousness among the people of Assam. Bishnu Prasad Rabha strengthened the freedom movement through art, connecting workers, farmers, and tribal communities.

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Uttar Pradesh government inaugurated the first Braille library in the state exclusively for visually impaired students at Dr Shakuntala Mishra National Rehabilitation University (DSMNRU), Lucknow. The library is located on the first floor of Swami Vivekananda Central Library and aligns with CM Yogi Adityanath’s vision of “education for all.” The library has over 4,000 Braille books covering 54 undergraduate and postgraduate courses, all printed by the university’s own Braille press.

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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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PRAGATI, the Prime Minister’s flagship platform for Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation, recently completed its 50th meeting. PRAGATI is an integrated and interactive system to resolve public grievances and monitor key Central and State Government projects. It promotes electronic transparency and electronic accountability through real-time interaction among stakeholders. The platform was launched on 25 March 2015. It was designed in-house by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) with support from the National Informatics Centre (NIC). It enables the Prime Minister to directly review projects with live data and visual evidence. The platform integrates digital data management, video conferencing, and geospatial technology.

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Maharashtra will build its first Innovation City near Mumbai to attract global investors and innovation ecosystems. The proposal was presented at the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2025 in Davos under the Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Innovation Ecosystem theme. The project location is finalised and implementation will begin within six to eight month. The aim is to create a plug-and-play global innovation hub in Mumbai.

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Paathara practice, also called Khoni, is an ancient method of storing grains in underground pits. It was followed by farmers along the Mahendratanaya River in the Uddanam region of Srikakulam district near the Andhra Pradesh–Odisha border. Freshly harvested paddy was stored in rectangular pits plastered with straw and clay. The pit was sealed with cow dung to protect grains from moisture, rodents, and theft. Paathara was built in front of thatched houses and supported joint family food security. The tradition is declining due to lack of space, awareness, and changing rural housing styles.