India Current Affairs [Nation & States] MCQs

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The International Solar Alliance (ISA) launched a global AI-for-Energy mission at the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi to accelerate clean energy adoption across its 120+ member countries. The AI-for-Energy mission is a strategic international initiative aimed at integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into the clean energy infrastructure of developing and emerging economies. It leverages the India Energy Stack, a digital public infrastructure model, to modernize electricity grids and promote decentralized power systems.

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Union Minister of State V. Somanna launched the coffee table book “Karnataka Bharat Gaurav Train: Journey of a Thousand Shrines” at Rail Bhawan on 23 February 2026. The book highlights the Karnataka Bharat Gaurav Train as a major cultural and spiritual tourism initiative of Indian Railways. The initiative was conceptualised by Dr. Anup Dayanand, Indian Railway Traffic Service (Retired). The Karnataka Bharat Gaurav Train is a flagship pilgrimage tourism initiative launched under the Bharat Gaurav Policy of Indian Railways. The initiative transforms Indian Railways from being only a transport provider into a promoter of tourism, culture and spiritual connectivity.

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Researchers at Nagaland University studied the genetic diversity of Musa sikkimensis, a wild banana native to the Eastern Himalayas and Northeast India. Known as Darjeeling or Sikkim banana, it is a wild seeded species with traits for disease resistance, environmental stress tolerance, and climate adaptability, crucial for future breeding. Though not widely cultivated for fruit, it strengthens crop resilience, food security, and sustainable agriculture. Nagaland, part of the Indo Burma biodiversity hotspot, hosts diverse indigenous banana genotypes at risk due to deforestation and human activity.

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The Gujarat Urban Development Mission launched the ‘Lake and Air Watch’ initiative to monitor lake health and air quality in cities. It is a technology-driven environmental monitoring programme under the Urban Development and Urban Housing Department of Gujarat. Satellite technology will track lake area changes, algae growth, waste accumulation and water quality indicators. Real-time AQI (Air Quality Index) monitoring stations will be installed in 17 municipal corporations and 152 municipal areas. An automated alert system will warn authorities when air pollution rises or lake conditions worsen.

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Odisha develop its first “smart village” at Kusunpur in Kendrapada district under a mission by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Ministry of Science and Technology. The project aligns with the vision of “Viksit Bharat@2047” to promote technology-driven and sustainable rural development. Kusunpur village has about 130 families and 700 people and will serve as a model for smart rural transformation. The initiative involves collaboration between CSIR labs, local administration, and implementation partners.

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The Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden in Srinagar, Asia’s largest tulip garden, was inaugurated on 16 March 2026 by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, marking the start of the spring tourism season. The garden is spread over 74 acres at the foothills of the Zabarwan Range, overlooking Dal Lake. It features over 1.8 million tulips across 70–75 varieties, including imported varieties from the Netherlands. The garden’s vibrant floral display attracts tourists from across India and abroad, turning the valley into a colorful and picturesque landscape.

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India is the world’s largest producer of coconuts, contributing around 30.37% of global coconut production. Coconut is a perennial plantation crop and a monocotyledonous palm belonging to the Arecaceae family. It is native to the Indo-Pacific region, with its origin commonly traced to Southeast Asia. Coconut requires a warm and humid tropical climate for optimal growth. It grows best in temperatures ranging between 25°C and 30°C and needs high, evenly distributed rainfall.

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RISA: Timeless Tribal is a premium national brand launched by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs to promote and preserve India’s tribal crafts, textiles, and embroidery. The scheme is implemented by TRIFED (Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India) to support Vocal for Local and the Atma Nirbhar Bharat initiative by adding value to tribal products. The brand aims to showcase India’s indigenous craftsmanship in both domestic and international premium markets, positioning tribal products as high-end and globally competitive.

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In March 2026, the Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the Ministry of Home Affairs, has launched a comprehensive 3-Year Action Plan for “Nasha Mukt Vidyalaya” (Drug-Free Schools) under the broader Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan. A central provision of the plan is to formally declare the area within a 500-metre radius of all schools (government and private) as drug-free zones. The action plan provides a structured approach for the next three years to eliminate substance use in educational environments.

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A new study documented 39 plants used by the Sonowal Kachari community to treat ailments like fever, cough, kidney stones, and skin diseases. The Sonowal Kacharis are an indigenous people living mainly in northeast India. Most of them live in Assam, where they are the third-largest plain tribe and one of the oldest tribes. Smaller groups of Sonowal Kacharis are found in Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya. They are recognized as a Scheduled Tribe (Plains) in Assam. The name “Sonowal” comes from the word for gold, reflecting their traditional occupation of gold panning during the Ahom kingdom.