India Current Affairs [Nation & States] MCQs

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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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Tamil Nadu launched its first Dark Sky Park at Ariyur Shola Reserve Forest in Kolli Hills, Namakkal district to promote astro-tourism. It was inaugurated remotely from Chennai by Forest Minister R S Rajakannappan. Kolli Hills was selected due to high altitude, dense forest cover and minimal light pollution within 1.5 km radius. The park enables clear viewing of stars, planets, Milky Way galaxy and the Moon.

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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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Nashik Municipal Corporation became Maharashtra’s first urban local body to list its Green Municipal Bond public issue on the National Stock Exchange (NSE). The initiative encourages municipal bodies across India to access bond markets to mobilise funds for public welfare and infrastructure projects. The Green Municipal Bond will support urban infrastructure development in Nashik and preparations for the upcoming Nashik Kumbh Mela. The listing represents a milestone in sustainable finance and municipal development for the city.

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The Ministry of Women and Child Development organised the Shakti Walk #SheLeadsBharat at Kartavya Path, New Delhi to mark International Women’s Day 2026. SheLeadsBharat is a national campaign highlighted through the Shakti Walk initiative. The initiative celebrates the leadership and contributions of women in India. The walk was part of International Women’s Day celebrations by the Ministry of Women and Child Development. The aim is to promote women’s empowerment and leadership across all sectors. It celebrates Nari Shakti and the role of women in nation-building. The initiative aligns with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.

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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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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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Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) introduced ALMM List-III (for ingots and wafers), effective from 1 June 2028, under the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers Order 2019 (ALMM). ALMM is a quality and reliability framework ensuring solar equipment used in India meets domestic manufacturing standards. Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is the nodal authority for Approved List of Models and Manufacturers Order (ALMM) Framework. It has a tier structure: List-I (Solar PV Modules), List-II (Solar PV Cells) and List-III (Ingots and Wafers). Only approved models and manufacturers in ALMM can be used in government projects, schemes, net-metering and power sale to government.

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Under PMFME (Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises), over 1.72 lakh loans sanctioned till Dec 2025. It was launched in 2020 by Ministry of Food Processing Industries as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme. The objective is to formalise and upgrade micro food processing units. It supports FPOs (Farmer Producer Organisations), SHGs (Self Help Groups), cooperatives, and entrepreneurs.

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Students from Jayshree Periwal International School, Jaipur, developed the Veer Sahara App, a digital platform to connect defence families with government welfare schemes. The app uses a step-by-step form and AI-assisted voice guidance to help users easily navigate the process. It identifies relevant schemes and awards based on user input and provides direct application links. It aims to support ex-servicemen, widows, dependents, and families of martyrs by reducing complexity, delays, and dependence on intermediaries.