India Current Affairs [Nation & States] MCQs

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The Andhra Pradesh government has officially renamed Raj Bhavan as Lok Bhavan. The change was approved by Governor S. Abdul Nazeer following communication from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Government of India. A notification confirming the renaming was issued by G. Anantha Ramu, Special Chief Secretary to the Governor. With this change, the Governor’s official residence in Andhra Pradesh will now be known as Lok Bhavan.

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Uttar Pradesh will establish India’s first Forest University in Gorakhpur, focused on forestry, wildlife, and environmental sciences. The university will offer specialised programs in forestry, agroforestry, and conservation, combining academic and field-based research. A Forest University is a specialised institution providing higher education and research in forest sciences, wildlife conservation, ecosystem management, and environmental sustainability. It trains experts in areas like agroforestry, social forestry, horticulture, and biotechnology.

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The Government of India recently launched the Bharat Taxi initiative, a first-of-its-kind national ride-hailing platform designed to be cooperative-driven and citizen-first. The initiative is government-supported and has been developed under the Union Ministry of Cooperation in collaboration with the National e-Governance Division (NeGD). Bharat Taxi is India’s first cooperative taxi network, providing an innovative model where drivers can become shareholders and co-owners, empowering them with a stake in the platform.

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The National Commission for Women (NCW) has launched SHAKTI Scholars, a Young Research Fellowship programme aimed at promoting policy-oriented research on issues affecting women in India. The fellowship encourages multidisciplinary research in areas such as women’s safety and dignity, gender-based violence, legal rights and access to justice, cyber safety, health and nutrition, economic empowerment, and labour participation. The programme is open to Indian citizens aged between 21 and 30 years who have completed at least a graduate degree from a recognised institution. Selected candidates will be awarded a research grant of ₹1 lakh to conduct a six-month research study.

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Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation (DDWS), Ministry of Jal Shakti launched Jal Seva Aankalan under the Jal Jeevan Mission. It is a Gram Panchayat-led digital tool on the JJM portal to assess drinking water service functionality. It is designed as a community-owned self-assessment, reducing reliance on external surveys. All Har Ghar Jal Gram Panchayats must complete the exercise by 26 January next year. It empowers Gram Panchayats to act as custodians of water supply systems and strengthens Gram Sabha-based decision-making.

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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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The Public Works Department (PWD) has mandated the use of QR codes on all existing and future road signage across roads under its control in Delhi. This move is part of an extensive drive to upgrade retro-reflective road signs and improve their quality, durability, and uniformity. The QR codes will initially provide basic details about the signboard, including warranty-related information. In a later phase, the QR codes may be integrated with the PWD Sewa mobile application to allow citizens to register complaints about damaged or faulty signage.

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The Public Investment Board (PIB) approved the ₹26,070-crore, 1,720 Megawatt (MW) Kamala Hydroelectric Project in Arunachal Pradesh. The project is planned on the Kamala River, a major tributary of the Subansiri River, in Kamle district. It is a storage-based hydroelectric scheme with an important flood moderation component. A 216-metre-high concrete gravity dam and an underground powerhouse will be constructed. The project will generate 6,869.92 Million Units (MU) of green energy every year. It will also help reduce floods in the Brahmaputra valley.

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Prasar Bharati recently launched “Creator’s Corner” on DD News to empower digital creators across India. It is a dedicated platform to showcase content created by independent digital creators on a national television network. The initiative aims to promote the digital economy by encouraging quality content creation and wider outreach through collaboration. Content will cover news and current affairs, culture, travel, cuisine, art, literature, music, health, education, science and technology, environment, and entertainment. The programme will be telecast at 7:00 PM from Monday to Friday on DD News.

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Recently, Odisha launched the five-year scheme ‘Aame Padhiba Aama Bhasare’ to promote women empowerment and early childhood education. The scheme provides education for children aged 3–6 years in their mother tongue, aligning with the National Education Policy, 2020. Anganwadi workers will receive language-specific training, educational materials, and audio-visual content. Odisha also launched a 100-day campaign to prevent child marriage and a pilot project to prevent teenage pregnancy and support teenage mothers.