India Current Affairs [Nation & States] MCQs

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eSARAS is the official e-commerce platform for products made by women Self-Help Groups (SHGs). It has been developed by the Ministry of Rural Development under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana–National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM). The platform enables direct online sales, reducing dependence on intermediaries and improving artisans’ incomes. It offers marketing, branding, packaging, logistics, and digital commerce support to SHG entrepreneurs.

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Gujarat has ranked 1st in India (2025) in the “States with Most Improvement” category under the TB-Free India Campaign due to a significant reduction in TB cases and deaths. Compared to 2015, the state achieved a 34% decline in new TB cases and a 37% decline in TB mortality rate. In 2024, Gujarat recorded 186 TB cases per 1 lakh population, placing it among the lowest TB-burden states in India. Between January–May 2026, Gujarat identified 57,334 TB patients, achieving 98.3% of its target, with 91% patients recovering quickly.

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Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan launched a national initiative for the sustainable utilisation of India’s high-seas fishery resources at Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT). He also unveiled the Odisha Deep Sea Fishing Mission Document to strengthen the state’s deep-sea fishing ecosystem. The initiative aims to promote sustainable fisheries, marine resource conservation, and the Blue Economy. India’s seafood exports have crossed ₹73,000 crore and reach over 120 countries. The initiative encourages technology-driven fisheries through digital authorisation, vessel tracking, and internationally recognised certification standards.

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The Defence Minister recently addressed the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) Strategic Infrastructure Conclave in New Delhi. He highlighted the critical role of strategic infrastructure in modern warfare and national security.The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is India’s premier border infrastructure agency. It was established on 7 May 1960 to develop strategic infrastructure and secure India’s border areas. Since 2015–16, BRO has functioned fully under the Ministry of Defence. It operates across 19 States, 3 Union Territories (including Andaman & Nicobar Islands), and friendly neighbouring countries such as Bhutan, Myanmar, Tajikistan, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan.

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Recently, India launched an electric boat pilot project on the Ganga River in Varanasi to promote green inland water transport. The project is a collaboration between the Varanasi Development Authority (VDA) and GAIL (India) Limited. It was inaugurated on 23 July 2026 and flagged off from Namo Ghat. The pilot project includes five retrofitted electric passenger boats. Each boat is equipped with a 15-kW electric outboard motor and a 20-kWh lithium battery pack. The project is expected to reduce operating costs by up to 80% compared to diesel boats. It also helps reduce noise and air pollution, improving the river ecosystem and passenger experience.

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Maharashtra became the first state to qualify for the second instalment under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) after utilising more than 75% of the first instalment. The Centre had released ₹335 crore as the first instalment, of which the state utilised around ₹260 crore, making it eligible for another ₹335 crore. The Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) is a flagship scheme of the Government of India, launched in 2007. Its primary objective is to help states increase investment in agriculture and allied sectors, make farming profitable, and achieve an annual growth rate of 4% in the agricultural sector.

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The Tea Board of India launched National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET)-approved vocational tea tasting courses at the Darjeeling Tea Research and Development Centre (DTR&DC), Kurseong, on 3 August 2026. The initiative aims to develop a skilled workforce in tea tasting, improve employment opportunities, and strengthen India’s tea industry through professional certification. The Tea Board of India is a statutory body established under Section 4 of the Tea Act, 1953. It functions under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and is headquartered in Kolkata.

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The Ministry of Textiles launched the e-Pehchan portal to provide a digitized, unified identity card to handloom weavers and allied workers across India. This initiative aims to streamline the distribution of welfare benefits, improve access to institutional credit, and ensure direct delivery of central schemes without intermediaries. By digitalizing artisan records, the portal helps the government build an accurate, verified database of the handloom workforce, of which women constitute nearly 72 percent, thereby promoting financial inclusion and ease of business.

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The Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Programme (PMNDP) is currently implemented across all 36 States/Union Territories, covering 751 districts. As of June 30, 2026, the programme operates through 1,856 haemodialysis centres equipped with 13,535 machines. PMNDP was launched to provide free haemodialysis services to eligible patients and improve access to dialysis care. The programme is supported by the Central Government through the National Health Mission (NHM). Among States/UTs, Gujarat has the highest number of dialysis centres with 282, followed by Karnataka (214) and Maharashtra (158).

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Ladakh hosted its first-ever Black-necked Crane Festival to promote conservation awareness for the threatened species. The festival highlights Ladakh’s role in protecting its habitat, as Changthang Cold Wildlife Sanctuary is the only known breeding ground of the Black-necked Crane in India. The Black-necked Crane is the world’s only alpine crane species. In India, it breeds in high-altitude wetlands such as Tso Kar and Hanle in Ladakh, at around 2,500–5,000 metres elevation. The species is distributed across India, Bhutan, Nepal and China, with an estimated global population of about 16,000.