India Current Affairs [Nation & States] MCQs

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The two states that recently inaugurated their first Gen-Z post office counters are Kerala and Andhra Pradesh.
These youth-centric post office extension counters were specifically designed in collaboration with students to appeal to a younger demographic. In Kerala, the counter was opened at CMS College, Kottayam. The space was co-created by students and features nature-themed seating, charging points, and a “My Stamp” printer for personalized stamps. In Andhra Pradesh, the facility was inaugurated at the Andhra University (AU) campus in Visakhapatnam. It focuses on integrating modern technology with traditional postal services, offering digital kiosks and rapid parcel services. The first Gen-Z post office in India was opened at IIT Delhi.

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Jharkhand approved the Platform Based Gig Workers (Registration and Welfare) Act, 2025 with Governor Santosh Gangwar’s assent. The Act provides a formal welfare and social security system for gig and platform workers. It covers delivery, transport and on-demand service workers. A Gig Workers’ Welfare Board will handle registration, identity cards and welfare schemes. The Act mandates minimum wages, medical insurance and social security benefits for workers. Aggregators violating provisions may face penalties up to ₹10 lakh. Jharkhand becomes one of the first states to regulate the gig economy through a dedicated law.

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Gujarat has been officially reinstated as a tiger-bearing state for the All-India Tiger Estimation (AITE) 2026 after over 30 years. This follows confirmed photographic evidence of a nearly four-year-old tiger in Ratanmahal Sanctuary, Dahod district. The tiger has stayed in the area for about 10 months, showing stable habitation, not temporary movement. The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has ordered conservation measures in Ratanmahal. A camera-trap census will be conducted along the Gujarat–Madhya Pradesh border. The tiger will be tagged and monitored using stripe-pattern software during the census. Gujarat was last surveyed in 1989 and removed from the tiger map in 1992 due to no sightings.

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The Union Minister directed sediment removal at the Salal Power Project in Jammu and Kashmir to maximise water use amid the Indus Waters Treaty between India and Pakistan being kept in abeyance. Salal is a 690 Megawatt (MW) run-of-the-river hydroelectric project on the Chenab River in Reasi district. It is owned by National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC). It was India’s first hydropower project under the Indus Waters Treaty regime in Kashmir. The dam is 130 metres high at 1627 feet above mean sea level. Jammu and Kashmir gets 12.5 percent power, while the rest goes to the Northern Grid supplying multiple northern states.

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The Ministry of Women and Child Development launched the PANKHUDI Portal on 8 January 2026. It is an integrated Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and partnership facilitation digital platform. PANKHUDI brings together government, citizens, Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), and corporates. It supports sectors like nutrition, health, Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE), child protection, and women empowerment. It strengthens Mission Saksham Anganwadi & Poshan 2.0, Mission Vatsalya, and Mission Shakti.

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Karnataka Department of Women and Child Development has launched Gruha Lakshmi Digital Marketing to promote women entrepreneurs. It is a state-backed e-commerce portal showcasing women-made products to national and global markets. The initiative aims to boost women’s economic independence and digital inclusion. The portal highlights products from urban and rural women, including artisans and small businesses. Only verified women entrepreneurs are onboarded to ensure trust and quality. It offers a simple, customer-friendly digital interface for buyers.

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Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma announced direct procurement of ginger and dry broomsticks from farmers starting February 2. The procurement is under the flagship Bana Kaih handholding scheme to ensure assured income to cultivators. The announcement was made during the inauguration of a ginger processing unit at Sairang near Aizawl. NITI Aayog has declared Mizoram as the ginger capital of India due to strong farmer-led production. Ginger cultivation has significantly increased farmers’ income and purchasing power.

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Indian Railways operationalised India’s first Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)–Diesel dual-fuel Diesel Electric Multiple Unit (DEMU) train at Sabarmati, Ahmedabad. The 1,400 horsepower (HP) DEMU driving power cars were converted to run on a dual-fuel system. LNG replaces about 40% of conventional diesel consumption in the modified train. The converted power cars successfully completed field trials covering over 2,000 kilometres. The train is now running in regular passenger service without operational issues. The initiative reduces carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions significantly.

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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.

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India’s first Bharat Ratna Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Advocate Training and Research Centre was inaugurated at Taloja, Navi Mumbai. The centre has been established by the Maharashtra and Goa Bar Council. It aims to strengthen the legal profession by bridging the gap between legal education and courtroom practice. The academy will focus on advocate training, legal research, and practical skill development. The initiative is seen as a landmark step for improving professional standards in law.