Best Current Affairs Questions

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Pakistan, Russia, and Congo have been excluded from the 2026 FIFA World Cup due to various issues. Pakistan was suspended for failing to implement a revised football federation constitution for fair elections. Russia faced exclusion due to geopolitical sanctions. Congo was disqualified due to third-party interference in football administration. The 2026 FIFA World Cup will feature 48 teams, but these nations will not participate. The decision highlights the importance of governance, fair play, and international relations in global sports.

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The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by PM Narendra Modi, approved a 12.4 km ropeway from Govindghat to Hemkund Sahib Ji in Uttarakhand. The project costs ₹2,730.13 crore and will follow the DBFOT (Design, Build, Finance, Operate, and Transfer) model. The ropeway will ease the current 21-km trek, benefiting pilgrims and tourists visiting Hemkund Sahib Ji and the Valley of Flowers (UNESCO site). It will have a capacity of 11,000 passengers per day and use advanced ropeway technology. The project will boost tourism, create jobs, and enhance regional economic growth.

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Punjab’s Minister for Social Security, Women, and Child Development launched Project Hifazat on International Women’s Day. The initiative aims to create a safe environment for reporting domestic violence, workplace harassment, and abuse. The 181 helpline will be central to the project, providing immediate assistance. Mission Shakti and Mission Vatsalya will support a 24×7 helpline for emergency and non-emergency services. Coordination between departments (social security, police, health) will offer rescue, legal, medical, and psycho-social support. Victims will have access to one-stop centres, legal aid, and rehabilitation services.

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The Mudumal Megalithic Menhirs in Telangana’s Narayanpet district, dating back 3,500 to 4,000 years, are now on India’s Tentative UNESCO World Heritage Sites list. Menhirs are large upright standing stones, often part of megalithic burial or ritual sites. They are found in Europe, Africa, and Asia, with the highest concentration in Western Europe. Menhirs vary in size, shape, and arrangement, including circles, semicircles, and parallel rows. The Carnac Stones in France, with 2,935 menhirs, is the most famous alignment. Some menhirs have engravings linked to fertility rites and seasonal cycles. Megaliths are stone structures used as burial sites or memorials.

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Stuart Young was sworn in as the new Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago at the President’s House in St. Ann’s. He succeeds Dr. Keith Rowley, who has officially stepped down. Trinidad and Tobago is an island country in the southeastern West Indies, close to Venezuela and Guyana. It is a member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

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The 57th Senior National Kho-Kho Championship will be held in Puri, Odisha, from March 31 to April 4, 2025. The event will take place at the District Sports Complex, Puri. A total of 74 teams, including 30 state teams and institutional squads like Airport Authority, Railways, BSF, Maharashtra Police, and CISF, will compete. The championship is organized under the Kho Kho Federation of India (KKFI). The event marks a significant step in the rapid growth of Kho-Kho in India.

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The North Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation (NEHHDC) received Oeko-Tex certification for eri silk from Germany. Oeko-Tex ensures textiles are free from harmful substances. Eri silk, produced by the Samia Cynthia Ricini worm, is a natural protein fiber. The worms feed on castor oil plant leaves, and the process doesn’t kill the silkworm, making it Ahimsa Silk. Eri silk is primarily found in the northeastern region of India, particularly in Assam, but also in neighboring states like Meghalaya, Nagaland, and Manipur.

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The Indian Navy recently took part in the Sea Dragon 2025 exercise, a multinational anti-submarine warfare (ASW) drill in the Indo-Pacific region. Exercise Sea Dragon 2025 was hosted by the United States Navy’s 7th Fleet, with the exercise taking place at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. The drill involves maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft (MPRA) with advanced sensors and sonobuoys. Initially bilateral between the US and Australia in 2019, it expanded to include allies like India from 2021. Participating Nations are United States, Australia, India, Japan, and South Korea.

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Pune will host the Billie Jean King Cup Asia-Oceania Group-1 tournament for the first time in Indian tennis history. The event will be held from April 8-12 at the Mhalunge Balewadi Tennis Complex. This marks Maharashtra’s return to international tennis after 25 years. Six teams—India, New Zealand, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Korea, and Thailand—will compete in a round-robin format with two singles and one doubles match per tie. India, led by Ankita Raina and doubles specialist Prarthana Thombare, will aim for two qualification spots.

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Researchers from Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanja Deo University discovered a new wild ginger species in Similipal Biosphere Reserve, Odisha. The species, named Zingiber jagannathii Sahu & Priyadarshini, honors Lord Jagannath. It was found in August 2024 in Kulipala’s semi-evergreen forest at 758m elevation, covering less than 1 sqkm. Researchers aim to study its distribution, ecology, and medicinal potential. The discovery highlights Similipal’s rich biodiversity and the need for habitat conservation.