India Current Affairs [Nation & States] MCQs

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Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin announced that May 5 will officially be declared as Traders’ Day in the state. This aligns with the day already observed by Tamil Nadu Traders’ Associations annually. The announcement was made at the 42nd annual meeting of the Traders’ Association in Maduranthakam.

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The Dongria Kondh tribe of Odisha was recently highlighted for showcasing their vibrant identity and cultural resilience during a festival near the Niyamgiri Hills. They are an indigenous community classified as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG). The Dongria Kondh are known for their environmental stewardship and strong resistance against bauxite mining in the Niyamgiri hills. They live in scattered hamlets within the Niyamgiri hill range, located across Rayagada and Kalahandi districts in southwestern Odisha. These hills are ecologically rich and hold spiritual significance, being the home of their revered deity, Niyam Raja.

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Recently, Maharashtra approved a new policy on May 13, 2025, making the use of artificial sand, or manufactured sand (m-sand), mandatory in all government and semi-government construction projects. The policy aims to stop illegal river sand mining and reduce environmental damage. It supports sustainable construction by encouraging the use of eco-friendly materials like m-sand. The state plans to set up 1,500 crusher units across districts and will provide state land for these units. M-sand producers will get Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) status and benefit from reduced royalty rates. This policy protects natural resources and promotes local industry and jobs.

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Neeraj Chopra has been given the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Army, effective from April 16, as per The Gazette of India. He made history by winning India’s first Olympic gold in athletics at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and followed it with a silver at the 2024 Paris Games. With two Olympic medals, he is now India’s most successful individual Olympian. He joined the Indian Army as a Naib Subedar in 2016 and was promoted to Subedar in 2021 after his Tokyo win.

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Union Home Minister Amit Shah recently inaugurated the upgraded Multi Agency Centre, also known as MAC. MAC is a national intelligence-sharing hub under the Intelligence Bureau (IB) where central and state agencies share information on terrorism. It was first set up in 2001 after the Kargil conflict and was strengthened after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks in 2008. It now connects all police districts nationwide through a secure network built at a cost of ₹500 crore. The system includes Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and Geographic Information System (GIS) tools for better analysis. It helps map hotspots, predict threats, and coordinate real-time action against terrorism, crime, and cyberattacks.

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Recently, the Department of Posts under the Ministry of Communications launched two digital platforms — ‘Know Your DIGIPIN’ and ‘Know Your PIN Code’ — to modernise India’s address system. These platforms align with the National Geospatial Policy 2022, aiming to improve geospatial infrastructure and public service delivery. The DIGIPIN (Digital Postal Index Number) is a geo-coded, grid-based digital address system developed with Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Hyderabad and National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). DIGIPIN enables users to find digital addresses using location coordinates and improves delivery, emergency services, and logistics. The ‘Know Your PIN Code’ app uses Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) to identify exact PIN codes based on user location. Users can give feedback to help refine PIN Code accuracy through the geo-fenced dataset now uploaded on the Open Government Data Platform.

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Recently, Lieutenant General Dinesh Singh Rana took charge as the 18th Commander-in-Chief of the Andaman and Nicobar Command (CINCAN). The Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) is India’s first integrated theatre command, established in 2001. It is headquartered in Port Blair and integrates the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard. The command plays a crucial role in securing India’s strategic interests in the Indian Ocean Region. The post of Commander-in-Chief Andaman and Nicobar Command (CINCAN) rotates among the three armed services.

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Residents of Milam village in Uttarakhand face severe access problems after an avalanche damaged the Bailey bridge over the Gaokha River. A Bailey bridge is a modular bridge with pre-built parts for quick assembly. It was invented by English civil engineer Donald Coleman Bailey in 1941. Bailey bridges are strong, portable, and versatile, designed for fast construction in tough conditions without heavy machinery.

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Recently, Mizoram and Goa declared themselves “fully literate” under the ULLAS adult literacy programme, with literacy rates of 98.2% and 99.72%, respectively. ULLAS stands for Understanding Lifelong Learning for All in Society and is officially known as Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram or New India Literacy Programme (NILP). It is a centrally sponsored scheme aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

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The Department of Posts has launched Gyan Post, a special postal service for delivering educational, cultural, social, and religious books. It supports the goals of the New Education Policy (NEP) by making printed learning material affordable and accessible, especially in rural and remote areas. A tracking facility is available to ensure transparency and timely delivery. This initiative helps bridge the educational gap and promote inclusive learning across India.