India Current Affairs [Nation & States] MCQs

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Kozhikode city has recently been honoured with membership in the Global Network for Age-friendly Cities and Communities (GNAFCC) of the World Health Organization (WHO). GNAFCC was established in 2010 to help cities become better places for older people to live in. It has over 1300 members from 51 countries, promoting global cooperation on age-friendly policies. The aim is to connect cities, communities, and organizations to create supportive environments for ageing populations. It works to inspire change, share knowledge, and help cities find smart, practical solutions. This membership shows Kozhikode’s commitment to healthy ageing and inclusive urban development.

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Russia recently honoured Biju Patnaik by unveiling a memorial plaque at its embassy in New Delhi for his heroic role during the Battle of Stalingrad in World War II. Biju Patnaik, born in Cuttack in 1916, was a brave freedom fighter, expert pilot, and prominent politician. He joined the Royal Indian Air Force in 1936 and flew dangerous missions during World War II. During the Battle of Stalingrad (1942–43), he risked his life flying through German defences to supply arms to the Soviet Red Army. This battle was a turning point in World War II, stopping the German advance. Patnaik also played a vital role in India’s Quit India Movement by secretly flying nationalist leaders.

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India’s first Mahouts Village was recently inaugurated at the Theppakadu Elephant Camp in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, Tamil Nadu. A total of 44 houses have been built for mahouts and their families, who care for and manage elephants. This is the first such dedicated settlement in India aimed at improving the lives of mahouts. The project has been developed at a cost of ₹5.6 crore. It provides permanent and well-equipped housing for mahouts and cavadis (assistants), recognizing their traditional skills and contribution to elephant care. The initiative highlights Tamil Nadu’s efforts to ensure welfare of both elephants and their caretakers.

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Rajasthan has begun classifying sacred ‘Oran’ lands as forests following a Supreme Court order. Orans are community-managed sacred groves in Rajasthan, linked to local deities and traditions. They support grazing, forest produce collection, and water needs, helping rural livelihoods and livestock. Rajasthan has around 25,000 Orans spread over 6 lakh hectares, with some spanning hundreds of hectares. Bhadariya Mata Oran in Jaisalmer covers 17,821 hectares and includes ancient petrographs near water bodies. Orans are habitats for the Great Indian Bustard (GIB), Rajasthan’s State bird and a critically endangered species. Earlier, the 2023 forest policy termed Orans as community land, which lacked protection. On December 18, 2024, the Supreme Court declared Orans as forests under the Forest Conservation Act, 1980.

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The Tamil Nadu Cabinet recently approved a Space Industrial Policy to boost the space sector and attract investments. Tamil Nadu became the third Indian state after Karnataka and Gujarat to promote the space ecosystem. It already hosts key Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) facilities like the ISRO Propulsion Complex at Mahendragiri, Tirunelveli, which tests cryogenic and liquid engines. A second Indian spaceport is being built by ISRO at Kulasekarapattinam in Thoothukudi to increase satellite launch capacity. The state also has several startups working on reusable launch vehicles, in-space manufacturing, in-orbit refuelling, and satellite data analytics. IN-SPACe (Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre) is an autonomous agency under the Department of Space to promote private participation.

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The Department of Land Resources (DoLR), Ministry of Rural Development, will conduct the second phase of capacity-building under the NAKSHA programme starting 2nd June 2025. The NAtional geospatial Knowledge-based land Survey of urban Habitations (NAKSHA) programme is a city survey initiative under the Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme (DILRMP). It is led by the Department of Land Resources (DoLR) under the Ministry of Rural Development. The programme prepares detailed maps of towns and cities to improve land records.

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Recently, on the occasion of World Environment Day 2025, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change launched the National Plastic Waste Reporting Portal. This digital platform captures the entire plastic waste management process, including collection by waste pickers, processing, and final disposal. It enables real-time, nationwide access to data from Urban Local Bodies and District Panchayats across India. The portal helps in better planning, monitoring, and implementation of plastic waste management strategies.

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The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (CSIR-IHBT) recently reported the first flowering and seed set of asafoetida, also known as heeng, at Palampur in Himachal Pradesh. This confirms that asafoetida has successfully adapted and been domesticated in Indian soil for the first time. Asafoetida, scientifically called Ferula assa-foetida, is a perennial herb that takes about five years to flower. The plant grows well in cold and dry climates like those in Iran, Afghanistan, and Central Asia, which are its native regions.

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Recently, the Andhra Pradesh government banned the entry of Totapuri mangoes from other states into Chittoor district, leading to a dispute with Karnataka. Totapuri mangoes are mainly grown in Chittoor in Andhra Pradesh and parts of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. This mango is known for its long shape and parrot beak-like tip, which gives it the name “Totapuri.” It is also called Ginimoothi, Sandersha, or Banglora and is native to South India.

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Karnataka was awarded first place for adding the highest wind power capacity of 1,331.48 Megawatts (MW) in financial year 2024-25. The award was received by State Energy Minister K J George from Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Pralhad Joshi, during Global Wind Day 2025 in Bengaluru. Global Wind Day 2025 was themed ‘Pawan-Urja: Powering the Future of India’. Tamil Nadu and Gujarat ranked second and third with 1,136.37 MW and 954.76 MW additions respectively. Karnataka’s wind capacity now surpasses that of countries like South Africa, Portugal, and New Zealand, and is close to Sweden and Australia.