India Current Affairs [Nation & States] MCQs

Notes:
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has recently developed two genome-edited rice varieties, marking a major advancement in Indian agricultural science. ICAR is an autonomous body under the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India. It was founded on 16 July 1929, initially as the Imperial Council of Agricultural Research, following recommendations from the Royal Commission on Agriculture. ICAR’s headquarters is in New Delhi, and it coordinates research in agriculture, horticulture, fisheries, and animal sciences across India.

Notes:
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.

Notes:
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath recently met World Bank President Ajay Banga in Lucknow to launch two major projects: Uttar Pradesh Agriculture Growth and Rural Enterprise Ecosystem Strengthening (UP AGREES) and Artificial Intelligence Pragya (AI Pragya). UP AGREES will promote technology-based farming and improve agricultural productivity across 28 districts in Bundelkhand and Purvanchal. AI Pragya will train 10 lakh youth in digital fields like artificial intelligence, machine learning, data analytics, and cybersecurity. The initiative will be supported by departments like Education, Health, Agriculture, and Rural Development. These efforts aim to create jobs, support startups, and help Uttar Pradesh become a $1 trillion economy.

Notes:
Amid rising tensions along the western front due to escalations from Pakistan, the Border Security Force (BSF) has stood firm as India’s first and sharpest line of defence. The Border Security Force (BSF) is India’s main border-guarding force, known as the First Line of Defence of Indian Territories. BSF is one of the seven Central Armed Police Forces (CSPFs) and functions under the Ministry of Home Affairs. It was formed on 1 December 1965 after the 1965 War to secure India’s borders. BSF protects land borders during peacetime and stops transnational crimes like smuggling and infiltration. In wartime, it supports the Indian Army using its deep knowledge of local people and terrain. BSF is currently deployed along the Indo-Pakistan and Indo-Bangladesh borders, the Line of Control (LoC), and in Anti-Naxal Operations.

Notes:
The Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) recently demolished 36 illegal bungalows from the River Villa project that were built within the blue flood line of the Indrayani River in Chikhali. The Indrayani River is a rain-fed river located in Maharashtra and is a tributary of the Bhima River, which further joins the Krishna River. It originates from the Western Ghats near Lonavala and flows through Pune district before merging with the Bhima River at Tulapur. The river is 103.5 kilometres long and holds religious importance as the towns of Dehu and Alandi lie on its banks. Dehu is the birthplace of poet-saint Tukaram, and Alandi is where saint Dnyaneshwar’s samadhi is located. The Indrayani River also flows through Pimpri-Chinchwad and supports local agriculture through irrigation.

Notes:
The Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation recently launched the new Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) Portal in New Delhi. The Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) Scheme was introduced in August 2005 by amending the Citizenship Act, 1955. A foreign national can apply for OCI if they were an Indian citizen on or after 26th January 1950, or were eligible to become one on that date. OCI status is also open to those whose ancestors belonged to a territory that became part of India after 15th August 1947. The new OCI portal aims to simplify and modernize the application process for eligible foreign nationals.

Notes:
Kandha women from Odisha’s Kandhamal district are giving up the old tradition of facial tattooing, once used for protection and identity. Kandha, also known as Khond, is the largest tribal group in Odisha, living mainly in Kandhamal, Rayagada, Kalahandi, and Koraput districts. They speak Kui or Kuvi languages, which belong to the Dravidian language family. The word “Kandha” comes from the Telugu word “Konda,” meaning hill, showing their link to forest life. Sub-groups include Desia Kandha, Dongria Kandha, and Kutia Kandha, with Dongria and Kutia listed as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).

Notes:
The Chief Minister of Sikkim has urged the central government to ban climbing on Mt. Khangchendzonga, respecting local sentiments. Locals believe the peak is sacred and home to their guardian deity, Dzonga. Mt. Khangchendzonga is located in Sikkim on the India-Nepal border in the Eastern Himalayas. It contains the Khangchendzonga National Park, a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site.

Notes:
Mock drills were recently held in states and Union Territories near India’s western border under Operation SHIELD. The main goal is to check and improve India’s readiness against external threats. The drills simulate emergencies like enemy air raids, drone attacks, missile strikes, and mass evacuations. It includes silent and general recall of civil defence volunteers to test quick response. This helps authorities prepare better for real security situations along the border.

Notes:
Telangana government has launched a Composite Backwardness Index (CBI) using data from a caste survey covering over 3.5 crore people. Composite Backwardness Index (CBI) is developed by an expert panel using 42 indicators across nine categories to measure caste-wise backwardness scientifically. This approach moves away from older methods like the Mandal Commission, which used population size and just 11 indicators for identifying backwardness. It marks a global first in using detailed data to assess social and economic backwardness more accurately.