India Current Affairs [Nation & States] MCQs

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Recently, tribal communities in Koraput have been protesting for their legal rights over kendu leaves for the third consecutive year. Kendu leaf (Diospyros melanoxylon), also called tendu leaf, is known as the “Green Gold of Odisha” and is a major non-wood forest product. It is a nationalised forest product like bamboo and sal seed. It is widely produced in states like Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat, with Odisha being the third-largest producer. Odisha is unique in producing processed kendu leaves.

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The upgraded Prashast 2.0 app has been developed to screen 21 types of disabilities among children. It is launched by the Department of School Education and Literacy. The app helps in early identification, assessment, and certification of Children with Special Needs (CWSN). It connects teachers, school heads, special educators, and students for school-level screening. Identified students are linked to support services under Samagra Shiksha.

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The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) conducted Operation WHITE STRIKE, uncovering a major transnational cocaine trafficking network. About 349 kilograms of high-grade cocaine worth ₹1,745 crore was seized from the Mumbai logistics corridor. The operation followed six months of intelligence gathering and surveillance. The operation reflects India’s zero-tolerance policy against narcotics trafficking. Investigation continues to identify kingpins, financiers, and international links.

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The Government of India is expanding the rollout of the Samarth Panchayat portal to states like Assam, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra after successful pilots in Chhattisgarh and Himachal Pradesh. The SAMARTH Panchayat Portal is a digital platform developed by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj to strengthen local governance and promote financial self-sustainability in Gram Panchayats. The initiative supports better targeted policy formulation and improved local governance.

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Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) has granted permission for major equipment erection work at Units 5 and 6 of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project. AERB is India’s apex nuclear regulatory authority established in 1983 under the Atomic Energy Act, 1962, and functions under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE). Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project is located in Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu and is being developed by Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited in collaboration with Russia.

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Odisha emerged as the top-performing state in house completion under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban 2.0. Odisha maintained the number one rank in house completion performance from March 2025 to March 2026. Under PMAY-U 2.0, the state sanctioned 24,625 houses and geo-tagged 23,464 sites. The scheme was launched nationwide in September 2024 to achieve the “Housing for All” vision.

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National Crime Records Bureau has, for the first time, compiled national data on animal cruelty cases registered under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. In 2024, a total of 9,039 animal cruelty cases and 10,312 arrests were recorded across India. Maharashtra reported the highest number of cases, followed by Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and Tamil Nadu. The report tracks the entire criminal justice process, including First Information Report registration, investigation, chargesheet filing, and court disposal.

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Karnataka launched India’s first Integrated Technology-Driven Monitoring Portal for tracking Not of Standard Quality Medicines and monitoring Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Drugs. It was developed by the Food Safety and Drug Administration Department. The system enables real-time tracking, automatic freezing, and recall of substandard drug batches. The portal initially integrates around 15,000 wholesalers and stockists, with plans to expand to 45,000 retailers and pharmacists. It also monitors NDPS medicine sales by tracking patient, doctor, and prescription details to detect misuse.

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The fifth meeting of the Scientific Steering Committee on the National One Health Mission was held in New Delhi. The mission was launched in 2024 to strengthen integrated disease surveillance and pandemic preparedness in India. It follows a collaborative approach connecting human, animal, and environmental health sectors. The mission aims to improve coordinated disease control and health security across sectors. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), under the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser, is the nodal agency for the mission.

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The TEAM Initiative is a digital commerce support programme launched under the Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance Programme (RAMP) of the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises. Recently, the initiative gained attention for helping small businesses, artisans, farmer producer organisations, and local entrepreneurs connect with national markets through the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC). It is implemented by the National Small Industries Corporation, the scheme provides end-to-end e-commerce support including onboarding, cataloguing, packaging, logistics, and customer management.