India Current Affairs [Nation & States] MCQs

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The Madhya Pradesh government has declared 258.64 square kilometers of forest in Sagar district as a wildlife sanctuary named Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar Abhyaran, ahead of Dr B R Ambedkar’s 134th birth anniversary on April 14. The sanctuary spans across North Sagar forest division, including Banda and Shahgarh forest areas. This makes it the 25th wildlife sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh, a state known for its rich tiger reserves. The sanctuary will support wildlife conservation, strengthen the ecosystem, and also boost tourism and create employment for local communities.

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The Maharashtra government has launched the Pink E Rickshaw Scheme to empower women and make them financially independent. It was officially launched by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on April 21, 2025, in Pune, where electric three-wheelers were distributed to selected women. The scheme is administered by the Women and Child Development Department of Maharashtra. Kinetic Green Energy and Power Solutions Limited is the official partner and will supply the electric three-wheelers. A total of 10,000 e-rickshaws will be given in eight districts, including Pune, Nashik, Nagpur, Ahmednagar, Solapur, Kolhapur, Amravati, and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar. Women aged between 20 and 50 years who are widows, divorcees, or from economically weaker sections will get preference under this scheme.

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Recently, the Khadi and Village Industries sector achieved its highest-ever turnover of ₹1.7 lakh crore, marking a major milestone. The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) played a key role in this achievement. KVIC is a statutory body set up under the Khadi and Village Industries Commission Act of 1956. It operates under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises. KVIC’s main aim is to promote rural development by supporting khadi, which is hand-spun and hand-woven cloth, and other village industries. It also focuses on generating employment in rural areas.

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In a major counter-infiltration move after the Pahalgam terror attack, the Indian Army recovered arms from Baramulla district, Jammu and Kashmir. The operation was called Operation TIKKA and was led by the Chinar Corps. The army seized two AK-series rifles, five magazines, one pistol, ten kilograms of RCIED (Remote-Controlled Improvised Explosive Device), and other war-related items. This action followed intelligence reports of Pakistani terrorists trying to cross the Line of Control (LOC) in the Uri sector.

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The government recently authorised the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) to share and receive information with the Enforcement Directorate under the anti-money laundering law to better detect money trails and combat cyber frauds. Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) is established under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) as the national nodal agency to fight cybercrime. It provides a framework and ecosystem for law enforcement agencies (LEAs) to handle cybercrimes in a coordinated and comprehensive way. It connects academia, industry, public, and government for prevention, detection, investigation, and prosecution of cybercrimes. The headquarters of I4C is located in New Delhi.

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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.

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The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has decided to begin repair work on the damaged mihrab structure around the old water tank at Safa Masjid in Ponda, Goa. Safa Masjid, also called Safa Shahouri Masjid, is a historic mosque built in 1560 by Sultan Adil Shah of Bijapur. It is one of the few Islamic monuments in Goa that survived the Portuguese colonial period, during which many religious sites were destroyed. The mosque is known for its architectural and cultural value and is declared a national monument under the protection of ASI. The recent decision by ASI follows months of delay and brings hope for the preservation of this heritage site.

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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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The Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) launched ‘Sanchari Cauvery’ to supply clean drinking water using GPS-tracked tankers in Bengaluru. Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar launched the ‘Sarvarigu Sanchari Cauvery’ scheme to stop the monopoly of private water tanker mafia charging up to ₹3,000 per tanker. Under the scheme, 4,000 litres is priced at ₹660, 6,000 litres at ₹740, and 12,000 litres at ₹1,290, with extra charges for deliveries beyond 2 km. The ‘Kaverionwheels’ app allows real-time booking, tracking, and OTP-based verification of deliveries.

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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.