India Current Affairs [Nation & States] MCQs

Notes:
Recently, Jenu Kuruba families began re-occupying their ancestral homes inside Nagarhole National Park after a long wait. Jenu Kuruba is listed as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) and mainly lives in Karnataka’s Kodagu and Mysore districts. The name “Jenu Kuruba” comes from Kannada, where “jenu” means honey, reflecting their traditional work of honey collection and forest gathering. Their livelihood depends on forest and land resources, and they live in small settlements called Hadi. They follow a semi-nomadic lifestyle with a headman called Yajamana and a ritual leader called Gudda. They believe in supernatural beings and express their faith through songs and dances about farming, marriage, and myths.

Notes:
The Border Roads Organisation (BRO), under the Ministry of Defence, celebrated its 66th anniversary on May 7, 2025. It was established in 1960 with just two projects—Project Tusker (now Vartak) in the East and Project Beacon in the North. BRO now runs 18 projects across 11 States and 3 Union Territories, building roads in high-altitude and snow-bound areas. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) functions under the Ministry of Defence.

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:
As Lucknow develops rapidly, experts and citizens are worried about the future of the Gomti River, the city’s lifeline, which is facing severe urbanisation challenges. The Gomti River is a tributary of the Ganges (Ganga) River and flows entirely through Uttar Pradesh. It is also known as Gumti or Gomati and is unique because it is fed by both rain and groundwater, unlike Himalayan snow-fed rivers. It originates from Gomat Taal or Fulhaar Jheel near Madho Tanda in Pilibhit district. It flows through Lucknow, Barabanki, Sultanpur, Faizabad, and Jaunpur before joining the Ganga near Saidpur. The river stretches about 900 km and drains a basin of around 18,750 square km. Its major tributaries include the Sai, Chowka, Kathina, and Saryu rivers. Important cities on its banks are Sultanpur, Lucknow, Jaunpur, and Lakhimpur Kheri.

Notes:
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.

Notes:
The Delhi Legislative Assembly is set to become the first legislative assembly in India to run entirely on solar energy. On 12 May 2025, Speaker Vijendra Gupta and Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena laid the foundation stone for a 500 kilowatt solar power plant. This step adds to Delhi’s achievements in solar power generation. Recently, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) installed India’s first vertical bi-facial solar plant at Okhla Vihar Metro Station. The existing 200 kilowatt rooftop solar plant at the assembly will be replaced with a new one.

Notes:
On the occasion of Buddha Purnima, contestants of Miss World 2025 from 22 countries visited Buddhavanam, a major Buddhist theme park. Buddhavanam is located on the northern bank of the Krishna River in Telangana, India. It was sanctioned by the Government of India as part of the integrated Buddhist Circuit to boost tourism, especially from Southeast Asia. The park covers an area of 279 acres. It is designed to showcase the life and teachings of Gautama Buddha through various themed sections.

Notes:
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.

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 Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL) recently installed India’s longest rail flyover girder at Kalamboli, Maharashtra under the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC). The WDFC is a 1,500-kilometre project to modernise India’s freight transport system. It was installed 34 metres across live railway tracks without disrupting Indian Railways operations, using advanced heavy-lifting machines. This first-of-its-kind feat shows India’s growing technical strength in railway infrastructure. The flyover will boost cargo flow between Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) and Maharashtra’s industrial hubs. It will reduce transit time, improve logistics efficiency, and shift cargo from road to rail, which is cleaner and energy-efficient.