India Current Affairs [Nation & States] MCQs

Notes:
Under “Operation Weed Out”, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized 42.34 kg of high-grade Hydroponic Weed worth ₹42 crore at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA). The contraband was recovered from two passengers arriving from Bangkok, concealed inside 21 food packets like noodles and biscuits. Field tests using NDPS kits confirmed the presence of narcotics, and both passengers were arrested under the NDPS Act, 1985. DRI remains vigilant against evolving smuggling trends, including concealment in food packets and use of Indian nationals as carriers. The agency continues its efforts toward a “Nasha Mukt Bharat” (Drug-Free India) by intercepting narcotics and dismantling global drug syndicates.

Notes:
SeasonWatch, a citizen science project tracking tree phenology, observed that Indian laburnum (Cassia fistula) trees are flowering earlier than usual in recent years. Commonly known as Amaltas in North India and Kanikonna in South India, it belongs to the Fabaceae family. Also called the Golden Shower Tree, it is native to India and is the State Tree of Kerala and Delhi. It is a medium to large deciduous tree, growing 10–20 meters tall, and briefly leafless between March and May. It produces long clusters of bright yellow flowers, making it a popular ornamental tree in tropical regions

Notes:
In November 2025, Maharashtra government has launched a new incentive scheme for cooperative and private sugar mills to strengthen their financial capacity and promote quality performance. The scheme was introduced to mark the International Year of Cooperatives and the Diamond Jubilee of the cooperative sugar industry. It aims to identify and reward top-performing sugar factories with competitive quality standards. Mills will be evaluated annually across nine key parameters for quality and efficiency.

Notes:
Recently, the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) reviewed the progress of the Rural Technology Action Group (RuTAG) 2.0 to push rural technology solutions. RuTAG is an initiative of the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (OPSA) launched in 2004 to bring Science and Technology support to rural areas. It focuses on demand-driven interventions to fill technology gaps at the grassroots level. It upgrades local technologies and provides training and demonstrations through innovative projects. It connects stakeholders like Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Self Help Groups (SHGs), community bodies, and start-ups to identify technology needs.

Notes:
Recently, the Centre sanctioned ₹9 crore under the Jan Man Scheme for development, welfare, and cultural preservation of the Maram Naga tribe in Manipur. The Maram Naga tribe is part of the larger Naga ethnic group and mainly lives in Senapati district, Manipur. They belong to the Tibeto-Burman family of the Mongoloid race. They speak the Maram language, a Sino-Tibetan language written in the Roman script. Agriculture is their main occupation, with shifting and wet cultivation widely practiced. Their major festivals are Punghi in July, Kanghi in December, and the women-centric Mangkang festival in April.

Notes:
Bastar region is seeing increasing participation of Abhujmadia youth in events like the Bastar Olympics. Abhujmadia is a Primitive Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) living in Narayanpur, Dantewada, and Abujhmad areas of Bijapur district, Chhattisgarh. They are an ancestral and patriarchal tribe divided into several dynasties. They speak the Abujhbadia Gondi dialect. Abujhmaria women consider Godana (traditional tattooing) as a permanent and sacred form of jewellery

Notes:
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has introduced India’s first wildlife-safe road on National Highway 45 (NH-45) in Madhya Pradesh. The initiative aims to reduce animal-vehicle collisions and balance road development with wildlife conservation in the Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve and Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary. The wildlife-safe section covers a 2 km ghat portion of an 11.96 km highway project passing through the tiger reserve.

Notes:
Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation (DDWS), Ministry of Jal Shakti launched Jal Seva Aankalan under the Jal Jeevan Mission. It is a Gram Panchayat-led digital tool on the JJM portal to assess drinking water service functionality. It is designed as a community-owned self-assessment, reducing reliance on external surveys. All Har Ghar Jal Gram Panchayats must complete the exercise by 26 January next year. It empowers Gram Panchayats to act as custodians of water supply systems and strengthens Gram Sabha-based decision-making.

Notes:
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communications, released the National Frequency Allocation Plan 2025 (NFAP-2025). NFAP-2025 is a key policy governing the management and allocation of radio-frequency spectrum in India. It allocates spectrum to various radio-communication services in the frequency range 8.3 kHz to 3000 GHz. The plan serves as a reference for spectrum managers, wireless operators, and telecom equipment manufacturers. National Frequency Allocation Plan 2025 (NFAP-2025) identifies the 6425–7125 MHz band for International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT), boosting mid-band spectrum for 5G, 5G Advanced, and future 6G networks.

Notes:
Puri city in Odisha has been officially upgraded from a municipality to a Municipal Corporation, becoming the 6th city in the state with this status. The upgrade was notified by the Housing and Urban Development Department. Other municipal corporations in Odisha are Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Berhampur, Sambalpur, and Rourkela. The move aims to improve civic amenities, infrastructure, and services for residents, pilgrims, and visitors. It will also allow access to central schemes for pilgrim centres and major urban areas. Four towns—Loisingha, Chandikhol, Jashipur, and Basta—were declared Notified Area Councils (NACs), and Berhampur Municipal Corporation jurisdiction was expanded.