India Current Affairs [Nation & States] MCQs

Notes:
The Irula Snake Catchers’ Industrial Cooperative Society, run by Irula tribals near Chennai, faces an uncertain future.
Irulas are one of India’s oldest indigenous communities and are classified as a particularly vulnerable tribal group (PVTG). They live mainly in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka and speak the Irula language, related to Tamil and Kannada.
Irulas are pantheists with a main deity, Kanniamma, associated with the cobra. Traditionally skilled in hunting, herbal medicine, and snake-catching, they are experts in snake rescue and venom extraction. Their cooperative supplies 80% of the venom used to produce anti-snake venom in India.

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Uttar Pradesh’s first semiconductor park will be set up in Greater Noida, near the upcoming Noida International Airport.
The state government has allocated 225 acres of land for this purpose. The land is situated in Sector 10 and Sector 28.
Three companies will be involved in semiconductor manufacturing projects at this location.

Notes:
Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy launched the new MSME Policy-2024 to address six key challenges faced by Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises. The policy includes an investment of 4,000 crore rupees over five years. The launch event in Hyderabad was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and IT Minister D Sridhar Babu. The Chief Minister praised former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao for his role in liberalizing India’s economy. The policy aims to create industrial opportunities for Dalits and women and support MSMEs.

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Karnataka inaugurated its first gas-based power plant, Yelahanka Combined Cycle Power Plant (YCCPP), built for ₹2,500 crore. It generates 370.05 MW of power using both gas and steam turbine generators. Developed in partnership with GAIL, the plant aims to enhance the state’s energy reliability and sustainability. The plant boosts Karnataka’s energy production, targeting 10,000 MW capacity alongside other plants.

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The Kasturirangan Committee Report, published in 2014, aimed to protect ecologically sensitive areas in the Western Ghats from environmental degradation. The recent rejection of its recommendations by the Karnataka government has sparked opposition from local legislators, who argue that implementation would adversely affect village communities in this biodiverse region. The Western Ghats, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is crucial for biodiversity and water resources in India.

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The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) has traced the Sahibi River’s flow. The river starts in Rajasthan and passes through Haryana and Delhi. It is a tributary of the Yamuna River and was formerly known as the Drishadvati River. Pollution and encroachment have greatly diminished its natural flow. Now, the river is divided into canals and nullahs, and it only flows during heavy rains in its catchment areas.

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The Madhya Pradesh cabinet approved a Rs 100 crore project to build a memorial and garden for Gond queen Rani Durgavati.
Rani Durgavati (1524–2024) was a queen of the Gond kingdom of Garha-Katanga and a descendant of the Chandela dynasty of Mahoba. She was born on October 5, 1524, in Kalinjar (Banda, U.P.), part of the Chandela dynasty.

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Union Minister Kiren Rijiju announced a “Constitution Glorification Campaign” for the 75th anniversary of the Indian Constitution on November 26. The campaign will take place in every village across the country. Its goal is to raise awareness about the Constitution, its significance, and the Assembly debates. The initiative aims to highlight how the government has strengthened the Constitution. The campaign will be managed by the Union Ministry of Culture.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the ‘Karmayogi Saptah’ or National Learning Week at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi. The initiative aimed to strengthen individual and organizational capacity development for civil servants. Launched in September 2020, Mission Karmayogi focused on creating a future-ready civil service with Indian values and a global outlook. National Learning Week promoted a unified “One Government” approach and lifelong learning. Civil servants engaged in competency-linked learning through iGOT platform modules, webinars, and masterclasses. Ministries and organizations held seminars and workshops to enhance skills for citizen-centric service delivery.

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Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurated the state’s first double-decker electric bus service in Lucknow, emphasizing its significance for environmental protection and traffic management. The initiative aims to reduce pollution and improve urban transport. Yogi Adityanath also mentioned plans to expand this electric bus service to other major cities in Uttar Pradesh, highlighting the state’s commitment to sustainable transport solutions.