India Current Affairs [Nation & States] MCQs

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Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region launched the Mission Queen Pineapple in Tripura with an outlay of ₹236 crore. The mission aims to transform Tripura’s GI-tagged Queen Pineapple into a premium global brand. It is being implemented from FY2026 to FY2028 under the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region. The initiative focuses on building a complete value chain covering cultivation, processing, packaging, branding, logistics, and exports.

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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurated the Nausena Shaurya Vatika in Lucknow. It is an open-air naval museum and interpretation centre showcasing the achievements and operational legacy of the Indian Navy. The museum was developed as Phase-II of the Nausena Shaurya Sangrahalaya and jointly built by the Indian Navy and the Uttar Pradesh government. It displays artefacts and weapon systems from INS Gomati, decommissioned in 2022 after 34 years of service.

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Union Agriculture Minister announced the establishment of a National Seed Reserve with a capacity of 1.74 lakh quintals. The National Seed Reserve is an intervention under the National Food Security and Nutritional Mission operating within Krishionnati Yojana. The aim is to ensure the availability of high-quality certified and foundation seeds during crises and natural calamities. The implementing agencies include National Seeds Corporation, State Seed Corporations, and State Agriculture Departments.
Seeds under the reserve will be produced and monitored through the SATHI Portal.

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The opening of the Mettur Dam on the scheduled date may be delayed due to poor water storage and forecasts of a weak southwest monsoon this year. Mettur Dam is located at Mettur in Salem district of Tamil Nadu and is one of the largest dams in India as well as the largest in Tamil Nadu. The dam is built across the Kaveri River at the point where the river enters the plains through a gorge. It is a masonry gravity dam, and the reservoir formed by it is known as the Stanley Reservoir, which contributes about 240 MW of hydroelectric power.

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A study by the University of Oxford identified 14 Indian cities among the world’s top 50 high heat-risk cities.
Ahmedabad ranks 2nd globally and first in India, Nagpur ranks 4th, Madurai ranks 7th, and Chennai ranks 50th. Al Basrah ranks 1st globally as the city facing the highest heat risk. The study uses a composite heat-risk index based on hazard exposure, vulnerability, and coping capacity. More than 95% of high heat-risk cities are concentrated in India, Pakistan, Nigeria, and Ghana. Major reasons for high vulnerability include limited cooling infrastructure, poor socio-economic conditions, and lack of green cover.

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The first harvest of green peas under Project Hinichi has been successfully completed in Churachandpur district, Manipur. Project Hinichi is a joint initiative launched by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and the Manipur Police. Project Hinichi aims to promote sustainable livelihoods and reduce illicit poppy cultivation through alternative cropping. Under the initiative, 254 acres of land previously used for illegal poppy farming have been converted for legal agriculture. More than 124 households in Churachandpur district have benefited from the project.

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Recently, the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority increased the ceiling prices of two platinum-based cancer drugs by 50% due to rising raw material costs and shortages. NPPA is an independent drug pricing regulator that ensures the availability and affordability of medicines in India. It was established under the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers.

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Recently, researchers discovered 15-million-year-old fossils from the Miocene Epoch at the Baripada Fossil Bed in Odisha. The fossils suggest that present-day Baripada and surrounding regions were once covered by a shallow sea. The fossil bed extends from Dera (Kuliana block) to Pratappur (Badasahi block) in Mayurbhanj district. The presence of marine fossils indicates that the area was part of a marine ecosystem during the Miocene period, around 15 million years ago. It is considered the only known Miocene fossil site in Odisha and has significant scientific, educational, and tourism potential.

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Operation Vajrapat has been launched by the Varanasi Range Police in Uttar Pradesh to dismantle criminal networks and their digital presence. The operation covers Jaunpur, Ghazipur, and Chandauli districts. A major focus is on digital surveillance, resulting in the removal of 554 social media accounts allegedly used to glorify crime and spread fear. The initiative aims to curb gang culture, strengthen intelligence-based policing, and build a comprehensive database for continuous monitoring of criminal networks.

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The National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation (NAFED) has launched its e-auction portal NAFEX.in to improve transparency and efficiency in agricultural commodity trade. NAFEX.in is designed to provide a digital platform for auctioning oilseeds and pulses, strengthening technology-driven reforms in the cooperative sector. The portal aims to improve transparency, ease of operations, and efficiency in the auction process for farmers, cooperatives, and other stakeholders. Along with NAFEX.in, NAFED launched the NAFED-KALYAN Scholarship Scheme, DRISHTI Portal, and an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Portal.