India Current Affairs [Nation & States] MCQs

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Recently, tribal communities in Koraput have been protesting for their legal rights over kendu leaves for the third consecutive year. Kendu leaf (Diospyros melanoxylon), also called tendu leaf, is known as the “Green Gold of Odisha” and is a major non-wood forest product. It is a nationalised forest product like bamboo and sal seed. It is widely produced in states like Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat, with Odisha being the third-largest producer. Odisha is unique in producing processed kendu leaves.

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India has launched its first Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) barrier-less tolling system to modernise highway toll collection. It has been implemented at the Chorayasi Toll Plaza on the NH-48 (Surat–Bharuch) section in Gujarat. The system uses Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) and FASTag technologies for seamless toll collection. Vehicles are not required to stop at toll plazas, which reduces congestion and travel time. The system improves fuel efficiency and helps in reducing vehicular emissions. It minimises human intervention and increases transparency in toll operations.

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Hazaribag has been developed as India’s first and only pearl (moti) cluster to promote pearl farming and allied activities. The initiative is led by the fisheries department with support from the Government of India to create a model hub. Women self-help groups are being encouraged to participate, and an all-women Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO) is proposed to strengthen rural livelihoods. The project includes training, modern technology adoption, and direct market linkages for farmers. Integration of pearl farming with cage culture at Tilaiya reservoir aims to enhance income through diversification.

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According to National Crime Records Bureau 2024 data, Telangana recorded the highest number of human trafficking cases in the country with 423 reported incidents. Telangana accounted for nearly 20 percent of India’s total human trafficking cases and recorded a rise of about 25.9 percent compared to 2023. Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh recorded the second and third highest number of cases respectively. Out of 814 identified victims in Telangana, 792 were women, mostly adults above 18 years of age. Reports indicate that trafficking in the state is mainly linked to sexual exploitation, with victims often trapped through false job offers, while conviction rates remain low due to investigation and evidence-related challenges.

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Indian Council of Agricultural Research under the Department of Agricultural Research and Education has achieved significant progress through the nationwide Khet Bachao Abhiyan. The campaign promotes soil health, balanced fertiliser use, and sustainable agriculture practices among farmers.NUnder the initiative, over 12,979 awareness camps and seminars were organised, reaching around 7.17 lakh farmers across India. “Khet Bachao Abhiyan” is implemented by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) under the guidance of the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.

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The Gujarat Police has launched Operation Mule Hunt 2.0 to crack down on mule account networks involved in cyber fraud and money laundering. The operation follows the success of Operation Mule Hunt 1.0, which uncovered cyber frauds worth about ₹2289 crore. A mule account is a bank account used by cybercriminals to receive, transfer, and launder fraudulent money, while the account holder is known as a money mule. Operation Mule Hunt is being conducted under the Cyber Centre of Excellence with the involvement of police commissioners, cyber police stations, and crime branch officials.

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Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) recently launched ‘Oilseeds Kisaan Mitra’, a WhatsApp-based AI-powered advisory service for oilseed farmers. Developed by ICAR-Indian Institute of Oilseeds Research, Hyderabad, it provides 24×7 research-based guidance in multiple Indian languages. The platform allows farmers to access crop-specific advisories directly through WhatsApp without downloading any additional application. It offers guidance on groundnut, mustard, sesame, sunflower, soybean, niger, and other oilseed crops.

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The Government will establish 700 SHE-Marts (Self Help Entrepreneur Marts) and 1,000 district fulfilment centres to strengthen market access for women-led enterprises. This initiative aims to support the creation of 6 crore Lakhpati Didis by increasing income opportunities for rural women. SHE-Marts have been launched under Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission. The scheme focuses on enterprise promotion, financial inclusion, capacity building, and marketing support for Self-Help Group (SHG) members. SHE-MARTs will be established in high-potential commercial locations to provide sustainable market access for SHG products.

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Recently, the Centre facilitated a consensus among six states—Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Rajasthan—for the implementation of the Kishau Multipurpose Dam Project. The project is proposed on the Tons River, the largest tributary of the Yamuna River, along the Uttarakhand–Himachal Pradesh border. It is a multipurpose project aimed at hydropower generation, irrigation, water supply, and improving environmental flows in the Yamuna. Under the agreement, the Central Government will bear 90% of the water component cost, while the remaining 10% will be shared by the six beneficiary states.

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Recently, the National Rainfed Area Authority held a meeting on draft National Technical Guidelines for improved watershed management under the REWARD Programme. REWARD stands for Rejuvenating Watersheds for Agricultural Resilience through Innovative Development. It is a watershed development programme being implemented in the states of Karnataka and Odisha from 2021 to 2026. The programme is supported by the World Bank. It aims to strengthen watershed management practices, enhance farmers’ resilience, and support value chains in selected watersheds.