India Current Affairs [Nation & States] MCQs

Notes:
Indian Council of Agricultural Research set up a Special Task Force (STF) to design mitigation strategies for agriculture sector challenges. Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is an autonomous body under Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. It was established on 16 July 1929 under Societies Registration Act, 1860, based on Royal Commission on Agriculture recommendations. ICAR played a key role in Green Revolution and advancing agricultural higher education; headquarters at New Delhi.

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Food Safety and Standards Authority of India conducted nearly 4 lakh inspections across food establishments in 2025-26. Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) was established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. FSSAI operates under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.

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Exports of Makhana, also known as Fox Nuts, have declined due to reduced demand and prices caused by the ongoing West Asia war. Makhana is the dried edible seed of the prickly water lily or gorgon plant (Euryale ferox) and is nicknamed the “Black Diamond” because of its dark outer layer. The plant is native to South-East Asia and China but is now cultivated worldwide. In India, it is mainly produced in Bihar, West Bengal, Manipur, Tripura, Assam, Jammu & Kashmir, Odisha, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh, with Bihar as the leading producer. Makhana is included under the Union government’s One District One Product (ODOP) scheme.

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The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has introduced Truck Mounted Attenuators (TMA). A Truck Mounted Attenuator is a crash-absorbing safety device fitted on trucks in work zones. It absorbs and dissipates kinetic energy during collisions, reducing impact force. TMAs protect road construction and maintenance workers ahead of the vehicle. They also reduce injury risk for occupants of the colliding vehicle. These devices minimize accident severity on highways, especially in work zones.

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The Siang Upper Multipurpose Project is a proposed 11,000 Megawatt hydropower project on the Siang River near Geku village in Upper Siang district, Arunachal Pradesh. The Siang River is the upper course of the Brahmaputra River, making the project strategically significant. The project is envisioned as one of India’s largest hydropower reservoirs. It also serves as a strategic response to China’s proposed dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo. The project is being developed by National Hydroelectric Power Corporation and North Eastern Electric Power Corporation.

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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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Karnataka has launched India’s first digital grievance redressal system for gig workers on May 1, 2026. The system allows platform-based workers to report disputes related to pay and working conditions. It has been developed by the Karnataka Platform-based Gig Workers Board and the e-Governance Department. The system enables real-time tracking of grievances filed by workers. It addresses issues such as wages, incentives, and working conditions. The initiative aims to ensure faster and more efficient dispute resolution. It seeks to bring transparency and accountability into the gig economy.

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Sabarmati River recently remained dry in parts of Ahmedabad after water flow was halted at the Vasna Barrage for gate repair works. It is a monsoon-fed, west-flowing river originating from Dhebar Lake in the Aravalli Range of Rajasthan’s Udaipur district. The river flows southwest through Rajasthan and Gujarat before draining into the Gulf of Khambhat in the Arabian Sea. It is 371 kilometres long and bisects Ahmedabad into eastern and western halves. The basin is bounded by the Aravalli Hills, Rann of Kutch, and Gulf of Khambhat, with agriculture dominating land use.

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The Government has set a target of bringing 100 lakh hectares under micro-irrigation during 2025–26 to 2029 under the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture. It was launched in 2014–15 under the framework of the National Action Plan on Climate Change. The mission aims to reduce the adverse impacts of climate variability on agriculture while ensuring food and livelihood security. Since 2022–23, it has been integrated under the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana. It promotes climate-resilient agriculture by improving water-use efficiency, soil health, and sustainable farming practices.

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Maize has emerged as India’s largest ethanol feedstock, encouraging farmers in Uttar Pradesh to diversify towards maize cultivation due to its lower water requirement. According to a report by the All India Distillers’ Association, maize-based ethanol production reached 182 crore litres between November 2025 and April 2026. This exceeded ethanol production from surplus food grain, damaged food grain, and sugarcane-based sources. Uttar Pradesh has become one of India’s top five maize-producing states, cultivating around 8 lakh hectares and producing nearly 28–30 lakh metric tonnes annually.