India Current Affairs [Nation & States] MCQs

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State Level Technical Committee (SLTC) approved two sewage treatment plant (STP) projects along the Indrayani River in Pimpri Chinchwad to curb water pollution. Indrayani River is located in Maharashtra and is a tributary of the Bhima River, which flows into the Krishna River. It is a rain-fed river originating from the Western Ghats near Lonavala along the Mumbai-Pune Highway. The river flows through Pune district and merges with the Bhima River at Tulapur, covering 105.3 km. The STP projects aim to revitalize the Indrayani River, protecting both religious sites and urban water needs.

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An expert panel of the Union Environment Ministry recommended environmental clearance for the 2,220 MW Oju hydroelectric project on the Subansiri river in Taksing, near the China border. The project is the largest in the Subansiri basin cascade, which includes Niare, Naba, Nalo, Dengser, Upper Subansiri, and Lower Subansiri projects. Subansiri River is a Trans-Himalayan river originating from Mount Porom (5059 m), Tibet, also called the Gold River for its gold dust.

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The Central Water Commission (CWC) under the Ministry of Jal Shakti organised a virtual workshop on “Technology for Efficient Water Management” in the Sujalam Bharat Summit 2025. The Sujalam Bharat Summit is a national initiative led by the Ministry of Jal Shakti and coordinated by NITI Aayog. It focuses on water management, sanitation, and sustainable practices. The summit aims to bring grassroots perspectives into national policy-making in line with the Prime Minister’s vision.

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The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) Mumbai recently dismantled a transnational gold smuggling syndicate in Operation Golden Sweep. The crackdown took place at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International (CSMI) Airport. Officials seized 10.5 kilograms of foreign-origin 24-karat gold, valued at Rs 12.58 crore. 13 individuals of multiple nationalities were arrested, including couriers, airport staff, handlers, and the Mumbai-based mastermind. DRI highlighted the growing threat of insider complicity and recommended enhanced checks, rotational duties, and tighter background verifications. The operation demonstrates predictive intelligence and inter-agency cooperation and warns that no sophisticated smuggling escapes enforcement vigilance

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India’s Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister outlined the Integrated Alert System at the G20 Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) meeting in Durban. SACHET is a disaster early warning platform by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) for real-time geo-targeted alerts. It was developed by the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) under the Department of Telecom. It follows the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) recommended by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). The system integrates multiple stakeholders to bridge communication gaps.

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India’s female labour force participation rate has risen from 23% in 2017-18 to about 42% in 2023-24, as per the Ministry of Labour and Employment. World Bank data shows India has seen the highest rise in women’s workforce participation among BRICS nations in the last decade. The rise reflects India’s progress in women’s economic inclusion through policies promoting skills, credit, and formal employment. The government introduced women-centric measures like 730 days Child Care Leave, 180 days maternity leave, exam fee exemption, and same-station posting for spouses. One Stop Centres provide medical, legal, and psychological help to women facing violence. Women’s empowerment is seen as a key driver for Viksit Bharat 2047.

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Uttar Pradesh set a Guinness World Record by lighting 26,17,215 diyas on 9th Deepotsav at 56 ghats of Ayodhya, including Ram Ki Paidi. Another record was made with 2,128 Vedacharyas performing Maha Aarti and reciting shlokas on the banks of the Saryu River. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and several ministers attended the celebrations. Across Uttar Pradesh, over 1.51 crore diyas were lit on Diwali. A Laser and Drone Show featured around 1,100 ‘Swadeshi’ drones projecting Ramayana images in the sky.

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The Intrusion Detection System (IDS) has been launched by the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) under the Ministry of Railways. It has successfully completed trial works in four key railway sections. The system aims to protect wildlife, especially elephants, while maintaining operational efficiency in forested areas. The IDS runs parallel to railway tracks at a distance of 10 metres. It uses advanced optical fibre sensing technology to detect elephant movements near tracks. The system sends real-time alerts to train drivers and control rooms for preventive action. Elephant-generated vibrations are detected by sensor cables and transmitted to the control room.

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Pradhan Mantri–Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) was launched in October 2021 to strengthen India’s healthcare preparedness for pandemics and emergencies. PM-ABHIM is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) with some Central Sector (CS) components and an outlay of Rs 64,180 crores for 2021-22 to 2025-26. The mission develops resilient, accessible, and self-reliant public health infrastructure from grassroots to district level. It establishes and upgrades Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs), Block Public Health Units, Integrated District Public Health Laboratories, and Critical Care Hospital Blocks. PM-ABHIM enhances pandemic and disaster preparedness with an IT-enabled, real-time disease surveillance network

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The Uttar Pradesh Government has announced the creation of a new district named Kalyan Singh Nagar to honour former CM Kalyan Singh. It will be UP’s 76th district, formed by reorganising areas from Aligarh and Bulandshahr districts. The new district is expected to include Atrauli and Gangiri tehsils of Aligarh and Dibai tehsil of Bulandshahr. Kalyan Singh was born and worked in this region, making the naming historically and culturally significant. The proposal has not yet been tabled in the assembly, but the announcement by CM Yogi Adityanath indicates it will be formalised soon.