India Current Affairs [Nation & States] MCQs

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Chenchu tribals in Amrabad Tiger Reserve opposed relocation citing forest-based livelihood concerns. The Chenchu are a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) mainly living in Nallamalai forests of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. They are classified under the Proto-Australoid group and also inhabit Karnataka and Odisha. Settlements called “Penta” consist of scattered huts based on kinship; “Peddamanishi” acts as village head. Society is based on small families with relatively equal gender roles and marriage at maturity.

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Odisha has become the first Indian state to launch a Marine Spatial Plan (MSP) for integrated coastal management. MSP is a strategic tool for sustainable use and efficient management of marine and coastal resources. The plan is being implemented by the Odisha Government in collaboration with the National Centre for Coastal Research under the Ministry of Earth Sciences. It aims to balance economic activities like fishing, tourism, and shipping with environmental conservation.

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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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The Delhi High Court asked the Union government whether X Corp. must join the Sahyog Portal for cases involving trafficking and national security. The Sahyog Portal is an online platform launched in 2024 to enable quick removal of illegal content from the internet. It allows government agencies to send direct takedown notices to social media platforms and intermediaries. The portal is managed by the Ministry of Home Affairs. It provides centralised communication between agencies, nodal officers, and intermediaries.

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Uttar Pradesh has become the first state to introduce a 10-year ‘warranty’ (Operations & Maintenance commitment) for rural drinking water schemes under the Jal Jeevan Mission. Under the Jal Arpan initiative, ownership and management of water supply schemes have been transferred to Gram Panchayats. The move strengthens decentralised governance and community participation in water management. The state has expanded water quality monitoring infrastructure with district, state, and mobile laboratories (NABL-accredited).

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United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) partnered with Sikkim government to document Ru-Soam bridges. Ru-Soam is a traditional cane bridge built by the Lepcha community in Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve. ‘Ru’ means cane and ‘Soam’ means bridge in Lepcha language. Bridges can extend up to 100 metres and support limited people. It reflects ecological balance and indigenous engineering knowledge. These bridges are still functional and represent sustainable design practices.

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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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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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PM MITRA Park at Warangal, Telangana was inaugurated by Narendra Modi as India’s first functional PM MITRA Park. The park operationalises the government’s 5F vision — Farm to Fibre to Factory to Fashion to Foreign. The park is strategically located near NH-163G and NH-163, providing strong road, railway, and port connectivity. It includes modern infrastructure such as internal roads, power substation, water supply, Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP), Zero Liquid Discharge technology, and a 10 megawatt solar power plant. PM MITRA Parks were approved in seven states including Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh.

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The Government of India and International Fund for Agricultural Development launched the Country Strategic Opportunities Programme (COSOP) 2026–2033 at Bharat Mandapam. The eight-year programme aims to increase rural incomes, strengthen climate resilience, and promote sustainable livelihoods. It aligns with the Viksit Bharat@2047 vision and focuses on improving resilience of rural communities and strengthening knowledge systems. The programme emphasizes Self-Help Groups (SHGs), Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), cooperatives, rural finance, digital agriculture, and climate-resilient value chains.