Places in News Current Affairs MCQs

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The new airport in Ayodhya will be named after sage poet Maharishi Valmiki as ‘Maharishi Valmiki International Airport Ayodhya Dham’. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the newly built Ayodhya Airport on December 30, 2023. The news is significant as the airport naming indicates the focus on enhancing Ayodhya’s cultural heritage.

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The city of Nashik in Maharashtra has been selected by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India to host the National Youth Festival (NYF) 2024. As per recent announcements, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the 5-day youth festival in Nashik on January 12, which will see participation of around 7,500 youths from across India. NYF is held every year to celebrate the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda on January 12. The selection of Nashik as the host gained attention as preparations are underway to organize this youth-centric national event focused on cultural programmes and competitions.

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The Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL), India’s longest sea bridge, is set to be inaugurated on 12th January. This engineering marvel spans 22 kilometers, connecting Sewri in south Mumbai to Chirle in the distant outskirts of Navi Mumbai, crossing over Thane Creek. The project, initially planned to take 4.5 years, faced an eight-month delay due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The MTHL aims to significantly reduce the travel time between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai, benefiting thousands of daily commuters.

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Smruti Mandir and Deekshabhoomi, both of which were recently in the news, are located in the city of Nagpur. Smruti Mandir is known for housing the memorial of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s (RSS) founder Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, while Deekshabhoomi is a significant landmark where Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar embraced Buddhism along with lakhs of his followers. These sites hold historical and cultural importance and recently attracted attention due to the visit of a Chinese delegation of Hindi scholars. Their visit to these landmarks in Nagpur was part of a cultural and educational exchange initiative, highlighting the city’s rich heritage and its significance in India’s historical and socio-political landscape.

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A curtain raiser event for India International Science Festival (IISF) 2023 was held in Faridabad, Haryana on January 8, 2024. IISF-2023 will be hosted in the DBT Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI) – Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB) campus, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad from 17 to 20 January 2024.

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Minister for Youth Welfare and Sports Development Udhayanidhi Stalin inaugurated the World Tamil Diaspora Day celebrations in Chennai on January 11, 2024. This event, spanning two days, was a significant gathering that brought together Tamils from about 58 countries, highlighting the global presence and cultural unity of the Tamil community. The celebration was marked by the participation of state ministers, people’s representatives, industrialists, writers, and others.

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Archaeologists in Egypt have recently made significant discoveries at Saqqara, a historic site with a rich archaeological legacy. Saqqara is part of the necropolis of the ancient Egyptian city of Memphis, situated on the western bank of the Nile, 40 kilometers south of Cairo, the capital of Egypt. Named after the burial god Sokar, Saqqara served as an active burial ground for over 3500 years, making it Egypt’s largest archaeological site.

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Violence erupted in Uttarakhand as a mosque and madrasa on Nazool land were demolished. Nazool land, owned by the government, is leased for 15-99 years and used for public purposes. Originating from British rule, it was confiscated from opposing kings and royals, marked as Nazool land. Governed by The Nazool Lands (Transfer) Rules, 1956, it’s often utilized for schools, hospitals, and housing societies. The government can renew or cancel leases, leading to recent conflicts in Uttarakhand.

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A dispute in Lakshadweep has arisen over the administration’s assertion of government ownership of Pandaram lands, leading to tension with locals. The conflict escalated as the administrator claimed Pandaram properties belonged to the government, contradicting traditional ownership. Locals allege the administration is violating a High Court stay on numbering coconut trees on Pandaram lands, suggesting potential felling. Despite officials refusing to comment on record, a senior official dismissed concerns as presumptions.

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Chinese citizens are occupying Xiaokang border defense villages along India’s northeastern border. China has built 628 well-off villages along India’s borders with Tibet over five years, covering Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh. In response, India launched the Vibrant Villages Programme in 2022, aiming to develop 663 border villages into modern tourist attractions. Zemithang, Taksing, and Chayang Tajo are located in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. The villages are part of the Vibrant Village Programme, a pilot initiative by the government to develop remote and border villages.