India Current Affairs [Nation & States] MCQs

Notes:
The Centre for Research on Start-ups and Risk Financing (CREST), an Institute of Eminence Research Centre at IIT Madras, announced the creation of India’s first information platform tailored for incubators and accelerators.
Developed in collaboration with YNOS, a start-up incubated at IIT Madras, the platform provides extensive information about incubators and accelerators. These entities play a crucial role in supporting startups as they navigate the uncertainties of the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Notes:
In Jammu and Kashmir, the Saffron of the mountainous Kishtwar district, which is cultivated and harvested in the higher reaches, has been given the Geographical Indication (GI) tag by the Geographical Indications Registry.
The spice is grown in some parts of the Kishtwar region of Jammu, along with parts of Kashmir. The most expensive harvest of saffron, popularly known as Kumkum, is also a key cash crop in Kishtwar. Kishtwar’s saffron production area is called locally as Mandal.

Notes:
Rat hole mining, which is used in Uttarkashi tunnel rescue, is a method of extracting coal from narrow and horizontal seams. Meghalaya predominantly engages in rat hole mining because of the difficult terrain and nature of coal available in this region.
The term “rat hole” refers to the narrow pits dug into the ground, typically just large enough for one person to descend and extract coal. Rat hole mining poses significant safety and environmental hazards. Additionally, the mining process can cause land degradation, deforestation, and water pollution. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) banned the practice in 2014, as water flood into the mining areas resulting in death of many.

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The High Court of Karnataka has recently imposed a ban on all mining and quarrying activities within a 20-km radius of the historic Krishnarajasagar (KRS) Dam in Mandya district. It is located below the confluence of the river Kaveri with its tributaries, Hemavati and Lakshmana Tirtha. The KRS Dam, a gravity dam, stands as a tribute to Maharaja Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV and was designed by the renowned engineer Sir M. Visvesvaraya. The court’s decision aims to safeguard the dam and its surroundings, recognizing its historical and ecological significance.

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India’s External Affairs Minister revealed that Farsi (Persian) is now classified as one of India’s nine classical languages under the New Education Policy. Farsi, a key Iranian language and an Indo-European member, is the official language in Iran. Additionally, its variations, Dari and Tajik, hold official status in Afghanistan and Tajikistan, respectively. India has currently 6 classical languages viz. Tamil, Sanskrit, Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam and Odia. The National Education Policy-2020 had noted that in addition to these classical languages, Pali, Persian, and Prakrit; and their works of literature too must be preserved for their richness and for the pleasure and enrichment of posterity.

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India Meteorological Department (IMD) launched MAUSAM, an integrated GIS-based mobile app offering weather services such as hourly forecasts, Rainfall, Humidity, Sunrise/Sunset, Moonrise/Moonset, Rain Alert, Lightning Alert, Cyclone Alert, and more. The app supports 12 Indian languages and introduces “mausamgram” accessible via the mobile app or IMD website. “mausamgram” enables users to view observations, forecasts, and warnings through a map or search function using place names, pincodes, or coordinates, aligning with the vision “Har Har Mausam, Har Ghar Mausam.”

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the National Academy of Customs, Indirect Taxes & Narcotics’ (NACIN) new campus at Palasamudram, Andhra Pradesh. Declaring it a premier training institute, he highlighted the impact of tax reforms in the last 9 years on business ease, increased tax collection, and poverty reduction for 25 crore people. The 500-acre state-of-the-art campus will use advanced technologies like Augmented Reality and Artificial Intelligence for training Indian Revenue Service officials and allied services, emphasizing the government’s commitment to fighting corruption and achieving a Developed Nation by 2047.

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The Supreme Court of India recently emphasized the D.K. Basu Judgment (1996) against police abuse and custodial violence. The landmark case, D.K. Basu vs. State of West Bengal, addressed deaths in police custody. The petitioner, D.K. Basu, highlighted the issue, leading to the judgment that custodial violence violates the rule of law and human dignity. The ruling expanded the scope of fundamental rights, allowing compensation for their infringement. This case is pivotal in Indian human rights jurisprudence.

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The International Literature Festival of Kerala (ILFK) commenced in Thrissur with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan emphasizing literature’s role in uniting humanity. Themed “Literature, culture and progress,” the seven-day festival organized by the Kerala Sahitya Akademi features global, Indian, and regional writers, including poets from Palestine and Manipur. The event aims at cultural renaissance, hosting 100 sessions with 500 participants and a book festival with 100 publishers.

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The Telangana government mandates the One Time Scheme (OTS) adoption in all urban local bodies, including GHMC, aiming to ease financial burdens on property owners. The initiative seeks to alleviate concerns of mounting arrears interest on property tax payments, providing a strategic solution to ease financial strain across urban municipalities in the state.