Places in News Current Affairs MCQs

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Goa’s Santa Cruz village panchayat has expressed surprise over preparations under way for undertaking cultivation in Bondvol lake’s catchment area.
Recently, the panchayat discovered that the water of the lake has been drained by unknown persons. Some forums has alleged that lake water was drained by tampering with a valve that was operated by the water resources department (WRD).

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The National Water Mission of Ministry of Jal Shakti is organizing ‘Jal Itihas Utsav’ at Shamsi Talab, Jahaz Mahal situated in Delhi.
It aims to raise public consciousness about safeguarding water heritage sites, creating a sense of ownership among the masses as well as promote tourism and restoration of such heritage structures. The Ministry of Jal Shakti has successfully implemented the ‘Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain’ 2023 with the theme “Source Sustainability for Drinking Water”.

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Israel has intensified its strike in and around Khan Younis, Gaza’s second-largest city. Israel has ordered people out of nearly two dozen neighbourhoods instead of the entire region, as it did in the north.
Palestinians say that as Israel continues to attack across the besieged territory, there are no safe areas left.

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The death toll from a volcano eruption in Indonesia has risen to 23 after 10 more bodies were discovered.
Mount Marapi on the island of Sumatra spewed an ash tower 9,800 feet into the sky. About 75 climbers who had started their way up the mountain and stranded, and about 52 of them were rescued after the initial eruption, while 11 more were initially confirmed dead. New eruptions spewed additional columns of hot ash into the air, reducing visibility and temporarily halting the search and recovery operations.

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Litani River forms part of the border between Lebanon and Israel. The river was in news in December 2023 after a cruise missile launched by Houthi rebels in Yemen struck a commercial oil tanker ship 60 nautical miles north of the Bab al-Mandab Strait. This attack was part of rising tensions between Israel and the Iran-aligned “Axis of Resistance”, which includes groups like Hezbollah and Houthi rebels. These groups have been targeting Israeli and US interests in solidarity with Hamas and Palestinians since October 2023.

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In February 2023, a substantial lithium reserve of 5.9 million tonnes was found in the Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir by the Geological Survey of India (GSI). This discovery is crucial for India’s efforts to reduce its reliance on imported lithium. In addition to this domestic discovery, India is also actively seeking lithium sources abroad. Khanij Bidesh India Ltd (KABIL), a state-owned joint venture, is nearing the final stages of securing lithium blocks in Argentina. As per recent studies, over 5.9 lakh tonnes of lithium reserves can fulfil India’s entire lithium demand for EV batteries over the next 50 years domestically. This would enable self-reliance and reduce import dependency as the EV ecosystem expands.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has revealed a new vision for GIFT City, his pet project on the outskirts of Ahmedabad. GIFT City, launched in 2011, aims to become a financial capital to rival Mumbai. The city is designed to be a dynamic ecosystem for international finance and technology services. It currently hosts over 20,000 employees from 400-plus companies, including major names such as Oracle and Bank of America. Modi envisions GIFT City expanding into a global center for climate financing, aligning with India’s goal to achieve net-zero emissions. Regulatory changes are being considered, such as allowing direct listing of Indian firms on foreign exchanges at GIFT City. The city already offers a range of incentives for investors, including significant tax benefits. To make GIFT City more vibrant and attractive, the proposed master plan includes housing projects, entertainment facilities, the completion of a riverfront area, and the activation of the Metro network. Prime Minister Modi’s involvement in reinvigorating GIFT City’s development marks an important next chapter for the ambitious project.

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Kas Plateau is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Maharashtra. Renowned for its vibrant Kas Flower festival, the plateau features a rich tapestry of flora and fauna.
Often referred to as Maharashtra’s Valley of Flowers, Kaas Plateau is a place that turns into a floral wonderland during the monsoon season. It falls under the Sahyadri Sub Cluster of the Western Ghats, and it became a part of a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site in 2012.

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Prime Minister Modi inaugurated the Surat Diamond Bourse near Surat city of Gujarat, which is deemed the global centerpiece for the international diamond trading market with over 4,500 offices across 67 lakh square feet of space. Positioned as a hub for import-export, retail and banking, this structure inside the DREAM City complex supersedes prior records for floor area dedicated to the precious stone industry.

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President Putin mentioned plans to connect the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) to the port of Murmansk in Russia’s Arctic coast. The 7,200-km INSTC network runs through Iran, Azerbaijan and Russia to offer the shortest land and sea route between Russia and India. Putin aims to boost Eurasian connectivity by linking INSTC to Murmansk, describing how it would enable shipping goods from the Arctic port to Western India within 15 days. The proposed connectivity holds strategic significance amid Russia’s increasing pivot to Asia and efforts to develop transport infrastructure across the Eurasian landmass. India has been a key partner in projects like INSTC, which stand to counterbalance China’s BRI.