Places in News Current Affairs MCQs

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On August 15, 2026, the Gujarat Forest Department released 20 blackbucks into the Banni Grasslands of Kutch as part of a wildlife rewilding initiative. Banni grassland is located in Gujarat’s Kutch district and is home to 22 ethnic groups, mainly pastoralists. It has rich biodiversity with 37 grass species, 275 bird species, and domesticated animals like buffalo, sheep, and camel. The Banni Grasslands include the Kutch Desert Wildlife Sanctuary and Chhari Dhand Conservation Reserve.

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SpaceX recovered its Starship spacecraft nearly 24 days after its controlled splashdown in the Indian Ocean. The spacecraft was towed near Christmas Island for inspection and assessment. Christmas Island is an external territory of Australia located in the eastern Indian Ocean. It is situated about 350 km south of Java and Sumatra and around 1,550 km northwest of mainland Australia.

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Crete is the largest island of Greece and the fifth-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is located in the southern Aegean Sea, which is part of the Mediterranean Sea. The island is surrounded by the Sea of Crete to the north and the Libyan Sea to the south. Crete has a rugged mountainous landscape, with mountains extending broadly from west to east. Mount Ida (Psiloritis) is the highest point of the island. Its economy is largely based on tourism, agriculture and shipping. The island recently came into the news after more than 300 migrants were reportedly rescued off the coast of Crete.

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US President Donald Trump has ordered US authorities to refer to Lake Ontario as “Lake America” in official US geographic naming. The change applies to US government usage only; the US cannot compel Canada to adopt the new name. Lake Ontario is one of the five Great Lakes and is shared by the United States and Canada. The international border runs through Lake Ontario, with New York to the south and Ontario, Canada to the north. The name Ontario has Indigenous origins and is associated with the Huron word oniatarí, referring to a “lake of shining waters.”

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Indonesia’s Anak Krakatau volcano erupted on September 6, 2026, sending volcanic ash across parts of western Indonesia. Anak Krakatau, meaning “Child of Krakatoa,” is located in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra in Indonesia. It is a stratovolcano, formed by alternating layers of solidified lava and ash. The volcano sits at the convergent boundary between the Indo-Australian and Eurasian tectonic plates. Anak Krakatau is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, a seismically active zone around the Pacific Ocean.

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Maharashtra authorities have been directed to conduct an objective assessment of unauthorised structures around Shivneri Fort, the birthplace of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Shivneri Fort, located in Pune district, Maharashtra, is historically significant as the birthplace of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The fort was associated with the Yadavas of Devagiri and later came under several ruling powers. It was an important defensive stronghold overlooking the Junnar region and surrounding trade routes.

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The Ladakh administration has launched a project to revive the shrinking Tso Kar Lake. Tso Kar is a high-altitude salt lake/wetland complex in Ladakh. It is located in the Rupshu Plateau region of southeastern Ladakh. The name Tso Kar means “White Lake” in the local Tibetan language. It is an important habitat for migratory birds, particularly the Black-necked Crane. The lake forms part of the important high-altitude wetland ecosystem of Ladakh. Tso Kar Wetland Conservation Reserve is recognised as a Ramsar Site.

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Sohar Port has emerged as an important gateway for Indian shippers seeking access to Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries amid the West Asia crisis. It is located in northern Oman near the Strait of Hormuz. The port is in discussions with Indian logistics operators and terminal operators for setting up facilities. Both captive berths and multipurpose terminals are being explored with Indian companies.

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Nevados de Chillán volcano in Chile recently experienced an eruptive pulse, releasing ash and volcanic material. The volcanic material rose about 380 metres above the crater. Nevados de Chillán is an active volcanic complex located in the Andes Mountains of central Chile. It is part of the Nevados de Chillán volcanic complex, which includes several volcanic cones and vents. The complex is known for frequent eruptive activity, including ash emissions, lava flows and explosive events. Volcanic ash and gases can pose risks to nearby communities, aviation and agriculture, making continuous monitoring important. The volcano is monitored by Chile’s National Geology and Mining Service (SERNAGEOMIN).

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The NASA–ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite captured detailed radar observations of the Krasheninnikov volcano. The volcano erupted in 2025 after remaining dormant for nearly 500 years, with its previous known activity dating to around 1550. Krasheninnikov is an active stratovolcano located in Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia. It lies within a 9 km wide caldera formed by a massive eruption 39,600 years ago. The volcano is part of the Pacific “Ring of Fire” and has two eruptive cones.