Current Affairs MCQs – June 10

Birsa Munda founded the Birsait faith, which advocated monotheism and opposed practices such as witchcraft, animal sacrifice, and excessive alcohol consumption.
The Ulgulan movement led by Birsa Munda was primarily directed against British forest conservation policies and sought the establishment of a separate tribal state.
The Chotanagpur Tenancy Act, 1908, enacted in the aftermath of his rebellion, provided protection against the transfer of tribal land to non-tribals.
The Khuntkatti system refers to the hereditary land rights of the original tribal settlers in the Chotanagpur region.

The legacy of Birsa Munda continues to shape current Adivasi identity debates, especially over recognition of indigenous religious traditions. Birsa Munda (1875-1900), revered as Dharti Aaba (Father of the Earth), was a tribal freedom fighter and religious leader of the Chotanagpur plateau who led the Ulgulan (The Great Tumult). He founded the monotheist Birsait faith, blending Munda traditions, Hinduism, and Christianity, and preached against animistic spirit worship, alcohol, witchcraft, and animal sacrifice.

Birsa waged guerrilla Ulgulan (1899-1900) against British land-grabbing policies and exploitation by outsiders (dikus), to establish Abua Raj (Self-Rule) and end forced tribal labour.
Captured by British forces in 1900, he died at Ranchi Central Jail under disputed circumstances.

His rebellion forced the British to enact the Chotanagpur Tenancy Act, 1908, prohibiting transfer of tribal land to non-tribals and recognising the Khuntkatti system (ancestral land rights of original settlers).
The Union Government marks his birth anniversary on 15 November as Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas.

Recognised national and state parties are allotted reserved symbols that are exclusively assigned to them.
Unrecognised registered parties and independent candidates may choose only from the free symbols list maintained by the Election Commission of India.
Two recognised parties belonging to different states cannot be allotted the same election symbol.

The formation of the satirical “Cockroach Janta Party” (CJP) has reignited public debate around the Election Symbols Order, 1968, governing election symbols. The ECI allots election symbols to parties and candidates under the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968.

Categorisation of Parties:
- Recognised Parties: National & state parties receive reserved symbols exclusively assigned to them.
- Unrecognised Parties: These are registered parties that have not met the electoral performance thresholds for national or state party recognition. They, along with independent candidates, can request a symbol from the free symbols list but are not assured of receiving their preferred choice.

Free Symbols List: The ECI revises the free symbols list periodically. The latest list, published in May 2025, contains 184 symbols. These include everyday objects like fruits, vegetables, household appliances, etc.
- Importantly, two different recognised parties in two different states can legitimately hold the same election symbol without conflict, as they are unlikely to contest against each other.

These mustard hybrids have been developed through conventional mutation breeding that modifies the ALS/AHAS enzyme, enabling the crop to withstand Imidazolinone herbicides.
Since they are transgenic crops, their commercial cultivation requires the same biosafety approval process applicable to genetically modified crops.

IMI-resistant mustard hybrids have been developed through conventional mutation breeding, which alters the ALS/AHAS enzyme, thereby conferring resistance to Imidazolinone (IMI) herbicides. This allows selective control of weeds such as Orobanche (broomrape) without damaging the mustard crop.

These hybrids are non-transgenic (non-GM) and therefore do not undergo the same regulatory biosafety approval process applicable to genetically modified crops, helping avoid lengthy approval bottlenecks.

Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jets are manufactured in India by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) under licence from Russia.

T-90 Bhishma tanks are manufactured in India at the Heavy Vehicles Factory, Avadi, under technology transfer arrangements with Russia.

Recently, The first Made-in-India C-295 military transport aircraft, manufactured by Airbus and Tata Advanced Systems Limited, successfully completed its maiden test flight

C-295 is a Medium Tactical Transport Aircraft developed by Airbus Aerospace, designed for troop transport, cargo missions, medical evacuation, and disaster relief operations.
Short Take-Off and Landing (STOL) Capability allows operations from short and unprepared airstrips