Q.1) The Strait of Hormuz, recently in news, connects which two water bodies?
[a] Red Sea and Mediterranean Sea
[b] Arabian Sea and Persian Gulf
[c] Black Sea and Mediterranean Sea
[d] Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea
View Answer
Answer: [b] Arabian Sea and Persian Gulf
Explanation:
The Strait of Hormuz is a strategic chokepoint connecting the Persian Gulf with the Arabian Sea. About 20% of global oil trade passes through it, making it critical for global energy security. Disruptions in this region, as highlighted during Indian Ocean Conference, can significantly impact oil prices and supply chains worldwide. India finalised an agreement to supply oil and gas to Mauritius to strengthen island nation’s energy security amid disruptions caused by West Asia conflict.
Q.2) The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (1919), recently commemorated, was triggered by protests against which Act?
[a] Government of India Act, 1919
[b] Rowlatt Act
[c] Indian Councils Act, 1909
[d] Vernacular Press Act
View Answer
Answer: [b] Rowlatt Act
Explanation:
The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre occurred during protests against the Rowlatt Act, which allowed detention without trial. British troops under Reginald Dyer opened fire on an unarmed gathering in Amritsar, marking a turning point in India’s freedom struggle and strengthening the demand for Swaraj.
Q.3) The e-SafeHER Programme, recently launched in India, is primarily aimed at which group?
[a] School teachers
[b] Farmers
[c] Women in rural areas
[d] Startup entrepreneurs
View Answer
Answer: [c] Women in rural areas
Explanation:
The e-SafeHER Programme, launched by C-DAC Hyderabad under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology in collaboration with Reliance Foundation, focuses on empowering women in rural India with cybersecurity awareness. It aims to create a cyber-safe ecosystem through initiatives like “Cyber Sakhis” and digital literacy for secure online practices.
Q.4) Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0, recently notified by the Government of India, will be implemented by which organisation?
[a] NITI Aayog
[b] Reserve Bank of India
[c] Small Industries Development Bank of India
[d] Securities and Exchange Board of India
View Answer
Answer: [c] Small Industries Development Bank of India
Explanation:
Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0 (₹10,000 crore corpus) will be implemented by SIDBI, which will operationalise the scheme. The initiative, under Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, aims to boost startup funding by investing in SEBI-registered Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs), especially in deep tech and innovative manufacturing sectors. It acts as a “Fund of Funds”, mobilising private venture capital, strengthening India’s innovation ecosystem, and promoting job creation and self-reliance under Make in India.
Q.5) Cyrtodactylus raimonaensis, recently discovered in India, belongs to which group of animals?
[a] Amphibians
[b] Birds
[c] Reptiles
[d] Mammals
View Answer
Answer: [c] Reptiles
Explanation:
Cyrtodactylus raimonaensis is a newly discovered species of gecko, which belongs to the reptile group. It was found near Raimona National Park in Assam, a biodiversity-rich region in the Eastern Himalayas and an important habitat for species like the Golden Langur.
Q.6) Arunachal Pradesh, recently in news due to India–China tensions, attained full statehood in which year?
[a] 1972
[b] 1985
[c] 1987
[d] 1991
View Answer
Answer: [c] 1987
Explanation:
Arunachal Pradesh was earlier known as NEFA and became a Union Territory in 1972 before attaining full statehood in 1987. India maintains it as an integral part of its territory despite China’s claims and periodic renaming attempts. Recently, India categorically rejected China’s renaming of places in Arunachal Pradesh, calling them “fictitious names” aimed at creating baseless territorial narratives.
Q.7) The PLI Scheme for Textiles primarily focuses on promoting which of the following segments?
[a] Cotton textiles only
[b] Handloom and handicrafts
[c] MMF and technical textiles
[d] Wool and silk production
View Answer
Answer: [c] MMF and technical textiles
Explanation:
The Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Textiles focuses on high-value segments such as Man-Made Fibre (MMF) apparel, MMF fabrics and technical textiles. Launched in 2021, it aims to boost domestic manufacturing, attract investment, enhance global competitiveness and generate employment in India’s textile sector.
Q.8) The Sagarmala Programme, recently in news, is primarily aimed at which of the following?
[a] Agricultural productivity enhancement
[b] Port-led development and logistics efficiency
[c] Expansion of road infrastructure
[d] Promotion of digital payments
View Answer
Answer: [b] Port-led development and logistics efficiency
Explanation:
Sagarmala Programme aims to promote port-led development by modernising ports, improving connectivity, boosting coastal shipping and inland waterways, and reducing logistics costs to strengthen India’s maritime economy. Sagarmala Programme by Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways launched in March 2015 completed 11 years. It focuses on port-led development, improving logistics efficiency, boosting coastal shipping and enhancing India’s maritime infrastructure.
Q.9) The pilot study on the unincorporated construction sector, recently released in India, was conducted by which organisation?
[a] NITI Aayog
[b] Reserve Bank of India
[c] National Statistics Office
[d] Central Statistics Commission
View Answer
Answer: [c] National Statistics Office
Explanation:
The pilot study was conducted by the National Statistics Office under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. It provides key insights into the unincorporated construction sector, highlighting its role in informal employment and contribution to national accounts.
Q.10) The Womaniya Initiative, recently in news, is implemented on which platform?
[a] eNAM
[b] Government e-Marketplace (GeM)
[c] Udyam Portal
[d] MSME Samadhaan Portal
View Answer
Answer: [b] Government e-Marketplace (GeM)
Explanation:
The Womaniya Initiative operates on the Government e-Marketplace, enabling women MSEs and SHGs to sell products directly to government buyers. It promotes gender-inclusive procurement and complements initiatives like SWAYATT to enhance participation of underrepresented groups.
Q.11) The Cyber Security Capacity Building Programme, recently launched, is a collaboration between NCC and which organisation?
[a] C-DAC
[b] NIELIT
[c] NIC
[d] DRDO
View Answer
Answer: [b] NIELIT
Explanation:
The programme is a joint initiative of the National Cadet Corps and National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology. It aims to train NCC cadets as “Cyber Cadets” in cyber awareness, digital hygiene and defence skills, supporting Digital India and enhancing grassroots cybersecurity capacity.
Q.12) According to the IMD forecast, monsoon rainfall between 90%–95% of the Long Period Average (LPA) is classified under which category?
[a] Normal
[b] Above Normal
[c] Below Normal
[d] Deficient
View Answer
Answer: [c] Below Normal
Explanation:
As per the India Meteorological Department, monsoon rainfall between 90%–95% of the Long Period Average (LPA) is categorised as “below normal.” For 2026, IMD has projected rainfall at 92% of LPA, indicating below-normal monsoon conditions influenced by factors like ENSO and IOD.
Q.13) POSHAN Abhiyaan, recently in news for completing 8 years, was launched in which year?
[a] 2015
[b] 2016
[c] 2018
[d] 2019
View Answer
Answer: [c] 2018
Explanation:
The POSHAN Abhiyaan was launched on 8 March 2018 by the Ministry of Women and Child Development. It focuses on improving nutritional outcomes, especially during the first 1,000 days, and integrates multiple schemes under Mission Poshan 2.0 with technology-driven monitoring through the Poshan Tracker.
Q.14) NAAS which recently organised a Brainstorming Session is primarily associated with which sector?
[a] Space research
[b] Agriculture and allied sciences
[c] Defence technology
[d] Financial regulation
View Answer
Answer: [b] Agriculture and allied sciences
Explanation:
National Academy of Agricultural Sciences is a premier body focused on agriculture and allied sciences. It provides policy inputs, research guidance and recommendations—such as promoting fertilizer self-reliance through smart fertilizers, efficient nutrient use and indigenous resources.
Q.15) The mobile application launched for Community Health Officers (CHOs), recently in news, was developed by which organisation?
[a] National Health Authority
[b] Indian Council of Medical Research
[c] NITI Aayog
[d] AIIMS
View Answer
Answer: [b] Indian Council of Medical Research
Explanation:
The app, developed by Indian Council of Medical Research and launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, is aligned with the Comprehensive Primary Health Care (CPHC) framework. It supports CHOs at Sub-Centre Ayushman Arogya Mandirs by providing clinical decision support, structured workflows, EHR integration, teleconsultation and referral tracking for improved primary healthcare delivery.
Q.16) The AB PM-JAY Auto-Adjudication Hackathon, recently in news, has been launched by which organisation?
[a] NITI Aayog
[b] National Health Authority
[c] Indian Council of Medical Research
[d] All India Institute of Medical Sciences
View Answer
Answer: [b] National Health Authority
Explanation:
The hackathon linked to Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana has been launched by National Health Authority (NHA) under the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. It aims to develop AI-based solutions for automated claim processing under AB PM-JAY, improving efficiency, transparency and scalability of healthcare service delivery.