Q.1) The National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET), recently in news, functions under which ministry?
[a] Ministry of Education
[b] Ministry of Labour and Employment
[c] Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
[d] Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
View Answer
Answer: [c] Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
Explanation:
The National Council for Vocational Education and Training, established in 2018, functions under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. It is the apex regulator for vocational education in India, responsible for standardisation, quality assurance and alignment with the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF).
Q.2) The Development Pioneer Grant, recently in news, is a collaboration between NIPER Mohali and which company?
[a] Pfizer India
[b] Sun Pharma
[c] Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories
[d] Novartis Healthcare Pvt Ltd
View Answer
Answer: [d] Novartis Healthcare Pvt Ltd
Explanation:
The Development Pioneer Grant is part of a collaboration between National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research and Novartis Healthcare Pvt Ltd. It aims to promote cutting-edge research, strengthen academia–industry partnerships, and enhance innovation in India’s pharmaceutical sector.
Q.3) The ‘‘Super Sales Saathi’ apps, recently launched, is associated with which organisation?
[a] General Insurance Corporation of India
[b] New India Assurance Company
[c] Life Insurance Corporation of India
[d] Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India
View Answer
Answer: [c] Life Insurance Corporation of India
Explanation:
The apps were launched by the Life Insurance Corporation of India under its DIVE (Digital Innovation & Value Enhancement) platform. “MyLIC” offers customers end-to-end digital insurance services, while “Super Sales Saathi” supports intermediaries with AI-driven sales tools, tracking, and performance management.
Q.4) The Scale-Based Regulatory (SBR) framework, recently in news, is related to which of the following?
[a] Commercial banks
[b] Non-Banking Financial Companies
[c] Insurance companies
[d] Mutual funds
View Answer
Answer: [b] Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs)
Explanation:
The Scale-Based Regulatory (SBR) framework is issued by the Reserve Bank of India for regulating NBFCs based on their size and risk profile. It classifies NBFCs into Base, Middle, Upper, and Top layers, with recent reforms proposing simplified criteria for identifying Upper Layer entities.
Q.5) The MoU to curb misuse of telecom resources in securities frauds was signed between the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and which organisation?
[a] Reserve Bank of India
[b] Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India
[c] Securities and Exchange Board of India
[d] National Payments Corporation of India
View Answer
Answer: [c] Securities and Exchange Board of India
Explanation:
The MoU was signed between the Department of Telecommunications and SEBI to tackle telecom misuse in market frauds. It enables data sharing through platforms like the Digital Intelligence Platform (DIP), using tools such as FRI and MNRL to detect suspicious numbers and enhance financial security.
Q.6) The newly launched integrated website of the Department of Commerce complies with which guidelines for Indian government websites?
[a] National e-Governance Plan (NeGP)
[b] Digital India Programme Guidelines
[c] Guidelines for Indian Government Websites
[d] National Cyber Security Policy
View Answer
Answer: [c] Guidelines for Indian Government Websites (GIGW)
Explanation:
The new website launched by the Department of Commerce complies with the Guidelines for Indian Government Websites (GIGW) and Digital Brand Identity Manual (DBIM) 3.0. It ensures accessibility, standardisation, multilingual support via Bhashini API, and improved user experience for exporters, importers and other stakeholders.
Q.7) The Wholesale Price Index (WPI), recently in news, is released by which organisation in India?
[a] Reserve Bank of India
[b] National Statistical Office
[c] Office of the Economic Adviser
[d] NITI Aayog
View Answer
Answer: [c] Office of the Economic Adviser
Explanation:
The WPI is published monthly by the Office of the Economic Adviser under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. It measures price changes at the wholesale level across 697 commodities, with the current base year of 2011–12.
Q.8) Exercise DUSTLIK, recently in news, is a joint military exercise between India and which country?
[a] Kazakhstan
[b] Uzbekistan
[c] Tajikistan
[d] Kyrgyzstan
View Answer
Answer: [b] Uzbekistan
Explanation:
Exercise DUSTLIK is a joint military exercise between India and Uzbekistan, conducted annually on a rotational basis. The 7th edition (2026) is being held in Namangan, Uzbekistan, focusing on joint operations in semi-mountainous terrain and enhancing interoperability between the two countries’ armed forces.
Q.9) The National Highways Fee (Fourth Amendment) Rules, 2026, recently in news, were notified by which ministry?
[a] Ministry of Transport
[b] Ministry of Heavy Industries
[c] Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
[d] Ministry of Commerce and Industry
View Answer
Answer: [c] Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
Explanation:
The National Highways Fee (Fourth Amendment) Rules, 2026, were notified by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to regulate fee collection from overloaded vehicles. They introduce graded penalties based on excess weight, mandate FASTag-based payments, and ensure transparency through integration with the VAHAN database.
Q.10) The fluorescent “turn-on” sensor for nicotine detection, recently in news, has been developed by which institution?
[a] Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru
[b] Institute of Nano Science and Technology
[c] CSIR–National Chemical Laboratory
[d] AIIMS, New Delhi
View Answer
Answer: [b] Institute of Nano Science and Technology
Explanation:
Scientists at the Institute of Nano Science and Technology, under the Department of Science and Technology, developed a fluorescent “turn-on” sensor using Fe-III MOF nanospheres for rapid detection of nicotine and its metabolite cotinine. The technology enables efficient, cost-effective detection in biological samples and living cells.
Q.11) The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), recently in news, is conducted by which organisation?
[a] Reserve Bank of India
[b] NITI Aayog
[c] National Statistics Office
[d] Labour Bureau
View Answer
Answer: [c] National Statistics Office
Explanation:
The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) is conducted by the National Statistics Office under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI). It is India’s primary source of employment and labour market data, providing monthly and quarterly estimates using the Current Weekly Status (CWS) approach. Since January 2025, PLFS provides monthly and quarterly estimates using Current Weekly Status (CWS) for persons aged 15+.
Q.12) The National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS), recently in news, is headquartered in which city?
[a] Mumbai
[b] Hyderabad
[c] New Delhi
[d] Bengaluru
View Answer
Answer: [c] New Delhi
Explanation:
National Academy of Agricultural Sciences is headquartered in New Delhi. It is a premier body providing policy inputs and research guidance in agriculture and allied sectors, including recent recommendations on fertilizer self-reliance. NSSA recently organised a brainstorming session to prepare a roadmap for Atmanirbharta in fertilizers. It focused on improving nutrient efficiency, reducing import dependence, and promoting smart fertilizers and indigenous resources to strengthen India’s agricultural sustainability.
Q.13) The Office of Chief Adviser (Cost), recently in news, functions under which ministry?
[a] Ministry of Commerce and Industry
[b] Ministry of Corporate Affairs
[c] Ministry of Finance
[d] Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
View Answer
Answer: [c] Ministry of Finance
Explanation:
The Office of Chief Adviser (Cost) operates under the Department of Expenditure in the Ministry of Finance. It provides expert advice on costing, pricing, and financial management, assisting government ministries in price fixation and verification of contractual claims. Recently, Anand Kumar Pal, a 1997-batch Indian Cost Accounts Service (ICoAS) officer, assumed charge as Chief Adviser (Cost) in Department of Expenditure.