Q.1) Cyrtodactylus raimonaensis, recently discovered in Raimona National Park, belongs to which group of organisms?
[a] Amphibians
[b] Reptiles
[c] Birds
[d] Mammals
View Answer
Answer: [b] Reptiles
Explanation:
Cyrtodactylus raimonaensis is a newly discovered gecko species, which belongs to the reptile group. It was found near Raimona National Park, a biodiversity-rich area in Assam forming part of the Eastern Himalayan hotspot.
Q.2) The Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine, recently in news, is primarily used for prevention of which disease?
[a] Malaria
[b] Tuberculosis
[c] Measles
[d] Hepatitis B
View Answer
Answer: [b] Tuberculosis
Explanation:
The BCG Vaccine is a live attenuated vaccine used to protect against Tuberculosis (TB), especially severe forms in children like TB meningitis. It is the only licensed vaccine for TB and has been widely used globally since 1921.
Q.3) The Cinematograph (Amendment) Act, 2023, recently in news, primarily aims to address which issue?
[a] Film certification delays
[b] Film piracy
[c] Taxation of cinema tickets
[d] Foreign investment in film industry
View Answer
Answer: [b] Film piracy
Explanation:
The Cinematograph (Amendment) Act, 2023 strengthens India’s legal framework against film piracy by explicitly criminalising unauthorised recording and distribution of films. It complements provisions under the Copyright Act, 1957 and enhances enforcement in the digital era while also introducing certification reforms.
Q.4) The Narmada River, recently in news, drains into which of the following?
[a] Bay of Bengal
[b] Arabian Sea
[c] Indian Ocean
[d] Andaman Sea
View Answer
Answer: [b] Arabian Sea
Explanation:
The Narmada River is the largest west-flowing river of peninsular India. Originating from Amarkantak, it flows through Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat before emptying into the Arabian Sea (Gulf of Cambay). It is notable for flowing through a rift valley and is a major lifeline for central India. Around 11,000 litres of milk were poured into Narmada river, also called lifeline of Madhya Pradesh, on culmination of a 21-day religious event.
Q.5) The Urban Challenge Fund (UCF), recently in news, is implemented under which ministry?
[a] Ministry of Finance
[b] Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
[c] Ministry of Urban Development
[d] Ministry of Commerce and Industry
View Answer
Answer: [b] Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
Explanation:
The Urban Challenge Fund is implemented by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. It is a market-linked, reform-driven initiative aimed at mobilising private investment and making cities financially sustainable through infrastructure development. Recently, Operational Guidelines for Urban Challenge Fund (UCF) and Credit Repayment Guarantee Sub-Scheme (CRGSS) were launched to boost urban infrastructure financing.
Q.6) India, holding the BRICS Chairmanship for 2026, recently chaired the first Health Working Group meeting in which city?
[a] Mumbai
[b] New Delhi
[c] Bengaluru
[d] Hyderabad
View Answer
Answer: [b] New Delhi
Explanation:
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare chaired the first BRICS Health Working Group (HWG) Meeting 2026 in New Delhi, bringing together all BRICS members including new entrants like Egypt, Ethiopia, UAE and Indonesia. The meeting focused on strengthening public health cooperation under India’s BRICS 2026 theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability,” aiming to promote inclusive and future-ready global health systems.
Q.7) In India’s foreign trade data, the “trade deficit” refers to which of the following?
[a] When exports exceed imports
[b] When imports exceed exports
[c] When exports equal imports
[d] When services exceed merchandise trade
View Answer
Answer: [b] When imports exceed exports
Explanation:
Trade deficit occurs when a country’s imports are higher than its exports. In the latest foreign trade data for March 2026 & Financial Year 2025–26 , India’s imports remained higher than exports, leading to a trade deficit, although it showed improvement in March 2026 due to a sharper fall in imports compared to exports.
Q.8) The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 proposes to increase the maximum strength of the Lok Sabha to how many seats?
[a] 650
[b] 750
[c] 850
[d] 900
View Answer
Answer: [c] 850
Explanation:
The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 proposes raising the Lok Sabha seat cap from 550 to 850 (up to 815 for states and 35 for Union Territories). It also restores population-based delimitation by removing earlier freezes and allows Parliament flexibility in choosing census data (with the next exercise based on the 2011 Census).
Q.9) Calamaria garoensis, recently discovered in Meghalaya, belongs to which group of animals?
[a] Amphibians
[b] Reptiles
[c] Mammals
[d] Birds
View Answer
Answer: [b] Reptiles
Explanation:
Calamaria garoensis is a newly identified species of reed snake, which is a non-venomous reptile. It was reported from the West Garo Hills of Meghalaya, highlighting the region’s rich but underexplored biodiversity and the presence of species with restricted distribution.
Q.10) The report titled “Military Escalation in the Middle East: Human Development Impacts Across Asia and the Pacific” has been released by which organisation?
[a] World Bank
[b] International Monetary Fund
[c] United Nations Development Programme
[d] Asian Development Bank
View Answer
Answer: [c] United Nations Development Programme
Explanation:
The report was released by the United Nations Development Programme, analysing the impact of escalating tensions in West Asia on economies and human development across Asia-Pacific. It highlights risks such as rising poverty levels, energy shocks due to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, and vulnerabilities for groups like informal workers and migrants.
Q.11) The Egmont Principles of Information Exchange, recently in news, are associated with which of the following?
[a] Climate change negotiations
[b] International trade agreements
[c] Financial intelligence and anti-money laundering cooperation
[d] Cybersecurity frameworks
View Answer
Answer: [c] Financial intelligence and anti-money laundering cooperation
Explanation:
The Egmont Principles relate to cooperation among Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs) for sharing information on suspicious financial transactions and combating money laundering and terror financing. They were highlighted in the context of enhanced coordination between Financial Intelligence Unit India and Securities and Exchange Board of India to strengthen AML/CFT frameworks, improve surveillance, and ensure timely detection of financial crimes.
Q.12) The recent MoU to combat money laundering and financial crimes was signed between FIU-IND and which organisation?
[a] SEBI
[b] RBI
[c] PFRDA
[d] IRDAI
View Answer
Answer: [c] PFRDA (Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority)
Explanation:
The agreement was signed between Financial Intelligence Unit India and PFRDA to enhance coordination in tackling financial crimes. It includes intelligence sharing, capacity building, and cooperation under global frameworks like the Egmont Principles to strengthen AML/CFT mechanisms in the pension sector.