1. Which IIT recently signed an MoU with Canada based biotechnology company (Conlis Global) for bone grafting technology?
[A] IIT Roorkee
[B] IIT Madras
[C] IIT Kanpur
[D] IIT Hyderabad
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [IIT Kanpur]
Notes:
IIT Kanpur recently signed an MoU with Conlis Global, a Canadian biotech company, for licensing a groundbreaking technology promoting bone healing and regeneration. Nano Hydroxyapatite-based Porous Composite Scaffolds, developed indigenously, possess biodegradable, osteoinductive, and osteopromotive properties crucial for bone regeneration. Highly biocompatible, these scaffolds demonstrate robust mechanical strength and foster excellent interaction between polymer networks and solvents, facilitating cell-material interactions with osteoblast cells.
2. P-800 Onyx Missile, recently seen in news, is developed by which country?
[A] China
[B] Japan
[C] Russia
[D] India
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Russia]
Notes:
Russia’s Onyx supersonic cruise missile, known as the P-800 Onyx or Oniks, is set to become deadlier with a new target seeker. With speeds exceeding 3,000 km/h, it’s tough to intercept. Operating at low altitudes, it’s stealthy and versatile, targeting ships and ground objects. It boasts a range of up to 300 km and operates on a “shoot and forget” principle, needing minimal target data for successful strikes.
3. Mataberi Pera & Pachra, recently got a GI tag, belongs to which state?
[A] Tripura
[B] Assam
[C] Mizoram
[D] Nagaland
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Tripura]
Notes:
Traditional products from Tripura, Matabari Pera Prasad and Rignai Pachara textiles, have recently earned Geographical Indication (GI) tags, bringing the state’s total to 4 GI protected products. Matabari Pera Prasad, a sweet from Tripureswari temple, is made from milk and sugar. Rignai Pachara textiles, traditional hand-woven attire, symbolize Tripura’s cultural heritage. These products’ GI recognition highlights their significance and authenticity, attracting global attention and marketing opportunities.
4. Recently, which European Union country became the largest to legalize recreational use of cannabis?
[A] Greece
[B] Belgium
[C] Germany
[D] Ireland
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Germany]
Notes:
Germany, now the largest EU nation to legalize recreational cannabis, faces mixed reactions. Despite opposition, the law allows adults over 18 to possess 25 grams of cannabis and grow three plants at home. This marks a significant shift in drug policy, aligning Germany with progressive cannabis laws in Europe, like Malta and Luxembourg. The Netherlands, once lenient, has tightened regulations to curb cannabis tourism.
5. OptiDrop, a microfluidic chip-based platform, recently developed by which organization?
[A] Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP), Bengaluru
[B] Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai
[C] Central Scientific Industrial Organisation, Chandigarh
[D] National environmental engineering research institute, Nagpur
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP), Bengaluru]
Notes:
The Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP) in Bengaluru unveils OptiDrop, a groundbreaking microfluidic chip-based platform. OptiDrop simplifies single-cell studies, cutting costs and enabling precise analysis within encapsulated droplets. Supported by BIRAC, DST, and MHRD, its features include live data visualization and a ‘closed’ system design. With applications spanning diagnostics, therapeutics, agriculture, and animal health, OptiDrop facilitates drug screening, water contamination monitoring, CAR-T cell sorting, CRISPR-modified cell selection, and single-cell genomics.
6. Which region of West Bengal was recently struck by a devastating tornado?
[A] Mainaguri
[B] Siliguri
[C] Darjeeling
[D] Kolkata
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Mainaguri]
Notes:
Recently, a destructive tornado hit Mainaguri, Jalpaiguri district, West Bengal, leaving five dead and over a hundred injured within its 10-minute rampage. Tornadoes, though rare, afflict India’s eastern regions like West Bengal, Odisha, and Jharkhand, especially pre-monsoon. A 2016 study by India Meteorological Department noted increased tornado activity in Bengal, with fatalities. Rising occurrences in India are attributed to factors like warming Bay of Bengal and unusual wind patterns.
7. Recently, which ministry launched the ‘myCGHS app’ for iOS ecosystem of devices?
[A] Ministry of Agriculture
[B] Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
[C] Ministry of Rural Development
[D] Ministry of Power
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Ministry of Health and Family Welfare]
Notes:
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare recently launched the myCGHS app for iOS devices. Developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC), it aims to improve access to Electronic Health Records and resources for CGHS beneficiaries. The app offers services such as appointment booking, accessing lab reports, and checking medical reimbursement status. Security features like 2-factor authentication ensure user data confidentiality. It’s designed to enhance information and accessibility for CGHS beneficiaries.
8. Sannati Bhddhist site, recently seen in news, is located in which state?
[A] Karnataka
[B] Odisha
[C] Bihar
[D] Kerala
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Karnataka]
Notes:
The Sannati Buddhist site, discovered in the 1990s by ASI excavations, underwent neglect until a restoration project in 2022. Situated by the Bhima River near Kanaganahalli in Kalaburagi, Karnataka, it’s renowned for the Chandrala Parameshwari Temple. Notable findings include the Maha Stupa constructed over three phases from 3rd Century B.C. to 3rd Century A.D. and the Ranamandala area showcasing a chronological scale from prehistoric to early historic eras. An inscription in Prakrit using Brahmi script was also unearthed.
9. Recently, which space organization is going to establish a Coordinated Lunar Time for the moon and other celestial bodies?
[A] ISRO
[B] NASA
[C] JAXA
[D] ROSCOSMOS
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [NASA]
Notes:
The White House has instructed NASA to create a unified time standard, Coordinated Lunar Time (LTC), for the moon and celestial bodies. This aims to set international norms in space amid a competitive lunar race. LTC, to be developed by 2026, will account for lunar gravitational forces and facilitate precision in missions and data transfers. International agreements will be necessary for its establishment, fostering coordination among spacefaring nations.
10. Lunar Polar Exploration Mission (LUPEX), recently seen in news, is a joint mission between which two space agencies?
[A] ISRO & JAXA
[B] NASA & ISRO
[C] CNSA & ROCOSMOS
[D] ESA & NASA
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [ISRO & JAXA]
Notes:
The Lunar Polar Exploration Mission (LUPEX) is a joint mission between the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) to explore the moon’s South Pole region. JAXA will provide the launch vehicle and rover, while ISRO will contribute the lander. Equipped with tools to measure water content in lunar sand and conduct drilling and sampling, the rover promises vital insights into the Moon’s Polar Regions.