21. Who won the gold medal in the 10m air-rifle event at the 15th Lakshya Cup tournament?
[A] Mohit Gowda
[B] Kiran Jadhav
[C] Aishwary Pratap Singh
[D] Aakash Bhardwaj
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Kiran Jadhav]
Notes:
Kiran Jadhav of the Navy won the 10m air-rifle gold at the 15th Lakshya Cup. Jadhav scored 251.7 points, securing his first victory after years of finals since 2018. Maharashtra’s Gajanan Khandagale came second with 250.9 points, and Mohit Gowda took third with 229.3 points. Paris Olympics finalist Arjun Babuta finished fourth with 208.2 points. National champions Shahu Mane and Ananya Naidu failed to qualify for the finals. Mohit Gowda topped the qualifiers with 630.5 points, while Olympians Divyansh Singh Panwar and Sandeep Singh also missed the finals.
22. Recently, who has been appointed as Revenue Secretary in the Ministry of Finance?
[A] Manoj Govil
[B] Tuhin Kanta Pandey
[C] Arunish Chawla
[D] Ankit Jalan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Tuhin Kanta Pandey]
Notes:
The government shifted revenue secretary Arunish Chawla to the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) ahead of the Union Budget. Tuhin Kanta Pandey, the DIPAM Secretary, is now appointed as the new revenue secretary and designated finance secretary. Chawla, a 1992-batch IAS officer from Bihar, was previously Secretary in the Department of Pharmaceuticals. Pandey, a 1987-batch IAS officer from Odisha, is known for his role in the disinvestment of Air India and Neelanchal Ispat Nigam Ltd to Tata Group. Chawla will also handle additional responsibilities as Secretary of the Department of Public Enterprises.
23. The Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue 2025 was organized in which city?
[A] Chandigarh
[B] New Delhi
[C] Hyderabad
[D] Bengaluru
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [New Delhi]
Notes:
The Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue 2025 inaugurated at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, to promote youth participation in nation-building. It is organized by the Department of Youth Affairs under Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya from January 10-12. It reimagines the National Youth Festival, providing a platform for youth to present ideas for a developed India and engage with policymakers and global icons. 3,000 participants were selected, including 1,500 from State Championships, 1,000 from cultural programs, and 500 for groundbreaking contributions.
24. Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) is a climate research project led by which organization?
[A] United Nations (UN)
[B] European Union (EU)
[C] World Bank
[D] Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [European Union (EU)]
Notes:
Scientists at the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) reported 2024 as the hottest year since global temperature tracking began in 1850. Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) is part of the European Union’s (EU) Copernicus Earth Observation Programme and is managed by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF). It provides free access to climate data on past, present, and future climates globally. C3S’s Climate Data Store offers updated datasets, tools, and expert guidance for visualizing climate information. The service supports a wide range of users, including scientists, policymakers, and the public.
25. What is the name of India’s indigenous surgical robotic system that successfully conducted telesurgery recently?
[A] RoboMed
[B] SSI Mantra
[C] HealthBot
[D] None of the Above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [SSI Mantra]
Notes:
India’s indigenous surgical robotic system, SSI Mantra, conducted two successful robotic cardiac telesurgeries. The first procedure, Telerobotic-assisted Internal Mammary Artery Harvesting, was completed in 58 minutes with 35-40 milliseconds latency. SSI Mantra successfully performed a robotic beating heart Totally Endoscopic Coronary Artery Bypass (TECAB), one of the most complex cardiac surgeries. SSI Mantra is the only robotic system globally approved for telesurgery and tele-proctoring, revolutionizing rural healthcare access in India. It recently received approval from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) under the Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940.
26. Which institute has developed bacterial enzyme-based solution to degrade plasticizers?
[A] IIT Bombay
[B] IIT Madras
[C] IIT Kanpur
[D] IIT Roorkee
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [IIT Roorkee]
Notes:
IIT Roorkee researchers developed a method to degrade plasticizers like diethyl hexyl phthalate (DEHP) using bacterial enzymes. DEHP is found in plastics and personal care products, posing health risks. Esterase enzyme from Sulfobacillus acidophilus breaks DEHP into mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP) and 2-ethyl hexanol. The enzyme was structurally studied using X-ray crystallography and remains active for about a month. Researchers used four additional enzymes from Comamonas testosteroni to complete the degradation process. Integrating enzymes into bacteria ensures prolonged activity and continuous degradation without needing fresh batches. Plasticizers enhance flexibility and shine in products but can be absorbed through the skin, posing health dangers.
27. Which country hosted the 5th ASEAN Digital Ministers’ Meeting (ADGMIN) in January 2025?
[A] Indonesia
[B] Thailand
[C] Vietnam
[D] Japan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Thailand]
Notes:
The ASEAN Secretary-General, Kao Kim Hourn, leads the ASEAN Secretariat’s delegation to the 5th ASEAN Digital Ministers’ Meeting (ADGMIN) in Bangkok, Thailand. Thailand hosts the meeting as the ADGMIN chair for 2025. The meeting will focus on advancing ASEAN as a digital community and economic bloc, aligning with the ASEAN Digital Masterplan 2025.
28. Kerch Strait, which was seen in the news, connects which two water bodies?
[A] Arabian Sea and South China Sea
[B] Black Sea and Sea of Azov
[C] Red Sea and Black Sea
[D] Baltic Sea and Bering Sea
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Black Sea and Sea of Azov]
Notes:
Russia has formed an emergency task force to address an oil spill in the Kerch Strait. The Kerch Strait links the Black Sea with the Sea of Azov and separates Crimea from Russia’s Taman Peninsula. It is 3 km long, 15 km wide, and 18 meters deep, with its narrowest point being 3-5 km. Kerch city is situated on the Crimean side of the strait. The Kerch Strait is a crucial global shipping route.
29. Which ministry recently inaugurated the National Turmeric Board (NTB) in New Delhi?
[A] Ministry of Agriculture
[B] Ministry of Commerce and Industry
[C] Ministry of Science and Technology
[D] Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Ministry of Commerce and Industry]
Notes:
The Union Minister for Commerce and Industry recently inaugurated the National Turmeric Board in New Delhi. The Board aims to lead turmeric-related matters and enhance coordination with the Spices Board and other government agencies. It will include a Chairperson, a Secretary from the Department of Commerce, members from various ministries, and representatives from top turmeric-growing states. The Board will focus on research, value addition, promoting turmeric’s medicinal properties, improving yield, logistics, and exploring international markets. Quality and safety standards for turmeric production and exports are also key goals. The headquarters is in Nizamabad, Telangana.
30. Cyber Security Grand Challenge (CSGC 2.0) has been launched by which organizations?
[A] Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology and Data Security Council of India
[B] Ministry of Home Affairs and National Informatics Centre
[C] NITI Aayog and National Informatics Centre
[D] Data Security Council of India and Indian Computer Emergency Response Team
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology and Data Security Council of India ]
Notes:
The Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) and Data Security Council of India (DSCI) launched the second edition of the Cyber Security Grand Challenge (CSGC 2.0). The prize pool has been increased to Rs. 6.85 crores from Rs. 3.2 crores. Innovators, startups, and entrepreneurs are invited to address six key cybersecurity challenges, including API Security, Data Security, and AI for Threat Detection. Intellectual property rights for solutions developed will stay with startups. The competition has four stages, with winners receiving Rs. 25 lakh, and the overall winner getting Rs. 1 crore. The initiative supports Digital India and Atmanirbhar Bharat.