21. Kudankulam nuclear power plant, which was seen in the news, is located in which state?
[A] Tamil Nadu
[B] Karnataka
[C] Maharashtra
[D] Andhra Pradesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Tamil Nadu]
Notes:
Russia’s atomic agency has shipped the reactor vessel for the sixth unit of Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant to India. The Kudankulam plant, located in Tamil Nadu, is India’s largest nuclear power plant with six reactors and a total capacity of 6,000 MW. The reactor vessel, weighing 320 tonnes, was manufactured by Rosatom’s division Atommash and shipped from Novorossiysk at the end of 2024. The reactor vessel will travel 6,000 miles by sea to reach the construction site.
22. INROAD Project, which was seen in news, is associated with which industry?
[A] Textile industry
[B] Rubber industry
[C] Paper industry
[D] None of the Above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Rubber industry]
Notes:
The INROAD (Indian Natural Rubber Operations for Assisted Development) project, backed by ₹100 crore, enhances natural rubber quality in Northeast India and parts of West Bengal. It aims to develop skills among rubber growers and establish model infrastructure. Supported by major tyre companies – Apollo, Ceat, JK, and MRF – it showcases agriculture-industry collaboration. The project is overseen by the Rubber Board of India, it involves direct engagement from tyre manufacturers. In four years, 1,25,272 hectares of rubber plantations have been established across 94 districts. The project uses digital platforms to train farmers in effective rubber tapping and processing for quality improvement.
23. What is the name of Odisha’s health scheme that has been integrated with Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana recently?
[A] Mukhyamantri Swasthya Bima Yojana
[B] Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana
[C] Rajiv Gandhi Aarogyasri Scheme
[D] Deen Dayal Swasthya Seva Yojana
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana]
Notes:
Odisha became the 34th state to implement the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), converging it with the Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana. The scheme offers ₹5 lakh per family annually, with an extra ₹5 lakh for women, benefiting 1.03 crore families. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed in New Delhi, attended by key union and state ministers. AB PM-JAY covers 45% of India’s population, with 8.19 crore hospital admissions recorded since inception. Odisha’s 4.5 crore beneficiaries will access cashless treatment in over 29,000 hospitals, enhancing healthcare for 86% of the population.
24. Who has been named the best javelin thrower of 2024 by the respected US-based sports magazine Track and Field News?
[A] Thomas Rohler
[B] Julius Yego
[C] Neeraj Chopra
[D] Kishore Jena
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Neeraj Chopra]
Notes:
Neeraj Chopra was named the best javelin thrower of 2024 by the US-based Track and Field News. He won the silver medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics with a throw of 89.45m. He narrowly beat Anderson Peters of Grenada for the top spot in the rankings; Peters won three Diamond League events in 2024. Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem, who threw 92.97m to win Olympic gold, ranked fifth due to limited appearances. Track and Field News, founded in 1948, is highly respected in athletics.
25. National Startup Day is celebrated annually on which day?
[A] 15 January
[B] 15 January
[C] 16 January
[D] 17 January
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [16 January]
Notes:
National Startup Day is celebrated on January 16 to honor the entrepreneurial spirit of startup founders in India. India is the third-largest startup hub with over 99,000 registered firms and a $500 billion ecosystem. The Startup India Scheme, launched in 2016, fostered a supportive environment for startups with financial incentives and simplified procedures. In 2022, PM Modi declared January 16 as National Startup Day.
26. National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources (NBFGR) was established under which institution?
[A] Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)
[B] Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
[C] National Biodiversity Authority (NBA)
[D] Ministry of Fisheries
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)]
Notes:
Around 100 tribal people from Pulicat will receive training in pearl spot culture, crab fattening, and clownfish aquaculture, organized by the National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources (NBFGR). NBFGR was established in 1983 under Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), focuses on fish germplasm conservation. Its infrastructure was set up in Lucknow in 1999. NBFGR’s vision includes the sustainable utilization and conservation of fish genetic resources. The bureau works on documenting fish diversity, developing databases, genotyping, and genebanking to support fish population health and sustainability.
27. Which organizations were involved for the development of “Building Blocks for THz Communication Front Ends” for 6G?
[A] IIT Madras and DRDO
[B] Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) and IIT Delhi
[C] ISRO and IIT Kanpur
[D] Ministry of Science and Technology and CSIR
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) and IIT Delhi]
Notes:
Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) and IIT Delhi signed an agreement to develop THz communication front ends for 6G under the Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF). TTDF is established under the Universal Services Obligation Fund (USOF), now called Digital Bharat Nidhi, by the Department of Telecom. The fund supports research, design, prototyping, testing, and manufacturing in telecommunications. It aims to foster rural-specific communication technologies, promote technology ownership, and encourage indigenous manufacturing. TTDF seeks to boost exports, reduce imports, enhance co-innovation, and support Intellectual Property creation in the telecom sector.
28. Which organization has released the World Employment and Social Outlook Report 2025?
[A] International Labour Organisation (ILO)
[B] World Health Organization (WHO)
[C] International Organization for Migration (IOM)
[D] International Monetary Fund (IMF)
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [International Labour Organisation (ILO) ]
Notes:
International Labour Organisation (ILO) has released the World Employment and Social Outlook Report for 2025. The report highlights ongoing global labor market struggles due to geopolitical tensions, climate change costs, and unresolved debt issues. The global jobs gap in 2024 was 402 million, including 186 million unemployed, 137 million temporarily unavailable, and 79 million discouraged workers. The global unemployment rate stood at 5%, with youth unemployment at 12.6%. Low-income countries face challenges creating decent jobs, with informal work returning to pre-pandemic levels. Labour force participation declined in low-income nations but increased among older workers and women in high-income countries, though gender gaps persist.
29. What are the names of the two new initiatives launched by the Rubber Board to enhance India’s rubber industry?
[A] Green Rubber and RPIS
[B] iSNR (Indian Sustainable Natural Rubber) and INR Konnect
[C] Ne-Mitra and SustainRubber
[D] None of the Above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [iSNR (Indian Sustainable Natural Rubber) and INR Konnect]
Notes:
The Rubber Board launched two initiatives, iSNR (Indian Sustainable Natural Rubber) and INR Konnect. iSNR ensures compliance with the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) by streamlining the rubber supply chain for EU markets. It provides traceability certificates verifying the origin of rubber products and their compliance with EUDR standards. This initiative aims to make Indian natural rubber competitive and responsible globally, promoting sustainable production and industry growth. INR Konnect is a web-based platform connecting untapped rubber growers with adopters to improve plantation productivity. It certifies participants, offers training in sustainable practices, and maintains a database of certified tappers.
30. Which state/UT’s virgin coconut oil received a Geographical Indication (GI) recently?
[A] Karnataka
[B] Maharashtra
[C] Andaman and Nicobar
[D] Dadar and Nagar Haveli
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Andaman and Nicobar]
Notes:
Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) from Andaman and Nicobar recently received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag, boosting its recognition. Women are receiving specialized training in marketing and branding to enhance the product’s reach. VCO is made traditionally, unrefined, unbleached, and free of chemicals or preservatives.