21. 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.
22. Which state government has launched Swami Vivekananda Yuva Shakti Mission recently?
[A] Madhya Pradesh
[B] Uttar Pradesh
[C] Punjab
[D] Bihar
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Madhya Pradesh]
Notes:
Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav launched the Swami Vivekanand Yuva Shakti Mission in Bhopal on National Youth Day. National Youth Day has been celebrated to honor Swami Vivekanand’s birth anniversary. Chief Minister inaugurated the world’s largest 3-D rangoli depicting Swami Vivekananda at Shaurya Smarak, Bhopal. The mission aligns with PM Modi’s GYAN principle, focusing on the poor, youth, farmers, and women. The Chief Minister also launched the Swami Vivekananda Yuva Shakti Mission Portal and theme song.
23. Ranthambore Tiger Reserve lies at the junction of which two mountain ranges?
[A] Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats
[B] Satpura and Vindhyas
[C] Aravallis and Vindhyas
[D] Himalayas and Shivaliks
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Aravallis and Vindhyas]
Notes:
A flagship river-link irrigation project in Rajasthan will submerge 37 sq. km of Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve (RTR), dividing it into two sections. It is situated at the junction of the Aravallis and Vindhyas ranges in Rajasthan. It was once a royal hunting ground for Jaipur’s Maharajas and is now one of northern India’s largest tiger reserves. The reserve is ideal for tiger monitoring due to its unique climate and vegetation. It is bordered by the Chambal River in the south and the Banas River in the north. The Ranthambhore Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, lies within the reserve.
24. Gaan Ngai festival is celebrated in which Indian state?
[A] Manipur
[B] Odisha
[C] Sikkim
[D] West Bengal
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Manipur]
Notes:
The Gaan Ngai festival is celebrated by the Zeliarong community in Manipur after the harvest season. It marks gratitude for a good harvest, prayers for prosperity, and the beginning of the new year. The festival includes music, dance, and spiritual rituals, promoting unity and joy. The Zeliarong community, comprising the Rongmei, Liangmei, and Zeme tribes, is one of Manipur’s prominent tribal groups. Gaan Ngai lasts for five days and is typically celebrated in December or January, with the date varying each year.
25. Sada region, a flat top plateau region, is located in which state?
[A] Madhya Pradesh
[B] Jharkhand
[C] Odisha
[D] Maharashtra
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Maharashtra]
Notes:
The Sada region in the Konkan area of Maharashtra is experiencing land-use changes, with croplands being converted into orchards and residential areas. It is a flat area formed by centuries of erosion, similar to plateaux found in the Satara district, Maharashtra. The region is rocky and barren most of the year but transforms during the monsoons, harboring unique endemic flora. It has highly weathered lateritic soil that helps recharge groundwater. The region boasts 459 plant species, 31 reptile species, 13 amphibians, 169 birds, and 41 mammals. It also features geoglyphs, believed to be around 10,000 years old.
26. Which state government has launched SHE COHORT 3.0 initiative to empower women-led startups?
[A] Odisha
[B] Haryana
[C] Punjab
[D] Gujarat
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Punjab]
Notes:
Punjab government has launched SHE COHORT 3.0 (Startups Handholding & Empowerment – Cohort 3.0) initiative in Mohali to empower female startups and students in building tech-based ventures. The initiative is supported by business incubators and ecosystem enablers. More than 250 startups, innovators, and students were briefed on StartUp Punjab’s growth plans. It offers a platform to showcase talent and ideas with potential for economic growth. Aims to contribute to India’s development by 2047.
27. PM Wani Scheme has been launched by which organization?
[A] Department of Telecommunications
[B] Bharat Broadband Network Limited
[C] NITI Aayog
[D] Ministry of Science and Technology
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Department of Telecommunications]
Notes:
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) recommended capping Internet tariffs for Wi-Fi service providers under the Prime Minister’s Wi-Fi Access Network Interface (PM-WANI) scheme at twice the rate of retail broadband. The PM-WANI scheme was launched in December 2020 by the Department of Telecommunication. The scheme aims to expand public Wi-Fi hotspots, especially in rural areas. It seeks to enhance digital infrastructure, increase employment for small entrepreneurs, and provide low-cost internet to underserved urban and rural households. The scheme encourages local shops to offer Wi-Fi for last-mile delivery without requiring a license or registration fee.
28. Which country has launched Pakistan’s first indigenous Electro-Optical Satellite (PRSC-EO1)?
[A] China
[B] Russia
[C] India
[D] Saudi Arabia
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [China]
Notes:
China launched Pakistan’s first indigenous Electro-Optical (EO-1) satellite, PRSC-EO1. The launch occurred from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center using a Long March-2D carrier rocket. The satellite is equipped with electro-optical sensors for collecting Earth observation data.
29. Kalaripayattu is the traditional martial art of which state?
[A] Tamil Nadu
[B] Kerala
[C] Karnataka
[D] Maharashtra
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Kerala]
Notes:
Kalaripayattu, a traditional martial art from Kerala, is included only as a demonstration event in the 38th National Games in Uttarakhand. According to mythology, the warrior sage Parasurama introduced Kalaripayattu. The term Kalaripayattu combines “kalari,” meaning a place of combat, and “payattu,” meaning fighting in Malayalam. Uttarakhand will host the National Games 2025 from January 28 to February 14, 2025.
30. Bankapur Wolf Sanctuary, which was seen in news, lies in which state?
[A] Maharashtra
[B] Tamil Nadu
[C] Karnataka
[D] Kerala
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Karnataka]
Notes:
The Indian grey wolf gave birth to eight pups in Karnataka’s Bankapur Wolf Sanctuary. Bankapur Wolf Sanctuary is Karnataka’s first and India’s second protected area dedicated to wolves. The first such sanctuary is Mahuadanr Wolf Sanctuary, established in 1976 in Jharkhand (formerly Bihar). Bankapur’s terrain consists of scrub forests, hills, and natural caves. It is home to diverse wildlife, including wolves, leopards, peacocks, blackbucks, foxes, hares, and porcupines.