21. A rare carnivorous plant ‘Utricularia’ has been found at which national park in Rajasthan?
[A] Darrah National Park
[B] Desert National Park
[C] Keoladeo National Park
[D] Ranthambore National Park
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Keoladeo National Park]
Notes:
A rare carnivorous plant, Utricularia, has been found in large numbers at Rajasthan’s Keoladeo National Park. Utricularia, or bladderwort, belongs to the family Lentibulariaceae and includes 220 species found in temperate and tropical habitats worldwide. These plants lack roots and have floating stems with simple or divided leaves. They produce small carnivorous bladders that range from dark to transparent and trap tiny animals like insect larvae and water fleas. The trap door mechanism activates within milliseconds, capturing prey efficiently. Utricularia plants are found in lakes, streams, and waterlogged soils, with some species being invasive.
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. What is the primary objective of Mission Mausam?
[A] Develop new agricultural technologies
[B] Make India a ‘Weather-ready and Climate-smart’ nation
[C] Enhance disaster relief operations through satellite imaging
[D] Boost India’s space exploration capabilities
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Make India a ‘Weather-ready and Climate-smart’ nation]
Notes:
The Prime Minister will launch ‘Mission Mausam’ on the 150th foundation day of the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The mission aims to make India a ‘Weather-ready and Climate-smart’ nation by advancing weather and climate science. It has a budget of Rs 2,000 crore over two years and will be implemented by India Meteorological Department (IMD), Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, and National Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting. It focuses on improving forecasting accuracy, real-time local weather updates, and weather management technologies. The program includes cutting-edge technologies like high-resolution observations, next-gen radars, satellites, and high-performance computers. It addresses climate change, improves air quality data, and prepares citizens for extreme weather events.
24. 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.
25. 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.
26. The two lunar spacecraft named Blue Ghost and Resilience recently launched on which rocket?
[A] Pegasus XL
[B] Falcon 9
[C] Vostok 1
[D] Atlas V
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Falcon 9]
Notes:
Lunar landers by U.S. and Japanese companies launched together on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, showcasing private sector involvement in space exploration. The mission includes two lunar spacecraft: Blue Ghost by Firefly Aerospace (U.S.) and Resilience by ispace-Europe (Luxembourg, Japan). Blue Ghost carries 10 NASA instruments to study Earth’s magnetosphere, lunar dust, and Moon’s thermal properties while testing advanced navigation and computing. Resilience includes the Tenacious micro rover with a high-definition camera and regolith-scooping technology, exploring Mare Frigoris on the Moon’s far north. The mission promotes technological advances, global collaboration, and cost-effective strategies for future lunar sustainability under NASA’s Artemis program.
27. What does the term “Nautor Land” refer to?
[A] Fertile agricultural land owned by the government
[B] Government-owned barren or wasteland allocated for cultivation or productive use
[C] Forest land designated for conservation
[D] Privately owned uncultivated land
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Government-owned barren or wasteland allocated for cultivation or productive use]
Notes:
The Union Home Ministry is considering a proposal to regularize nautor land in Ladakh, granting locals ownership of government wastelands they have used for years. Nautor Land refers to barren government land allocated for cultivation or productive use with official approval. It originated in 1932 under Hari Singh in Jammu and Kashmir and was later adopted in Himachal Pradesh in 1968 before being halted. The policy targets hilly and remote areas like Leh, Kargil, and parts of Himachal Pradesh. Regularization ensures ownership for locals, safeguards resources from outsiders, and preserves cultural and economic traditions.
28. Huntington’s Disease, that was recently seen in news, affects which type of cells in the human body?
[A] Blood cells
[B] Brain cells
[C] Muscle cells
[D] Skin cells
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Brain cells]
Notes:
New research reveals that genetic mutations in Huntington’s Disease (HD) can have delayed effects, impacting disease progression over time. Huntington’s Disease (HD) is a genetic condition causing gradual loss of brain cell function, leading to their death. It affects brain regions regulating voluntary movement, memory, and decision-making, primarily the basal ganglia and brain cortex. HD is caused by a mutation in the HTT gene, which produces huntingtin protein crucial for neuron function. Mutated huntingtin proteins have abnormal shapes, damaging and killing neurons. HD is inherited; each child of an affected parent has a 50% chance of developing the disease. It affects 3 to 7 out of 100,000 people, primarily of European ancestry.
29. Where was the fifth United States consulate inaugurated in India?
[A] Lucknow
[B] Bengaluru
[C] Bhopal
[D] Jaipur
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Bengaluru]
Notes:
The United States opened its fifth consulate in India in Bengaluru, joining Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Mumbai. The consulate aims to strengthen US-India ties, especially with Karnataka’s thriving IT and business ecosystem. The consulate will reduce dependency on Chennai for visa services, benefiting Karnataka residents and businesses.
30. Hemigobius hoevenii and Mugilogobius tigrinus, which were recently seen in news, belongs to which species?
[A] Spider
[B] Frog
[C] Goby Fish
[D] Ant
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Goby Fish]
Notes:
Researchers from the Zoological Survey of India discovered two goby fish species, Hemigobius hoevenii and Mugilogobius tigrinus, in the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary, Andhra Pradesh. Goby fish are typically found in estuarine and mangrove areas, playing a vital role in the ecosystem by occupying multiple levels in the food chain and serving as environmental health indicators.