21. Which institute in Himachal Pradesh was recently renamed after former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh?
[A] Himachal Pradesh Institute of Management Studies
[B] Himachal Pradesh Institute of Public Administration
[C] Himachal Pradesh National Law University
[D] Indus International University
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Himachal Pradesh Institute of Public Administration]
Notes:
The Himachal Pradesh government approved renaming the Himachal Pradesh Institute of Public Administration (HIPA) to Dr. Manmohan Singh Himachal Pradesh Institute of Public Administration. This honors Dr. Singh’s contributions to national and state development. The Cabinet acknowledged his transformative role during his tenure as Prime Minister and Union Finance Minister.
22. Which country is the host of 28th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of Parliaments of Commonwealth Countries (CSPOC)?
[A] India
[B] Malaysia
[C] Bangladesh
[D] Australia
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [India]
Notes:
India will host the 28th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of Parliaments (CSPOC) of Commonwealth Countries in 2026. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla announced this at the CSPOC Standing Committee Meeting in Guernsey. The event will focus on artificial intelligence, social media, and their role in parliamentary processes. India previously hosted CSPOC in 1970-71, 1986, and 2010, showcasing its cultural heritage and modern development.
23. What is the name of the second multi-purpose vessel (MPV) recently launched for the Indian Navy?
[A] INS Utkarsh
[B] INS Vikrant
[C] INS Sangam
[D] INS Karanj
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [INS Utkarsh]
Notes:
Larsen & Toubro launched the second multi-purpose vessel, INS Utkarsh, for the Indian Navy at Kattupalli Shipyard near Chennai. INS Utkarsh, meaning “Superior in Conduct,” is built by L&T Shipbuilding Limited. The vessel is 106m long, 18.6m wide, with a displacement over 3,750 tonnes, and a maximum speed of 15 knots. It will enhance maritime surveillance, patrolling, and disaster relief capabilities of the Navy. The launch follows the first MPV, INS Samarthak, within three months. This aligns with India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives, showcasing indigenous shipbuilding progress.
24. Which state is the host of 85th All India Presiding Officers Conference (AIPOC)?
[A] Jharkhand
[B] Bihar
[C] Madhya Pradesh
[D] Odisha
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Bihar]
Notes:
Bihar will host the 85th All India Presiding Officers Conference (AIPOC) on January 20-21, 2025. The theme is “75th anniversary of the Constitution: The contribution of the Parliament and state legislatures in strengthening the constitutional values.” Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will preside over the event, with Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh present. Over 264 parliamentarians, legislators, and officials will attend. Bihar last hosted AIPOC in 1982 and before that in 1964. The event will be held at the Bihar Legislative Assembly premises. It aims to enhance coordination and share best practices among legislative bodies.
25. 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.
26. Pavana River, which was seen in the news, flows through which state?
[A] Odisha
[B] Telangana
[C] Maharashtra
[D] Bihar
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Maharashtra]
Notes:
The National Green Tribunal has directed a rejuvenation committee to set a new timeline for the action plan to reduce pollution in the Pavana River. The Pavana River flows in western Maharashtra, crossing Pune and dividing Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad. It originates from the Western Ghats. It flows through Dehu, Chinchwad, Pimpri, and Dapodi before joining the Mula River near Pune. It is about 60 km long and feeds into the Bhima River.
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. Who has been elected as the new president of the Athletics Federation of India (AFI)?
[A] Vikram Singh
[B] Sandeep Mehta
[C] Bahadur Singh Sagoo
[D] Lakhan Bisht
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Bahadur Singh Sagoo ]
Notes:
Bahadur Singh Sagoo was elected as the new president of the Athletics Federation of India (AFI), succeeding Adille Sumariwalla. Sumariwalla served as AFI president for over a decade, from 2012 to 2024. Sagoo, an Asian Games gold medallist (2002) and two-time Olympian, brings vast experience to the role. Sandeep Mehta was elected as the new secretary of the federation. India will host its first World Athletics Continental Tour event, the “Indian Open,” on August 10, 2025, in Bhubaneswar.
29. Kokborok is the official language of which Indian state?
[A] Meghalaya
[B] Sikkim
[C] Nagaland
[D] Tripura
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Tripura]
Notes:
The Twipra Student Federation (TSF) protested in Agartala, demanding the Roman script for the Kokborok language. Kokborok is the language of the Borok people, officially recognized in Tripura on January 19, 1979. It is a Sino-Tibetan language with roots traced back to the 1st century AD. Historical records of Tripuri kings in Raj Ratnakar were written in Kokborok. The term “Kokborok” combines Kok (verbal) and Borok (people). As of the 2011 Census, 8,80,537 people in Tripura speak Kokborok, comprising 23.97% of the state’s population.
30. Tungabhadra River, which was seen in news, is tributary of which river?
[A] Godavari
[B] Kaveri
[C] Krishna
[D] Narmada
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Krishna]
Notes:
Tungabhadra River water turned green near villages in Mundargi taluk, Gadag district, Karnataka, causing panic. It is a major tributary of the Krishna River, sacred to Hindus, and mentioned as “Pampa” in the Ramayana. The river originates from the Tunga (147 km) and Bhadra (178 km) streams in the Western Ghats and runs 531 km to meet the Krishna River in Andhra Pradesh. It passes through Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and forms an interstate boundary.