1. Recently, which country has launched its first space agency and plans to make a Mars landing by 2045?
[A] Mauritius
[B] South Korea
[C] Singapore
[D] Malaysia
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [South Korea]
Notes:
South Korea plans a Mars landing by 2045, investing 100 trillion won ($72.6 billion) in space exploration. President Yoon Suk Yeol announced this at the launch of the Korea Aerospace Administration (KASA), which aims to boost South Korea into the top five space powers. KASA will support the aerospace industry, with the first lunar lander planned for 2032. South Korea also plans at least three more space launches by 2027.
2. Recently, researchers of which institute have developed a novel and safer method to mass produce recombinant proteins?
[A] Indian Institute of Science (IISc)
[B] Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR)
[C] Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)
[D] National Institute of Biomedical Genomics (NIBMG)
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Indian Institute of Science (IISc)]
Notes:
Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have developed a safer process for producing recombinant proteins (RPs), which are proteins modified by recombinant DNA (rDNA) technology. Traditionally, RPs like insulin and monoclonal antibodies are produced using organisms such as yeast Pichia pastoris, which uses hazardous methanol. The new method employs mono-sodium glutamate (MSG) as a safer alternative. E. coli is also used for RP production due to its efficient growth and high yield.
3. Which institute recently established ‘DRDO-Industry-Academia Centre of Excellence’?
[A] IIT Hyderabad
[B] IIT Bombay
[C] IIT Delhi
[D] IIT Kanpur
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [IIT Kanpur]
Notes:
IIT Kanpur, in collaboration with DRDO, established a DRDO-Industry-Academia Centre of Excellence (DIA CoE) for interdisciplinary research in next-gen defence technologies. This initiative aligns with DRDO’s strategy of setting up DIA CoEs in key academic institutions to foster technology development through experienced faculty, bright scholars, and DRDO scientists, creating a robust ecosystem for defence innovation.
4. Funan Techno Canal project, recently seen in news, is associated with which country?
[A] Malaysia
[B] Cambodia
[C] Indonesia
[D] China
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Cambodia]
Notes:
Cambodia plans to commence construction on the Funan Techo canal, a 180-kilometer project funded by China. This canal will link Kep, a coastal province, to the capital Phnom Penh via the Bassac River, diminishing reliance on Vietnamese ports for international shipping. It aims to boost Cambodia’s connectivity and trade autonomy.
5. Pampa Lake, recently seen in the news, is located in which state?
[A] Kerala
[B] Gujarat
[C] Odisha
[D] Karnataka
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Karnataka]
Notes:
A team from the Karnataka State Department of Archaeology Museums and Heritage has discovered rock shelter paintings estimated to be 2,500 years old near Pampa Lake in the Hampi World Heritage Area. Pampa Lake, located in Karnataka’s Koppal district near Hampi, is one of the five sacred lakes in Hindu mythology. Surrounded by hills and temples, it holds cultural and religious significance, featuring prominently in Hindu epics like the Ramayana.
6. Recently, ISRO collaborated with which company for sustainable space exploration through additive manufacturing?
[A] Wipro 3D
[B] Skyroot aerospace
[C] Google 3D
[D] IBM
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Wipro 3D]
Notes:
Wipro 3D and ISRO have successfully 3D-printed the PS4 rocket engine for the PSLV’s 4th stage, marking a significant advancement in space technology. Dr. V Narayanan of ISRO praised this achievement. The PS4 stage’s advanced navigation and control systems enable precise orbital placements for various satellite missions. The collaboration utilized Design for Additive Manufacturing (DfAM) and Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) technology, streamlining production and improving structural integrity.
7. Recently, which organization has launched the ‘Bank Clinic’ initiative to assist bank customers with grievance redressal?
[A] All India Bank Employees’ Association (AIBEA)
[B] State Bank of India (SBI)
[C] Ministry of Finance
[D] None of the Above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [All India Bank Employees’ Association (AIBEA)]
Notes:
The All India Bank Employees’ Association (AIBEA) has launched “Bank Clinic” to aid bank customers with grievance redressal. This advisory platform guides customers on remedies per RBI guidelines, serving as an additional channel alongside the Banking Ombudsman process. It aims to support customers amid rapid technological expansion and evolving RBI guidelines on retail banking.
8. Which space organization recently developed Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software named ‘PraVaHa’?
[A] ISRO
[B] JAXA
[C] ESA
[D] CNSA
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [ISRO]
Notes:
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) developed PraVaHa, a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software, at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre. Parallel RANS Solver for Aerospace Vehicle Aero-thermo-dynamic Analysis (PraVaHa) simulates airflow for launch vehicles, crucial for designing their shape, structure, and thermal protection systems. It is used in the Gaganyaan program for analyzing human-rated launch vehicles. Currently, it simulates airflow for perfect and real gas conditions, with ongoing validations for chemical reactions in scramjet vehicles.
9. Akatsuki Mission, recently seen in news, is associated with space agency?
[A] NASA
[B] JAXA
[C] ISRO
[D] CNSA
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [JAXA]
Notes:
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) lost contact with Akatsuki, launched in 2010 as Japan’s first successful mission to another planet. Akatsuki, in an equatorial orbit around Venus, aimed to study its toxic atmosphere and volcanic surface, weather patterns, lightning, and super-rotation caused by strong winds. It complemented ESA’s Venus Express, operational until 2014, using ultraviolet and infrared cameras to globally map clouds and atmospheric structures.
10. Recently, the central government has approved the establishment of an Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in which district of Assam?
[A] Kamrup
[B] Jorhat
[C] Golaghat
[D] Sonitpur
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Kamrup]
Notes:
The central government has approved Assam’s plan for a new Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in Kamrup district, with IIM Ahmedabad mentoring the project. This decision aims to bolster education and industry in the Northeast, where only one IIM currently exists. Assam’s collaboration with IIM Ahmedabad and provision of land underscores its commitment to advancing education and economic growth. The initiative is expected to benefit neighboring states like Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh.
