1. Which modern farming techniques are being added to Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH)?
[A] Hydroponics, Aquaponics, Vertical Farming, and Precision Agriculture
[B] Crop Insurance, Subsidies, Weather Forecasting, and Farm Mechanization
[C] Soil Testing and Drip Irrigation
[D] Drone Farming, Satellite Imagery and Data Analysis
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Hydroponics, Aquaponics, Vertical Farming, and Precision Agriculture]
Notes:
The Union Government plans to add Hydroponics, Aquaponics, Vertical Farming, and Precision Agriculture to the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH). MIDH is a Central Sponsored Scheme started in 2014-15 for the holistic growth of the horticulture sector. It promotes the cultivation of various crops, including fruits, vegetables, mushrooms, spices, flowers, coconut, cashew, cocoa, and bamboo. The mission also offers technical advice and support to State Governments and State Horticulture Missions for the Saffron Mission and other horticulture activities under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY).
2. Which day is observed as National Unity Day?
[A] 29 October
[B] 30 October
[C] 31 October
[D] 27 October
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [31 October]
Notes:
National Unity Day is observed every year on October 31 to honor Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s birth anniversary. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was a key leader in India’s independence struggle and served as the first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister. This day commemorates his efforts to unite diverse princely states into one nation and promotes national solidarity.
3. Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) is a health coverage scheme for which age group?
[A] Only those under 60 years of age
[B] All individuals aged 70 and above
[C] Only those under 65 years of age
[D] Families with an annual income below a certain threshold
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [All individuals aged 70 and above]
Notes:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the expanded Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) scheme. The scheme will cover all individuals aged 70 and above, regardless of their socio-economic status. Each eligible senior citizen will receive a benefit cover of ₹5 lakh per year in empanelled hospitals across India. This expansion is part of a ₹12,850 crore health initiative aimed at benefiting 60 million senior citizens. Senior citizens from families already under AB-PMJAY can access an additional ₹5 lakh cover. Those not covered by the scheme will also receive up to ₹5 lakh annually on a family basis. The expansion will be supported by an outlay of ₹3,437 crore.
4. Which Indian agency has been included in the Steering Committee of the Asset Recovery Interagency Network-Asia Pacific (ARIN-AP)?
[A] Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU)
[B] Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)
[C] Directorate of Enforcement (ED)
[D] National Investigation Agency (NIA)
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Directorate of Enforcement (ED)]
Notes:
India’s Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has joined the Steering Committee of the Asset Recovery Interagency Network-Asia Pacific (ARIN-AP). ARIN-AP is a major network focused on tracking and recovering criminal proceeds across the Asia-Pacific region. It enhances cross-border cooperation in tracing, freezing, and confiscating assets linked to crime. With 28 member jurisdictions and nine observers, ARIN-AP serves as a vital, informal framework for intelligence sharing. The network, part of the broader CARIN Network, helps law enforcement quickly access information on assets, aiding in efficient crime proceeds recovery across more than 100 countries.
5. Which organization recently released the report titled ‘The impact of care responsibilities of women’s labour participation’?
[A] World Health Organization (WHO)
[B] World Trade Organization (WTO)
[C] International Labour Organization (ILO)
[D] World Bank
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [International Labour Organization (ILO)]
Notes:
International Labour Organization (ILO) released the report titled ‘The impact of care responsibilities of women’s labour participation’. According to the report, 53% of women in India are outside the labor force due to care responsibilities, needing more investment in the care economy. Only 1.1% of men are out of work for similar reasons. The report emphasizes the need for early childhood care and education (ECCE) to boost women’s labor force participation and gender equality. In India, 97.8% of women and 91.4% of men are out of the workforce due to personal or family reasons. Globally, 708 million women and 40 million men are outside the labor force due to caregiving, highlighting a significant gender disparity.
6. Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, which was seen in the news, is located in which state?
[A] Madhya Pradesh
[B] Gujarat
[C] Karnataka
[D] Uttarakhand
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Madhya Pradesh]
Notes:
The Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) has formed a team to investigate the death of ten elephants in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh. The Madhya Pradesh government has also set up a five-member committee, led by APCCF (Wildlife), to conduct an inquiry. Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve is situated between the Vindhyan and Satpura ranges in Madhya Pradesh’s Umaria district. It was designated as a national park in 1968 and became a tiger reserve in 1993.
7. What is Alstonia scholaris, that was recently seen in news?
[A] Spider
[B] Tropical tree
[C] Invasive weed
[D] Butterfly
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Tropical tree]
Notes:
Cyclone Dana brought heavy rain to Kolkata, causing chhatim trees (Alstonia scholaris) to shed their strong-smelling flowers, offering relief for allergy and asthma sufferers. It is a tropical tree in the dogbane family (Apocynaceae). Alstonia scholaris, also called blackboard tree, scholar tree, or devil’s tree, is native to the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and southern China. Known as “saptaparni” in India, it has clusters of seven leaves and blooms small, fragrant greenish-white flowers in late autumn. The tree’s bark and leaves are used in traditional medicine for respiratory, skin, and digestive issues. Its wood was once used to make blackboards, hence the name “blackboard tree.”
8. Which Indian boxer won the World Boxing Federation’s super featherweight world title?
[A] Vikas Bhardwaj
[B] Gavireddy Ramayya
[C] Shubham Yadav
[D] Mandeep Jangra
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Mandeep Jangra ]
Notes:
Haryana’s boxer Mandeep Jangra won the World Boxing Federation’s super featherweight world title by defeating British boxer Conor McIntosh. The title match took place in the Cayman Islands. Mandeep, 31, turned professional in 2021 and trains under American boxing legend Roy Jones Junior. He won silver at the 2013 Asian Championship and the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games. Mandeep received the Arjuna Award from the Indian government in 2015.
9. Senna spectabilis, an invasive species, is being eradicated from the forests of which state?
[A] Tamil Nadu
[B] Odisha
[C] Bihar
[D] Gujarat
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Tamil Nadu]
Notes:
The Madras High Court has mandated the complete removal of Senna spectabilis from Tamil Nadu’s forests by October 1, 2025. Currently, 28,000 tonnes remain, with efforts underway to eradicate this invasive species. The court emphasized that the removal process should not be delayed by negotiations with paper companies for the timber. Additionally, the court is focused on eradicating other invasive species like Lantana camara and Prosopis juliflora to protect the forest ecosystem.
10. What is the name of the weather phenomenon that recently caused catastrophic flooding in Spain?
[A] DANA storm
[B] El Niño
[C] La Niña
[D] None of the Above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [DANA storm]
Notes:
The DANA storm, or “depresión aislada en niveles altos,” caused severe flooding in Spain in late October 2024, attributed to climate change. This isolated low-pressure system generated intense thunderstorms and heavy rainfall, leading to over 200 fatalities. Areas like Chiva and Valencia experienced unprecedented rainfall, with Chiva recording 491 millimeters in eight hours. The phenomenon results from warm, moist air from the Mediterranean colliding with cold polar air, creating conditions for extreme weather events, exacerbated by human-induced climate change.