1. Which institute has been designated as a Category A Rinderpest Holding Facility by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH)?
[A] National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD), Bhopal
[B] National Institute of Animal Nutrition and Physiology (NIANP), Bengaluru
[C] Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Uttar Pradesh
[D] National Institute of Veterinary Epidemiology and Disease Informatics (NIVEDI), Bengaluru
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD), Bhopal]
Notes:
India has gained global recognition in animal health as the ICAR-National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD) in Bhopal was recently designated as a Category A Rinderpest Holding Facility (RHF) by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) and the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Rinderpest, also called cattle plague, is a deadly viral disease caused by a Morbillivirus from the Paramyxoviridae family. It mainly affects cloven-hoofed animals like cattle and buffalo, with mortality rates reaching up to 100 percent in highly vulnerable herds.
2. What is “Candida tropicalis” that was recently seen in news?
[A] Fungus
[B] Bacteria
[C] Virus
[D] Parasite
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Fungus]
Notes:
Recently, Candida tropicalis, a major fungal pathogen in India and globally, was found using chromosome changes to resist common antifungal drugs like fluconazole and voriconazole. Candida tropicalis is a yeast species from the Candida genus and causes serious infections with high mortality rates. It lives in tropical and subtropical marine environments like seawater, marine plants, and fish intestines. It is also found in human guts, fruit surfaces, soil, and various foods. It mainly affects people with weak immune systems or those with neutropenia, a condition of low neutrophil white blood cells.
3. What kind of disease is Leptospirosis that was recently seen in news?
[A] Zoonotic bacterial disease
[B] Fungal disease
[C] Cardiovascular disease
[D] Rare genetic disorder
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Zoonotic bacterial disease]
Notes:
Recently, five people died due to leptospirosis in Ernakulam district of Kerala within the past three weeks. Leptospirosis is a potentially fatal zoonotic disease caused by the bacterium Leptospira interrogans. The bacteria are commonly found in the urine of animals like rats, cattle, pigs, and dogs. Humans can get infected when the bacteria enter the body through small cracks or wounds on the skin, especially the soles of the feet. The disease is more common in warm and humid countries and can spread in both rural and urban areas.
4. What is the main raw material used for producing microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), which is commonly applied in pharmaceuticals?
[A] Resins
[B] Rice husk
[C] Refined wood pulp
[D] Sugarcane pulp
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Refined wood pulp]
Notes:
Recently, a deadly accident occurred at the pharma unit of Sigachi Industries in Hyderabad, raising the death toll to 36. The unit manufactures Microcrystalline Cellulose (MCC). Microcrystalline Cellulose (MCC) is a free-flowing powder extracted from refined wood pulp. It is inert, nontoxic, fiber-rich, chewable, and not absorbed during digestion. Wood is the main source of pharmaceutical MCC, with cellulose chains bound by polymers and hydrogen bonds.
5. SAKSHAM-3000 is a high-capacity switch-router developed by which organization?
[A] Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL)
[B] Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT)
[C] Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)
[D] Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT)]
Notes:
Recently, the Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development launched the high-capacity SAKSHAM-3000 to boost self-reliance and global competitiveness. SAKSHAM-3000 is a compact 25.6 Terabits per second (Tbps) switch-router developed by Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT). It is built for modern data centres, large enterprises, telecom operators, and hyperscale data centres. It has ultra-low latency, wire-speed processing, and uses the modular C-DOT Router Operating System (CROS).
6. Which species is the natural host of “Nipah Virus” that was recently reported in Kerala?
[A] Ant
[B] Fruit bat
[C] Mosquito
[D] Housefly
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Fruit bat]
Notes:
Recently, the Kerala Health Minister confirmed 425 people are on the Nipah virus contact list across the state. Nipah Virus (NiV) is an emerging zoonotic virus spreading from animals to humans. It can also spread through contaminated food or directly from person to person. Fruit bats from the Pteropodidae family are its natural hosts. NiV infection can be without symptoms, mild, or cause serious breathing illness and deadly brain swelling.
7. ATLAS is an asteroid impact early warning system developed by which university?
[A] University of California
[B] University of Hawaii
[C] University of Oxford
[D] University of Tokyo
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [University of Hawaii]
Notes:
Recently, comet 3I/ATLAS from outside our solar system was spotted by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) in Chile. ATLAS is an asteroid impact early warning system developed by the University of Hawaii and funded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). It uses four telescopes — two in Hawaii, one in Chile, and one in South Africa. These telescopes scan the sky every night for moving objects. ATLAS also detects dwarf planets, supernova explosions, and light from stars eaten by supermassive black holes.
8. Which institute used CRISPR-Cas9 technology to enhance phosphate uptake in japonica rice?
[A] ICAR-Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering (CIAE), Bhopal
[B] Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana
[C] Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi
[D] National Institute of Plant Genome Research (NIPGR), Delhi
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [National Institute of Plant Genome Research (NIPGR), Delhi]
Notes:
Scientists at the National Institute of Plant Genome Research (NIPGR), Delhi, have recently used CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing to boost phosphate uptake in japonica rice varieties. CRISPR-Cas9 is a modern gene-editing tool used to precisely modify plant traits. Japonica rice is one of the two major eco-geographical races of Oryza sativa, the other being Indica. It is mainly grown in northern and eastern China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, and Indonesia. Japonica has short to medium grains, which are thick, sticky, and harder than regular white rice.
9. What is “Fentanyl” that was recently mentioned in news?
[A] Invasive weed
[B] Flowering plant
[C] Critical mineral
[D] Synthetic opioid drug
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Synthetic opioid drug]
Notes:
Recently, U.S. President Donald Trump cited the fentanyl crisis to justify imposing 35% tariffs on Canada. Fentanyl caused over 112,000 overdose deaths in the United States in 2024 alone. Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid used medically as a pain reliever and anaesthetic. It is about 100 times stronger than morphine and 50 times stronger than heroin. Common street names include Apache, China Girl, China Town, Dance Fever, Goodfellas, Jackpot, and King Ivory. Fentanyl overdose can cause cold skin, bluish lips (cyanosis), coma, respiratory failure, and death.
10. Which institute has developed a bamboo-polymer composite as an eco-friendly alternative to plastic in vehicle interiors?
[A] IIT Guwahati
[B] IIT Delhi
[C] IIT Ahmedabad
[D] IIT Bombay
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [IIT Guwahati]
Notes:
Recently, IIT Guwahati researchers developed a bamboo-polymer composite as an eco-friendly alternative to plastic in vehicle interiors. The composite uses Bambusa tulda, a fast-growing bamboo species from Northeast India. It is fused with biodegradable polymers to create a cost-effective and sustainable material. The research was published in the journal Environment, Development and Sustainability. It shows high strength, thermal stability, and low moisture absorption, making it suitable for real-world use.