1. What is the name of the world’s first approved malaria treatment drug For newborns and young children?
[A] Coartem
[B] Malarone
[C] Ampicillin
[D] Tetracycline
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Coartem]
Notes:
The world’s first-ever malaria treatment suitable for babies and very young children has been approved for use. Drug manufacturer Novartis has received approval from Swiss authorities for its new malaria drug named Coartem. The development of the drug is very significant, as the overwhelming majority of malaria-related deaths occur in the under-five age group. Most malaria-related deaths are recorded on the African continent. Malaria accounted for more than half a million deaths worldwide in 2023.
2. What is the main objective of Machine Vision Based Inspection System (MVIS) being installed by Indian Railways?
[A] To inspect trains in real time using Artificial Intelligence (AI)
[B] Electrification of tracks
[C] To control train traffic
[D] To automate ticket booking
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [To inspect trains in real time using Artificial Intelligence (AI) ]
Notes:
Recently, Indian Railways signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL) to install Machine Vision Based Inspection System (MVIS). Machine Vision Based Inspection System (MVIS) uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to inspect trains in real time for better maintenance and safety. It is a wayside system that captures high-resolution images of moving train under-gear. It detects hanging, loose, or missing parts and sends real-time alerts for quick action.
3. Shinkansen is the name of which country’s high-speed bullet train system?
[A] China
[B] France
[C] Germany
[D] Japan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Japan]
Notes:
Next generation E10 Shinkansen bullet trains will be introduced simultaneously in India and Japan. In India, they will operate on the 508 km Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project. Shinkansen is Japan’s high-speed bullet train known for its safety, speed, and reliability. It is the world’s safest high-speed transport system with high volume and frequency.
4. What is a “Protostar” that was recently seen in news?
[A] An early stage in star formation
[B] A cloud of dust orbiting a planet
[C] A fully formed star
[D] None of the Above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [An early stage in star formation]
Notes:
Researchers at Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST), Thiruvananthapuram recently detected circularly polarised radio emission near a young protostar about 4,500 light-years away. A protostar is the earliest stage in star formation, formed from a collapsing giant molecular cloud in the interstellar medium. As the cloud collapses, gravitational energy turns into heat, warming the forming protostar. The protostar stage lasts from 100,000 to 10 million years depending on the star’s mass. It begins with a dense molecular cloud core and ends with a pre-main-sequence star.
5. What kind of disease is “Chikungunya” that was recently seen in news?
[A] Viral disease
[B] Bacterial disease
[C] Fungal disease
[D] None of the Above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Viral disease]
Notes:
Recently, the Ministry of Health in China launched an emergency campaign to protect people at risk of Chikungunya fever. Chikungunya is a mosquito-borne viral disease caused by the Chikungunya virus (CHIKV). The name comes from the Makonde language, meaning “bent over in pain” due to joint pain. It is spread through bites of infected female mosquitoes, mainly Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. These mosquitoes also transmit dengue and Zika viruses. It is not contagious and cannot spread from person to person directly.
6. AdFalciVax Vaccine, that was recently seen in news, is related to which disease?
[A] Malaria
[B] Polio
[C] Measles
[D] Trachoma
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Malaria]
Notes:
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is developing a new malaria vaccine called AdFalciVax to fight Plasmodium falciparum. This was recently highlighted due to its unique chimeric and recombinant design. AdFalciVax is being developed with Regional Medical Research Centre Bhubaneswar (RMRCBB), National Institute of Malaria Research (NIMR), and Department of Biotechnology – National Institute of Immunology (DBT-NII). It uses Lactococcus lactis, a safe food-grade bacterium, for production. The vaccine targets both the pre-erythrocytic and sexual stages of the malaria parasite. This dual-target approach offers both personal protection and reduction of mosquito transmission.
7. 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.
8. Where has the new CRIB blood group been discovered?
[A] Karnataka
[B] Maharashtra
[C] Kerala
[D] Tamil Nadu
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Karnataka]
Notes:
Recently, a new blood group named CRIB was discovered in a South Indian woman from Kolar district, Karnataka. The discovery was announced at the 35th Regional Congress of the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT) held in Milan, Italy. CRIB stands for Cromer India Bangalore and is part of the Cromer (CR) blood group system. This blood group was previously unidentified anywhere in the world. The discovery took 10 months of research and molecular testing by international experts.
9. What is “Ideonella sakaiensis” that was recently seen in news?
[A] Bacterium
[B] Invasive weed
[C] Fish
[D] Traditional medicine
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Bacterium]
Notes:
Researchers have identified Ideonella sakaiensis, a bacterium that can degrade polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic. It belongs to the genus Ideonella and family Comamonadaceae. It uses polyethylene terephthalate (PET) as both a carbon and energy source, breaking it into harmless building blocks. These by-products can be consumed by I. sakaiensis and other organisms. It is discovered by researchers in Japan from PET-contaminated soil. It is Gram-negative, rod-shaped, motile, non-sporing, non-pigment-producing, and monotrichous.
10. Which company became the first in India to secure the ISCC CORSIA certification for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)?
[A] Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (BPCL)
[B] Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (HPCL)
[C] Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (Indian Oil)
[D] None of the Above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (Indian Oil)]
Notes:
Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (Indian Oil) became the first company in India to secure International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC) CORSIA for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) at its Panipat Refinery. The certification is mandatory for commercial SAF production and aligns India with global aviation fuel standards. Certificate was handed over by Cotecna to Indian Oil Chairman A.S. Sahney in New Delhi. ISCC CORSIA, developed under Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), ensures sustainability and lifecycle carbon standards.