1. The IndiaAI Mission was jointly launched by Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and which organization?
[A] National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM)
[B] Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
[C] Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO)
[D] Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM)]
Notes:
Recently, three new startups were selected to build India’s own Foundation Model under the IndiaAI Mission, marking a big step in boosting local Artificial Intelligence (AI) capabilities. The IndiaAI Mission was launched in 2023 as a joint effort by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM). It supports startups and researchers by providing access to high-end computing power. The mission promotes “Making AI in India” by developing AI technologies locally.
2. What are Biostimulants, recently mentioned in news?
[A] Chemical pesticides used to kill insects on crops.
[B] Substances or microorganisms applied to plants or soil to stimulate natural processes
[C] Artificial hormones used to accelerate fruit ripening
[D] None of the Above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Substances or microorganisms applied to plants or soil to stimulate natural processes]
Notes:
The central government recently notified 34 biostimulants to boost their production and use in agriculture. Biostimulants are natural substances or microorganisms applied to plants or soil to enhance the plant’s natural growth and stress-resistance processes. They help reduce dependence on fertilizers by improving nutrient use efficiency, root growth, and resistance to drought, salinity, and extreme temperatures. In India, biostimulants are regulated under the Fertilizer (Control) Order, 1985.
3. Cosmology Large Angular Scale Surveyor (CLASS) telescope is located in which country?
[A] Brazil
[B] Peru
[C] Chile
[D] Colombia
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Chile]
Notes:
Scientists using the Cosmology Large Angular Scale Surveyor (CLASS) telescope have detected a faint 13-billion-year-old microwave signal. The Cosmology Large Angular Scale Surveyor (CLASS) telescope is located in Chile’s Atacama Desert. The signal comes from the Cosmic Dawn, the era when the first stars, black holes, and galaxies formed. Cosmic Dawn occurred between 50 million and one billion years after the Big Bang. This discovery helps scientists understand how early stars affected the universe’s structure and temperature. The recent detection gives valuable clues about the universe’s formation and the role of early cosmic objects.
4. 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.
5. e-Raktkosh is an online blood bank management system implemented under which mission?
[A] National Ayush Mission
[B] Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram
[C] National Health Mission
[D] Ayushman Bharat
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [National Health Mission ]
Notes:
Recently, the Union Health Ministry announced plans to integrate India’s Rare Donor Registry with the national online blood management platform called e-Rakt Kosh. e-Rakt Kosh is an online blood bank management system implemented under the National Health Mission. It is the official portal for all blood-related services in India. It provides real-time information on blood availability, blood banks, and donation camps across the country.
6. Where was India’s first off-grid 5 megawatt (MW) green hydrogen pilot plant commissioned?
[A] Uttar Pradesh
[B] Gujarat
[C] Madhya Pradesh
[D] Odisha
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Gujarat]
Notes:
Adani Group has recently commissioned India’s first off-grid 5 megawatt (MW) green hydrogen pilot plant in Kutch, Gujarat. The plant has been developed by Adani New Industries Limited (ANIL), which is the clean energy arm of Adani Enterprises Limited. An off-grid green hydrogen plant produces hydrogen using electrolysis powered entirely by renewable sources like solar or wind and is not connected to the main power grid. This plant runs fully on solar energy and includes a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) for continuous operation.
7. What is the new term coined by researchers to describe extended periods of atmospheric thirst?
[A] Heatwave
[B] Dryburst
[C] Thirstwave
[D] Aridstorm
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Thirstwave]
Notes:
Researchers have recently introduced a new term called “Thirstwaves” to describe long periods of high atmospheric thirst. A Thirstwave occurs when the daily evaporative demand stays above the historical 90th percentile for at least three consecutive days. Evaporative demand means how thirsty the atmosphere is or how much water it wants to absorb from the ground or plants. It is influenced by temperature, wind speed, humidity, and sunshine. Understanding thirstwaves can help farmers manage water more efficiently and boost crop production. This concept is important for improving climate resilience in agriculture and water planning.
8. Which institute has developed a modified CRISPR tool to help plants combat heat stress and bacterial infections?
[A] Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru
[B] Bose Institute, Kolkata
[C] National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI), Lucknow
[D] Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), Delhi
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Bose Institute, Kolkata]
Notes:
Recently, scientists at Bose Institute, Kolkata, developed a modified CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) tool to help plants fight heat stress and bacterial infections, boosting smart and sustainable farming. Unlike traditional CRISPR which cuts DNA, the team used a modified version called dCas9 (dead Cas9), which does not cut DNA but works like a gene switch. This switch stays off until the plant is stressed, such as by high temperatures. The scientists used a part of a natural tomato protein called NACMTF3, specifically its TM (Transmembrane) domain, to control the switch. Under heat stress, the TM domain releases dCas9, allowing it to enter the nucleus and turn on defense genes. This method allows plants to respond only when needed, reducing energy use and improving resilience.
9. GLP-1 Drug, that was recently seen in news, is used for the treatment of which disease?
[A] Malnutrition
[B] Dengue
[C] Diarrhea
[D] Obesity
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Obesity]
Notes:
Recently, Novo Nordisk launched its weight-loss injection semaglutide in India after Eli Lilly introduced tirzepatide. These are Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, which are drugs that copy the action of GLP-1, a gut hormone released after eating. GLP-1 helps control blood sugar, fat metabolism, and appetite in the body. These medicines usually come as injections, though oral forms are being developed. Semaglutide and tirzepatide are two leading GLP-1 Drugs. Semaglutide and tirzepatide transforming the treatment of obesity and diabetes in India.
10. Which country has launched the Global Observing Satellite for Greenhouse gases and Water cycle (GOSAT-GW)?
[A] China
[B] India
[C] Australia
[D] Japan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Japan]
Notes:
Recently, Japan launched the Global Observing Satellite for Greenhouse gases and Water cycle (GOSAT-GW) from Tanegashima Space Centre. GOSAT-GW is an Earth observation satellite developed by the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). It was launched using the H-2A rocket. Its objectives are to monitor global-mean concentrations of Greenhouse Gases (GHGs), verify national anthropogenic GHG emissions inventories, and detect GHG emissions from large sources like megacities and power plants.