1. Pandoh Dam, that was recently seen in news, is constructed on which river?
[A] Sutlej
[B] Ravi
[C] Beas
[D] Chenab
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Beas]
Notes:
The release of silt-laden water from Pandoh Dam into the Sutlej River instead of the Beas River has caused objections from the Punjab Government. Pandoh Dam is an embankment and concrete gravity dam built on the Beas River in Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh, about 10 km from Manali. It was completed in 1977 under the Beas Project mainly for hydroelectric power generation. The dam is about 76 metres high and 492 metres long and follows a run-of-the-river design. Beas River water is diverted through 38 km long canals and tunnels to the Dehar Power House and then released into the Sutlej River.
2. In the context of mining, what are “tailings”?
[A] Finished mineral products
[B] Wastewater released into rivers
[C] Leftover materials from processing of mined ore
[D] None of the Above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Leftover materials from processing of mined ore]
Notes:
The central government has announced India’s first tailings policy to guide recovery of critical minerals from both primary sources and secondary sources like mine dumps and tailings. Tailings are leftover materials produced after processing mined ore. They contain finely ground rock, unrecoverable or uneconomic metals, chemicals, organic matter, and liquid waste from extraction processes. Tailings usually exist as a liquid slurry formed during crushing, grinding, and processing of ore.
3. Which river has emerged as the second major river after the Chambal with the highest number of gharials (fish-eating crocodiles)?
[A] Ghagra
[B] Gandak
[C] Son
[D] Kosi
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Gandak]
Notes:
The Gandak River, flowing along the India–Nepal border through West Champaran in Bihar, has become the second-largest habitat of gharials after the Chambal River. Sustained conservation efforts by the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) and the Department of Environment, Forest and Climate Change have driven this recovery. Adult gharial numbers in the Gandak increased from 54 in 2015 to over 400 in 2025, while the total population including juveniles crossed 1,000. The Chambal River remains the largest habitat with over 2,400 gharials.
4. Which government department has been named a finalist for the 2026 Franz Edelman Award for its Anna Chakra initiative?
[A] Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
[B] Department of Food and Public Distribution
[C] Department of Economic Affairs
[D] Department of Consumer Affairs
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Department of Food and Public Distribution]
Notes:
The Department of Food and Public Distribution (DFPD) has been named a finalist for the 2026 Franz Edelman Award for its Anna Chakra initiative. Anna Chakra is a supply chain optimisation tool developed under India’s Public Distribution System (PDS). It is an operations research–based decision support system that optimises state-wise food grain logistics. The initiative was created through a Government–United Nations–Academia partnership involving DFPD, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in India, and Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi. It uses advanced algorithms to identify optimal transport routes and ensure smooth movement of food grains across the supply chain.
5. Which ministry is the nodal authority for the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for White Goods?
[A] Ministry of Commerce and Industry
[B] Ministry of Science and Technology
[C] Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
[D] Ministry of Finance
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Ministry of Commerce and Industry]
Notes:
Five companies have recently been selected under the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for White Goods. The scheme aims to build a strong domestic component ecosystem for Air Conditioners and Light Emitting Diode (LED) lights and integrate India into global supply chains. It provides financial incentives to boost domestic manufacturing and attract large investments in the white goods value chain. The scheme is implemented from Financial Year (FY) 2021–22 to FY 2028–29 and is notified by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
