1. A new species of jumping spider named Pilia malenadu was recently discovered in which state?
[A] Karnataka
[B] Maharashtra
[C] Gujarat
[D] Tamil Nadu
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Karnataka]
Notes:
A new species of jumping spider named Pilia malenadu was recently discovered in the Western Ghats of Karnataka. It was found in Madhugundi, located in Mudigere taluk of Chikkamagaluru district. The species belongs to the Pilia genus of jumping spiders. It was named “Pilia malenadu” to honour the region where it was discovered. This is a historic find as the last Pilia species was recorded 123 years ago in 1902 in Kerala. For the first time, researchers found both male and female spiders of this genus.
2. The Katkari Tribe is primarily found in which states?
[A] Maharashtra and Gujarat
[B] Kerala and Tamil Nadu
[C] Bihar and Jharkhand
[D] Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Maharashtra and Gujarat]
Notes:
The Shramjeevi Organisation will hold a two-day protest with silent fasts and symbolic lamps to highlight the plight of the Katkari Tribe. The protest demands land rights, unpaid wages, and dignity for this marginalised community. The Katkari Tribe is a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) found mainly in Pune, Raigad, and Thane districts of Maharashtra and parts of Gujarat. Traditionally, they were forest dwellers known for making Katha (Catechu) from the Khair tree (Acacia catechu).
3. Grandidierella geetanjalae and Grandidierella khambhatensi, that were recently seen in news, belongs to which species?
[A] Snake
[B] Spider
[C] Amphipod
[D] Butterfly
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Amphipod]
Notes:
Two new species of marine amphipods named Grandidierella geetanjalae and Grandidierella khambhatensis were recently discovered by researchers from Chilika and the Gulf of Khambhat. Amphipods are small crustaceans related to crabs, lobsters, and shrimp. They are found in marine, freshwater, and even land environments across the world. The word “amphipoda” means “different-footed”, as their legs are of varied types and functions. There are over 7,000 known species, mostly under the group Gammaridea. They usually feed on tiny dead plants and animals and also act as scavengers in aquatic ecosystems.
4. Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR) is located in which state?
[A] Andhra Pradesh
[B] Karnataka
[C] Kerala
[D] Tamil Nadu
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Andhra Pradesh]
Notes:
The Forest Department is set to begin the next tiger census in the Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR). Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR) is located in the Nallamala hill ranges, an offshoot of the Eastern Ghats in Andhra Pradesh. It is one of India’s largest tiger reserves, covering 3,728 square kilometres. It supports the largest tiger population in the Eastern Ghats landscape. The reserve is named after the Nagarjuna Sagar and Srisailam Dams. It includes Rajiv Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and Gundla Brahmeswaram Wildlife Sanctuary (GBM).
5. The foundation stone for the Integrated Sohra Circuit Development project was recently laid under which central scheme?
[A] PRASAD Scheme
[B] Swadesh Darshan 2.0
[C] PM-DevINE Scheme
[D] Dekho Apna Desh Initiative
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [PM-DevINE Scheme]
Notes:
The foundation stone for the Integrated Sohra Circuit Development was recently laid under the Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for North Eastern Region (PM-DevINE) scheme. The project is jointly implemented by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) and the Government of Meghalaya. It aims to make Sohra (Cherrapunji) a multi-day sustainable tourism destination promoting local livelihoods. The Sohra Experience Centre will act as a cultural hub, featuring amphitheatres, rain parks, art galleries, and craft pavilions.
